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The moment Maverick opened his eyes, he knew that he was sick. He could feel the thickness in his head, accompanied by the pain he felt when swallowing. His nose was completely blocked and moving anything was such a struggle. Agitation washed through him as he turned onto his side.
“Seriously,” he coughed thickly. “On my birthday.”
“What’s on your birthday?”
Maverick lifted his head to see his husband enter the bedroom, shirtless and with a mug of steaming coffee in his hands. His icy bluish gray eyes were as striking as ever and Maverick longed to reach out and pull him close for a kiss.
“M’sick,” Maverick answered as he flopped back down on the bed with a moan. “I’m sick on my birthday and both of us are on leave at the same time for once. What kind bad luck is that?”
Ice shook his head good naturally. “It’s not the end of the world. We can make the most of it here, watching movies or maybe play some cards if you’re up to it. I can cancel the dinner with Rooster too if you’d rather.”
Maverick’s eyes widened. He had completely forgotten they had invited their son over for a birthday dinner. It was a tradition ever since Rooster had come to live with them. Cancelling it now felt nearly impossible, like the entire world would shatter if they didn’t go through with it. No matter how sick Maverick was, he couldn’t bring himself to even consider doing that to Rooster.
“No, no, please,” Maverick practically begged as he scrambled to sit up, body howling in protest. “I-I’m fine. Just exaggerating like always. I’m alright.”
Ice frowned and set his coffee down before drawing closer to his lover. He sat down beside him and lifted a hand to his brow. Maverick eased into his touch with his eyes closed in bliss, longing to stay like this with Ice forever.
“You’re a little warm,” Ice assisted.
Before Maverick could formulate a response, he took in a shaky breath and turned away from Ice into his shoulder. “HShs’Shshs! Hrsh’SHsh! HsSH’ShSH! HRsh’SHsh!”
“Jesus, bless you!”
Maverick tried not to show how much the fit drained him as he blinked his eyes slowly. He could already feel the heaviness in his sinuses and worried that if he spoke, his voice would match the congestion. Instead, he gave a slight nod of his head in acknowledgement of his husband’s words. He also feared any slight vibration would send him off on another fit, one that may be even worse than the one prior.
“Here. Your nose is running.”
Embarrassment swamped through Maverick as Ice rushed off to find him another box of tissues. He had made quick work of the meager supply he had gathered to night prior and he could only use his wrist to clean himself up as shame mixed with the fever to cause his head to pound.
Ice arrived back quickly, tissues in hand. Maverick practically tackled him to grab them, the soft pillowy texture soothing against his irritated nostrils. He wouldn’t go so far as to saying that it was pleasant, but he knew this was the best that he could expect from what they had at home.
The bed dipped as Ice slipped down beside Maverick. He looped an arm around the pilot’s neck and pulled him close and kiss the top of his head. “Happy Birthday, Mav.”
“No,” Maverick pouted as he weakly pushed Ice aside. “I don’t want to get you sick.”
“Honey,” Ice began sympathetically. “We’ve shared the same bed since we both got back on leave. If I’m going to catch it, I would’ve caught it by now. You’re just going to have to admit that I have a better immune system than you.”
Maverick waggled a finger in his direction as he rubbed at his nose with his other than. “No way! You had that bug back…..back in what? Right after Top Gun?”
Ice reached out and rested his hand on Maverick’s thigh, giving it a tight squeeze. “Mav, sweetheart, that was years ago. Are you trying to say you don’t remember being sick a couple months ago?”
Now that was a memory that Maverick had tried hard to forget. He had caught the flu from Bradley when he had gone to visit him at his old apartment, and when he came home, spent the rest of the week in bed puking his guts out. A fever had ravaged his body and left him weak and incoherent. There were only bits and pieces that he still remembered with Ice filling in the rest. The last thing he wanted was a repeat, no matter the facade he tried to show.
“Course I remember. But that doesn’t mean I have a shitty immune system.”
Ice let out a resigned sigh. “I don’t want to argue with you on your birthday, sweetheart, especially when you’re not feeling well.”
The reminder of his birthday brought a whole new rush of emotions to the surface. Frustration and annoyance were at the forefront, quickly followed by disappointment and longing.
“But we had things planned,” Maverick began to protest until his lungs seized and he doubled over, coughing towards his lap. The tightness in his chest seemed to spread to his throat and he was left trembling with each harsh breath.
