Chapter Text
His head had been spinning the moment he woke up this morning. Jiahao massaged his temples, trying in vain to ease the pounding headache. This is definitely not good. The group has been caught up between endless schedules and comeback promotions in the past few weeks that were finally starting to wrap up, fortunately giving Jiahao a well-deserved rest day. It must be all the sleepless nights and dance fatigue catching up to me now, it’ll wear off soon enough. Always the stubborn perfectionist. He heaved himself up from his desk, unable to focus on the half-colored drawing he had on his tablet (his side gig as a commission artist was his way of “relaxing”), and shuffled into the hallway towards the kitchen.
He found Geonwoo sitting at the kitchen counter finishing up lunch, about to head out to a shoot with Sanghyeon. One of the best chefs in the group, the delicious smell of Geonwoo’s infamous pasta had Jiahao drifting over to stand next to him, trying to hide the fact that his body was about to give out due to the headache by leaning onto the countertop.
“Oh hi hyungie~ you should’ve told me you haven’t had lunch yet, I would’ve made you some too!” As a gentle smile graced Jiahao’s face, Geonwoo swore he could get lost in those impossibly round boba eyes forever.
“It’s okay I’m not hungry, baobao.” Feeling like his heart nearly melted at the innocent petname, Geonwoo pretended to look away nonchalantly and busied himself with guiding a forkful of pasta to Jiahao’s lips. “You should still try some hyung, I know how much you love my cooking.” The younger man winked with a proud smirk.
“Woo-ya, you just ate from the same fork!” Jiahao scrunched his nose cutely but opened his mouth to accept the food anyway. Geonwoo let out a small laugh, his clean and tidy Hao ge. He then brushed his thumb over Jiahao’s soft plump lips to wipe some leftover sauce and brought it to his own lips. Maybe next time he’ll just directly use his tongue to wipe the sauce instead.
Chewing on the pasta that usually would have him swooning, Jiahao suddenly felt like his stomach was rejecting any food entering his system and broke out into a cough, trying to swallow down the pasta as his eyes watered. Panic swept over Geonwoo, immediately coming closer to steady the older man with a hand around the small of his back and the other on his shoulder.
“Hyung are you alright? I swear my cooking didn’t taste that bad today?” Geonwoo lowered his head to face him, noticing the slight blush decorating Jiahao’s cheeks. “No no it’s really yummy Woo-ya, I just accidentally choked on it, is all.” Damn this stupid headache.
“Wait Hao ge, you’re burning up though. Why is your body too warm?” Geonwoo searched his glistening eyes, piecing together Jiahao’s shallow breaths and trembling hands.
“Gwenchana, I’m just a bit tired from the schedules, don’t worry about it baobao.” Jiahao whispered while trying to force out a light reassuring smile, but it ended up falling into a pout when the headache pounded again.
“Oh god this isn’t fine hyung, you have a fever! I’m taking you back to bed.” In one swift motion, Geonwoo wrapped a secure arm around his slender waist and lifted Jiahao’s arm over his own shoulder, anchoring him as they headed towards Jiahao’s room. The older man, being stubborn as usual, was about to protest, but found no energy to resist Geonwoo’s soft touches. He melted completely into Geonwoo’s firm chest, listening to the rapid heartbeat as he innocently glanced up at the younger man whose worry-filled eyes were focused on opening the bedroom door. Why is Geonwoo’s heart beating so fast?
Helping Jiahao settle into bed as if he was the most fragile thing in the world, Geonwoo quickly placed a cool wet cloth on his forehead and poured him a glass of warm water. Seeing the younger man linger by his bedside, Jiahao patted his thigh, “You’re gonna be late for your shoot if you don’t hurry up.”
“Hyungie~ but I’m really worried about you though. I’ll come check on you as soon as I get back, okay?” Eyebrows still furrowed in concern, Geonwoo sighed with a pout, eliciting an affectionate giggle from Jiahao.
“Okay okay, I’ll get some more rest if that makes you happy, baobao. Now don’t be silly and go before I have to kick you out.”
Admiring how small Jiahao’s hand felt in his palm, Geonwoo gave it one last squeeze before standing up. Hearing the familiar “Jiejie, wo ai ni” before the room door closed gently, Jiahao smiled to himself at how adorable but protective Geonwoo was, the fever making him sink deeper into his covers. It should get better after a nap... And so he drifted off to sleep, dreaming of delicious soft bread.