Anything But Toxic (Atticus x Reader)

Sick Day

> got sick and found inspiration and motivation for a new part

  It had been a few days since you and the crew visited the beach, and your scrapes were healing up nicely. Atticus had been worrying non-stop about them, but as they healed his worrying lessened. Unfortunately, the flu had started making the rounds, and you had an ominous headache before going to bed last night, but you chalked it up to exhaustion. When you woke up in the morning, you immediately wished you hadn't. You felt like you hadn't slept at all, your nose was stuffy and running, your throat felt like it had also been run through the sand, and when you went to get out of bed, your head throbbed and your back and shoulders ached. You groaned and rolled over much to the displeasure of your sore muscles, and tried to go back to sleep. After a few minutes of your attempts at somnia, you felt cold, and crawled out of bed to find more blankets. As the air in your room hit your skin, you started shivering, and began looking around for blankets frantically. You grabbed your thermometer as you searched. As you gathered your blankets, your shivering got worse until you threw yourself into bed and cocooned yourself. You managed to fall back asleep this time, but it wasn't fulfilling rest, and you repeatedly drifted in and out of consciousness. After an hour or two of terrible sleep, you were awoken to the sound of text messages. You groan, but realize it might be worried friends, so you decide to check them. 

[10:21] pretty boy ❤️✨> Where art thou?!

  Oh no. It's Atticus. He's probably worried, you think to yourself. Wait, why is he so worried?

[10:23] Y/n't>  think i came down with the flu that's being passed around. woke up feeling horrid

  You take your temperature and take a photo of the little screen on it.

[10:24] Y/n't> {image}

[10:24] pretty boy ❤️✨> Thou art ill? Does't thou need assistance?

[10:25] Y/n't> nah, i'll take some medicine and hope it goes away enough that i can sleep. besides, i wouldn't want to make you sick too

[10:25] pretty boy ❤️✨> Nonsense! Thou art feverish and miserable! Thee have said thineself that thine illness keeps thee from rest! I shall take care of thee and aid in thine recovery.

  You smile softly, part of you annoyed that he would risk his own health for you, but most of you melting at how sweet he is, willing to drop everything(you had no idea what he was doing, but still) to come help you recover from your sickness. For thirty minutes, you lay in bed, tossing and turning, trying to find a comfy position to soothe your aches, while simultaneously cocooning and uncocooning yourself when you went from freezing to burning up and back. After thirty minutes, you hear a knock at your door, and you attempt at calling out for him to enter, but end in a coughing fit. You grab your phone and text him to tell him he can come in. When he enters, you can see him carrying a bag, and he looks like he hurried over here.

  "Apologies I did not arrive sooner, I decided to stop my mine dorm room to gather some things," he explains, setting his bag down on the floor and approaching your nest of blankets. In full honesty, you weren't expecting him to actually take care of you, but you appreciated it, and were happy to enjoy his company. With him to keep you distracted, you wouldn't feel so miserable, and besides, you would never pass up and opportunity to hang out with this boy that makes candy seem flavorless with how sweet he is.

  For the rest of the afternoon, the two of you mostly just sat on your bed and chatted until your throat worsened and he insisted on texting instead. He gave you medicine he had brought, and for lunch he brought out a couple thermoses of soup he had made. The two of you sat side-by-side, enjoying your soup and some crackers you had in a cupboard.

  "How are't thou feeling? Has thine illness worsened?" Atticus asked gently, and you texted him that you were feeling better, and you thanked him for helping him recover. He turned slightly pink and looked away before mumbling, "'Tis wonderful news to hear." You smiled at his words and finished your soup. The soup was plain tomato, but it was delicious and filling, and did in fact make you feel a little better, the warmth of the soup soothing your throat and helping with your stuffy nose. The medicine he had given you also relieved your sore back and shoulders and you headache. You text him, telling him that you are very grateful for him and that he needs to tell you whenever he is sick so you can give him the same kindness. His face turned slightly pinker as he read the message, and he shyly replied, "'Tis my pleasure, I am only trying to aid my companion in their recovery." He looks up at you shyly, and you couldn't help but feel the lovesick ache in your stomach and chest as you yearned to tell him how you felt about him. Instead, you accidentally gave in to intrusive thoughts.

  "Y'know, you're really adorable, Atticus," you remark, only partially thinking and also kind of going for a reaction. He turns bright red and stammers something before burying his face in your blankets to hide. This was even more adorable, and you were dying to hug him or ruffle his hair or something, but you were growing drowsy and growing sluggish. After a moment, Atticus sat up again, refusing to make eye contact and still partially pink, but you were feeling tired and weren't thinking properly. Atticus noticed your sleepiness and patted your head.

  "Ah, thou need thine rest. I shall leave thee be now, rest well." As he moved to get up and leave, your exhausted brain decided it didn't want him to leave, and you ended up wrapping your arms around his waist and snuggling into him before falling asleep. As you did this, Atticus froze in surprise, but as he realized what happened, he looked down at your tired face and smiled gently, and gently stroked your hair. The last thing you saw before you passed out was his kind smile, and you could see in his eyes how he cared so much for you. You softly smiled and sank into a tired, recovering sleep, feeling warm and safe where you are.

>this chapter isn't very long, sorry, but i'm tired and sick and should have gone to bed an hour ago, so i hope you enjoyed

>also i don't feel like checking for errors so the text may be wonky