Ice was there in a moment, easing Maverick forward and cupping his hand before thumping the heel of his palm against his broaden back. Pain spasmed with each touch, though the pressure began to loosen some of the congestion, enough for him to swallow it down and feel his ears pop from the force.
When the fit passed, Maverick was still gulping for breath. Tears brimmed in the corners of his eyes, threatening to fall if he so much as blinked. So this was how things were going to go? Congestion and fever was bad enough but now he had a wicked cough to contend with too.
Upon seeing Maverick clearly pouting, Ice stole another kiss against his temple. The heat there felt as though it was only rising and he struggled not to state the obvious. “How about we move you into the living room and we have a movie marathon?”
“Movie marathon?”
“Yeah, we can watch whatever you want.”
Maverick raised an eyebrow. “Even the original Star Trek series from the beginning?”
Ice rolled his eyes good-naturally. “Sure, whatever you’d like. Though, I highly doubt you’ll be able to stay awake long enough to make it through much of it.”
“And then are you going to put on golf or some shit?”
Ice nudged Maverick playfully, stormy eyes shinning in amusement as Maverick lashed out back. The two ended up rolling on top of each other on the bed, attempting to pin each other down to no avail. Ice managed to hold Maverick under him, the smaller man’s chest heaving with each breath as he attempted to nip at Ice’s neck. Ice drew back every time Maverick came close, inching forward and back just to see that wicked look in his lover’s eyes.
The moment passed almost immediately as Maverick’s face took on a stricken expression. Ice hardly had time to process what was wrong when Maverick bucked forward and attempted to twist away, body noticeably tensing. “Hrshs’SHsh! HRshs’SHsh! Hrshs’SHsh! Dabbit!”
Ice immediately recoiled, more in horror than disgust. He rolled off of Maverick and landed on his side on the edge of the bed while Maverick fumbled around for the tissue box with one hand, attempting to cover his nose with the other.
When he finally found the box, he ripped a few tissues free and held them over his nose, blowing harshly multiple times until he could speak without his words becoming muffled. It would do neither of them any good if they couldn’t understand Maverick when he spoke.
“Mav, I’m sorry. I—“
“You’re sorry? I’m the one that’s spreading my germs all around. Why are you apologizing?” Maverick voice gave way to another cough, this time not as forceful, but just as painful.
Ice frowned as he pulled Maverick close until the fit passed. The Top Gun graduate seemed in worse shape than he realized and whatever plans he had made for the day would have to be moved. He tried not to show his own disappointment as holidays and birthdays were rarely celebrated on the day because of the Navy. This was one of the first times they would be able to do so and to have it hijacked by a virus was unfortunate to say the least.
Another moment passed that was broken by Maverick’s faint sniffling as he furiously rubbed at his nose. “Damnit, it still itches. This is worse than that time we drove through Indiana last year on my bike.”
Ice was brought back to a memory that he would soon rather forget. Despite how uncomfortable he had been the entire journey trying to care for a helplessly allergic Maverick and a time constraint to get back for deployment, he had to admit that anytime spend with his husband couldn’t be all bad.
“Then come on. I have some herbal tea that should help with that.” Ice was already on his feet and halfway out of the room before Maverick realized he was gone.
“Hey, don’t leave me,” Maverick called as he forced himself to shaky feet, tissue box held surely against his chest. He couldn’t help but grab the corner of the more decorative blanket that Ice always draped across the foot of the bed. It strayed across the ground as Maverick shuffled against Ice, smothering a few hefty coughs into the crook of his allow. His face screwed in concentration as he headed down the hallway on his way to the living room.
Halfway there, he took a break as he leaned against the wall. His attention drifted upwards to a cluster of photos on the wall. There were their academy pictures as well as a few from deployment. Maverick’s favorite still was nestled in the middle; a picture of himself and Ice on their wedding day. It had been a small and private affair and had been kept mostly under wraps for fear of how everyone would react. Still, Maverick couldn’t have been happier and to always have that picture in the center of their home always constituted a stop to remember the day.
“Mav? You alright?”
Maverick shook his head to clear it, nearly falling over in the process. “Coming,” he wheezed back, blanket continuing to trail behind him as he managed the next couple steps to the living room.
He debated on the armchair or the couch before settling on the couch. There was more room to spread out and Ice could join him if he wanted, though Maverick swore to himself that he would at least try to keep Ice away. No matter what the other pilot said, Maverick knew that he would feel terrible if he ended up catching this from him.
