Work Text:
Tord hated being unproductive. He’d rather die than think he hadn’t done anything to make his existence worthwhile. But there was one thing in the way of all of that...
He was sick.
His head was throbbing, whole body overheating, an icepack on his forehead to cool him off. Edd takes the thermometer out of Tord’s mouth.
“Oof, yeah. That’s a fever all right.” Edd says, frowning in sympathy. He pats Tord’s head, “so sorry, bud.”
“No... I need to get... my work done...” Tord holds his stomach in pain, wheezing out his words with bated breaths.
“No... You need to get... some rest.” Edd mocks Tord’s breathy sentence, wagging a finger at him as if he were a dog.
“But...”
“No.” Edd’s voice is serious in tone, and Tord knows he can’t fight it. Edd walks out, closing the door behind him. Tom and Matt are just outside the door, waiting for Edd to give them the results.
“So..?” Matt urges Edd to tell them.
“So what? Tord’s sick. I mean, he threw up on his breakfast, of course he’s sick! Ugh, I gotta go to work. If Tord needs anything, help him .” Edd points at Tom around that last statement. Tom rolls his eyes.
“Yeah, yeah, of course.” Tom brushes it off. Edd gets going, leaving Tom and Matt to deal with their sick friend who wouldn’t admit he was sick. Matt tries to go into Tord’s room, but Tom stops him. “Hey, you sure you wanna go in there? Tord might... I dunno... throw up on you or something.” Matt thinks about that.
“He’s sick and too stubborn to care. He might try to get up and go to his desk and vomit all over his work papers if there’s not someone in there with him.” Matt explains, pausing before adding onto that, “of course, you could-”
“See ya” Tom is already halfway across the hallway, going inside his room and closing the door. Matt hums, going inside Tord’s room. Low and behold, Tord is at his work desk, attempting to get shit done. Matt sighs and scoops him up from behind.
“Hey, dumbass. Get back in bed.” Matt’s voice is playful as he walks Tord back to his mattress. Tord whines but allows Matt to carry him, being softly placed on his bed.
“Matt... Why do you do this to me..?” Tord frowns, holding Matt’s face in his hands.
“Because I love you..” Matt kisses Tord’s heated forehead, petting through his hair gently. Tord groans, hugging Matt.
“I have so much work to do. I couldn’t get it all done yesterday and I have to bring it in tomorrow morning...” Tord grabs Matt and tugs on his hoodie, which causes Matt to giggle. Matt kisses Tord on the forehead once again, Tord whining under him. He scooches himself upwards, his lips grazing Matt’s. Matt smiles but pulls away reluctantly.
“Sweetie, you’re not getting me sick,” Matt pets through Tord’s hair again. Tord cries out in pain, squeezing his stomach, causing Matt to jump. Tord whines loudly, tightening his already tense grip. Matt sighs, running his fingers through Tord’s messy hair with a saddened look. He whispers calming words to Tord as the other sobs. They both just wanted it to stop, hating every second.
“Matt... I’m gonna throw up..” Tord mumbles. Matt immediately runs to the small bucket near the bed, holding it up to Tord.
“C’mon, in here, Tord. Please, not on the bed.” Matt grabs Tord and moves his head towards the bucket, thankfully getting Tord there before the vomiting ensued. Matt holds Tord’s hair back for him while he throws his last meal into the bucket. After it was all over, Tord brought his head up to see Matt, his face a saddened expression.
“This sucks..” Tord mutters, trying not to fall over from how weak he felt. Matt grabs a tissue from the side of the bed and wipes the puke off Tord’s mouth, nodding in agreement.
“I think you got it from Tom, he had some sorta sickness a few days ago,” Matt says as he throws the dirty tissue away.
“Stupid Tom..” Tord groans. Matt can’t help a small chuckle from that.
“Aw, I’m sure he didn’t mean to..” Matt smiles, petting Tord’s head.
“To helvete he didn’t!” Tord lays on Matt’s lap as he complains. Matt’s still smiling, looking down at his boyfriend with a sweetness unmatched. Tord could see the smile despite his foggy vision, and it was like an angel smiling down upon him. “You look like an angel...”
“Oh, god, Tord, don’t say that while you’re sick..” Matt holds a hand over his heart, smiling worriedly. Tord raises a brow, slowly piecing together what the ginger meant.
“Oh.. no, no, it was a compliment...” Tord brings his hands to Matt’s face, squishing his cheeks. Matt giggles, reaching up and grabbing Tord’s hands softly.
“I know, it’s just a little scary due to the context,” Matt explains, slowly dropping Tord’s hands back to his person.
“Hmmm...” Tord sighs, continuing to look up at Matt, “I’m not gonna die from a common sickness, Matt..”
“I know...”
“I’m more likely to die from a piano falling on my head than dying of the flu”
“I know, hun. I’m just worried.” Matt scratches Tord’s horns, causing the other to let out a soft murmur. “I love you..”
“I wuv ya tooooo” Tord slurs through his sickness, waving his hands around across Matt’s face. Matt attempts to look unamused by Tord’s silly nature but still ends up in a fit of giggles. They lay together for a bit until Tord gets up, stretching. “I’m feeling a lil better. Should probably get some of that work done,” Tord says, attempting to get out of bed. Matt rolls his eyes and grabs Tord from behind.
“Oh no you don’t,” Matt chuckles as he drags Tord back down. Tord groans angrily.
