This December | Kuroo x Kenma Hospital AU

23

He just wanted to sleep. He was so utterly exhausted, after all. But instead of sleeping, Kenma layed in the hospital bed, shivering and clutching at his stomach. He'd finally been able to eat that morning, and now he was regretting it. To make matters worse, Kuroo had to leave for a few hours.

"Knock knock!"

Kenma glanced at the door, and a light, silvery head popped in.

"Lev?"

"Hiya!" Shutting the door behind him, Kenma's friend made his way into the room.

"What're you doing here?"

"Well obviously I came to see you because I missed you. And I just got back from Paris, so I don't have anywhere to be for awhile." Lev sat in a chair next to the bed and smiled. "So I hear you guys had a volleyball game the other week. How did it go?"

Kenma took a deep breath. "Mmm... Pretty good. It was fun."

"Hey, are you good? I mean obviously you're not good, but- you look really pale. And you're shaking."

"Not really. I'll be fine in a bit."

"Are you sure? I could go get a nurse."

Smiling sadly, Kenma grabbed Lev's hand. "No... They'll probably think I'll have another seizure. They might make you leave."

Lev nodded in understanding. "Alright. I'm gonna get you another blanket though because you are absolutely freezing."

Kenma roller his eyes but accepted the blanket that Lev handed him. "I miss you too by the way. How was your shoot in Paris?"

"It was fun! They dressed my sister and I like royals, and we went through a bunch of really old and fancy houses and stuff."

"I wish I got the chance to travel like you do."

"If you want I could show you some pictures I took," Lev offered.

"Hmm... I would like that."

They went through Lev's camera roll, and Kenma marveled at the pretty skies and flowers. Kenma had even gotten to see some sneak peaks from his friend's shoot.

Once they were done with that, Kenma wrapped his pile of blankets tighter around himself.

"Oh I nearly forgot! I have an awesome story for you!"

"Well what are you waiting for? Tell me already."

~

Kuroo frowned when he saw Lev sitting next to a pale, sleeping Kenma.

"How long as he been asleep?"

Lev jumped in surprise when he heard Kuroo. "Oh- hey. Uh, about twenty minutes. I didn't want him to wake up and be alone, so I figured I'd stay until you got back."

"How is he?"

"I knew it was getting bad, but... Today was not good. He was fine at first, and I was showing him pictures and stuff, but after about an hour he had a seizure. And after that he was sick for a few hours. Every time we thought it was over he would just throw up again. I- I didn't know what to do to make him feel better. He wanted you to be here, I think."

"Fuck." Kuroo ran a hand through his messy hair, his words barely coming out as a whisper. "I told him my meeting wouldn't take too long."

"He doesn't blame you, you know. He runs his own company, and he said he knew you'd be longer than you thought. Actually, he was kind of laughing at you."

Kuroo sat next to Kenma, careful not to wake him. He nodded and smiled sadly at Lev. "Yeah... I figured he would find my unsuccessful optimism amusing. Still, I just wish I could've been here. I told him I'd stay with him if he wanted, but you know how stubborn he is."

"Oh yeah. I've never met anyone quite like him," Lev muttered. He frowned as he glanced at Kenma. "I said he kept throwing up, but that wasn't exactly accurate. It was more like consent dry heaving. There was nothing to throw up."

"I figured that was what you meant. Yesterday was the first day he'd eaten in three days. Last week was rough."

"How long does he have?"

"Right now, they think about a month. But they estimate a shorter time frame every day."

"So he won't make it to this December like we hoped, then."

"Definitely not."

Tears started to fall down Kuroo's face. He didn't bother to wipe them away. "We both kept telling ourselves we would be ready when the time came. And now, all he wants is to be done with this. But I'm... I'm not ready to let him go. I think he's been holding out for me, and I know it's selfish of me to want longer with him, but-"

"It is not selfish. He's the love of your life, isn't he? And beyond that, you two have been best friends your whole lives. I'm sure he is holding out for you, but the way he was talking earlier... I think he wants to spend more time with you too. I know you can't exactly take him on a date, but just make sure to make the most of this next month- or however long. Be happy for as long as you can be."

Finally, Kuroo wiped his tears away before pulling Lev into a hug. "Since when are you actually wise and more than just a pretty face?"

Lev squeezed Kuroo tighter, letting out a few quiet sobs of his own. After taking a minute to compose himself, he laughed quietly. "Paris will do that to ya." Lev pulled out of the hug and grabbed his bag. "I should probably go now. See you soon."

"See you later man."

After Lev was gone, Kuroo sat at the small table in the hospital room and pulled out his computer. He immediately went to check his emails, and he'd never been so relieved to see an email from his boss. He asked for a month to work solely from home- or, it would be the hospital- and his request had been approved. So he could take Lev's advice. He would make the most of whatever time was left.