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Ch. 10: Kissing It Better

It is several days before Hera can even stand for more time than it takes to use the bathroom. But he isn't feeling so dead anymore, and he isn't feeling too hot or cold. What he is, is...confused. Kiku and Sadik have stayed with him the entire time, feeding him and taking care of him in the ways he doesn't really want them to, sometimes making veiled remarks to one other, sometimes refusing to look at each other at all. It is strange. Even stranger is the way they both coddle him, in their own ways. He isn't sure what to make of it. But as he gets better, he is beginning to notice it more.

Kiku is in the kitchen making plum tea. It is a little windy out today, so he's shut all the windows, and now it's a bit warm for his yukata. Letting it hang loose from his shoulders, showing off small slits of his forearms, he carries a tray in to Hera, who has devoured a meal of lamb kebabs and that funny sauce the Turk throws over everything. Sadik is currently out, shopping (or shoplifting, he's long ago stopped asking) for more food. "Did you enjoy it Hera-kun?"

Hera nods. He's sitting up in bed, and hoping that by tomorrow they'll let him eat at an actual table. He feels stronger now, and he knows he would be fine on his own if they left. They treat him like an invalid! Which...yes, he is, but it's not nearly as bad as it was. He can move around and take care of himself. Or he would, if Kiku and Sadik would let him. He's starting to think they enjoy having him as their patient - and that just makes him remember some very strange dreams. "You're a very good cook, but you know you don't have to do that anymore. I can make things."

Japan tsks at him as he pours two cups of tea and sits on the edge of the bed. "I'm sure you can. However I am not about to see you live on wine and phillo pastries forever. You were very sick, and I have no doubt your eating habits had something to do with it."

Greece crosses his arms and tries hard not to pout, knowing that will not help his case. "The Mediterranean diet is one of the healthiest in the world. America is always asking about it; Greek yogurt is very popular with his people."

"Yes, but your fridge contained no fish, no chicken, no lamb, and no yogurt when I arrived. And your pantry contained no rice or grains."

Greece is not really sure when the last time he went shopping was. Or what he bought; he has a feeling the only thing he brought home was junk. Even the events which led up to his current state are rather hazy. "I can get some."

Kiku smiles a little, sipping his tea. Of course he could. But he didn't, because he was thinking of other things. Like sleeping with Sadik - which is a distracting thought, he must say. "Yes, you can. But not right now. Sadik is shopping for you." He holds a hand out to stop him from launching off the bed.

"He's what?!" Hera tries very hard to get past Kiku's hand. Normally he wouldn't have that much trouble, but he hasn't regained his full strength. It's embarrassing, really, but at least he doesn't need their help just to sit up anymore. "You realize he's going to poison me?"

Kiku raises an eyebrow. "I'm the one who cooks your food, Hera-kun. Sadik just... obtains it." He finishes his cup and pours another, moving the tray so that he can sit. He throws both legs over one of Hera's, then sinks into his lap and leans on the hand that isn't holding his tea. It's a comfortable position; good enough to hold Hera there for a very long time. "He follows orders very well, and always brings back everything I tell him to - which is a fair shot more attentive than you." He smirks.

Hera glowers. "He can still poison it. He's just waiting for you to believe that he won't, and then he'll give me something tainted." Kiku has been defending Sadik an awful lot lately. Something's happened between them, and he's not sure he likes it. Sadik knows how he feels about Kiku; he wouldn't be surprised if the bastard seduced Kiku while he was out of commission just to annoy him. "You have been, ah, spending a lot of time with Sadik lately."

Kiku finds himself blushing a little, ducking his head and being coy. He's not sure why. Perhaps because it's Hera, talking about Sadik, and he's fairly certain he knows what that means. What can he say? 'Yes, I've been flirting with Sadik, and I'm waiting to fuck him until I can have you both together, but kissing him has been a little hard to resist'? Instead, he opts for subtlety. "I have. So have you." He must admit that part still stings: knowing they're together, that they've been fucking while he's spent so long being confused over them both. He tries not to let that show. "We have been taking care of you, Hera-kun."

