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Of course, just like many other things in his life, Suguru doesn’t see it coming.
It starts with a dull headache that he immediately dismisses as dehydration. When he wakes up way later than usual, body aching in all the wrong places and feeling heavier than usual he doesn’t think about it twice, not when he has Satoru’s own warm body pressed against him, head buried in the crook of his neck, right where his mating mark still burns. If anything, he knows Satoru will be waking up with a more sore body and a grumble of how he can barely walk on his lips all day.
So he goes through his day as usual, albeit with less energy and more discomfort than he’s used to.
On the third day, when he doesn’t even wake up on his own, can barely open his eyes despite the distant call of his name he can faintly hear, he knows, deep down in his bones he knows, he is truly fucked.
“Good morning, sleepy head. You got me worried for a minute there. I was one second away from shaking the sleep out of you”
Satoru’s face is blurry at first and he has to blink multiple times to clear out his vision. When he does, he can finally make out the slight frown on his mate’s face, fingers gently carding through his bangs as he sits on Suguru’s side of the bed.
He tries to speak, opens his mouth to say something stupid like ‘I know a way to shake the sleep out of you’ but instead a violent cough quite literally shakes his entire body, has him wheezing and barely able to breathe. His chest aches and all of a sudden he becomes aware of everything wrong with him, his scratchy throat, his burning eyes, his aching joints and to his utmost horror, undeniably, what can only be his runny nose.
Satoru is on him in a millisecond, warm hand rubbing against his back (he doesn’t even know how he ended up sitting against the bed frame, did the coughing fit actually shake him out of his lying position?) before carefully handing him a glass of water, one that feels like heaven to his dry throat.
“Thank you, babe” His voice cracks a little as he speaks but that doesn’t stop him from smiling warmly at his mate.
Satoru, however, doesn’t smile back. His frown only seems to deepen with each passing second, and if that wasn’t enough to send his alpha instinct just a little haywire, the slight shift in his scent definitely should.
It’s barely there. Suguru doesn’t think he would’ve been able to detect it if they weren’t mates (at that thought his alpha at least perks up in satisfaction). But the usually fresh and slightly sweet smell of magnolia and pomegranate is undoubtedly tinted with a new hint of sourness. A hint of worry and distress that Suguru absolutely would go to a war for. And that is exactly what trying to move feels like. In a hopeful attempt to prove to his mate that he is completely fine and there’s nothing to worry about, he removes the covers and tries to stand up as fast as he can to not give him a chance to stop him, which proves to be a grave mistake because he almost ends up toppling over, knees wobbling and room spinning so fast he fears he might actually throw up.
Satoru, his beautiful, amazing, strong Satoru, is thankfully just as fast, arms wrapping around him and bringing him back to the bed.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?! Do you wanna break a hip? Or worse , fall on that pretty face and ruin it for good ?!”
Suguru can’t find it in himself to tease back, can only grumble in return, doesn’t get the chance to argue because another coughing fit wrecks through his body and almost brings him to his knees. Just like before, Satoru hands him a glass of water right after, and just like before, Suguru feels himself falling in love just a little bit more. The cold hand that presses against his forehead has him sighing and closing his eyes in relief, leaning more against the familiar touch when it moves to his right cheek, stroking there gently.
“You’re burning up. I’m gonna get the thermometer and quickly make you something hot to eat. Do not move out of this bed or I swear to God, Suguru”
He opens his eyes just enough to see Satoru’s stern face and pointed finger, before he’s already up and walking outside the room. He doesn’t think he can move even if he wanted to anyway, so he rests his head back against the headboard, weakly tries to bring the covers all the way to his chin when a sudden chill runs all over his body. He doesn’t know how much time passes. At some point he thinks he drifts off to a dreamless sleep, only stirring awake when he feels a gentle shake to his shoulder and a soft touch to his hair.
Satoru is on his side of the bed again, holding a tray with medication on it and a steaming bowl of soup. The smell is one he recognizes immediately despite his stuffy nose, his mother’s recipe forever engraved in his mind. Only then he understands why it must’ve taken his mate a while to be back.
The thought of Satoru calling his mother to ask for the recipe of her famous chicken soup, the one she always makes whenever he or his sisters fell sick, almost has his eyes stinging with tears, a sudden wave of emotions, love and absolute adoration for his mate filling his chest. He wants to do nothing but grab him and kiss his face until he’s out of breath but he can’t risk getting him sick either. So he just opts to look at him with fond eyes and a grateful heart.
