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“I’m too hot,” Daisy mumbled in her sleep. “Sousa…”
Her boyfriend looked over from his seat by their bed, balancing a book on his knee. “You have a fever, Dais. We need it to break,” he replied with a small smile. “Don’t worry. It’ll be fine.”
Daisy sniffed. “Hot damn,” she muttered.
Sousa stifled a wider grin as his girlfriend slowly nodded off. She looked adorable when she was asleep. He brushed her damp bangs off of her forehead before stepping into the hallway. He needed to call someone on vacation, so it might be noisy, and he had a hard enough time getting her to sleep as it was.
“Coulson?” Sousa fidgeted as the sounds of a beach came through the phone. “You enjoying yourself, sir?”
The agent on the other end chuckled. “Yep. Happy as a clam. How can I help you, Sousa? And you don’t have to call me sir. We’ve been over that a few hundred times.”
Sousa let out a small, nervous laugh. “Right.” He glanced back towards his slumbering girlfriend. “Daisy’s sick.”
“That doesn’t sound very good,” Coulson said. He sounded concerned. “She doesn’t get sick very often.”
“Yeah. I was wondering if there was anything you did when she got sick when she was younger? Maybe a soup that she liked, or maybe a behaviour that she displayed?” Sousa kept his eyes on her. “So far, everything I’ve been doing seems to be working, but I… I want her to be comfortable. Content.”
He heard Coulson chuckle again. “Well, the past few years did teach me something about Daisy when she got sick. She absolutely hates being coddled.” There was a quiet yell on his end of the line. “If she’s letting you coddle her, chances are, in the next few minutes, she’s going to pass out. Get her sitting. In terms of food that she won’t reject, she likes warm things, even when she complains that she’s too hot. Creamy soups. It won’t do anything to make her cough go away, but she won’t drink watery soups, so I’ve had to make do.”
Sousa was mentally taking notes. “Okay.”
“She seemed to like my grilled cheese sandwich, the last time I made it.”
Sousa chuckled softly. “Everyone likes your grilled cheese sandwich, sir.”
“That’s comforting.” Coulson sighed. “I’ll send you my recipe. Well, it was my mother’s. I would’ve passed it down to Daisy years ago, but both you and I know she’s doesn’t do well in the kitchen. And May’s not exactly…”
“Right.” Sousa made another mental note to offer to make dinner for Daisy and May if they ever suggested a get-together. “Thank you, sir.”
“Again, not a sir to you. But hey, you’re welcome. The recipe thing came down to you and Fitz, and seeing as Fitz already makes a mean sandwich, it wasn’t fair to give him more sandwich power.” Coulson cleared his throat. “So. Any intentions of marrying Daisy?”
“I have every intention, sir,” Sousa said, not minding the quick change in conversation. He cringed to himself as he said the reflexive ’sir’. “It’s just whether Daisy’s ready or not. I’ll wait until she is, and we’ve discussed as much already. When she’s ready, we’ll make the next step. I’m ready for anything.”
“Good call.” Coulson seemed slightly distracted now. “Have you picked a ring, anyway?”
Sousa sighed. “Yes. A few days after we got back from space.”
“Good. I’ve got to go— hey! Don’t touch LOLA, you little—!”
The call ended abruptly and Sousa smiled to himself as he got a notification from Coulson, head full of colour schemes and wedding songs.
Sousa walked into the bedroom, amused as Daisy sat up with bright eyes at the food.
“Is that—?” Daisy took a deep breath. “Coulson’s grilled cheese?”
“You have a very discerning nose.” Sousa smiled softly as he put the tray in front of her. “Yeah. I called and got the recipe. I went out to get the ingredients an hour or so ago.”
“So that’s why my dream was of you abandoning me.” Daisy took a bite of the sandwich blithely. “This tastes exactly like Coulson’s. Well done.”
Sousa smiled. “I tried my best.”
“Your best is really good.” Daisy extended the sandwich towards him. “Want some?”
“I tried a little bit when I was cooking,” Sousa replied. “Though thanks for offering.”
Daisy shrugged and took another bite. “Is that soup?” she asked, nodding towards the bowl. “My favourite?”
“Your favourite,” he confirmed, handing her the spoon. “Cream of tomato. My grandma’s secret recipe.”
“Are we sharing all the secrets today?” Daisy took a sip. “These are both secret recipes. Coulson guards the grilled cheese sandwich one with his life. And he’s lost it. Several times.”
Sousa smiled, amused as his girlfriend chattered on as she ate.
“Hey, Sousa?” He glanced at her. “I love you.”
“I love you too, Dais.” Sousa brushed his thumb over her knuckles. “More than words.”
Daisy tugged his hand closer to her. “You also look, like, so hot right now.”
“Thank you,” Sousa said sincerely.
She kissed his hand and handed him a tissue to wipe it off. “I don’t want you to get sick though. No need for you to get physically hot. You know, with a fever. Cause I can’t cook and make you feel better.” Daisy leaned back onto the pillows, a grin growing on her face. “Seriously, though. You should have your sleeves rolled up more. It’s a good look on you.”
He chuckled. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
“Maybe our wedding photos will just be of your arms with your sleeves rolled up. I wouldn’t mind that at all.” Daisy seemed delirious. Sousa wondered if she had been hiding how bad she was doing, or maybe she was just too tired to hold back her random thoughts.
“Yeah.” Daisy squinted at him. “I can picture it. Every room in our house, there’s gonna be a picture of your rolled-up sleeves on our wedding day. You won’t have to do anything else.”
Sousa just held onto her hand. “I’d like to do something else other than have my sleeves rolled up and photographed,” he requested amusedly.
“Oh yeah? What?”
“Well, it wouldn’t be much of a wedding day if there’s no wedding.”
Daisy rolled her eyes. “Don’t worry, Danny Boy, that’s included. I’m not not marrying you.” She chuckled, and Sousa was 90% sure she’d lost her mind. “I’m not not not not not not not not… not… um…” she yawned. “Whatever. You get the idea.”
“Coulson walking you down the aisle?” Sousa asked softly as he guided her to lay back down on the bed.
Daisy scrunched up her nose. “Yeah. Obviously. With May. Mack can officiate. Jem and Kora can be my bridesmaids. But wait…” she turned her head towards him, eyes closed. “Who’s gonna be your man of honour? Wait. Grooms guy.”
“Best man?” Sousa asked softly.
“Yeah.” Daisy cuddled up with his arm. “Best man. Those are important. They give speeches.”
“Maybe Fitz. Or maybe I don’t need one, and all the speeches can be given by Coulson. He loves telling stories.” Sousa sighed amusedly as Daisy used his arm as a pillow instead of all the actual pillows at her disposal. He wouldn’t have it any other way. “That’s a conversation for another day.”
Daisy nodded and let out a breath. “I’m still too hot,” she mumbled. “You better finish the lyric this time.”
“Hot damn,” Sousa whispered. He shifted to get his book from the bedside table. “That okay?”
“Mhm.” Daisy let out a tiny yawn and fell asleep.
Sousa chuckled. He went back to his book.