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Prompt one: “It’s the middle of the night, why are you up?”
Dazai really really didn’t want to wake Chuuya. He tried to lean into Chuuya’s embrace and shut his eyes, but the heat coming off his body was too much, and he couldn’t breathe through his clogged nostrils, but it hurt to breathe with his mouth due to his sore and dry throat.
It also didn’t help that Dazai didn’t exactly feel like being big right now… his brain felt all fuzzy, and he couldn’t think properly. He almost always regresses when he is sick, but now isn’t really a good time. He doesn’t want to be all needy for Chuuya- especially at this hour.
Dazai shut his eyes again and focused on sleeping, and clutched onto Chuuya harder, but his limbs ached and if felt so difficult to breathe. He let out a small pitiful whine- just enough to make Chuuya stir and check if he is ok.
Chuuya squeezes onto Dazai a little tighter, before letting go and rubbing his eyes. His orange hair was undone and splayed across the pillow, and Dazai found his hands playing with it, twisting it between his fingers.
“Dazai…?” Chuuya murmured as he rolled onto his back, causing Dazai to whine softly again and let go of Chuuya’s hair. He didn’t feel good at all, and he just wanted it to all go away. Chuuya almost always makes it better, and that’s what Dazai wants.
“It’s the middle of the night… Why are you up, Dazai?” Chuuya asked, as he placed a hand on his back, soothingly rubbing.
Dazai wanted to answer- but he was dropping further into headspace- and Chuuya’s voice and gentle rubbing didn’t help. He released another whimper, and clutched onto Chuuya tighter.
“Dazai?” Chuuya tries again, trying to figure out whether Dazai had a bad dream or something, or if something was genuinely wrong. Dazai shoves his face in Chuuya’s chest, and doesn’t respond for a moment. His forehead is clammy and his stomach churns.
“Icky…” Dazai finally manages to say. He finally looks up at Chuuya, and pouts.
“Chu…”
Chuuya sighs and blinks a few times, trying to wake himself up. He looks at the clock. 2:46am. He looks back at Dazai and frowns. Dazai rarely wakes up at this hour unless it’s a nightmare or something is bothering him.
“Icky? What do you mean by that?” Chuuya asked, his hand now gently combing through his hair. Dazai’s eyes water as he looks up at Chuuya again, but he doesn’t want to talk. It burns his throat each time he try’s to speak. His bottom lip trembles and his grip tightens around Chuuya. Chuuya obviously notices this, and clicks two and two together. Dazai would never act like this if he wasn’t feeling little.
“Are you feeling little, Mackerel?” Chuuya asks, and Dazai slowly nods. Chuuya realises this is probably what’s bothering him, and why he is up. All Chuuya would have to do is just soothe him back to sleep, and all should be good. Chuuya continues to comb through his hair with his fingers but stops when the brush along his forehead. His eyes suddenly cloud with worry, and he places the back of his hand back on his forehead. Sure enough, it confirms his suspicions. Dazai is burning up with fever. This would explain why he is feeling little too, because he always feels little when he is sick. It’s just his way of coping.
“Do you feel sick? Is that what you mean by icky?” Chuuya asks, his voice suddenly softer, the tone he always uses when talking to his little. Dazai pouts and nods again, and the tears suddenly come, and he lets out a choked sob. Chuuya sits up in an instant once Dazai starts crying, and he pulls Dazai close to him, cradling him in his arms.
“N’t fair, Chu…” Dazai crys again, cuddling as close as physically possible to Chuuya, while his head is burried into his chest. Chuuya notices how raspy he sounds, and makes a mental note to keep an eye on that. He also notices Dazai’s sweaty forehead again- and that he should probably check Dazai’s temperature, to make sure it’s not in the danger zone.
“One sec Mackerel- I need to grab the thermometer.” Chuuya explains, but Dazai, who hates absolutely anything medical-related, cries out louder and shakes his head into Chuuya’s chest.
“I know, I know sweetie, but I need to see how bad your fever is… afterwards, you can have a nice bottle for your throat. How does that sound? You can even pick the flavour.” Chuuya stands up while holding Dazai on the side of his hip with one arm, and begins walking to the bathroom, Dazai wraps his arms around Chuuya’s neck and cries softly again, and wonders if Chuuya is upset at him for waking him up. Maybe that’s why he is going to shove a stick into Dazai’s mouth…
Chuuya flicks on the light and reaches into the cabinet to grab the tray with all of the medicine and supplies they need for moments like these. Dazai peeks out from Chuuya’s chest and sees the bin full of supplies and medicine, and Dazai crys louder.
“No Chu!” Dazai crys out as Chuuya gently places him on the counter.