Hera sees quite a few things flash across Kiku's face, and he's not sure he likes all of them. But the last part is absolutely true, and, although he hates to admit it in Sadik's case, he owes them for their help. He reaches out, taking Kiku's cheek in his hand. "I know. Thank you. I know I've said it before, but I do mean it. I'm going to have a roast for all of you - Yao and Gupta too - and we can eat and drink and dance together." He smiles. "That is, whenever you let me get out of bed."

'Hah- We'll see about that last part...' Kiku leans into the touch slightly, peering at him through his lashes. "Would you dance with me?" He asks it just a little flirtatiously, because he can, because he wants to. He can flirt with Hera just as easily as he does Sadik, even though Hera's hand makes his stomach twist where Sadik's lips make him simmer inside.

"Yes." He'd like to do much more than dance, but he's still not sure he will get the chance for that. Hera has a terrible feeling Sadik is getting much closer than he is. He leans back against the pillows and drinks his tea. Kiku says it will help him regain his strength, and the sooner that happens the sooner he can dance. Maybe he can even encourage Sadik to dance for them. On the other hand, that always ends in sex. He has seen the way Kiku looks between them, and knows he doesn't quite approve. He sighs. "I am feeling better, you know. I haven't been outside in more than two weeks. Surely a nap in the sun..."

"…would make you catch a cold, in your current condition." Kiku chastises him, taking the cup from Hera and refilling it slowly before setting it back in his hand, as though he is planning to mother him to death. Which he may do. He shifts, making himself more comfortable in his lap. "I know you're feeling better, but you were so gravely ill, Hera-kun, I really don't want to chance it."

"But..." Hera sighs and shakes his head. There is no arguing with Kiku about these things. He has taken it upon himself to be Hera's nurse, and it appears he's not allowed to refute the nurse's orders. At least he can enjoy Kiku's company this way. "I would like to do something. Even for me, this is a long time to remain in bed."

Japan raises his eyebrows, leaning back on his hands so that he is more lounging in his lap than anything. "And what would you like to do, Hera-kun?"

Greece can think of many activities that would not even require him to leave the bed, and for a moment he lets that smirk play over his lips. But in the end he settles on a far less energetic pursuit. "Let me sit by the big window downstairs, and you can teach me more Japanese."

Japan smiles a little at that, ignoring the smirk in favor of the proposal. It's a good idea. He slides from Greece's lap, picking up the tray and hefting it into his arms. "Alright. But if you start to feel faint, I will carry you back up here myself."

Hera grimaces. That's what happened last time. Sadik's general approach to his requests was always "Go ahead and let the brat kill 'imself," until he finally convinced both Kiku and Sadik to let him sit in the library/study with them, and promptly fainted. According to Kiku, Sadik had panicked, carried him back to bed, and worried like a nervous mother until he woke up again. The Turk denied all of this to Hera's face, but would not even hear of another request to leave his bed. "I promise to tell you if I feel ill again."

Kiku gives him a skeptical look, but after a moment he finally turns away, heading out of the bedroom with the tray. Sadik should be home fairly soon, and they all need to talk. It may be best to broach the subject without Sadik here; or maybe he should leave, and let Sadik do it...? Oh, Kami-Sama, he can only imagine how that conversation would go. He may have to come back to keep them from strangling each other. He heads for the kitchen to set the tea aside and start on a strange, rather dangerous dish his brother Korea taught him. "Can you make it down the stairs?" he calls over his shoulder.

They haven't let him try it yet, but Greece calls out "Yes," anyway. He throws back the covers and turns to put his feet on the floor. Japan will probably yell at him if he doesn't put on pants, but he is hoping he can get away with just the robe he's already wearing. It's plenty warm in the house. He doesn't bother with shoes, either. He stands, gripping the side table until he's sure he's steady, and carefully makes his way into the hall. It would be too much if he fell now; they'd never let him out of his room again.

Japan is chopping carrots with rather frightening efficiency, humming to himself and watching through the spotless steel range as Greece slowly makes his way to the stairs. He knows Greece is getting annoyed with the mothering, but... really. He can't even move down the stairs without gripping the railing like a vice. "Be careful, Hera-kun!"

