I hope that everyone is enjoying the fic so far! I just wanted to pop in and say that I changed the cover for this fic! I don't know what it was about the other one but I just did not like it one damn bit so I went for a softer one! I hope you all like it! And I hope you enjoy the chapter! Until we meet again ❤️
It wasn't a fluke. The low groan in the bathroom had Hizashi twitching at the sound of his own voice. Cracking. He sounded hoarse to himself as he laid on the bathroom floor with a towel wedged up like a makeshift pillow beneath his head and neck as his knees curled slightly towards his stomach. He knew that night, a short two days ago, had been the omen of something worse coming for him. It was like Nemuri said whenever the boys got sick; his home was ground zero for the sickness and with how they clung to him?
It would be impossible not to catch it. And yet he'd tried hoping the nausea after his call with Oboro had been nothing more than a fluke. He'd been praying, praying, praying it was a damn fluke when he first felt that nausea. He couldn't shake the feeling it wasn't. That it couldn't be when he was taking his own anti-nausea medication before turning in for the night with the boys. And perhaps that had been the final nail in his coffin when it came to this sickness. He woke up the next morning feeling awful.
Rushing for the bathroom where he was on his knees and heaving into the toilet. Gagging, retching, vomiting so damn loud it had both of his boys appearing in the doorway. He'd felt awful as he hugged the toilet bowl to which he knew he couldn't watch them. Not on his own. And when he'd glanced at the two worried six-year-old's through his watery vision afterwards? He'd decided to call in the big guns; his younger sister, Hana. She had two small children of her own and one a bit older than Izuku and Hitoshi.
He'd begged to know if her eldest already had the stomach flu which, much to his delight, she said they'd already had their bouts with it. He'd all but pleaded for her to come help him as he explained Hitoshi and Izuku had it, that he'd taken them to the doctors, but he also seemed to have it. Never had he sworn his younger sister showed up at his door. He hardly noticed the boys had told her where the spare key was or when she entered the bathroom until he felt hands coaxing his hair away from his face to tie back.
For the next two days, his sister and her children along with her husband lived with them. Hitoshi and Izuku made their recoveries quicker than himself, but he had one more day. If his math was right, then he only had one more damn day of this sickness and he just had to power through it. He groaned to himself again, a hoarse sound bouncing off of the walls of his bathroom as his knees curled up higher. His stomach churned and gurgled as if threatening to bring up the water and saltines he'd been chewing on earlier.
The dry toast his sister had him pick at before he gave up on it after a few bites. God, was the stomach flu always so rough? He knew it had to of been rougher on the boys who had spent their second day and his first day vomiting. His body ached. His head felt far too hot for his liking as it throbbed with the only respite of his headaches being to take his hearing aids out. His sister had spent the past two days of his illness running in and out of his bedroom to check on him once Izuku and Hitoshi were better.
Always switching out his forehead strips for new ones throughout the day and night. Waking to find the thermometer pressed to his forehead and temples. He'd tried drinking some ginger ale to see if it would work only to find him upheave half the bottle he'd sipped at. He was grateful for his sister but two days on his bathroom floor half the time would drive anyone insane. Rolling his over the towel, he raised a hand up sluggishly to touch his forehead where the newest strip of that fever suppressant had been put on earlier.
Dryer than a bone. Groaning out quietly, he pulled it off of his forehead where he tossed it to the floor. Intermittently throughout the day he'd felt Twix, Cappella and Sterling curling up with him intermittently as he flitted in and out of consciousness. Squirming in his spot with knees lightly touching his stomach, he rolled over slowly onto his back with another quiet groan to himself as his stomach churned at the change. God, he'd planned for his week to turn out differently from this. So much differently.
He'd wanted to get on with Oboro about getting hires for the bookshop but here he was, curled up on his bathroom floor hugging the toilet. He didn't feel as awful as he did that first day but fuck if he didn't feel still. Cold. Hot. His fever seemed to have fun fluctuating leaving him either sweating or shivering on the floor. Now he could happily say he felt lukewarm; neither here nor there. His hair felt matted from his stay on the bathroom floor, his ribs, hip and waist all aching from his curled position on it since last night.
Moving here after he was fed up with jumping out of bed to puke but he hadn't realized the repercussions of sleeping on the bathroom floor for hours at a time. His mouth tasted sour. His head was aching but other than a few squeezes of his stomach, he pushed himself up slowly. Bracing his arm on the rim of the toilet, he pushed himself up into a sitting position. His head swam from the change in position as he leaned back against the bathtub wall behind him as he let out a shaky breath before reaching up to rub at his temples.
What had he missed in the past two days? He knew his phone had been on the charger consistently throughout the past two days. Two days of being unable to lift his head up to talk to anyone which meant all communication had been one-sided, wouldn't it? Shifting slightly, he reached behind him to grab at the tub wall to begin pushing himself up onto his knees. Breathing slowly through his nose before pushing himself up on to his feet. Stumbling slightly, he caught himself with hands shooting out to the sinks edge.
