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Sakazuki woke up in a room that was way too bright for his eyes and too cold to feel comfortable. He shivered and closed his eyes again.
The mattress he was lying on felt thin and not comfortable much, the blanket lying on him gave no warmth.
Except for some rustle of papers, the room was quiet, from afar he could hear some sounds of orders shouted and men answering.
He felt the up and down typical for stronger waves and was almost lulled back into sleep if he would not feel so awfully cold.
He reached for the blanket with his free hand trying to cover himself more only to realize that it was already neatly spread over him, and the only thing he did was pull it off his shoulders.
Why was he so fucking cold?
Was it the room or was the aftereffects of fighting Kuzan? Was it possible that his ice had sipped into Sakazuki’s cells directly and caused him to freeze like he never had before?
Bullshit.
Sakazuki could still feel his magma powers were there and he had won the fight, his body had not been defeated by Kuzan. Sakazuki had won that fight. He would be the next Fleet Admiral.
Just how did he end up here? And still, why was this room so fucking cold?
The hand, the only source of real warmth, that was holding his let go and put the blanket neatly over him again. And then something else, that actually radiated some warmth and even more of a familiar smell.
He blinked his eyes open and could blurrily make out the letters ‚unclear justice‘ on the coat placed on top of him.
„What happened?“
Sakazuki’s voice was hoarse and his throat felt too dry to be comfortable.
„You lost consciousness once you were back on the ship.“
Borsalino stated calmly.
He was there with him, of course he was. Sakazuki had known before he even opened his eyes, recognizing the feeling of the other’s palm in his. But even without that he would have known because Borsalino always was there, he would not leave his side, especially not when Sakazuki was weak and vulnerable.
No matter what happened he could trust in Borsalino to be by his side.
Unlike everyone else.
„Where is he?“
Coughing, Sakazuki tried to sit up despite the pain he felt from coughing and moving his body, but Borsalino placed his hand softly on his chest and held him down.
The warmth of his hand, even through several layers of fabric was a stark contrast to the rest of Sakazuki’s body that still felt ice cold.
Sakazuki stayed down and waited while Borsalino raised his headrest so he was in a half-sitting position.
„Healing but on a different ship.“
Borsalino filled the glass on the nightstand with water out of a glass carafe and put in a bamboo straw. Sakazuki emptied the glass in one go while Borsalino watched him quietly before filling the glass a second time.
Sakazuki’s throat felt a bit better, not like he had swallowed a rasp anymore.
With his thirst stilled, another realization hit him.
„He will leave, won’t he?“
He coughed again, his throat still protesting and Borsalino offered him the water a second time.
„It’s very possible.“
Borsalino’s voice was indifferent. Sakazuki watched him fill the glass of water again and saw the pile of papers on the nightstand.
Borsalino had been reading then, he could see by the way they were folded.
“Am I wrong with everything?”
Sakazuki’s eyes were still focused on the pile of paper.
Like a coward.
But Sakazuki was too afraid of seeing any confirmation of being wrong, or worse pity in Borsalino’s eyes. And he hated this feeling, hated being this weak but he could not help it.
“You’re following your heart.”
Borsalino spoke softly, offering him the water again. His words were neither confirming nor denying Sakazuki’s question.
And Sakazuki was not stupid enough to force him to be more clear.
“Will you leave me too?”
Sakazuki asked despite the fear about the possible answer. He still kept his gaze low, his jaw and fist clenched. Noticing it he looked at his bandaged hand and wiggled his finger. Just to see if they still worked. They were too numb from the cold he felt to know.
A gentle tap against his chin had him finally face Borsalino despite his fear.
“Sakazuki, I will always follow you even until the end.”
Borsalino’s eyes showed nothing but the confirmation that his feelings towards Sakazuki had not changed. There was an intensity in his gaze that had Sakazuki swallow thickly and blink his eyes.
When he opened them again, Borsalino was too close for his eyes to focus, their noses touching.
“You hear that Sakazuki? I will never leave you.”
The words brushed over Sakazuki’s lips, like a first warm breeze in spring.
A shiver, not from the cold anymore followed and Sakazuki closed his eyes and parted his lips, meeting Borsalino’s halfway.
Warmth spread through his body from their joint lips, and his chest and neck where Borsalino’s hands caressed him softly.
“Borsalino.”
Sakazuki started, wanting to say so much more, but Borsalino stopped him with another slow but sweet kiss.
“Shhh, go back to sleep, you need some more rest. I’ll stay right here.”
Borsalino kissed his forehead and lowered the bed again.
At any other time, Sakazuki would have protested, but at any other time, he would never have allowed a moment like this outside their home.
Weakness was something he had reserved for only when they were alone. Not on a ship where anyone could see just walking in.
But Sakazuki was exhausted and he had needed the reassurance that at least Borsalino would stay with him even if everyone else would leave.
Knowing that Borsalino was there and would stay, Sakazuki allowed the exhaustion to take over and released the tension in his body, letting his limbs go weak.
The warmth was back and with it the reassuring pressure of a familiar palm against his.
And no matter what was about to come, Sakazuki was ready to take it on.
-.-.-.-.-
Coby didn’t plan to eavesdrop he really didn’t.
He just had managed to arrive exactly when Sakazuki had woken up.
He had not meant to witness a moment that showed that his admirals who had been called monsters since before Coby was born, had hearts too. Not only the muscle keeping their bodies moving. But an actual heart that made them feel emotions, made them human.
Akainu was too weak and Kizaru was probably too worried about him to notice Coby. Not even when he peaked around the corner curious, and saw Kizaru kiss Akainu softly while cradling his neck like he was a fragile flower.
They were on the other side of the room but Coby still could see it clearly, could almost feel the care and deep connection they shared.
He quickly hid again when Borsalino kissed Akainu’s forehead and softly brushed through his hair like only a lover would.
And Coby’s realized then, almost shocked, that the two admirals were exactly that. Lovers.
He blushed a bit at the thought and covered his mouth to not let the sound of surprise slip out. Thinking how he could get away unnoticed Coby stared at the closed door. Would it be too loud if he opened it? Or would Kizaru see? Now that Akainu was asleep again would he be more aware of their surroundings?
“He’s usually very strict with me showing affection outside our home, don’t let him know you witnessed it.”
Coby almost shrieked surprised.
Kizaru was still at the bed holding Akainu’s hand but his voice sent shivers down Coby’s back as if he had talked directly into his ear.
He hurried out of his hiding place and bowed.
“I won’t sir.”
“Good now hand me those reports you got there. I’ll take care of them.”
Kizaru took them with his left hand, the right one still holding Akainu’s that seemed to clutch tightly onto his even while he was asleep.
Coby averted his eyes and bowed again before he excused himself from the room.
His heart beating excitedly and a hard-to-suppress smile on his lips.