Greece glares at his own feet, making sure they are fully grounded on each step before he continues. He hates that he still feels weak, and he blames it on the fact that they won't let him out to exercise. There are several cats following him down the stairs; thankfully they seem to understand they cannot dart between his legs like they normally do. They wait with him, matching his halting steps until he successfully reaches the bottom. He's sure they will run straight back to Kiku if anything goes wrong.

'Oh Good,' Japan thinks. 'He made it down without passing out.' That's a step up from three days ago. He begins chopping mushrooms, then leeks, then slices the beef thin and throws it all in a very hot pan. "Hera-kun, if you are feeling sick, I will take you back up the stairs."

Hera shakes his head, sure that Kiku can somehow see him. It's like he has tracking cameras on the cats. "I'm alright." He certainly feels better than he did last time. Weak, but not dizzy. It's enough, in his opinion, for a celebration; one must cherish these little things. He makes it to the couch set up in front of the big window and falls into it gratefully.

Kiku stir-fries everything with Korean barbecue sauce, then pours it all into a hot stone bowl, cracking a fresh egg on top and letting it cook on the dish. When it's ready, he sets it on their tray with more tea and two sets of chopsticks, and brings it down to Hera. The man is leaning back against the couch with his eyes closed, and for a moment he thinks Hera might have fallen asleep again. However, when he sets the tray on the side table the green eyes crack open. "You look happy to sit down," says Kiku.

"I need to walk more. Get my balance back," Hera replies.

Kiku lets out a soft chuckle. "It's not your balance you have lost, Hera-kun, but your strength. Maybe you need something to work toward. Something to look forward to."

"Getting the Turkish bastard out of my house?" Hera grins.

Kiku grins back, because he knows Hera is kidding. Alright, half-kidding. But it's better than being completely serious. "Now, now, Hera-kun, that's not the way you should treat someone you're... Well." He blushes a little, using the chopsticks to pop the yolk of the egg and begin mixing it into the hot bowl.

Hera cocks his head to the side, petting the kitty that has hopped into his lap. "You are not okay with that. Why?"

Another cat hops up, this one a little black kitten. She is fighting for Hera's attention, but Kiku knows that she'll accept his. He slips a hand under her and lifts her into his lap. "It's hard to describe to someone like you." That may have come out wrong, but he's not going to take it back; it's true. He scratches the back of the black one's ears, trying not to blush any harder. "I am a little sad. That's all."

Hera supposes that's fair. In these situations, he usually has more in common with Francis than anyone else. It still stings that Kiku feels he cannot talk to him about it more. He nods anyway, until a gray cat jumps onto his head and curls up, apparently content to stay there. "I wish I knew how to make you not sad."

Kiku peers up at him through his lashes, his mouth pouting a little as he realizes Hera is a little stiff, like he's annoyed or in pain. He touches Hera's thigh, speaking softly because he wants to be honest. He has nothing to worry about; unless Sadik is wrong and Hera doesn't like him that way. The thought makes him nauseous. "I like you. Both of you. And I was hoping that one day I would be able to be with one of you, at least, in the romantic sense. But you have each other now, so I am feeling... Left out, I suppose."

Hera blinks. Kiku just said that he wanted to be with him...them. He's a little jealous that it is them, but all the little looks make more sense now. His heart thuds in his chest and his head fills with so many things he thinks it might float off his shoulders. "You like me? More than friends?"

Kiku laughs a little. How could Hera even have to ask at this point? He'd thought he made it so clear, had been making it clear for so long. He touches Hera's face, finally sliding his fingers down to his chin. "Much more than friends." After only a moment, though, he turns away. His hand falls into his lap with the other and he wrings them together. "I just don't want to be left. I am afraid, because Hera-kun is not one for... commitment."

Hera swallows, feeling like he needs something to ground himself. Kiku wants him. Wants him! Just as he's hoped for so long. He scoots closer, taking Kiku's hand. "If that's what you want, I can try." He smiles a little, teasing. "But you're going to have to put up with me."

