Feveruary Day 26— Pharmacy Run— Kate Bishop x fem!reader
The next morning you wake up still absolutely miserable. You think maybe your fever’s steadying a little, you don’t feel it weighing you down too much now, but the rest of you?
God. You’re exhausted. So you do what you always do, reach for your girlfriend laying in bed next to you.
But you’re met with an empty, cool spot. You don’t panic, but you do whine softly, not even opening your eyes as you mumble out a soft, “Katie?” just in case she’s just in the bathroom or kitchen.
The apartment stays quiet except for Lucky’s soft snoring where he lays at the end of the bed. Reluctantly opening your eyes and blinking hard even though it’s not really that bright yet, you shift so you’re slightly sitting up, Lucky popping his head up when he senses your movement.
A glance towards the side table to check the time is when you notice it.
A neatly folded yet slightly crinkled piece of paper sitting by your phone, a still steaming cup of tea next to them both. A soft smile spreads on your lips as you reach for it and unfold it to reveal Kate’s familiar, messy scrawl.
morning, baby. Hopefully I’m back before you wake up, but in case you’re reading this, I just ran down to the store. We were out of meds and I wanna make sure my girl is taken care of. Be back so soon. Promise. I’m entrusting Lucky to temporarily hold the ‘cuddle crown’, he’ll keep you warm. Stay in bed and rest, princess. I love you. —K
Your chest warms deeply as you read the note, then read it again. She could have texted you, but instead, she wrote it down. It makes the small gesture feel softer that way.
Reaching for the mug, you take a few slow sips, letting the warm tea, made exactly how you like it when you’re sick, soothe the tightness in your throat. The steam drifting up is just enough to shift your congestion, following in a soft sneeze that you stifle in your shoulder to keep from spilling the hot drink.
She’ll be back soon. You think to yourself. Then she can hold you again, warm, close and protective like she always does when you’re sniffly and tired like this. A small cough bubbles in your chest, forcing your forward a little until it ceases and you flop back into the soft pillows.
Lucky crawls closer up the bed, settling himself beside you, his head immediately tucking into your lap, a warm comforting pressure that makes you smile again as you let your fingers run through his soft golden hair. “Thanks, bud.” You rasp and he responds by licking your other hand.
You’ve joked with Kate before about how you’re pretty sure he’s smarter than a dog should be. He always knows exactly what the both of you need. With his warm presence, and the reassurance that your girlfriend will be back soon, you feel yourself drifting back off to sleep, your eyes fluttering closed, your breathing slow and deep, synching with Lucky’s without even trying.
And that’s how Kate finds you twenty minutes later when she arrives; her sick, sniffly girlfriend and her sweetheart of a dog cuddled together under the fluffy purple duvet.
With an endeared smile on her face, she quickly snaps a photo of the adorable sight in front of her before slowly and quietly moving about the room, setting things up while you sleep.
You start drifting back up from your dreams a while later, unsure about how much time has passed, but you know you’re warm, Lucky is still against you, though now, you feel her presence too. A gentle, slightly calloused is cupping your cheek, thumbing brushing against your flushed skin.
“Hey…there you are, princess. Wake up for me, love.” Kate murmurs softly, her touch reverently lulling you awake. You lean into the coolness of her hand, eyes fluttering open to find her sitting on the edge of the bed, gazing down at you with such love it almost takes your breath away.
“Mmfhh…you’re back.” You hum and she nods, leaning down to press a kiss to your forehead. “Got back a bit ago, love. I let you sleep because you looked like you needed it.”
You hum again, a soft agreement. You don’t feel any less tired, which annoys you, but at least Kate’s back now. She studies you for a moment, simply continuing her gentle strokes on your cheek before continuing, “your fever’s up a bit again. I want to get some meds in you, ‘kay?”
She’s already reaching with one hand to grab something while the other stays against you as if she needs to make sure you’re still there, as if holding you comforts herself as well. Kate turns back to you with a thin box. A brand new thermometer, top of the line you think, though your blurry vision can only sort of make out the brand.
You watch her, eyes half-lidded as she her hand leaves you so she can take it out of the box and set it up easily, quickly. “Just for a sec, baby, alright?” She checks in with you first like she always does. You nod your consent and your eyes drift close while she presses the reading surface lightly against your forehead. A moment later, it beeps softly, and your girlfriend frowns a little at the red numbers reporting what’s definitely a fever.
“High, but nothin’ we can’t handle, princess.” She sets it aside and reaches for the fever reducers next. She gently coaxes the small pills into you, holding a fresh glass of water to your lips for you as you swallow. “Good girl.” She kisses your temple and you’re pretty sure you flush even deeper, though not from fever this time.
“Need anything else, baby?” Kate asks, her hand finally returning to your cheek, cool and steady. She shifts a little, settling herself more comfortably on the bed next to you, pulling you close again like she did last night. You sigh into her familiar hold and that’s when you notice the multiple large brown paper bags arranged neatly across the room on the dresser that definitely weren’t there earlier.
“Kate?” You huff out a small laugh. She glances down at you, expression soft, eyes flickering slightly because she knows what you’re about to ask. “Yeah?” She hums anyways.
“Did you buy out half the pharmacy just for a cold?” You ask, allowing her to follow your amused gaze towards the bags. She shifts a little under you, a light flush of shyness creeping into her cheeks.
“No?” She tries and you immediately giggle into her chest, clinging tighter to her.
“You’re ridiculous, Bishop.”
“But you love me.” She replies confidently, tilting your chin up so you meet her eyes. You roll yours slightly.
“Of course I do, even when you hoard medical supplies like a dragon with a golden retriever’s personality.” You tease lightly, your fever making you say silly things, no filter, just fondness.
“I panicked!” She defends, eyes wider, but her smile is too. “I wasn’t sure what kinds you’d like or if the menthol cough drops were better than the honey ones or if I grabbed enough tissue boxes or…”
You squeeze her waist lightly to pause her rambling, your face softening from amusement to gentle gratitude. “You’re perfect, Katie. Thank you.” You drop your head and nuzzle into her, pressing a kiss to her collarbone. Her arms gather you impossibly closer as she relaxes against you.
“I love you. Thanks for taking such great care of me.” You hum, settling down, fever exhaustion pulling you back towards sleep.
Kate kisses your hair as you drift off in her arms, lingering and soft. “Always, princess.”
