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]

That's not-- [ she begins, a little panicked, like she'd missed the nonchalance of his tone entirely, and she tenses in an effort to sit up.

It fails when another paroxysm of coughing seizes her, her limbs protesting until she stops struggling and the sound ebbs away. That still leaves Makoto in the uncomfortable predicament of trying to allay Kise's possibly nonexistent hurt while her throat feels like she took a strip of sandpaper to it. ]

T-that's too... selfish.

[ and she shouldn't feel exhausted just from that. ]

[jitensha]

[ if she wasn't in the process of relocating him to a comfier spot, Makoto would have hugged him fiercely.

... But that would probably hurt him, anyway. She has to settle for giving him her strongest smile as she holds him up. ]

There's nothing gross about helping you. You just need to let me.

[ex_doubly406]

[So it's not the fever, but the fever just bringing out her best and worst quality.

Or so he'd calmly assess if she wasn't flailing around like a fish-- and, a small part of him thinks, he should probably stop getting her to talk when she sounds like this but how else is he supposed to know what she's thinking? Looking longingly into each other's eyes doesn't exactly work here-- and his hand waving doing nothing to help any of this. Luckily she stops before he decides maybe holding her down with her covers could work.

It's only when he's sure that she won't start doing that again that he wipes off the concern that set over his features through that short coughing spasm.]

... Actually, I'd be happy if you were selfish enough for that. Even if you weren't, I'd be a terrible person if I left a princess in her time of need.

[ex_doubly406]

[And if he wasn't currently inching closer to collapsing on the spot, he'd tell her that no, actually it's very gross. Even he doesn't want to touch it, so she shouldn't either.

But this also means he has to face the facts: he probably can't clean anything up in the state he's in now even if he can find a rag.

The only thing he can do now is obvious.]

... Sorry.

[For making her do this. For throwing up the soup she made.]

[jitensha]

[ any other time, Makoto would turn red(der) and laugh in a pleased mixture of embarrassment and happiness. She really was weak for his princess lines.

And she is happy to hear that from him, relieved even, but the emotions slam into her with such force that before she even realizes it, her vision's blurring not from dizziness but from tears. Even though she's sick and pathetic, is it okay to think that he really wants to stay? It's okay to say-- ]

Please don't go.

[jitensha]

[ "For what?" she wants to ask, but doesn't. He doesn't need to scrape his throat for words any more than he already has. And she didn't need his explanation; she didn't blame him for anything. He'd only gotten sick after taking care of her. He'd only thrown up after eating her soup. He was sicker than a dog and she still didn't know what she was doing.

But she wasn't about to give up, either. And she finally manages to get him back in his room and over to his bed. Only then does she answer him; she'd shaken her head earlier. ]

I'm sorry. I should have realized sooner... but I'm really going to try to make it up to you! I promise.

[ex_doubly406]

--Eh?!

[Oh no, why's she crying?? No no, that wasn't what that was supposed to do at all! This wasn't part of what--]

Wait, Makocchi, don't cry! See, I'll stay right here! Please don't cry, if your parents come back to see this I'm dead! [And because he can't find her hands, he wipes away her tears carefully, hoping that that will console her for whatever he did wrong this time.]

GO TO SLEEP

[jitensha]

[ there's one hand now, and that's because she has to clear off the few tears that made it down to her chin. Kise's done a good job of gathering the rest, leaving her to try breathing through a stuffed nose and a clogged throat.

She wants to thank him, but maybe she should stop looking like a kicked puppy first. ]

I-I won't let them hurt you.

[ex_doubly406]

[He's all about planting himself on his bed, too grateful to answer her properly. As far as he's concerned, if she wanted to make up for anything then she's already done it by dumping him back in bed.

But, it's still cold. His head feels hot but he's shivering--]

Your soup-- [That doesn't get much projection when he's talking into his pillow so he tries to be louder.]

I'm sorry about the soup...

I DID

[ex_doubly406]

They would probably get to me before you could say anything to them...

[She really should. He looks around briefly to find the tissue box, setting it beside her to offer her one.]

