Feel better, Mr. Rogers ~
Hi-hi!!! i sat down to write something serious... obviously that didn't end up happening XD what we DO have though is a cute lil domestic stucky + awkward Peter fic because apparently my brain wanted comfort fluff (when doesnt it) hope it makes you smile <3 I'm kinda in need of writing more cold fics rn just bc i've been doing alot of emeto recently but yeah!! hope u enjoy <3
words: 1.8k
The movie flickered across the flat screen, the old black and white picture casting soft shadows across the living room, Steve was half-watching, half dozing off, his head tucked against Buckys shoulder, a blanket pulled up to his chin, his hair still damp from the shower Bucky had all but shoved him into earlier
He sniffled quietly "You didnt have to put your war movies on" Steve mumbled, his voice scratchy but amused
Bucky huffed a laugh, the sound rumbled through his chest "don't call Sabotage a war movie hun, its Hitchcock. And you like it"
"Mm" Steve hummed, the corner of his mouth quirking even when he coughed into the blanket, his body leaned heavier against Bucky, as if gravity had doubled down on him
Bucky adjusted without comment, shifting so Steve could fit against him more comfortably, one hand absently threaded through Steve's hair, smoothing back the damp strands, he didnt say anything about how hot Steve felt, or how much he hated seeing him like this, Steve hated being sick. Hated admitting weakness. And Bucky wasn't gonna poke at it, not right now
"Better than listening to you pace the apartment" Steve muttered, eyes half lidded
"Someones gotta make sure you dont keel over"
Steve gave him the smallest of glares, ruined by the way his nose was red and his cheeks flushed "Not gonna keel over from the sniffles Buck"
"Uh-huh" Bucky said, dry, tugging the blanket higher anyway "Tell that to the fever"
The elevator chimed somewhere down the hall, a cheerful ding that didn't belong to the quiet hush of the movie, Steve shifted, turning his head just enough to listen
"Probably Stark" Bucky muttered
But it wasn't Tony's voice that followed, instead there was a fast shuffle of sneakers and the muffled squeak of rubber against polished floors
"Uh- Mr Stark?" a young voice called out, uncertain
Steve smiled faintly through his congestion "Thats not Stark"
Bucky leaned forward just enough to see over the back of the couch, sure enough, Peter Parker appeared, still in his Midtown High hoodie, backpack slung over one shoulder, he looked out of place in the massive tower, like he'd stumbled into the movie theater
"Hey Son" Bucky said, voice carrying that flat edge that made strangers nervous
Peter froze "Oh! Oh um- I didn't know anyone was- uh, I was just- Mr. Stark said I could-" He gestured vaguely toward the lab level, his hands flailing a little as words tumbled out of his mouth "I wasn't trying to interrupt, I swear, I thought it would just be- like- a straight shot to the lab, y'know? No detours, no-"
Steve, amused, raised a hand from under the blanket in greeting "you're fine Peter" his voice was rough, soft with fatigue, and Peter's rambling cut off instantly
"Oh" Peter said, then frowning "are you- are you sick?"
That got a snort out of Bucky
Steve tried to wave it off "Just a cold"
Peter blinked "wait but- you're Captain America, you don't- can you even get sick? is that-" His words sped up, stacking up like dominos "-cause of the serum right? like super healing? or does that not count for viruses? I read this thing once about how maybe super soldier cells would actually-"
"Breathe kid" Bucky interrupted, one eyebrow arched
Peter snapped his mouth shut, his cheeks flushing pink
Steve chuckled, covering another cough with the blanket "Don't worry, I'm not dying on you"
Peter shifted from one foot to the other, the strap of his backpack sliding halfway down his shoulder "Right, no, yeah, of course you're not dying, I didn't mean- obviously you're fine- well you don't look fine, you look kinda" he winced at himself "...uh flushed? which is totally normal when you're yknow fighting off an infection, or a fever, or.. whatever. Not that I'm a doctor!! I just- I've read things"
Bucky stared at him like he was watching a car crash in slow motion
"Because" Peter barreled on "if the serum fixes everything, then maybe colds are like... tiny supervillains? Like they sneak past defenses? Trojan horse viruses! Which would actually be a pretty cool paper if someone wrote it up, but obviously I cant because, yknow- classified government secrets, whatever- and also you probably wouldn't want your snot in a test tube somewhere- oh my god, I'm sorry, I can't believe I just said snot-"
Steve laughed "You're alright Peter"
Peter went bright red, he shoved his hands into the front pocket of his hoodie like he could crawl into it and disappear "Sorry, I talk too much when I'm nervous.. or when I think somethings interesting.. or both, which is like... ninety percent of my life, so- yeah"
Bucky shook his head, lips twitching "Kid, you breathe this much when you're swinging around on rooftops?"
Peter gaped "No!! I mean- well, sometimes? Adrenaline y'know? and cardio, cardios important. I run too, not as fast as him-" he nodded at Steve who was watching this whole performance "-but still pretty fast!! like for a normal person.. which I'm not.. uh, obviously"
Another cough wracked Steve’s chest, but he waved off Bucky’s concerned glance “you came to see Tony?” he asked gently once he could speak again
Peter nodded too fast "yeah, yeah he wanted me to come work on something in the lab, I wasn't... uh, I wasn't trying to crash your..." His eyes flicked between them on the couch, Steve bundled up against Bucky's side, movie flickering in the background "...date night?"
