Chapter Text
Chris either stayed home from school because he was sick, which was rare, or because his father had beaten him particularly worse than usual.
Either way, whenever he didn't attend school without giving Gordie a reason beforehand, the brunette would immediately show up at Chris's doorstep, ready to take care of whatever he had been through.
Today was one of those days. Gordie had suspected something was wrong when Chris didn't answer the phone when Gordie tried to call and tell him about how he thought he saw Ace get dumped by his girlfriend an hour ago. It was only around nine o'clock and yet Chris didn't answer both times Gordie attempted to call him.
He knew Chris was a night owl, so what the hell was he so busy with that he couldn't pick up the phone at nine pm on a Thursday? There was no way he would've fallen asleep that early unless something was up.
That's why Gordie ended up at Chris's bedside on Friday morning, holding a damp cloth to his flushed cheeks and forehead.
"Gordie, I'm fine. Seriously," Chris's voice sounded as tired as his eyes looked. He cleared his throat for the seventh time that minute before continuing.
"You have to go to school. I'll be okay." He smiled reassuringly.
"No. Now take this. I'll go get you some fresh water." Gordie placed a large pill in Chris's palm before whisking his empty cup away.
"Wait Gor-" Chris couldn't say another word before he broke out into a hysteric coughing fit.
As Gordie came back into Chris's room with a full glass of water in his hand, he saw Chris had thrown his blanket to the side and was out of bed, jeans already on as he changed out of his pajama shirt.
"Christopher! Stop it." Gordie snatched the white tee he had in his hands away and shoved it back inside his disorganized dresser. He tugged Chris's pajama shirt back down over his head with a roll of his eyes.
"You were just shaking and sweating all over the place. Moving around like that will make you hot and putting too many layers on you could pass out from getting overheated." Gordie scolded.
"I don't pass out like you, Gordo." Chris grumbled as he plopped back down on his bed, pulling his jeans off and settling with just staying in his boxers. He still stayed sitting up though as one last attempt to prove to Gordie that he was okay, despite the agonizing throbbing in his head.
Chris was looking paler than usual which made Gordie think he was too weak to properly sit down on his bed and instead plopped down out of exhaustion, not attitude.
"Yeah well you will if you keep overworking yourself."
"Standing up and putting on clothes isn't-"
"You are seriously going to make me go gray, Chris," Gordie sighed as he pinched the bridge of his nose. For a second there he really did resemble a concerned mother.
"Please just let me help you. I'm already missing school now anyway so it doesn't matter. And take that damn pill." Gordie forced the cup of water into Chris's hands.
"Fine," Chris shook his head annoyedly, throwing the pill into his mouth and swallowing it with some water.
"Even though that doesn't make any sense." He added quickly.
"Yes it does. Lay down." Gordie always seemed one step ahead, for he was at Chris's bedside flipping over his pillows and fluffing them out.
"But I'm-" Chris yet again burst into another coughing fit.
Gordie patiently waited for Chris's throat to stop attacking itself with a hand on his hip.
"Gordie I'm hungry." He said once he could breath normally again.
"I know and that's exactly why there's some soup on the stove." Gordie stated, strutting out of Chris's room to presumably check on the soup.
Wait, how the hell did Gordie even know he was hungry before he had said anything? Chris finally laid down, wondering what kind of freaky super powers Gordie possessed. He had always been able to read Chris's mind like that though.
"It's super hot." Gordie warned as he came back into Chris's room, a steaming bowl clutched in his hands.
"Yeah yeah just give it to me, Mom." Chris teased, although his hunger was starting to really upset his already sensitive stomach.
"No, no," Gordie sat on the side of Chris's bed and placed the bowl onto his cluttered nightstand.
"Open." Gordie held a spoonful of soup in front of his face. He blew gently on the rising steam above the liquid to cool it down.
"Oh come on, Gordie, really?" Chris groaned as he raised his eyebrows.
"Yes. You're sick, Chris. Come on." Gordie tilted his head from behind the spoon, locking Chris's eyes into a painfully persuasive stare.
"Okay, fine. But just this one time." The blond finalized with a jerk of his hand.
"Shut up and eat." Gordie shoved the spoon into Chris's mouth, successfully shutting him up.
Chris couldn't lie and say that he didn't enjoy the babying from Gordie. He'd never really been taken care of in his life, so it was nice. Of course he'd never actually tell Gordie that, but he acknowledged the thought as he finished eating.
"Even tough guys get sick." Gordie smiled as he pinched Chris's cheek.
"You're pushing it, Lachance."
"Sorry," Gordie giggled.
"Take a nap, Chrissy. It'll make you feel better," He pressed a kiss into Chris's forehead before getting up and turning his bedroom light off.
"And if I catch you smoking in here while you can barely breathe already, I'll cut your head off."
"Love you too, Lachance."