“Matt...” Tord holds himself back from yelling, frustrated that he wasn’t being allowed to work.
“I know, I know, Sweetie...” Matt hushes Tord as he cuddles with him, “but you can’t until you’re 100% better, or you’re just gonna get worse...”
“I know how sicknesses work! I just have to get this done, then I’ll rest!” Tord squirms around, trying to wriggle out of Matt’s grip.
“See? You're too weak to even break through my grip. We all know I have a terrible grip!”
“Mmm...” Tord’s face goes pitiful, his eyes wide as he stares up at Matt.
“Wha- oh... oh no. No, don’t you dare!” Matt points an accusing finger at Tord.
“Mmm...” Tord turns his body to Matt, frowning as he sniffles. Matt couldn’t tell how real the sniffling was, but he was pretty sure he knew where this was going.
“Tord. No. You’re not-”
“Wahhhh!!” Tord sobs on top of Matt, faceplanting into his hoodie. “I-I’m gonna-na be in s-s-s-sooo mu-much t-t-t-troublllllee!!!” Matt looks down uncomfortably at Tord, hating to see him cry, but unsure if he was just trying to guilt-trip the other.
“Tord...” Matt whispers, attempting to wipe Tord’s tears away.
“I don’t wanna get fired..” Tord whines.
“I know...”
“I have to do it...”
“I’m sure they’ll understand that you were sick and unable to get out of bed...”
“Noooo...”
“Tord, you little brat.. Don’t you wanna cuddle with me?” Matt teases, stroking Tord’s wettened cheek slowly.
“Hmmm... of course...” Tord sniffles again.
“Don’t you want some homemade chicken soup?”
“Mmm... yeah...” Tord says softly, imagining the chicken soup smell filling his nostrils.
“Then we’ll make you some chicken soup and then the two of us can cuddle til you fall asleep and feel all better in the morning. How does that sound?” Matt hums, his voice calm and sweet.
“I’d love that... but you can’t cook...”
“In that instance ‘we’ meant Tom and me. Tom’s gotta help however he can or he’ll have a very upset Edd on his hands.” Matt giggles.
“Oh ok... then that sounds great...” Tord leans on Matt even more.
“But...” Matt says in a sterner tone, Tord looks up at him in concern, “that’s only if you promise to stay in bed . Ok? Can you do that for me??” Tord is silent for a bit, looking down sadly.
“I... guess so...” Tord frowns.
“Yes or no?”
“...yes... I’ll stay in bed...”
“Great!” Matt kisses Tord on the cheek as he gets up, swinging the other on his back and laying him atop the bed. “Then I’ll get Tom to make you some soup and come back here for cuddles!” Matt kisses Tord’s cheek again, causing a shy smile on the other’s face. His fever seemed to worsen, but he was only flustered.
Matt leaves with a wave and Tord is now alone. Maybe he could just quickly finish his work? Before Matt got back? But he didn’t want to lie to his amazing boyfriend, who was just worried about his health. He thinks about it for a little while, staring up at the ceiling that felt as though it was spinning. Was he getting worse? His stomach began to turn, growling, Tord felt he was about to vomit. He brings himself to sit upright, looking for the bucket. It’s gone. He gets up off the bed, looking around for it, trying to hold his food down as he searches.
“Tord!” Matt scolds from the doorframe. Tord turns frantically to Matt, a worried look on his face. He hadn’t even processed that he was out of bed, just scared he was going to throw up on the ground.
“M-matttt...” Tord slurs, gagging slightly, “b-b-b-buckett....”
“Bucket? Oh, oh my god, you’re looking for this!” Matt raises his hand to show the bucket in it, completely cleaned out. He runs to Tord, putting it under his lover’s face to puke, and holding his hair back as well. “I’m so sorry, I forgot to tell you I was going to wash it out. It was getting really nasty...” Tord lifts his head up weakly after he’s done.
“I-it’s ok...” he croaks, “this sickness is the one that should be apologizing...” Matt chuckles a little, dragging his fingers through Tord’s hair slowly.
“Tom’s making the soup, he’ll bring it to you when it’s ready...” Matt hums.
“Ok...” Tord leans onto Matt.
“Oh my, your face. Vomit, Tord...” Matt pulls Tord off of him and gets up, going to the bed and grabbing a tissue. He comes back, wiping Tord’s face and sitting back in the same spot as before.
“Oh... sorry...”
“It’s alright, Dear.” Matt smiles. “You need me to bring you back to bed?”
“Yes, please...” Tord closes his eyes after that, letting Matt lift his body, carrying him to the bed and placing him back there. Tord hears Matt walk away and opens his eyes, seeing Matt grab the bucket and put it at the bedside. Tord hums, causing Matt to look at him and smile warmly.
“I’m coming, Tordle, I’m coming..” Matt sits on the bed next to Tord, almost immediately having two shaky hands wrap around him as Tord hugs his waist. Matt strokes Tord’s hair, being gentle and slow so he wouldn’t rip strands out.
“Thank you... you’re the best...” Tord mutters, closing his eyes once again.
“I know, Hun... I know...” Matt whispers, and Tord falls asleep to the soft lullaby of Matt’s angelic hums. He wouldn’t tell Matt he was an angel right now, just think it, but he whispered something more before going off into his dreams. A small, quiet
“I love you...”