#(((also idiots)))

[bretzkysbs]

[windfighter]

Old Injuries

Prompt: Ache | Massage

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Takuya stared at the ceiling. It was one of the bad days, when old injuries from games made themselves known. One of the days when Takuya felt at least ten years older than what he was. There was an ache deep inside his knees and he really didn’t want to move, risk making it worse. Even if he knew that moving would help. It always did.

He could hear Kouji walking around. At least one of them were having a good day. Takuya slowly sat up, his body protested. He winced, stretched. Bent his knees and groaned. The left knee was worse. He had been out for six months when that happened. Had even been told he’d never be able to play again.

That doctor had been an absolute quack and Takuya had refused to listen.

He stretched his knees again, put his hands on the left one. Tried to push the pain out of it. It only made it worse. Spending the day in bed sounded really tempting. He didn’t have anything planned anyway, unless Kouji wanted to do something. Takuya leaned back against his elbows, stared at the ceiling again. He took a deep breath, released it through his nose.

The door opened. Kouji stepped inside and his face turned into a frown when he saw Takuya. Takuya didn’t miss the cane Kouji held in his left hand, that he was leaning way too heavily against.

”Bad day?” Kouji asked.

”Yeah.”

Takuya closed his eyes. Listened as Kouji walked into the bedroom. Now when he was closer Takuya could hear how uneven his steps were.

”Really thought you were having a good day for a second there”, Takuya said.

Kouji shrugged and sank down on the bed next to Takuya’s legs. Takuya opened his eyes, watched as Kouji screwed off his prosthesis and put it to the side together with the cane.

”It’s only a three, I think”, Kouji said.

Takuya wasn’t sure what Kouji was grading that on and didn’t protest. He pulled himself higher into the bed, leaned against the headend of it. Kouji glared at him and he snickered.

”Which one?” Kouji asked and moved after him.

”Both? Left one’s worst though.”

Takuya let out a sigh.

”Sometimes I wish I could just chop them off.”

Kouji shook his head.

”It doesn’t help”, he said. ”Pain’s still there.”

Takuya had no idea how bad a ten was for Kouji. He never asked and he didn’t think Kouji could explain it anyway. Kouji rubbed his hands together, put them against Takuya’s thigh and pulled them along it, pressing his fingers into Takuya’s muscles. Warmth spread along Takuya’s leg and he moaned.

”How do you do that?” he asked.

Kouji didn’t answer straight away, kept working with Takuya’s legs. The ache didn’t completely disappear, it probably never would, but it became easier to handle, to ignore. He felt warmer, more mobile. Kouji hmmed quietly.

”Frenci does it for me sometimes, when the phantom pains get too bad”, he said.

He looked at Takuya, gave an apologetic smile.

”Should probably show you, in case it happens while I’m here. How’s your knee?”

”Better.”

Takuya pulled his knees up, stretched and swung his legs over the edge of the bed. He felt like he could at least move to the couch. He reached for Kouji, pulled him closer and kissed him.

”Thank you, you’re a lifesaver.”

”Comes with the job”, Kouji said.

There was a deep sadness in his eyes. It always appeared when he talked about his job without talking about it. Like there was stuff he did that he didn’t want Takuya to know. Didn’t want anyone to know. Takuya forced himself to laugh, because he could tell Kouji didn’t want to think about whatever he was thinking about.

”If being a doctor is requirement for taking pictures maybe we should send Kouichi abroad instead. Seraphimon knows he needs to get out of the hospital and experience life.”

Kouji snorted. Takuya smiled and pushed himself off the bed. Mission successful. He put his hands to his side. His knees protested a bit, but not nearly as much as earlier. He looked at Kouji, who laid down across the bed.

”So… what are we doing today?” Takuya asked.

Kouji shrugged, put his hands on his stomach and stared at the ceiling. Takuya waited, hoped Kouji wouldn’t suggest a long walk on the beach or through town or something like that. He could probably make it to the store, but really all he wanted to to was curl up on the couch and watch some football.

”Nothing planned”, Kouji said. ”Was thinking about taking the train somewhere though. Or ask the others to come over for board games. Either is fine.”

Takuya knew ’the others’ meant Kouichi, Izumi and Junpei. He wasn’t sure if their kids were included in the deal. Kouji closed his eyes. He looked tired and Takuya sat down on the bed again.

”So how bad is a three actually?” he asked.

”I can walk”, Kouji said and shrugged. ”It’ll always hurt so… nothing to do but keep moving.”

Takuya wanted to argue. Tell Kouji to get some rest and take it easy if it was hurting him. But Kouji wouldn’t listen to that.

”Boardgames sounds good. I’ll call the others while you just wait here for breakfast.”

Kouji smiled and shook his head but didn’t get up. Takuya left the bedroom, grabbed his phone and made the call. His knees ached with every step, a dull pain he could easily ignore, but still there, and he knew exactly what Kouji meant. There was nothing to do but to keep moving.

[sssssssim]