And he caught his blurry reflection. God did he look rough. Bags under his eyes that were deeper than the last time he'd seen them with their light blue dusting. His eyes were bloodshot with a matted appearance to his hair or was it knotted up? He was pallid. The most pallid he'd seen himself be in a long time. He turned the sink on when he bent down to splash his face with warm water with fingers grinding into his eyes fiercely. He knew this sickness was on its way out, but he couldn't deny he wished it was gone now.
He had spent half the week away from the shop. That was money lost and a tighter budget until he got back to work. Comfort could only last so long. Rubbing another handful of water over his face, he rubbed his wet hands over the back of his neck. It sent shivers down his back but God if it didn't feel good. He should shower. Take a bath. Something. He wavered on his feet before shutting the bathroom door. Leaving it unlocked, he turned back to the sink where he plucked his toothbrush up and his toothpaste.
Running it under the water then squeezing his toothpaste onto the bristles, he began brushing his teeth. He hated how sour his mouth tasted so the mint of his toothpaste was a much welcome change. He brushed his mouth thoroughly with the foam gathering in the corners of his mouth when he met his gaze in the mirror again. He looked like shit. Felt like it and sounded like it. Surely his sickness would be out of his system by tomorrow? Even if he couldn't open the shop, he'd take it easy on himself.
Scrubbing his teeth, he shuffled away from the running sink to stick his hand past the shower curtain to turn the faucet on allowing the water to burst out of the shower head. Drumming against the walls, he couldn't help feeling a tingle of excitement. Shuffling back to the sink, he bent over to spit then cupped the water that he brought up to his mouth. Swishing his mouth out then spitting once more, he ran the bristles under the water before tapping it on the side of the sink. Placing it in the holder with his toothpaste.
He sighed out to himself when he reached down to grab at the pajama shirt of his. Something he hadn't changed out of in two days, he tugged it up over his head then tossed it off to the floor in a heap. Reaching down, he hooked his fingers into the waistband of his boxers and pajama bottoms. Shimmying his hips slightly get them down faster. Flying down his legs to his ankles, he stepped out of them then kicked them with his foot towards the basket. Shuffling over to his shower, he stuck his hand back in
Checking the temperature which was warm enough to keep him from being cold but not hot. Pushing the curtain back he reached up to turn his hearing aids off then pulled them out of his ears to place them carefully within sight on the counter. And stepping over the lip of the tub carefully on shaking legs. Then dunked himself under the water with a shudder as he let his eyes flutter shut. Silence can be good. A shower can do wonders for making someone feel better. And standing under the warmth of his shower?
The minty taste to his mouth that rivaled the sour taste of his recent vomiting bend? It was so nice. He reached up to come his fingers through his hair to begin tugging gently. Trying to detangle some of the larger knots he tried to work apart with the water as he shuddered at the warmth soaking into his skin. It had him swaying on his feet idly as he managed to get the knot at least somewhat untangled. He'd ask his sister to help brush his hair out if she was able too if he couldn't get them out with his brush.
He knew that she would at least be happy to see him up and off of the bathroom floor at least. Swaying idly on his feet as he tugged at smaller knots to work apart the best he could, he opened his eyes to look to the shelf beside him. Reaching out for his shampoo, he squirted a decent palmful into his palm before returning it to the shelf. He then got to work on scrubbing it into his hair. starting from the top of his head then bunching his hair up to scrub gently at the knots and snags within it that caught his fingers.
He began to pull apart again with his fingers. Just enough that the brush could do the heavy work of getting the other knots out. He scrubbed his hair and scalp with suds running ticklishly down his back when he turned with water sloshing over his feet when he tipped his head back. Running his fingers through the locks as he began to rinse the shampoo out of his hair. It was like he had stepped into a bubble outside of reality. A silent, citrus smelling bubble that had the tense muscles of his back relaxing.
A bubble where nothing existed but the gentle scrubbing at his scalp and working his fingers through the locks. The water pelting the top of his head and streaking down his back and shoulders. Warm, warm, warm. After feeling so cold for the past hour and a half, it felt absolutely nice. Like he was coming to life when he finished rinsing the shampoo from his hair. He then reached for the shelf next to him to the conditioner which he squeezed a generous amount into his palm before repeating the process.
Starting from the top of his head down to the rest of his hair as he inhaled the citrusy scent of his soaps. It had his shoulders relaxing as he scrubbed his head fervently before tipping it back to begin rinsing it out. Combing his fingers through to tug at the smaller knots when he slid his hands over his hair. He could just imagine the splatter of the water on the shower floor from his shuffling. His hands squeezing water out of his hair. The strike of it against the walls. The sloshing of water over and under his feet.
He could feel the aches that had taken over his body relaxing as he scrubbed his hair out then grabbed his loofah off of the wall and scooped his body wash up. The sandalwood scent of the soap was heady as he drizzled the soap onto his sponge before closing it and returning it to the shelf. Scrubbing at his loofah to suds it up, he stepped out of the water to begin scrubbing his legs down. Working on his lower half down while making his way up towards his chest with what he was sure was a hum.
Shivering at the sensitivity over his mastectomy scars that had him lightening the scrub over them while being cautious about his piercings. The last time he caught them on the mesh material of his loofah and damn nearly ripped the left one out. It was a pain unlike anything else. Scrubbing carefully at his chest then up around his throat, shoulders and arms before doing his best to target his upper back and his lower back. The citrus scent of his soaps and the sandalwood creating that familiar heady scent in the bathroom.
