In sickness and in health [Bakugatsu Day 13]

Izuku groaned when he felt the bed shift, curling tighter into his giant pile of blankets. A strong hand reached over, and when he cracked an eye open he found a can of hot cocoa waiting for him, a straw poking out the top. He shoved it under his mask obediently, sucking down a few sips, and humming contentedly as it warmed his throat.

“Feeling different yet?” the gruff voice asked.

“Mm. Worse.”

“Typical. Worse how?”

“I'm so cold. And I ache.”

Katsuki got back off the bed again, tucking the heavy blankets up over Izuku's shoulders, and Izuku hummed again as he took another sip from his drink.

“S'good, Kacchan.”

“Okay. I'll get you another one later, if you want. Think you can eat something?”

“Nooooo,” he whined, shaking his head stubbornly and cringing. “No food.”

“Not even soup?”

“Mm... Maybe soup.”

“What kind?”

“The pretty one.”

Katsuki paused, thinking back, but finally shook his head.

“Gimme more, nerd.”

“With dumplings.”

“Oh. The pork and egg one?”

“Uh-huh.”

“Okay. You want dumplings too?”

“Mm... Just a couple.”

“Okay,” Katsuki repeated, stroking messy green hair. “You rest, I'll wake you when it's done.”

“Cold, Kacchan.”

“I know. I'll fill your hot water bottle too.”

He reached under the blankets to find the rubber bottle, slipping it out while trying to keep the warm air trapped. It didn't take long for him to be back with a much hotter one, tucking it in near Izuku's feet again, and with a last little pat on the man's ribs, he retreated to the kitchen to cook.

Next thing Izuku knew, he was waking to a smell that made his mouth water, cracking his eyes open to see a steaming hot bowl beside his mattress.

“Morning, sleepyhead,” Katsuki whispered. “You wanna sit up? I'll help.”

He nodded, watching him set the bowl safely on the nightstand, then with a hand in each armpit he found himself dragged up the bed, nestled into a mound of pillows, blankets already being draped around his shoulders for warmth.

Even as out of it as he was, Izuku still checked Katsuki had his mask on before removing his own, dropping it into the bin beside his bed. He balanced the bowl on his knees, taking a long sip from his spoon and moaning loudly.

“It's so good!” he exclaimed, wincing when his own voice made his head pound. “Kacchan is amazing.”

“Just eat the damn soup, you don't need to proclaim your love with every spoon.”

“I do love you, though.”

“I know, nerd. Eat the damn soup.”

With a trace of the first smile Katsuki had seen all day, Izuku got stuck in. He drained the entire bowl, even scoffed down all three dumplings on his plate, eyes shining as he offered the empty bowl to Katsuki.

“More?” Katsuki asked, frowning. “Already?”

“So good, Kacchan.”

“You're not gonna puke it up or something, are you?”

“Nuh-uh.”

“Fine,” he huffed. “Just soup though, you can have more dumplings later if you want them.”

“Okay!”

He retrieved another bowl, watching in disbelief as Izuku drank it all down again in a hurry, finally smiling as he held the bowl out again.

“All gone!”

“Good job, idiot,” Katsuki scoffed, taking the bowl with one hand, ruffling green curls with the other. “Done now?”

“Uh-huh.”

“I have more. Let me know if you get hungry again.”

“I will. Can you pass me a clean mask?”

Katsuki plucked one from a box, safe in its little paper package, and dumped a load of sanitiser on Izuku's hands before he handed it over. Safely clean and covered, he began to slide back into his blankets, and Katsuki reached over to help him get settled.

“I'm still cold, Kacchan.”

“What can I do? Blankets don't seem to be working.”

“I don't know, I'm just cold.”

Katsuki rounded the bed, shedding his clothes, and Izuku rolled over with wide eyes when he felt the mattress dip.

“Kacchan I'll make you sick!”

“We both have masks on and my immune system is a damn sight better than yours,” Katsuki objected, climbing in under the blankets. “C'mere.”

“Wh- Y- K-”

“Spit it out.”

“Snuggles?!” he bleated, making Katsuki burn red. “Warm snuggles?!”

“Just get your ass over here.”

Izuku rolled into his arms happily, burying his face in Katsuki's neck, and with a little sigh Katsuki held him close. He didn't feel cold, if anything he felt too hot, but when the nerd demanded, Katsuki was powerless to object.

“So warm,” Izuku fawned, holding on tighter. “Kacchan is so warmmmm.”

“Get some sleep, gotta rest to get your ass up and about again.”

“I'm sorry if I get you sick.”

“You won't. Even if you did, it'd just be your turn to take care of me next.”

With a little smile, Izuku closed his eyes, melting into Katsuki's warmth and practically purring when the strong hand stroked up and down his spine.

“Thanks for taking care of me, Kacchan.”

“I promised, didn't I?”

“Huh? When?”

“In sickness and in health.”

Izuku smiled, nodding faintly, and loosed one more contented sigh.

“I love you too, Kacchan. Goodnight.”