She Likes Colds

“It’s just all-hhh-erghhies!”

“I think it’s my ha-hahh-hhHayfever!”

“It’s only a c-coohhh-ld!”

But A does not believe them because when they were sick they were barely able to get out of bed. Maybe B was downplaying their illness to make A not worry so much? Yeah that was probably it.

• mid-conversation, slipping a hand onto the back of their teammate’s neck.

• wrist to side of the neck.

• back of the hand to forehead back of the hand to forehead

• lips pressed to wrist/forehead (platonic)

Waking up to a half lit room, warm blankets tucked up to their chin

Wind and rain rattling the windows as someone tries in vain to sleep

That first sip of warm, salty broth spooned in with shaky hands

The sharp cheeping of an electronic thermometer while a kettle steams in the background

Someone lying curled into a tight, trembling ball under a heavy quilt, cold light from a snowstorm-drenched world outside, a friend running a hand through their hair and speaking gently to them

The first sound they hear after waking up from a feverish sleep is a crackling fire near them

A pale face with raw, wind-reddened cheeks, a dark bruise under one eye and a split lip

A caretaker tenderly wrapping a whumpee's forehead in bandages to cover a shallow but scarily bloody cut

Someone huddled and shivering against an alleyway wall, knees bloody and a cold forming in their chest, throat burning every time they swallow and worsening as they start to cry silently

Someone found sick and half frozen in the snow, blood staining their jacket

A group or partnership huddled around a fire together, one of them shivering more than usual

Flannels, wool blankets, quilts, wrapped up around a whumpee who can't seem to get warm no matter what

conceal their symptoms by casually eating a sucker hahah what cough i’m fine guys

coax their cold-ridden S/O into taking at least some kind of medicine by offering it in candy form

signify that they’re sick to only the people who know them best because they always eat cough-drop lollis when they’re not feeling well

“Are you alright?” “Your face is a  little flushed.” “You’re so pale…” “You look like you’re about to fall over.” “Everything okay there?”

“I think so…” “It’s just hot in here.” “Am I?” “I didn’t get much sleep last night.” “I’m fine, why?”

“It’s just a cold.” “I feel strange…” “I’ve felt kind of ‘off’ all day.” “I’m little under the weather, that’s all.” “I really don’t feel good.”

“Let me take a look at you.” “C’mere, baby.” “Here, sit down…” “Can I check your temperature?” “Stay put while I get the thermometer.”

“You feel too warm..” “Mmm, yeah, you’re runnin’ a little hot.” “102? No wonder…” “You’re burning up!” “You’ve definitely got a temperature.”

“I’ll be okay.” “You’ve got so much to do, though…” “Please don’t call in because of me.” “I’ll be fine with a few hours’ sleep.” “I’ll take it easy, I promise.”

“My head hurts…” “My head is pounding.” “Please, keep it down.” “Do we have aspirin or something?” “Can you dim the lights a little?”

“Can’t talk. Hurts…” “My throat feels like it’s on fire.” “Sorry, I seem to be losing my voice.” “I can barely swallow.” “It’s so scratchy. I keep coughing.”

“I can only breathe through one side.” “My nose won’t stop running.” “It itches so bad but I can’t sneeze!” “I caaahhh…hh.. can’t s-stop sn-snee-heehhh..!!” “Do we have any more tissues?”

“I know you’re not hungry, but you need to eat.” “Try a little of the broth, for me?” “Drink your tea, it’ll help your throat.” “You need to stay hydrated.” “It’s a family remedy!”

And then in the presence of a partner or friend they reach to scrub at it again only to be caught by the wrist before they can do so, softly chastened by the words of someone who, at this moment, knows better: