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Semi Eita thinks he relates to his bitchy, but very pretty neighbour, one morning as he watches him through their kitchen windows that seemed to line up perfectly. Said bitchy neighbour poured himself an entire cup of vodka and with the balls of titanium, threw his head back, taking the entire contents of the cup in one go. Not a flinch, not a grimace, no signs that the alcohol was going to make him pass out in five minutes and Semi couldn’t help but wonder how often he did that in order for bitchy neighbour to continue his day nonchalantly.
Mayhaps it's just a once-in-a-while type of thing and he's stronger than he looks, or he does it to the point that the firey feeling of liquor going down his throat no longer bothered him. Either way, Semi was impressed.
Stupid copper angled bangs fell into place as if they were magnetized to their standard position after tilting his head back to its rightful angle, scrawny fingers grabbed a piece of toast with literally nothing on it, the most tired pair of eyes emotionlessly stared forward, and Semi grimaced. What the hell was with Angle Bangles' behaviour?
Realizing that staring so intently may have been creepy, and with a reminder that he had a day to live, Semi busied himself in drinking his massive mug of pure black coffee.
Hey, at least he wasn't endorsing alcohol at six on a cursed morning. He was better than that. So with intent to ask about the frightening alcohol consumption, Semi tousled his ash blond hair, dressed himself accordingly, and made sure he didn't stupidly leave on his stove, he headed out the door the very moment Angle Bangles exited.
"Good morning!" Semi chirped all too happily, a much too familiar glare directed at him.
"It's too fucking early for this, Eita ."
"Woah, woah, woah, never have you called me by my name and when you suddenly do, it’s first name basis? When did that happen, Angle Bangles?"
Semi delighted in the way Angle Bangles closed his eyes and took a deep breath, backpack looking like it'd snap his thin figure in half.
"My name is not Angle Bangles," he muttered, blatantly ignoring the fact that he was using first name on his unfairly pretty neighbour.
"If you told me your name as I did, I wouldn't have to call you that," Semi replied exasperatedly. "By the way, how often do you drink to be able to down vodka like water?"
"Med school fucks you up," was the only answer supplied before the scrawny figure just about waddled down the sidewalk with the backpack weighing him down way too much. Semi thought he was about to fall over.
With a sigh, Semi got into his vehicle and reversed out his driveway, going right into drive but one look at his rearview mirror had him coming to a halt and reversing back past his and his neighbour’s driveway. Poor, poor Angle Bangles was staggering like a baby deer learning how to walk.
"Hey, Angle Bangles, get in! No excuses I'll take you to school!" Semi yelled, opening his window so his stubborn neighbour with the perpetual glare could hear him.
He seemed to hesitate, never stopping his slow walk as he continued walking away but one misstep that nearly toppled him over, had him sighing and turning to clamber in. He wasn't drunk but his entire being seemed to be on the verge of passing out.
"I could've walked," Angle Bangles murmured, eyes closed with his backpack on his lap.
"Yeah? So why’d you join me?"
A pissy scowl came across the other's face, eyes never opening but the close-eyed expression was more than enough for Semi to know that he wanted to be bitchy again but tiredness enclosed him.
"Because it would've been rude of me to decline?"
Semi had to laugh. It was damn amusing but copper haired Angle Bangles didn't seem to think so.
"That's a lie, Angle Bangles. You've declined my hospitality before."
"Stop calling me that. I'll never tell you my name so find a better name for me."
It was the truth. Angle Bangles never told him his name but that didn't mean Semi would never get it. He had to get it one way or another.
Word seems to go around quite fast when you drop off a notoriously grumpy, all-A student and proceed to embarrass him.
The moment Angle Bangles got out with a half-assed thanks and a slam of the vehicle door, Semi took it upon himself to torment his neighbour for shits and giggles. So without further adieu, he got out of the vehicle and called out to him like an excited Mother.
"Do well, Angle Bangles! I'm rooting for you, okay?! Don't come home too late!"