A precious bubble of scents that had him swaying on his feet when his stomach cramped at him. Nausea? Or was he hungry? He couldn't tell the difference over the past couple of days, but he did want to try eating. He hadn't thrown up in quite a few hours so surely it would be fine to begin hesitantly trying food? He dragged his teeth over his bottom lip at the indecision as he swiped the sponge awkwardly across his lower back. Over his ass and the backs of his thighs before facing the water to begin rinsing off his front half.
He knew he should have grabbed clothing before getting in the shower for the chill would only serve to get him sick again, but he hadn't thought to go that far. Hadn't thought of anything outside of getting himself clean and feeling halfway human after spending days on his bathroom floor. Sliding his hands over his chest down to his stomach, he grabbed at the showerhead. Pulling it down from the mouth to properly rinse off his body with what he had to imagine to be a hum as the water sloshed over his feet.
He placed it back up on the mouth when he turned to run his hands over his chilled hair again. Combing his fingers through where he began to attempt to get a few knots apart. God, he felt good. So damn good. Like he had life breathed into him once again and he could function properly again. He could think around the fog that had been over his brain those first few days of his sickness. He had not a clue if it made him automatically healthy again but it sure as hell had him feeling so much better than he did seconds ago.
Perhaps sleeping on and off on the floor by the toilet would make anyone feel inhuman. All he had to be thankful for was this wasn't a more serious virus that he or his kids would have to fight off. A simple stomach bug could be weathered but he didn't want to think of anything more serious than that. Standing under the shower head as he slid his fingers through his hair, his stomach cramped again, and he could only imagine the sounds it made. Was he hungry? Or was he growing nauseous? Which could take it be?
The bouts of vomiting came with no warning; one moment he could feel fine but the next he was heaving. That had to be the worst. Standing under his shower head, he shuddered again at the thought of facing the coldness of his bedroom. It wasn't quite time to turn the heating on given they were only in late August, close to early September, but he hated the thought of how cold he'd be. It had him reluctant to step out of the bathroom. Out of the shower. Out of this warm, warm, water that had him swaying idly on his feet.
He wavered under the threat of toppling over. He could feel ticklish lines of soap running down the backs of his calves to the floor. His hair tried to stick to his wet skin when he sighed out before tipping his head back. It was easy to let it hang back with how heavy his hair was when it was soaked like this. Swaying idly side to side with that warm water pounding on his forehead only to streak through his hair along his scalp felt damn good. He hummed in what he hoped was a soft volume to himself at the gentle patter.
The warmth streaking over his scalp when he slid his hands over his hair again before lifting his head up. God, was a shower what he'd needed to feel better? Or would it have been made worse? He swayed before turning to face the shower head on sending warm water splashing down his chest to his stomach. Warming his skin as he slid his hands over his chest down to his waist with his eyes fluttering shut. Just a minute. He'd get out of this delightful warmth in a moment. Had he been colder than he realized down on the floor?
It had him pinching his lips together at the thought as he dropped his hands to his sides. In the time that he'd been sick he hadn't had time to text either Nemuri or Oboro. He'd been in the bathroom longer than his bedroom but he knew his sister's husband had helped him to bed more than once to help him out while she watched the boys. He hadn't had time to think on how he wanted to go about hiring a staff for his shop. What he was willing to pay someone to work for him let alone what he was looking for in said employee.
He hadn't had time to think on anything he'd talked about with Nemuri lately. With Oboro. His parent group chat had gone off, that much he knew, asking if he and the boys were well. He had not a clue if he responded to tell them he was also ill but he felt bad. So unbelievably bad that he left so many potential people unanswered. Or would Hana have answered for him? She did know his passcode so it wouldn't be the wildest thing if she answered everyone on his behalf due to him being ill. If she did that for him.
He shuddered at a cold puff over his skin that had him squirming to step further under the water that felt so, so nice. He rotated slowly under the showerhead to get his back wet again with that heat streaking down it soaking his hair against it where the ends tickled against his lower back. Spinning back to face the pounding water with a sigh as his hands raised up to face the water like he would a fire. Water streaked down his forearms to his elbows where the water dripped off as water sloshed over his feet with his rotation.
A shuddering breath left him at the knowledge that he had to get out. He knew he did. But with the sweet scents of his soaps hanging in the air? The warmth of the water? Well, he wanted to live in his perfect little bubble a little longer. Then he'd get out and attempt to eat a proper meal for the first time in two days. Answer Nemuri, Oboro, Tensei and his other newer friends about his sudden disappearance if they had been questioning it. He just need two more minutes in the shower that was warming him to his core.
He'd do everything that was expected of him and then he'd go take a nap in his bed rather than on the bathroom floor. His bed sounded nice. It had been merely convenient to be curled up by the toilet when he'd been vomiting what felt like every two hours. To stay where he could weakly pull himself up to go to the bathroom rather than shuffle out of bed and suffer through it. But his bed sounded so unbelievably nice that he found himself weaving on his feet. Swaying to comfort himself under the warmth of the water.
