Business
as Usual Sidetrack Eight
wherein Mugen battles The Cold
by
Laura Bryannan
Mugen wormed out of his last meeting and came
back from Taiwan a day early, which meant he got no sleep, but it had
been three days without Jin and he was fucking hungry. He had the cab
drop him off at Takeda Delivery, intending to kidnap the president
and eat him alive, when wet blanket man started talking.
“Jin's
not here,” Yuki informed him. “He was out yesterday too,
home with the flu. It must be pretty bad because he never takes off
work.” Mugen reached for his cell as Yuki shook his head. “I
wouldn't bother,” he said. “Jin never gets sick, so when
he does, he's a total weenie about it. I've learned the hard way it's
best to leave him be until he rejoins the living.”
Mugen
called anyway. “Bugen, where are you?” came a weak,
scratchy voice on the other end.
“I'm in Okinawa, on my
way over.”
“No,” Jin protested. “I'b
sick. Don' wan' combany.”
“Tough shit. I'm coming
anyway.”
“Uhhhhh.” There was a sneeze and
another groan. “Use your key. Nod getting ub.”
Mugen
stopped off at the local Chinese place first then let himself in,
finding Jin huddled in his bed, wrapped up in an ancient blue kimono
that looked like it should reek of mothballs, but thankfully smelled
of cederwood instead—which was a lot better than Jin smelled,
as it turned out.
“You look like shit,” Mugen
observed. He did. Red nose, bleary eyes, hair all stringy...the guy
was a sight.
“Fuggoff,” Jin huffed, pushing the
offered carton away. “I'b nod hungry. Don' wan'
anything.”
“It's soup. Eat!” Mugen demanded.
Jin scowled but only got more of the same back, and finally took the
food. Mugen was sorry he was so sick, but couldn't help feeling
ripped off since it was clear he wasn't getting any tonight. They ate
in silence, Jin sniffing every ten seconds and continuing to add to
the pile of tissues overflowing the wastebasket.
Mugen sighed
inwardly. Jin looked so miserable, he got over his initial
disappointment, deciding if he couldn't take care of his lover the
way he wanted, he'd find another way. Carrying his dinner to the
bathroom, he drew a tub, stripping down to his boxers and hanging his
suit behind the door so the steam would unwrinkle it.
Jin
gave him the evil eye as he returned to the bedroom. “Don' wan'
a bath,” he protested. “I ache all over. By skin hurts.
Leave be alone.”
“You're gross!” Mugen
exclaimed, as his lover's glare deepened. “Come on. It'll do
you good.” When his offer of a hand-up was ignored, he got
serious. “You gonna make me carry you in there?”
Furious glower. You wouldn't dare!
Evil smirk.
Like hell I wouldn't.
Mugen knelt on the bed ready to
tackle when Jin finally arose, growling, letting the kimono fall to
the floor as he walked to the bathroom. Mugen followed behind, noting
the thinner body housed in skin translucent and dry as rice paper.
His piss was dark yellow, which confirmed his dehydration and lack of
self-care the days he was alone. Forgetting his horniness, Mugen was
relieved he'd come home in time to look after his sick better half.
Wincing as he sank into the steaming hot water, Jin
nonetheless smiled and sighed deeply when he was finally submerged,
making Mugen's heart skip a beat. “Thanks,” he whispered.
“You were right. Dis does feel good.”
“Dunk
your head and I'll wash your hair,” he offered, and Jin meekly
obeyed, closing his eyes as Mugen rubbed the shampoo in. Being a
total head rub addict, he tried to do it nice for Jin, massaging his
scalp with the slippery shampoo. And once Jin was purring, he kept
going, scooping up handfuls of bubbles and sliding them under his
arms and over the pale torso, the unusual design on his chest still
red and garish against the white skin.
Jin let himself be
manipulated like a child, which made Mugen feel strangely paternal
and protective, a new experience. He decided it was okay, nice even,
although the sense of strength and tenderness was very odd, leaving
him feeling awkward and embarrassed. To cover his ass, he sought the
familiar, sliding his hand downward into the nest of curls, cupping
the precious jewels below. Jin's cock was partly erect, which was a
pleasant surprise, and Mugen raised his eyes to find his lover's
clear, looking at him with smoky intent.
“Join be,”
he ordered.
Heart soaring, Mugen dropped his drawers and lept
into the tub, straddling the narrow hips. “What'cha wanna
do?”
“Ride be, fuck be, I don' care,” Jin
told him. “You better stay on tob so by nose doesn' drib on
you.”
“Wow, that's the most erotic thing anyone's
ever said to me.”
Pleased to have evoked a chuckle,
Mugen lay his head on the bony shoulder and nuzzled into Jin's neck.
The water was warm, as were the arms wrapped tight around him. Now
that Jin no longer smelled like death warmed over, it felt deeply
satisfying to be so close, listening to his heartbeat and the wheezy
breath inside his chest. Their hips fit together sweet, cocks nestled
and pulsing a conversation. Jin was hot even when he was sick....
Mugen woke with a start, horrified to find himself drooling
on Jin's shoulder, shivering in the cool water. Had he fallen asleep
before they fucked? Holy shit! Surreptitiously wiping his mouth, he
raised his head to find his lover blinking sleepily, just waking
himself. Mugen sat up slowly, knees screaming louder than the crick
in his neck. Jin was red, white and blue around the edges,
shuddering, and Mugen laughed ruefully. They were both going to catch
pneumonia if they didn't get out of the tub soon.
“Some
kinda hot lovers, huh? Look at us.”
“Honestly.”
Jin smiled...and sneezed.
end