Work Text:
“What are you doing?”
Luc’s pretty sure that it actually comes out as “wha er oo doong?’, but it’s five in the morning and he can’t be fucked with things like diction or being conscious.
Normally, Oliver’s ridiculously early wake up time is easy enough to ignore, being that Oliver is a generally quiet and considerate person. Today, however, he's already ran into the bed, the dresser, and (whoops) Luc's shoes, which he had genuinely meant to put away before going to sleep and forgot. Obviously, Oliver is dying, which leads Luc to peek his head out from where it’s buried in the pillow.
Despite his impending demise, Oliver still looks over apologetically. "I'm sorry I woke you. Go back to sleep, darling."
He runs his hand over Luc's forehead and Luc is almost thrown enough by the soft "darling" to lay back down, but Oliver's voice sounds a little too hoarse. And, y'know, the use of pet names might mean he's out of his mind with fever.
He turns on the lamp and rubs a hand over his face. "You look like shit."
Oliver's answering look would be a lot more withering and cross if it weren't for the shiny red nose, flushed cheeks and little pout. "Thank you for your concern."
Luc rolls his eyes. "Lay down before you pass out and I have to take you to A&E."
"I'm fine, Lucien." The wet cough he lets out begs to differ.
Luc rubs the last of the sleep from his eyes and stands to walk over to Oliver. "You are not. Sit."
It's really a testament to how badly he's feeling that Luc is able to maneuver him over to the bed. Once he’s settled, Luc puts a hand to his forehead. "You're not going to work with a fever."
Oliver looks at him sourly. "I wasn't going in to work. I was just going to work from home."
Luc pauses. "You were getting dressed. To go work in your living room."
"Yes?"
"Christ. Okay. No, nope, absolutely not."
"Lucien, I'm not a child. I have had a cold before."
"Should I bother asking how you handle them?"
"Medicine. Rest."
Luc fights the urge to smack his hand on his forehead. "It is not rest if your work laptop is in the same room."
"I…"
"Please?"
Oliver sighs. "I worry if I argue you'll do something drastic."
"Me?" Luc asks with a teasing smirk.
Oliver sighs and takes off the trousers he had been halfway into, still taking the time to fold them neatly before handing them to Luc. "Put them away nicely please."
Luc mutters something about no faith as he walks to the dresser, but is pleased to find Oliver curled up asleep by the time he turns back around.
–
A few hours and several episodes of some home makeover show later, Luc hears shuffling as Oliver emerges, ruffled and sleepy in a way Luc would find endearing if it wasn't solely from illness.
An adorable furrow appears between Oliver's brow. "Lucien? Why aren't you at work?"
"Honestly? Because I knew you'd sneak out of bed to try and work."
"I was not…sneaking. I am a grown man and I may get out of bed as I please."
Luc clicks his tongue. "This whole thing would come across as much more authoritative and sexy if you weren't swaying. And if you didn't have delicious bedhead."
He allows himself to believe the answering flush in Oliver's cheek is from him and not the fever. "I was merely going to check my email," Oliver half mumbles.
Luc stands and wraps a blanket around Oliver's shoulders. It's strange, because Luc has never been one to take care of himself, let alone play nurse. But something about Oliver seems so…vulnerable? And the idea of him just going about his day like nothing is wrong sets his teeth on edge. "You do so much for me. Let me take care of you?"
Oliver sighs but doesn't argue and lets Luc lead him over to the couch. Once he's set up, Luc walks back into the kitchen. "I made you some…soup?"
"I wasn't aware that could be phrased as a question."
"Ha. It's mostly broth with some ginger. And other spices. My mum…isn't exactly the best at instructions."
Oliver's face softens. "You called your mum?"
Luc flushes. "I'm not going to pretend that she was the type of mum to make traditional chicken soup or anything. But…whatever she gave me usually worked. Honestly, I think the cold virus is scared of it."
"Your description doesn't make me feel entirely confident to drink it, I'm afraid."
"True. But next time you see her, she'll ask you how it worked, you won't be able to lie and it will become a whole thing."
Oliver glances at the thermos like a soldier bravely facing down a cyanide pill to avoid giving up state secrets, but he drinks it all the same.
After a brief coughing fit, he looks back up at Luc. "It's certainly…interesting."
"I never said it tasted good. I said it worked."
"Fair enough. Cheers, I suppose."
True to his word, once the coughing fit subsided, the soup lulls Oliver back to sleep for most of the day. He wakes again in the mid-afternoon, bleary eyed and soft but looking at least 10 percent less miserable.
"Hi," Luc says, brushing his hair back in place. "How are you feeling?"
Oliver leans into the touch briefly before unfolding like a cat, stretching after lying on the couch. "Better, I think. Thank you, Lucien."
"Not darling?" Luc says, wiggling his eyebrows playfully.
Oliver frowns at that. "No. I- I wouldn’t- did I call you that?"
Luc bites his lip. "This morning- but it’s not a big deal, I didn't want you to feel bad-"
"Lucien. It's alright. I'm not upset at you. I just- well, my mother is the only one I know who uses that. I must have been terribly ill for it to slip out."
Luc kicks himself for bringing it up, forgetting that small detail full of bad memories. Still, he swallows his guilt and reaches for Oliver's hand. "I like Lucien. It's the best pet name."
"Yes?" Oliver asks uncertainly.
"Yes. Now scooch over. I'll order some takeout and we can cuddle until it gets here."
"You'll get sick-"
Luc waves away his concern. "It's already inevitable. Just accept my presence, honey."
Oliver winces. "Honey?"
"I'm workshopping it. Baby is just for the bedroom…"
"Lucien."
Luc laughs and curls against his neck. "Whatever you say, sweetheart."
Oliver taps his thigh in reprimand for that, but the kiss on his forehead tells Luc it's worth looking into. It's enough for now.