FrieAme AU where Friede's a paediatrician and Amethio's a terminally ill inpatient. Friede's in charge of Amethio's care and keeps telling himself not to get attached but oops Friede gets attached. So does Amethio.

Contains main character death, obviously!

Thanks to my good friend for always contributing great ideas! <3

When Ame's at home during his final few days, both Gibe and Spi seem at a loss as to how to interact with Ame. Frie understands, since it's a bit awkward when he doesn't react -- and nobody really knows how much someone close to death is aware of their surroundings.
"[Me] Frie usually just talks to patients if he's allowed to be in the room with them. For the little ones, he sings them lullabies or reads them picture books. Things their parents would do if they were beside them.

But Ame's a teenager, so... it's trickier"
"[Me] Frie suggests to Gibe that he reads a book to Ame, since Ame liked to read (when he was able to), and Gibe just looks at Frie blankly

Gibe: I....... have no idea what kinds of books he read
Frie: He told me he likes mystery novels the best. There was one he read a while ago that he said he really enjoyed, and I think there's a sequel out now"
"[Me] Frie: Maybe you could read that to him
Gibe: Surely he'd prefer you doing such things.
Frie: No. Listen to me, Sir. I'm telling you to do it. You're his father. You should be the one at his bedside.
Gibe: Why? He hates me. I doubt he'd want to hear me talk for an extended amount of time"
"[Me] Frie: ....He... only ever wanted you to pay attention to him. And to acknowledge him. Even now, it seems, you're refusing to truly get close to him. I won't question your reasons, but... from what Amethio's said to me, he'd appreciate it
Gibe: ..."
"[Me] Gibe then sighs and asks Frie what the title of the book is. Frie's surprised, but ultimately just relieved that Gibe's willing to finally listen to him.

Even though it's too late"
"[Me] Gibe decides he should probably read the first book himself before delving into the second one, even if he's only reading it to Ame, and he spends that night reading it.

It's not bad, Gibe thinks. He can certainly see the appeal. One of the main characters vaguely reminds him of Luci and, perhaps, Frie. That sort of personality."
"[Me] The next day, when it's Gibe's turn to sit with Ame, he announces that he'll read the book to him -- and explains that Frie suggested it, etc.

Gibe: I doubt it's as enjoyable of an experience as reading it for yourself
Ame: ...
Gibe: Do you... even know I'm here? Are you aware that someone's talking to you?
Gibe: As if you'd answer..."
[Me] Ame doesn't respond at all, so Gibe begins reading the book
"[Me] A few hours later, it's time for Gibe to leave Ame so that Frie can spend some time alone with him (and so that Gibe can rest)

The two cross paths outside Ame's room"
"[Me] Frie: So... how'd it go?
Gibe: Not too bad. I got through a few chapters. However...
Frie: Y-Yeah?
Gibe: I must say, I was certainly not expecting this to be a homosexual romance novel
Frie: ........................................
Frie: T-THE FIRST BOOK WASN'T-"
"[Me] Gibe: As if it matters. I don't particularly care what he reads.
Frie: Um. I-I swear I had no idea, Sir, I didn't--
Gibe: Why are you assuming I'm scandalised by this? All they've done is kiss"
"[Me] Frie: W-Well it's... it can be a bit awkward reading that stuff aloud, and uh, to your son, and...
Gibe: [Sigh] It's not as if it's hardcore erotica
Frie: :|"
[Me] Gibe insists he's not at all bothered by it and tells Frie he needs to grow up, to which Frie has no response
"[Me] Anyway the site Gibe bought the book on is now recommending him what appears to be other gay romance novels that people who read this series also liked

Some of which do seem to be hardcore erotica"
[Me] Gibe's never really looked into such things before. He wasn't even aware they existed. While he does read in his spare time, he prefers historical fiction and things based more in fact and reality. Romance typically bores him to death
"[Me] But this series that he's reading the 2nd book of to Ame is actually not too terrible.

So Gibe, who's completely over giving any kind of fucks at this point, decides to see what the fuss of one of the top-rated gay novels is about"
[Me] (Idk the thought of Gibe accidentally discovering gay erotica novels because Frie pressured him to bond with his dying son and it turns out his son was reading these sorts of stories is... amusing to me. I can't imagine Gibe looking for it on his own lmao)
"[Me] Frie the next day: Wow he looks like he didn't get much sleep
Gibe, who was up all night reading gay erotica novels: The internet is a fascinating invention"
[Redacted] Old man Gibe becoming a fudanshi hshshs
[Me] He'd find so much fun stuff to read...
[Me] Gibe reading trashy gay romance novels and criticising the sex scenes because "that's not how that works, you fools!"
[Redacted] Gibe having an appreciation for these kinds of novels is so funny... for once in his life, he gains a hobby?
[Me] BREAKING NEWS: Old Man Learns How To Enjoy Something
[Me] Also it's incredibly cliche but what if he ends up reading a novel he really enjoys... and in it there's a part where the main couple go to a holiday home the family of one of them have and they do things that make Gibe realise it's. Pretty much the same as what he and Luci got up to that one trip
"[Me] Initially Gibe doesn't think much of it but there are certain details that are exactly the same and he's incredibly suspicious

So he decides to track down the author, who's using a fake name, and there's not much information about them online. Which only makes Gibe even more suspicious"
[Me] He wasn't going to contact Luci again, but like. The author has to be Luci, right? Luci wouldn't tell someone about what the two of them did on that trip, so...
"[Me] Gibe ends up messaging Luci

Gibe: [Sends Luci a screenshot of a particular page in the novel] Explain yourself
Luci: Hm?
Gibe: Don't play dumb. You wrote this.
Luci: Excellent work, Mr. Detective! But how in the world did you even find this?
Gibe: It's a long story
Luci: Since when are you in to gay erotica lmao
Gibe: Shut up"
[Me] Also consider: one of the other novels Gibe reads eventually is actually written by Spi and it's one of the better written and more ~accurate~ novels... Not that Gibe would ever suspect Spi would write it so he never finds out
"[Me] >Tfw both your ex-boyfriend and your son write gay erotica

Tfw your dead son used to read gay fiction and potentially gay erotica
Tfw you didn't even know such fiction existed until a few months ago"

[Redacted] This is all too funny www also Spi making Lk read his stories... (they can't just bond over the fact that she knew Ame before he died ww)
[Redacted] Luci being a writer from time to time... a man of many mysteries.
[Me] Oh what if Lk was a fan of Spi's works all along-
[Redacted] I feel like maybe she indulges in writing from time to time but she isn't confident in it but Spi helps her and gives her a push perhaps?
"[Me] That's be cute! Maybe one day Lk asks Spi if it would be okay to get Gibe to also check it over and see what he thinks (since he's smart and academic y'know) and she's super nervous

But Gibe reads it and is like ""You're skilled at conveying the characters' emotions and their struggles. However... perhaps you could benefit from an anatomy lesson"""
"[Me] Lk: Pardon?
Gibe: They don't work like that. Spinel can explain
Lk: ??????????"
[Redacted] Lk are you making your future in-law read your scandalous stuff www
[Me] It's pretty tame! But while Gibe's reading it he's constantly like "How is he able to talk if his mouth's full" "In what world does it taste sweet?" "Nobody has that kind of stamina" dkjsgsdk
[Redacted] It's okay, Lk can try the lewd stuff with Spi once they are close enough and she will see how it feels for real.
[Me] Gibe's also just far too picky lol
[Redacted] At least he complimented her!
[Me] He's a businessman, he does know how to give feedback! (At least with things like this lmao)
[Redacted] At least he is nice to her... better than he was towards Ame...