Days Go By | lavashipping

*✰.

Over a short amount of time, kai developed senses that could combat those of wild animals, wary of any potential danger. Cole could just open the carton box of medicine, didn't even have to crinkle the blister pack, and Kai would already shuffle like a weird caterpillar to the opposite side of his bed. He would also make his disapproving means louder, in case Cole didn't get the memo.

Usually the medicine he left at the bedside table would be gone by the time he returned from work, along with the different warm drinks Zane instructed him to make but if he made the slightest of remarks about that, he could just throw everything out.

And despite every attempt at convincing Kai to make his suffering bearable ending up in the same dead end route, he made sure to try over and over again. At least he understood the poorly hidden relief in Nya's eyes when he offered to take care of him. Of course.

"Come on, just one spoon," Cole cooed, hovering said spoon above the bed, careful not to let the syrup splatter all around. "It's actually pretty good with all the sugar in it."

Despite his best efforts, he couldn't pry a coherent answer out of Kai. Barely a proper no. His bed might have as well been haunted with all the whining and groaning coming from the blanket hillock.

"It will make you feel better."

"Noooo."

With a sigh, he laid the spoon down on the bedside table next to untouched pills, the syrup threatening to escape upon the slightest of movement. He uselessly watched what he should be Kai curled up, wallowing in his self-inflicted discomfort but as far as Cole knew, he could've been actually replaced with any sort of bogeyman at any time and he would be none the wiser.

Checking his watch followed another sigh. He rubbed his eyes.

"Look, I've gotta get to work. Promise you won't die while I'm gone?"

He decided to take the whine as a reassurement. So he stood up and picked up his bag, informing Kai where he could find everything from food to teas to medicine, as if he wasn't talking to a wall.

"If you need anything, call me."

"Mmmmrh."

"Great talk! Okay, I'll see you later."

With a peck on the blanket where he assumed Kai's head rested, he left the flat and went on with his day attempting to be productive while running around in worried circles inside his head.

.

When he got back, shoulders slumped and bag somehow twice as heavy than he recalled, the Kai's place mirrored the dark sky outside, just the silence was deafening. And heat stuck to his skin as if he entered a furnace. By the time he shrugged his jacket off, he could drown in sweat.

So maybe he didn't catch Kai's flu but definitely their dramatics.

After shedding his clothes in the bathroom, Cole tentatively made his way to the bedroom, only slightly concerned what he might find. Upon entering, Kai's bleary eyes blinked up at him from behind several blankets and followed him the whole time as he walked around the bed and lay down.

"Hey," Cole peeped, "how are you feeling?"

Kai rolled over on his side under the nest he created and snuggled closer to Cole, hiding their face in his chest.

"I was cold."

"I bet It'd be colder in here if you set this place on fire." He brushed Kai's hair back to see him better. Strands stuck to his face which glistened despite the lack of light. The impatient patient muttered something about Mr Funny and pulled one of the blankets over them both, Nuzzling as close as possible. Cole mindlessly rubbed his scalp, letting his eyes close.

"You don't have to be here."

Shifting to the side, Cole put his other arm around Kai and placed a kiss between his hair. "I want to."

"You'll get sick eventually."

"Nah, I have pretty solid immunity."

"Mhhm."