"Not just you, apparently," Kiku laughs, leaning closer and linking their fingers together. "If you don't mind trying, I think I can make you happy this way." He leans in, pressing his lips to Hera's cheek first, his mouth for just a second, and finally his other cheek.

Hera is already happy. Ecstatic. He wants to jump for joy, or press Kiku back into the couch and make love to him right here. Unfortunately, it seems all this giddiness is not just from Kiku, and the kiss finally overloads the circuits in his brain. Well, he should at least try to keep his promise. "I think I'm going to-" He falls forward into Kiku's lap, scattering the cats.

"Hera!" Kiku gasps, his hands sliding down to check his pulse, one winding into his hair as he attempts to pull his head up and see his eyes.

At that moment the door opens and Sadik shoulders his way inside, his arms full of bags. "I'm back!" he calls. "You better thank me, you have no idea what I had to do to find all this shi-" His mouth drops open. Kiku and Hera are on the couch, with Hera's face in Kiku's crotch, clearly sucking him off. Kiku has his hands in Hera's hair and everything, and those wide eyes say the brat's doing a damn good job. He puts down the bags and crosses his arms, scowling. "How come you wouldn't let me blow you? I always knew you liked that brat better!"

"I…I'm not-! He's not-!" Kiku gasps, his mouth hanging open, unsure of what to say or do. "I- He just- I told him that I wanted him and he just passed out! In my lap! Help me get him back upstairs."

If the brat said something like that, Sadik would've called his bluff. But Kiku doesn't lie about things like this, so he hurries over. "What's he doing down here anyway? He almost killed himself on the stairs a few days ago!" he scolds, gathering Hera into his arms. It's too easy. Brat's still too skinny.

"He wanted to get out of bed, and I felt like I had to tell him!" Kiku's so anxious now. Poor Hera, he just made him sicker! He lets Sadik carry him up the stairs, trailing behind, feeling very, very bad about himself.

Sadik snorts. "He fainted because you told him? Hah! I guess it's a sign I was right, eh?" He gently tucks Hera back into bed, rearranging the pillows and drawing up the covers. When he's got Hera settled he lifts his eyelids, checking the pupils. "He's alright. Don't feel bad; it's his own damn fault for being stubborn."

Japan sighs. "Don't be so hard on him. He's been cooped up in here all week." He moves closer, tucking himself beneath the taller man's arm and into his side. It's a position that is fast growing familiar, and he's been enjoying for a few days now. "You would be going twice as crazy." He pokes Turkey's side.

Turkey chuckles and drags Japan closer to him. "I have never stayed in bed for more than two days in my life - and those were two good days." He swoops down to kiss him.

Japan grins into the kiss, letting every spark in his blood explode into heat and light, the way it always does when they kiss. He's worried that the day they fuck he may just combust. On the other hand, it feels so good he probably won't care. He slides his hands up beneath Turkey's hood, toying with his hair and pressing himself in against him, feeling his hardness already there. It's so easy to get him hard. It really is too bad they can't do anything without Hera; the man's been pleading with him for days.

"No fair teasing if you still won't let me do anything. I'll get the groceries." Turkey sneers, noting that Greece is stirring. "Made sure to buy extra arsenic this time around." He turns on his heel and heads back downstairs, laughing.

Japan glares a little, still smirking as he whips around and smacks Turkey's ass on his way out the door. "Be nice, Sadik-san, or you'll win nothing at all from me next time!"

Greece blinks, and finds himself staring once more at his bedroom ceiling, blocked partially by the face of the cat who is staring at him upside-down. Not again. "You're never going to let me go out again, are you?"

Japan wanders over, pressing a hand to his forehead. "Maybe that won't be such a bad thing," he teases, sliding that hand down to his cheek. No fever, but he's still weak.

Greece tries to make himself look as pathetic as possible. "You'll keep me company, won't you? It's such a big bed..."

As he pretends to think on it, Japan trails his fingers down Greece's cheek, his chin, his throat, watching those 'pathetic' eyes light with something hot. He loves it already. "Maybe. But how will you keep me from falling asleep?"

"You could sleep with me," he lets the double meaning hang in the air, catching Japan's hand and tugging at him, drawing him into the bed.

