Tie me up, Tin! (TinCan fanfic)

(Im)patient, part 1

"Why isn't he awake yet?" Tin heard Can say, his voice cracking, Tin's own consciousness swirling slowly to the surface.

"He will come around soon enough. The surgery was a success, and he will make a full recovery," the doctor said, his voice soothing.

"I've been so worried..."

The fear in Can's voice made Tin open his eyes, and his first view was Can's sweet, round face, now scrunched up, his eyes red.

"Cantaloupe..."

"You're awake...!" Can squealed and threw himself on Tin, only for the doctor to stop him the last minute.

"Careful! It was a small surgery, but still, it's best not to put weight on the patient's stomach just yet."

Tin had to smile around the feeling of dry cotton in his mouth at Can's mortified expression. Can approached him cautiously now, his hands hovering over Tin nervously, not knowing where he could touch him.

Tin captured one of his wondering hands and brought it to his mouth, planting a tender kiss on his palm. Can's eyes teared.

"I'm a little thirsty," Tin said gently, and Can scampered to get him a small glass of water.

It had been an intense night. They had been at a restaurant, having dinner with their friends, when Tin had suddenly groaned and doubled over in pain. Can had been frantic, and they had rushed Tin to the hospital. The first hours there was now a blur in Can's mind, his mind fraught with worry. Only flashes remained. Tin, telling the doctor he had no family, except for Can, his fiancé. Test after test made on Tin, with him wheeled around the hospital on a gurney. Ae and Pete, with their arms around Can, telling him it was going to be alright. And the diagnosis, an acute appendicitis. Tin had been feeling poorly that day, he later confessed, a little nauseous with no appetite, but he had shrugged it off as non-significant. Then the surgery. It only took an hour, but it felt like forever to Can, and the wait for Tin to come around an eternity.

Most of their friends had gone home to sleep when Tin had been wheeled to the operation room, but Ae and Pete had stayed with Can. Ae had stayed awake, trying to comfort Can, while Pete slept with his head in Ae's lap on the long bench in the hospital waiting room.

Now that Tin was awake and the doctor was making a quick examination on him Can went to thank Ae and Pete and to tell them to go home. It was around three in the morning, and the yawning boys promised to let the others know, and that they would come back after visiting hours began at 7 am.

The doctor tried unsuccessfully to get Can to leave, but he wouldn't budge, and he gave up in the end, seeing how hard the patient held onto his hand. Can pulled a chair close to Tin's bed, and made himself comfortable, his cheek on his arm, resting on the bed next to Tin, his eyes never wavering from Tin's as he explained in his usual scatterbrained way what had happened while Tin was in surgery. Can fell asleep in the middle of a sentence, able to finally relax, with Tin's hand stroking his hair lovingly.

That's how their friends found them in the morning, both soundly asleep, Can's face nudged into Tin's side, Tin's hand still in his hair. They stood around, hesitating, until Can's sister Ley and their mother barged in. The banging door woke up both sleeping boys, and Lemon slapped his hands over her mouth. 

Tin and Can woke to a full room, both feeling groggy.

Can's mother came around and stroked Tin's hair, and kissed his cheek. "You made us worried, son. Are you alright, now?"

"Yes, mom, I'll be fine. Can's looking after me." Tin's glowing glance at Can made Can sniff, which Can tried to disguise by fussing around with Tin's already perfectly fluffed pillows.