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Alex Claremont-Diaz doesn't fall sick, except for when he does.
Maybe the late-night study sessions coupled with the inadequate hours of sleep he was getting messed with his immune system, how was he to know? And, okay, maybe Henry did warn him and tell him to get some proper sleep or else he “will definitely fall sick” but what does he know? He's not a doctor. The fact that he was proven right is a complete coincidence.
Either way, Alex was currently sitting in bed, covered in a blanket, Vicks Vaporub smeared on his nose and throat, waiting for Henry to bring him some soup.
“Okay you really need to be careful because this is very hot.” Henry entered the room carrying a tray with a bowl of soup, medicine, and some flowers on it. On top of that, Henry was wearing a cute little apron too and goddamnit if it didn't make Alex's heart burst.
Henry set the tray down on the nightstand, then went to get the breakfast table from behind the closet, putting the bowl on the table.
The soup smells delicious. Homely. Henry had been on call with Oscar for hours, trying to perfect the ‘sick-day soup’ as Alex called it, which Oscar used to make for him growing up. Alex leans forward, the steam wafting from the soup both increasing his appetite and soothing his clogged nostrils. He picks up the spoon to take a sip but just then makes a pained expression that doesn't escape Henry's notice.
“What's wrong?” Henry asks, his brows furrowed in concern. “Does it hurt to move your arms?” Alex gives him a small nod in response. He hates the body aches that come with catching a cold. Alex can't get anything done by himself and he hates that feeling. But with Henry, he's learnt to let him help once in a while.
Henry pulls a chair, sitting beside Alex. He takes the bowl of soup in his hand and gets a spoonful of soup, blowing on it twice before bringing it up to Alex's lips. “Come on.” He urges. Alex obeys.
“Mhmm, this tastes amazing, baby.” Alex says. “You've nailed it.”
“Really?” Henry asks. His eyes suddenly brighter, and Alex can't help but smile.
“Yes, really.”
“Thank god. I was nervous.” Henry says, before bringing another spoonful of soup up to Alex's mouth.
—
Alex wakes up from his sleep, sweaty and delirious. The room is dark but he can see a faint yellow light creeping from under the bedroom door which means Henry is still awake. He wraps the blanket around him and with great effort, gets out of bed and slowly walks out into the living room.
“Oh, hi darling. Did you sleep well?” Henry asks when he notices him walking in. Alex acknowledges his question with a vague nod before dropping onto the couch next to Henry, and partially on his chest.
“ Oof. All settled there?” Henry asks once Alex finally gets in his place.
“What time is it?” Alex asks. He can see that it's dark outside. But the lights never really go out in New York so it's hard to tell what hour in the night it actually is.
Henry checks his phone. “It's 11:02 right now.” Henry tosses his phone on the sofa, bringing his arm around Alex, pressing a soft kiss into his messy curls. “Are you hungry? Would you like some dinner?”
Dinner sounds nice. But the thought of tasting any food right now doesn't sound favourable to Alex. Ugh, he hates being sick. “I don't know.” He replies.
“I can make you some more soup if you'd like?”
“Don't wanna eat right now.” Alex sinks further into his blanket. Henry lets out a soft chuckle. “What?” Alex looks up.
“You look very adorable right now.” Henry says.
“I'm sure I don't.”
“No, you do. You do. You look very tiny and cozy like that.” Henry tries very hard to bite back his laughter.
“Oh fuck off.” Alex weakly swats his arm. Henry giggles.
They stay like that, lying on the couch, quietly watching T.V. At some point David jumps up on the couch, lying down by Alex's feet. He reaches over to try and pet David but lets out a groan as he tries to stretch his arm out. God, these body aches are the worst. He gives up, leaning back again leaning on Henry's shoulder. After a while, Alex can feel his eyelids getting heavier. He drifts off for a few seconds before he's suddenly jerked awake when Henry moves out from under him.
“Hey, where’re you going?” Alex pouts, clearly unhappy with the change in positions.
