"Ore-sama does not get sick."

"Well you'll have to take the issue up with the thermometer. You have a temperature of 38. That's high even for you."

Atobe was going to insist the thermometer was wrong and that he was, as always, perfectly healthy, but as soon as he began to speak, a cough overtook him, and he covered his mouth politely. When the coughs subsided, he looked back up with a cynical expression. "I'm not sick."

Tezuka somehow resisted rolling his eyes. "You stay in bed and I'll make you some soup. It'll be good for you." He left to the sound of Atobe denying illness vehemently, which was still going on when he returned with a bowl of heated chicken broth.

"I can't even remember the last time anyone in my family got sick; it just doesn't happen," he was saying. "Atobes just don't get sick. We're too healthy, and clean. Germ-free."

He went ignored as Tezuka set the bowl down and sat in the bedside chair, then scooped up a spoonful of the soup and shoved it into Atobe's mouth, mid-sentence. "Say 'aah'."

Atobe's eyes narrowed, but he swallowed the broth. The he wretched the spoon out of his mouth. "I can feed myself, thank you."

"That's good," Tezuka said as he stood up. "Because I have a lecture to get to." He grabbed his jacket and leaned over to kiss the side of Atobe's head. "Do not get out of bed. I'll come back after class." He turned to leave the apartment, until Atobe called out to him.

"Tezuka."

"Yes?" He looked back at his lover.

And Atobe smiled. "I love you."

Tezuka just looked at him for a long moment, knowing he was being patronizing. But he went with it, curving his lips into a soft smile. "I love you too." And then he left.

The *pop!* of ball against racket had always been a pleasant and comforting sound for Tezuka. He still loved the sport, even if he quit playing back in high school, and usually enjoyed returning to the courts every now and then. Especially if it was to watch Atobe play. He adored watching his lover in action, muscles flexing and covered in sweat. It was a beautiful sight to him.

Usually.

But as he stormed toward the familiar sound that day, he was angry. He knew Atobe was stubborn, but this was reckless.

"You're not in bed," he said from behind the fence.

Atobe swung and returned the ball that the machine had sent toward him. "Stunning observation skills," he replied.

"Atobe, you need to take care of yourself. You're sick."

"I'm fine."

"You're pale."

"I'm fine!" He hit the oncoming ball so hard, it stuck into the fence on the opposite side of the court.

Tezuka's jaw set, and he fixed the other's back with a glare. "Fine." He turned and began walking away, but had only gone a few steps when he heard a racket clanging to the ground. He looked, horrified to see Atobe fallen to one knee, panting to catch his breath.

And to top it all off, the ball machine was still on. It sent another high-speed ball out, which hit Atobe on the shoulder with enough force to knock him over.

"Atobe!" Tezuka threw the fence door open, running to the other's side. He stood between Atobe and the machine's aim, letting the tennis balls hit him as he knelt over the other man.

Atobe looked up at him. "Ok, maybe I am a bit under the weather."

"Idiot." Tezuka shook his head, winced as he was pelted by another ball, then picked Atobe up and ushered him off the court.

"Now stay," Tezuka commanded, as he finished tucking his ill lover in for the second time that day. Though he knew the only way Atobe would actually stay in bed is if he chose to do so, not because of Tezuka's requesting it in any way. But he had a feeling this time he would listen. At least for a little while.

So he went to the kitchen and brought back another bowl of warm chicken soup, sure of its cold-healing properties, and set it next to the bed so Atobe could reach it.

"Feed me."

Tezuka blinked. "What?"

"I'm sick. Feed me."

He sighed. Of course Atobe would dramatize the situation. And yet, as long as he was the one the 'patient' needed, it was ok. And so he picked up the spoon and brought it up to Atobe's grinning mouth.

"Say 'aah'."