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It was a cold December day. James just returned from his tour and was hanging out with Will after not having seen his friend in a good 2 months.
The duo got some coffee and sat on a bench by the Brighton seaside. Will always says he hates Brighton but in secret he actually kind of liked it. That might just be because James lived there so he connected the city to his dear friend of 7 years. The cold sea wind blew across their faces, giving their cheeks a soft pink tint.
A light water droplet hit Wills nose „James mate, I think its starting to rain“ he said looking at the sky, another rain drop hitting right in his eye „ow“ he complained. James chuckled at the other mans silly reaction „oh get over yourself it’s water“ James replied mocking Will. „Oh yea says you you big buffoon with your fancy glasses. I hope they get so full with rain drops you can’t see anymore“ he replies grumpy with sarcasm.
Mocking the other is a core part of their friendship and Will is always grumpy. He’s made to be a grumpy old man complaining about everything and everyone.
As the rain picks up the duo speeds to James’ flat. James was more lucky, wearing a thick coat that is waterproof, while Will was wearing a non waterproof jacket that was on top of everything quite thin.
By the time they reached James’ flat he was soaked from top to bottom, shivering. The rain just kept getting worse as it smashed against the old windows of James’ flat. Will looked out while hanging his wet clothes up, „mate I’m not going back out there, not for a million quid. I’ll crash here tonight“ he announced not even waiting for James’ approval. He knows he’ll be ok with it. After Will finished hanging up almost every piece of clothing he wore he tiptoed to James’ bedroom, rummaging though the musicians wardrobe for his sweatpants and a hoodie. He was still very cold and his damp hair curled slightly at the corners.
„Here you go“ James smiled, placing a hot tea in front of Will, who was now curled up in a blanket on James’ sofa. „Are you good? You look like you’re not well“ he almost instantly noticed something was off. „yea na mate all fine, just very cold and a bit unwell. Think I’ll call it an early night“ he mumbled sipping on his tea.
Now, Will really didn’t want to fall asleep on the sofa but the light was so dim and he was so tired and he really hasn’t been paying attention to the movie and he had cuddled up against James’ chest for warmth and he was just so comfortable. James only noticed that Will fell asleep when he felt his phone drop in his lap. He turned off the tv and moved really carefully. The last thing James wanted to do was wake up Will.
The musician places one arm around Will’s neck and the other around his knees picking him up. He was surprised what a lightweight Will was, then again he’s been really going at it at the gym. James carefully carried him trough the hallway, biting his lip and squinting his eyes as he accidentally bumped Will’s foot in the wall. „Shit“ he whispered as he felt the Geordie shift in his arms, to his luck he didn’t wake up. James ended up successfully placing Will on the bed and getting him under the blanket.
He got himself ready for bed and placed both their phones on charge before crawling into bed next to Will, feeling the other man immediately shift towards him the minute he settled into bed. In the end Will’s head was once again on James chest with one arm slung around his stomach while James had his arm around Will’s back settling on his side. James slightly felt the immense heat radiating off Will, and not the normal type. Will was starting to heat up.
The next morning Will was awoken early in the morning by a throbbing headache and sneezed the second he opened his eyes. He noticed he was laying on James but didn’t pay much attention to that, caring much more about the weird feeling in his throat and the inability to breath trough his nose. Another sneeze shook his entire body, this time waking up James. „Oh“ he sniffled „sorry didn’t mean to wake you up lad“ he mumbled, voice raspy from sleep and sickness. „You don’t sound well“ James mumbled, voice also deep and raspy, just sounding less sick and more like he just woke up, which he did. „Wow, can’t hide nothin from you Sherlock“, Will joked getting off of James’ torso. „Na mate you’re right though, I ain’t doin to well.“ He spoke up being shook by yet another sneeze attack after finishing his sentence, followed by a coughing fit. „Yea I'm not letting you on a train today mate, you’re staying here“ James declared getting out of bed to get the fever thermometer. Returning from his bathroom and shoving it under Will’s tongue. „So what I'm just supposed to take over your bed till I'm better, I'm an adult I can-„ he was interrupted by another coughing fit „take care of myself“ he finished his sentence as the thermometer beeped. Will took it out looking at it, James leaned over so see as well. 39 degrees celsius (102.2 F for you US weirdos), „yes, you are.“ James answered grabbing the thermometer from Will’s hand and getting back up to put it back. „I’ll make some breakfast any wishes?“ James asked returning. He wasn’t even awake for 10 minutes and has already declared himself Will’s personal nurse. „Just make something that’s edible“ Will mumbled getting out of bed and leaving for the bath.
He looked at himself in the mirror. His hair was a mess, curly strands standing off in every corner. His face had barely any color in it and he looked very much visibly sick. Another loud cough rang trough the flat. Will bowed down while coughing ending up on the floor holding onto the sink as it felt like he was coughing out his entire lung, feeling snot that was previously lodged in his throat collect in his mouth. „are you good Will?“ A worried voice rang trough the door. „Yea-„ another cough „all- all good“ he stuttered, being constantly interrupted by coughs.
James placed a hot milk with honey in front of Will on the kitchen table. The Geordie held his head in his hands looking off into the distance, shivering. He felt like he was gonna die. „uuuuuurgh“ he dragged the sound „what“ James replied from the kitchen, making toasts for the both of them. „so unwell?“ Will simply nodded in response going right back to holding his head as the shaking send a dizziness wave trough him. „Go back to bed mate you look bad“ James spoke up seeing will half laying on the table. A grumpy grumble came out of Will as he slowly shuffled across the floor back to James’ bedroom. Back in bed, Otto came to rest on Will’s lap. „Well aren’t you a funny boy“ he whispered, voice raspy before coughing again thinking he’s gonna throw up. When he settled back against the pillow with Otto rolled up against him he slowly fell asleep.
James returned in the late afternoon, having left around mid day for the studio. He came armed with snacks, dinner and medicine. Pain killers for the headaches and cough syrup to stop Will from coughing out his lungs. He entered his bedroom seeing Will curled up in a cocoon of blankets with Otto snuggled against him, both asleep. Something about this was so domestic, his sick best friend snuggled up against his cat in his bed, he felt a weird sensation in his stomach but brushed it off.
Within the next few days, Will got better and better. Staying at James’ place until he was well again and wasn’t almost dying at 3am from a coughing fit. Throughout this time James stayed by his side, declining plans with his friends and even pushing back some studio sessions to be by Will’s side during the very bad days. It was a wonder James didn’t get sick himself considering he spend every night and most of the day with Will snuggled up against him while he coughed out his lungs and sneezed away every bit of his nose.
At the end of the day, what they learned was that rain is mean, Otto knows when someone is unwell and James is a really good caretaker.