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Astro didn't feel overbearing, sure sometimes he felt he could deploy the capacity to be annoying or smothering but he assumed he was doing the good natured thing and being worried! It was a cold winter day after all.
Evening falls and with it brings subzero temperatures and heavy snowfall, it patters on the Garden View windows laying on thickly and obscuring the little light that could be flickered through. The educational center itself was a chilling degree lower than what it's usually at, lack of proper maintenance had left the building in quite the lackluster state, showing wear in rust and creaky hinges.
Chill hate through his slippers as he shimmied on deeper into the toon rooms. Rodger hadn't left his room yet which threw an odd wrench into his own usual mundane happenings.
The door handle was frosted with cold, even touching it was enough to send a chill down his spine as he turned it gently. "Rodger? Are you awake?" The door eased open.
There in the empty abyss of Rodger's rather messy room, laid a lump tangled in bed sheets on the floor beside the vacant bed. He swallowed his quick onset worry with humor, the idea of Rodger falling out of bed was rather humorous. "You alright? You didn't show up." He stifled a laugh as he approached the bed sheets and blankets.
Rodger let out a displeased groan, obviously upset at being woken up at midday. Sleeping in was one of the qualities Rodger didn't possess, which made this all the more uncommon to witness. Then the pile of blankets and bedsheets began to shuffle as Rodger flipped onto his side to shoot Astro a peeved look past the mound of fluffy blankets.
"It's midday, what are you doing still in bed? Or well, on the floor?" Astro slides down onto his knees, deciding that clearly Rodger didn't seem up to getting up himself. "I'd expect this from myself, but you? Have we traded personalities or something?"
Rodger's eye narrows, he looks thoughtful for a moment. "Midday?" His voice cracks and croaks with disuse, it sounds raspy beyond regular morning timbre, near painful and it makes Astro backtrack quickly.
"Are you sick?" Before Rodger can even think to protest, Astro's hand had already wormed beneath the blankets to check his temperature, recoiling swiftly as a displeased frown tugged on his face. "You're burning up."
"M'fine." Rodger groans, sinking further into the blanket pile to avoid Astro's disbelieving glare and to reap the warmth they provided. "Don't be stubborn, c'mon all those blankets can't be good for you." He begins to try and tear them away from Rodger, earning a startled childish whine.
"Rodger- please, let's get some tea in you." Said toon tries to kick away from Astro's grabby hands and ultimately fails as his legs are tangled in the abundance of blankets leaving him tuckered. "This is beyond your usual stubborn attitude." That earns him another defiant glare as Rodger sniffles.
His magic comes in clutch this time, lulling Rodger to a calmer and complacent version of himself, he tends to keep his magic-use to a bare minimum; he doesn't enjoy the idea of taking agency from ones choices but in such a situation he can't help but not want to deal with Rodger's sudden bout of independence in such a state. Unwrapping the blankets gently he helps Rodger to his feet, making sure he doesn't loose his balance with guiding hands.
Although the initial tussle to get Rodger to vacate the blanket pile was in his eyes, a resounding success, the sight of Rodger slightly shivering was enough for his composure to crack and he forfeited a blanket from the pile to drape over the other toon's shoulders, it wouldn't do him too good on the temperature department but it would help self soothe he supposed as Rodger was only in his rumpled pale blue nightshirt and pants.
"M'fine." Rodger hisses again as Astro's hands gently help guide him out of his room, this time Astro has to bite back a chuckle. "And the sky is green, just because you repeat it doesn't mean i'll be inclined to believe you."
Rodger glares at him, the act is weak but it still brings out a smile out of Astro, how charming. Even in a state of clear sickness, he can't help being stubbornly independent.
"I'll ask Sprout for some medicine, how's that?" He mumbles as they enter the shared communal kitchenette, Rodger nods slowly and lethargically, sleep is still hanging off of him like molasses and it takes obvious effort to keep from falling asleep standing upright.
