"And how would you rate the pain?"

     Sugawara groaned softly as he pulled away the ice pack that had been given to him. The pain was in full force and he was a little shaky, his high completely gone. "I don't know. Like an eight?"

     The doctor looked up worriedly. "The numbing shot has worn off I assume?"

     "Yep," he hissed as he put the ice pack back into place. "Definitely."

     Daichi watched as Sugawara's foot kicked impatiently. "Suga you okay?"

     "My head got sliced open by a metal fan blade." He glared halfway at Daichi. The other male just sighed and Sugawara turned to the doctor. "I'd really just like to go home. Is there nothing else you can do?"

     The doctor wrote something on his clipboard before tearing a slip of paper from it. He held it out to Sugawara. "Go down to the pharmacy and fill this out. They'll give you the pain medication you will be needing."

     Sugawara took the paper and got up carefully. Daichi led him to the pharmacy of the hospital and they filled out the prescription. On the way home Sugawara popped two of the pills and leaned into Daichi. The familiar buzz of a high started in the back of his mind and he hummed appreciatively at the pain pills.

     Daichi got him into bed and found a microwave meal scarily close to its expiration date. He fixed it up and took it to Sugawara. "How are you feeling?"

     "Okay I guess. It still hurts a ton. Can I smoke-"

     Daichi sighed, cutting him off. "Koushi I love you but no. You've already smoked nearly all of your stash already. You got it two weeks ago."

     Sugawara groaned. "Not even a bowl?"

     "No," Daichi stated firmly.

     Suga nodded and took the plastic plate. He ate slowly and gave the rest to Daichi, nauseous. Two more pain meds would help, he was sure of it. If only Daichi would leave him alone. Actually, he probably just needed a sleeping pill and to rest. He did have a night shift tomorrow after all.

     "What're you thinking about?"

     "I'm just tired." Suga put a hand over his eyes and groaned loudly. "Fuck Daichi I need to smoke!"

     "Chill out." Daichi laid down and held him close. He kissed his temple. "Go to sleep."

     Suga panicked internally. Daichi was holding him, which meant he couldn't reach anything to get him to sleep. Daichi rubbed his stomach and he calmed down a bit. "Oh Daichi~"

     "What Suga?"

     "Ooh. Feisty." Sugawara sat up. "How much do you love me?"

     "A lot." Daichi opened his eyes. He sighed at Sugawara's lopsided smile. He hadn't fallen in love with someone with a smile like that. He'd fallen in love with someone who could smile so big it radiated. Someone who was so incredibly sweet and mostly sober.

     "Can I stay up?"

     "Yeah, go ahead. But your head is gonna hurt and you can't take those pills for another eight hours. Speaking of which are you gonna call out of work?"

     "Probably not. My buddies need me." He yawned and watched as Daichi eased to sleep next to him. He downed two more pills and laid down. His hands were tingly and he was floating, in between being awake and asleep. He needed to stay this happy.

     Being like this distracted him from so much. His dying geriatric patients, the way Daichi looked at him disappointedly, the way his friends frowned at the lingering smell of weed on his hair. He needed to be high. Being sober meant facing his fears in life.

     Being sober meant feeling bad again. It meant the thoughts of jumping out into the road and getting his wrists slit open on kitchen knives. When he was high, life was bliss. He could relax and he could sleep. He couldn't sleep without being high. He couldn't be happy without a buzz anymore. It was a sad thought but he knew it was true.

     At work he had to steal pills and at home he had to sneak taking them. The pills were a problem but so was the weed. He was running out of money to pay for it and the only other way his dealers would accept payment was in trades. Sugawara refused the trades and stayed loyal to Daichi, knowing better. Daichi was a good man. A loyal man. He would never risk it for him, a high wasn't worth losing his best friend.

     Daichi stirred in his sleep and huffed. "Suga? Suga I need you..."

     Sugawara leaned down and took Daichi's hand in his. "I'm here Daichi. Breathe." Daichi gulped and nodded, taking in a shaky breath. He relaxed and Sugawara decided to lay down. He felt himself move after the motions were done and he smiled. Finally, he was high. He closed his eyes and relaxed. The pain in his head was gone.

*****

     Akaashi Keiji was a bad boyfriend.

     Well. Sometimes.

     Bokuto was currently watching Akaashi have his third breakdown of the week and could only rub his back as he cried out his woes. "Keiji. I'm right here."

     "I'm such a bad boyfriend! I'm so bad!" He sobbed. "I forgot your birthday!"

    "I forgot it too! It's really okay, I promise." Bokuto leaned down and laughed. "Babe. It's okay."

     Akaashi clung to him and sniffled. He nodded. "Let me at least go buy you a cake."

     "It's okay hun," Bokuto whispered. He pat Akaashi's hair. "It's okay. You're okay."

     Akaashi nodded again. He sat up and grabbed his glasses. "I'm sorry I keep crying." Akaashi wiped his eyes and looked up. He smiled shakily. "I love you Kotarou. Happy birthday."

     "Yep! I love you too!" Bokuto kissed his cheek and got up. He checked his phone and groaned. "The hospital is calling me again."

     "Oh." Akaashi stood on long legs and stretched. "What is it?"

     Bokuto held up a finger and called back. The conversation lasted only a few minutes, surprisingly short compared to the regular conversations that he got trapped in. As the conversation went on Bokuto's brows knit together. He ran a hand through his limp hair and hung up. "Damn."

     "What is it?" Akaashi questioned again, pulling down bowls.

     "They were asking me if the station had any missing medication. Apparently pain meds have been going missing." He turned to Akaashi. "Not a lot but it's enough to where it's noticeable. Someone was complaining of pain tonight and a nurse went to go find tablets and they were almost all the way gone."

     Akaashi hummed thoughtfully. "But none of the IV meds you guys use, right?"

     "Nope," Bokuto stated shortly before helping Akaashi put together dinner. He was tempted to call his dear friend's boyfriend since he was a nurse but Sugawara had apparently had an accident and hadn't been able to go into work. Apparently he had a concussion.

     "Sugawara-San and Yaku-San work at the hospital. Maybe they have an idea as to what's going on."

     "Maybe," Bokuto noted. He perked up. "Suga would snitch so fast."

     Akaashi nodded. He plucked a pair of chopsticks from a drawer and turned to Bokuto. "We should be doing something for your birthday."

     "I have you." Bokuto smiled and turned to a pan he'd filled with peppers and onions.

     Akaashi's eyes watered. "Kotarou!"