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

[ex_doubly406]

[... Wow, she looks like she might collapse at any moment and she still scolds him. What did he do to deserve that.]

I wouldn't try... I mean, I wouldn't go up to talk to them. It'd be a coincidence if I did end up seeing them.

[Yeah, sorry. You tried.]

But Makocchi, you don't have to stay up and listen. No one really listens to the end of a bedtime story.

[jitensha]

[ and that hand's still there, to help him up, her arms at the ready to keep him upright (to flat-out carry him if she must). ]

Okay-- it's okay. We'll take it slow.

[jitensha]

... Was it a bedtime story?

[ she's so baffled. ]

[ex_doubly406]

[Makoto please, he's 189cm and much heavier than you.

But okay. Okay. Take it slow, right? He can do that. He can...

... Sort of do that. He's part way up and leaning into her way too much but he's... up? And taking it slow. Slow like a snail that's actually dead. At least he's not saying anything about being dizzy yet.]

[ex_doubly406]

Huh? Wasn't it?

[He's the one who's baffled here.]

Didn't you want me to talk so that you could fall asleep to the sound of my voice?

[Someone's flattering himself too much.]

[jitensha]

[ Kise please, she's 159cm and very good at picking up people much bigger and heavier than she is.

It's also very hard not to lug him all the way to the bathroom, since at this pace, maybe they'll make it there in a week, but she can be patient. Dragging him anywhere likely isn't going to make him feel better, anyway. For now, Makoto stays put by his side, stolidly upright and keeping him on his feet.

They'll get there eventually. ]

[jitensha]

It'd-- be rude if I fell asleep while you were talking.

[ geez. ]

I really just like hearing you--

[ oh god STOP COUGHING. ]

[ex_doubly406]

[Eventually is about 10 minutes away.

Everything in the bathroom feels cold and cool, and while he'd like to press his forehead onto the sink completely forgetting about his dignity (it kind of died while he was barfing anyway), he's also shivering so much that just pawing at the tap is a great effort.

He doesn't have enough energy to feel frustrated about this.]

[ex_doubly406]

[PLEASE DO because now there's even more overreaction from him.]

Ah-- Sorry, I thought you were-- [UM.] I shouldn't have--

[WAVING YOUR HANDS IS VERY HELPFUL!]

[jitensha]

Your hands are getting a little spinny like that...

[ CALM DOWN KISE. ]

[jitensha]

[ Makoto's got enough energy for the both of them, and has no problem reaching over to start the water running. She was about to ask him if he wanted her to stay, but she's actually very very worried that if she leaves him to his own devices, she'll find him shivering on the floor.

It's a disturbingly real possibility and she'd like to get him back in bed as soon as she can. ]

[ex_doubly406]

[IT'S LIKE HE CAN'T DO ANYTHING RIGHT, HE'S SO USELESS.

Except those are not his actual thoughts. He does however, stop waving his hands around.]

Makocchi, you're dizzy too? I thought you were feeling okay since you kept talking... [how does nursing people back to health work] Should I get the thermometer?

[jitensha]

I-it's okay... I already know about the fever.

[ Makoto, don't say that like you think that will actually perk him up. ]

[ex_doubly406]

[He stares at the running water, like he forgot why he wanted to come here.

But slowly and surely, he starts wiping at his mouth. Slowly. But surely. He fumbles a bit after a while, trying to grab the cup at the side so that he can rinse it out too. He'd try for the toothbrush but he can still tell at this point that it won't end well. Worst case scenario being choking on it.

He's just about done when he winces, nearly elbowing Makoto as he tries to grab his head. Of all the times for it to get from bad to terrible.]

[jitensha]

Ah--

[ why did she ever think this was going to be something straight out of shoujo manga? There was no way it could have accurately covered how much it hurt to watch your boyfriend suffering so much and knowing you could only try to make it a little bit better.

... Besides, it's her soup that made him sick, and she bites her lip as guilt floods her once again, doing her best to shake it off as she steadies him again. ]

What's wrong?? Do you need to sit down?

[ex_doubly406]

[Surprise, it doesn't perk him up.]

But if it's bad enough for you to get dizzy, isn't that serious?! Makocchi, I thought you were supposed to tell me!

[Not that he would've known what to do, other than change the compress and sit by her side. And he's feeling that rather acutely as he let his gaze drift, thinking that he is woefully unprepared for this.]

[jitensha]

[ if she was sitting, it'd be easier to see her droop, the tell-tale signs of slumped shoulders and disheartened frowns. But it's just the frown and the way she lowers her eyes from his face to nothing in particular. It's not like he chastised her severely, but it's a reminder that she's still messing up. ]

It doesn't stay the whole time... and I didn't want to worry you.

[ which is why she pulls the covers up to her nose, and muffled-- ]

Sorry.

[ex_doubly406]

[It's not the coughing that finally destroys his voice, but the vomiting.]

No, it's cold--

[Here, he means to say. He'd like to get back in bed, now that he's a tenth less gross than before. After he finds a rag to wipe down the hallway. His body however, says that maybe he should sink down in the bathroom instead before he goes anywhere.]

[jitensha]

[ thank god Makoto is vastly stronger than she looks, because she's not about to let him curl on the floor. He'd only get colder. ]

Hang in there-- let's get you back to bed and I'll see if I can find some extra blankets.

[ and a rag, because for once, she is going to argue him to death if he tries to clean anything right now. He's going to get better. He is. ]

[ex_doubly406]

[The one who's messing up is him. Nothing's going to happen until he calms down and figures out that foisting his confusion and annoyance on her isn't going to help any.

And her apology might help with that.]

Makocchi... [It feels like he's the bad guy whenever she does that. He'd say as much if she wasn't dizzy, coughing, and burrowing herself under the covers. He'd take her hand and tell her that she doesn't need to apologize for anything. But, reality...]

I'm really sorry. I'll let you sleep.

[ex_doubly406]

[Arguing him to death might not be far off given how he feels right now. He releases his grip on the sink, to let her support him completely as he tries to stand.]

Makocchi, clean first...

[Well, let's see how dying works out.]

[jitensha]

Don't apologize...

[ it's less of an order and more of a plea, and she has to poke her face out again because it's too sweltering like that.

Even though she's got goosebumps.

... She really hates this.

But sleeping might be a good idea. If she can rid herself of the headache long enough for it to happen-- but if she sleeps, isn't that going to leave him lonely? Or maybe he'll go home.

Stay, that one super feverish and utterly selfish part of her mind wails plaintively. She shuts it up. ]

You don't have to stay, Ryouta-kun... it'll be boring.

[jitensha]

Leave the cleaning to me!

[ and that cheeriness is punctuated by steel. He feels lighter than usual, but if he can't keep much down, that's hardly any surprise. Now to walk him back.

Slowly. ]

I'm pretty sure I know where the rags are, and it shouldn't take me long, so don't worry about it, okay?

[ex_doubly406]

[He's a little confused that she'd say that. Doesn't she want him around? Sure it might be boring, but she's going to send him home just like that? Is it the fever talking?]

... Do you not want me here?

[He should probably sound more serious when he asks that. Instead he sounds flippant like he's asking her why she doesn't like a certain flavour of ice cream.]

[ex_doubly406]

[If he wasn't already looking exceptionally sad, the look he gives her now should drive it home.]

But it's... [Ugh coughing, please go away.] ... gross.

[Yes that is his main worry here.]