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Noel hated being sick. With a burning passion. He wasn’t sick often, but it still sucked when he did.
And being sick after the Cyclone accident…well, that was worse. Not that that fact had any bearing on anything in the moment, just that he was weaker than he already was.
He hated being sick.
His phone’s ringtone was what woke him up. It was a call from Ocean. Accompanied by about twenty texts.
He picked up, putting the call on speakerphone as he kept his phone as far from his ear as he could, knowing Ocean was going to be mad – something he noticed after realizing what time it was.
9:30 a.m.. School started an hour ago. Of course Ocean was irritated.
“Ocean you fucking woke me up…it’s too early for your screeching.” Noel grumbled as he rolled his eyes. His voice sounded raspy, and it hurt to talk. Something he expected given he was sick, though he despised it.
“It’s nine-thirty, Noel! You should already be at school!”
“If you haven’t noticed by my voice, Copper-Top, I’m sick. Not coming to school today.”
“Well you should have informed us!”
“I woke up sick. And I don’t need to inform anyone of anything. Just let me wallow in my sickness and pain alone.”
“Ever the drama queen.”
“Leave me alone, I’m ill.”
“It’s probably just a cold, you’ll be fine in a week.”
“Probably. Now, if you have nothing useful to say, I’m going back to sleep now.”
There’s silence on Ocean’s end of the call, and he can hear the school bell ring.
“Fine. Well, break just ended, I have to get to Algebra. Feel better Noel…and let the choir know you’ll be out.”
“Alright, Copper-Top. And thanks.”
“Sleep well!”
And with that, Ocean ends the call.
Noel grabs his phone from his night table and sends a typo-filled text to the choir group chat that he’s sick and won’t be at school or at choir practice – and signing it off with the statement that Ocean told him to message the chat.
He sets his phone down and hears it ping with new messages, which he ignores as he pulls an eye mask over his eyes and tries to sleep some more.
Noel gets a few more hours of sleep but feels objectively worse when he wakes up. His phone is still receiving new messages, seemingly ten per second.
The only noise Noel makes is a groan, attempting to speak, just muttering to himself, no noise really coming out.
He sits up and drinks half the water left in his water bottle before checking his phone. There’s about one hundred texts in the choir group chat, plus five or so texts from his mother and about ten from Mischa. He ignores the choir group chat, reading his mother’s messages first before looking at Mischa’s.
His mother had automatically assumed he was sick when he slept through his two alarms, so the texts were pretty much just telling him where the medication was – in his ensuite bathroom rather than the main bathroom’s medicine cabinet. So he doesn’t have to walk too much.
The other messages just let him know she was at work and that there’s food he could make if he needs. He sends a “ Thank you ” to her before reading Mischa’s messages. He doesn’t read all of them, only about half of them.
< MISCHA: Poet how are you doing? You said you were sick in choir chat, just wanted to check on you >
< MISCHA: You must be sleeping…hope you have restful sleep and feel bit better >
< MISCHA: Little orphan a-hole keeps telling me to get off phone in class (we are in Algebra together, is worst thing ever right now) but I am worried so I told her I am just texting you >
< MISCHA: Is lunch now! Have you woken yet? Sorry for many texts, just wanted to be sure you are okay >
< MISCHA: If you want I can ditch and come help you out. Only if you want of course! >
Noel sets his phone down on his lap and rubs his eyes before responding. He’s still exhausted as hell.
< NOEL: Just woke up and read all the texts…I feel pretty shitty if I’m being honest >
< NOEL: And you don’t need to come help me out, it’ll be okay, I’ll be fine >
Mischa replies nearly instantly. < MISCHA: Nonsense. Am on way now, will be over with medication and tea >
< NOEL: You really don’t have to >
< MISCHA: Well I want to, poet. You are important to me, I want to take care of you. Plus I just left school. Won’t be long >
Noel sighs at Mischa’s insistence, but smiles at the fact he cares so much about him.
< NOEL: Okay then. You know where the spare key is, and I have medication in my bathroom so no need to spend your money on any more. Thank you, mon amour <3 >
< MISCHA: Anytime, любий >
Noel sets his phone down again, still feeling exhausted but not wanting to be asleep when Mischa arrives. He had to get up after a few seconds – because bathrooms and being sick and all – which led to him struggling just a bit as he got up. He got dizzy the second he stood up, plus he was a lot weaker than he thought and fell right back onto his bed.
He sighed the moment he fell back onto his bed, getting up and grabbing the cane that was lying against his night table before walking over to his bathroom.
The second he grabs the tissue box from his counter, his phone starts blaring his ringtone, and his phone announces that it’s Mischa who’s calling.
He makes his way back to his bed, setting the tissue box on his night table and lying his cane against it before answering the phone.
“I have arrived, am just right outside…Are you in living room or your bedroom?”
“Let yourself in, Misch…” Noel mumbled, sounding like death – his voice still raspy and cracking every other word. “I’m in my bedroom, too.”
From Mischa’s side of the call, Noel can hear the front door open. “You sound like death, poet…are you sure you are okay? Besides obviously being sick…”
“Besides being sick, yes, I’m fine my darling…it’s just an annoyance to talk.”