[jitensha]

[ she tugs the blanket higher over him, then reaches out to touch his head, lightly. ]

It's okay. You really didn't have to force yourself.

[ and with a quick smile, she's reaching for the tray, leaving the water and making her way to the kitchen. She'll try and pick up a rag on the way back to tackle the hallway. ]

GOOD

[jitensha]

[ she accepts it with a tiny, grateful smile, and works on being semi-presentable here. Except now her face is probably blotchy and still red and it hurts to talk and being sick really sucks. ]

They won't-- know, then...

[ex_doubly406]

[Which means that he'll probably be talking to himself by the time he manages to answer.]

But you made it--

[Oh god his throat. But yeah, award for dumbest decision made while sick goes to Kise. No, it doesn't help that he kind of wants to cry.]

[ex_doubly406]

[He was never expecting her to look like an staggering epitome of beauty anyway. He does, however, offer her another tissue because she looks like she could use it.]

That helps but just in case, let me hide in your closet too. I don't know what would happen if your dad caught me.

[Because he doesn't know that the person to be feared is her mom.]

[jitensha]

[ hopefully he'll have improved by the slightest incremental amount by the time she's done. Cleaning up bile has never been fun, and her own stomach recoils a bit at the smell, but if she holds her breath and scrubs, it's not that hard to manage. He didn't have a whole lot in his stomach, anyway.

When she returns, it's with another blanket she's borrowed from a closet and a compress to put on his forehead. ]

Hey... [ she starts off, softly, because if he's sleeping, she really doesn't want to disturb him. ]

[jitensha]

You'll be fine... I promise.

[ says the one staunching further sniffles with a tissue as she sinks a little more into the mattress. ]

[ex_doubly406]

[His eyes are bleary when they look at her, and that should be enough to tell her that he could not sleep even if he wanted to.

And this time, instead of looking all eager at her return, he just closes his eyes. Her short absence only helped sink further into him that he just threw up and made her clean it. It's a new level of miserable and he almost can't bear it.]

[ex_doubly406]

[Right right, he should really stop talking, and it doesn't seem like she cried because he said the wrong thing.]

Makocchi, want to sleep now? I'll be right here if you need me!

[jitensha]

[ for a moment, she falters. It's not like she'd expected him to light up, the way he had when she'd first returned, but the stark difference in reactions is a little disheartening.

But even if he's mad at her or feeling worse, it would be the worst to abandon him, so she lowers herself to her knees, leaning against the side of the bed and resting her palm against his cheek. ]

I'm sorry.

[jitensha]

[ her smile is sheepish, almost apologetic. ]

I'm not sure if I can...

[ex_doubly406]

Don't.

[It's tragically half-hearted, that swat at her hand; it's too refreshing compared to all the heaviness around him.]

I'm disgusting.

[ex_doubly406]

Huh? Why?? [WAIT NO TALKING--] Sorry, am I too loud? Should I tell a bedtime story? That's a yes, right? Okay, I'll go with one that's less energetic! Let's see, the last time I went on a group date with everyone was boring so...

[... He's doing his best?]

[jitensha]

You're not.

[ that comes out a little sharper, a little angrier than she'd intended, but she can't let him think that. She refuses to let him think that, and even as she snaps out that protest, she keeps her hand gentle. She brushes a thumb underneath his cheekbone and slides her fingers down to his chin. ]

You're sick. But you're not disgusting.

[jitensha]

[ he really is, and it makes that ruefulness fade into something wearily fond, like maybe it's not what anyone would have expected, but it's Kise, and he's trying so earnestly.

She won't even make disconsolate faces about him going on group dates, just listening until the coherency of his words start to blend into something soothing and almost lyrical. ]

[ex_doubly406]

[He still feels disgusting. It's why he tries to tell her 'don't' again; it's obvious that he doesn't have the heart to make her stop though. That and enough strength as he used up what he had left for that frantic sprint for the bathroom.]

I'm-- [She doesn't need to get sprayed with his spit, so he suppresses the coughs.] so gross...