“Nonono!!!” Dazai shouts and hits Chuuya’s chest weakly, and Chuuya grabs his arm gently, but looks at him sternly. Dazai fights for a moment but when his eyes catch Chuuya’s gazed he stops and suddenly feels bad, looking down into his lap.
“Sweet pea, what did we say about hitting? I know you aren’t feeling good, but I’m right here and I won’t leave. I just want to make you feel better, sweetie.” Chuuya says in his stupid baby tone. Dazai pouts as fresh tears brim his eyes. His head is so fuzzy from being in headspace, on top of feeling sick, and it just is too much for the poor little.
“What do you say?” Chuuya asks, waiting for an apology from the little.
“M’Sorry…” Dazai whispers, and Chuuya hums in approval before he rummages through the bin, finding the thermometer. Dazai eyes it and turns his head away, crossing his arms. He is tired and just wants to lie in bed with Chuuya holding him close in his arms.
Chuuya sighs, “Dazai. Please.” Chuuya brings a hand to the little ones forehead to brush away his sweaty bangs, but Dazai just pouts and avoids more. He really doesn’t want his temperature taken. He is sure he’ll be fine in the morning. It was dumb to wake Chuuya up. He should’ve just dealt with it. Fresh tears brim his eyes again.
“Sweetie… you didn’t do anything wrong. I’m not doing this because you were bad. It’s not your fault for feeling sick, and I only want to make you feel better. Please Dazai…” Chuuya pleads, and a tear escapes and slides down Dazai’s cheek.
“M’angry.” Dazai sulks, and Chuuya grabs Dazai’s head and presses a kiss to it.
“I know sweetie, this isn’t fun. I don’t enjoy it either Dazai, I hate seeing you upset, but remember what I said about the bottle? Doesn’t that sound nice on your throat? This will only take a minute, and then you can have your bottle and get all the cuddles you want from me. Ok sweetie?” Chuuya bribes, and Dazai doesn’t like it, but he does reluctantly turn his head back towards Chuuya, because a bottle and unlimited cuddles does sound good right now, and he’s too tired to argue. He doesn’t want to make Chuuya upset and not get his cuddles.
“Thank you.” Chuuya smiles in encouragement and gently brings a finger under Dazai’s bottom lip, gently pulling down just enough for his mouth to open and for Chuuya to slip the thermometer under his tongue. Of course, Dazai gags slightly, and tears seem to slide down his cheeks faster as Chuuya presses his mouth closed with the thermometer sticking out. Chuuya pushes his bangs out of his face, and his thumb then slides down to wipe away his tears.
“You are doing so well sweetie. Such a sweet boy. “ Chuuya praises, and Dazai loves this praise, leaning closer to Chuuya, seeking warmth in him.
“Kitty…” Dazai mumbles around the thermometer, and Chuuya nods in understanding. Kitty is Dazai’s favourite plush. It’s a soft orange cat with blue eyes, that reminds Dazai of Chuuya, and it is his favourite thing to have when he is little.
“Yes- we can get kitty once we are done. How does that sound?” Chuuya explains, and just before Dazai was going to protest, the thermometer beeps, and Chuuya pulls it out of Dazai’s mouth, before his brows furrow together.
“38.4… You certainly have a fever, my poor thing…” Chuuya sighs, and brings Dazai closer. Chuuya knows this means medicine, but he also knows Dazai will definitely put up a fight. It was already lucky enough he let Chuuya check his temperature with minimal arguing. Dazai whines at this knowledge, knowing that this means the yucky slimy stuff Chuuya makes him drink when he feels icky. Maybe Chuuya forgot and they can just skip that part and just cuddle and have a warm bottle instead.
Or not.
“Dazai… we need to bring your fever down, and the best way to do that is with some medicine sweetie. This time I promise that after, we can do everything I said we would.” Chuuya cooned, and pulled out the fever reducer from the bin.
Of course, Dazai didn’t take this very well, and he suddenly pulled away from Chuuya.
“Chu! Please! M’be good! Promise!” Dazai panics, and shakes his head over and over again. Chuuya curses under his breath, not wanting to upset the little, but he knows it has to be done.
“Sweet pea, this isn’t a punishment. You are very good. This is to make you feel better, yeah? Come here sweetie.” Chuuya pulls Dazai back into his embrace, and measures the medicine dose while holding onto Dazai, even while he thrashes and cries out.
“Chu! No! You meanie!” Dazai screams, and continues to thrash in Chuuya’s hold, but Chuuya holds him in place, for the sake of his safety.
“I know Dazai. I’m such a meanie. We’ll see if you still think that when you wake up tomorrow feeling better sweetie.” Chuuya mutters under his breath, but Dazai doesn’t seem to notice with all the thrashing and crying he is doing. Chuuya finally manages to dose out the medicine, and he places it down as he begins to calm Dazai down with gentle reassurances and hugs.