Astro helps deposit Rodger on one of the chairs near one of the round tables, only hovering to watch as said toon tugs the blanket closer and huddles on the chair. After he believes Rodger is situated, he begins to brew the kettle for some tea, just as Teagan had instructed, a herbal tea with some honey to help combat any lingering sickness and sore throats.
"Well, didn't think i'd see you awake today at all." Vee's sudden appearance startled Astro, giving the kettle a careful glance before turning around to watch Vee meander into the kitchenette, eyeing Rodger whom shared a curious look with her. "I am awake." He deadpanned in that painfully raspy voice.
"Woah, you look and sound like death warmed over." Vee snickered, her tail flicking from side to side as it did whenever she was trying to mask her inner emotions from displaying on her screen. Astro's gaze flickered between Rodger and Vee respectively, trying to gauge why Vee was on this floor in the first place without having to ask.
He opened his mouth to ask but was cut off as a kettle whistle permeated the air, startling him and Rodger in tandem. He whisked around to take the kettle off and top off the mug with hot water, watching it turn brown as it absorbed the tea packet slowly. "M'fine." Rodger exclaimed, his voice cracking and peaking at the last letter.
"Drink." Astro heaved a glob of honey onto a teaspoon and plopped it inside the tea, handing it over to Rodger and making sure the toon didn't drop the mug by accident. Vee watched the interaction with humor in her gaze, a small mischievous smile tugging on her lips.
Astro made sure to scrutinize Rodger as the toon sipped carefully at the rim of the mug, picking the teaspoon out of the cup to lick the honey off. "I hate honey." He bemoans, eye scrunching in displeasure as he deposits the teaspoon back in the tea.
"You sound better already, drink it all." He paused, watching Rodger glare at the tea intermittedly before drinking it, then he turned back to Vee who was rummaging through the cabinets for something. "Vee, could you go ask Sprout for some medicine to combat a cold?"
Vee hums, picking out baking soda from the depths of the cabinet. "Well, i'm already on my way to Sprout so i guess i can cash in that favor of yours." She grins, tail wagging happily. "Thanks. I don't want to go on my own." Astro spares a glance at Rodger who's still cringing at the tea.
"I get it, i get it." She scoops a bag of flour into her hands and closes the cabinet smugly. Astro eyes the ingredients cradled in her arms, from baking soda to flour. "Doesn't Sprout have an entire diner to raid?" He mumbles off handedly.
"Considering we're running low on all stock, not exactly. I mean it's not like the uncommons are baking anything extraordinary."
An awkward lull of silence overtook the conversation, Astro could only refrain himself from berating Vee on her choice of words meanwhile Rodger could only stare in shock. Vee's tail twitched sensing her clear slipup and she backpedaled quickly.
"Sorry." Astro opened his mouth to reply but Rodger beat him to the punch, looking impassive to Vee's comment. "It's fine."
Vee looks incredibly uncomfortable, eyeing the floor as she quickly shuffles out of the kitchenette to abscond the situation.
"You okay?" Astro asks after Vee's tail vanishes behind the wall. Rodger sways and shoots Astro a half hearted glare. "Ask me that again, i swear."
"Eat the honey." He laughs, muffling it with a hand.
Rodger continues to sip at the tea, looking clearly displeased with the taste; as Astro begins occupying himself with making Rodger some breakfast, even if his appetite was close to null better off he get something in Rodger than nothing. "Eggs?"
"I'd rather not." Rodger groans at the mere idea of eating, Astro shoots him a piercing glare. "Pancakes?"
"Fine, eggs." He relinquishes and Astro grins triumphantly. "And you're eating them." He adds quickly, preparing a pan and procuring two eggs from the fridge.
He watches the butter slowly melt on the pan, spreading out to cover the entire base before cracking two eggs dab center in the middle, whisking them up with the edge of the spatula as Rodger didn't eat his unless they where scrambled. Odd choice, but he shrugged.
