A Christmas Cold (M/M, 18+ characters, Contagion, Mess)
[My partner’s first story for me from 2 Christmases ago]
It was the Tuesday before Christmas and Sam was busy stocking the fresh oranges that were previously sold out. It was pretty quiet at the market today, it usually was on weekdays, with only locals coming in to pick up a few supplies and make small talk with the workers. It was about 10 AM and the day was already starting to feel long. As Sam placed the last orange on top of his intricate pyramid of oranges, he reached down to grab the empty crate and saw a pair of winter boots standing in front of it.
“Excuse me?” muttered a soft, clearly stuffed-up voice.
Sam looked up to see a lanky, blonde-haired man, slightly taller than he was, with rosy red cheeks and watery eyes, standing before him.
Sam normally hated interacting with customers, especially since most were older and just wanted to talk when he was trying to work, but suddenly he found himself eager and flustered to help the sick boy.
“What can I help you with?” asked Sam.
“Hi. I’m so sorry to bother you. I’ve been-ehh-SCHIEW!” he paused, made a face, stepped back, and raised his elbow to his nose. He let out a big sneeze, and his eyes watered even more. He looked terrible. “Sorry. Been looking around, but I can’t find any cold medicine around here. I was wondering if you carried it?” he asked, pulling his scarf up and wiping his nose gently.
“Oh, yes, of course,” Sam said, feeling his face grow hot. It was so embarrassing.
He led the other boy toward the small first-aid section of the store, speed-walking at first, then slowing down as he realized the other was struggling to match his pace. Sam pointed to the cold medication. “Here it is. Also, tissues are in the next aisle if you need them.”
He could see the other getting a little embarrassed as Sam noticed his runny nose.
“Thanks. I really appreciate it-” the other said in a stuffed-up voice, then made the same face as before, getting ready to sneeze.
Sam waited in anticipation, and he could tell the other was trying to hide it. As he let out another sneeze, he didn’t raise his elbow quickly enough, sending little droplets from his mouth and nose onto himself and Sam. Sam and the boy both gasped, and Harry blushed even more.
“Oh. No. Oh my gosh, I’m so disgusting.” the sneezing man muttered, setting down his shopping basket and looking around for the exit.
“Oh, honey, no, you’re not. It was an accident. You’re so sick.” Sam instantly felt embarrassed for calling him honey. At least now they were even.
The other one smiled, more tears welling up in his eyes.
“I really hope I don’t get you sick for Christmas,” he said, picking up his shopping basket. Sam noticed the dark stain on his scarf.
“Well, if I am, you’ll just have to come and take care of me, right?” joked Sam.
The other boy smiled. “Could you show me to the bathroom as well?”
Sam locked the bathroom door behind them and got to work dabbing his scarf with paper from the bathroom while the other sat on top of the sink.
“My name is Harry, by the way. It’s nice to-” Harry wound up to sneeze again, and Sam leaned in, hoping Harry’s arm wouldn’t make it to his nose in time. Surprisingly, instead of reaching for his nose, Harry reached out and grabbed Sam, holding onto him and sneezing into the toilet paper he was holding. A string from his nose stuck to the toilet paper as he backed away. Harry sniffled. “Meet you.”
Sam chuckled. “These cough drops are on me,” he said, taking them out of Harry’s basket and stuffing them into the coat he was wearing.
Harry giggled. “Thank you,” he sniffled again. “I should get going. I really don’t feel well. As you can tell. I promise I’ll come back to see you once I don’t look like shit.”
Sam wanted to keep taking care of him more than anything, but decided he should let Harry go before his boss found out where he was.
Harry left the bathroom promptly.
Four days later, it was Christmas Eve. The store was open one last day before Christmas, and Sam was back stocking the produce. No one had come to the store yet. The day before had been packed, everyone getting supplies for their Christmas dinners. That morning, Sam had woken up with a bit of a sore throat that went away as the day went on. However, that night, when he got back to his apartment, he felt unusually tired and went to bed earlier. He smiled to himself that night, all tucked into his bed. He finally caught Harry's cold. He had been anticipating it all week. The past four days he had reserved the memory for when he got home in the afternoon, went straight to his room, and began to touch himself, replaying the scene over and over. Playing out different scenarios where he stopped Harry from leaving the bathroom and leaned in to kiss his chapped lips. What his runny nose would feel like against his. How long could Harry kiss before Harry would have stopped and sniffled?
Sam felt even more miserable when he woke up this morning. His body ached, his head felt stuffy, and his eyes were already dripping. As much as he wanted to call out and spend the day re-binging Gilmore Girls and breaking in between naps to relieve his aching, horny body, he decided to take his chances of meeting Harry in the store again and go to work. And he was glad he did. Harry must have timed it when Sam's sickness was in full effect, because promptly at 12 pm, a familiar face appeared at the door. Sam looked over. Still red in the cheeks, yet much healthier looking, Harry made his way over to the produce section. To Harry's delight, Sam looked perfectly ill, only slightly less than Harry had been a few days ago, but it would kick in later. The poor dark-haired boy's face and nose were even rosier than Harry’s as he labored over the cucumbers, limping slightly. Sam sniffled and looked up at Harry, smiling.
“Oh, poor thing, how long have you been working?” asked Harry, picking up one of the cucumbers he had set down a few minutes back.
Sam was relieved to hear Harry still had a hint of congestion in his voice.
“Just this morning. It got bad only about half an hour ago, though. You're just in time,” Sam said softly in a hoarse voice.
“In time for what, Sam?” asked Harry, stepping closer so he was side by side with Sam, peering over the vegetable display.
“To take me home for Christmas,” he whispered, still not making eye contact with Harry.
Harry felt his pussy throb under his long, wool winter coat.
“I guess Santa did get my request,” he murmured, and moved to the other side of Sam and leaned over to get a good look at his big, watery eyes. “Why don't you be a good boy and tell your boss you have to leave. I'll be waiting out front and keeping the car warm. We can go back to my place or yours. Wherever you feel most comfortable.”
Harry strolled away to the checkout lane, and Sam finished stocking, then made his way to his boss's office.
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