Work Text:
“I’m not getting sick. It’s just allergies and the weather changing,” Steve argued to Eddie. He sniffled as he packed up his English notes into his backpack to leave for class.
Eddie packed up his own books and grabbed his keys from Steve’s desk. He laid one hand on Steve’s shoulder. “You sound terrible, Steve. And as your caring boyfriend, I think you should skip class and rest.”
“Eddie, I can’t. It’s Friday and with midterms next week, I don’t think it’s smart to skip. Besides, it’s two classes.” Steve eyed Eddie’s backpack. “You’ve got Chem today?”
“Yeah, it’s every other week,” Eddie explained. He pulled a pack of travel tissues from his backpack. “Here, and when you get back, it’s rest and cold medicine if you’re feeling worse, okay?”
Steve nodded. “Okay.”
Steve was halfway through his first class when his face felt heavier and his head began to ache. The plastic desk and chair felt cramped and uncomfortable as Steve struggled to pay attention. Still, he forced himself to jot down a few notes, pleased when the professor announced the few extra credit options for the midterm.
But by the second class, Steve felt worse. He was grateful for Eddie’s tissues since his nose was adamantly running. The mild headache ramped up to a steady thrumming in his temples and he felt as if someone had poured cement in his sinuses. Time dragged and Steve wished he’d stayed in bed today. Any amount of blowing his nose did nothing to relieve the congestion and only served to get a few looks of disgust in response.
When Steve was back at his dorm, he’d barely gotten his shoes off and a tissue out before he sneezed into it once, twice.
“Did you just sneeze?” Eddie asked from where he sat reading on the couch. A plastic bag lay beside him as he chewed the end of his pencil.
“You were right,” Steve replied, sniffling again. He could feel how thick and congested he sounded and his body ached. “Think m’sick.”
Eddie gave him a sympathetic look but reached for the bag. “Here, I grabbed some cold medicine from the pharmacy nearby, and that tea you like.”
“S’my head, too,” Steve sighed, starting towards the couch. “I think I might just…” He didn’t finish his sentence and instead sneezed a few times into his used tissue.
“Okay, let’s get you laying down,” Eddie winced. “I’ll heat some water for tea.”
Steve nodded in thanks and sank into the couch. When Eddie returned, Steve took the medicine gratefully and was glad when Eddie also set down an extra cup of water as a chaser. There were a few things Steve hated more than the taste of cold medicine.
From the couch, Steve watched Eddie unwrap a tea bag from a shiny wrapper.
“Is that the fancy chamomile tea you got last time?” Steve asked.
“Yep. Did you want it with honey?”
“Yeah. Thanks Eddie.”
“For my sick boyfriend, anything,” Eddie smiled.