Title: Morpheus on Fire
Pairing: Greece (Panda G)/Japan (Panda N)/Turkey (Panda G) [What's with the pandas? See our profile.]
Rating: M
Warnings: Language, some sexual content
Summary: Japan and Turkey care for a dangerously sick Greece, whose fever dreams lead all three of them to see one another in a new light.
Disclaimer: We do not own these characters and make no profit from this fic.

PLEASE NOTE: The version of the story posted here will be incomplete. The full version involves explicit sexual content. If you would like to read it, please go to our LiveJournal, which is also twoscarypandas. We will note if a chapter is incomplete at the start of it, and indicate missing sections with: "+++". Don't worry; if you don't want to read the smut, we have edited so that you are not missing anything important to the plot.

Chapter 1: Things Unsaid

It had been a quiet week for Turkey. Very quiet. He'd gotten plenty of work done. He was never interrupted. He never felt his neck prickle with the sensation of being stared at. He didn't have a single argument. It was...too quiet. He was going nearly mad with it. Where the HELL was the brat?

He figured Greece must've been planning something. Unnerved, and working up a temper to rival his days as an empire, he had barged his way into the brat's house and shouted for him. No response; certainly a trap! He went searching anyway, gun out. What he found was worse than anything he could have anticipated. An ambush, a good fight, a hurl of insults, all these he could handle. But this was not something he knew what to do with.

That's how he has ended up on Japan's doorstep, trying very hard to knock politely and not appear panicked.

Japan has also had a... quiet week. No kittens scratching at his door, no handsome brunettes tapping his shoulder and speaking broken Japanese. He's gotten a lot of work done around the house. He's caught up on his latest manga. Began tinkering with his newer inventions. But for some reason he is tired. Probably because he didn't have any excuse to take a nap.

The knocking interrupts his afternoon tea, and he rises too suddenly, wondering in spite of himself if it is Greece. He goes to the door, peering through the peep-hole. Oh. Not Greece. But... Still. He opens the door, bowing his head in welcome. "Sadik-san. It has been too long."

"Kiku!" Turkey opens his mouth, then scratches the back of his head awkwardly. He's not really sure how to say this without freaking Japan out or sounding like he cares too much. "Right. So. There's...we might have a problem."

Japan frowns a little, not understanding. He hasn't seen Sadik in a very long time. What 'problem' could 'they' possibly have? He straightens, folding his hands together, and steps back to let him in. "What do you mean?"

Turkey's eyebrow twitches. He's going to make him actually say it, isn't he? "Look. You seen that brat lately?"

"Hera-?" His eyes jolt up almost too quickly, he's so eager. Wait- Why is Sadik looking for Hera, anyway? No matter. If this has something to do with Greece, he'll gladly be of service. Somehow. "No, I- I haven't seen him all week." Just saying it makes him feel a bit depressed, and he looks down again. "Why?"

Turkey can't help feeling a little upset by how happy Japan looks at the mention of the Greece. Maybe he should just forget it, tell Japan he doesn't know either. But...ugh. There's some weird feeling at the thought. He thinks it might be guilt. And he does NOT feel guilty over the brat. Ever.

"I went to find him. I mean, he's always around, and it pisses me off when he goes hiding things! But, eh...he didn't even get up to fight. He was pale and shit, so I checked his temperature - because otherwise I would have attacked! That's the only reason. It's no fun when he doesn't fight back. Anyway, he's got a fever, and...and I don't really take care of people. Not that I care. But I thought you might." He ends this little speech awkwardly, scratching at the back of his head.

"Hera's sick?" Japan gasps, paling and immediately grabbing his nearest robe. He grabs a basket as well, running to the kitchen to get his travel tea pot, some cups, and the ingredients to make a stew. "Oh, Kami!" He grumbles, grabbing his pot-warmer and heading out the door. "C'mon- we have to make him better!"

"WE?!" Turkey follows anyway, grumbling the entire way. Stupid brat. Goes and gets sick and leaves HIM to clean up the mess. Greece is gonna owe him for this.

They reach Hera's door in no time at all- Japan honestly doesn't know how they got there this fast- but the place is dark and no one is answering. Turkey doesn't seem to care about common courtesy. He opens the door and steps right in. Warily, Japan follows, not sure what to expect. He's never seen Greece sick before.

"Hey BRAT!" Turkey calls up the stairs, kicking the door shut behind him. "You better not be faking! I brought Japan now, and I don't want you wasting my friend's valuable time!" He leads Japan up to Greece's bedroom. It's difficult to hide how many times he's been there - often drunk, yes, but not nearly often enough to make it an acceptable thing.