“Oh! Of course-...Вибач. I will hang up and then you can sign to me instead of talk when I see you in second, okay?”
Noel made a small noise of agreement, and the phone call ended as his bedroom door opened, revealing his boyfriend with a cup of hot tea in hand. Noel simply waves at Mischa to greet him.
“Hi кохання, how are you feeling?”
Mischa walked over to Noel, handing him the tea as he pressed his lips to his boyfriend’s forehead – mostly to check if Noel had a temperature.
‘ Feeling like shit, ’ Noel signed after taking a sip of the tea and setting it on the night table.
“Expected...luckily you do not have fever or flu, since you don’t have abnormal temperature. Besides sickness, are you in pain or anything?”
Noel shook his head. ‘ Just feeling a lot weaker than normal. Nearly fell twice today. ’
“That is not good…but you did not actually fall, yes?”
‘ I didn’t fall, luckily. ’
“Very good, кохання. Now, have you gotten water yet?”
Noel nods.
“Have you eaten?”
‘ Not yet .’
“Do you think you can eat right now?”
Noel nods a second time. ‘ I’m starving, I just haven’t had the energy to make food. ’
“Well I am making you food. Anything specific you are in mood for?”
‘
Nothing specific.
’
“Гаразд…now, do you want to go downstairs or stay here?”
‘ I’d rather stay here if that’s okay… ’
“Perfectly okay, my love. I will be quick as possible, if you need me for anything at all, you can text me. Or call. I’d say yell too if need-be but that would wreck your voice and that is not good.”
‘ I will. Thank you, Mischa.’
“Anything for you, poet. Я тебе кохаю.”
‘
I love you too.
’
Mischa presses a kiss to Noel’s forehead before heading downstairs, promising to be quick.
Noel turned on the television and put on some random cartoon, mostly just for background noise. He tried to pay attention to it but ended up just zoning out on the screen. He isn’t even sure how long he’d zoned out for, since next thing he knew Mischa was by his side with a tray and food.
“Sorry, took longer than expected. Found everything needed to make soup like my mother made when I was sick…not in exact same way, but is close. I know soup is not best first meal, but this is delicious, you’ll love it.” Mischa places the tray over Noel’s lap as he speaks, handing Noel his tea too.
Noel simply signs a ‘ thank you ’ to Mischa, smiling up at him before beginning to eat.
He doesn’t notice Mischa walk off into his bathroom, only realizing that he’d left when he appears back in his room again, cold medicine in hand. Mischa takes two of the pills from the packet and sets it next to the water bottle on Noel’s night table. “Take the medicine after you eat, кохання.”
Noel nods, still eating. He does take the medicine after eating, making small talk with Mischa.
‘ Misch, love, you shouldn’t get too close to me, you’re going to get sick .’
“Don’t care if I get sick. I want to help you feel better.”
Noel smiles, lying back in his bed. ‘ I appreciate it…though I still don’t want you getting sick. ’
“Will be okay if I get sick. We don’t have to worry about that now, though. Important thing is getting you feeling better.”
‘
I am feeling better…well, a little better.
’ Noel signs back, focused on Mischa even if he was exhausted as hell and was so close to falling asleep a second time.
“That’s good, poet. I’m glad something I did hel-”
Mischa was cut off due to a sudden coughing fit from Noel. He’d propped himself up on one arm while bringing his other to cover his mouth, groaning the second it was over, his throat killing him.
Noel quickly signed ‘
Sorry
’ right after, drinking the remainder of the water in his water bottle.
“No need to apologize, you are not feeling well, моя любий, it is okay to have coughing fit.”
‘ I still cut you off… ’
“It is okay. Do not mind.”
‘ I’m still sorry, Misch. ’
“You still do not need to apologize, мій поет,” Mischa replied, running a hand through Noel’s hair. “Shall I get you more water?”
It takes a second before Noel nods, already needing more water.
“Will be back in two seconds.”
Mischa doesn’t take too long, though when he returns to Noel’s room, he’s met with Noel curled under blankets and half-asleep.
“Tired, кохання?”
Noel hummed and nodded.
“You can fall asleep, поет, I don't mind. You look very tired.”
‘ I am, ’ Noel signed back before closing his eyes and burying his face in his pillow. He heard the light switch flick off, seeing the room darken in his peripheral vision.
“Sleep then, love. Sleep fights illness…is what Мама always told me whenever I was sick.” Mischa walked over to Noel’s side, setting the water bottle in his hands on the night table and running his fingers through his boyfriend’s hair.
‘ You’ll stay, right?’
“Of course, my poet. I promise.”
‘ Thank you. ’
“Anytime.”
‘ I love you. ’
“I love you too, poet…sleep well.”
Noel slept through about half the afternoon, waking up a bit before 4 p.m. to see Mischa writing something in a notebook, The Blue Angel playing on the television, about halfway through.
He was a little confused, forgetting Mischa had come over for a bit, but everything came back to him after a second. He sat up after a second, blowing his nose and coughing about five times before trying to stand. He nearly fell back, getting dizzy as he stood – which was expected considering he was sick
and
got up too fast.
