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You toss and turn, unable to get comfortable in your bed at the Gunga Mountain Villa. You were supposed to be up four hours ago, but the pit in your stomach and the ache in your bones was enough to keep you bound to your bed.
Knock. Knock. Knock.
"You in there, princess?" Dabi's voice trills gruffly through the closed door, and something inside you twitches. You and Dabi hadn't been dating for very long; you'd merely caught his eye as a member of the Meta Liberation Army when the merger happened. He saw you in the crowd and immediately took to liking you. A few weeks later, and you'd been exposed to a side of him no one ever saw. Now, he was at your door because he'd noticed your absence at his Violet Regiment meeting.
Your throat is scratchy and dry, and the moment you open your mouth to speak, you can't help but go into a coughing fit. You hear your door creak open, and light from the hallway floods the darkness. You sit up, looking through watery eyes to see your lover's silhouette.
"You sick or somethin'?" Dabi grunts, walking to the foot of the bed and putting his hands on the wooden frame. You can't help but whimper in pain and discomfort before nodding, hot tears threatening to slide down your face. Dabi's facial expression softens, his tight jaw relaxing as he takes a good look at you.
"Go away. Don't wanna get you sick," You manage to croak out, but Dabi just shakes his head.
"I don't really get sick," He mutters offhandedly before walking around.
"I'm all gross," You cough, and Dabi's lips press into a thin line. He seems to ponder something before tearing back your covers. Immediately, you start shivering, scrambling for the blanket, only to watch him kick off his shoes and shrug off his jacket before climbing into bed with you.
Before you can protest, he's pulling you into his arms, nuzzling your face into his low-cut tank top. He doesn't say a word, just squeezes you tight and traces his fingernails in circles on your back. You hadn't realized how badly you needed his hug until now, and you swallow the urge to dissolve into another coughing fit.
"I got you...it's okay," He rasps under his breath, just loud enough for you to hear. "Have you gone to the infirmary yet?"
You shake your head. You thought you were getting sick for a few days now, but waking up today was the nail in the coffin.
"Come on then," Dabi sighs before scooping you up in his arms. Your face reddens, and not just from fever. You're just in your pajamas, and Dabi is fully prepared to carry you all the way to the infirmary.
...
...
Dabi gently sets you back into bed as he fumbles with the pill bottle in his pocket. The doctor thought you had some kind of virus, and all they could give you was painkillers. He forces two pills in his hands before handing them to you, along with the water cup on your nightstand. You take the pills, still shivering. Dabi's touch was so warm, and it was so easy to fall asleep in his arms. Hell, you'd fallen asleep with your face buried in his chest for a few moments as he carried you to the infirmary. Now that he isn't snuggling you, you feel impossibly cold. Dabi notices, and his eyebrows furrow as he peels back your covers, kicking off his shoes once again to get in beside you.
"Come here," He huffs, wrapping his arms around you and caressing the back of your head. You sniffle and cough, half expecting him to come up with a sarcastic comment, but he just kisses the top of your head, whispering sweet nothings to you.
"It's gonna be okay, baby," He whispers, his gravelly voice laced with genuine love and concern. Only you ever heard that tone in his voice.
"I don't feel good," You bitch shamelessly, hating how pathetic you sound, but, once again, Dabi doesn't seem to mind or notice.
"I know, I know," He murmurs, pressing another kiss, this time to your forehead. Through your congestion, you can barely breathe in his scent...charcoal...ashes...cologne...faint isopropyl alcohol, most likely from changing his staples recently. It smells like...home. Dabi has become your safe place. Your home. You two have been hopelessly in love...it's inevitable. You'd overheard Himiko Toga teasing him about it in the hallway. That's what it had to be, after all. The way he treated you...so delicate and tender compared to his usual cold, hard gaze. He pulls the blanket over the both of you.
"You lemme know if you get too hot," He mutters before clearing his throat. You let your eyelids flutter closed and fall asleep to the sound of his breathing.
...
When you open your eyes again, you hear faint snoring directly above you. You look up to see your boyfriend fast asleep, snoring softly. Dabi looks so peaceful, which is a rare sight. He mumbles something under his breath before sleepily pulling you closer, nuzzling into the top of your head. The painkillers seem to have kicked in at this point, but you still feel sickly. You just focus on the feeling of his arms wrapped around you, and the way you're using his pecs as pillows. Either way, Dabi seems completely content with you in his arms, and you don't see any need to disturb him. You yawn and snuggle deeper into his embrace, allowing yourself to drift off in your lover's arms.