Chapter Text
Several hours had passed since all the excitement from earlier in the day. Things had thankfully calmed down since then. Despite that, everyone was still understandably anxious about Senku’s condition. Kohaku would return to the hut every couple of hours with fresh cold water. Chrome checked in as well, eager to share his latest accomplishment in the lab (even if Senku wasn’t awake enough to respond). Taiju stopped by as well, Yuzuriha alongside him to check on their oldest and closest friend.
As hard as Chrome and the others tried, news of their chief falling ill spread quickly around Ishigami village. Everyone was understandably worried about him. Senku was still out of it and not even awake. Gen tried everything he could to reassure their new visitors, but it was no use. All afternoon their friends were stopping in to check on their friend.
Ryusui was one of the first to find out, bursting in with his usual energetic self and assuring he could handle things for however long Senku needed to get well again. Francois followed as usual, bringing in a fresh pot of tea they said would help bring down Senku’s fever (Francois was quite disheartened to see him unable to have some at the moment, but Gen reassured them that once Senku was awake he could make sure he had some). Gen was so sure if Francois hadn’t politely remarked that perhaps they and Ryusui take their leave, Senku would’ve finally woken up just to get Ryusui to stop yelling.
Suika stopped by not long after. She came flying in as well, already bursting into tears. Clearly something had gotten lost in translation because she came in sobbing that Senku was already on death’s door. Then again, Suika had spent her whole life watching Ruri get sicker and sicker until Senku came along. Gen realized Suika clearly had some lingering fear over the whole thing, and already assumed Senku had the exact same thing. It took over an hour and a lot of gentle explanation from him before she understood that Senku would in fact be already in a few days or so.
Kaseki was poking his head in not long after. He was still his usual jovial self, cracking his jokes about Senku getting some rest would do them all some good, and that he would have so much to show him when he was well again. But it was clear there was a hint of sadness in his voice. Kaseki had been Senku’s right hand man in taking care of Tsukasa and his eventual freezer nap. He had heard from both of the two young men all the marvels of the modern medical system. And he had seen firsthand the limitations of the stone world. It was clear as cheerful as he tried, he feared Senku would soon be forced to be joining Tsukasa in waiting for the miracle petrification cure. Gen was as reassuring as he could. He promised Senku was far too stubborn and strong willed to sleep through something as exciting as sailing around halfway around the world. Kaseki was a bit more optimistic as he left the two for the evening, but it was clear he would be stopping by again first thing in the morning along with the others.
Gen meanwhile refused to leave Senku’s side even for a moment. Taiju, Ukyo, and even Kohaku offered to stay with Senku for the night, or at least a little while. He joked with everyone the only reason he wanted to stay was because he was too lazy to help out anywhere else, but he knew deep down it wasn’t about a desire to lounge around all afternoon. Gen knew he wasn’t very helpful anywhere else. He wasn’t smart like Chrome, or strong like Taiju, or inventive like Kaseki. Doing odd jobs here and there was convenient, but there wasn’t a lot of ways he could be helpful to the Kingdom of Science.
‘Staying here and watching over Senku is about all I’m good for I guess.’ Thought Gen.
But he knew, even deeper down in his heart, it was more than just wanting to be helpful. He cared for Senku so deeply. Deeply in a way he couldn’t quite figure out. And he knew Senku felt the same way about him. The two of them shared something neither could quite articulate. It wasn’t brotherhood or friendship. For months now the two of them had grown together into something so strong it felt like not even the universe could rip it apart. To them it was a kind of affection for one another, one that felt like their souls were tethered together.
Senku loved Gen, and Gen loved Senku. Neither of them could express their feelings in a stereotypical way. Their relationship wasn’t defined by overt displays like flowers and dinner together and candlelight. Each of them had their own way of showing how much they loved and cared for the other. Their relationship was made of little moments that held the world in them. A single flower left on a workbench early in the morning. Waking up to a favorite cup of tea made fresh. Eyes locked on each other for a few extra seconds when walking side by side. Hands held late at night when just the two of them were awake. Senku and Gen’s love was created in their own special way, even if it was in a world to no one but themselves.
~
The day was coming to an end. Night had begun, the sun already gone under the horizon. The small hut was aglow in the soft light of the stove in the corner. Nearby the stove on a small table, the small pot of tea from Francois was still sitting. Just next to it a small bowl of cold water. Outside a storm was beginning to build. Wind whipped against the thin wood of the hut in thick sheets. Inside was somehow still; only a faint breeze managed to weave through. The air was soft and calm and quiet.
Gen sat in between Senku’s bed and the table. In his hands he was shuffling the deck of cards he had made a while back. Between the paper and the wood crackling inside the stove, the room held a comfortable silence. Every few minutes Gen would turn to look at Senku. Ever since his seizure he had been out cold. His face was no longer twisted in discomfort, but still with a thin layer of sweat on his skin. His breathing fell into a quick but steady rhythm, punctured with frequent wheezes. A thin blanket was pulled up to his shoulders; Gen was too nervous to make the fever any worse if he added more blankets.
