new memories, old memories || BASIL x reader

chapter five - sick day

"ugh..."

"oh, you're awake!! good morning, baby... how are you feeling?"

"same as yesterday..." BASIL says groggily.

"aww, i'm sorry... i'd do anything to take this sickness away from you."

"it's okay, i'm okay. it's not that bad."

"BASIL, you never stay in bed, even when you're sick... this is obviously worse than usual."

"Y/N, please don't worry about me. i'm okay. you know i can handle myself... you don't have to stay here with me. you have more important things to do."

"well, yeah, of course i don't HAVE to, but i want to. i want to be here for you and help you. nothing is more important than you, and anything other than making sure you're healthy and happy can wait."

BASIL sighs. "i don't deserve you, you know."

"i think it's the other way around," i say, planting a kiss on his forehead before standing up.

"don't come too close to me... i love you, but i don't want to get you sick, as well."

"i wouldn't mind," i smile. "okay, are you hungry? i could make you some soup?"

"that sounds wonderful," he responds. "thank you."

"anything for my favorite human."

i exit the room, and walk towards the kitchen. i wonder what soup i should put together for him...

wait...

i know!

(flashback starting noises)

"so... i've got an idea for dinner."

"ooh, yummy... what is it ??"

"tofu stew. one of grandma's favourite recipes... though i don't make it that often, and i don't think you've ever had it."

(flashback ending noises)

tofu stew is kinda spicy, though... hopefully he won't mind if i change up the recipe a little bit to make it better on his throat.

i put some rice into the cooker, and begin to cut up some ingredients. tofu, enoki and shiitaki mushrooms, and green onion. then, i put garlic, black pepper, sesame oil, fish sauce, an soy sauce into a pot. then, once it's ready, i add dried kelp, anchovy stock, and an egg. finally, i put it all in a bowl, hoping it's as good as his for him to eat.

"BASIL..."

"yes, my sunflower?"

"i made you something. i, um... hope it's good enough." i place the bowl and spoon on his bedside table and stand as he grabs it.

"anything you make for me is more than good enough... oh?" he stares at it, and then smiles at me. "aww, you made my grandma's stew..."

"yeah! but... without the spice, so it wouldn't hurt your throat and stuff. i hope that's okay?"

"of course that's okay! i'm so happy you chose to make this out of everything." he takes a bite and then stares at the bowl, sullenly.

"is... is it not good??" i ask, nervously.

"no, that's not it," he responds with teary eyes. "quite the contrary... it just... reminds me of her... how'd you remember this recipe?"

"oh, um... about that... the night we made it together i wrote it down in my cookbook. so i could remember. it was really good, okay?" i laugh.

"this is so sweet, Y/N. thank you. it's really good, just the thing to make me feel better. what shall i ever do to repay you?"

i smile at him, and then i have an even better idea. i walk over to the other side of the bed and crawl under the blankets, snuggling in next to BASIL and laying my head on his shoulder.