Japan grins, allowing Greece draw him in and straddling his hips as he falls forward. He's a breath away from kissing him for real this time, but he lets himself hang back, making Greece work for it, speaking soft and slow so that their lips just barely brush. "Sleeping won't make you any better."

Hera reaches out to touch Kiku's face, his hair, his neck and shoulder - all of this, because now he can touch it the way he's really been wanting to. "Sleep makes everything better." He leans up, crossing the last inch of space between them and pressing their lips together. It's better than he ever dreamed, and he's dreamed of this quite often. Kiku is soft and pliable, all smooth like calm water lapping at fine sand. He knows, from the very moment their lips meet, he will never be able to get enough of him.

It's the kind of kiss that makes everything in Kiku stop: his heart, his lungs, his twisting stomach. Everything freezes, and the euphoric stillness that kicks in is all relief and anticipation curled together in his nerves, tangled. "Hera..." he breathes out against his lips, happy - completely happy. He shifts his head, turning to the appropriate angle for a good, long kiss. His tongue grazes his lower lip and he finally, impatiently, sucks it into his mouth, begging Hera to open for him.

Hera, of course, does not need further convincing. He opens his mouth and turns his head, letting their lips lock together. The feelings that rush through him as their tongues meet and tangle are so strong he's not sure if he's going to pass out again or be driven into even greater awareness. He hopes it is the second one; if he passes out they are likely to forbid him from going any further.

Kiku sighs into the kiss, enjoying the way they lock and unlock, his hands pressing into his chest, palms rubbing over his nipples. Oh, he feels exactly as he thought he would; so good and warm and easy. He feels like just kissing Hera is draining all his worries away. He moves his tongue, allowing Hera's to caress it and deepen the kiss, enough to make him a little lightheaded.

Sadik returns with some fruit, intent on making both of them eat despite Kiku's near-constant cooking. He pauses at the door and smirks to himself; they don't even notice he's there. He leans against the wall and watches, allowing them the moment but determined not to be left out for long. They are quite lovely together; he could get used to watching.

Hera groans into Kiku's mouth, his hands sliding beneath the fabric that is already falling form his shoulders. Kiku can't help himself. He's nearly undone by the way those rough fingers rub and squeeze at his shoulders, massaging tension away. It's so good he can barely kiss him. He finally has to rip back and groan, his head falling to press against Hera's. "Feels good, Hera-kun."

Alright, that's enough. They're going to be fucking soon if they keep up like that, and as much as Sadik is sure he could enjoy watching, he would much rather join in. He clears his throat and raises an eyebrow. "Did you faint on him this time, Kiku?"

Kiku gasps, yanking back with a hot blush as he looks over his shoulder. He shouldn't be so embarrassed, but he's always been modest. Yao said it was one of his more endearing qualities. Kaoru once told him it made him look like a porn star in training, but that's Kaoru for you. "Not quite, Sadik-kun."

Hera cuddles Kiku possessively and glares at Sadik. "We're napping."

"Clearly," Sadik chuckles. He holds out a plate of grapes and makes his way over to the bed, swaying his hips in a way that is sure to get Hera's attention, if not Kiku's. "I mean to see that you eat first. You've been wasting away, and you," he pokes Kiku's side, "you've always been to skinny. So...who wants one?" He pulls a grape free of the others and holds it between his teeth.

It's too tempting. Kiku tips his head back, letting his hair hang and his yukata fall down to his elbows. He takes the grape between his lips and sucks it into his mouth as he expands the touch into a kiss, one that rolls the fruit between their tongues, heat shuddering hard through every nerve. It's simply unfair. Hera awakens love and warmth in his heart, while Sadik awakens passion and heat. Together like this, he doesn't know how he'll keep himself from exploding.

Sadik flicks the grape over his tongue, biting into it just enough to break the skin so they can both enjoy the sweet flavor. There's such a gentle, insistent passion to Kiku, he can't help the way it heats up his blood and makes him desperate for more. He moves his free hand to Kiku's back, covering one of Hera's hands and guiding it lower over his spine. At last he pushes the grape all the way into Kiku's mouth and pulls back, smirking. "You're next, brat."