The cards began to slip out of Gen’s hands, fanning out all over his lap. A small sigh involuntarily escaped his lips. He reached over towards Senku to grab the rag across his forehead. He dipped it into the nearby bowl of water and wrung it out. Gently he placed the rag across his forehead once more, trying not to startle him.
Senku flinched ever so slightly the second the rag touched his skin. It was the first time he had really moved in hours. He took in a sharp breath as he felt the cold water on his face. After a few minutes his eyes slowly peeled open and looked around, just like before.
“Senku, are you there?” Gen’s eyes widen to the size of dinner plates.
Senku didn’t speak, just gazing off towards the ceiling. It was clear he was still so out of it.
Gen gave him a few minutes before trying to get him to talk again. “It’s me, Gen. Can you hear me?”
Very slowly Senku turned towards Gen. He tried to speak, but broke out into a fit of coughs before he got the chance to.
Flustered, Gen reached for the tea pot and a nearby cup. “Here, Francois made this for you. It’s probably not that warm anymore, but it should help. I’ll put the rest back on the stove.”
Gingerly Gen lifted Senku’s head up, just enough to bring his lips to the cup. He poured a small amount into his mouth, trying to keep him from drinking the whole thing in one go. Senku managed a few sips before turning his head away from the rim of the cup.
“Thanks,” Senku’s voice was so thin and quiet, it was barely audible over the wind outside.
“How are you feeling?”
“Tired, but I’m alright.”
Gen placed the cold towel across Senku’s forehead once more. “Don’t lie to me know, Dear Senku. You know you can’t fool a mentalist.”
For a fleeting second, a hint of a smile was on Senku’s lips.
“Do you remember anything, from earlier?”
“A little.” Senku had to pause between words just to catch his breath. “Just the big oaf hauling me and everyone freaking out in here.”
“You had a seizure my dear Senku. And from what Taiju said this wasn’t the first time it’s happened.”
Senku turned away, the smile falling from his face. “I was hoping you wouldn’t say that.”
“Senku, why didn’t you ever tell us about this?”
“I hadn’t had one in such a long time, they told me I had outgrown them years ago.”
“But you knew you were sick before the seizure, why didn’t you say anything?
“It’s not a big deal.”
“It is a big deal Senku!” Gen’s voice was louder now; it startled Senku a bit. “We didn’t know what was happening to you! If it wasn’t for Ukyo and Taiju you could have died!”
Senku’s face began to turn a shade of red, not just from the fever. “I didn’t tell you because I thought I could handle it. I didn’t want you all to think I was some kind of weak sickly kid.”
“Senku, you learned how to make mobile phones and freezers in the stone world. How on earth could you think anyone here would call you weak?”
Senku closed his eyes. Memories of his times in elementary school began to flood his mind like scenes in a movie. Being pulled out of classes to go to endless appointments at the children’s hospital. Worried pestering from his dad every time he left the house. The stares of his classmates after they’d seen an ambulance called for him.
When Senku finally faced Gen, his eyes were fighting back tears. “I worked so hard not to be that sick little kid anymore. And to be able to handle things by myself. With the power of science I finally was able to reach it.”
“Oh Senku,” Gen reached towards Senku, tracing his fingers along his cheek.
“I thought if I told anyone I was sick, I would be right back where I started.”
Gen bent down over Senku until their faces were inches away from each other. “There’s nothing wrong for asking for help when you need it.”
“But I’m the village chief. I’m not supposed to-“
Gen stopped Senku midsentence with a gentle kiss. “It doesn’t matter what role you are; you still deserve to be cared for when you need it.”
As Gen lifted his face, Senku blushed so hard his ears were crimson. Gen just giggled, planting another kiss on his nose. At this point he couldn’t tell if the heat radiating from him was from the fever or from something else.
“You’re sick. And when you’re sick you turn to those around you for help. If it was me with a high fever, you’d make me stay in bed until I was better, orrect-cay?”
“Yes.” Mumbled Senku.
“And when Ruri was so sick you didn’t think she was weak for needing help, orrect-cay?”
“Yes.”
“So how come when you’re the one who’s sick, you’re weak because you need help?”
“Okay okay, you’ve made your point mentalist.” Chuckled Senku, quickly turning into a harsh cough.
Gen brought the cup to Senku’s lips once more, letting him drink until he had finished it all. Once he was finished Senku closed his eyes, his exhaustion starting to catch up with him once more. Gen set his head down on the pillow before planting one more kiss on his cheek.
“Get’s some more rest.” Whispered Gen. “I’m sure the others will be expecting a throughout explanation when they see you awake.”
Senku smiled, his eyes still closed. It wasn’t long before he was fast asleep once more. Gen slid his hand down into Senku’s, their fingers intertwining. For a few minutes he continued sitting there. His eyes were locked on the gentle rise and fall of Senku’s breathing. It was still ragged and wheezy, but more comfortable than it had been all day. After a while Gen yawned, all the excitement starting to catch up to him as well. He crawled into the bed next to Senku, curling up to his side.
Gen left one more kiss on Senku’s hand before closing his eyes to sleep as well. “I’ll be here by your side the whole time.”