“We need to measure your temperature first. Shoko said to not give you anything before checking whether you have a fever or not”
Suguru nods without much thought, opening his mouth when Satoru holds the thermometer in front of his face like an obedient child. And as they wait for it to beep, the words reply in his mind, slowly registering. Satoru said something about Shoko. But weren’t they supposed to meet with her today? Weren’t they actually supposed to meet with her and everyone else for brunch ? It was supposed to be their first outing since they mated a couple weeks ago. Weren’t they also supposed to go out for dinner later tonight to celebrate at Satoru’s favorite Italian restaurant, the one he had to make a reservation for a month prior ?
His stomach drops and he feels a new wave of dread all over his body. He removes the thermometer before it starts beeping, not giving Satoru a chance to ask him what the hell he’s doing before he’s speaking, voice hoarse and cracking “ What time is it ?! We were supposed to have brunch with everyone today!”
Satoru’s eyebrows furrow as he gently pushes him back when he tries (really hard) to stand up “It’s past ten. I texted everyone and told them we can’t make it”
“What about tonight? Don’t tell me you canceled tonight’s reservation too. With a few painkillers and ma’s soup we can definitely make it! See, I’m already feeling better with the smell alo-”
As if on cue, a strong sneeze interrupts him, soon followed by another, and another until he can barely breathe, eyes filling with tears and nose running.
Satoru waits for him patiently before giving him a soft tissue, then placing the thermometer back in his mouth. “Honey, you can barely walk. We can meet up with everyone as soon as you get better. And I will just make another reservation for next month”
Satoru’s fingers never stop carding through his hair as he speaks. It’s not enough though to sooth the guilt eating at him alive. The thermometer finally beeps and Satoru’s lower lip gets caught between his teeth as he inspects the device. Even with a stuffy nose Suguru can smell the distress slowly increasing in his scent and his alpha almost lets out an audible whine (he’s already been doing that in his mind) at the thought of causing such a worry for his mate.
“You’re definitely feverish.” He says while pulling out his phone, no doubt to text Shoko.
Suguru tries to deny it with a shake of his head, then regrets immediately when the slight movement sends a strike of pain to his temple.
“I can’t give you any painkillers on an empty stomach so you’ll have to eat first” Satoru’s voice is apologetic. He gives one last touch to his cheek before leaning closer, placing a soft kiss to his neck, right on his mating mark then more to his scent glands. The scenting eases both his heart and body a little and he can’t help the way he presses his own nose to Satoru’s exposed neck.
Satoru is patient as he feeds him one spoon after another, blowing softly before each one. When they get interrupted by another fit of sneezing he laughs softly as he removes the tray away to not have anything spilled all over their bed. Suguru’s heart swells both in love and pain. They should’ve been out celebrating, proudly showing everyone that they’re finally each other’s forever. He should’ve been spoiling his mate and showering him with love. But instead they’re stuck in their apartment for God knows how long, Satoru taking care of him instead.
“Stop. I can taste the guilt on my tongue”
Satoru says sternly and Suguru can only grunt in protest. He knows he’s pouting and acting like a petulant child but he doesn’t care. His alpha deserves to be wallowing in guilt for being this incompetent and weak.
“I can’t believe you’re sulking because you got sick” Satoru is shaking his head but his voice is fond. Suguru finally looks at him, brown eyes drowning in a sea of blue. “We should’ve been celebrating. I should be the one taking care of you. I ruined everything”
Now he’s absolutely sure he’s acting like a child. Satoru’s soft laugh (despite being beautiful) doesn’t help and he harmlessly glares at his mate.
“You didn’t ruin anything. I don’t care about celebrating. The biggest celebration to me was the moment we mated. And I’m supposed to take care of you as much as you take care of me. You’re doing it all the time, am I not allowed to spoil my mate at least once?”
The soft kiss pressed to his temple is like cold water to the fire burning in his chest. Maybe another sneezing fit catches him off guard. Maybe his eyes well with tears that have nothing to do with the cold. Maybe Satoru knows and pretends he doesn’t. Whatever it is Suguru realizes that having Satoru as his mate is the biggest victory of his life.