Greece pulls the covers over his head when he hears the door open, praying that Turkey will just go away. He really isn't up to dealing with him, whether he's trying to hurt him or help him. That bastard has never been good at the helping bit; he remembers that much from his childhood. But he brightens a little when he hears that Japan might be there. He peeks out from the blankets. "Kiku?" His voice sounds foreign, even to him.

Japan nearly bolts past Turkey at the sound of his name, trying to get to Greece. Oh, he sounds awful! He reaches the dark mass of blankets on the bed and pauses, his hand trembling as it reaches down to touch where his head should be. "Hera-kun?"

Greece is caught between wanting to burrow further under the blankets, hiding the horrible sight of his face from Japan, and sitting up to greet him. He settles for peeking out a little further. A cat wiggles out through the gap, sniffing at Kiku's hand. "Kiku! I...forgive me, I should get you something..."

"Don't you dare move, Hera-kun!" Kiku commands, scolding him with a finger, which only serves to distract the cat. Hera's very warm. He must get to work on the tea right away. "You stay right where you are! I am here to take care of you, and you will not move until you are all better! That is final!"

Greece's attempts to protest are thwarted by a harsh cough that makes it feel like he's swallowed a particularly angry kitty. He leans forward, trying to get his breath back and hating that he's been found like this.

Turkey observes them awkwardly. Shit. He should do something. He looks stupid just standing around while Japan's working and the brat is hacking up a lung. He walks forward, holding out a hand to pat his back. But then he realizes what he's doing and draws back. Stupid Greece. Why couldn't he at least have a broken arm or something? He can fix those.

Japan feels his head again, concerned. Hera is very, very warm. Stroking a hand through his hair slowly- slower than he needs to- he turns away and heads for the kitchen to make tea, muttering to himself about healing herbs.

Turkey and Greece stare at one another, equally uncomfortable. Their silence is broken by Greece's wheezing breath and Turkey's shuffling.

"Economy...?"

Greece coughs. Glares.

Turkey nods. "That sucks."

Now that the tea is steeping in the kitchen, Japan begins to work on the soup. Miso, of course. Something light, that he'll be able to hold down... Hera needs to eat something, so that he can have some medicine. Kiku sighs over the pot. Oh, his poor Hera... If his economy has made him sick, it will take him a while to get better. "What are your symptoms, Hera-kun?!" He calls out to the patient, pulling out his medicine pack.

Greece feels like someone has stuffed wads of cotton into his ears, so he can't make out whatever Japan is saying. He's not even sure if it is directed at him. He shivers miserably, never sure if he's too hot or too cold. Then the smell of something hits him - it's not the soup, it's something else; spicy and much-too-sweet. He looks up at Turkey, who has inched a little closer; it smells like him. There have been times when that sweet perfume does wonderful things to his body. This is not one of them. He leans over the bed and retches, his brain mistaking the distance of the bucket he left there and hitting Turkey's shoes instead. It's an honest mistake – well, a convenient one.

"Oh GOD!" Sadik cries out, stepping back to avoid any more bile. "You did that on purpose you brat!" He yells, largely because he's worried, but he can't let anyone know that. Great. Now he's going to have to shower. "Does that answer your question, Kiku?"

Japan whips around as he hears Greece retch, grabbing a paper towel from the roll and running over to wipe his face and mouth, cooing to him all the while in low, consoling Japanese. "Oh, my poor Hera-kun! I'm so sorry! I'll be here, I'll make you feel better, I will!" He wipes Greece's face, running his fingers through his hair and cradling him close, sending a look to Turkey, who does not look like he wants to clean up Greece's puke. But somebody has to do it.

What a sentimental scene. Now Sadik's going to vomit too. And the look Kiku's sending him! He opens his mouth to say 'NOT ON HIS LIFE,' but his body is already moving to find a mop. Really, he knows this place too well for his own good.

Hera curls on his side, shaking and trying not to cling to Kiku. At least not while Sadik is around. As soon as he leaves the room, however, he can't help the way his hands shoot out to grip Kiku, holding on as though his life depends on it. He hasn't had anyone around but his own people, who cannot do anything for their sick nation but work to make their own lives better. Human doctors cannot do much for their kind; who can blame him for needing this comfort? Kiku's hands feel wonderfully cool against his burning skin. "It hurts, Kiku," he whimpers.

