Chapter Text
Ah...what a day it is at the aboveground, sunny as always and paperwork clouding the table. Bronya was as usual, hard at work, the new Supreme guardian of Belobog.....and the wife of Seele.
Unexpected isn't it?
But, all those thoughts would soon be set aside, the doors to the Supreme guardians office being swung open as the familiar look of the devil herself waltzed in and up to the desk, Seele.
"Figured you'd be busy. You want some help with that?"
How a woman could be such a nuisance and a lifesaver was truly questionable, but she wouldn't refuse the extra show of hands, if anything, the headache she'd get is just as worth as getting the piles of paperwork done faster.
"Yes, thank you Seele, you're a big help," she says with a smile.
And Seele would respond with naught but a 'don't mention it,' plopping down on the chair next to her, which was brought in because of her frequent yet random visits, and helped Bronya out.
Aeons know she needs it.
And Aeons knew she needed tomorrow off. For when she woke up in bed the day after, Seele clinging to her under the blankets that loosely covered them, her eyelids heavy, and so too the same for her limbs.
Nonetheless, feeling burning hot, her throat dry and eyes squinted as they moved around the room, finally landing on the sleeping Seele and allowing her mind to think as fast as it could...
She was sick.
To think the Supreme Guardian of Belobog would've gotten sick. And to think Seele was now pacing back and forth in their room, having panickedly woken up after Bronya called her name a few dozen times.
Not the best way to start the day.
Bronya had been given some pain relieving pills and water, courtesy of Seele, as she worriedly paced back and forth in their bedroom, muttering something about the other to herself about yesterday.
"Seele...I'm fine..really"
"No you're not," Seele responded. "I'll get Natasha to come check up on you. It better just be a cold."
"Seele." And out she went, out of their bedroom, once sufficiently dressed, and through the door of their house before Bronya and her groggy mind could even think to protest. 'What a handful,' she thought to herself.
Laying back down on the bed and staring up at the ceiling, she waited, and waited, and waited. Her mind is running rampant and if anything, giving her more of a headache despite the pills she just took.
Opting to close her eyes, she did just that, and laid there in silence, a small reprieve from her current situation.
Only to then be stirred by two familiar hushed voices, coming from just outside the bedroom, one with a tinge of worry and the other level, as if they had been through such situations many times over.
"Are you sure it's just a cold? What if it's worse?" The familiar voice of Seele came to her ears faintly if she focused enough.
"I'm sure it's just a cold Seele. As long as she drinks a lot of water and doesn't overexert herself, she'll be fine."
Her words, as much as they were reassuring, still failed to convince Seele fully, as the first time she'd seen Bronya get sick, and the first time something like this happened.
It wouldn't hurt to check, though. And Natasha did just that, having walked into their bedroom, Bronya awake, but seemingly in a feverish daze.
"...Natasha?" Squinting her eyes, she could just barely make out Natasha's face, as dark as the room was, it only made it harder to see.
"Yes, it's me, Bronya. Why don't we get you checked up hm? At Least to put dear Seele's mind at ease." She said, a soft smile on her face, though a hint of concern on her face.
It's not every day the Supreme Guardian comes down with a cold.
It would only take a few minutes for Natasha to do so, having done these certain movements in an order so many times it practically became second nature.
"Seems to be just a cold, though your temperature is quite high." Removing her hand from Bronyas forehead, she looks over at an anxious Seele.
"Place a cold rag on her forehead and change it every few minutes, it should help and provide some relief."
"And be sure to keep any eye on her. Soup will help with the cold and make her feel better."
Was the advice Natasha had given to Seele, which looked and is easier said than done, considering Seele doesn't have much experience in the kitchen herself.
Though with how 'dire' the situation is, it wouldn't hurt to try. At Least that way, her efforts won't be in vain.
And off she went, retrieving a clean rag and soaking it in cold water, placing it atop Bronya's forehead, making sure she was comfortable enough before leaving the bedroom to try her hand at cooking.
"How hard could it be?" She says to herself confidently as she walks into the kitchen, only to stop in place.
Wait…..how does one make soup?
And thus began the search on the internet for soup recipes, attempting to find one that was easy. Though the amount of pages she's opened only to click her tongue and close it to search for another was….incorrigible.
So, as begrudgingly as she could, she set her phone down on the counter and for once, reached into the top left cabinet of the kitchen, pulling out a dusty cookbook gifted to her from Bronya a few months after their marriage and one that she has avoided like the plague.
Because she hated the damn thing. Not to say she hated the gift, but to say she hated getting such a gift, figuring that the internet was sufficient enough for her cooking needs if she ever needed to make something.
But that failed her as she now dusted the book off and opened it, her eyes scouring each page, every recipe, every food, every ingredient until it finally landed on the classic soup, perfect for colds while tasting good.
"Ugh, finally. Now to make it." Seele speaks to no one, now raiding the fridge for the ingredients, taking out a pot, and following the cookbooks recipe step by step.
As she did so, she made sure to check on Bronya every now and then, changing the rag when she could and giving Bronya a kiss or two, not that it would help but hey, it'll comfort her....and maybe because she felt pity.