At the thought of his own bed and curling up beneath the blankets properly rather than the floor. A sound vibrating in his throat yet he couldn't tell exactly what it could have been; a whine? A whimper? He had not a clue but he wanted to lay down in a proper bed. Brush his hair out. Try to eat something if that growling to his stomach meant anything for that awful nausea was missing from it. The nausea that told him it was a bout of vomiting but he couldn't deny his stomach was tender. Anyone's would be, he was sure of it.
Weaving on his feet again with water sloshing over his feet, he let out a breath. He needed to get dressed. He couldn't stay here all damn day no matter how badly he wanted too. He turned to face the shower wall where he placed his hand on the knob. Shuddering at the thought of putting that wonderful heat to rest he closed his eyes. On the count of three he'd turn it off. Taking a deep breath as he squeezed his eyes shut he squeezed at the handle as he fought that shrieking reluctance to put the warmth to an end.
One. In out. Tensing instinctively at the onslaught of a chill he'll no doubt face. Two. He began inching the knob slightly with a subtle change to the water. Three. He spun it quickly to turn it off leaving him shivering as the water came to a stop but he moved to open the curtain of the shower out of the way as he opened his eyes. Shivering violently with teeth chattering together he paused at the sight of pajama's sitting on the counter with his hearing aids neatly placed on top. They hadn't been there before.
Had someone slipped them in? Hana maybe? It had him stepping out of the shower to shuffle over where he got a fresh towel from beneath the sink and he began to towel try his hair quickly. Squeezing at it firmly before dropping it down to begin rubbing at his arms. His chest down to his stomach. Rubbing it between his thighs then around his legs quickly as he shook at the chill attacking his damp skin. Drying off his lower half the best he could as he could before standing up to dry off his back quickly.
Wrapping the towel around his waist. Moving the hearing aids from on top of his clothing to the sink once more, he grabbed the first piece of clothing and flapped it out. He quickly pulled the long sleeve shirt over his head with the fabric clinging annoyingly but he got it down when he felt the warmth to it. Had it been run through the dryer? Or was it warm from the air in here? Could the air affect it? Either way, no matter why it was warm, he found himself pulling the towel from around his waist when he reached for the purple boxers.
Flapping them out before stepping into them. Shuddering at the warmth soaking into his skin as he got them up to sit on his hips. Reaching out to the pants to repeat the same flapping before stepping into them with what he was sure to be a hum judging by the vibrations of his throat. He caught his reflection in the steamed up mirror and he sure did look like shit but he felt better. Much, much better. Pulling his pants up to sit on his hips as well, he then reached up to pull his hair from beneath his shirt to rest on top of it.
Bending over to grab the towel, he dried his ears off the best he could before throwing it to the hamper and picking his old clothing up to toss in it. He'd have to get his laundry in the washer when he was feeling up to it. He then picked up his hearing aids, turning them on then sliding them into his ears carefully. Curving them over the back of his ears then pushing them into place as he stepped into the world of sound. Listening to the splatter of his showerhead as water dripped from it. The gurgle of the drain.
The rustle of his clothes as he stepped over with the light slap of his feet against the clammy floor. The sound of him grabbing his glasses and The light sound of them being folded open. The sound of his own breathing. Small sounds that he hummed at before turning on his feet to shuffle over to the bathroom door to grab the chilled handle. Tugging it open, he stepped out into his bedroom with a light shiver. It was immaculate. Where his bed had been a mess of sheets it was folded neatly on one side with the other flipped open.
As if prepared for him to lay down in it. Pillows in place the way he liked them to be. The light of the afternoon spilled through his window with the brilliant golden lighting as he made his way into the room. Fingers drifting over the edge of the bed when he turned the corner to make his way to his dresser where his brush sat. He picked it up and began moving it through his hair; tugging it through the knots and snags gently. Working them out of his hair until it was laying straight down his back to which he turned around.
Making his way over to his bedroom doors. He knew water after brushing his teeth would be awful but his throat was dry. The soft thud of his feet over the carpet was loud when he paused. Blinking at the sight of new slippers sitting by the door for him. A deep, rich purple to go with most of his pajama sets and his robe, he couldn't help a soft smile. Someone had gone through the effort of making sure that not only were things in order but were taking care of him whether he was aware of it or not.
At twenty-six, a father, he had always taken care of himself. Believed he was too old to have someone come in and "mommy" him but it was unbelievably nice to see the small acts around him. Slipping his feet into them, he grabbed at his robe hanging next to it to slip on and tie together. He then tugged open his doors slowly. He caught the sound of laughter from the kitchen that was all too familiar to him. Tugging his doors open quietly leaving just enough space for him to step out when he caught the jingling bells of collars.
Twix, Cappella and Sterling burst down the hallway towards him with chirruping meows as he stepped into the hall. Smiling at the cats weaving around his legs, he shuffled down the hallway with all three darting in front of him. He stepped into the kitchen to find his sister sitting at the table with a coffee in hand while her husband stood at the stove. Making soup? He didn't have time to question it when his sister was standing up to rush forward towards him. Arms stretched out with a sparkle to hazel eyes.
And then her arms were reaching out to him to which he happily met her halfway as he was tugged into a hug. A tight, squeezing hug that had him clinging onto her happily. She may be younger but God knows he appreciated the mothering she was giving him that he was both unaware and aware of. He found himself being swayed on his feet slightly before she tugged back with arms around his waist as that sparkling gaze flicked over his face. Staring at him as if admiring him for the first time since his sickness.
