Beyond The Limits, Hakkai x Sanzo, PG 13
The coughing had jarred Sanzo awake. He looked sideways at Hakkai as the driver’s slender frame doubled over slightly. The jeep weaved dangerously close to the side of the road.
“Fucking cough or drive! We need to get to the next town before dark. I’m not sharing another tent with anyone of you morons.” Sanzo’s growl was nearly lost as another wave of coughing stole over the youkai next to him.
The brunet straightened his monocle and sat back up. “I apologize, Sanzo. I will drive more carefully. We are only about an hour away from town so please don’t worry, we will make it well before dark.”
Gojyo turned his attention to the front of the jeep. “Fuck him Hakkai! Make him walk to town. Don’t apologize for being sick. When did you get sick by the way?”
“I believe I may have caught something from that clinic in the last town. The one we stopped in for Sanzo’s migraine.” Hakkai’s voice was soft and full of regret. It irked Gojyo the way Sanzo was always such an ass to his best friend.
“Damn monk, just because you are always a bastard doesn’t give you a right to be a dick to ‘Kai. It’s not like he’s toxic, unlike you, asshole.”
“Shut it.” There it was, Sanzo’s only friend. The monk had even released the safety before pulling it from his robe. This meant his temper was shorter than ever. They drove on in silence.
They arrived at the inn well past dark. The map hadn’t accounted for the river with no bridge. Sanzo silently handed the gold card to Hakkai. “Go get us three rooms. The monkey and the roach can share one. You and I will take the other two. No one’s going to want to be near you.”
“Certainly Sanzo.” Hakkai stepped from the jeep with his smile firmly in place and was about to walk to the entrance when a fit of coughing came over him. The monk’s frown swam before his eyes as he turned to suggest maybe Gojyo select the rooms then everything went black.
When he awoke Gojyo was sitting next to the bed. “Man, why didn’t you tell us you had a fever too?”
“Hmm. I suppose I knew my body temperature was slightly elevated, though I did not assume it was high enough to cause dizziness or fainting. I assure you, had I known it would’ve posed a threat to your safety I would have told you. I thought I was stronger than this. Where’s Sanzo?”
“Hmpf. He took off after he carried you up here.” Gojyo sighed looking at his heavily bandaged arm, the last fight having put him out of commission for a little while longer.
“Sanzo carried me?” The disbelief was plain in his voice.
“Yeah, strange, but none of us even had to say anything. He just climbed out of the jeep, threw you over his shoulder, muttered something about you being stupid, and here you are. Now-“, Gojyo stood up, “-I love you like you a bro and all, but there’s this really hot chick waiting tables downstairs and-“, Hakkai’s hand on his arm stopped him.
“Go Gojyo. I’ll be fine.” His smile was sleepy and his hand was warm to the touch. Gojyo leaned over and fluffed the youkai’s pillow before heading out.
~
Sanzo cursed. The fucking pan was too hot. The damned onion he’d found was now stuck to the bottom and was completely black. The tofu looked more scrambled than cubed, stupid soft shit. He glanced around the kitchen ensuring his solitude before glaring back at the oven. Why was he doing this? It wasn’t like he cared or anything.
He threw a bit of the chicken, burnt on one side and pink on the other, out the window and watched as a stray mutt picked it up. The animal bit into it and then promptly dragged it to a hole he’d been digging, dropped it in, and buried it. Sanzo growled. Bastard animal. The bullet holes landed on either side of the hole but the damn mongrel was fast, almost like the stupid kappa. Fucking picky bastard could starve to death then.
Looking back at the stove. He swallowed and barely managed to resist the urge to smash the window out with the stupid pan.
Fucking stupid Hakkai. He always pushes himself beyond his limits. Dumb ass deserved what he got. He strolled out of the kitchen and out of the inn.
~
Hakkai woke and shivered. The fever seemed to have broken but the sweat covering his body hadn’t dried and the window was cracked, letting in chill night air.
He lifted his head trying to see through the dark. Cigarette smoke. Gojyo never smoked when he was ill though. Sanzo. He saw the black gloved hand flick ashes in the moonlight.
“Sanzo?” His voice cracked. His throat was dry and tender. He could really use some water, but he felt weak and shaky. Holding his head up was becoming too much of an effort. He pushed himself against the wall to sit up at least.
“About time you woke up. You know how long I’ve been standing here?”
“I apologize Sanzo.” He stopped and swallowed trying to gather enough moisture in his throat not to cough.
“’Tch. Shut up and eat this.” He slammed the window shut, making the green-eyed man jump, and strode over to set a bowl of soup on the bedside table; it had a logo of some kind on the lid though Sanzo hand seemed to be trying to block it from view.
“What’s the jump for. First you nag us to open windows when we smoke, then you get angry when we do and complain about the cold. You really wonder why people think you are the wife?” Sanzo muttered, irritation rolling off of him.
Hakkai pulled the bowl into his lap and carefully swallowed a few spoonfuls before looking back up. It burned, but in a good way. He breathed in ginger infused steam and smiled.
“Thank you.”
“’Tch. Just get better so we can leave.” He ordered, then added in a soft whisper, “I hate when you’re sick.” The blond man turned to face Hakkai squarely, tilting Hakkai’s chin up so their eyes locked. “The monkey and the pervert are out right now so they won’t wake you up with their idiocy.” He released Hakkai’s chin, letting his fingers trail over his left cheek.
“Eat damn it. You can’t digest it by smelling it.” Sanzo’s eyes flicked back to Hakkai’s face. He was pale. He must be sicker than even he was letting on. Damn martyr.
He leaned over and pressed his lips to Hakkai’s. The kiss was gentle and closed-mouthed. He could feel the last traces of fever under his fingertips as both hands worked through the brunet’s sweat-soaked hair.
“I need you to get better quickly. I’m horny.”
“Of course Sanzo,” Hakkai whispered smiling down at the bowl, sleep trying to over take him.
In the dark, with the saru and the kappa away the blond man pulled his slender youkai martyr against his chest. Why the hell was he doing this? He watched as Hakkai drifted to sleep, pulling the bowl away so it didn’t spill. Sanzo sighed and kissed the top of the smaller man’s head. He’d pushed himself beyond his limits indeed.