Semi laughed, watching his neighbour's neck heat up as he spotted someone run up to the tired male. Stares were directed at both of them and Semi knew full well that the copper-haired was just about to give up on life.
"Isn't that your pretty neighbour you complain about every day?"
"Shut up, Taichi."
So it wasn't with surprise that people now knew who Semi Eita was and now knew he was one of the very few that could embarrass Angle Bangles and live. But it was with surprise when he got a call just shy of lunch from a number he had never seen.
Not like he ever saw numbers he knew but the number began with digits from an institution. Not a local everyday personal number.
"Hello? Attorney Semi Eita, how can I be of service?"
"Yes, we're just calling to request you to pick up Shirabu Kenjirou from campus."
Semi took a hot second to figure out who the absolute fucketh this Shirabu Kenjirou was, only figuring the person behind the name once he pieced in the word campus.
"Oh! You mean Angle Bangles?"
"Yes, he does have angled bangs, if that's what you mean. His parents are on the other side of the country, his friends are in class, and the only other person he mentioned is you. We found your number in the directory book."
Semi looked up from this desk, noticing he didn't have the most work and could slack off for the time being. Not like signing a stack of papers would take him a week or anything.
"Okay, I'll be there shortly."
After explaining that he’d be taking an early lunch and possibly be late due to literal medical-related reasons, Semi headed to the campus, then was directed by a security guard to the infirmary. It was probably unusual to see a grown man in a full suit walk across campus, ash blond hair touseling as he walked, piercing eyes focusing ahead, and a small sense of worry within. He was stared at, but that could hardly matter when his dear Angle Bangled Shirabu Kenjirou was sick.
"Come in, come in, don't be shy," a nurse urged as he awkwardly entered the room, Shirabu slouched on a chair, head on the table in front of him. It was evident that he was nowhere near in the best condition and that made Semi want to cradle him gently.
"Thank you, I'll take him from here," Semi gratefully expressed, walking forward to delicately stroke the copper hair he had been dying to touch since their first bitchy encounter. The only reason he never did attempt to touch was because of attitude and love for his hand, those factors preventing him all those years. "Hey? Kenji? KenKen? JiJi? You okay?"
"The fuck is a JiJi?"
"You. Come on, Bub, let's go," Semi chuckled warmly, Shirabu's face warm and red as he looked up.
"Oh fuck the world is spinning," Shirabu groaned, his head falling again.
Semi looked at him in pity, trying to figure out what to do before finding the perfect solution. So without another word, he picked up the horribly heavy backpack and proceeded to pick up Shirabu's concerningly light body.
"Why the hell are you so light?"
"Why the hell are you carrying me?! I can fucking walk!"
Bridal style he was carried, bridal style he gave up grumbling and attempting to push Semi away, and bridal style he decided to rest against Semi's chest. Bridal style out the campus as people stared and Shirabu couldn't care less. He liked being in Semi's arms, he realized. Strong, comforting arms, he could learn to like this as an everyday thing. But the comfort was lost the moment he was settled into the vehicle and strapped with the seat belt.
"We're getting lunch and medicine then we're going to my workplace, okay?" Semi stated more than asked, Shirabu frowning.
"One, there's money in my bag and two, I can go home."
It was silent, Semi unhappy with Shirabu's suggestions while he was on the verge of completely dying on the seat. His head hurt like a bitch!
"Yeah, no. You struggle just living day to day. I saw you eat plain toast this morning. I'll pay and take you with me. Who knows, you might slip and crack your skull or something trying to get in your house."
For the first time in 'knowing' each other for five years, Semi heard Shirabu laugh. A small breathless laugh that came from the heart and not one that sneered. Semi loved it. He was in love. Oh god, he was in love with this moody, broody, glaring man who happened to be drooling over the front of his shirt, face red but Semi was sure it was exertion of laughter and fever creeping up. Potentially even alcohol finally catching up.
Shirabu was quiet, pliant, drowsy, and tired. never would he dare fall asleep in public but with Semi there, it was more than enough to make himself feel at peace. He was bitchy, sour, and full of negativity but he was inclined to feel safe with the ash blond. Semi made it feel safe and gave an aura where he felt fully comfortable to shut his eyes and let his usually pin-straight angle banged hair fall in uneven parts. And yet, Semi still thought he was adorable.
