How Reno would react to a significant other taking care of him while he is sick.
Reno x reader (caretaker)
Reno had woken up with a head cold, an unusual turn of events for the man as it was rare for him to get sick but he did reluctantly realize that it was always a possibility. It must have been the mission he and Rude had gone on two days prior in Modeoheim.
‘The damn snow...’ he cursed in his mind, shuffling his arms underneath his pillow to hug it against his pounding head. He laid there for a while until his alarm went off, alerting him it would be the time that he would get up in order to get ready for his job.
“Screw work.” He admitted without any quarrel. Haphazardly stumbling his fingers around on the bedside table, he found his phone that he typed on to notify his partner he wouldn’t be in for the day. Groaning to the pain he forced upon his eyes while staring at the phone screen, he tossed the cellular device back onto the wood and shoved his head into the pillow to muffle his moans.
“Hey, are you okay?” A voice entered the room and startled the half asleep man. Not raising his head, as he had identified who it was by the tone of voice, Reno only groaned as a response. When you sat on the edge of the bed, you rested your hand on his wet back. The work shirt he had fallen asleep in the night prior was soaked from his sweat. “You’re soaking wet, why don’t you change your shirt?” You could barely hear his answer to your suggestion as his face was still plastered against the pillow’s surface.
“—can’t.” Your head leaned towards him in hopes that would help understand his muffled speech.
“What?” Reno then averted his face from the cushion to lay on his side with the softest expression you’ve ever seen on him.
“I can’t.” He conceded and you tilted your head.
“Why can’t you?” A valid question which was only answered by Reno lifting a hand and running his fingers down your chest to your stomach. “Reno, focus.” His dreamy eyes raised to yours once more with raised, exhausted brows.
“Hmm?” The lack of care in his voice made you chuckle but he still was not like his usual nonchalant and carefree self so you decided you would continue to inquire on his current condition.
“Are you okay?” You moved some of the red hair from his blue eyes. “You don’t seem like yourself. Well—“ you stopped, staring at his hand then on your thigh. “Almost, not like yourself.” You watched him closely. “You look like you might have a fever.” Reno groaned again, that time sounding more like a whine. His head fell back but he immediately regretted it as an uncomfortable pressure shrouded his head. Clutching it with one hand, not removing the other from your thigh, he leaned forward and dropped his pounding head next to his hand on your lap.
“I do.” Your expression perplexed as you ran your fingers through his hair, twisting some of the locks in between them.
“Is that why you ‘can’t’?” Reno pouted with a nod against your legs, creating friction you wished he wouldn’t incite but regardless, you chuckled and continued to ride your hand through his hair. “Well, why don’t I help you? I’ll help you change, get some medicine, whatever you need.” Reno went against the throbbing of his brain to lift his head in order to make eye contact with you. Reading what he implied, you cocked your head with a gentle scoff. “Not that. You need to rest.” You placed a kiss onto his forehead, sweat then lining your lips for that transgression. “There’ll be plenty of time for that later.” Reno allowed another exasperated groan to squeeze its way though his throat while you had to slip away from his tight hold, obviously not wanting to remove the impact your bodies had on one another.
—
When you returned to your spikey-headed boyfriend, he was half unclothed and half off the bed. Sprawled out with his lanky limbs in every direction, you rolled your eyes at his position. Placing the medicine and water on the bedside table, you took the shirt hanging from one arm that he was apparently too lazy to get rid of entirely and grabbed another for him. Shaking Reno awake, even though you were gentle, you startled him once again but this time, he had collected a vicious trembling. He gripped the blankets to pulled them up and over his head, which removed any opportunity you had of placing a shirt on him. His lip was quivering, an act you’ve never seen overtake him. You couldn’t help but show pity, sitting yourself on the edge of the bed to press a soft hand against his vibrating shoulder.
“Babe, are you okay? Is there anything I can do?” You asked with genuine worry for his wellbeing. He shook his head with a minor grunt, only bringing the blankets closer to his body. After feeding him the pills you had collected, Reno stayed on his side while you stroked his hair. A feat you found soothed him. You thought you would leave him in order to rest, your hand freshly removed until he squeaked a request freezing your progression.
“Y/N, could you...” He stopped. “Never mind.” You shifted your body closer to his.
“No, what is it?” You questioned curiously and that was all it took for him to speak what he had silenced before.
“Could you, lay with me? I’m,” he stuttered with every word, “cold.” You felt the heart inside of you melting. How could you refuse him? You never could before when he was only pretending to be sick to get whatever debauchery crossed his mind and certainly not now when he actually has a legitimate cold.
You complied by sliding your body in front of his after he moved the blanket so you could slip in easily. With your chest against his, you felt firsthand how aggressive this sickness was attacking his immune system. You didn’t care for receiving the cold he had gotten. You would do anything for Reno and he knew it too but what you would never know, is that he was immensely grateful for that show of affection.
—
Reno and you had laid there for hours; admittedly, you both had fallen asleep in each other’s embrace. When you had awoken, it was much later than you intended. Trying to nimbly escape in order to make dinner for the two of you, as soon as your arms were unlocked from his body, he latched onto your waist. Jumping to the almost heart attack he gave, you calm your nerves before questioning his sudden conscious state.
“Don’t do that! Wait, you were awake?” His groan—which was becoming normal at this point— notified you that he was still half asleep. “Just rest here, I’m gonna go make us some food.” His grip tightened with a shake of his head.
“No.” Blunt and silent. You chuckled as you decided to play the game he was playing.
“Babe, I gotta go make us food.” Reno repeated the single word. “I also have to pee.” You admitted, but to your sick, cranky boyfriend, that meant nothing.
“No you don’t.” You chuckled again.
“I’m pretty sure I do.”
“No.” You noticed quickly this wasn’t a fight you were going to win.
“I really do, Reno.” He finally spoke other words besides ‘no.’
“Stop thinking about it and you won’t have to anymore.” With a rolling of your eyes, you couldn’t hide the laugh that begged to exit your throat. Giving in, you placed your hands on the top of Reno’s messed up hair and kissed his head.
“You’re lucky I love you.” For the rest of the night you held him with a full bladder but with the full intention of doing anything possible to assure his quick recovery.