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„38,6°. You’ll be staying in bed for the rest of the day.“ mutters the tanned man sternly, hearing Norton groan under the covers. The hybrid has been complaining about feeling exhausted and having a headache for the past days, this morning a runny nose and chills joined the fun, rendering the ravenette strengthless and by afternoon he’s unable to even sit up in bed.
The taller man really doesn’t look good at all, his face is paler than usual and occasional grunts of discomfort are making clear that he doesn’t feel well at all. Naib feels sorry for his husband, tugging the blanket further up before pressing a gentle kiss to the other’s cheek, hearing Norton grumble in disapproval.
“Don’t, you’ll get sick too.” murmurs the hybrid with a frown, seeing his beloved smirk and laugh at his words and also at his even deeper and more raspy voice due to the sore throat.
“Your germs can’t harm me, love. Don’t worry, I’ll be taking care of you. Need anything? A tea maybe?”
Giving it a thought, the taller man hums, noticing how Naib proceeds to get up from the bed, heading to the kitchen. Norton shifts to turn around on his side, groaning with every little movement. His limbs feel as heavy as steel (not the hybrid kinda way) and incredibly difficult to shift. His head feels like exploding and the moment he opens his eye it starts burning like hell.
The hybrid grumbles in discomfort, trying to dig further into the sheets, another chill running down his spine, making a frustrated sigh escaping his lips. He hates having a cold. It’s not just about being unable to do what he used to, but the whole experience itself. The feeling of constant confusion, the suffering through all kinds of symptoms; it annoys him an insane amount, taking away all the patience which he’s usually not lacking at all.
It feels like an eternity until he hears Naib coming back in, when it has probably only been a few minutes. The tanned man puts the cup on their bedside table aside some other things.
“I got you medication as well.” explains the brunette quietly, “They should help you feel better faster.”
Only receiving a low rumble as an answer, makes the mercenary’s face change into an expression of pity. He sits back down at the edge of the bed, gently running his hands through the other’s messy locks, undoing some knots before speaking: “Do you want company or do you want to try to sleep for a bit?”
“Both.” rasps the hybrid, his voice breaking way too many times for speaking only a single word, causing him to cough. He sits up a little in order to take the medication prepared for him, before he tries shifting around to make space for the other, feeling Naib shuffling beneath the blanket as well in a half-sitting position. Norton moves closer to his husband, head resting on the smaller man’s chest with a sigh as he proceeds to comb though the ravenette’s hair.
“I hate being sick…” mumbles the hybrid with his eyes closed, feeling weak and sluggish but incredibly grateful to have the mercenary with him in this situation. Naib hums understandingly, looking down at the other. A few more minutes pass with the couple resting in bed before he speaks up softly: “Would you mind if I watch something? It’s getting a bit boring.”
Weakly chuckling at the other’s words, Norton rumbles: “No, not at all.”
Shuffling a little to get into a more comfortable position, the tanned man gets out his phone, opening an app to watch some show the duo started a few days ago. The hybrid has his eyes half open, watching as well with occasional sniffling, coughing or a few soft laughs whenever he finds something funny. After 2 episodes, the ravenette has troubles processing what the characters on the screen are saying. Scenes and voices mixing together, not making sense anymore. Additionally to that, his eyes are closing every now and then and it takes all of his strength to keep them only slightly open. Eventually, Norton loses the struggle of staying awake, drifting off into a restful nap.
Naib noticed how the other got knocked out after a while, but he’s still staying with the taller man to keep him company even in his sleep. He already explained Demi the situation, telling her that he’s gonna take care of the hybrid so both of them will be missing for a few days or a week, depending on how long it’ll take for Norton to recover. She just asked if they need anything and that she can send one of their colleagues to get medication or similar, the tanned man reassures her that he’s all set up for now, but keeps the offer in mind.
Around 30 more minutes the mercenary turns his phone off again, kissing his husband’s head before winding himself out of the hybrid’s grip without waking him up. There are still some chores he’s got to do and while Norton is asleep, the brunette can think about what to cook for dinner.
The taller man slept surprisingly long, waking up around 9 pm confused about a wet and cooling washcloth on his forehead.
“Naib?” calls the ravenette weakly before breaking out into a coughing fit. Hurried steps are approaching the door of their bedroom before the mercenary sticks his head inside worriedly a moment after being called.
“Yes? Is everything okay?”
The hybrid shakes his head with a pained expression, causing the tanned man to approach him, squatting down in front of his husband to put the back of his hands on his forehead. A frown taking over his expression when noticing that the ravenette’s fever must have gotten even higher.
“Are you feeling worse?” asks the mercenary, seeing Norton nodding slightly before rasping: “Pretty sure I’m dying right now.”
Naib can’t help the slightly amused huff at the other’s words, reassuring him he’ll be right back before storming off to get some more medication of what he has in store. Not able to sleep anymore, the hybrid sits up shakily, feeling like he got thrown off a cliff. A glance outside the window confuses him even more, when seeing that it’s already dark outside.
I only took a short nap though…?