Kissing Sadik is very different from kissing Kiku, and from what Hera's seen it's very different from Sadik kissing Kiku as well. They are instantly aggressive, instantly alive with tongues and teeth that nip at flesh as often as they bite the fruit. Sadik keeps pushing the bits of grape into his mouth, making him swallow, and though he's not sure how, at some point there's a second grape added. Sneaky bastard.

Kiku watches with delight as Sadik plays Hera into his grasp, seducing him with grapes just as easily as he did with Kiku. He's already turned on, just from kissing them both. Watching these two fight over a grape like hungry dogs has him squirming. "We should've done this a long time ago."

Sadik pulls back, his lips a little more bruised, but very pleased with himself. Three grapes have disappeared between them, and he's fairly certain Hera was so distracted by the addition of the second he did not notice the third. He puts two between his teeth right away this time, and turns back to Kiku. "One for you and one for him. Make him be good."

Kiku groans hard at the sight, the chance to do this just like he wanted to. He leans up, fisting Sadik's shirt and dragging him down to kiss him. He fucks his tongue into Sadik's mouth, stealing his grapes and pressing into him hard enough to feel his pointed nipples through their clothes. "Make me be good," he whispers around the fruit, kissing Sadik again before pulling back and leaning over Hera.

Hera should probably warn Kiku that the last time he said something like that to Sadik, he could not sit down comfortably for a week. Ah, well. He's having too much fun kissing him, willingly taking the grape from his mouth just so there's more room for their tongues.

Sadik sucks in a breath. They're together now, that means he's allowed to touch, right? Whatever; no point in distracting Kiku by asking. He abandons the grapes on the table next to the bed and climbs on behind him, then slides his hands all the way down from Kiku's shoulders to his ass, tugging the robe a little further down. He grips Kiku hard through the fabric, then rubs his hands up and down his thighs. "Make you? Darlin', you don't know what you're asking for."

XXX

Some time later, the three lay breathless and naked in Hera's bed. Sadik looks over them both: Kiku is staring at the ceiling and Hera has his eyes closed. Sadik laughs and leans up on an elbow to swoop down and give Hera a kiss, mussing his hair. Hera doesn't seem to be able to form a more coherent response than a series of positive moans.

"We need to do that again. Have some fun; switch places. Though we may have to wait a while for the brat," says Sadik. He turns to Kiku and kisses him, a lazy exchange of tongues while his hands run over Kiku's back to feel where Hera is still inside him.

The kiss simmers through Kiku, bringing along a strange sense of affection; the kind Sadik would never outwardly display for Hera. He supposes that as long as he's not Hera, Sadik won't feel odd about caring. He pulls back and rubs their noses together. "Then you will have to keep Hera's place for him won't you?"

Heracles stirs a little at that. "No. 'smy turn, he can't have it..."

"I think I'm going to have to come pester you more often, brat. Seems to keep you alive. Told ya you needed me!" Sadik laughs, licking a stripe up Hera's cheek to annoy and/or arouse – either one will work for him.

Kiku watches the exchange with no little lust, then leans in to kiss Hera's mouth. At the same time, he reaches back to pull Sadik's arms around his waist. "Go to sleep, Hera," he teases, trying to sound innocent. "Sadik will take care of me until you're awake."

"Real good care," Sadik adds. He sits up to press himself into Kiku's side, pulling him off of Hera's cock to lie between them.

Hera tugs on Kiku, wrapping himself around his body. "Mine. You'll stay with me and take a nap, won't you Kiku? I'm still sick." He coughs and makes the most pathetic face he can muster. It's pretty good, considering he's covered in sweat and about to pass out if he doesn't sleep willingly.

Kiku sends an imploring look to Sadik, who gives in with a roll of his eyes and cuddles close. "Since you asked so nicely... you poor, pathetic creature." Kiku smiles a little, giving Hera a kiss and pressing his face into his neck, breathing him in as he prepares for a nap.

Sadik sighs. He really is going soft. And the worst part of it is, he doesn't mind so much.