a little H/C cold snzario (with many possible directions) that's been on my mind lately...
A, who is determined not to let B in on the fact that they are coming down with a cold, ultimately failing to fully hide their slowly worsening symptoms over the course of several hours/days...but accidentally succeeding when B just assumes A's "allergies are acting up again." (Maybe B has articulated this outright to A, or maybe they have just kept it to themselves)
For whatever reason -- perhaps A knows B will make a fuss if they're sick, perhaps B has a thing about contagion, perhaps a secret third thing? -- A does not correct them. Perhaps A even doubles down on trying to prove that they're "fine" or "not sick" by trying to sniffle as quietly as possible, attempting to muffle/stifle every sneeze, doubling their caffeine intake to combat the fatigue that's settling in, and generally biting off more than they can chew.
Perhaps, this little misunderstanding goes on for days, leaving B increasingly baffled/frustrated that A is seemingly refusing to acknowledge or take something for their allergies (which B knows A can usually pretty easily manage with medication).
and now, to add some H/C (choose your own adventure style):
At some point, B gets so annoyed by A's constant (despite their best attempts) sniffling and sneezing that B eventually snaps: "Oh my god, A. Will you just take a damn antihistamine already!?"
A is immediately taken aback/hurt by B responding this way. This combined with the fever they definitely don't have, perhaps A responds in one of several possible ways:
1. A's eyes well up with tears, their chin wobbling as they quietly admit to B that they really don't feel well. B immediately feels terrible for assuming this was something A could have controlled.
2. A defensively insists that they're fine, snarkily apologizes for bothering B so much, and leaves -- only for B to come searching for A little while later later, finding them curled up somewhere and shaking with a fever/chills.
Both options 1 & 2 obviously could immediately roll into B caring for A who perhaps is too worn down at this point to protest it, and secretly (or not so secretly) welcomes it. Unless of course, A is so stubborn they reject all of B's attempts to make it -- and them -- better, leading to even more tension.
are they partners? friends? platonic? romantic? enemies? frenemies? fighting? separated? reconciling? living together? stuck together/temporarily forced to be in close proximity with one another? you choose!!