Work Text:
Sick Day
I was getting sick. I could feel it. My head had been aching for 2 days straight, and I could feel my chest tightening. I got back home from work, grabbed a bottle of water, and headed straight to the shower. I was freezing, which meant I was probably spiking a fever. I turned on the water and cranked the heat all the way up even though I knew it wasn’t the best for a fever. I dragged my aching body into the shower and sagged against the wall.
“Excuse me Ms. Disalvitore” FRIDAY said. “Your vitals are out of normal range. Your heart rate is elevated, and you seem to have a fever of 101. Are you feeling alright?”
“I’m fine FRIDAY” I replied. “I’m just getting sick. I’m showering, and heading straight for bed.”
“Mr. Stark has instructed me to inform him if your vitals are elevated beyond normal levels.”
“Mr. Stark has no business monitoring my vitals number one. Number 2, Tony is on a mission, and the last thing he needs is to be bothered by my being a little sick. I’ve been sick before, and I’ll be fine for god’s sake. Do not inform Tony FRIDAY.”
“Miss you’re putting me in a tough spot, but I sympathize with your situation and how difficult Mr. Stark can be when he is worried. While Mr. Stark is on a mission, neither Mr. Barnes nor Mr. Barton are on a mission. I will be informing them instead.”
“Ugh.” I said. “I really wish you wouldn’t do that. I feel like crap, and the last thing I want is two mother hens clucking around. I just want to be left alone to sleep it off.”
FRIDAY didn’t respond, but I really didn’t expect her to. She liked me, (as much as an AI could,) and if she could circumvent her programming to help me she would, but she couldn’t directly go against Tony. I loved my soulmates, but they were so overprotective. I get that they were Avengers, and knew that their lives were always in danger, so they really wanted to protect me, but damn, I had been taking care of myself for the last several years, since my parents died when I was a teen.
My teeth finally stopped chattering, so I turned off the shower, wrapped myself in a towel, and grabbed some Motrin to stop my aching head. Taking a swig from my water bottle, I swallowed the pills and headed out into my adjoining bedroom ready to collapse into my bed.
Unsurprisingly, when I got into my bedroom, both Bucky and Clint were there.
“Hey sweetheart” Clint said with concern in his voice. “What’s going on? Feeling sick?”
“Yup.” I replied and held my hands in front of me. “Don’t come closer. I don’t want you getting sick too. Avengers don’t get sick days. I’m fine. Really, I swear. I’ve got water, took Motrin. I’m just going to crash for like 12 hours.” “Plus, I’m mean when I’m sick. No one needs to see me like that.”
“Doll, I don’t really get sick anymore. Bucky said “The serum seems to keep it all at bay. Whatever you need I’ll take care of. Clint can run back and forth to grab stuff if you don’t want him in here. A sick, coughing, gross Barton, does sound disgusting.”
“Hey!” Clint exclaimed. “Rude. But seriously babe, I’ll be your errand boy. Why don’t you hop in bed, and I’ll get you some juice, and warm up some soup later.”
I nodded too sick and tired to argue, and he left. I threw on a tee shirt and loose shorts, climbed into bed teeth chattering again, and reached for all of my blankets. Bucky stopped me before I could pull them all over me.
“FRIDAY?” He asked. “What’s Quinn’s temperature? I scowled at him. He ignored me completely nonplussed.
“102.4 Mr. Barnes” she replied.
I shot a middle finger in the air and muttered “traitor” under my breath.
Bucky grabbed all of my blankets except for my top sheet and tossed them effortlessly onto the floor.
I squawked indignantly. “Bucky,” I whined. “I’m freezing. Give me back my blankets!”
“Not a chance doll.” he replied. “I may be old, but even I can remember my Ma taking my blankets when I had a fever. It’s only going to make it worse.”
“But I’m so cold.” I said hating how weak and whiny I sounded.
“Lucky for you sweetheart, you’ve got your own personal hot water bottle right here. Like I said, I don’t really get sick, and I already run hotter than normal. You can either snuggle with me to warm up, or stay cold, but the blankets aren’t going back on that bed.”
I grumbled, and glared at him, but he just stood there waiting. Finally, sighing heavily, I patted the bed next to me. He smiled and hopped up and got comfortable. I wrapped myself around him snuggling close. He pulled the sheet up over the two of us and placed a kiss on the top of my head. Clint returned with a glass of cranberry juice, a box of tissues, and a bag to put the used ones in. He blew me a kiss and turned the light off on his way out.
I felt safe, warm, and tired laying in bed close to my soulmate. “Thanks for taking care of me,”I murmured.”
“Always doll.” He replied softly. “I love you, and I’ll always be here for you.”
I smiled as I drifted off to sleep, hoping to feel better, but knowing that even if I didn’t, they would be here to care for me.