The mercenary comes back in the room, having some more pills and a glass of water for the taller man. Norton thanks him quietly, taking the medication before slumping back against the pillows. Naib notices his husband’s utterly lost and confused expression, asking: “Do you want me to stay here for a while?”
“…Yeah.”
The nights are always the worst. Your brain doesn’t cooperate, you can’t concentrate on anything, instead you’re confused all the time and in the worst case, you’re even having some weird ass fever dreams and hallucinations.
The mercenary pulls the other closer to himself so he’s holding him tightly, feeling the ravenette shiver and shake from the chills he’s having due to the high fever.
“That cold is really kicking your ass huh?”
“Unfortunately…” Norton cuddles closer to the smaller man, glad that he’s not alone at the moment, or else is brain would go highwire crazy for sure. His thoughts are all messed up like in a rollercoaster and incredibly loud in his head. The hybrid is in some state between asleep and awake, not able to comprehend what’s real and what’s just caused by the fever as he suddenly mumbles: “You have to keep the doors closed, ya know.”
Freezing while caressing the other’s back, Naib furrows his brows for a short second before asking: “…what?”
“You have to keep them closed… at all costs.”
The mercenary looks over to his side at the entrance of the room, murmuring in confusion: “But… it’s already closed, what do you mean?”
Another shiver wrecks through the hybrid, making him snuggle closer into his partner’s shirt, muffling his next words but Naib understands them anyway, feeling chills traveling his own spine.
“So he can’t get in.”
What the fuck???
Genuinely freaked out, the mercenary’s gaze shifts from his husband to the door a few times, trying to figure out just what the hell Norton is trying to tell him.
“Who? Who shouldn`t get in?” but to the brunette’s dismay, the taller man isn’t answering anymore, instead he seems to have nodded off again, leaving Naib behind in a state of unsureness and worry.
Luckily the night passes quite uneventful, the medication helped with lowering the hybrid’s fever, making him sleep through until the next morning and waking up in a better condition than the day before. He even asked to move his spot to the sofa because he’s sick of staring at their ceiling. Naib helps the ravenette getting there safely, carrying the pillows and blankets from their bed over into the living room so Norton can get all cozy and huddled up in front on the TV.
He's in a way better condition today.
The mercenary smiles to himself, standing in the kitchen doing the dishes while the ravenette is quietly sipping on a cup of tea Naib made for him a few minutes ago. The tanned man dries his hands after putting the last plate in the shelf, folding the towel and putting it away as well. He turns around with a huff, seeing that the taller man hasn’t moved a single bit, still sitting in the same position in his mountain of comfiness. The brunette approaches him, coming to a halt next to the tv that the hybrid has been staring at for the past hour. Norton’s gaze averts from the screen, looking up at the mercenary with an expectant gaze.
“Is there still some space for me?” asks Naib with a smile, seeing the ravenette’s eyes lighting up for a quick moment before he looks around. Putting the cup away, the taller man shuffles to the side, pushing some pillows back before lifting the blanket to let his husband sit next to him.
The smaller man gets comfortable, holding out his arms for the hybrid to rest against him in a warm hug. Immediately Norton accepts the offer with a happy hum, snuggling up against the brunette like he’s his favorite pillow of all.
The mercenary gently pats the other’s head, squeezing him closer before actually joining Norton with watching the show playing on the tv for a bit. He’s still coughing and sniffling a lot, but Naib figured out that his fever must have gotten a lot better. The taller man’s forehead isn’t as burning hot anymore as last time he pressed his lips against it for a soft kiss.
After some time, the hybrid closes his eyes again, deciding to rest a bit while being in the company of his husband. Naib really takes amazing care of him, better than anyone else before, making the taller man feel safe and protected. Norton hears him clearing his throat before softly asking for his attention.
“You're pretty scary when you're having a fever, ya know?"
The ravenette sniffles once more, brows furrowing in confusion as he rasps: “Why?”
"Cause you talk a lot." huffs the mercenary with a smile, remembering how the sick man insisted on keeping every door closed.
"I… talk?"
"Mhm. You’ve been saying I have to close the doors, so he can’t come in. Whoever he was even supposed to be in the first place…"
The hybrid tries to think with his still fogged up and clouded brain. He can’t really remember that he was awake last night, let alone saying something like that. While his beloved is quietly trying to think, Naib adds with a hum: “Freaked me out quite a bit, if I gotta be honest… You didn’t stop talking about it, even repeated it in your sleep.”
It takes a few more minutes until Norton huffs quietly, coming to a possible conclusion to his delirious rambling last night.
“Maybe I was fearing for my father to suddenly march in.” mumbles the taller man, feeling the mercenary stiffen for a moment. Naib didn’t give this a thought yet, but it seems reasonable. He wouldn’t be surprised if the ravenette had bad experiences with that man while being sick as well…
“That’s possible.” confirms the mercenary in thought. Shifting to embrace the ravenette further, he continues: “Though, if anyone dared setting foot in here to harm you, I’d kick them out like a fury. You’re aware of that, right?”