“Come on, let's go to bed. You're sleepy.” Henry holds out his hand to help Alex up, but Alex doesn't take it. Instead, he stretches both his arms out towards Henry.
“Carry me please.” Alex says, and Henry rolls his eyes.
“You can't walk?”
“I'm sick. And I'm pretty sure it's a rule that you should always carry your sick boyfriend to bed.”
Henry raises an eyebrow. “Oh is it now?” Alex nods, smiling. Henry gently shakes his head before sliding one arm under Alex's knees, the other behind his neck, picking him up effortlessly. They've done this before, but every single time it makes Alex's stomach swoop the same way and for a moment Alex wonders if letting Henry pin him to the mattress would be a good idea right now.
Henry gently puts Alex down on the bed, before going to grab his medicine from the cabinet. He comes back to find Alex squirming on the bed, stretching his limbs in weird positions.
“Does it hurt really bad?” Henry asks. Alex just groans in response. It hurts so much that for a moment Alex wonders if running a bulldozer over his body would soothe the ache somehow.
Henry sets the glass of water and the tablet strip down on the nightstand. “Do you want me to massage you?” He asks. He gets an enthusiastic ‘yes’ in response from Alex.
Alex is now lying on his stomach. Henry starts by applying gentle pressure to Alex's shoulders. That extracts a low moan from Alex which goes straight to Henry's crotch. Henry tries to not think about it.
Then, it happens again. His muscles must really be aching bad because every time Henry presses his fingers, Alex moans in response and it's making it very hard for Henry to focus. Incredible how the sounds for pain and pleasure are so similar.
“ Fuck , that feels good.” Alex says, his voice muffled by the pillow he's buried his face in. Jesus Christ on wheels, it's almost too much for Henry. Alex turns his head just then, resting sideways on the pillow, and catches Henry's expression.
“Is everything alright, Henry?” Alex asks.
Henry swallows before answering, “Yes. All good.” But he can't fool Alex. He can see the smirk on Alex's face.
“You're getting turned on!” Suddenly, Alex seems to have regained his energy.
“No. Just, get back down. Do you feel better now?”
“Yes. But you could make me feel even better.” Alex offers suggestively. Good heavens, this man.
“No. You're sick, you horndog. Take your meds and go to sleep.” Henry gets up from the bed to grab the medicine, holding it out to Alex along with a glass of water. Alex pouts dramatically as he takes the tablet from Henry's palm, swallowing it along with a sip of water.
“Please. Pleasepleaseplease. ” Alex tries again, but Henry refuses. “Oh come on, release of oxytocin helps with relieving body aches.”
“There's no way that that's true.”
“It could be.” Alex shrugs and for a moment Henry considers it, before shaking his head again.
“You,” He pulls the covers over Alex, effectively tucking him in. “Are going to sleep now.”
“You're no fun.” Alex complains.
“Sure.” Henry replies as he turns off the lights before getting into bed. Alex slides closer to him, his head resting on Henry's chest.
“Why don't you want to have sex with me?” Alex asks. He sounds so sincere, Henry can't help the laugh that escapes him.
“Darling, you can't even lift your body right now.”
“That's not relevant.”
“I believe it is relevant.” Henry turns to look at Alex. And the 26 year-old man lying beside him is pouting. “That won't work by the way.”
“Worth a shot.” Alex says as he moves even closer to Henry. “Can we have sex after I get better then?”
“Yes, Alex. Now go to sleep, so that you can get better.”
“Yes, yes.” Alex tilts his head up, moving closer to kiss Henry good night. An attempt that Henry stops by bringing his hand between them.
“Stay there you germ monster. Cuddling is all you're getting right now, no kisses till you get better.” At that, Alex makes a wounded sound.
“You're such a meanie, why do you hate me?”
“Love you too, now good night.” He kisses Alex's temple, wrapping his arms tighter around him.
Alex drops a kiss on Henry's shoulder. “Good night.” He says, before drifting off to sleep.