"How are you feeling, Zashi? Are you feeling better? I came in to check on you and to put some laundry away, but I heard the shower going so I hoped you must be feeling better if you had the strength for it." Chatter box. His sister may be quieter than the rest of them, but she was as much a chatter box as himself, Aimi or Haru. A trait that was shared amongst them from God knows where. "Are you hungry? Ryū was getting dinner ready for the boy since Nemuri should be bringing them back any time now."
Raising his brows at the brunette before him with a smile twitching at his lips when arms slid from around his waist. Hands instead catching his as he was coaxed over to the table when he got a passing smile from his brother-in-law as he was coaxed to the table. A chair tugged out for him to which he sat "Oh? Nem took the boys? That's nice but how are they? Are they doing alright? I know they were only beginning to get better when I got sick so are they still good? Where are your little ones at?"
"Mom and Ma are watching the twins and my eldest for me. It's not much of a hassle given two of them sleep all day. Babies can be so easy sometimes, but they've been demanding hourly updates on how you've been doing. Something about "our baby boy wasting away on the bathroom floor" or something like it." Hana then grinned at him wickedly as she took her seat across from him when she tilted her head. "But you're hardly wasting away now, are you? You never answered my question on how you're feeling."
"God, are you keen or what?" Hana rolled her eyes at him when he grinned at the brunette before him with a sigh leaving him as he rested his chin on his hand. "I don't feel like I'm going to puke my guts out for the first time in about two days. I mean, I had my bouts early this morning but now I'm feeling weird. Like, maybe I'm hungry? Definitely thirsty, that's for sure, but I don't feel like I'm about to puke up all of my organs in one go, you know? I feel like I might be a bit hungry but I'm tentative about it. "
"Well, I bought some ginger ale if you'd like sipping at that? Or would you rather sip at some water? Ryū, can you get Zashi something?" He wanted to protest. Opening his mouth to do so when he received a sharp, cutting look from his sister when the fridge was opened with a sucking sound. "Don't even think of protesting, you blonde idiot. Ryū is just as concerned about you as I am and if he is fine with getting you a drink then you are going to take it, you hear me?"
"I'd do what she says, Zash. She might just rip your throat out over it; God knows she's done it to me plenty of times since we've been staying here." The low rumble of his brother-in-law's voice had him peeking over his shoulder just in time to see the man shuffle over with a cup of what looked to be flat ginger ale before him. "She might just go insane if you don't let her pamper you just a bit while we're here. It's good to hear you might have an appetite though. How do you feel about clear soup?"
"I think I can handle something simple like clear soup." He could hear the hoarse scratch to his voice when his sister was humming across from him to which he raised his brows at the brunette who shifted in her seat. There was light, forming bags under her eyes and he couldn't help but feel pity. It can't be easy taking care of two recovering sick children and then look after a fully grown man. "Thank you, Hana, for taking care of me though! For coming over and keeping the house clean and looking after the boys for me!"
"It's no big deal! Honestly, I feel like I don't see my nephews nearly enough and I've been enjoying seeing them run around. They seem bigger every damn time I see them and you've only had Izuku for a year." The brunette paused then grinned at him anew with a playfulness to it that had him tilting his head slightly when the brunette then chuckled. "By the way, I'm sure you're going to hear about it, but Hitoshi lost another tooth. His front bottom tooth came out and he keeps insisting on showing you before the tooth fairy comes."
"He lost another tooth? Damn, these kids are going to bankrupt me for dollars if they keep on loosing teeth the way their losing them!" Sighing out, he slid his feet over the floor with a rub of his slippers against the tiles when he caught the click as the burner was turned off behind him. "You know, you could've told him that the tooth fairy showed me his tooth. That way he wouldn't be so grumpy or refusing to put it under his pillow. I don't want my kid getting a weird complex with the tooth fairy or teeth, you know?"
A snort was taken by Ryū while his sister snickered with that grin in place to which he chuckled. It was true, however, that Hitoshi often held onto his teeth when they fell out to show him before the "tooth fairy" would take it away. He knew eventually he'd be telling Hitoshi the tooth fairy wasn't real but he wanted his childhood to play out a little longer. "You know what? That would've been so much easier to know before you're son's tooth fell out! He's been holding onto that thing since the second day of your sickness."
"That long? Tsk, tsk, Hana! You're a mother to twins so you'd best get ready for the same thing to happen to you eventually! I guess you can consider this a lesson well learned, yeah?" Another snicker left the woman when Ryū was walking over to them with bowls in hand. One was placed before him with mushrooms floating in the clear-ish liquid and a bowl for Hana. Then Ryū was turning to pour a bowl for himself before joining them. "But really, I do appreciate you for dropping everything and coming to help me like this."
"Any time, Zashi, any time. Just because you're my older brother doesn't mean that you don't need help now and again when you're sick as a dog." There was a ping of the phone that had his sister shifting in her seat before pulling her phone out of her pocket only to smile at him before putting it down. "I'm sure the boys are going to be happy to see their father sitting up again rather than in the fetal position on the bathroom floor. Prepare yourself, Zashi. Those boys are going to be happy seeing you up and about."