Slowly and meticulously he placed the scrambled eggs onto a plate laid prepared and dropped the pan back down onto the turned off stove, turning around he found Rodger slumped forwards with his eye closed, probably trying to capitalize on Astro's inattention to reap some extra sleep.
Placing the plated eggs down in front of Rodger he quickly made sure to slip the cup of tea out of Rodger's limp hands before it spilled across the floorboards. Tisha would have his head if that ever happened. "Wake up, you gotta eat." Rodger groaned, glaring through his half lidded eye full of exhaustion.
"Couldn't i opt out?" He rasps, looking queasy at the mention of eating. "No, unfortunately you can't opt out on the very important biological act of consuming nutrients." He pushes the plate closer. "Don't make me feed you like Toodles now."
"Ouch, that stings. My poor dignity." Rodger jokingly huffs, picking up the fork and scooping a fair amount of eggs atop it before shoving it into his mouth.
He chews for a few moments before shoveling more, Astro turns around to pluck the spatula out of the pan and place it into the sink to wash. "I think i'm gonna be sick." He stops, whisks around and watches as Rodger pushes the quarter eaten plate away and huddles in his blanket.
"Where's Sprout when you need him, huh." Astro sighs, shoulders slumping with agitation. "I'll get it myself, first let's get you to lay down somewhere."
He adjusts his own blanket, slipping his arms out to help guide Rodger up and towards the couch poised in the communal living room, Rodger all but falls gratefully against the couch and instantly curls up, pulling the blanket hem over his head.
"Don't suffocate yourself while i'm gone, alright?" He adds with a hint of humor, Rodger audibly groans. "Can't promise anything."
The blanket on his own shoulders slip, he hikes up his shoulders and begins to fall into step but a hand shoots out and grabs the edge of his blanket, making him pause.
"He'll come on his own time, m'tired." Astro stops, staring down at Rodger peeking through his blanket cocoon.
For a moment he rolls the idea around inside his head, giving it some thought. Before a small smile pulls on the edges of his lips and he nods in agreement, the ecstatic upturn of Rodger's eye is worth it as he instantly unrolls his blanket and opens it wide.
Astro drops his own blanket, it would get rather stuffy being cocooned in two thick fluffy blankets and a sick toon pressed against him, and quickly shuffles onto the couch beside him, letting Rodger wrap the blanket around his shoulders and pull him close.
His hands trail up Rodger's back and he pulls Rodger closer towards his chest, listening to his sleepy mumbles as he instantly drifts off, out like a light. He sighs partly in relief and exhaustion, up close he can tell quite clearly Rodger's burning up, he's surprised the toon isn't delirious at this point.
It's hard to find sleep at midday, there's the ever present exhaustion that never leaves his mind amplified by Rodger's close proximity but the day doesn't seem to want to grant him the liberty of sleep. So instead he presses Rodger closer and quietly hums to himself, idly playing with Rodger's limp paws pressing on the pads rhythmically.
To say Sprout's sudden appearance shocks him is an understatement, he flinches hard when Sprout's wild leaves peek over the couch curiously, startling Rodger awake in the process as well. "Mornin'! You called?"
Rodger grumbles dazedly, mumbling something incoherent under his breath as he simply shuffles closer to Astro and ignores Sprout's presence. "Yeah- Mind giving a warning next time?" A teal star drifts over to blow one of Sprout's leaves astray mischievously.
"Well, i tried but you where checked out completely. Starin' at the wall and everything, i thought you where the sick one to be honest." Sprout laughs, gently brushing his bundle of leaves back into place from where they had been disturbed. Astro frowns.
"Sorry, time must've slipped my mind." He sighs, hands still pressing against Rodger's paw pads repeatedly. "You can say that again, same thing happens to me when Cosmo and i hang out, it's no biggie." Sprout rounds the couch, lazily leaning over them to peer down at Rodger.