High fever, aching bones, throbbing head, alcohol-flooded system, and running on virtually no food─ the toast didn't count─ Shirabu awoke a solid two hours later wrapped in a blanket and slightly shivering, sweat dripping down his face.
"Eita?"
"Shh, shh, stay quiet, you'll lose all your energy."
Shirabu groaned and sat up anyway, noticing that one, his head hurt like hell and two, he was in an office on a random futon. Why did Semi have a futon?
The futon really shouldn't have been a problem but it was kinda random which meant that, of course, Shirabu just had to try and piece it together. But as a result, his head throbbed as if someone had just walked up behind him and delivered a blow to his head with a two-by-four. He thought he'd die and just collapsed against the cushion, closing his eyes.
"My head hurts."
"Well, Angle Bangles, if you just stay still for five minutes and process the fact that you're awake, I'll be there right after signing these papers and help you eat and give you medicine. Now shut up and relax."
Shirabu didn't appreciate the sentiment of being told what to do but he listened nonetheless, closing his eyes and realizing that he had a fucking blanket. Why the hell did Semi have a blanket? Where the hell did Semi even work that required him to have such equipment in his office? A fucking nice office he might add.
"Eita! I'm in pain!"
"Okay, okay damn! My clients can wait, I guess, but I swear they'll probably kill me if I don't get their shit in order before today and it'll be entirely your fault."
Shirabu was smug and due to sickness, he smiled droopily, eyes crinkling and mouth twitching but it wasn't quite there. Semi thought it was cute nonetheless, getting up to then proceed to seat himself once again but this time beside the sickly man who really looked like he was going through some form of unbearable pain. A hand stroked through the copper hair and Shirabu realized that he could, in fact, learn to love the hand threading through his hair in the same way it did then.
Happiness swarmed inside, feeling himself being taken care of was delightful.
"Why do you have a futon?"
"Clients. Nasty divorces sometimes have them on the verge of falling asleep on the waiting chairs. They sleep here for an hour or two before they go back to their shitty lives. Sometimes victims of other things feel safe in here, a place heavily guarded and people they can trust. They sleep here once in a while," Semi explained, filling a syringe with medicine and handing it to Shirabu who read the medicine bottle before accepting it happily. He liked children’s medicine which tended to be sweet and the ones normally put in a syringe. Semi didn't have to know that he, as an adult, should probably be using pills instead.
Realization of what Semi said dawned on him and he looked up with scrunched eyebrows, a frown on his face.
"Wait, what the hell is your profession?"
Semi had the gall to look offended, knowing full well that Shirabu had never put any interest in his life and only knew his full name thanks to one of his friends who arrived at his house yelling his full name every other day. He had only told Shirabu his last name but thanks to his friends, he was now on a first-name basis.
"Kenji? You did NOT just ask me that," Semi muttered, eyes wide in shock as he squished the sick male's cheeks with one hand, forcing his mouth open as he spoon-fed him surprisingly warm soup with the other.
"My apologies for not caring? Med school takes up every corner of my brain and your job doesn’t cross my mind except when I'm sick in your office," Shirabu explained tiredly after swallowing, mouth hanging open slightly as he breathed and partially waited to be fed.
He liked being fed.
Correction, he liked the way Semi fed him.
"Smarty pants. I'm a lawyer, for your information. Don't you see my suits every day"
"You could've been a store manager for all I knew."
Semi had the gall to look offended once more, tisking under his breath at the way this younger man seemed to have more guts in him than just about any other person he had ever encountered. It was almost endearing.
"You're so not endearing, y’know that? But I do prefer you sick. You tend to be too weak to glare and tired enough to not pick on me every two seconds. You haven't even complained about my presence."
Shirabu could have been embarrassed at that, and almost felt guilty but he didn't. Instead, as if to prove that Semi was right, he nuzzled closer, fever catching up to him harsher than roughly five minutes prior as he felt his head go heavy and the world spin again.
