Work Text:
Thoma did an awfully loud cough, groaning as he tried to bring himself back into focus. He felt less than good lately, and he didn’t exactly know why. Well, that was a lie. He kind of knew exactly why. He'd been with Ayato, who was heavily sick, mostly from burnout and lack of proper wear during his overseas trip to Dragonspine, quickly contracting a cold that led to the flu, as it was spring in Inazuma. He did the best he could with taking care of Ayato, more than usual, but somewhere along the lines he wanted to have fun, despite the terrible state he was in. Thoma was, quite easily, defeated and allowed himself to indulge in the Commissioner, now in the same state as he is currently.
Coughing once more, he’d breathed in deep as he decided to take a small break, feeling his forehead. It was…hotter than usual. What’s worse is that his muscles started to ache and he felt a big headache, dropping down on the ground. Thoma was still okay, just…needed a little break! Can’t go wrong with that!
Sighing as his eyes started getting blurrier, he brought his knee up, resting his head on it. It still aches a lot, but he was fine, he was fine! Thoma couldn’t really stop in the first place anyway, he had a lot to do today, and pushing back or falling behind means more to do the following days, or worse, giving others who definitely don’t need more than they could handle his awful workload. So, after this break, he’ll definitely get back to work! Yea!
Somewhere across the room there was a young-ish woman, who looked fairly new. She was busy sweeping, as she was one of the more younger housekeepers who was currently being trained. The young lady noticed a person who seemed to be…sleeping, their breath heavy enough as she soon approached, only to see Thoma, who was awfully red and fully asleep, almost collapsing if the wobbling didn’t already make him fall, the broom leaning against him. The housekeeper worriedly put the palm of her hand on top fo Thoma’s forehead, feeling the insane amount of heat piling up, she freaked out, “Ah! Thoma! Y-You’re burning up!”
Thoma flinched when he heard the small squeak, bringing his head up, the sting painfully back. The housekeeper glanced at the lady with squinted, blurry eyes that looked like it was tearing up, “ah…don't worry, heh. I’m a-alright,” Thoma did not sound alright. His voice was now a lot more hoarse, which concerned the maid more.
“Nonono, uh, s-stay here, p-please! Miss Nanakumi!” The maid ran off, seemingly to alert her mentor in Thoma’s current state- though Thoma really was fine, and he would prove it!
Getting up, he felt his whole body ache, his lungs tighten, and whole body red- Thoma weakly gripped on the broom he’d…somehow forgot he had, before beginning to slowly walk…
And then he limped, his headache coming back strong and mighty- the other maids now seeing the state he was in.
“Thoma! You look so unwell,” The older, wiser housekeeper placed a hand on his cheek softly, “And you’re burning up. C'mere, we must get you back to your room.”
“Nono, it’s a-alright,” Thoma persisted, “It’s just…small allergies?”
“It’s barely even March.”
“Allergic to pollen?”
“No talking back, Thoma. We’ll push you if we have to,”
“Fine,” He sighed, “If you do insist. But I’m not sick at all! Trust me!”
Thoma was laying in bed, a damp cloth that was just rinsed over his head, half-drank water right beside him. He was declared sick as the thermometer said a high degree of 103, that was enough reliable proof that he was officially sick. So now he was here, with a massive headache, and a horrible combination of seething heat and the coldness of these sheets. Halfway through the day, with constant cycles of re-damping the wet cloth, making sure he’d drink enough, and checking temperatures, the Kamisato siblings came to visit him in a hurry.
Even Ayato, who probably shouldn’t even be near Thoma right now, or Ayaka, as a matter of fact.
“Thoma,” Ayaka spoke, with such a concern in her expression, so subtle yet it conveyed so much for somebody who spent their days with the siblings, “We heard that you were feeling ill, I believe I have a sneaking suspicion on how you managed to get this bad…” She said, eyeing the taller ill-formed man, who insisted on visiting Thoma despite his drowsy and sick state.
“ah….hey. S-sorry i-'' Thoma sneezed violently, the two siblings jumping back out of instinct, “ow- yeah, sorry guys, heh-”
“No need to apologize, Thoma. I do believe it was quite my fault. I…had you overnight, I just didn’t think of how easily my flu had spread towards you, out of everybody around here.” Ayato spoke, his voice better than 2 days ago, yet still was hoarse enough for an average person to notice, terribly overlapping his cool and refined language. Though his eyes spoke of the guilt he had. Thoma couldn’t help but feel a little bit bad.
“it’s alright–” There came another sneeze, the two siblings wincing slightly at how bad it was, looking at each other at the same time before looking back at the sick man in front, “yyou didn’t– e-expect– i-it to happen, i-it’s ok. Iipr-promise, my l-lord.” Despite his ever aching need to clear his headache, and for his illness to get away from him soon, Thoma somehow managed to keep up his formality despite in a delirious state.
