So confused with the flu
dividers by @uzmacchiato
Bucky Barnes x Steve Rogers x Reader
based on this request
summary: Your two boyfriends didn’t know how to deal with you having a fever.
warnings: fluff fluff
wc: 1k (i’m practicing, okay?)
a/n: gosh thank you for the request, @princess-luka , this was fun to write!! (if you ignore me procrastinating)
Edit: i forgot to tag 😭😭
It started with an annoying cough.
The type of cough that would make people look at you, because it sounded like you were destroying your vocal cords one by one. And yes, it felt like that too. Every time you barked out a desperate cough, you felt your vocal cords slam into each other. It was anything but a pretty sound.
Then, of course, it got worse. At first, your temperature was only at 38*C, and you didn’t think much of it. That wasn’t even that high, you survived worse. Examples for worse would be situations where earth got attacked and you and your friends had to save earth’s ass (again). But, your temperature only got worse. And so did your condition.
Your boyfriends, Bucky and Steve, obviously knew that you’re sick. They bought your favourite snacks, some tea, and occasionally put a cold rag on your forehead whenever you whined about throbbing headaches. You were very grateful for that. Although, Steve was caring more, if you can say. Bucky was just brooding in the background, grunting about Hygiene whenever Steve stole a peck on his cheek. It was a very funny sight, to be frank. And in your state, you thought that that would be one of the pictures your brain would give you as you’re dying.
Okay, no more dying.
If you put aside the caring charades of Steve, and the worrying brooding of Bucky, they were concerned on another level. Since both of them were over 100 years old, with the super soldier serum, they didn’t know what it felt like. They forgot what it felt like. They forgot how it felt, burning up in temperatures and freezing at the same time. They forgot what it felt like to have headaches so bad you’re rocking back and forth.
And that didn’t make anything better, it just made everything worse. They didn’t know what to do with you other than to give you ibuprofen and cold rags. Maybe even give you a peck on the cheek. But there wasn’t more than that.
The feeling of being unable to do more, to connect and to relate to you only fueled their worry. Bucky hovered around more, and Steve wasn’t better. They thought about going to Bruce, or a hospital if you didn’t want anyone to know you were sick.
‘Jesus, guys. You don’t go to the hospital for the flu. Sure, you forgot how it felt, but come on!’ You rasped, and they grunted something in response.
More so, this wasn’t the first time something like this happened. They debated whether you should just straight up not work if you had your period, and you had to give them a lecture about how you couldn’t be sick for a week straight every month. It was like they knew nothing about having the cold, or anything that goes into the direction of being sick.
You’re lying on the couch, your body nestled with two blankets that kept getting thrown off whenever you felt too hot. Bucky and Steve were currently out, they mentioned going to the grocery store for food. The TV wasn’t showing anything interesting, in your opinion. The last three channels were all about geography. The three before that had really graphic surgeries on screen, and that grossed you out.
Muttering a silent curse, you got up with a sniff. The tissues were out, and snot was getting everywhere. Your clothes were already dirty enough, and you certainly didn’t want crusty sleeves, too.
You walk up to the kitchen island, getting a box of handkerchiefs. Then, you remembered that your throat was unusually dry. Bucky vocalised his dislike for you drinking cold water, so you used the slightly warm water in the teapot. After all, you wanted to heal, not complain about your sore throat for the next few days.
Just when you were about to take a sip, the door opened. Your two soldiers walked in, with like 5 bags worth of food. You stared at it for a minute, before speaking up.
‘What the hell did you buy for it to need 5 whole grocery bags?’ Both looked sheepish, avoiding your gaze. Bucky was the first to answer.
‘We didn’t know what to get you.’ You sighed, but couldn’t resist a smile. Then, you paddled towards them to get a better look at what’s in the bag. Steve looked at you, pouting. ‘We got you some bone broth. To make soup. Because, well… uh, people who’re sick like soup?’
Never in your life did you think to have a boyfriend this clueless. Your other one didn’t make it any better. He just nodded along, mumbling in agreement.
‘Let’s just unpack, yeah?’
And so you did. It took about ten minutes for you to have everything settled in the designated cabinets, though you hardly did anything as they thought you were still too fragile to help.
Finally grabbing the tissue box, you made your way back to the couch. The blankets were still positioned in a circular way, though the warmth of your body was already away. You sit back down, and they follow. Bucky was at your right, already wrapping an arm around you. Steve laid his head on your lap, asking about what show you wanna watch.
‘Everything’s boring, Stevie. Already watched ‘em all.’ he nodded, shifting to look up at you. ‘Did your fever drop? Cause, well, that’s what a fever does, right?’
You laughed, nodding. ‘Yes, Steve, that’s what a fever normally does after some time.’
Bucky suddenly felt too left out. ‘Well, did it drop?’ You nodded, smiling. ‘It dropped a bit, yeah. Because of the Ibuprofen you guys gave me earlier. Thanks for that, by the way.’
The night went on with you three talking about whatever came to mind until it was time to sleep. Then, Bucky carried you to bed and carefully put you down. Steve followed, already wrapping himself around you from behind. Bucky joined, hugging you from the front. You laid sandwiched between them, and suddenly felt grateful for them.
