Work Text:
"Acho!"
Rainbow Dash groaned with the pain in her throat getting harsher as she sneezed, taking a napkin from her side to wipe her nose off.
She had a three hours of sleep at most that night. At first, she thought that was because she was excited about the football match she had the other day, but then headache striked and she started sneezing. She couldn't find the strength to get up in herself, though, causing her to toss and turn around in her bed all night.
She sighed.
How great.
Captain getting sick on the day of the game.
She put an arm over her eyes, feeling her face burning. She was so hot yet she felt cold as she wrapped the blanket around herself tighter, her head was throbbing and her throat was so sore that she almost wanted to scratch it. In short, she felt like shit.
The door knocked and she stayed silent, not finding the voice in herself to answer.
"Uh, Rainbow Dash? Are you all right over there? You didn't come down for the breakfast, I was worried."
A gentle voice came from the other side of the door and Rainbow Dash groaned, trying to indicate the person to come in.
"I'm coming in."
Thankfully, the message was received, and Fluttershy was in the room a moment later.
Rainbow Dash opened her eyes reluctantly to see Fluttershy looking at her with concern. She closed the door behinf her and walked towards the other.
"Dash, are you okay? What's..."
Upon seeing her bloodshot eyes, Fluttershy quickly put a hand on her forehead.
"Oh my god, you're burning up."
Rainbow Dash groaned, trying to sit up. "I'm..." Her voice came out so hoarse, then she coughed. "I'm good."
Fluttershy frowned, holding her from her shoulders and making her lay down once again. "No, you're not. But you will be soon, so don't worry!"
The other huffed. "But..."
"Hm?"
"We had a game today..."
Fluttershy looked sad, putting a hand on her hair. "I'm sorry about that. But you can't play like that."
Rainbow Dash sighed once more, pulling the blanket over her head and turning around. "I know."
"I'll be back in a few minutes," Fluttershy said, "I'll bring you something to eat and take some medicine from the nurse's office. Is that all right?"
A groan.
Fluttershy smiled softly. "I'll take that as a yes."
And so, she left.
While she was gone, Rainbow Dash groaned in annoyance. Not being able to play in the game really got on her nerves.
Fluttershy was back after a while, only to find Rainbow Dash as same as she left her.
"Dash, I'm back."
She had two packages in her hand. One most likely food, and the other medicine. She made her way to the bed, pulling a chair for herself in front of the desk and sitting on it, right beside Rainbow Dash. She hummed to herself, touching the other's shoulder lightly to get her get up.
"I got you soup since I thought you might not be able to eat now, and I passed by the infirmary to take medicine for cold."
"Hmm..." Rainbow Dash turned towards her, opening her eyes. She hummed a little thanks, voice low because of her sickness.
"It's nothing." Fluttershy mumbled, holding her hand to help her sit up and placing the package with the soup on her lap. "Here - eat while it's still warm."
The other scrunched her eyebrows. "You didn't have to... Go through all that for me."
Fluttershy chuckled lightly at that. "It's okay, Dash. Let me take care of you for today."
"Don't you have classes?"
"It's weekend, so... No."
Rainbow Dash blinked.
Oh, right. It was weekend.
She forgot.
"Right... Still, I don't want you to waste your time on me..."
"You," Fluttershy started, tapping Rainbow Dash's nose with her index finger. "I forbid you to complain for the rest of the day. All right? I'm happy to help." Despite the slight scolding tune, she smiled softly, eyes getting smaller.
Rainbow Dash leaned back, resting her head on the back of the bed. "Okay, mom. But don't get too close to me, I don't want you to get sick."
"Got it!" she said cheerily, crossing her legs.
So Rainbow Dash started to eat her soup with Fluttershy by her side, watching and chatting with him.
"Feel better?" she asked.
"Kind of... But I'm—" Rainbow Dash exhaled sharply. "I'm cold."
Fluttershy looked at her with pity. "I know... But I can't put a blanket over your shoulders, it'll only make the sickness worse. Instead, when you finish eating, I'll give you medicine and it'll take the cokd away. Okay?"
Even if she made a sour face, Rainbow Dash nodded, knowing Fluttershy was right.
"You still look sad."
The blue girl averted her eyes. "I'm not. I'm just sick."
"You're upset about the game, aren't you?" Fluttershy leaned her head on her hand.
"I'm not."
"You are."
Her voice was so gentle, and Rainbow Dash couldn't find it in herself to lie to her again. "Maybe I am... But it's nothing."
A hand on her shoulder, and she turned her gaze to Fluttershy. The pink haired girl's eyes were so soft and comforting, just like her touch.
"I'm sorry. But it'll be okay, I'm sure they'll win."
Rainbow Dash huffed. "I hope they do."
Her nervousness wasn't because she doubted them, she just wanted to be there and play. But she couldn't do anything about that, so she decided to not to complain about it and trouble the other even more.
When she finished her soup, Fluttershy got the medicine out.
