A week has passed since Iori started his work at the hospital. He's been aware of Rikus health problems, to some degree, but he assumed it wasn't as serious as it was in reality. The first time he saw Riku get an attack, reality hit him hard in the face.
Seeing someone so young, even though Riku was older than the blue head, in so much pain wasn't something he wanted to see. Although studying medicine and becoming a doctor like Iori planned meant having to see things like this, it didn't make it easier.
Riku was gasping for air, for any amount of oxygen to make it into his system. He was leaning over his knees and his hands were held up to his chest, gripping the fabric of the hospital gown. He was also coughing a fair bit in between gasps and wheezing.
Iori was so taken aback by this sight when he opened the door to the red heads room, he froze. He just looked at him, he wanted to move and try to help him, but his body just wouldn't. He stood there like an idiot until, by some sheer luck, Momo ran into the room and started to attend to Riku.
Everyone assured him it was alright, that everything ended up fine, that it wasn't his fault as it was his first time seeing something like that. That he couldn't help much anyway, as he wasn't a trained professional yet and could actually do more damage if he did try helping, was something Mitsuki told him. And he was Right.
Iori did look up Rikus illness, so he had a better understanding than before. He knew that Riku should have an inhaler with him, even if he was at the hospital and giving it to him would help, but if it didn't he was to call for help. But Iori just couldn't forget that he failed to do something so easy as just calling for help at least.
Iori was leading a perfect lifestyle, always perfect grades in school, his daily routine was perfected over the years so that he would have everything he needed done and still have time to study or scroll through his SNS. His looks were good as well, so Iori wasn't accustomed to failing. And yet he did, and he blames himself quietly.
What if Riku died because of my mistake. He could have died, and you did nothing but look.
They knew each other for only a week, and yet Iori cared for the red head. It wasn't pity, he knew that at least. It was something closer to admiration, Riku was always in the hospital and lived with pain almost every day, yet he was still smiling happily and chasing his dream. Living with the knowledge you could die at any moment if something went wrong, but smiling. That's what made Iori admire him.
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"Iori, do you want to go on a walk with me today? Usually I ask Momo, but he's busy today." Riku asked as he got up from his bed.
"Are you sure it's fine?" Iori wasn't doubting his ability to walk outside, no way. But the trauma from seeing that attack was still there.
"You're worrying too much, you're becoming a second Tenn-nii slowly, honestly." Riku puffed his cheeks. "It's fine, I'm going out tomorrow with Tenn-nii, so i want to walk around so that I'm not as tired tomorrow. Laying in bed all the time isn't good or comfortable, you know."
"Alright, but let me ask Momo-san if it's really fine to leave the hospital ward. I don't want to get in trouble by bringing you outside without permission."
Riku only hummed in response as he walked to the wardrobe. When he opened it and started looking at the clothes inside, he hummed a song that Iori heard already. It was a solo song that Seven posted a while back.
"Iori, do you mind going out of the room? I kind of want to change clothes..." Riku peeked from behind the wardrobe door, staring at Iori.
"Ah, I'm sorry. I'll go to Momo-san now." Iori was startled and a bit embarrassed that he just stood there watching Riku. If he wasn't reminded he would probably just stay there lost in thought.
Although a part of him wanted to stay.
------
The next time Iori saw Riku already changed into casual clothes. A white hoodie with a strawberry print and dark green striped pants, he was still wearing the indoors slippers that Iori saw every patient have.
"We'll go in a second, let me just grab my phone and inhaler from the drawer."
Iori nodded and followed Rikus every move as he retrieved the items.
As Riku picked up the inhaler and looked at the dose meter, Iori was actually curious about the device. He never saw it in person, only in videos he watched on RabbiTube about asthma and the ways to help in case of an attack - just some personal research - Momo gave Iori a small lecture about how to help Riku after he first saw his attack, but he didn't show him an inhaler.
Riku noticed Ioris gaze, and looked at the blue head.
"Are you interested in this?" Riku held up the inhaler in his hand. "It's just an inhaler i use, Although i Will need a refill soon, it's almost empty." The red head sighed. He hated his inhaler and the medicine but if it wasn't for them he may have already been long dead.
"I never saw one personally so i was just curious." Iori blushed slightly and looked to his side in an attempt to not seem bothered.
"Hmmm.. I used one for years now but i guess it isn't common to see one up close. There aren't a whole lot of people with asthma in Japan compared to other countries. " Riku shoved the blue plastic into his pocket and his phone into the other one. " Inhalers are stupid expensive, especially the one i need, I'm basically a very bad case you could say. Inhalers, medicines, treatments etc there's only so far they can go."
Riku walked towards the door where Iori stood and opened it, waiting for Iori to follow him.
"I'm no doctor but i am not stupid. I know that the treatments won't help me long term, that even medicine won't. But I don't mind them, I don't want Tenn-nii to be left alone for real this time. So i do it all for him, even if he doesn't say it, i know how hard it is on him, knowing I can leave him for good"
Iori only listened to him, he wasn't sure what to say back, so he stayed silent.
"I've been treated in this hospital almost 15 years now, but Tenn-nii won't give up on me, because he's my older brother. He would switch places with me if he could, but you know Iori." Riku turned to him and smiled brightly. " I wouldn't change a thing."
Riku didn't say anything else throughout the walk in the corridor and when they got to the hospital garden, he only talked about what he would do tomorrow when he goes out with Tenn-nii.
The information Iori got from Riku made him sad in a way. Riku had to live knowing nothing can help him, but he still clutches onto life for his brother, but Iori silently thinks that maybe Riku also has a selfish reason, that maybe it's him who doesn't want to leave Tenn, but he stays silent.
I wouldn't change anything in my life, too.
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A/N:
Hi there I'm alive!
I'm not sure if my beta reader is sill alive or not so I'm publishing this unedited, if they come alive I'll switch this to the edited text.
I've been busy at work and in my free time i just wanna be lazy most of the time so writing is slow rn. Although I'll start writing the next chapter after posting this idk when I'll publish it.
Please have patience, I'm still getting used to my work schedule and all that.
Have a nice day ~
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Hospittal AU(?)
FanfictionIn this story, tenn still went with kujo, but after becoming 18 years old, he changed his name back to Nanase, he kept in contact with Riku, even after leaving. After he turned 18, Kujo also has less grasp on him, as he's an adult, so Tenn tries to...
