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Winter offers so many different things. The snow which transformed the environment into a beautiful, winter wonderland. The moments of enjoying a freshly brewed cup of tea, whilst bundled up in a blanket. Relaxing by the warm, cozy fire. This was no different in the town of Geenadavisville. And whilst some families would enjoy their time spent together playing in the snow. There are a few individuals who were unfortunate enough to catch a cold during this time.
In the Opposites household, only two individuals stayed inside. One of them being Korvo, who was currently in the kitchen cooking soup. He occasionally glanced by the window, overviewing the garden. There, Pupa and JK Sevens were in the middle of a snowball match. And so far, the robot had the upper hand. There was always the chance the insectoid child would pull out a snow-thrower to regain the upper hand in the match. Nevertheless, Korvo reminded himself to prepare blankets, hot chocolate and hot oil for the two when they return inside. At least they got lucky to be outside at all.
“KORVO, I'M DYING!” The blue shlorpian sighed, when he heard the whining call from the bedroom, followed by a coughing fit. That was the reason Korvo could not leave the house, he does not want to imagine what Terry would be up to if he wasn't keeping an eye on him. He reached for the walkie talkie and held down the button. “Hold on, honey, soup is ready soon.”
It all started four days ago, when the family went out for grocery shopping. One thing that hasn't changed over the years, is how much Terry enjoyed waiting in lines. On that day, there was a massive sale of various discounted snacks. Therefore the line was exceptionally long. It wouldn't have been too bad if the couple behind them wouldn't have flung their germs around. And the germs landed on the green shlorpian. Which resulted him bedridden with the flu.
Despite the difference between humans and shlorpians, the sickness still influenced the latter. The typical symptoms for the flu were present, minus the stuffed nose. In Korvo's opinion noses were overrated anyway. Breathing through skin was much more efficient. But his train of thought interrupted when Terry got another coughing fit, making it clear how uncomfortable he was.
Korvo turned his attention back to his soup. Before tasting it, he stirred the soup one more time. To make sure it was cooked to perfection. He turned off the stove and filled the bowl with chicken soup, placing it on a tray. Korvo also set aside a brewed sage and honey tea. It wasn't the first time his husband got sick with this awful human sickness, and he too became victim of it a couple of times. Research helped him coming up with helpful recipes and tips to handle a sickness like this.
Carrying the tray in both hands, the blue shlorpian makes his way upstairs, through the hallways and directly to the master bedroom, where he had left the door open for easier entrance.
The room itself was warm, almost quite cozy, given how cold the temperature was outside. Looking over where Terry was laying, one may think it was not the case. Korvo's hearts sank seeing his other half like this. Despite being covered with the thickest blankets they have in the house, Terry seemed shivery and miserable. Just staring at the ceiling, from time to time. He coughed into his elbow, which sounded dry and painful.
Korvo quickly approached the bedside, setting the tray on the nightstand and checking on the green shlorpian's temperature, which was still quite high.
Terry winced and whimpered, clearly uncomfortable with his current state. Korvo's hand reaches toward his husband. He didn't want Terry to be alone again. “Shhh, it's okay, honey. I'm here.” Korvo rubbed his husband's hand, giving him a gentle look. “I made you tea. Give it a moment, before you can drink it. It will help you with your sore throat.”
It was useless to scold and remind him of his mistake to get too close to sick people, so he resorted to just be there for his lifemate. He quickly retrieved a chair to set it next to the bed, as to not having to stand around all the time, and to properly take care of his husband.
Terry wanted to remark but only managed to have another coughing fit. Korvo placed on his hand onto Terry's chest and the other underneath his head. Terry flinched by the movement but allowed Korvo to prop him into a sitting position. Every part of his limbs ached, but knew it was necessary to sit upright for the moment.
