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Nightmares

"That's pretty, Tetsuya-cchi!" Kise said when Tetsuya showed them his drawings when they had come from work.

"Liar," Aomine muttered.

"Mooo! Aomine-cchi! Shush!" Kise said, "You can't tell him it's not pretty or you'll destroy his dream of becoming an artist,"

"Who told you that he wants to become an artist? Aho," Aomine said, silencing the curse word so Tetsuya wouldn't hear. "He's Akashi's brother, right? Therefore he'll be with Akashi managing their family business,"

"You may be right, Daiki," Akashi said, arriving at the living room. "But... I'm not like my father and will let Tetsuya decide on his future. He still has enough time to decide,"

"Aka-cchin, are you okay? You look pale," Murasakibara said, flopping down on the couch.

"I'm fine," Akashi said, "Just overwork,"

Midorima, who just got out from the kitchen, approached Akashi. "That's not overwork," he said.

Akashi smirked at Midorima. "I really can't hide anything from you, eh, Shintaro?"

"Well, technically, it is my job as your family doctor to keep you healthy," Midorima said then reached up to Akashi's forehead. "You've been keeping your fever high, I see,"

"I didn't feel the need to rest," Akashi reasoned.

"Ne, Akashi-cchi, that's not a good thing to do," Kise said, "What if Tetsuya does the same thing, what would you feel about it?"

"Tetsuya and I have different immune systems," Akashi said, "I can get by with a high fever. Tetsuya, however, is still a child and will be needing proper care,"

"Still," Aomine said while Murasakibara took Tetsuya to the kitchen for some snacks. "With you walking around, sick. He might be able to catch that,"

Midorima examined Tetsuya's drawings and flipped the paper over. "Akashi," he called. "You lent him your scratch papers?"

"Hmm? Oh yes," Akashi answered. "He kept on sulking even after you've left and only managed to get him off the front door when I offered to let him stay with me while I worked,"

"Eeeh?!" Kise said, "You let Tetsuya inside your office?! No fair, Akashi-cchi!"

"The only reason I let him in was that I could keep an eye on him while I worked," Akashi said, "And because he's not as noisy and as childish as you,"

"Then, let's eat dinner so you can rest early," Midorima said. "Murasakibara, you better not let Tetsuya eat more sweets before dinner,"

"Haaai," Murasakibara answered from the kitchen.

***

"Drink this and get some rest," Midorima said as Akashi prepared to sleep. "After a few hours, I'll come back and have you drink another batch of medicine,"

Akashi obeyed Midorima's orders and lay back down. "Have you checked on Tetsuya?" He asked.

"He doesn't seem too fond sleeping alone," Midorima said, "Therefore we're taking turns in who gets to sleep with him. Tonight is my turn,"

"You mean to say Kise gets to sleep with him?" Akashi asked.

"As surprising as it may seem, Kise seems to mature enough to take care of Tetsuya," Midorima said, "They all seem to understand that the boy needs more time to adjust to them and have been treating him with delicacy,"

"I see," Akashi said.

"How did you eat your lunch again?" Midorima asked, checking Akashi's temperature.

"I ate the leftovers from last night,"

Midorima looked at him, surprised. "But you hate eating vegetables,"

Akashi smiled as he pulled his blanket to his chest. "Tetsuya has his ways of persuading someone," he said.

When Akashi had fallen asleep, Midorima exited the room to see Tetsuya standing in front of Akashi's door.

"Akashi can't be disturbed," Midorima said, picking the toddler up. "He's sick and needs rest,"

Tetsuya looked at him before pointing at Akashi's door.

"You can't get in," Midorima said, "You might catch his illness,"

But as Akashi said, Tetsuya has his ways of persuading others that when Midorima came back to wake Akashi up, Tetsuya came with him.

"Shoot," Midorima whispered when he forgot his thermometer. "Stay here, I'll go get my thermometer,"

When Midorima left, Tetsuya climbed up to Akashi's bed. He looked at Akashi who was in a deep sleep, his brows furrowed and his lips in a frown.

In his dreams, Akashi saw his mother from afar and tried to run after her but found it difficult to catch up. He called, tears forming in his eyes until he tripped on his own foot and knelt on the ground as he felt his mother leave.

But he felt a hand on his cheek and from the ground, his eyes looked up to see Tetsuya. The toddler wiped the tears his older brother shed.

"Nii-chan..." he said, his voice small and pure and innocent.

Surprised upon hearing Tetsuya's voice for the first time, Akashi woke up with a jolt and saw Tetsuya in front of him, wiping the tears Akashi shed in his sleep like how he did in Akashi's dreams.

"Tetsuya..." Akashi said, slowly sitting up, his eyes still in wide shock. Had he just dreamt Tetsuya's voice? Or did Akashi really heard him speak?

"Did he woke you up?" Midorima asked, closing the door behind him. "I'm sorry, I didn't realize he could climb up your bed,"

But Akashi was still wrapped up in his thoughts that he didn't seem to hear nor see Midorima.

"Akashi?" Midorima called. "Are you alright?"

Akashi snapped out if his thoughts and nodded. "Just... nightmares," he said, "Have... how long have you been standing there?"

"Not long enough, why?"

"I... I think I just heard Tetsuya speak,"