This was written for word_docs_and_willowboughs on AO3 for the 2024 Hurt/Comfort Exchange. I did some quick research on types of pain meds in Japan, but not too much so there may be some inaccuracies.
One day, when Utena doesn't even have the strength to get out of bed, Anthy brings her a mug of tea, two Eve tablets, and plate with a single cookie so that the Eve doesn't wreak havoc on Utena's stomach. Unbidden, Utena remembers how they once threatened to poison each other's tea and cookies. She lets Anthy feed her anyways.
Her back hurts. The flare-ups happen about once every other month, which is much better than when Utena first left Ohtori. Back then the only times that she didn't feel the Swords of Hate was when she was dreaming of Anthy, and the pain from when her now-girlfriend had stabbed her through the back managed to outweigh the pain Utena had taken willingly. She had been in the hospital for three weeks as the doctors tried and failed to diagnose the cause of their pain.
"Back when he was still fighting everyone's battles, I'd make this sort of tea for him," Anthy said in a low voice. She doesn't have to say Dios's name for Utena to know who she is speaking of. The haunted look in her eyes is enough. "Back when he was still trying to save me, just to save me, he would make the tea for me. He wouldn't make it as well, though. Our pain medications weren't as good as they are now. The best we had just made you sleep it off. I still felt the pain in my sleep; I was just too weak to really move."
Weakly, Utena lifts her hand to place it on top of Anthy's. Anthy twists her hand to hold Utena's. Even now that they've both escaped and found each other again, far from where Akio can find them, it can be hard to convince Anthy to take a new medication when she's sick, especially if one of the side-effects is drowsiness. She didn't get sick back at Ohtori, not unless her current Betrothed wanted a sick girl to dote over.
"I didn't put any of the herbs we used to use in this tea," Anthy continues, using her other hand to tuck a strand of long hair behind her ear. The closest she ever does to pinning it up anymore is tying it back in a braid or ponytail, but most of the time she leaves it loose. More than once, Anthy has talked about just cutting it all off. She hasn't yet, though, no matter how many times Utena has said she could pull off short hair if she wanted to.
"It just has a similar flavor. Not the same, though; the herbs had made it more bitter, and I didn't add any sweetener." It isn't poisoned. I'm sorry.
There really is no need for apologies, not anymore. But Utena is in too much pain to have that argument. She suspects she'll still be in pain in an hour after the Eve kicks in, and she'll have to take it easy. It's a shame, because she had actually been planning on cooking something nice tonight, but the cast iron skillet she plans on using is heavy, and Utena won't be able to lift it on her own. Maybe she'll ask Anthy to help her. Maybe she'll just have to hope that Anthy won't feel guilty enough to cook the meal herself, and that Utena can fry the tonkatsu in a couple days when she can lift things again. The pork should still be safe and unspoiled in the fridge until then.