Astro opens his mouth to interject but stops as Sprout's hand shoots out to check Rodger's temperature, quickly recoiling to be replaced with a curious hum. "Yeah, he's definitely burning up. Even worse considering we have a run scheduled in two days, i don't think this'll break in time. Might have to postpone."
He drops into silence as Sprout rubs his chin thoughtfully, glaring at the floorboards deep in thought. "I could give him some cough medicine, i think we have spare ibuprofen or Tylenol, i brought a few boxes with me." He disappears behind the couch again.
Although it's begun getting a bit uncomfortable, being so closely pressed against a feverish toon he couldn't bring himself to detach. "Did he manage to hold anything down?" He hears Sprout call from the kitchen, tinkering with glass. "A few bites of egg, that's all really."
"Keep him hydrated, probably don't bundle him up that much and here-" Sprout quickly weaves over towards the couch, a glass of water in his offhand while the other placed two boxes down on the coffee table in front of Astro. "Give him one dose when he wakes up, i'm assuming in a bit but if not wake him up in an hour or so, then give the second dose in five hours."
Astro stares blankly as Sprout commands without pause, the jumble of medical jargon goes in one hear and falls out the other without comprehension, but he knows the basics well enough not to be tutored through it again.
"Yeah." He dismisses quickly before Sprout can manage to run himself into a tangent again. Sprout bashfully turns to evade his gaze, obviously embarrassed from loosing himself in his own information spew. "Well! I'm off, get better soon!" He aims the last part towards Rodger who barely notices his presence in his dazed state.
A quiet pair of footsteps fade as Sprout absconds down the hallway, leaving them both curled up on the couch. Rodger's close proximity begins to finally chip at his exhaustion, slowly whittling away at his consciousness until he's left absentmindedly fiddling with the ribbon tied to Rodger's handle whilst trying to keep himself awake.
It doesn't work as intended, and he slowly drifts off to the feeling of Rodger's breathing ghosting against his neck.
"I didn't think i'd have to reiterate that to you." Sprout scolds lightly, handing him a lukewarm glass of water and a pill right after. Astro frowns, sending Sprout an annoyed glare followed by a sneeze, he's a bit grateful for the water for his parched throat.
"Now you're sick too. Great, really really great."
"No regrets." He grins as Sprout guffaws, spluttering as a shocked look of agitation flashes across his face. "Well Gardenview still needs you! That's two down for the count, who knows what'll happen during the next run without you both?"
"I've placed my faith in worse stakes, i think you'll be fine without us. S'not like we can do anything special that can't be replaced by another extractor." He rolls his eyes, leaning closer to Rodger and resting his head against Rodger's.
"Morale and your silly little stamina shtick is extremely useful! Gosh, we'll have to quarantine you both. I can't trust Goob not to hug you two or Brightney to get the funny idea of still having book club with two sickly toons."
He waves off Sprout's concerns, it's not that he doubts this viral bug will spread with contact, he just doesn't see the danger in letting them both sit out a single run. A loss to Sprout maybe, but to him seems like a perfect excuse to sleep through alarms with Rodger instead of waking up early to lug himself around like a portable stamina pool for twenty floors.
"Stay in your rooms. Please. I need to head off soon, i trust you two wont be gallivanting out there infecting everyone." Sprout stresses, quickly rising from his seat at the living room on the loveseat. "You remember what i said about the ibuprofen i assume, keep to it."
"Yes." He deadpans, finally downing the pill and placing the half empty glass of water onto the nightstand beside the couch, carefully adjusting Rodger in his hold to curl up comfortably on the couch. "I'll tell the rest to steer clear of you two ticking time bombs."
He ignores Sprout for the rest of the way, pulling Rodger closer and wrapping his arms around the toon's shoulders and waist. He listens to Rodger mumble something unintelligible before falling back asleep, focusing on the feeling of warmth radiating off of them both.
Was it stupid to cuddle up with a sick person? Yeah. He couldn't help it though, leaving Rodger on the couch for the entire day by himself just didn't strike him as the right thing to do.