Of course, David has spent just as much time trying to convince Angel the benefits of not sleeping in, often using the bribe of breakfast to get them on their feet.

And, much to his chagrin, his unrelenting habit of rising before the sun has yet to rub off on them either. 

So when Angel finds that they woke up with their cheek still pressed to a warm chest, arms hanging loosely over their waist, their confusion was immediate.

The sun was barely up, but it was up. Carefully glancing over at the small clock on David’s nightstand they saw the time blinking over at them. 7:46. 

The early morning fog had them racking their brain for a plausible answer. They knew he had to work today and that typically meant that he had to leave at 6:30. 7 at the latest. The genuine confusion of what to do in the situation had them laying stiffly, trying to decide what the right move was.

Should they wake him up? They’d never had to wake him up for work before, maybe he traded with Ash?

When they finally decided they did, in fact, need to wake the still sleeping wolf, five minutes had gone by and they felt the faint pang of guilt hit them. Hopefully he just switched with Asher and forgot to mention it. 

They slowly leaned up, propping themself on their elbow while bringing their other hand up to his cheek. Their face was only a few inches from his own and up this close they could see all the little imperfections in his skin.

The small faded acne scars and the slight stubble painted along his jaw. It pulled a smile to their lips as they gently ran their fingers along his cheeks, trying to wake him as calmly as possible. Only as they did, their hand was met with warm skin.

No, not warm skin. Hot. Really hot. 

Their smile quickly fell as they repositioned themself again, resting their hand on his forehead and being met with even hotter skin. As they frowned down at him David’s eyes cracked open, immediately growing in size when he’s met with the sheer proximity of his mate. 

It’s alarming at first, seeing someone's face so close to his own, and he quickly feels himself mirroring their concerned expression. 

At the sight of his mate looking so distressed a quick “What’s wrong?” fell from his lips to which Angel shook their head and sat up properly, trying to get a good look at him. 

He looked… okay? What did he look like when he was sick? They had seen him on the solstice but somehow they felt like that looked different. That was his core messing with him. What did sick David look like? 

Angel’s distance paired with the lack of a response had his concern growing. As he went to sit up their hand quickly landed on his chest, softly keeping him laying down, which turned his concern directly into confusion.

“You’re sick.” They said matter-of-factly. The line almost made him scoff. 

“What?” How would they know he was sick before he knew he was sick?

Angel stared at him in silence again before clambering out of bed unceremoniously. The sheets managed to get wrapped impossibly around their figure as they tripped their way to the floor.

The movement had David reaching for them again, not wanting them to hurt themself, they had done it before and there was no doubt in his mind they would find a way to do it again. 

“No,” They said firmly, pointing at him as they finally found their footing, “Stay.” They didn’t leave anytime for arguments as they immediately stalked towards the bathroom.

“I’m not a dog!” He called after them, but their figure had already retreated out of the bedroom door. Flopping onto his back he carefully thought through Angel’s words, doing inventory over how he felt. 

You’re sick. 

The words ran a loop in his brain, and it was like they unlocked an awareness as they replayed. As he laid there waiting for his mate he felt the oncoming of pounding in his head almost in sync with the sharp pain in his throat.

He found himself clearing it a few times, trying to push the morning dryness away, but being met with even more discomfort. 

Angel reappeared in the room before he could think about it any further, climbing in on their side of the bed so they could properly hover over him. He glanced at the thermometer in their hands and rolled his eyes, but willingly took it from his mate's hands.

Plopping it into his mouth he watched their eyes stare at the climbing numbers, their eyebrows knitting together the higher they got. 

“I’m fine Angel.” His words were muffled by the thermometer hanging out of his mouth and Angel immediately glared at him, holding no real anger behind their eyes.

“Don’t talk. You’re gonna mess it up.” David huffed air from his nose as he watched them. He could feel his heart swelling at the care and concern coming from them, their eyes never looking away for a second. 

As they sat criss-cross next to him he reached an arm over, carefully tracing small shapes just above their knee. It was like they didn’t even notice though, so focused that they had to do a double take when they caught him staring at them. Their cheeks flushed as they muttered a little “Stop staring at me”, a faint smile finally landing on their lips again. 

The moment was irritatingly short lived as a sharp beeping echoed around them. Angel quickly took the thermometer from him, their frown deepening as the flashing red numbers glared up at them.

“You’re really sick.” They said accusingly and David shook his head a little. Sure he felt a little… off. But it wasn’t anything he couldn’t handle. 

“I’m fine.” It wasn’t necessarily a lie. Sure, his head was starting to hurt more and more as light filtered in through the curtains and yeah, his throat was drier than usual. But he didn’t feel sick enough to warrant the level of concern wafting from his Angel.

They frowned and reached for their phone quickly typing out a message to someone mumbling under their breath as he watched them carefully.

“No matter how fine you feel, you’re staying home today.” David did scoff this time or at least he tried, but it just turned into a painful sounding cough, catching both him and Angel off guard. 

Once he had settled again they watched him with wide eyes, carefully putting their phone to the side. He had no more than glanced at the water on his nightstand before Angel was shoving it into his hands, ready to get him anything he needed in a second. It didn’t bring much relief, but he was happy to have a distraction from the previous moment. 

Angel’s wide eyes never left his person as he drank and he felt himself wanting to shrink under their watchful gaze.

Angel was incredibly insightful, one glance at him was the equivalent to a thousand from someone else, they always saw what he didn’t show. They always heard what he couldn’t say.

After he had carefully put the glass back in its rightful place on the bedside table Angel reached over and picked up his hand, running their fingers along his own like they always did.

David watched them silently, lost in his own world. He was already late to work, something Asher no doubt would give him shit for later. Well, late for him anyways. He always got there before anyone else to make sure the day went smoothly. 

But, today wouldn’t go smoothly, especially not now. Not only would Asher have to give up his day off if David didn’t go in, because of the time, he would actually be late.

Plus, who knows if Asher was even awake, and the organizers of the event would probably be pissed about the last minute switch. And that’s assuming Asher can even make it there to talk to them before the event actually starts.

The weight of the situation settled on his shoulders when he heard Angel let out a deep sigh, fingers still running over his own.

“Baby, I’m not letting you go to work feeling like this.” They said softly. Their tone was gentle, the sound a balm to his pounding head. It was like that cough alone had thrown him into the deep end of feeling like utter shit. And even if he tried to hide it, Angel knew. 

He didn’t say anything for a few minutes, just watching as Angel’s eyes swept over him like they were looking for open wounds.

Really they had no idea what they were looking for, if they were looking for anything at all. But the thought of looking away for even a second felt wrong. 

They were utterly lost in their own world, so much so that they almost missed the way David winced when he cleared his throat.

Almost. 

“David-”

“I know I just… I need to call Asher.” 

Angel’s eyes snapped to his face at the sound of his voice. It was broken and raw sounding and their heart clenched when they heard it. For David to admit he’s sick is one thing, for David to admit he’s sick enough to stay home from work is another. 

The sentence alone rang alarm bells in their head but they quickly pushed it down, humming in acknowledgement. Casting one last glance at the wolf next to them, they climbed out of bed again, this time with more grace, and made their way over to the curtains.

They were already halfway shut but Angel pulled them completely, blocking out all sunlight leaking through and leaving only the light spilling in from the hallway.

“I already texted him for you.” They said as they rounded the bed coming over to sit on the edge of the mattress next to him, keeping their voice soft. David frowned deeply as he screwed his eyes shut, trying to actually be fine.

There was silence for a second, the eyes of his mate watching as he tried convincing himself he would be okay enough to get up and start his day. After a little while their voice spoke up again, still as soft as they could, “How can I help?” 

He looked up at them, an internal war waging inside of his head. He would give anything to not worry them, he hated having them worried for him. But they were, and they would be until he was feeling better. 

Being sick was vulnerable in such a unique way that he didn’t know how to even express his discomfort with it. Even in his head it sounded stupid, he didn’t think anyone else was weak when they were sick, but when it came to him it was different.

He was the caregiver, the protector, the one who took care of everyone.

Not the other way around. 

