Akihiko felt a pang of guilt for waking up poor Haruki, who had been sleeping so peacefully.
It was for his own sake, though. He could use some nutrition and the help of modern medicine and Akihiko had to make sure to get enough fluids into him. He still apologized gently to his groggy boyfriend for disturbing his peace, when he shook him awake.
Haruki was very patient and obedient and probably also still half-asleep. He'd sat up, blinking tiredly but smiling weakly at Akihiko. He let his boyfriend brush away his unruly bangs to put his hand on his forehead, feeling for the temperature. Haruki thought he could have just told Akihiko that he was still feeling super hot. It was obvious, really, with the heat glowing high on his cheeks and his skin all sticky with sweat, but he let him do as he pleased.
"Here, take this." Akihiko put the antipyretic carefully into Haruki's left hand and the bottle of Pocari Sweat into his right. "It's for the fever."
"Ok." The reply was short and soft. Haruki didn't even hesitate to put that unfamiliar little capsule in his mouth and washed it down with the sports drink.
Watching him like a hawk, Akihiko felt a twinge in his chest. It was a combination of Haruki's absolute trust in him, putting himself in Akihiko's care and following his instructions without question or complaint, and how vulnerable he looked, sitting on his bed all tired and miserable.
More than anything, he wanted to let Haruki go back to sleep, but before he could do that Akihiko had to try to make him eat something. His body needed the energy.
"I made boiled daikon radish. Do you want to try to eat some bites?" he attempted to coax him into it. "It would do you good to get some food into your system."
Haruki really did not have any appetite at the moment but the fact that Akihiko had gone through the effort to cook for him made it impossible for him to deny his boyfriend's plea. He just hoped he could keep anything he swallowed down for both their sakes.
"If it's just a few bites…." He gave in and Akihiko looked almost surprised at how easy it had been to convince him, concern shining through in his gaze. Haruki smiled and nodded, trying to hide he was only doing it for him.
Akihiko rose with a sigh and a short shake of his head, seeing right through him. He stood to leave for the kitchen and quickly returned with the promised food. He'd been so fast he must have prepared the bowl beforehand.
Haruki took the offered dish and chopsticks into both hands, putting it down across his blanketed lap. The portion was already smaller than normal but he still doubted he could eat all of it. He started anyway, taking small bites and chewing slowly.
Sitting at the edge of the bed, Akihiko watched him eat and it was a bit awkward to be observed so intently.
"Aren't you going to eat, too?" Haruki asked, a little self-conscious.
"I already ate," Akihiko confessed. "I wanted to let you sleep a bit longer before waking you."
"Oh, okay." Haruki lowered his gaze back to his food, somewhat disappointed. He would have liked to eat together at least.
It didn't take long before he couldn't force any more food down his throat, offering the bowl back to Akihiko with an apologetic smile. "I'm sorry, it was really delicious, but I can't eat more right now."
"It's alright, you did well." He took the dish, happy with the amount Haruki had eaten, and nodded towards the Pocari Sweat, urging him to take another sip or two of the isotonic drink.
Akihiko brought the bowl into the kitchen, then came back and stood in the doorframe. Haruki was hunched over, tired eyes looking at the bottle in his hands, fingers fiddling with the lid. A frown was drawing his brows together.
"What's going through that pretty head of yours?" Akihiko asked playfully, but Haruki flinched in surprise as if he hadn't noticed his return yet, lost in thought.
"I…I'm just-," he sighed, heavy and deep. "I'm sorry." The eyes that locked with Akihito's held a ton of guilt.
"What for?" Akihiko asked, genuinely, and when he saw Haruki's eyes welling up with tears, he was instantly at his side again.
"No, no, no, no!" He pulled Haruki into a hug, kissing his cheek. "No tears! I don't allow any crying before you're not fully rehydrated, ok?" He grimaced and added, "Well, preferably not then either."
It drew a wet chuckle out of his boyfriend. Amber eyes still swimming with unshed tears closed in a smile when Akihiko nuzzled against his love, Haruki's face cupped between two hands, a few droplets squeezing through his eyelids and clinging to long lashes.
Akihiko knew that it was mostly the exhaustion and fatigue wearing Haruki down, making him more emotional and moody, but it still hurt him to see the glittering tears building up. He never wanted to see Haruki so sad and guilty.
"Come on, you are tired, I ripped you from your sweet sleep. Go back to it and rest and tomorrow we can talk about everything you want, okay?"
It was a sweet compromise that Haruki gladly accepted. He was so tired, his brain all soupy. He wanted to properly apologize for being such a burden on everyone and especially Akihiko, today. He was angry and frustrated with himself for letting things get so out of hand.
"Yeah, sounds good. My nerves are on edge," Haruki mumbled, trying to explain himself unnecessarily.
"I know. Just go back to sleep, Haru." Akihiko gently brushed honey blond hair back, scratching Haruki's scalp affectionately.
"Will you stay the night?" Haruki asked sleepily. He was leaning back into the pillow, lying down and giving himself over to gravity.
"Of course."
"Where will you sleep?"
"The couch."
"Mhmm~," Haruki hummed and looked at Akihiko with half-lidded eyes, already fighting sleep again. There was an unspoken wish hanging between them and Akihiko smiled knowingly.
"You want me in your bed instead?"
It was the tiniest nod he had ever seen, so cute it made his heart twinge.
"Alright," Akihiko said and peeled himself away from his boyfriend. Quickly dressing down to his underwear. He left his clothes in a careless pile on the floor and crawled over Haruki to lie down at his side.
"Let's sleep, then," he whispered and Haruki scooted closer to him, wrapping his warm body around his boyfriend.
"Sorry, if I smell bad. That's on you for not letting me take a shower earlier," Haruki pouted but it seemed that his need for cuddling was stronger than his embarrassment and Akihiko laughed, the movement of his chest shaking Haruki with him.
He carded his fingers through Haruki's hair and moved his head to nose into the soft strands. Haruki smelled just like himself, a little sweaty from a hard and long day. It was Akihiko's favourite scent.
"You are such a tease. You know I love the way you smell. If something pokes you during the night, just ignore it, okay. I don't have control over that," he warned in good humour.
Haruki only let out a small huff of breath and mumbled weakly, "Pervert." Then his eyes closed completely and he relaxed, giving himself over to sleep.
Akihiko kept caressing him for a long while, just enjoying being close to Haruki and having his complete trust while being so vulnerable. He listened to Haruki's even breathing as he slept and recovered, hoping that he would feel a lot better the next morning.
They would definitely have to talk about today. Akihiko remembered the concern and fear he had felt when he'd been looking for Haruki. Not finding him where he'd said he'd be and instead discovering his boyfriend in a crumpled heap outside in the cold, unable to move on his own.
That had scared him quite a bit.
Haruki was always there to help everyone who needed his support. To have him break down like this, not relying on anyone, not asking for help, made Akihiko wonder if he wasn't paying enough attention to his boyfriend. Should he have seen the signs? Was Haruki that good at hiding his own problems?
He was determined to keep an eye on Haruki's health from now on. They seriously needed to talk about his workload and him communicating when he wasn't feeling well.
Haruki always tended to put himself last. Akihiko had thought he was putting his boyfriend first all the time to counter that habit but apparently he had to work on it some more.
Pondering his strategies, Akihiko eventually fell asleep alongside Haruki.