Work Text:
Waking up, the first thing that Tony noticed was that his mouth felt like it was full of cotton. It was dryer than the Sahara Desert and he desperately needed water. That was an issue though because he felt like his body was made of jello. Everything was sore and his body felt both too cold and too hot all at once. Groaning, he rolled towards his bedside table and blindly reached out for his phone. In the process of searching for it, he managed to knock it onto the floor. He started to sit up but decided that was a bad idea when his whole body protested.
"Ja-" He cleared his throat and spoke hoarsely "Jarvis?"
"Are you alright, Sir? You have a fever and appear to be sweating"
"You really know how to make a man feel special, J"
"I learned from the best, Sir"
Rolling his eyes, he tried to wipe the sleep from his face "Can you get-"
He was cutoff by the bedroom door opening suddenly and a blur of green rushing towards him.
"Anthony, Jarvis told me that you are unwell" His husband paused for a moment to look him over "He was right to alert me, you look dreadful"
"Fuck you too, Sweetheart"
Loki reached out and put a cool hand to his forehead "You are quite warm, you should not be this warm"
"No shit, Sherlock, I'm dying"
"Dying?" Loki looked alarmed and started moving Tony's head around to really look him over.
"I'm joking, Lokes, I just have the flu or something"
"Do not joke about that, Anthony, you know I know nothing of Midgardian illnesses. I knew I should have taken Dr. Banner up on his offer of a course in Midgardian health"
Tony started to laugh but it immediately turned into a cough. Loki somehow looked even more alarmed at that so he slowly sat up and grabbed his husbands hand "Stop looking at me like I'm about to take my last breath. People get sick, it happens. You've seen the kids through colds before, this is no different"
Loki looked slightly more at ease at that thought "Right. I panicked no less then however"
"True. You're a terrible nurse"
"Hey!"
"Sorry, Sweetheart, it's true. You end up panicking the patient!"
"My apologies for caring for you health" Loki said as flat as he could before standing up and walking away
"Wait! Where are you going?"
"I am going back to work since I am a horrible nurse, I am clearly not needed here"
"Nooooo" Tony whined as he slid back down into the sheets.
Loki huffed and walked back to his side "What can I get for you, Darling?"
"Water and a kiss" He said as he pursed lips
Rolling his eyes, his husband obliged before leaving the room to get him water. He must have managed to fall asleep before Loki came back because the next thing he knew, it was three in the afternoon and he was being woken up by someone pushing on him.
"Anthony, I read that people can die from the flu. I am worried about you" Tony just grumbled in response but that seemed to just annoy his husband "I am calling Dr. Banner"
"He's not even that kind of doctor!" Grabbing Loki's hand to stop him from leaving, he looked at his husband with soft eyes "Loki. Baby. Sweetheart. I am fine. Well, I'm not fine, but I will be. I just need some rest and cold medicine"
"But-"
"No buts. I'm not an infant nor am I elderly, I'm not at risk of dying from this. Ok?"
Loki furrowed his brows and crossed his arms "You being an infant is debatable"
Tony didn't have a chance for a comeback before Loki turned and left the room. Scoffing, he grabbed his water and chugged it before settling back into the mattress. He got some more sleep before he was thoroughly sick of being in his own sweat and dragged himself to the bathroom. He settled on taking a shower which quickly turned out to be a bad idea as his legs were wobbly. Carefully, he slid down and sat on the floor of the shower and let the warm water wash over him. Eventually, there was a knock on the bathroom door.
"Dad?"
"Pete?"
"Uh, yeah, it's me. Papa called and he seemed really worried about you. He said something about you being an infant and that dying was a possibility. I figured it was best if I came over and checked on you. So...are you ok?"
"I have the flu, Petey, I'm not dying"
"I mean, I kind of figured that, especially since Rina had the flu last week. But, you know how Papa is with illnesses"
Tony snorted a laugh "Yeah, yeah I do. Thank you for checking in, Kid, how about you keep your Papa company so I can get some rest?"
"Of course, Dad, feel better"
He heard the footsteps retreat so he pulled himself off the floor and managed to get himself dried off and back into bed. Luckily, Jarvis had gotten Loki to change the sheets so he got to climb into a nice, clean bed. There was also some cold meds and water laid out for him which he took before burrowing back into the sheets. The next time he was woken up, it was from quiet giggles. Slowly opening his eyes, he saw Carina laying next to him with headphones on while watching something on her Starkpad.
Smiling, he reached a hand out and pulled her closer "Hey Rina Roo"
She kissed his nose before pulling off her headphones "Hi Daddy. Mama said you're sick"
He hummed in acknowledgement "Seems that way. Are you here to make me better?"
"Mhm. Peter said I won't get sick because I was already sick" She paused before quietly saying "I'm sorry for getting you sick, Daddy"
He pushed her hair out of her face and kissed her forehead "It's not your fault, Honey, people get sick. It happens, I'll be alright"
"Good. Mama wouldn't know what to do without you"
"What do you mean?"
"You and Mama are connected. If you weren't here, Mama would be broken"
"Hm. Never thought about it like that. When did you get to be so smart?"
She rolled her eyes, looking all too much like her mother "I'm always smart"
Tony chuckled before cuddling Carina closer to him. She pulled out her headphones and put on a movie for them both to watch. The next time he woke up was from Loki carefully untangling him from their daughter. His husband smiled at him before carrying Carina away to her own bed.
The next couple of days were much of the same, Tony would sleep when he could and get some work done from bed since Loki was acting like a helicopter mom. The second he would move to get out of bed, Loki was there to make sure it was absolutely necessary that he leave the comfort/safety of the bed. On the third day, Tony felt like he was back to 90% better so he finally left his room and found Loki asleep at the kitchen island. There were papers and a Starkpad littered around him with a half drunk cup of coffee.
Stepping closer, he saw printed pages from WebMD and other random 'healthcare' websites. All of them were about the flu and how to help someone who had it. He couldn't help the smile that grew on his face even though he found his husband utterly ridiculous at the moment. Cleaning up the papers and mug, he gently ran a hand through Loki's hair which caused him to immediately stir and slowly sit up.
"Anthony, you are out of bed"
There was a sarcastic reply right on the tip of his tongue but he instead pulled Loki close and held him tightly "Thank you"
"What ever for?"
"For worrying about me so damn much. It's exhausting how much you care about me, but it's also incredibly sweet"
Loki scoffed "Compliment and insult wrapped into one. You are beginning to sound like me, Darling" He pulled back to look Tony over "You are feeling better?"
"Sure am, sweet cheeks, let's go take a walk or something. I've been locked in that bedroom for weeks"
"No need for the theatrics, Anthony, it was only two days" Loki said while standing, offering his hand to Tony
Taking his husbands hand, he led them outside "You're one to talk about theatrics, Lokes, you basically planned my funeral"
"You are utterly ridiculous. I did no such thing"
"Mhm. Sure. What kind of coffin would you get me? Or would you cremate me and put me in a fancy urn to live on the mantel?"
"We are not discussing this"
"You're right, a monument should be built for me. A huge statue in the front yard"
"Cease your speaking before I spell you silent"
"I agree, Babe, there should absolutely be a documentary made about my life"
Loki groaned and started to turn away "I am going back inside"
Tony laughed and wrapped an arm around Loki's waist, keeping him moving forward. There was always tomorrow to make more fun of his lovely husband.