"Up we go..." Tendou gently eased Ushijima down. "You feeling okay?"

Ushijima didn't respond and just covered himself in blankets.

"Ushy... hey..."

Ushijima looked away.

"Okay. Whew." Tendou got up. "I'm gonna go get you some ice cream and see if that helps, okay? Probably won't but hey, I'm here if ya need."

Ushijima still kind of ignored him, eyes starting to water.

Tendou went off to the kitchen. He took down a bowl and a spoon. He knew Ushijima needed his necklace. He hadn't realized that Ushijima would freak out over something like that.

But it was going to be okay. Tendou was going to help him find it when Ushijima ate and took another nap.

It'd been three days.

Ushijima refused to talk and Tendou had to set alarms louder to remind him to eat.

Tendou opened the freezer. He scanned the shelves before stopping. Ushijima hated popsicles. Why was there a red one in there?

He pulled the popsicle out and gasped.

"Not a popsicle." He put it back and went to Ushijima's room. He grabbed his hands, startling Ushijima as he was forced into the kitchen. "Look in the freezer!"

Ushijima looked in before grabbing the little red object. "You found it!"

"Yeah!"

Ushijima shook his head faster than normal, buzzing with excitement. "You found it!"

"Told you I would find it Bub." Tendou smiled.

"Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!" Ushijima hugged Tendou tight.

Tendou coughed. "Damn you're strong."

Ushijima nuzzled his hair. "Thank you so much... Also I like my new nickname too."

"You do? That's great." Tendou returned the hug gently. His eyes went to the floor. Why couldn't things be like this all of the time? Why couldn't people love on him like this?

"Mm. You still smell like pie."

Tendou smiled. He hugged Ushijima tighter. How did all of this feel to Ushijima?

Could Ushijima identify what was going on with Tendou? Maybe. Did Tendou care?

...

Yes. So much.

Ushijima felt like a first friend. Or one he'd been missing for so long.

He couldn't explain it but even just looking at Ushijima made his heart race a little more and made him so happy. Ushijima made him so God damned happy it hurt.

He would hurt Ushijima though. Because he was a monster.

An addict too.

He was addicted to everything that loved him and everything he loved. He cared too much and then they got annoyed that he was so clingy.

He couldn't help it though.

He really couldn't. Tendou just wanted a good friend and a good partner who loved him back.

Ushijima seemed so perfect. Sure he had a bit of a social issue but that didn't stop Ushijima from being kind and loving. Tendou knew Ushijima probably got called worse things than him too.

But Ushijima ignored that and tried his best.

He was doing so well and just making Tendou want to stay more and more.

"Hey Bub?"

"Hm?"

"Can I take a nap? I'm tired."

Ushijima hummed. "Of course." He bent down slightly and hefted Tendou up.

"Holy shit you're strong!"

"Mhmm." Ushijima walked into his room, his cold necklace piece in between his two front teeth.

Tendou smiled. He was set down and covered up with blankets. Ushijima sat by him, reading. Tendou scooted closer, putting his head on Ushijima's thigh. "Hey Bub..."

Ushijima looked at him.

Tendou smiled.

"What is it?"

"Nothing... I just wanted to see your eyes. They make me feel happy."

Ushijima's brows raised. "I feel the same way about yours." He put his necklace back in his mouth. One hand turned pages in his book, the other resting on Tendou's upper back.

Tendou relaxed. He closed his eyes, taking in the warmth of just laying there.

****

Tendou hesitated, not wanting to even attempt at knocking on the door in front of him. He didn't know what would happen. 

Behind him a car pulled into the parking lot. He tensed. "Please don't be..." He turned around. "Semi."

"Are you coming back for something?"

"You guys."

Semi sighed. He opened the passenger side door. "Hang on. He fell asleep."

"I'll do it." Tendou went up to the car and gently shook Goshiki awake. Goshiki huffed. "Hey buddy. You feeling okay?"

Semi sighed. "He just got his wisdom teeth removed and is on a lot of meds."

"Oh." Tendou pinched his nose gently. "Hi there."

Goshiki opened his eyes. He looked up at Tendou and smiled. "Mm... you're baaack..."

Tendou chuckled. "I am. Guess what?"

"Hm?"

"No more Yuito."

"Yaaayyy!" Goshiki whined. "My mouf hurts..."

"Aw let's get you inside."

Semi helped him up and inside, setting him on the couch. Goshiki snuggled up against Tendou, content. "So why are you here? Are you moving back in? What happened?"

"Well. I got drugged by Yuito again and got in the hospital and now I'm staying with Ushijima."

Semi frowned. "You've been gone for three months."

"A month and a half with Yuito. And then another with Ushy."

"You moved in with him?"

"Well. Kinda?" Tendou gently patted Goshiki's arm. "He's letting me stay with him. Kinda like a roommate thing but we sleep in the same bed."

"You moved on fast."

"Are you slut shaming me?" Tendou teased.

Semi rolled his eyes. "You okay?"

"I feel fine. Mentally. Eh. But that's normal."

"Not normal but okay. Did Yuito do anything to you while you were drugged?"

"Nope Ushy got me to the backroom of the bar and Daichi had to do chest compressions. It was a whole thing. Very dramatic apparently. Typical Satori things."

Semi checked Tendou's temperature. "You have a low fever."

"So?"

"Have you been taking care of yourself?"

"Lots. Ushy takes good care of me and I take good care of him."

"You guys really need to date. Jeez." Semi covered Goshiki up in a blanket. 

"Eh..." 

"Why eh? Does he not feel the same way?"

"I can't tell."

"You can't tell me?"

"No I can't tell if he likes me."

"Oh."

Tendou shrugged. "He's pretty blunt so if he figures out he likes me back then boom, relationship. If not then boom, awkward and me being uncomfy for a bit. But it's okay."

"Are you sure?"

"Positive."

"Okay..."

"Mhmm." Tendou leaned his head back. "So how are you?"

"I proposed to Shirabu. So that was fun."

"Oh my God." Tendou looked back at him. "You didn't."

"I did."

"How?!"

"Well I was taking a shower and he needed to come ask me something. I just kind of said fuck it and took the ring out of the cabinet that I'd hidden in a box of bandages and gave it to him because he was asking about when I'd propose."

"Sly mother fucker."

Semi shrugged. "Good luck getting up."