Ayato sighed with a soft smile, “If you say so. I’ll try to help you with your case here, I’m feeling much better than before.”
“you– don’t have to–”
“Ah ah ah,” Ayato interrupted, “Rest, my dear. You can do anything that you want once you’re feeling brand new, okay my dear?” He gleamed with a small teasing tone, Thoma’s already red cheeks becoming crimson by now.
Ayaka coughed awkwardly, sending the two back to reality, “I’ll be going now. Don’t cause Thoma too much trouble, big brother. I’ll make sure your duties today are subsided until you’re feeling better.” She secretly knew how ‘close’ the two of them were, yet never made any outwardly comments. Only private ones to her brother(to which he responded in his own, bashfully petty way). She left the room, leaving the two alone, along with their awfully romantic tension.
“So,” Ayato said with a soft smile, “Do you need anything dear?”
Thoma made a small noise in response to the pet name, “ssleepy,,ss-sorry.” He caught himself in the middle, though his eyelids started getting heavier as the seconds went by.
“Don’t apologize, just rest. I’ll be in here while you sleep.” Thoma did a soft groan in response, resting his head in the soft pillow, one that was cleaned before he got sick, and slowly went to sleep. Ayato couldn’t help but stare with love in his eyes at his own boyfriend, how lucky was he to get such a beautiful angel?
Half an hour had past, of the same maids coming in and out, wringing out his damp towel and dipping it before placing it as gently as they could on Thoma’s forehead, his bangs tied back (he was complaining about it in his sleep, Ayato did the nice thing and put a small hair clip through), and overall, it was calm. The commissioner was trying to also relax, but with boredom and whatnot, he’d soon brought his workload, though it was highly against him, seeing that it wasn’t recommended to work while still sick- but what was he supposed to do exactly? So, Ayato kept working.
It felt a good while before he was suddenly snapped out of whatever he was thinking about, feeling weak and dizzy, a headache starting to form- he started to fully come into why he was snapped out as a small whimper came about, slowly turning with his eyes, that were red, to see Thoma- whimpering. That brought immediate concern to Ayato as he quickly got up and trotted over to him,
“My darling, do you need anything?” Upon hearing Ayato’s voice, Thoma slowly brought his hands out- his breathing heavy.
“Mmmhhhnnghr….ayato….c’mere.” Thoma made his fingers go in and out, to signify grabbing him. Ayato’s cheeks couldn’t help but turn red, a soft smile forming.
“Thoma, you are quite convincing, but I can’t. We’re both sick, you more than me. Do you really wish to risk becoming worse?” Ayato gave Thoma a small kiss on his forehead, just as a little treat for Thoma, who then whined and put his arms around Ayato’s neck suddenly.
“cuddle.” Was all he simply spoke, his voice hoarse and tired, like he was fighting sleep just to ask Ayato to come cuddle him. It was honestly adorable. Agh, who the hell made this man so perfect?
“Mm…you’re becoming hard to deny, is this what’s it like to be in your shoes?” Ayato simply chuckled, giving Thoma a chaste kiss on the lips. “Alright. I’ll stay by your side. If we both get equally sick, you’ll be in for a real reprimand.” Ayato stated, with a playful tone as he nuzzled his nose against Thoma’s, who happily giggled before hugging close to Ayato, burying his face on the crook of his neck and soon resting happily, while Ayato simply smiled, soon after dozing off right next to his lover.
“Tell me again how Ayato got sick…again.” Ayaka groaned, a glare shooting towards Thoma, who was currently wrapped up in a blanket- 2 feet away from Ayato, who was in his bed, in a similar state as Thoma.
“ah…i-i don’t..r-remember…” Thoma blushed in embarrassment, his voice meek from the sickness.
“Mmm, you don’t remember how-” Insert a soft cough from Ayato, “you practically whine for me to come next to you? Muttering sweet nothings next to my ear while you slept? Oh, if only I could’ve gotten an in-depth into your dreams,” Ayato’s voice was equally obvious that he was sick, but kept a suspiciously good act. As if everything else about him wasn’t obvious.
Thoma turned into a crimson, looking down in shame. “oh… i- i- uh. didn’t k..” insert a sneeze from Thoma, “know..that..oops.”
“It’s, quite alright sweetheart,” Giving a soft kiss to Thoma’s cheek, “I enjoyed every-” Insert a loud cough from Ayato, “...second. Of it.”
“You guys are absolutely smitten together,” Ayaka sighed, “It’s almost insufferable.”