Dazai finally manages to be somewhat calm- and Chuuya shows him the medicine.
“See Dazai? It doesn’t look like much. And after, you will feel better sweetie. Ok?” Chuuya encourages, while Dazai eyes the dose in the syringe, then looking at Chuuya. He really wants to be good, and he WILL get cuddles after… so maybe it won’t be that bad…
Dazai clings onto Chuuya tighter and mutters “Chibi is mean…” before he finally lifts his head up and pulls away a bit, and Chuuya chuckles softly before praising him.
Chuuya eases the syringe into Dazai’s mouth, and then carefully administers the medication. As soon as it is in, he tilts Dazai’s head back and gently shuts his jaw with his hand, not wanting Dazai to spit it out like the dozens of times he’s done so before.
Dazai’s eyes water all over again but he swallows.
“Blegh.” Dazai states, before finally wrapping his legs around Chuuya’s waist and leaning his head on Chuuya’s shoulder. Chuuya sighs in relief. That could have gone a lot worse.
Chuuya quickly cleans up and praises Dazai for how well he did, while he puts everything away.
“You did so well sweetie! You ready for your bottle and cuddles now?” Chuuya praises, and Dazai nods enthusiastically. Chuuya heads out of the bathroom and grabs Kitty off the bed on the way out from the bedroom. As soon as it’s passed to Dazai, he squeals in content, grabbing onto the orange kitty. He seems to be in a happier mood, which Chuuya is grateful for.
Once they reach the kitchen, Chuuya turns on the kettle. He bounces Dazai on his hip for a minute while the kettle heats up, making Dazai laugh. He sets Dazai on the counter, and Dazai is reluctant to let go, but he eventually does after a moment, and wraps his arms around Kitty instead.
“What flavour do you want, Dazai? We have strawberry, vanilla, and lavender…” Chuuya asked, and Dazai thought for a moment and then pointed at strawberry.
“Strawbe’ry” he replied, his voice still raspy, and he wiggled on the counter. “Please” he added, and then giggled softy when the kettle started to whistle now that it was done. Little Dazai always giggled when it made that sound. Chuuya smiled in amusement, and then turned to pour it into a bottle.
Chuuya scooped up the strawberry flavoured formula dumping a hefty amount into the bottle, and then added a spoonful of honey to the mixture, hoping it will sooth Dazai’s throat. He shut the lid an started to shake it to mix it up, but Dazai reached his hands out and made a grabby gesture.
“Me wanna try!” Dazai blurted, making Chuuya laugh. He of course handed the little the bottle, and Dazai grabbed it with two hands before beginning to shake the life out of it.
“You don’t have to shake it that hard, sweet pea.” Chuuya starts, but Dazai interrupts,
“It works better Chu-“ and just as Dazai was trying to prove his point, the bottle slipped from his grasp and fell on the floor with a clatter. Dazai stared at it for a moment and then at Chuuya.
“Oopsie…. M’sorry…” Dazai began, but Chuuya quickly picked it up and the scooped up Dazai into his arms. Of course, Dazai instinctively grasped onto Chuuya.
“It’s all fine sweetie. Nothing happened, it’s plastic, but I do think that’s enough shaking for now.” Chuuya responded, rubbing Dazai’s back. He knows how much the little hates messing up, so Dazai always overreacts for small mistakes he makes.
“Let’s go to bed now. How does that sound?”
Dazai nods, and grasps tighter onto Chuuya’s shirt. Chuuya leads them to the bedroom, and places Dazai on the bed before turning the light off.
Chuuya lays down next to Dazai and brings the blanket over them. Dazai snuggles close to Chuuya, his kitty also in between them. Chuuya maneuvers himself and Dazai so they are in a comfortable feeding position. He hopes the bottle will help him fall asleep, and hopefully get some fluids in him.
Dazai whines when Chuuya moves him into a new position, but Chuuya tips the tip of the bottle into Dazai’s mouth before he can complain. The sweet strawberry formula fills his mouth as he begins to suckle, and he has to admit, it does soothe his throat.
“Such a good baby.” Chuuya coos as he looks at Dazai fondly, and Dazai’s eyes sparkle before they start to flutter closed, exhausted from being sick, and the fact that it’s the middle of the night. Chuuya presses a gently kiss on his forehead, and begins to rub Dazai’s tummy as he drinks the formula.
Dazai lets out a small squeak of content, and leans closer to Chuuya, as Chuuya rubs soft, gentle circles on the little’s tummy. It makes Dazai feel safe, and eases the formula that’s going into his tummy.
Dazai’s hands grasp Chuuya’s shirt tighter as he falls into a light slumber, and Chuuya responds by pulling him closer.
The two- along with kitty nuzzled in the middle- remain like that for the rest of the night, a bundle of tangled limbs, and peaceful sleep.