Akaashi stood, shaky. A nurse held him up, worried. "You okay?" 

"Mhmm." Akaashi grabbed his bed railing. "I just need to go to the bathroom." 

She nodded, letting go. Akaashi walked to the bathroom, trying not to fall over. His final chemo treatment had made him incredibly weak and walking seemed like the worst chore in the world. His nausea was a lot worse and his hair had completely come out at this point.

His body didn't hurt at this point and he was exhausted. He used the bathroom and curled back up in bed, passing out again. Bokuto hurried in soon, having been delayed. He sat there, waiting. 

Hopefully, Akaashi had told them about the seizure from the night before. Bokuto covered him up, pulling out his laptop right after. 

It was hours before Akaashi finally woke back up. He was drowsy and clingy, wanting to know what time it was and if Bokuto was okay, and what he was looking at. Bokuto held his face in his hands, squishing his cheeks. "You need to calm down there. You just woke up." 

Akaashi whined. He sniffled. "Runny nose." 

Bokuto laughed. He stopped as soon as blood started pouring from his nose. He held a tissue to Akaashi's nose, holding him up. "You good?"

Akaashi closed his eyes, humming. Bokuto's hands were so soft and warm. "Mm. Snuggly man hands." 

"The fact that you said something very close to that last night when you climbed into bed is kinda funny." 

"Mm?" 

"You got up out of your bed and walked into my room, climbed into my bed, and when I ask why you were doing that you said I have snuggly biceps like pillows." 

Akaashi laughed. His blood poured onto Bokuto's hand. "Oh no!" 

Bokuto wiped off his hand, grabbing more tissues. "It's okay, it's okay." 

Akaashi just stayed still, holding onto Bokuto. He always took advantage of Bokuto's lack of need for personal space, holding his hands and arms or leaning into him as much as possible. Bokuto was a fluffy seeming person. He was… A snowball. Oh, Akaashi loved snowballs. They looked cute to him. 

Bokuto eased Akaashi down, gentle. "How do you feel?" 

"Sleepy." Akaashi laid down all the way, holding his pillow. "I… Need grapes." 

Bokuto laughed. "Later weirdo." 

Akaashi yawned. "Radiation is in… Three weeks. It's for three weeks. Then two-week break. Then transplant." 

"Have they found a match?"

"Mm. I don't think so." 

"I got tested right after your mom. Your sister got tested. Oda could get tested." 

"No." 

Bokuto stared. "No?" 

"He's almost seven. I'm not taking his bone marrow. Plus it's painful." 

"They can put him under. It won't hurt him."

Akaashi looked away. 

"But then again he should just settle down." Bokuto leaned over. "We'll keep looking Keiji." 

Akaashi linked their index fingers, just holding onto him.

****

Akaashi handed Bokuto the spoon he'd been holding, covering his mouth. Bokuto glanced at him. He reached out his foot, opening the drawer with the trash can. Akaashi threw up into it, coughing. 

"Feel better?" 

Akaashi spat into the can. "Mhmm." 

"Water is on the table." 

Akaashi grabbed his glass. Bokuto turned down the stovetop, walking to the smaller male. "What was that one about?" 

"I don't know. I kind of feel better since it's been a while but I still get nauseous." 

Bokuto rubbed his back. "Do you need to go lay down?" 

"No, no it's fine." Akaashi smiled. "I feel a little better." 

Bokuto hummed. He took out the trash and washed his hands. They continued to cook, waiting for Kuroo to get here with Oda. 

"Daddy!" Oda ran up to Akaashi, hugging his legs. "Hi, Daddy!"

Akaashi turned around, smiling. "Hi, lovebug." He lifted him, putting him on the counter. "How was school?" 

"I made you something! Well, you and Bo. Hi Bo!" 

"Hey, buddy." Bokuto smiled at him. 

Kuroo handed the glass to Akaashi. "He painted it." 

"Aw. It's purple and yellow." Akaashi turned to Bokuto. "Isn't it pretty?"

"Oh, that is pretty. I know just where to put this." Bokuto put the glass on a shelf next to the plates, right in plain view. "Wonderful!" 

Oda clapped. Akaashi laughed. "We're having chicken pasta. With broccoli." 

"Ooh yes!" 

Kuroo laughed. "I gotta get home to Kenma before he chops my head off. He wants to do skincare stuff tonight because he thinks my face is too oily." 

"I'll see you tomorrow." Bokuto waved, grabbing a glass pan. He filled the pan with the pasta Akaashi and himself had made, careful not to overflow it. "Oda go put your homework on the table in the living room." 

Akaashi helped him down before sitting at the table. "I'm taking a nap really quick." 

"Alrighty." Bokuto set out the plates, watching Oda get out his work and pencil case. 

Bokuto helped him out, listening for the timer. Oda didn't struggle too much, giggling as he answered. Bokuto had him wake up Akaashi, setting out the food. He allowed Akaashi and Oda to get as much as they wanted, noticing both being hesitant. That was something to fix later on. In the meantime, he gave both more food and talked with them, checking in on how their days had been. 

Oda and Akaashi both seemed to like this, excited to talk. Later that night he laid in bed, Akaashi sleeping next to him as he read on his laptop. While reading he thought of new ways to get them involved with things and try to get them both happy again. 

He soon found out that the laptop light made Akaashi incredibly frustrated when he was tired. The pulling on his arm brought him to the attention of the younger male. 

"Ko… Go to sleep…" Akaashi kept pulling on his arm. "Ko."

"Got it, hang on." Bokuto reached to turn off the computer. Akaashi let go, startling Bokuto and making him drop it. "Ah shit." 

Akaashi shot up, rapidly apologizing.

"Woah, woah calm down." Bokuto picked up his laptop. "It's fine Keiji." 

"Oh God, what if it's cracked?!"

"This thing doesn't crack." Bokuto opened it. "See? Nothing." He smiled. "It's okay." 

Akaashi, on the verge of tears, nodded. Bokuto set down the computer on his nightstand and turned to Akaashi, going to hug him. Akaashi flinched out of the way, guarding his face. 

Bokuto stared, worried. "Did you think I was going to hit you?" 

"Y-yes. I'm so… So sorry." 

Bokuto sat up. "No, no it's perfectly fine. I understand." He leaned away, giving him space. "How big is your bubble Keiji?" 

"A-a little big." Akaashi wrapped his arms around himself. 

"Okay. That's okay. I'm going to get you some water, okay?" 

Akaashi nodded. He sat there, stressed over whether he would get yelled at or not.

Ren would have already thrown him out of the bed, kicking him and hitting his crotch. Maybe he would have been called useless. Something similar to that. 

Bokuto walked back in, giving him his water and sitting back for space. Akaashi sat there, crying softly without knowing how to get out that he desperately needed to be grounded and held. 

Bokuto put away the glass and waited to see if he would stop shaking. "Hey, Keiji… You know I would never in my life hit you or think about hitting you? I absolutely adore you and hitting you would come after hurting myself." 

Akaashi put out a hand, a sign that he needed to have it held. Bokuto held his hand, rubbing his knuckles with his thumb. "This isn't what I'm used to." 

"And it shouldn't be that way." 

Akaashi eased forward, climbing into his lap. Bokuto held him, rocking slightly. 

"I've got you. It's okay now. You're safe here." 

Akaashi settled under his chin, sniffling. "I'm sorry." 

"Don't be." Bokuto laid down, easing Akaashi into the bed. He got him to fall asleep, not minding his little snores or kicks. Bokuto fell asleep soon after, holding Akaashi in his arms like a stuffed bear.