But! That is beside the point as she headed back to the Kitchen and continued working on the soup, the ingredients blending together quite well and out of it came the delicious mouthwatering aroma. All that's left is to pour some into a bowl.
And feed it to Bronya. Maybe feed it to Bronya…ok she's feeding it to Bronya.
She pours some of it into a bowl, just enough for Bronya to keep down, and snatched a spoon on her way out of the kitchen, taking it with her into their bedroom.
"Bronya? Bronya wake up. I made some soup" Bronya stirred, eyes unfocused and still in a feverish daze.
"Aeons, you're miserable." Seele says softly, setting the bowl of soup down on their nightstand. "Here, I'll help you sit up."
Removing the rag from her forehead and aiding Bronya, she had her sit up slightly, back against the pillows and headboard. With a smile, she picked up the bowl of soup and dipped the spoon into it, lifting it out and gingerly blowing on it slightly to cool it down before bringing it to Bronya.
"Say 'ahh'." Seele says with a smug smile, feeding her sick wife in bed. How far she's gotten.
Bronya slightly leans forward, her mouth opening and welcoming the spoon, a burst of flavor hits her taste buds as she enjoys the taste, before gulping it down, the warmth of the soup doing well to make her feel better.
And Seele would dutifully feed her the soup spoonful by spoonful until it was all finished. With a smile on her face Seele helped Bronya to lie back down, tucking her into bed with a cold rag placed on her forehead again.
"Alright, it's best if you get some sleep. I don't want you to continue looking so miserable, Bronya."
Though her words may sound harsh, Bronya knows behind it is a caring tone, meant only for her to hear. And that alone puts a slight smile on her face, sleep soon to claim her once she had closed her eyes.
The throes of the dreamscape inviting her in, and leaving Seele to watch over her, take care of her, make sure she's comfortable, all until she gets better…hopefully.
She decides on staying a little longer, taking in the serene and peaceful look on Bronya's face despite the cold, before getting up and taking the empty bowl and spoon with her out of the bedroom.
Seele closed the door to the bedroom as carefully as she could, mindful to leave it slightly open before she heads to the Kitchen and cleans the dishes, her mind wandering as she does so.
How could Bronya have gotten sick? The two spent most of yesterday together, working on seemingly endless piles of paperwork and whatnot only for Bronya to just end up with what was a cold the day after?
But thinking about it would only raise more questions, and Seele herself wasn't in the mood for thinking about it constantly, A sick Bronya contributing to it since she still had to keep an eye on her and maybe the headache she'd get.
She could probably just ask Natasha. She is a doctor after all.
With a sigh, She finishes washing the dishes, putting the leftover soup in a container and into the fridge, and putting the dishes into their original places, stepping out of the kitchen and peeking into their bedroom. Her eyes landed on Bronya, still asleep.
And she still should be by the time she returns from visiting Natasha at the clinic. Throwing on some casual wear she leaves their house, only after keeping Bronya comfortable, and makes her way down to the underground.
The same as always, even after the aboveground and underground opened their gates to each other, not much has changed. Though that doesn't mean there haven't been improvements.
Easier access to medical supplies, food, water, everything is now more easily accessible thanks to the Supreme Guardian.
And she is content with it. Though it may not seem much to begin with, it's definitely a good start. Seele makes her way down the roads and walkways until she stops in front of a familiar clinic, the very one Natasha works at.
She steps forward and turns the knob on the door, walking inside with a smile on her face, her eyes finding the grayish haired woman in an instant before she speaks. "Hey Nat. I have a question about Bronyas cold."
Natasha's head rose from the stack of papers held in her hands, medical documents. Her eyes met Seele's and a soft smile came across her face. "Go ahead"
"Do you know how she got sick? We were together most of yesterday in her office. It's weird to think she got a cold out of the blue."
"Sometimes colds happen randomly. It may be from being around a sick person or she picked it up from touching something. Though it's not a worrying matter. A few days and it should pass."
She sets the stack down onto the nearby desk. "Make sure she eats and drinks well. It'll blow over soon."
Atleast, that's what Natasha told her, or what she thought was right when in reality, Bronya's condition stayed the same, if not gotten slightly worse over a week.
Not only that but being torn from her duty only seemed to make Bronya feel more down, often insisting Seele on bringing documents from the office to work on, if anything to keep herself busy. And who was Seele to deny?
She tried arguing with her a few times, saying she needs rest more than anything and that she's still sick, pushing herself more would only make it worse than it already is. But Bronya was stubborn. Too stubborn in fact that she pushed herself too hard one day.
When Seele was coming back home from her latest visit to the clinic, she opened the door to their house. "I'm home," and walked in, closing it shut behind her and locking it. Though things were awfully silent…
"Bronya?" Seele took off her shoes, and walked into the living room, Bronya nowhere in sight. "Bronya are you awake?" Walking to their bedroom door, she pushes it open and walks inside, flicking on the light.
Only to see Bronya against the bed on the floor, something red....Blood, covering the palm held close to her mouth. her other hand held the shirt on her chest tightly, a panic stricken look on her face and fear in her wide eyes.
"...Bronya?"