Japan almost moans in sympathy at the heat of his skin, the sound of his voice, the way he's clinging to him... Okay, maybe that groan wasn't entirely sympathetic. Still, he brushes his fingers through Greece's hair, soothing him. "I will make you all better, Hera. I promise."

He cups Greece's cheek, knowing he must feel very cool to him, and curls his other arm around his waist. Japan is not worried about getting himself sick. His own economy is strong, stronger than almost any other country. He can help Hera get better. He'll have him just as he was in no time. And then they can take naps together.

Even though Greece cannot quite remember a time when he felt so miserable - and he knows there have been worse ages, he just can't bring himself to think of them - he believes Japan. He curls up against him, upsetting some of the cats who have been cuddling with him under and over the covers. The blankets are a mess from his thrashing, from shoving them away and pulling them back as he goes between temperatures. Right now the heavy ones are on the floor. He didn't notice just how warm it was in here until Japan touched him. "Your hands...is it cold out? You should wear gloves."

"You're like a furnace." Kiku coos, running his fingers through Hera's hair and muttering softly. "It's alright, Hera-kun. We can make you better. You will have soup and tea, and my people will come visit your country and bring lots of money. You'll be all better in no time." He sighs, curling around him tight and upsetting some of the kitties that have burrowed under the blankets. "Sadik-san! Make sure that soup's alright!" he calls toward the kitchen.

This is not what Turkey signed up for. They're turning him into a maid! That was not the point. The point was for Japan to check on the brat, because he'd been unnerved by that fever in his eyes. And then they were supposed to go home, and have everything back to normal.

He sighs, checking on the soup and giving it a stir before returning to the bedroom with a mop. He opens his mouth to give them a piece of his mind, but stops. Kiku is curled around the brat, who is whimpering and apparently in pain. He'd call the display weakness, but...it's kind of cute. God, he's going soft. He shakes his head, muttering to himself as he gets to work cleaning up the vomit.

Hera lets Kiku hold him for a moment, glad for the cool hands and the soothing voice. But then, Kiku's body is warm. Too warm, like he's being strangled by the heat. He frantically pushes Kiku away and tangles in the covers, coughing through the blind panic.

Japan winds up sprawled on the floor, looking up at Greece, kind of pouting. He'd been enjoying the feel of him, despite the heat in his skin. He pushes to his feet, trying not to feel saddened by the loss, before moving back toward the kitchen to get an ice pack. Perhaps some ice on his head will help?

Turkey finishes cleaning as Japan leaves. He watches him go, then glances back to the bed. He can't help it. He puts down his mop and peers down at Greece. Ugh. The sheets smell like sweat and sick. They're going to have to change those, aren't they? And he'll probably be the one washing them while Japan coos. Well, whatever. He's certainly not going to be the one cooing.

Hera is all curled in on himself, struggling vainly with the sheets and the cough taking away his breath. With a sigh Sadik grips his shoulder, forcing him to uncurl and sit up. "Hey, brat, don't do that. It's not going to help; sit like that." He ducks a flailing fist, which doesn't have much power behind it anyway, and glares. "I'm going to go ahead a pretend that was an accident. Now hold still; it's no use whining if you won't let me help." He rubs Hera's back.

Greece glares back, quite certain the bastard is trying to kill him, and struggles for all he's worth. Which, at the moment, isn't much. It's less of a fight and more of Turkey lifting him up and pulling his legs free of the sheets. The hand on his back isn't gentle, but somehow, his lungs ease.

Kiku shuffles back into the bedroom with some tea in his hands. He freezes mid-step when he finds Sadik rubbing Hera's back, pulling him from the sheets, revealing his nearly-naked body to the world and scaring every cat beneath the blankets to other corners of the room. Hera struggles, but soon relents under his hands, and Sadik soothes him with low grumbles as he works. Like it's second nature. Like he touches Hera like this every day. Oh... The thought makes Kiku blush heavily, and he sets the tea on the nightstand, waiting for Hera's coughing fit to cease.

Hera's mind is having trouble understanding what's happening right now. This is...not their thing. They fight, they fuck, and sometimes they kind of like one another, but they don't care. Not like this. A glance at Sadik's face shows him that the other nation is just as confused as he is. He can see Kiku, too, standing quietly in the background. He's beginning to wonder if this is all in his head, and he's become delusional. They all remain still for a moment, a strange picture of mutual incomprehension.

It takes Turkey a minute longer to notice Japan, and when he does he shoots up and away from Greece. He'd rather clean up puke then try explaining what just happened to anyone, even himself. He leaves them alone again.