Work Text:
-Sorry Babe, working OT again : (-
He didn’t feel good about it, lying to Leo like this, but he could only feel so guilty as he sent the text before burying himself under his blankets again.
Leo was just too sweet for his own good and was, self admittedly even, a giant mother hen. If he heard that it wasn’t that Casey was just working too much to stop by currently and figured out that it was actually because Casey was too sick to stand for more then a few minutes at a time? Well, Leo would be over here in a heartbeat, fussing over him and trying to nurse him back to full health.
While that was a cute image to think about, Leo fretting over him, handfeeding him soup, keeping close by and snuggling with him until Casey made a miraculous recovery, he had no interest in having Leo here when he was actually sick. He didn’t want to run the risk of his baby coming over here to take care of him and then getting sick in turn. It was rare that Leo ever got sick sure, but when he did get sick he got sick-sick. Worst then, his bros would fuss over him the whole time and then they would get sick and then Leo would fuss over them and-
Yeah, it was a vicious endless cycle that Casey would prefer to keep his boyfriend from suffering under.
So, miserably, he curled himself into a tighter ball, sniffling through his woes and hugging his pillow closer to his chest. Cuddling his fake Leo would have to do for now. He could ride it out a little while longer.
When his phone vibrated, Casey dragged it up to his face, squinting into the bright light as he tried to make out what was right in front of him while his vision tilted and swirled.
-It’s okay Jones, I’m glad you’ve been getting so many shifts lately. I know you said you needed them. I’ll see you later. I love you. -
Snickering at Leo’s insistence to use full sentences and proper grammar even through text Casey smiled at his phone fondly.
“Dork.” The insult was whispered with nothing but pure gooey fondness, his heart swelling as he went through the struggle of typing back.
-Love you too Blue <3 c u soon -
Mourning just how far away ‘soon’ was, Casey pouted as he hugged his pillow closer, all set for just sleeping the rest of his day away.
At least until he heard a familiar ding.
A ding that was much- much to close.
“Maybe sooner then you think Jonesy.”
“BABE!?”
Shooting up, Casey twisted himself towards the lovely voice of his boyfriend.
Only for his vision to spin out, and white static to fill his eyes as everything went white.
“Whoa.” He mumbled, sticking his hand out, catching himself before he could topple over and off his bed. “Head spins.”
A hand touched his shoulder, gently rocking him onto his back again. “Easy Jones,” Leo murmured. “Try not to make any sudden motions.”
“I know, I know, I just- wait! Leo! What are you doing here!?” Now that the world was coming back to him from the blur of colour it was before and the pounding in his head had subsided, Casey shoved a persistent shove against his shoulder. “You need to go! Go on! Shoo Babe! I love you too much to make you suffer! Be gone! Respectfully.”
Making sure to tact that on at the end in case Leo thought he was being a little to mean, Casey blinked when he finally noticed something.
Leo’s mask was arched upwards, and Casey could basically see the amused grin on his face as Casey just… stared at him in wide eyed surprise because-,
“Are you wearing a mask?”
“I wear a mask every day.” Leo answered, Casey frowning at the shit-eating grin of his tone.
“Cheeky.” He mumbled, before reaching out and poking Leo’s cheek, and the stiff material covering it. “Not ninety-fives you don’t.”
Leo snickered at him, grabbing the hand at his cheek and cradling it softly in his own. “True. I thought taking some precautions might be a good idea before I came over.”
“Aw.” Casey cooed, leaning his head on Leo’s shoulder, wrapping his arms around him loosely, enjoying the warmth of the real Leo over the green coloured pillow he’d been snuggling for days. “That’s so sweet Babe.”
Leo chuckled at his praise, stroking his hand over Casey’s hair, Casey feeling briefly self conscious about it as he tried to remember when the last time it was that he’d had enough energy to take a shower and if Leo was grossed out by how greasy it must have been. If Leo was disgusted by it though he didn’t say anything and eventually Casey allowed himself to relax further against his spicey little fighter.
At least until he realized something else…
“Wait, how did you know I was sick?”
Instead of answering him right away, Leo shifted them on the bed, getting them both under the blankets before pulling Casey close, resuming his gentle head pets as Casey allowed himself to all but melt against the solid form of his boyfriend.
He never thought he was much of muscle guy when it came to his partners. Sure, he loved building muscle, and he liked the look of it, but he didn’t give much thought to how strong his past partners were. At least until he met Leo. He liked Leo’s muscles. He liked them, a lot.
