Strawberry Cake in a Cup

Hizashi/Els
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"Zashhhi..." Elly rolled over on the bed. "Where'd you go?"

"M'comin'." The sound of slippered feet shuffled across the floor, and he fell beside her once more. "Had to pee."

"Ughh. I'm cold." She flicked her tail towards his location, too tired to do much else. Her purple hair was frizzed out in all directions with her face stuffed into her pillow as she groaned.

"I'm hot." He sniffed, then dragged himself over to her. "Hey."

"Mwha?" She sighed in relief as he threw a sweaty arm over her back. "You really are warm."

"Uh huh." He crawled closer, getting tangled in the sheets and swearing a little. Elly also rolled closer until they were snuggled tight. "Maybe we should get up for a little while."

"Couch? Snacks, tea and a crappy monster movie?"

"Mmm. Perfect. How do you know what's perfect alla' time." He sneezed softly.

"Aw, sweetie. You're burning up." She lightly stroked his forehead, momentarily forgetting her own aches as she felt his massively radiating heat. "Bathroom first. Gonna check your temperature."

Hizashi didn't argue; he knew better. He let her gently usher him into the bathroom and sat on the toilet lid while she dug around in the cabinet for the thermometer.

"Open."

"Mleh." The end was popped into his mouth. Elly leaned on the sink, yawning.

"If I wasn't so tired from trying to beat this damn thing, it wouldn't be so bad anymore. My nose is still stuffy, but that's kind of it." She turned and washed her face with cold water until the beep indicated he was ready.

"Ah, crap."

"Bad?" She looked over at his flushed face, concerned.

"Yeahhhh, well s'not too great. Nothing to worry about, though. Just a few over normal."

"100 degrees? Still a fever. You're taking some medicine to lower that, buddy."

"Awwww." He slumped in his worn shirt and sweatpants, hanging his head. The messy ponytail he had managed earlier had come partially undone and two hanks of blond hair tickled his cheeks. He tucked them behind his ears with a grimace. "Not that orange shit, babe..."

"Yes, the orange shit." She pulled a bottle out of the cabinet after putting the thermometer back. Unfortunately she choked a little on some sinus blockage, which started a coughing attack at that moment.

"Crap!" He jumped up and supported her while she wheezed for breath. "You take some, too."

"Nah." Elly gasped, sighing as the tickle in her chest died down. 

"No fair," Hizashi whined, burrowing his hot face in her back. "I want you better. I hate seeing you sick."

"No, sweetie - I just meant I get the green. Yours is orange."

"Oh."

She held out the cup filled with appropriately colored syrup. He grimaced, but she tweaked his mustache with one hand and smiled. "I'll make one of those horrible cake-in-a-mug things for you if you're a good boy and take it."

His eyes lit up. "What? I thought you hated those things. Did you buy more?!"

"You love them, so..." She shrugged. "I bought some for special occasions."

He eagerly downed the little orange shot. "Yuck. Uh. Do you have ..."

"Your fave? Duh, strawberry."

"Yee!" 

She sighed, smiling, and took her dosage as well. "Hope this works. It would be nice to have two nostrils working again."

"I'm'a get stuff from the bedroom for the couch. You got any requests for the movie?"

"Nah, it's your turn to pick anyway."


She really did think the mug cake was ridiculous, but it made him so happy. She set it in the microwave while he dumped pillows and blankets on the couch and picked a movie for them to watch. She also made tea with honey and set it all on a tray to bring to the living room.

"I almost forgot," he grinned at her when she approached, sneezing off to the side to avoid spraying the tray.

"Mmm?"

"I broughtcha' surprise." He dug around under the fuzzy blankets and brought out a ridiculously adorable cockatiel plush, complete with his signature glasses and Hage headphones. Elly put the tray carefully on the table, her ears flicking and her purple eyes impossibly wide.

"Where did you get him!?" She squealed in delight, holding the bird up so she could get a good look at him.

"Oh, I he was a prototype from merch at the station. I thought you might want him, plus he's got them heating things - seeds or somethin' -- inside. Nuke him for half a minute, then put him on your neck or wherever."

"Zashi, this is <i>so cute!</i>" She gave him a hug, mashing the stuffed animal between them. "I love him. And you." She kissed him on the nose. 

"Heh. I was gonna wait, but with this cold and all, you needed some extra warm cuddles."

"Too tired now to go back." She crawled under the blanket with him as he helped himself to his treat. "I'll warm him up later." She stuck him beside her, making sure he was facing the television.

"What's his name?"

Elly didn't even pause to think. "Michael."

He sprayed strawberry cake crumbs all over the remote when he laughed.