"Well, not up and about. I plan on eating this soup then going to bed so the boys will see me bright and early tomorrow morning when I'm and about. I'm exhausted, Hana, like you wouldn't believe." Sighing out, the blonde picked up his spoon to swirl through the broth before lifting a spoonful up. Swallowing it down, he shuddered at the hot path it created down to his empty stomach. Scooping up another spoonful that he swallowed down quickly, he rubbed at his lips. "The stomach flu is no damn joke."
"No, it's not. But I don't mind helping you guys out! It seems like everyone is getting the stomach flu because it is that time for it, but I hope your other friends recuperate. I sent a text out to your group chat explaining you were sick, and they wished for you to feel better. Oh, Aimi and Haru also texted when I told them I was coming over and they wanted to give you the same wishes. They said if they could they'd be over here with me, but work is running them into the ground lately, so they apologized."
"There's no need to do that, seriously. I'm happy at least someone could help and I'm glad that you were willing to do this for me, Hana." A smile curled over the brunette's lips with that sparkle to her hazel eyes when he took one, two more spoonful's of the broth. He couldn't deny he wanted something more on his stomach, but it was better to take it easy. The hot path down to his stomach felt good as it did when he took another sip of the broth before scooping up a mushroom. "You're seriously the best sister."
"And given that you have another one, I'd take that as a complement, sweetheart." Ryū gave a playful wink at his sister who merely rolled her eyes at the man, but the smile was sweetening on her lips. A smile he'd only ever see dragged out of her when Ryū was around. It had his chest aching when the man then turned to him as he popped the mushroom into his mouth. God, he loves mushrooms. "But just know, Zash, we're always willing to help. And you can stand to see family now and again, can't you?"
He couldn't deny the grin curling over his lips at the playful wink he got from his brother-in-law when he swallowed his mouthful. The man was a quiet giant, but God knows he had a wicked playful side to him; it was the one thing that drew Hana to him. At least, that's what the brunette always claimed but he knew his sister well enough to know it was more than that. Scooping up another mushroom with the broth, he grinned at the couple. "I definitely can. Izuku and Hitoshi can stand to see their uncles and aunts more often!"
"And you can stand to see the twins and Haru's squad of little ones, can't you?" Popping his mouthful of broth and mushroom into his mouth, he watched that soft smile be aimed his way when he chewed before scooping up another piece of mushroom that he popped into his mouth. Ryū really didn't give him much, but he appreciated it, nonetheless. Once he was done here, he'd be laying down in his bed like he wants too. "We do love you, Zashi, and we want you to be happy. We want to see you more."
Ah. Well, that put a small knot in his his throat that he tried to swallow down with his mouthful. Clearing his throat as he swirled his spoon through the broth with his final mushroom piece in it, he met that hazel gaze of the brunettes. "I miss you guys too. I want to come to more family stuff but with the shop it's hard to get away, you know? I feel so busy some days I'm lucky I see my friends but with the mom group it's really helped! How about the next time the boys go out we all get together first?"
"Like meet a Mom and Ma's?" Scooping up a spoonful of broth, he nodded at his sister who seemed to gain a thoughtful expression that pinched at her face. Deciding. Lifting his last bite of mushroom up, he popped it into his mouth which he chewed quickly before swallowing. Lifting his bowl up to sip at his broth that was cooling much faster hand he liked but God if it didn't taste good. If it didn't settle wonderfully on his tender stomach when Hana spoke up. "Why don't we all do a day at the park? And then one night-"
"As an adult only thing?" When she nodded, he smiled at the brunette before draining the rest of his bowl that he sipped and swallowed slowly at before putting it back down to the table. A clatter of his spoon over the glass, he then jerked his head to the blocked off small dining room. "I'm having the dining room renovated, it won't take long as they're just putting the trimming and paneling up to make it look nicer, but I have a table waiting to be picked up. We could do a dinner party with wine drinking if you'd like?"
Dark lashes fluttered in a blink before the woman was beaming at him. As if he had given her an amazing gift by merely suggesting a family night together when her fingers drummed on the table before she stirred her untouched soup then lifted it up to sip at it in large mouthfuls before putting it down with a napkin coming up to pat at her lips. "That sounds amazing, Zashi! The kids can all sleep in the same room, I can have someone babysit the twins if need be and we can all have a dinner party! You should do it with your friends too!"
A dinner party with his friends? He knew that half of them were parents and couldn't just drop their responsibilities, but could he convince Tensei, Nemuri, and Oboro to come over for a small dinner party once the dining room was being renovated? He'd poured money into the small off room that led to the back porch. Surely, they'd agree to it, wouldn't they? "You know what? That's a smart fucking idea, Hana! I could definitely throw together some dinner parties once I'm fully one hundred percent again! I like your ideas!"
"Thank you! Ryū, what do you think of it?" Their gazes turned to the dark-haired man who widened his eyes with cheeks puffed around a mouthful of his soup that he chewed at. The man then nodded with a grunt of approval as he chewed to which him and Hana took as a silent agreement. She gave a small, rapid clap of her hands when she beamed at him with that sparkle in her gaze. "I'd love nothing more than to attend a dinner party here! But you look tired, Zashi, do you want to go lay down before the boys come home?"
