Model Idol Combi: so you had a sick day

[jitensha]

[ so the thing was, Makoto didn't get sick. It took a series of unfortunate events, a moment of stress-induced weakness, and doing the idiotically chivalrous thing of trying to make her way home in the pouring rain and likely spending too much time in soaked clothing, despite Kise's best efforts.

But the point was, Makoto didn't usually get sick, and when she did get sick, it had to be sick enough to buckle her knees and keep her under her covers with a fever that could warm cold palms in an instant. She'd tried to go to work, but hadn't made it further than her own doorway before she'd gotten too dizzy to stand without the aid of the frame and had been promptly ushered back to bed.

And of course, she hadn't wanted to worry Kise, but that had backfired and for some inexplicable reason, she felt worse than ever. She'd have to change the compress again, she thinks distantly, as she tries to push herself up on her elbows to give him a properly chastising look. At the very least, her parents were now out for one of her dad's races, but... ]

You... really didn't have to come.

[ what if she's contagious? It's bad enough that she feels awful and she's sweaty and her hair's a mess and her face is all red and this isn't very romantic at all-- ]

Comments

[jitensha]

[ this is going to taste bad, she knows it's going to taste bad, and it's still so embarrassing that she can't even toss the medicine back herself, but she opens her mouth anyway. ]

A-aaaah.

[ it's little more than a whisper, but at least she's cooperative. ]

[ex_doubly406]

[he needs a moment, to get the room to stop spinning on him.]

Fine.

[it's the best he can do. He's not even going to pretend he doesn't need to double over and cough his lungs out.]

--'m fine. Kind of.

[he's so convincing.]

[ex_doubly406]

[yes, cooperation is good. Though, he has to say she looks pretty cute like this... Not that he's enjoying her cold or anything.

Once she's swallowed that down, he gets another one ready.]

One more. Lucky me, Makocchi's a good patient.

[yes that probably tastes awful but flattery and sparkles will get you everywhere work with him please.]

[jitensha]

[ she's got a free hand, one she's using to rub his back. It might help with some of the tension, since she can feel it just by holding him upright: it's like every single one of his muscles is straining mightily, for some unknown reason.

She's worried, but it won't help if she sounds like she is, so she goes for level instead. ]

If you're not fine, it's okay to say so. The water's still over here...

[jitensha]

[ Makoto's still mid-nose-scrunch when she takes the second spoonful--

And promptly chokes on it, because coughs have terrible timing. For one, blindingly horrifying moment, she can't breathe and she's pretty sure some of the syrup doesn't stay in her mouth and likely gets on the blanket/his shirt, but through something like SHEER FORCE OF WILL (and a hand clapped obstinately over her mouth to keep her from spitting it out), she swallows. And then just focuses on trying to breathe, only it feels like some of it's gone up her nose rather than down her throat and that's gross. ]

[ex_doubly406]

[He shakes his head, slowly. No need to trigger another dizzy spell just because the last one saved him. He appreciates her rubbing his back though, it almost feels like it helps with the coughs.]

The soup... [It has to say something about him that it's only now that his voice starts to take on a raw quality.] You can just give me the soup, Makocchi.

[ex_doubly406]

[H-His shirt... It was sponsored...

But no, he has no time right now to worry about spots on his shirt. Not when he's overreacting as per usual, patting her back with a little more force than necessary and looking so anxious over making her choke.]

Makocchi, are you okay?! I'm sorry, was that too fast?? Don't choke!

[you idiot she's already done.]

[jitensha]

[ this isn't lessening her concern any, but she keeps up the rubbing for another minute before she moves again to grab another spoonful from the bowl waiting on the nightstand. ]

Don't push yourself, okay?

[jitensha]

[ okay, that actually hurts, though she only hunches over a little more until she can breathe again. Finally, still a little strangled-- ]

I-I'm okay.

[ex_doubly406]

[That would have been a laugh on any other day.]

If I eat this-- [Coughs, please stop ruining the moment.] I'll be cured... Or something like that...

[And he swallows down that spoonful so hard he wouldn't be surprised if he swallowed his tongue in the process. But he doesn't want to let it swish around in his mouth any longer than he has to. No coughing while eating, he tells himself, and definitely don't let it come back up.

That last part's pretty hard though.]

[ex_doubly406]

Are you sure?? You still don't look so good. Do you want water? Should I take your temperature again? I'm really sorry, I should've been more careful!

[Shut. Up. Kise.]

[jitensha]

... Or something! [ she can laugh, at least. ] It'd be nice if my food had that kind of power, but it won't lose out to any other feelings!

