Not down with the sickness

[seemagicshit]

[Another day of work done. Zhao made sure everything was put away and locked up before being the last to leave. Almost as though that were a signal, whatever strength that had been powering him through the day abruptly vanished.

Fuck. He'd been trying to stave this off, but he could feel sickness beginning to dog him. It's why he'd kept the cat at home; he didn't have the strength to really play with her and chase her around outside. His body felt heavy and his throat scratchy.

It wasn't often that he could track how fast sickness took him, but the 15 minute stroll from his place to the restaurant took 30 minutes. As soon as he walked in, he set his keys aside, took off his shoes, locked the door and face planted into the couch.

He should probably take something for whatever was currently bitchslapping him, but he was too exhausted to care. Joon-gi Han would be home soon, so he'd have to make dinner. Maybe he'd just nap until then....]

Comments

[seemagicshit]

[Oh man. Joon-gi had been wanting to see the movie forever and while Zhao didn't care that much about it, he was going to go with his man on opening night. They were learning how to compromise on the things they cared about just so they could share them together.

They'd see the movie once he was better, but he'd have to think of something extra to make up for getting sick. He just didn't like letting down the people closest to him.

With the blanket tucked around him, he just lost track of time again until his boyfriend told him that food was ready. Zhao kept the blanket on and sat up, sniffling as now he could feel congestion setting in.]

I think...I think after I eat, I'll just take a warm bath. I think we have some cold medicine or something around.

[Should he apologize about the movie more? Promise they'll do something fun later? Fuck, Zhao couldn't muster the strength to be charming and instead just felt like his head was stuffed with cotton.]

[joongipan]

[ He returned with a wooden tray laden with soup and tea, which he set on the coffee table. Taking a seat next to Zhao, he took one of the bowls and carefully handed it to him. Chun-Li, who was perched on the back of the couch, stretched over Zhao's shoulder and sniffed at the steam wafting from his bowl before curling back up again, clearly uninterested in sneaking a bite. ]

I already checked, but we're out of cold medicine. I'll run by the pharmacy while you take a bath. There's a few things I need to grab from the grocery store anyway.

[ He picked up one of the mugs and settled back against the couch, savoring the warmth against his palms. He leaned against Zhao, shoulders brushing, and felt Chun-Li stretching behind his head. He smiled as she began to purr. ]

I guess this would be a good time to try my hand at making samgye-tang, don't you think? If you eat that, I'm sure you'll get over your cold in no time.

[ His mother always made samgye-tang for him whenever he was sick. She would bring it to him on a big silver platter that she'd found at a junk sale, like he was a little prince in a storybook. She would sit on the edge of his bed and make sure that he ate it all. Because a bowl of homemade samgye-tang, filled with a mother's love, was the most reliable way to cure any cold.

Joon-gi sipped at his tea and gently pushed those memories aside. He wished that his mother had taught him the recipe, but in lieu of that, there was always the internet. It would have to do. ]

[seemagicshit]

[Miso and tea. It was hardly a meal. More like a snack, but it was really all he could handle at the moment. They were both warm and he took his time to drink, pausing once or twice to cough. He must have fought this off as long as he could since it settled in quick.]

Okay, I think I can handle a bath while you restock.

[He did perk up at the thought of samgye-tang. Maybe after a bath, he might be hungry for something else and that might do the trick.]

If you think it'll work, I'll give it a try.

[He finished his soup and tea and laid back against the couch, sniffing, and leaning his head on Joon-gi's shoulder.]

I hope I don't get you sick. Or...maybe stock up on some Vitamin C while you're out.