There Korvo grabbed the cup of tea and blew the beverage a few times, before offering it to Terry. “Here...drink it slowly, alright?” The green shlorpian nodded, taking several, careful sips from the sage tea. The first few gulps were quite painful, but over time the beverage, combined with the honey, helped soothe his sore throat. Through all this, he felt his head being patted by his husband's hand, which helped him calming down.
Once Terry finished the tea, Korvo placed the cup back onto the tray. And took out the bowl of chicken soup. Meanwhile, Terry leaned against the headboard, simply watching his husband and already expected what was about to happen next. Another cough ruptured from his throat. Terry turned away as he didn't want to startle Korvo. It must've taken a lot of time for his lifemate to make him soup. And it would be a shame if he'd drop it. Besides that, Terry wished that Korvo would stay by his side longer, because he doesn't want to be left alone.
Korvo waited patiently for the coughing to stop, before using the spoon to scoop up the soup, carefully blowing to cool it off a little. “You okay to eat?” Korvo inquired his husband, wanting to make sure that he doesn't have to cough again. Terry nodded silently.
He proceeded to spoon-feed Terry with the chicken soup, always making sure his husband takes it slow. Over the years having to deal with the sickness, this particular soup turned out to be quite helpful to make recovery more effective, and if it's just to rehydrate and warm up from the inside.
Over time the bowl became empty, and with a full belly and some tea to soothe his throat, it would be a matter of time until Terry would go back to sleep. Korvo, putting the bowl on the tray, was about to get up, when a hand weakly held on his sleeve, not intending to let go, followed by a whimpering noise.
“Don't...leave...” Terry's voice was raspy from all the coughing, as he pleaded to his lifemate. “Don't...want...be...alone...” His pupils dilated and the corner of his mouth twitched. Korvo hesitated in his tracks, on one hand wanting to bring the tray back into the kitchen and then checking on Pupa and JK Sevens. But another part of him doesn't want to leave just yet. Not when his husband was extra fidgety while fighting the flu. This happened every time, and this moment was no different.
With a sigh, Korvo changed his mind and gave Terry a couple of head pats, and had to remind himself that kissing was prohibited for the time being, or else he would catch the sickness himself, and he clearly was not in the mood having to listen to any of AISHA's tirades regarding being around sick humans. He instead resorted on giving a kiss on his hand, then blowing it towards the green shlorpian, who smiled weakly and caught it, placing it on his mouth.
“I'll get up to change into my sleepwear. I'm not going to leave the room,” The blue shlorpian quickly said before getting up, approaching the wardrobe and changing his current outfit to his usual, striped nightdress. While he was at it, he discovered one of the ship's manuals that he had forgotten to bring back to the ship one time. An idea sparked in his head as he picked up the manual and walked back to the bed.
As Korvo settles on the soft, welcoming bed sheets, Terry slid closer to him and waited for him to get comfortable on the bed. When the blue shlorpian pat the side of the bed, his husband saw it as an invitation, and lied his head on his chest, being able to hear all three of his hearts beating. That was another thing that became helpful over the years, where Korvo takes care of his sick spouse and what manages to distract him from his ailment, at least temporary.
Opening up a random page of the manual, Korvo began to read aloud, cradling Terry in his arms. Just as he was reading a few paragraphs about repairing the neutronium core, the family leader heard loud snores with an occasional, satisfying hum. Korvo caught a glimpse of Terry falling asleep and holding on him, managing a gentle smile when he saw how calm the Pupa expert was in that moment.
Being like this, taking in the peacefulness of the moment, Korvo realized that he wouldn't be able to get away without waking his lifemate. No, Terry would need the sleep to recover from the flu. Besides that, it is most likely that Korvo would catch the sickness anyway, with how close he is to his beloved. There was not much to do right now, and his child would still be fully invested in the snowball match with their robot companion. Pupa would let him know if they needed anything.
Therefore Korvo remained in bed and continued reading the manual to his sleeping husband. In about two days he might have the same symptoms as Terry, but at least then they can both suffer together. AISHA be damned!