“I’m already too cool to catch a cold.”

         Even the worst, muddiest rains were warm and climatic with Hobie by your side.

London, especially in autumn, turned out to be the rainiest hole in this corner of The Multiverse. It was raining for three days straight now. Cold and windy outside, not to mention the fact that city looked pretty much achromatic – black and white. Like a scene from first ever movies. Any and every normal person would obviously stay home with a cup of something warm to drink and maybe a book for a proper vibe.

But not you and Hobie.

You two – mostly Hobie – decided that this is better than any opportunity to cause some mess around the city. Unfortunately for both of you, that brilliant idea illuminated you before checking if the weather was going to get any worse.

It did.

The streets turned into rivers and anything further than 20 meters got lost in the fog. Only thing worth looking at from the windows turned out to be a pair of punks running through streets, covering themselves from the rain with their jackets (you two). Truly a proper „teenage dirtbag” moment. You were laughing, yelling something inaudible to each other and constantly looking behind your shoulders, hoping that noone would try and connect you to recent few graffities and undeniable destruction of anti-homeless infrastructure. Not that it was you, of course… Never…

         After a proper cardio of running down the street you two finally got into your apartment. You decided to go there because it was most certainly closer than Hobies boat. And drier. Walking up the staircase you tried your best to somehow squeeze the water out of your clothes, while Hobart pretty much just shook himself dry like a damn dog. “Unhinged” is a good word for him, but you adored him nonetheless – today’s adventure was quite a proof for that since, initially, you were the one against his idea.

At the apartment: first things first; and so – instead of immediately changing into something warm or drying yourselves – you two decided to march straight into the kitchen to make yourselves a full teapot of hot, black tea. Hobie were watching over the boiling water while you went for some dry sweatpants and warm, fuzzy blankets. Then Hobie was the one changing into proper clothes while you got the teas ready. Ultimate cooperation.

The two of you have actually had quite a few of those moments together. Just thoughtlessly working like two perfectly aligned cogs in a clock. Not to mention the countless times you said something at the same time, figured something out at the exact same moment, looking at each other with that “aha!” look or getting the same (usually stupid) ideas. Having a friend like this is such a treasure, isn’t it?

         While Hobie was already setting the couch and blankets ready for a proper sleepover, you fought with yourself to carry the teas into the livingroom. Constant sneezing made it almost impossible not to shake everything on the tray. Hobie, of course, once noticing immediately walked up to you and carried the tray onto the coffee table. Quickly, with one hand. Sometimes (every time you get reminded) you envy his spider-reflexes.

– Bless ya’, mate. Try ‘n’ not get boogers all ova’ m’cuppa –

Punk spoke with his usual smug smile literally audible in his voice.

– I already spit in it, don’t worry –

You joked right back, but with voice pretty much muffled by runny nose and this weird, heavy pressure at the back of your nose we always feel when sick…

Hobie obviously just let out a deep chuckle but then grasped the thickest blanket just to walk up to you and wrap it around your body like a super-hero cape. He adjusted it a bit to make sure it’s snug and secure on you. Despite you two joking around, upkeeping this light, cool vibe, he somehow had this different spark in his eyes. Something between worry and guilt? You could see it in the way his brows and eyelids raised and furrowed ever so slightly. It was subtle and maybe even unnoticeable for naked eye, but a part of your brain took a note of that

– ‘ere, all comfy, innit? –

As much as you wanted to answer him, you let out another series of sneezes, sounding like something between a spray bottle and a coughing toddler, all to Hobies pure amusement. Only thing that crossed his mind besides your sneezing being hilarious is slight worry about your wellbeing. It wasn’t a big deal of course… Just some sneezes and sniffles. But it’s still his dear one sneezing and sniffling, isn’t it?

– Okay ya’ lil’ bio hazard, let’s get’chu to warmth, eh? –

He added after a moment and basically walked you over to the couch. You immediately sat down and wrapped yourself up, making a little hood over your head out of the blanket, looking like a godsdamn cartoon character. Hobie couldn’t help but let out a short snort of laugh – pure act of affection in his language.

– Want me to get’chu sum medicines?? Or maybe make you a better cuppa, with the ginger and honey, honey~? –

He said with his voice softening, maybe even lowering a bit to a gentle, worried whisper. All that while squatting on the armrest of the couch, beside you (he was just truly allergic to sitting straight). Despite his posture you couldn’t help but smile authentically at the care in his voice. He may give an impression of intimidating, big-bad punk, but once meeting him closer only the “punk” part stays.

– Nah, it’s okay, Hobbs… I- –

You tried to reassure him, but you got interrupted by your own sneeze. And then another one. And another one. And a few more after those. And then a cough for good measure. The London rain truly got to you and Hobie wasn’t happy about that. His expression shifted even further into an empathetic one, but he quickly shook his head and wrapped another blanket around you – as if that was going to help.

The punk mocked you with overly whiny voice and a smug grin while walking up to your medicine cabinet.

– “Nah, it’s okay, Hobbs”, “nah, I’m jus’ sneezin’ all ova’ the place, Hobbs” –

He took out the necessities and then actually cut up come ginger and oranges to then swing back to you and place the medicine on your table and the tea additions in the tea. He stood tall over you and crossed his arms on his chest.