[ and he's trying so hard, too. ]

[jitensha]

[ as hard as it is to feel cheerful at the moment, Makoto still manages a smile as she reaches out to touch his hand. It's terribly weak, a bit shaky at the edges, but it's a genuine attempt at reassurance.

Even if she's sort of listing to one side. ]

It's not your fault. Actually... you were a really big help.

[ex_doubly406]

[He'd say that it wouldn't be like her if it did lose out, but he's a little more preoccupied at the moment trying to keep his soup down. Sure he's not feeling his best, but that doesn't mean he can do that to her.

After a brief struggle where he tries not to be too obvious-- staring hard at his hands without a word, very not obvious-- he gives a shaky smile.]

... Y-Yeah.

[ex_doubly406]

[Time for a rescue, Kise style.

Which means he's wrapping his arm around her so that if she's going to start leaning, at least she'll lean into him instead.]

I know I screwed up so you don't need to say that... [It kind of hurts when he can tell her hands are shaking.] This nursing stuff isn't as easy as they make it look...

[jitensha]

[ it would be nice if he was only sick enough for them to share deep and meaningful glances as she tended to him, but the fact remains that reality's never that nice, and Kise's worsening state isn't really all that conducive to romantic moments.

She just wants him to feel better, and she frowns as she moves the spoon back and tests his forehead with the back of her hand. ]

You're still so hot... you've got a thermometer in the medicine cabinet, right? I'll be right back.

[jitensha]

[ and lean she does; her body's aching too much for her to be terribly stubborn about sitting up on her own. It doesn't mean she's not frustrated, though. When she starts speaking again, a little louder and persisting through a cough, her voice sounds like it's being squeezed through a tight tube. Her forehead presses against his shirt.

It's like she's trying very hard not to cry. ]

You didn't... I'm sorry, being this pathetic... I really didn't want you to see me like this.

[ex_doubly406]

Eh--

[He's not feeling well enough to catch her hand when it's there, and he groans inside when he sees how slow he is.]

You're not going to feed--

[And then the coughing fit said no, you're not going to be able to talk very much today. Doesn't matter how chatty you normally are.]

[jitensha]

I will, I will!

[ she's quick to reassure him, even quicker to toss this over her shoulder as she makes her way for the door. ]

I just want to make sure that fever of yours isn't getting any higher! [ which is why she's making a beeline for the bathroom and hoping fervently that he won't keel over in the minute and twenty seconds it takes her. ]

[ex_doubly406]

[Oh.

That twinge in his heart becomes an all-out ache, making it easy for him to declare that that wasn't very fair of her. Seeing her so upset isn't helping, and he wonders if it's because she's feverish or if it's because he gave her the wrong impression about what he likes about her.]

Hey, Makocchi, I never said anything like that. [He gives her a squeeze, leaning down so that his lips can ghost over her forehead.] Can you not put words in my mouth?

[It sounds pretty harsh, but he's smiling and his tone is light enough that she should be able to tell that he didn't say that to be mean.]

Even if you said no I would've come by to see you.

[ex_doubly406]

[In the one minute and twenty seconds it takes her to get there and back, Kise reaches out for her for about 30 seconds before he decides he's too cold to keep that up. Then for about 40 seconds he thinks about how he wants to die, really really wants to die, sorry fangirls, Kurokocchi, Kasamatsu-senpai, basketball... Then for the rest of the time he shrivels up under the blanket wondering why his throat is declaring that he's not allowed to rest.

So he didn't exactly keel over but his arm is hanging off the bed.]

[jitensha]

[ ordinarily, she'd know better. Except that thinking with a fever has never ended well, and she's this close to crumpling in a fit of hopeless tears. But then he's leaning in and smiling, and she has to breathe shakily instead. She's acutely aware that she's trembling, but he doesn't look appalled at all. ]

... You're amazing.

[jitensha]

[ she almost immediately regrets leaving him when she returns, thermometer in her hand all but forgotten as she crouches down to move his arm back onto the bed. Then she's back up, fussing with the blanket and trying to blot some of that sweat off his face with her sleeve. ]

Sorry for taking so long... can you open up for me?

gdi i thought you went to bed

[ex_doubly406]

[It catches him by surprise, leaving him blinking dumbly. The abruptness of that compliment melts away with her trembles however, letting concern settle in again.]

Thanks, Makocchi.

[He gently lowers her back down onto the bed, pulling the blanket up for her once she's settled in. She seems even smaller than usual like this.]

Then you'll be an amazing patient for me, won't you?

[ex_doubly406]

[The look he gives her is full of the puppy goodness that spills from actual puppies when they're about to be adopted.]

Fine, so can I--

[He gestures weakly to where he thinks the soup is. Which isn't there at all. But isn't it nice how happy he is about her coming back?]