“Davey?” Their voice pulled him out of his head and he furrowed his brow again. Their eyes were still full of concern, but also with determination.

It was like they had heard his inner monologue and made it their mission to get him better, sheerly out of spite for his thoughts. 

Truly they could have.

Angel always joked that they could tell when he needed something, that they could sense what was going through his head at any given time. David always scoffed and rolled his eyes at their claims but he knew they were right, they knew him better than he knew himself half the time. 

As he thought about Angel’s question he quietly admitted defeat, letting his shoulders sink as he finally met their gaze again. 

“Head hurts.” He said softly. Angel nodded and leaned down, placing a light kiss onto his forehead before making their way to the bathroom without another word. 

While he waited for their return, his phone vibrated next to him, drawing his attention towards it. The screen was far too bright and he immediately winced at how badly it made his head pound, quickly turning the brightness all the way down.

His lockscreen stared back at him, a picture of him and Angel he chose after months of them begging him to change it. 

Before he met them he never even changed his background picture from the factory setting. Whatever setting he chose the first time he opened his phone was the one he stuck with, no matter how bland the auto-installed picture was. He had no need to change it and less than no desire. 

With his Angel though, he would take any chance to get to see their smile. Not that he would admit it out loud, lord knows he grumbled about Angel changing it.

But he liked that picture of the two of them. It was in their full-length mirror, Angel standing in front of him holding the phone and smiling wide, eyes creasing in the way that shows that they’re really smiling. 

He was behind them, arms draped over their shoulders while Angel’s free hand was gripping his bicep. It was simple, but it was sweet, and no matter how much he grumbled about changing it initially, he liked seeing it every time he looked at his phone. 

But, perched above their heads was a notification. The one that had drawn his attention in the first place.

Asher: hey big guy, i got you covered today alright? just focus on getting better before this weekend. being sick isn’t gonna stop me from beating you in smash

David laughed a little at the text, shaking his head to himself before quickly replying.

David: Thank you, Ash. Call me if you need anything at all. I mean it. 

David: And it’s not a win if you’re floating around the whole time, Jigglypuff. 

He smiled to himself as he put his phone back down, watching as his mate came back with meds and a new glass of water. He graciously took it from their hands, quickly taking the medicine and placing the glass next to the now empty one. 

While he did all that Angel diligently set alarms to remind themself when he could take his next dose. They had half a mind to call Marie and ask if she could magic away a cold but they couldn’t help but hesitate from that thought.

Truthfully they didn’t know a lot about what healing magic limits existed when it came to illness, and they weren’t really sure David knew them either. All they knew was that David would probably explode if anyone else saw him in the state he was in. 

Deciding against calling Marie they set to work bringing everything they could need into the bedroom. When Angel had lived alone they learned quickly that being sick and having to constantly get up to get things was nearly impossible.

Ever since then, the second they were sick or anyone around them was, they immediately made a little station within arms reach for them. Pain meds, thermometer, water, a granola bar, extra blankets, and anything else you could ever think of. It was simple, but it helped. 

Once they felt satisfied with how everything was set up in the room, they climbed back into bed with David, only for him to scoot away from them and give them a stern look.

“I don’t want to get you sick, Angel.” His voice was soft but rough, the sickness definitely setting in now. Angel frowned at him and continued to get comfy in the bed as if he hadn’t said anything at all. It only took a few minutes of not saying anything before they carefully cleared their throat and dropped their voice as low as it could go.

“I already spent all night holding you.” They mimicked, causing David to roll his eyes. He had said those exact words to them and the smug smile on his mate’s face only made him shake his head, biting the inside of his lip to hide his smile. 

He wanted to fight them on it, to argue that he’ll end up having to take care of them by the end of the week if he let them stay. But the drowsiness from the medicine was kicking in and he couldn’t resist the urge.

Grumbling, he got comfortable again before gently pulling Angel’s back towards himself, wrapping his arms around them and holding tightly.  

“You should get some more rest.” They said softly and David nodded before burying his face into their neck.

Being vulnerable was something David could never even dream of, but laying there, the smell of his mates shampoo and bodywash mixing together in his nose, he couldn’t help but want to share every moment with them.