this is the anti-spam log: take 2 [semi-closed]

[substitutable]

Date & Time: throughout June; label your own dates!
Location: places!
Characters: the Mekakushi-dan + friends (one-on-one threads, open through plotting!)
Summary:

a collection of threads throughout June following the Dan's activity with one another as well friends connected to the Dan, put into one post to avoid spamming the comms. Sometimes a dan roll call.

Warnings: Uuuuuh idk lots of gross sick people. Dying! Sad teenagers and friends!

The virus is spreading, and even the Dan is catching it. And so are their friends. This is whatever they decide to do during June while sick. Prose and action spam friendly!

Comments

[concealingeyes]

[She never gets sick like this. Well, of course, this isn't a natural sickness. But it still weighs on her: maybe this is partly from her shutting herself away. It doesn't make much sense but in her fevered mind it sounds right. Just as she thought she was getting back on her feet, she's back to lying here like a useless lump.

Each breath leaves a tremor in its wake. It hurts. Something tight in her chest refuses to let her breathe, as though she ran a thousand miles, a slight pain in her sides more irritating now than anything. The sound of her breathing irritates her, too, a quiet wheeze. It's too hot to sleep but if she moves away, she won't feel Kano there anymore.

Kano...

He's sick, too. She's tried to take care of him, of the rest, but they're sick. It's not her fault. But still...]

...Are you awake?

[She doesn't turn around to face him, half-open eyes staring into the darkness. And she doesn't wait for an answer.]

Sorry. For getting sick.

[duplicitoussight]

[Of course he's awake. Even in the grip of the fever he's fought to keep himself awake, though resting would've benefited him better. He can't let himself sleep, even when he's sick. If he let his guard down...

He swallows and it hurts. His throat itches and the numbing heat from his fever makes it hard to think straight. When he speaks, it's obvious that he's not well at all--there's no hiding the croak in his voice as he answers her, no matter how well he packages its delivery.]

You woke me up to tell me something you didn't need to say? Go to sleep, Kido. [It's fine if she does. He'll be watching, this time. She doesn't need to stay awake and blame herself again.]

[concealingeyes]

You weren't sleeping in the first place... [She mumbles it with a sigh. Is he not resting because of her? Because he's worried? Even though they agreed to rest together, this whole time they haven't done nearly as much resting as they should have.

And she hates being so weak. It's so obvious. She can't dismiss it or shrug it off. It eats away at her defenses, ones that she had to rebuild with care, ones she didn't get to finish before this.

But they're all sick and she's helpless. Again. She can't even get them medicine or cook something. Sure, she could rest, but...]

...I hate this. Damn it... Get better. Go back to your stupid self... I hate them for this. Attacking when we're already...

[duplicitoussight]

[That lie was an easy one to see through. But it was obvious with the way he's been hovering over her, keeping an eye on her even as his own eyes drooped with exhaustion. He doesn't really sleep anymore after the mission--passing out is what works for him now.

It hurts how she's feeling guilty over something as trivial as getting sick.]

I'm already my stupid self. [He doesn't have the energy to muster to pretend to be cheerful. He's so tired and his head hurts.] It's underhanded... but that's how our enemy is. Ah, they really want us dead. So get better to prove them wrong, all right?

[concealingeyes]

[She snorts.] It's more than underhanded. If they wanted to wipe us out, they could've done it easier. This is just...showing off.

[Kido pauses before shifting to lie on her back, turning her head towards him.]

...You said you'd rest but... you're scared, too.

[duplicitoussight]

[He doesn't roll over to face her.]

I was falling asleep just fine a minute ago.

[concealingeyes]

[She doesn't have the energy to hit him, so her hand falls on his arm instead.]

Not even close.

[duplicitoussight]

[He doesn't respond for a moment.]

... there's nothing to be scared of. We'll be fine, that's a guarantee.

[concealingeyes]

[Is he saying that to her or himself? Her fingers curl over his arm.]

Don't disappear.

[duplicitoussight]

[At those words he finally rolls over, mustering a weak smile.]

Where in the world could I disappear to? Ah, I can barely get out of bed.

[concealingeyes]

[Her grip tightens slightly and it's still weak even then.]

You know what I meant.

[duplicitoussight]

[It's too hot with them sharing the same bed--his skin feels like it's burning up, but he still rests his hand over hers. He squeezes lightly.]

Do you feel that?

[concealingeyes]

[Of course she can feel it. The heat is almost unbearable but she doesn't pull away at all.]

Yeah, I do.

[duplicitoussight]

Then that's a sign that neither of us are dead. So--! Don't worry about something like that.

[concealingeyes]

Mm, then I have to hold onto you until you're better.

[duplicitoussight]

[It's something they used to do a lot when they were children and Kido's powers still hadn't been completely mastered. As long as someone stayed in contact with her, she wouldn't become the ghost girl she dreaded. So... going by that same idea... it made sense for them to hold onto each other, so neither could disappear. As long as they held hands...]

Your hand's sweaty and sticky, you know.

[concealingeyes]

So's yours. It's gross.

[Saying that, she laces their fingers together. It's so uncomfortable. He feels so clammy. But she doesn't want to let go at all. It doesn't make sense but it's a little easier to breathe like this.]

[duplicitoussight]

[Her touch is too hot--it almost feels like it's burning his already feverish skin. But he gently rubs his thumb against her hand, feeling the sweat stick.]

If it's so gross, I guess I should let go. [But he makes no move to.]

[concealingeyes]

Don't.

[Soft but firm, without any hesitation. In fact, it comes out too fast. But she's disappeared twice and woken up from it twice and she doesn't want a third time, she doesn't want to see him disappear like that, too. It doesn't matter if you come back. It shouldn't happen at all.]

[duplicitoussight]

[He has the gall to smile, even though she's clearly worried like he is. He speaks in a hoarse whisper.]

Is that an order from Leader?

[concealingeyes]

[That smile is both a relief and an annoyance. Don't pretend you're fine when you sound like that...]

Yeah. So don't let go.

[Kido copies his gesture, stroking the back of his hand with her thumb, too.]

[duplicitoussight]

[It's comforting to feel her skin brush against his. This close, too, he can hear her breathing. The exhaustion he's been fighting off creeps back in and his eyes fall half-lidded. As long as he can hear her breaths...]

You're lucky. I'm too tired to.

[concealingeyes]

You're so stupid...

[It looks like he'll finally sleep. Even though she's exhausted, she can hold out long enough for this. Kano needs to rest. Kido keeps her eyes focused on him, still stroking his hand. Just sleep already.]

[duplicitoussight]

[His response is a tired smile. For once, he's keeping quiet. As she strokes his hand, so he does for her. He's not going to sleep until she does. Or at least, until he passes out.]

[concealingeyes]

[Another rarity is the small smile he gets. Idiot. But she doesn't want to sleep. It's so stupid. Now she's the idiot, because she knows it's better to just rest for both their sakes. She even knows he'll rest easier if she does. But she's spent the last two years trying to take care of him and...

Kido compromises.

They're already close but the body heat almost overwhelms her as she shifts, ducking her head to tuck it neatly into his neck. The warmth probably isn't a blush, just the fever, but the dizziness gets worse. This probably isn't a good idea. She can hardly breathe well as it is. But this close, she can feel his chest rise and fall. She can count the seconds to it. And for each one, they're both safe.]