“Still stuck on Star Trek, old man?”
Maverick twisted his head to the side to see Ice coming towards him with an extra pillow and blanket in hand. He offered a wicked grin that reminded Maverick why he fell in love with him all over again.
“Old man? But I’m younger than you,” Maverick protested.
Ice threw the pillow down before slumping down beside Maverick. He drew the blanket over his shoulders before folding the one Maverick had over his legs in case he grew colder. “With the taste of an old man,” Ice tested as he kissed Maverick’s brow. “But, for your birthday I suppose I can manage.”
Maverick had to fight the urge to pull Ice close and kiss him silly. It was so rare that the two of them had leaves that overlapped that he almost forgot what that felt like. He wanted to hold Ice close and feel his heartbeat in sync with his. Why did this virus have to have such a hold on him?
“How noble of you.” Maverick suddenly broke off to cough over his shoulder, attempting to shield Ice from it as much as possible. He noticed Ice shift away and he felt his loss almost instantly. “Where are you going?”
“To get your tea,” Ice called over his shoulder.
Maverick wanted to grump back how he wanted Ice himself, not tea, but immediately thought better of it. Ice was only trying to help, and it would throw his husband into a fit if he wasn’t able to do something to help. He could survive without the other pilot for a few minutes, surely.
A few minutes felt like a lifetime and Maverick was about to drag himself off the couch to go in search of him when the lights overhead begin to dim. He looked around blankly, twisting in his tangle of blankets until he saw Ice creeping forward from the corner of his vision. The blonde haired pilot stepped forward slowly, a plate in hand as a small cupcake set in the center while a candle flickered on top.
“Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday dear, Maverick.” Ice’s smile grew broader as he sat down beside Maverick. “Happy birthday to you.”
Maverick wasn’t sure he had ever heard Ice sing before, at least not on his own and he couldn’t help but grin along with him. Seeing the small cupcake, red velvet by the looks of it, nearly had him forgetting his current predicament.
“Make a wish,” Ice encouraged as the candle continued to flicker. “If anyone deserves it, it’s you.”
Maverick turned away shyly, heat rising in his cheeks that had nothing to do with a potential fever.
“You’ve had a rough year. Don’t think I haven’t noticed how worried you are about Bradley not growing up with his father.” Ice clustered closer to Maverick, the plate that the cupcake rested on still in his hands. “I love you for all that you do and I just want you to know that I see how hard it’s been. But, you don’t have to carry this all by yourself. Just know I’m here.”
Maverick wanted nothing more to confess everything to Ice, to confide in how difficult things really had been. He had often times resorted to harsh comments or sarcasm to express himself, and he knew that had taken a toll on their relationship. Still, Ice had stuck with him every step of the way and Maverick wasn’t always sure how to express that to his lover.
Ice reached out to nudge Maverick lightly. “This candle can’t burn forever. I think it’s time to make a wish.”
Maverick gazed back at the cupcake as his thoughts rushed. While he pondered what his wish could be, his breath suddenly caught. He drew back as far as he could in the small space, elbow over his face as he braced for the inevitable. “HShs’Shshs! Hshsh’Shsh! Hshs’SHs! Hshs’SHsh!” Maverick snuffled hard until he located the tissues and pulled a few free. As he blew his nose, he realized in horror that the candle was no longer lit.
“Shit, did I do that,” Maverick quested as he pointed innocently at the plate.
Ice rolled his eyes. “This is all yours.” He handed over the plate, but not before sneaking a kiss against Maverick’s neck. Maverick giggled as Ice’s subtly tickled his neck before the older pilot pulled away once more. “Okay, now I’m seriously going to grab the tea and you’ll drink all of it or I take your birthday cupcake away.”
“No,” Maverick complained as he held his cupcake close, still sniffling. “You wouldn’t dare!”
A familiar challenge lit in Ice’s eyes. “Try and stop me.”
Maverick longed to issue a challenge of his own, but Ice was already disappearing once more. He gave an amused shake of his head as he dug into the cupcake. It had no taste for him, which he would admit was unfortunate. However, it was the thought that counted and he enjoyed the texture well enough without the taste.
This definitely wasn’t how Maverick expected to celebrate his birthday, but so long as Ice was with him, the circumstances didn’t matter. And that was always something to celebrate.