– C’mon, luv, you know I ain’t gonna let’chu away with this –

You just rolled your eyes with a sniffle and, to Hobies satisfaction and delight, took the medicine and washed it down with bitter tea. Your face cringed into disgust at the taste and you immediately poured to teaspoons of honey into it

– atta dove~ –

He reassured with a big, actual smile – not the smug smirk – and sat down next to you, reaching out to fix the blankets on you. Lil sweetheart… You quickly leaned away with a whine.
– No! Hobie, you’re going to get infected…! –

You protested, turning your face away and squeezing your eyes shut, as if that’s going to help. Hobie just laughed out loud and leaned even closer

– Naah, I know that a sick lil’ dove like you needs ten times the “loves and affectiones” to get better asap~ Besides I’m sure that you’re gonna try ‘n’ work or study tomorrow with a cold. Well, not on my watch you’re not –

He stated with a softness in his voice yet without leaving room for discussion or protests. He just wrapped his enormous wingspan around you and pulled you close against his side, fixing the blankets again to properly cover your feet and neck. You still kept turning away, trying not to even breathe in his general direction.

– You can’t take care of sick me if you’re sick yourself –

You said softly with voice a bit hoarse and muffled, but Hobie gave no ducks about that. Hell, he even huffed in amusement. The audacity…

– Lovie, I’m a human mutate, an arachnid~ Your laws of biology don’t apply to me. Besides… – He murmured a bit lower, with mock, light smugness all over the place – I’m already too cool to catch a cold –

You couldn’t even argue with him. He was just too insufferable and stubborn. And kind of right. You can’t deny that his natural biological processes are incredibly boosted due to spider mutations. You just let out a deep sigh that quickly turned into a chuckle, making Hobie huff as well. Immediately after that you sneezed again which made the punk gave you a reassuring squeeze and raise your tea to your lips

– Drink up, it’s gonna warm ya up from the inside, innit? –

He spoke softly and gently, barely above whisper while you took a loud slurp of hot beverage. You pretty much gave up at this point. There was no reason for you to waste time, words and energy on a bastard as stubborn as Hobart Larry Brown and he was more than delighted to see that. He was humming and smiling all over the place, keeping his arm around you and handing you tea every now and then while forcing himself to watch television “filled with consumerism and distraction from the truth” you turned on.

         After a few long moments of sips, sighs, sneezes and sniffles you added another sound to your assortment – a yawn. Hobie looked down at you with soft eyes and raised his eyebrow at the sight of your half-lidded eyes with purplish bags under them

– Ya tired, luv? –

He asked quietly, pretty much whispering, while leaning a bit to talk right behind your ear. You instinctively wanted to deny, but another yawn cut you from it, making it impossible to argue now. You sniffled and nodded with low, groggy “yeah”.

– Mhm, didn’t take no Sherlock to deduce that, honestly –

He breathed out though a chuckle. You were expecting him to force you to stand up and go to bed or to make you sleep right there and then, but instead he just turned off the tv and scooped you up in a matter of seconds with literally no effort. Like lifting up a small pile of grapes. For first few moments you weren’t even sure if what was happening was actually happening, but it indeed turned out to be the real world instead of some fever dream or cold hallucination.

He stood up, holding you bride style and started walking to your room. In it he slowly lowered you down onto your bed and started to arrange your pillows and plushies in the best way possible for a sick person to sleep in. You just looked up at him, analyzing, reading and trying to figure out what was going in inside his head. But you quickly gave up on that. You generally gave up your own stubbornness tonight and let him take care of you for once. Did you regret it? Surprisingly not.

Hobie made a proper nest out of your bed, making sure you have a source of warmth and fluffiness from each and every side just to then freeze for a moment and look up and down the cozy fort he created. He looked you in the eyes and spoke like a little kid asking mum for more candy

– Ya think I may be of company for you tonight? –

Hobie asked innocently, gently and calmly. As if pretty much pleading instead of suggesting. You just smiled through disbelief. Truly nothing is going to surprise you today about this man. You gave him a slow nod and he immediately brightened up like a star showing up on the night sky for the first time.

He slid into the bed by your side and pull the cover over both of you before wrapping his long, lanky limbs all around you. You could feel the smile basically radiating off of him, despite not seeing his face. You needn’t see it, the mere, childlike rays that made up his “aura” was enough for you to know.

You sniffled a bit more, sneezed right into his shoulder and then sniffled again for good measure before finally wrapping yourself around him as well. You embraced him, encircling your arms around his neck as you nuzzled your face in crook of his neck. You still felt a bit guilty. As if you are actually going to infect him. But, truly, what can you do? There was no point in arguing and even if you’re right, you’re going to have an excuse to say “I told you so”. A win-win situation, isn’t it? Maybe… You couldn’t really tell. You were too sick and tired at the same time to comprehend any logical thought. And it was too comfy in his arms to even want to bother. Tomorrow you’ll worry about stuff...

Tomorrow we'll see how things turn out.