"Eita?"
"Hmm?"
"I can't keep my eyes open."
And as if a switch had been flipped, his head lolled to the side and Semi was left to sigh and gently adjust his head so as to not damage his neck and proceed to go over paperwork once more. Shirabu sleeping soundly, although burning up, felt nice. He liked the company even if it was literally unconscious and sick but the thought that there was just someone there waiting for him was nice. He could get used to Kenjirou in his office whether he was awake or asleep.
The next time Angle Bangles woke up, it was a disaster.
Semi had been just pulling him out of the vehicle, the twiggy man still deep asleep until he stirred and as he opened his eyes, his fists gripped the front of Semi's suit tightly, face white.
"Kenji? What’s wro-"
"I feel sick!"
And just as the words left his mouth, hot stomach contents mostly in the form of water fell out of his mouth, white smears coating not only his own chest but also Semi's expensive ass jacket. A deep sigh echoed in the darkness and the sound of the car door being closed resonated before they headed into Semi's house, not a single glance in the direction of Shirabu's own dark home.
"It's fine. I'll get us cleaned up and we can go to sleep, okay? Don't worry."
A warm bath for Shirabu, who insisted he could handle himself─ he could not─ had Semi saving him halfway through before he completely had a shower death. After the near-death experience by slipping to the ground, they could get Kenjirou dressed and ever so hospitable, Semi made sure his usually bitchy neighbour was fed and properly clothed and drugged before tucking him in his own bed. Fuck him if he didn't want to sleep there because Semi would make sure he was comfortable and when all was said and done, he'd climb in as well and snuggled right up.
So that's what he did. Snuggle right in but put enough space between them so that the fever wouldn't increase tenfold by his own body heat. Tiredly they drifted off and right as it hit burglar hours, Semi awoke with a slight jump, feeling a burning heat slinging onto him desperately.
"So cold. So, so cold. Hug me Eita, please," Shirabu mumbled pathetically, shivering.
And though he was burning like hell, Semi was relieved to notice that he was now sweating out his fever. It was a good sign. A sign that meant he was getting better.
"Come here, Bub. Let's get all warmed up."
Happily, Shirabu complied and in his horrid state, had no problem nuzzling as close as possible in search for the warmth that Semi wished he didn't have to feel. But it was without surprise that once morning finally hit, it was embarrassment on Shirabu's part, awkwardly staring at the ceiling in Semi's arms as Semi groggily blinked at him.
"Let go of me. I can't do this anymore," Shirabu whispered, a mild throb in his head but it wasn’t serious anymore.
"You can't escape me now. You engraved yourself into my life and there's no way you’ll be escaping."
"Oh yeah? Fucking try me."
It was a challenge and Semi loved challenges. That's why he was a lawyer. He could challenge his opponents and when the time was right, slam down on them so hard they never had to see him again because frankly, they were in jail.
"Listen, Kenji, you're cute as hell and I've always known that but after yesterday, you're not escaping me. Buckle up and prepare for the ride because you and I are going places."
The groan that followed was laughable, Shirabu realizing what it meant because now, he couldn't escape even if he tried. Semi would find him and Semi would make sure they'd stay together. He just knew.
Except things didn't seem so bad if Semi would treat him in the same way he had been treated the day prior. It could've been embarrassing but nothing could surpass his embarrassment for a desperate cuddle at burglar hours nor his near-death experience in the shower. Asking for the same treatment would be a piece of cake.
"I'll stick around," Shirabu started, turning to look at Semi, leaning closer to press his nose against the ash blond's cheek, rubbing it lightly. "Only if we act like we did yesterday. I liked it. I really did. I know I like bitching with you and fucking up your day every now and then but yesterday was fun. I think me being sick really was a benefit."
"Of course it was, Angle Bangles, of course it was."
A groan and snicker later, Shirabu found himself being tightly wrapped in a hug, near suffocating but he loved it. He could love Semi Eita just fine even if he called him Angle Bangles.