"Yeah, I'll go lay down now. Izuku and Hitoshi might expect me to play with them and I'm not that well yet. But if you want to send Hitoshi in so I can see his tooth then feel free! That way tonight you can get that tooth and give him a dollar, yeah?" Pushing back in his chair, he stood up then shuffled around it to push it in then grabbed at his bowl to place into the sink. His slippers sliding over the tiled floor when he popped a foot up with a smile. "By the way, thank you for the new slippers! I appreciate it!"
"No problem! I tried running your old ones through, but they still smelled like puke, so I tossed them out and got you a new pair! Now go rest, yeah? I'll bring you some more water if you need it, you have a bottle on the bedside table! I'll get the boys fed, bathed and in bed tonight then we'll see how you're doing tomorrow, okay? Get some rest, you need it."
Hana had a strict, no-nonsense tone to her voice that had him raising his hands up to shuffle across the kitchen to the small hallway of his bedroom. Lowering his hands with a chuckle at the click of a tongue he caught from his sister when he made his way down the small hallway. Entering his bedroom again, Twix, Cappella and Sterling ran after him to jump up onto the bed. Smiling softly, he left his doors open as he untied then shrugged his robe off before kicking his slippers off. Walking further into the room to his bed.
He grabbed at his TV remote to turn it on then turned the volume down low. Walking around the bed to the flipped open side, he crawled into it and tucked himself into the blankets that smelled clean. Not like the sickness that had been lingering on them of sweat from the boys' high fevers. When had his sister found time to get the house so clean? The bedroom pristine and the blankets washed? He had not a clue but as he rested his head back on the pillow that puffed around his head, he let his lashes flutter shut briefly.
He truly was tired. He'd slept on the floor for far too long with his damp hair pinned beneath him? The warmth under the blankets gathering rather quickly ? The warmth to his tender stomach? It had him far more tired than he realized he'd be. Perhaps sleeping on the floor had truly taken it out of him more than he realized. His bed felt warm. Soft. Absolutely perfect on his aching arm, hip, waist and knee from his curled position on the floor. He reached up to take his left hearing aid out while leaving the right in.
Turning his left hearing aid off before placing it into the holder to charge up. It was one of the greatest gifts he'd been given; a small dock to charge his hearing aids. He'd never thought he'd have a deceive he could use to recharge the battery rather than worrying about buying the batteries themselves. Snapping the container shut, he took his glasses off and put them in his glasses case. Resting his head back on the pillow, he couldn't deny it felt so unbelievably nice. To shut his eyes for a moment or two.
To feel that warmth fanning through him from the heavy comforter over him and the soup in his stomach. The warmth that lingered faintly from his shower. He couldn't rush feeling better, but he wanted to get back to work. He wanted to get a small staff of one or two workers. To work out the minimum pay and how he wanted to do it for Nemuri was right. He couldn't spend his whole life running the shop, but it would be nice to have free time during the week. He could work out schedules, times, and the like with two other workers.
But he wanted to do something with himself outside of lying in bed. His lashes fluttered on his cheeks as he sighed out quietly with the quiet murmur of the TV working to lull him ever so slightly. The warmth wrapped around him, inside of him, had him melting into the soft bed. He was in heaven. After a few nights spent up and down, on the bathroom floor, heaving into the toilet it was absolute bliss. He felt better now that he was clean; like he had scrubbed off a layer of dirt and illness off of him in the shower.
He could relax for just a bit, couldn't he? And tomorrow, if he was much better, he'd take the reins on his life. He'd take care of the boys, give himself a few more days, and reopen the shop next Monday to get back on his feet. A week off work. That wasn't quite what he was looking for when it came to wanting a break but there wasn't much that he could do about that. He heard the front door opening with the cheerful shouts of Hitoshi and Izuku rushing into the kitchen. Shouting for him instinctively.
Then came the sound of his sister's voice reaching him telling the boys to be quiet in that gentle manner before no doubt redirecting them to the living room. The sound of Nemuri's voice entering the kitchen for a few moments. He wanted to shout out. Invite her to stand in the doorway or to sit at the foot of the bed to talk but he bit back the urge. He instead let his face turn into the pillow as he listened to the murmur of the TV and whatever show it had playing. The hustle and bustle of his home was a comforting sound.
Especially with how hectic his home life used to be when he was a child. It was a comfort that had him melting into his pillow. His breaths coming evenly as his lashes fluttered on his lashes as he rolled slightly onto his left side with that sound of his hair rubbing over the pillow. Catching it with his right here yet not his left had him feeling off-kilter. Out of balance. He fought down the feeling when he heard Nemuri giving her goodbyes before her voice trailed off. Disappearing down the hallway with his brother-in-law no doubt.
He was tired. So, so tired. And yet he wanted nothing more than to have a bit of conversation again, but the soup was working on him. The warmth of his bed working its charms. He could fall asleep right now. Pass out for the rest of the afternoon and night. But there was a pesky , scratching restlessness to him that refused to dissipate. What was it? What more could he need to sleep? Had he become accustomed to his night on the floor? Was there something he was forgetting? Something he forgot to say?
