GerUk/GerEng Collection

Rest Love

Prompt: Free Day

He awoke to Ludwig's arms around his waist and nose in the crook of his neck. Nothing out of the ordinary, but what was out of the ordinary was how his lover seemed to be shaking and warmer than normal.

"Ludwig?" Arthur croaked, trying to turn to face him, but Ludwig's hold on him prevented him from moving much. "Darling, what's the matter?" No answer.

After some wiggling around, Arthur finally got loose, getting a good look at his boyfriend. His cheeks were red, his breath ragged and it appeared that he was still asleep. Arthur reached over to feel Ludwig's forehead, finding it burning. A fever as he suspected. The poor man was sick. With a soft kiss on the forehead, Arthur headed down to the kitchen to prepare him some chamomile tea and get a wet cloth to try to get that fever down.

As he waited for the water to boil and search for some teabags, Arthur heard the thumping of someone coming down the stairs. "That damn workaholic," Arthur grumbled under his breath as Ludwig dragged himself to the kitchen table. Turning towards the sick German, he shot him a glare. "You should be in bed."

"I'm fine," Ludwig said, his voice hoarse and words slightly slurred.

"Ah yes, you sound like you're in peak physical health. Want to run a marathon?" Arthur usually wasn't so testy with Ludwig, but the man was stubborn when it came to resting even when he needed it.

"I really don't need your sarca-" Ludwig erupted into a harsh coughing fit. Arthur rushed to his lover's side, a glass of water in hand.

Once the coughing subsided, Arthur gave Ludwig another hard look. "If you don't get back in that damn bed, I'll drag you there myself," he growled.

Ludwig went to protest, but when Arthur placed his hand on Ludwig's forehead and let it slide down to his cheek, Ludwig softened. He leaned into his boyfriend's cool and inviting touch. "Fine...maybe I am a little under the weather."

Arthur rolled his eyes. 'A little? Quite,' he thought, but since he was finally getting Ludwig to crack, he didn't say anything out loud. Instead, he helped Ludwig up and guided him to the couch to lay down. The bed would be the ideal place, but Ludwig seemed too unsteady for the stairs and Arthur wasn't strong enough to steady him enough to get him up there. The couch would do just fine and make it easier for Arthur to keep an eye on the German while also carrying on with what had to be done that day. After covering him with a blanket, he headed back to the kitchen to pour the tea and wet that cloth.

He returned moments later, two cups in hand and a wet hand towel hanging over his arm. Placing the cups on the coffee table, he draped the towel over Ludwig's forehead. "The tea is still hot, so leave it for a little bit," Arthur said, taking a seat in an armchair beside the couch. He picked up a book from the side table and began reading.

After a few minutes of silence and of doing absolutely nothing Ludwig spoke up: "C-Could you read to me?"

Arthur looked up from his book, meeting Ludwig's lazy gaze. "I-I suppose...B-By the way, your tea should be good now." Ludwig sat himself up, leaning against the couch for support. He reached out for the cup, but Arthur picked it up for him instead and handed it to him. Arthur took a seat beside him so Ludwig could follow along as he read.

"You're lucky I just started," Arthur grumbled, but Ludwig knew there wasn't any anger in those words. Even if he was almost done, Ludwig knew he would start all over if he asked him to read aloud. After clearing his throat, Arthur began:"'Oh dear,' Linus Baker said, wiping the sweat from his brow. 'This is most unusual.'"

Ludwig may have hated getting sick since it made him feel so useless, but at least it gave him an excuse to be a little needy with his lover. Reading like this could almost be called a tradition when he was sick. Ludwig was never able to hang on to what Arthur was saying as his mind was foggy and Arthur's voice so soothing, but he still enjoyed these moments. He leaned into the Brit, too dizzy to sit up properly.

"Darling, the cloth is slipping," Arthur tsked, readjusting the towel, "if you want to lay down you could have just asked. Here." Arthur turned to the side, propping his feet up on the couch and his back against the armrest. Ludwig gave him a hesitant look, but when Arthur gave him a warm smile and gestured for him to come closer, Ludwig took the invitation and laid himself on top of Arthur's chest. "Better?"

Ludwig nodded. "Mhm."

"Okay...now where were we?"

"He had just met Arthur."

"Oh right...He was unlike anyone Linus had ever seen before. He was spindly. His light hair was a mess, sticking up at odd angles."

As he read, Arthur began combing his hand through Ludwig's hair. Now his cheeks were flushed from more than just his fever. As Arthur continued, Ludwig found his eyelids getting heavy and although he wanted to stay awake and try to listen to the story, he eventually closed his eyes and fell fast asleep.

"So much for your tea," Arthur softly chuckled to himself as he admired his now sleeping lover. He leaned down, placing a kiss on the top of Ludwig's head. "Rest up love."

Author's Note: Okay at that's all my GerEng stuff from the event. I also wrote some GerFruk and even one GerFra fic and you can find them on my tumblr here: https://koolkat9.tumblr.com/tagged/germanyshipevent2021