Distracted from his own question as he traced his fingers over the swell of Leo’s bicep while he rested his cheek against a strong shoulder, Casey was almost confused about what Leo was talking about when he spoke again.
“Raph and I were running patrols in the neighbourhood yesterday and I though I’d stop by to visit you before going home, buuut you weren’t there.” As Leo spoke, he poked at Casey’s cheek with every word near the end.
“Oof.” Casey mumbled, grabbing Leo’s hand and cradling it in his own. “Busted.”
“Very much so.” Leo hummed, his hand moving back to Casey’s hair. “I thought maybe they’d decided to let you go early for whatever reason and came here. To see you curled up and shaking in bed.” Leo’s voice had gone flat. “You’re sick.”
Knowing there was no point in denying it Casey let out a long sigh. “Yeah.” He admitted. “Been sick a few days now.”
“Jones.” His name was sighed out softly, Leo pulling him in closer. “Why didn’t you tell me? Have you been getting enough liquids? Food? When was the last time you had a real meal?”
Warmed by his boyfriend’s concern even if he knew he was being gently scolded, Casey figured he owned him at least a little bit of an explanation. “I didn’t want you to catch it. I don’t like seeing you sick, and then the guys always end up getting sick after your done being sick, and then you help them and get sick again and- I just, I know you hate being sick and I figured I could tough it out for a few days without you though it’s suuuuucked not being able to see you ever day.”
“I agree,” Leo mumbled, tucking his head close to Casey’s. “I’ve missed you.”
“Aw,” Casey cooed, his throat tightening with a cough he refused to let out, his voice going high in an effort to keep it contained. “I’ve missed ya too Bab-,”
He lost, removing himself from Leo’s hold and rolling over so he wasn’t coughing all over his loved one.
As he struggled to breath through the fit he was suffering from, a hand came to his back, rubbing soothing circles across his skin. He couldn’t say anything for a moment, but the second it passed, and he was able to flop over on his back he did give a sheepish smile to Leo. “Thanks Blue.”
He felt bad at the way Leo’s mask furrowed, his ridges pinching in worry as watched him back. Staring at the mask firmly placed over his mouth and nose, Casey squirmed away from him a little more.
“The mask was a cute idea Babe,” he said, grabbing Leo’s hand and squeezing it. “But I’m worried it won’t work as well as you think it will, and I really don’t want cha getting sick.”
“I’ll be fine Jones.” Casey knew he was tried and drained from his lack of energy lately, but he didn’t think it would be so easy for Leo to drag him back to rest against him again. “And I’m not going anywhere, so you might as well rest instead of argue. I can make you some food after you’ve had a nap.”
“You do want me to get better, right?” He snickered, earning a light tap to the back of his head. “Ooow- Blue!”
“Bed. Now.” Leo mumbled, placing a quick kiss to Casey’s forehead. “I’ll ask Raph to bring us some food later.”
Deciding that there really wasn’t any point in trying to get Leo to leave, his badass baby could be a stubborn little shit when he wanted to be, Casey clung to him instead, enjoying the warmth that Leo brought to his life.
“I told you it wasn’t going to be enough.”
“Ugh, hush.” Casey chuckled when Leo’s hand lazily lifted to clamp over his mouth, continuing to rub his hand over the mutant’s back as he tucked himself closer to Casey. “It was a good idea.”
“Uh huh.” He agreed to humor him, making himself comfortable as he pulled the blanket up closer to Leo’s chin. “Get some sleep Babe.”
Though Casey felt bad about how Leo had gotten sick, he couldn’t deny that he wasn’t to upset about the fact that Leo had decided to stay at Casey’s until he was better to make sure he wouldn’t get his brothers sick.
Still on the tail ends of his own illness but feeling much better than he’d been in days, Casey had no problem being the one to comfort Leo through the worst of it.
Smiling down at Leo who was barely able to pay attention to his favorite Space Heroes episode on Casey’s laptop as his eyes kept drooping, Casey placed a kiss against the top of his hand. “Just rest up Babe, I’ve got ya.”
Leo hummed sleepily, finally allowing his eyes to close as he snuggled closer to Casey.
Figuring it would do him some good to get some sleep too, Casey settled back, pulling Leo closer, his eyes slipping closed as he let the low murmur of his boyfriend’s favorite show wash over them both.
If this is how sick days were going to be going forward, he didn’t think he’d mind suffering from them every once and awhile.