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For their first Christmas living together, they chose not to travel outside.
They’d just finished with their exams and needed rest more than anything, and the streets of Tokyo were too crowded, what with everyone spending time with their beloved in every shopping mall and entertainment center. The day before Christmas Eve, Yu had been caught with a nasty case of the flu, so Yosuke would not let him leave their small apartment if he could help it.
On Christmas Eve, Yosuke has gotten permission to leave early from his part-time job. From the branch of Junes he’s working at, he’s brought home Yu’s favorite snacks and ingredients for their Christmas meal — in case they could manage to have one. When he arrived home, Yu was still sleeping. Yosuke removed his coat and entered the kitchen, where he rearranged the refrigerator and made his partner a quick miso soup.
"How come it's so cold in here?" Yosuke complained. Even in the warmth of his own apartment, the winter chills made him shiver.
As the soup began to boil, he brought it to a simmer and checked the portable heater. Yosuke remembered eyeing the heater for a while and, as soon as he and Yu had had enough money, they bought it from the nearest electronic store. In the two months since it was delivered, the heater had brought warmth to their small home and helped them weather every snowstorm. This Christmas, Yu had taken time out of his busy schedule to decorate the heater with a wreath and paper ornaments. He had planned to renovate the entire apartment to match the Christmas theme, but his schedule only allowed him time to decorate the heater — a token of celebration for their first home together.
(Yosuke had previously stated that he would assist in the hanging of a banner and lights, as well as the purchase of a plastic Christmas tree with a star and matching ornaments. Yu had turned down his offer, claiming that Yosuke is much busier than he is, what with his part-time job and crammed class schedule. After a few minutes of back-and-forth, they agreed to at least decorate the heater — as it was the one piece of furniture they bought together — so Yu poured his heart into the decoration.)
Yosuke checked the screen, only to find that in his lethrgic state, his partner had forgotten to turn the heater on. Yosuke examined the machine's mechanics with caution, not wanting to undo Yu's hard work. The decoration was simple, but it did a good job of lighting up the apartment and making it feel like home. Yosuke turned on the heater and set it to a temperature that both he and Yu found comfortable with the press of a button and a few adjustments.
Warmth seeped into the living room in a matter of moments.
Yosuke returned to the kitchen to check on his soup; the broth had warmed up just right, and the tofu and kombucha appeared to be soft enough for a sick man to digest. Yosuke removed the soup from the heat and poured it into a bowl, garnishing it with diced scallions. The miso was then placed on a tray, along with a glass of water and several cold pills for Yu to consume. He entered their bedroom, carrying the tray, and opened the door.
Yu remained bundled on the tatami they had set up, possibly fast asleep. Yosuke placed the tray next to his partner and gently shook him awake.
“Partner, it’s past dinner time,” he pleaded, “come on, let’s get something in your stomach.”
The bundle beneath the blankets stirred.
“Y-Yosuke…? I thought,” Yu woke up with a yawn, “you wouldn’t be home for another hour…”
“My boss gave me permission to leave early,” Yosuke reassured, “and I made you some miso. Your favorite recipe, even. You need something in your stomach, come on.”
Yu had to struggle for a long time to get out from under the heavy blankets. Yosuke checked Yu's temperature with his hand on his forehead — his partner's fever had gone down in his sleep, despite the fact that he appeared lethargic and on the verge of coughing his throat out. Yosuke gave the sick man his medicine and, as soon as Yu finished swallowing the bitter pills, handed him a bowl of steaming hot miso soup.
“Feed me?” Yu whimpered, his eyes widening in desperation.
Yosuke sighed as he took the bowl from his partner's grasp, “… Yeah, okay.”
Yosuke held each spoonful to his partner's mouth one at a time, as Yu struggled to keep the soup down his throat. Oh, how Yosuke wished he could soothe his partner with a pat on the back — alas, he only had two hands.
“It’s getting warmer. I feel warmer,” Yu said, finally, after he had finished his soup.
“I turned on the heater,” Yosuke replied, “It’s too cold out.”
“Aw, it’s a pity we couldn’t turn it on together,” Yu replied, laying his head onto Yosuke’s shoulder, “I hear it’s Christmas tradition for couples to light the fireplace together. That's something I'd wanted to do with you..."
"First and foremost, focus on getting better," Yosuke says, patting Yu's head, "I'll make it up to you on New Year's, ‘kay?"
Yu kisses Yosuke on the cheek. “You’re the best, Yosuke.”
Yu moved to one side of the tatami and patted the space next to him. Just as Yosuke opened his mouth in protest, Yu placed a finger on Yosuke's lips.
"It's fine. We'll deal with the dishes in the morning," he yawned. "Besides, I’ve stopped sneezing a while ago. I don't think I'll be able to give it to you anymore."
Yosuke acquiesced and lay down next to his partner. He planted a small kiss on Yu's forehead as their limbs gradually tangled; and they fell asleep together, the flickering light of fireworks behind them.
Yosuke stirred himself awake as the sun shone through their windowsill.
Yu appeared so peaceful while fast asleep, Yosuke thought. He touched the other man’s forehead to check his temperature; the fever had dropped significantly, and Yu's breaths did not sound as strained as they had the day before. The sun shone down on the sleeping man like a golden fleece - Yosuke could not help but feel moved at the scene. He pressed a delicate kiss to his partner's brow, feeling the fever on his lips. As he drew back to gaze at his partner, Yosuke could see the ghost of a smile on Yu's face . He kissed Yu again, this time on the cheek, and crawled back under the sheets, his limbs tangled with Yu's once more.
“Merry Christmas, partner.”
Yosuke murmured and closed his eyes, succumbing to the allure of warm blankets and slumber, with Yu safe and sound in his arms.
-fin-