Uh-oh. It was a pill.
"Dashie, come on! You'll just swallow it! One gulp and it'll be gone!"
"No! No way I'm letting it anywhere near my mouth!"
"But..."
"Shy." She frowned, leaning back on the bed to make her escape. "My throat is already sore. If I take this, I'll throw up."
Fluttershy also furrowed her eyebrows, sitting on the bed beside her. "No you won't."
"I will! I know I will!" She groaned in annoyance, not wanting to swallow it.
"Rainbow Dash, you're shivering." Her eyes were full of worry as she held a pill and a glass of water. "I know you're freezing. You face is all red, too. And oh my god, you're sweating too much - just take this medicine and let me bring you clean clothes, please."
Rainbow Dash pouted. "But—"
"Please."
In the end, she took the pill with a defeated sigh, not finding the heart to reject Fluttershy when she pleaded her for her own wellbeing.
How selfish I am...
She ended up swallowing it in one gulp, just like Fluttershy said, and magically, she didn't throw up. She only made a sour face as the pill went down her throat.
"I don't like it." she said with a hoarse voice.
"I know." Fluttershy mumbled, a soft smile plastered on her face. She put her hand on the other's cheek and leaned closer, making Rainbow Dash's heart jump from its place.
Oh god, oh god, oh god.
Her hand is so soft.
"Fluttershy—"
"You still have a fever... It's burning."
And so, the touch was gone as soon as it came.
"Ah... Yeah." Rainbow Dash scratched the back of her head, embarrassed at her own dissapointment.
"I'll get you something clean from your wardrobe, then." So Fluttershy got up, walking towards the wardrobe as Rainbow Dash watched after her.
She was back a moment later and turned around as Rainbow Dash changed her top into a plain white clean t-shirt, then sat beside her and put her hand on the other's forehead.
Her eyes were so, so kind that Rainbow Dash was sure if she wasn't going to melt from her body temperature, she was gonna melt because of Fluttershy.
"Let's wait a little until the medicine works. If you still don't cool down by then, I'll take you to the nurse's office. Is that all right?"
Rainbow Dash hummed, nodding. She was too stunned by the sight even if it was an everyday thing. Maybe it was sickness, maybe it was the other's caring side affecting her, she didn't know.
But she knew that she was oh so down bad.
Fluttershy moved her hand to the other's rainbow colored hair, stroking her strands softly. Rainbow Dash closed her eyes, simply giving in. The other's fingers encountered one or two knots and she softly mumbled.
"Do you have a hairbrush...?"
Despite her spinning head, Rainbow Dash opened her eyes and perked up, getting excited. "Over there." she said with a whisper since her throat was still aching, pointing at her desk.
Fluttershy crawled out of the bed, going to the said desk to get the hairbrush. "How is you headache?" she asked on her way back.
Rainbow Dash sniffed once. "It's... Not that bad, I think. I don't know."
Humming, the other sat beside her once again. She gestured Rainbow Dash to turn around and she obliged, offering her hair to Fluttershy for the other girl to brush.
As Fluttershy began to work, Rainbow Dash started to relax. Her tense shoulders gave in and she wrapped the blanket around herself once again, feeling the cold get to her, face flushed red. Fluttershy worked on her knots one by one, brushing her fingers against the rainbow locks now and then. Rainbow Dash wasn't aware of how she slightly leaned back, giving in to the touch.
Fluttershy giggled. "Dashie, I can't brush your hair like that." Only then she realized how she got closer to the other, feeling her cheeks heat up because of something other then the flu.
"I... Kinda want to lie down. I feel a lil' dizzy..."
It wasn't exactly a lie, but it also wasn't really the truth. Yes, she was feeling dizzy, but she has been feeling dizzy since she woke up. Still, Fluttershy hummed, shifting on her place so Rainbow Dash could lie down comfortably.
Pink eyes found hers as she laid down, a hesitant look on the other's face.
"Can I... Sleep?"
Fluttershy smiled. "Of course. I'll check your fever after a while."
Rainbow Dash hummed, half of her face getting buried in the pillow. "And if I fall asleep... Will you leave?"
A soft expression found it's way in Fluttershy's face as she put a hand on the other's hair, patting the top of her head.
"I'll stay by your side, don't worry."
So Rainbow Dash extended a hand hesitantly, wrapping it around the other girl's waist. "Hmm... Thank you. For everything."
Fluttershy leaned back to the headboard, keeping her hand on its place and running her hand through her hair slowly as Rainbow Dash's breath evened out.
"Anything," she muttered under her breath, "Anytime."
Rainbow Dash drifted into the sleep under her touch - a sleep that was much more peaceful then the last night's. The presence of the other was enough to provide her that - serenity. Even with her throat hurting, her body burning, her head aching, she felt serene. It was like a breath of fresh air - Fluttershy being by her side, that is.
Because, she was sure that when she woke up, Fluttershy would be there.