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I knock on the door three times, a pause between each knock.
I just wait out here, in the dim hallway, a plastic bag from CVS hanging from my wrist. The bag is full of medicine. Tylenol, Advil, NyQuil, cough drops, Pepto-Bismol, the whole nine yards. Tony said I was going overboard, and I didn’t have to ‘buy up the entire CVS’ for Nat, and that she probably just had a common cold, but I just had to stop by for support. I’d probably worry myself sick if I didn’t. In fact, I think I might be getting a cold from this gnarly winter, too. Nothing beats a New York winter, huh? Snow still sticks onto the faux fur hood of my jacket, same with my gloves. Several inches of snow were in today’s weather forecast, so I wouldn’t be surprised.
The door slowly creaks open, and Natasha stares up at me with tired eyes. Her red hair is hanging loosely down her shoulders, framing her pale face. She’s got on a black tank top, and baggy red pajama pants. I’m surprised she’s not cold in that top, especially since there’s a cold weather warning outside. It’s baffling how even when she’s sick, she’s still absolutely gorgeous. She sniffles, blinking in surprise.
“Steve...?” she asks, voice barely above a whisper.
“Hey, Nat, I...” I hold up the plastic bag. “I got you some medicine.”
She looks at the bag and opens the door wider for me to come in. I step in, and she walks further into her apartment.
“You didn’t need to, you know? I’m not that sick...” Natasha comments in a groggy voice with her hands on her hips as I close the door behind me.
“Yeah, maybe, but I figured you might need some extra meds, especially since you told me you only got a few tablets of Motrin left.” I add, taking off my snow-covered boots at the entrance. I slowly walk over to her and set the plastic bag on the table beside her. Liho, Nat’s cat, jumps up on the table and inspects the bag, sniffing it.
Natasha coughs into her elbow. “You’ll catch my cold, Steve.”
I shrug my shoulders and take out a box of Advil. “Super soldier serum takes care of that. Plus, I’d wanna make sure you’re all good and not puking your guts out.”
Natasha smiles lightly, looking down at the box. “Thanks...” she opens it and pops a tablet on her tongue, swallowing without water.
“Feeling any better?”
“Yeah. I took some Motrin, got some sleep and…” she pauses to sneeze. “Liho’s been keeping me company.”
I look down at the aforementioned cat, who’s still circling my legs and chirping for attention.
“Looks like she missed you.” Nat adds, pushing a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “That makes two of us.”
I look up, grinning boyishly. “You missed me?”
“Duh. Haven’t seen you in two days because of this stupid flu.” She takes a step forward, to the dismay of Liho, who’s still cooing for my attention.
“Missed you too, Nat.” I wrap my arms around her, and she leans up and kisses my cheek.
“I’d kiss you for real, but I don’t wanna give you any of my nasty germs.” She mumbles, her arms wrapped around my neck.
I shrug my shoulders. “It’s fine.” I return the cheek kiss. “I just really needed to see you again. Make sure you’re okay and everything.”
“And what’d I do to get such a caring, amazing boyfriend like you?”
“It’s the least I can do, y’know. Bring you medicine when you’re sick.”
“Eh, I still appreciate it.”
*
After a while, Nat and I settled on the couch, and I put on her favorite show, Friends. I drag a fuzzy blanket over both of us as the iconic intro plays, and she hums along to the tune. We snuggle up together, holding each other close as we watch. She rests her head on my shoulder as the episode begins, and I wrap an arm around her.
Liho jumps up on the covers and settles in Nat’s lap, purring when she receives pets. The sight warms my heart, really.
20 minutes into the episode, I can tell she’s sound asleep. She’s breathing steadily, leaning on me and not moving a muscle.
Nat looks so peaceful when she sleeps.
Slowly, I pause the episode.
Scooping her up in my arms, I carry her to her room. The couch is perfectly comfortable, but I want her to sleep on her bed. Especially when she’s sick. I push the door open, and slowly lower her down onto the bed, pulling the sheets over her shoulders. I smile and lay down beside her.
I pull the sheets over my shoulders and hold her close.