Bucky outright laughed at that one
Steves smile crinkled at the corner of his eyes, soft despite the redness "not exactly"
Peter's eyes went wide the second the words 'date night' left his mouth "Oh my god, no, I didn't mean it like- I mean obviously you two can totally have date nights, you're married, which is awesome by the way, congratulations, but I just- I wasn't trying to intrude on a..." He flailed his arms helplessly "Cuddle situation? Wow. Okay. I'm gonna stop talking now"
Steve snorted into the blanket, shoulders shaking "You're fine Peter"
Peter rocked back on his heels, clearly debating whether to bolt straight for the lab or to sink into the floor, his gaze darting back to Steve though, lingering in the pink flush across his cheeks and the way his voice rasped when he spoke
"So.. uh” Peter blurted again “how does that even work? With the serum I mean, I thought you didn’t get sick, like- did the virus just.. uh.. sneak in? Or maybe your immune system overreacted? Or is it some kind of mutation thing? Do you think its different than a normal cold? Do you-”
“Peter” Bucky cut in, tone flat but not unkind, just enough steel to make the kids mouths snap shut. Steve gave Bucky a look, easy, before answering “Guess I’m not as invincible as everyone thinks” he said lightly “Sometimes a cold’s just a cold”
Peter tilted his head, clearly unsatisfied but trying to rein in his brain “So its not like a super-cold? Or… a HYDRA cold? Sorry that was dumb..”
Bucky’s eyebrow arched, the corner of his of his mouth twitching like he was fighting back a smirk “Yeah kid, HDRA’s new plan: sneeze on Captain America”
Steve elbowed him weakly, earning a huff of laughter, then he looked back at Peter, his expression gently “Don’t worry about me, I’ll be fine in a couple of days”
Peter nodded, but his brow stayed furrowed, caught somewhere between awkward teen and genuinely concerned
Steve’s cough faded into a sigh, his head tilting heavier against Buckys shoulder. He looked back at Peter, who still hadn’t moved from the middle of the room, backpack hanging like an anchor
“You can sit a minute if you want” Steve said, voice rough but kind “Movies not much, but it beats standing there like a statue”
Peter’s eyes went wide “Oh, uhh- no, I don’t wanna like… intrude”
“You’re not” Steve assured
Bucky pushed himself up with a grunt, slipping the blanket higher around Steve before standing “Just getting you tea” His tone carried no argument, like Steve hadn’t been halfway through saying ‘I don’t need-’ before Bucky was already gone
That left Peter shifting awkwardly in the silence, he edged toward an armchair, not quite sitting, just perching on the arm like he was afraid the furniture might yell at him
Steve smiled faintly at the boy “Relax Peter, you’re allowed in here”
Peter shrugged, eyes flicking anywhere but Steve “Yeah, it’s just… you know, kinda weird, you’re Captain America… and I’m.. me, sitting in your living room while you’re…” he gestured vaguely “...sick”
Steve let out a soft laugh that turned into a cough “Believe it or not, I’m human too”
Peter ducked his head, cheeks pink “Yeah.. I guess I just forget sometimes”
The clink of a mug signaled Bucky's return, he handed it over without a word, making sure Steve's hands were steady before retreating back to his spot beside him, his arm slid easily around Steve again, protective but not showy
Peter watched, quiet now, something thoughtful replacing the nervous rambling
The three of them sat in a kind of lopsided silence for a minute, the movie filling the space with crackling dialogue. Steve sipped carefully at his tea, Bucky’s hand resting steady against his back, and Peter stayed perched on the arm of the chair like moving might snap the moment in half
Then a voice echoed up from the lab, muffled but impossible to mistake
“PARKER! You planning on showing up today or do I need to send a search party?”
Peter jumped, nearly knocking his backpack to the floor “Coming Mr Stark!!!” he shouted back, then winced at how loud it sounded in the quiet of the living room “Sorry” he added quickly to Steve and Bucky, scrambling to his feet
Steve waved him off with a tired smile “Go on, Don’t keep him waiting
Peter hesitated, chewing the inside of his cheek, then he blurted “Feel better Mr Rogers” his ears went red immediately, like he couldn’t believe he’d said it out loud
Steve’s grin crinkled through the exhaustion “Thanks son”
Bucky gave the kid a short nod, not unfriendly, just enough to dismiss him without words
Peter backed toward the hallway, nearly tripping over his own shoes before darting off in the direction of the lab, his sneakers squeaked all the way until the elevator doors closed behind him
Steve chuckled, shaking his head “He’s a good kid”
Bucky snorted “Talks more than you ever did” he pulled the blanket tighter around Steve and dropped back onto the couch beside him “C’mon doll, get some rest before he comes back with a microscope”
Steve rolled his eyes but leaned into him, warm and content despite the scratch in his throat