Akaashi took a deep breath, stretching a bit. Bokuto looked up, immediately standing. "Keiji?" 

Akaashi gulped, huffing. "Mm…" 

Bokuto glanced at the heart monitor. Everything seemed normal. "Hey, hey, hey… Are you okay? Are you feeling okay?" 

Akaashi opened his eyes. "Mm?" 

"Keiji…" Bokuto smiled. "Hey." 

Akaashi smiled drowsily, putting his head back. He reached up, rubbing his nose. "Mph…"

"Careful, you have a cannula in." Bokuto took his hand, setting it back down. 

Akaashi tangled their fingers together, laughing. "Thanks." 

Bokuto hummed. He held Akaashi's hand to his cheek, smiling. Akaashi stared at him, somewhere between being asleep and awake but also being perfectly comfortable. He yawned quietly, closing his eyes again. "Oh, my we're back asleep." 

Bokuto set Akaashi's hand down, slowly to make sure he wouldn't wake up. This had been going on all day and Bokuto was so excited to see him finally wake up all the way. 

Even if it was near midnight and his eyes hurt from staring at his phone in the dark. "Thanks for letting me know!" 

Bokuto looked up from fixing the blankets. "Hey, he's sleeping-" Bokuto stared. He stood fully, hurrying to the door. He grabbed Ren's arm, startling the larger male as he was rushed out of the hospital. 

"What the hell?!" 

Bokuto grabbed his collar, punching him in the face. "Why are you here?!"

Ren stumbled, holding his nose. "What is wrong with you?!" 

"You strangled him, beat him, tore out his port, and pulled out his hair. You demeaned him in front of his son and never have given him anything! You don't deserve anything!" Bokuto grabbed his hair, slamming his head into the light pole next to him. 

Ren tried to fight back and attempted to use his height advantage but Bokuto wouldn't stop. There was barely any time between hits and Ren struggled. 

"You make me sick!" 

Ren stood as best he could, finally hitting back. His fist made contact with Bokuto's brow but honestly didn't hurt that bad. Bokuto kicked Ren in the stomach, glaring. 

"You hit like a bitch." Bokuto spat at him, going back into the hospital. He got ice, not really answering questions. He sat back down next to Akaashi, holding his hand and just falling asleep next to him. 

****

Kuroo set Oda down, dusting the snow off of his hair. "We gotta be quiet." 

Oda put his finger to his lips. "Shhhh." 

Kuroo chuckled. "Shhhh." He led Oda into the room, holding his hand. "Oh, well good morning." 

Akaashi squinted. "I can't see right now. No contacts." 

Kuroo hummed. He got Oda to stand by the door. Carefully, he woke Bokuto. "Guess who finally woke up?" 

Bokuto huffed. "Too early." 

Akaashi poked Bokuto's hair. "Ko." 

Bokuto shot up. "Keiji!" He hugged him tightly. 

"Oh, oh. My chest still hurts." 

Bokuto let go before smiling. "How do you feel?" 

"Could be better." 

"Fair enough." 

Kuroo led Oda over to the bed. Akaashi gasped. "Lovebug…" 

Oda giggled. "Daddy." 

Akaashi gestured to the little boy. "Kotarou help him up here." Bokuto put him on the bed and watched Akaashi hold his son. "Oh, sweetheart…" 

Kuroo waved to Bokuto, walking out. Bokuto hugged both of them, careful. Akaashi looked up, sniffling. 

"I'm so sorry."

"Don't be." Bokuto held his cheek. "It's okay now." 

"But… I still have to go back. What do I do?" 

Bokuto got both of them to scoot over, sitting on the bed with them. "Oda, tell your Daddy what you thought." 

"We can live with Bo!" 

Akaashi paused. "But my things and his things… And my treatment. Oda has school starting back up. I don't know if this is a good idea." 

Bokuto leaned him close. "It's the safest option." 

"I don't know…" 

"It's okay. We have time." 

"Not really." 

"The nurse told me you were staying here for a while." 

Akaashi shifted a bit. He looked over as his phone started to buzz. "Eh…" He picked it up, putting it to his ear. "Hello?" 

"Are you Akaashi Keiji?" 

"Mhmm." 

"Ren Ueno is your fiance, correct?" 

"Yes sir. I'm sorry but I don't know where he is if you're asking that. I'm in the hospital." Akaashi fixed Oda's hair, silent as the male on the other man started to talk. 

"We've been trying to reach you for a while about what happened to him. This morning around four AM he was found in a bar overdosed. I'm sorry for your loss." 

Akaashi gulped. "He's… He's dead?" 

Oda and Bokuto looked at him. 

"This isn't funny. If this is one of his friends telling me that he's dead that's not funny." 

"Sir, this is not a prank. We found a bottle of your prescription Oxycodone on him and it was found in his system." 

"Oh my God." Akaashi started to tear up, shaking. 

Bokuto grabbed Oda, rushing out. He knew better than to let the little boy hear this. 

"What hospital are you at sir?" 

"I don't… I don't know. I woke up a few minutes ago." 

"Why are you in the hospital?" 

Akaashi started to cry. "R-Ren beat me last night and I had to go to the hospital. He tore out my chemo port… I don't… Did he leave a note?" 

"He did." 

"Can officers come here? I'll ask where I am. I can't leave here. I had surgery and I'm sick. I'm sorry I wasn't ready for this sort of thing." 

Bokuto glanced into the room, worried. Akaashi didn't look that upset, to be honest. Just distressed. He watched Akaashi hang up and then saw him grin, clapping. Happy tears- wow. He looked so relieved. So much... Brighter.