Norton laughs hoarsely at that, the uneasiness from before vanishing in the blink of an eye when hearing his beloved’s statement. Gathering all his strength, the hybrid sits up a little, turning to face the smaller man with a weak smile. His eyes wander to the brunette’s lips with a soft sigh. It’s been too long since the last time he was able to kiss him…
His longing is interrupted by a short chuckle and those tempting lips curling into a smile. Naib apparently noticed his stares as he suddenly asks: “What are you waiting for?”
“I don’t want to infect you too…” Norton didn’t intend to sound as sad as he just did, causing the mercenary’s expression to change into a more pitying one.
“Priya, I told you already: I don’t get sick that easily.”
After weighting out the pros and cons of the possibility of infecting Naib nonetheless, the hybrid asks hesitantly: “I can kiss you then?” causing the tanned man to scoff softly.
“Of course you can, silly.”
“So much for: yOu DoN’t GeT sIcK tHaT eAsIlY.”
“Shut uuuuup!”
By now a few more days have passed and Norton’s cold is as good as gone. No fever anymore, only a little coughing and a runny nose are left from the sickness that chained him to the bed the days prior. Though, Naib’s voice sounds quite rough this morning. After checking the smaller man’s temperature on his forehead and hearing him sneeze multiple times in only 10 minutes, the hybrid concludes that the mercenary is all talk with nothing beneath, when it comes to his “germ-resistance”.
Norton is currently in the kitchen, making tea for the both of them after telling his husband to stay in bed for the time being, which earned him some gruff comments and a grumbled: “I’m not sick, just not in the best shape.”
Shaking his head with a huff, the ravenette throws the teabags away after letting them stay in the water for long enough. He’s about to pick up the cups to go back and keep the mercenary some more company in their shared bed, when a sudden loud thud makes him jolt and turn around, shouting: “Naib?” without receiving an answer.
Worriedly, the hybrid jogs back to their bedroom, his blood freezing in his veins for a second when seeing the brunette lying on the floor. Gasping, he crouches down to pick the smaller man up, noticing he’s not reacting at all. A spark of fear fuels his worries even more, when putting the tanned man back on the bed, tapping his cheek lightly to get him to open his eyes again.
“Naib? Are you okay? Can you hear me?!”
Getting more anxious with every second of not receiving an answer, the hybrid suddenly exhales a big sigh of relief after the brunette finally squints his eyes open again with a frown.
“God, you fucking scared me.” wheezes Norton as he’s brushing over the tanned man’s head to look for any injuries before eventually asking: “Did you fall off the bed or something? You were out for good the past few minutes.”
Gently pressing his lips against the mercenary’s forehead again, causes the ravenette to pull away shortly after in shock, the other’s skin feeling burning hot to the touch.
That’s surely not only a bit of a fever anymore…
“I tried to stand up… but somehow everything went black again.” grumbles Naib, face changing into a grimace of discomfort as he suddenly growls: “Fuck, I feel awful.”
“No wonder, after not giving a damn when I tell you to stay in bed.” mutters the taller man bitterly, sarcasm lacing his words since apparently Mr. know-it-all doesn’t know when to stop being stubborn to rest instead.
“You won’t be leaving this bed today again, without me helping you.” announces the hybrid sternly, seeing Naib frown even more in disapproval and bitching back with an annoyed: “I’m not THAT sick, Norton.”
The way the taller man’s face grows darker, more upset than a second ago, makes a slight shiver travel down the brunette’s spine as his husband hisses: “You just collapsed and fucking fainted when trying to stand. Now shut up and let me take care of you or I’ll get your mom up here!”
The couple stares at each other for a short, heated moment with Naib not wanting to accept the fact that he has, indeed, caught a cold as well. Eventually the tanned man’s headache becomes worse, causing him to give in, slowly turning around in bed with a gruff mumble of: “Alright, alright… no need to get her involved too…”
Proud about his victory, the ravenette smirks and stands up again to get the cups he preserved before. Only a short moment later, Norton comes back into the bedroom, putting the still hot tea on their bedside table, before gently nudging the smaller man with the words: “Move your ass a little, so I have some space on there as well.”
But Naib, that damn jerk, only throws a glance back at him before moving further in the middle of the bed, doing the exact opposite he was asked for. The taller man sighs audibly, waiting for the brunette to quit his child’s-play, hearing him muse: “My bad, wasn’t this what you wanted? Be a bit clearer next time.”
Afterwards, the mercenary does as told: shuffling closer to the wall-side of their bed to let Norton under the covers as well.
“Stop being a pain in the ass, you’re at my mercy now.” warns the hybrid, getting comfortable behind the tanned man, hugging him closer. Naib only huffs at that, allowing the other to cuddle him. They spend a moment simply enjoying each other’s presence in silence, before the ravenette quietly asks: “On a scale of 1-10, be honest: how bad are you feeling?”
It takes another moment until the brunette answers in a cracking voice: “… maybe a 7.”
He shivers when feeling Norton gently noosing his neck, muttering against the skin there: “Want me to get some medication for you?”
“Later…” mumbles Naib in return, shifting around to face the other with a low groan. The typical sluggishness and heaviness of his libs kicking in together with him feeling like he’s freezing despite being beneath the warm blankets, as he’s shuffling even closer to his husband, continuing with: “Cuddles and tea first.”