Mischa is holding him up in the blink of an eye, questioning if he is okay.
‘ I’m fine, just got a little dizzy. Nothing bad. ’ Noel explained, grabbing his cane from where it was resting against his night table.
“Is good you are okay, just got worried you were going to fall and get hurt or something…” Mischa says, letting go of Noel.
‘ Just need to use the bathroom…sorry for startling you. ’
“It’s okay. Just was worried for second. Do you need any help? I know that is weird question but considering you are weaker than usual being sick I was just wondering if you needed extra help besides your cane…”
‘ I should be okay. Thank you for being worried, though, my darling. I’ll call for you if I need anything. ’
Mischa smiles and nods, returning to what he was doing previously – boring English homework while watching The Blue Angel – as Noel does whatever he needs to do.
He looks back up when Noel taps against the paper to get his attention. ‘ What are you working on? ’
“Boring homework. Put on your favorite tragic movie though, made it more bearable.”
‘ Mischa Bachinski willingly working on homework, who would’ve thought? ’ Noel joked, sitting back on his bed.
“Hey! I just needed to finish so little orphan a-hole would get off my back.”
‘ Since when did you care what Oce thinks? ’
“Is group project….pair project. Me and little orphan a-hole. I am ‘slacking’ or whatever, so I need to finish.”
‘ Ah. That makes more sense then…how’s it going? ’
“Well. Am almost finished. Will work on it later, is too annoying to keep focusing on, just had to get last line out on paper first.”
Noel nods, yawning. ‘ Sorry you have to work with Oce. She can be a massive pain in the ass. ’
“For reals…but is okay. Better than some random person.”
‘
Fair
.’
Mischa nodded, and Noel grabbed his water bottle again, practically downing the whole thing. He lets out a groan and overdramatically falls back against his pillow, which causes Mischa to laugh a bit.
‘ Don’t laugh at my pain, ’ Noel signs, trying not to laugh himself. ‘ I’m suffering. ’
“Truly tragic fate, mon amour.” Mischa says, sitting on the edge of Noel’s bed, a smile across his face.
‘
If I weren’t sick I’d totally kiss you right now,
’ Noel replies, breaking character and smiling up at Mischa. He’d rarely heard his boyfriend speak French, and he always loved it when he did.
“Sooner you get better, sooner you get to kiss me.” Mischa says with a small smile.
Noel nods. ‘ I better get better soon then. ’
Mischa nods in agreement, ruffling Noel’s hair. “Are you feeling any better by chance?”
‘ A bit. The medicine helped though I still have a pounding headache. Think it’s a migraine judging by how spotty my vision is in my right eye. ’
Mischa pouted, shifting on the bed to move closer to Noel. “Is there anything I can do?”
‘I don’t think I can take any extra medicine…so no I don’t think so. ’
“You have specific medicine for migraine, yes?”
Noel nods. ‘ Sumatriptan. ’
“Okay…I can look up if that will work with cold medicine, and if it works well…do you want to take it?”
‘ Yes. Please .’
“Will do,” Mischa replies, grabbing his phone and typing his question out. “Says no interaction…so that is good, yes?”
‘ Yes that’s good. ’
“Good. Is your medicine in your bathroom?”
Noel nods again. ‘ Medicine cabinet in my bathroom, yeah. By the rest of my meds…in one of those orange bottles. Just one tablet.’
“Got it.”
‘ Thank you, Misch. ’
“Anytime, my poet.”
Mischa gets up from the bed to grab Noel’s medication, handing him the tablet after returning back to him.
‘ Thank you again .’
“As I said, anytime, love.” Mischa says with a soft smile, turning off the television and making sure the blinds were shut before returning to Noel’s bed. Noel curls into Mischa’s side, hiding his face in his chest, glad for the dark and the silence. It was an instant help. He thanks Mischa for what must be the billionth time, and Mischa just smiles and says that it’s “no big deal”, since after all, he’s just taking care of his love.
He falls asleep again, something quite expected. Mischa tries his best to not move much so as to not wake him, though he wakes up again on his own accord after an hour.
‘ Sorry for falling asleep again…I didn’t mean to. ’
“Do not apologize, poet. Is perfectly okay. You are ill, my darling, and sleep helps. Sleep fights illness. Is not bad you are sleeping more than usual, even if it is just little cold.”
‘ I’m still sorry I slept through most of the day though… ’
“Is okay! No big deal. As long as you feel bit better, it’s all good.”
‘ I feel a bit better, yeah. ’
“That is very good, кохання. Shall we watch movie?”
‘ Can we watch The Blue Angel? ’
“Of course, poet.”
Mischa reaches over to the night table to grab the remote, turning on the television and playing The Blue Angel from the start. Noel curls up closer to Mischa, his head still lying on his boyfriend’s chest.
They’re both silent for a while — barring Noel’s occasional coughing fits — just lying in Noel’s small twin XL watching
The Blue Angel
, Mischa running his fingers through his boyfriend’s hair.