He shifted before rolling onto his back again with a short sigh when he heard a light grind that had his eyes opening. Rolling his head over the pillow, he caught the blurry blob of someone standing in his doorway. Judging by the blur of indigo, he had the feeling it was Hitoshi. He blinked when he shifted to grab at his hearing aids case to pull his left one back out to turn on then shoved into his ear. Curved over it and fitting comfortably he then grabbed his glasses case to snap open for his glasses as he sat up onto his arm.
Sliding his glasses back onto his face to blink at the now clear view of his son hovering in the doorway. His small hands clenched into fists that rested uncertainly near his waist with brows pinching together. Hesitating. He couldn't help a soft smile at his son standing there; the bags under his eyes from his own sickness weren't anywhere as severe as the first day but still prominent. A bit paler than he'd like. But there was a longing to his son's purple eyes when he jerked his head in that silent, beckoning gesture.
One that had the small boy running over to him. Feet thudding over the floor as Hitoshi ran over to him over the carpeted floor with small hands coming up to fist at his blanket. Heaving himself up onto the bed with a grunt, his son came into view as he climbed up then over to him. He smiled when Hitoshi sat next to him before throwing his small arms around his neck to hug himself tightly to him. As if he'd been gone for weeks upon weeks rather than dealing with a few days of sickness. As if they had been separated far longer.
He curled his arm up around the boy and squeezed him to his chest with that small face nuzzling itself into his shoulder. He missed his children. He truly did as he kept himself away from them during his contagious period; he'd even insisted Hana stay away from him as much as possible during his first day of sickness when he called her. Had Hitoshi eaten dinner yet? He looked up when he heard another set of feet rushing and there Izuku was. Standing in his doorway with that same pallid coloring as his brother.
The bags under his eyes that were fading. And then he caught Hana's voice calling out for the boys when Izuku ran forward with feet thudding over his floor. Running for the bed like it was a safe haven when he shifted to sit up with his arm shifting Hitoshi to his left side when Izuku climbed up onto the bed. A longing for that gaze when the green-haired boy crawled over to him and then another pair of small arms were thrown around his neck. He was hugging both boys to his chest when he felt arms squeezing around his neck.
Holding onto him tight, tight, tight like he might just disappear. He kissed at the side of Izuku's head then the top of it with green curls tickling his face. Turning his head to shower Hitoshi's head in kisses that got him squirming from both boys who hugged onto him. Like they were reuniting after spending days away. They were warm in his arms. A comfortable warmth that had him squishing his sons to his chest with a tight hug. One that had a quiet grunt leaving Hitoshi and a squeak leaving Izuku.
And yet it merely had the boys hugging him back tighter. Harder. It wasn't what he'd expected but God if he wasn't happy to see his sons after spending two long days puking up his damn guts. If he didn't miss them when they'd talk to him outside the doors about their day. How they were feeling. He missed them. He couldn't help a low hum when he glanced up to find Hana in the doorway pushing his doors open. There was a surprised smile on her lips when he smiled back at her to which she cocked a hip.
A brow raising at him. Then both boys nuzzled their faces into his shoulders once more before Hitoshi pulled back with purple eyes widening as he sat back slightly. As if they were awed by the sight of him when he smiled at his sons. So sweet they both were; he truly did miss them more than he initially realized. He missed having them close; they grew so damn fast that he knew there was so much he could miss in just two days. So much unseen, unknown, as he laid on his floor heaving his guts up.
He knew it wasn't a big deal but milestones meant everything to him and he wanted to be there for them. No matter how big or how small they might be. Children changed every second, every minute, of the day. Adults weren't any different but with his sons being so young there was bound to be something he missed. And as he clutched them close, he couldn't deny that it had him feeling much better. As if there had been a quiet anxiety to his chest after not seeing his sons for so long. An anxiety he needed to be rid of to sleep again.
"Dad! I lost another tooth! Did Auntie Hana tell you about it? I lost a bottom tooth, see? See?" He smiled when Hitoshi pulled his bottom lip away as he opened his mouth to show off the hole left behind from the tooth. He couldn't help another chuckle when Hitoshi then dropped his hand from his mouth to touch his cheek. "Are you feelin' better yet, Dad? Auntie Hana said that you were throwing up a lot like me and Zu! Are you feeling better yet? I wanna play with you again! Uncle Ryū isn't as fun!"
A snort burst out of Hana and himself in unison when the woman walked away with a laugh to no doubt rejoin her husband. And then Izuku's small hand was touching his cheek as well with green eyes widening at him. The smatterings of freckles covering his cheeks standing out against the paleness of his skin tonight. They were both so pale but he was sure they'd be back to their healthy glows eventually. "Are you sick because of me, Dad? Is it because I threw up on your feet before?"
"It's not completely because of that but I'll be better soon! I just need a few more days but I'm sure I'll be up and about soon and when I am we can play in the backyard, yeah?" Heads bobbed in nods when Izuku beamed with the hole of his canine giving him that rather adorable appearance. The same with Hitoshi and his own missing teeth. He then squeezed them gently to his chest earning himself tightening arms. "Now, why don't you guys tell me what I've been missing out on? I wanna hear everything."