Taking Care of Big Brother Romano (an APH short story)

Fratello Is Ill

A young Italian man hurried down the darkening streets talking on the phone pressed between his ear and shoulder, and holding an abundance of shopping bags.

"Yes Lovi, I got everything," He said.

"Even the head congestion shit?" Lovino asked, sounding very stuffed up, proving he needed those meds.

"Uh...no," Feliciano said.

"Go get it," Lovino demanded.

"Lovi, I was just at that store," Feliciano complained.

"I don't give two shits, go get it."

"Alright, alright,  I'll see you when I get home," Feliciano said hanging up the phone.

"Fratello, I'm home," Feliciano said as he entered the house.

"Do you have the fucking shit?" Lovino asked, sounding annoyed. 

"Yes," Feliciano said going into the kitchen to put the groceries away. "So, are you feeling any better?"

"Do I look like I'm feeling better?" Lovino replies.

Lovino honestly looked like shit, and worse than he did before. His face was pink, his nose was red from using tissues so often, he covered himself in a blanket, and had a pile of tissues by him.

"Not really, no," Feliciano responded.

"Exactly."

"Well, how about I bring you your meds, put in a movie, and make you some soup," Feliciano suggested.

"Fine," Lovino said, blowing his nose again.

"Alright, so while I get your meds, put this thermometer under your tongue," Feliciano said handing him the thermometer.

"Why?"

"So I know if you have a fever." Lovino 'hmph'ed but did as instructed.

Lovino sat quietly eating his soup as Feliciano put his tissues in a bin.
"So how's the soup?" Feliciano asked.

"It's alright," Lovino said.

"Well that's good," Feliciano set the bin next to his older brother. Lovino handed the half eaten bowl of soup to Feliciano.
"What's wrong?" Feliciano asked.

"I feel like I'm going to throw up," Lovino said leaning his head back against the couch.

"I'll get you a bucket," Feliciano said rushing to the kitchen to get a bucket and hand towel. When he got back and handed the bucket to his brother,  the first thing Lovino did was empty his stomach. 

"Well that was disgusting," Lovino said when he was done vomiting.

"I'll take you the doctor's office tomorrow," Feliciano said taking the bucket and going to wash it out in case Lovi needed it soon.

"Feli," Lovino called from the living room.

"Yes," Feliciano responded.

"Can I have more ibuprofen?"

"Not for another hour, do you want anything to drink in the meantime?"

"Just some water."

"Okay." Feliciano got the water and brought it to his brother along with the clean puke bucket.

"Grazie," Lovino said taking the cup of water and taking a drink.

"No problem, Lovi. Now if you can hold that for an hour I'll bring you some applesauce to eat," Feliciano said, sitting on the armchair next to the couch.

A few hours passed and the two brothers fell asleep. It was a phone ringing that woke Feliciano in the morning.

"Hello," Feliciano whispered, not wanting to wake his brother.

"Hello Feliciano, you do remember that there's a meeting today, right?" Ludwig said on the other end.

"Oh, I can't make it today. Lovino is sick so I'm taking care of him."

"Ah, I see. Well I will take notes on the meeting for you and give them to you later."

"Thank you, well I need to go now, so I'll talk to you later."

"Yes, goodbye" Ludwig said hanging up the phone. Feliciano put his phone down and sat back down in his chair.
'I should probably wake Lovino up, and get him to the doctor's,' Feliciano thought.

The two brothers returned home from the doctor's, now knowing what was wrong with Lovino. He simply had the flu and should be better in a day or two.
"I'm going back to bed," Lovino said heading upstairs to his bedroom.

"Go ahead, I'll be down here, yell for me if you need me," Feliciano said heading to the living room.

After a few days Lovino was much better. Only, because of how much Feliciano had been around him, poor Feli had caught the flu and now it was Lovino's turn to take care of his fratello.