Lovers Once More - Radiostatic

Under The Weather

The next morning, Vox stirred awake to the soft rays of sunlight filtering through the curtains. He stretched, feeling the warmth of Alastor beside him, but as he turned to look, his heart sank. Alastor was a snotty, hot mess, his usually sharp features softened by the remnants of sleep and illness.

Vox reached out gently, brushing a hand against Alastor's forehead to check for fever. "Hey, wake up, love," he said softly, giving Alastor a gentle shake. "Are you feeling okay?"

Alastor groaned in response, his voice hoarse and muffled as he buried his face further into the pillow. "Ugh... just peachy," he grumbled, his usual charisma dimmed by the congestion that clouded his voice.

Vox frowned, feeling a wave of concern wash over him. "You sound terrible," he said, half-teasing, half-serious. "You sure you're not coming down with something?"

"Just a little under the weather," Alastor mumbled, finally turning to face Vox, revealing his red-rimmed eyes and the snotty mess that was his nose. "I'll be fine. Just give me a moment."

Vox couldn't help but chuckle lightly at the sight of his usually composed boyfriend in such a vulnerable state. "You look like you've been through a war zone, Al."

"Very funny," Alastor shot back, his voice still gravelly, but a hint of amusement flickered in his eyes. He attempted to sit up but ended up wincing, bringing a hand to his forehead. "Could you grab me some water?"

"Of course, I'll be right back," Vox said, pushing himself off the bed and heading to the kitchen. He filled a glass with water, his mind racing with thoughts of how to help Alastor feel better. When he returned, he handed the glass to Alastor, who took it gratefully.

"Thanks," Alastor murmured, taking a slow sip before setting the glass down beside him. "You're too good to me."

"Someone has to be when you're like this," Vox replied with a teasing grin. "Now, let's see if we can get you some medicine and a hot meal. Maybe some soup?"

Alastor nodded, grateful for Vox's care. "That sounds... perfect," he said, allowing himself to lean back against the pillows. "You're a real lifesaver, you know that?"

Vox smiled, feeling warmth spread in his chest as he leaned in to press a soft kiss to Alastor's forehead. "Just focus on getting better, okay? I'll take care of the rest."

Vox made his way downstairs, his mind set on helping Alastor feel better. He filled a measuring cup with some medicine, carefully measuring out the correct dosage. As he poured the thick liquid, he couldn't help but think about how stubborn Alastor could be, insisting he was fine even when he clearly wasn't.

Afterward, Vox turned on the kettle to boil water for tea, hoping the warm drink would soothe Alastor's throat. Just as he was pouring the medicine into a small cup, Charlie walked into the kitchen, her cheerful energy lighting up the room.

"Good morning, Vox!" she greeted, her smile wide. "Where's Alastor? I wanted to see how he's doing."

Vox glanced up, feeling a mix of amusement and concern. "He's upstairs, but I'm not sure 'doing' is the right word. He's a bit under the weather," he explained, pouring the hot water into a mug and letting the tea bag steep.

"Oh no! Is he okay?" Charlie asked, her brows furrowing with worry.

"Yeah, just a cold, I think," Vox replied, taking the measuring cup of medicine and the steaming mug of tea over to the counter. "I'm just trying to make sure he gets some medicine and tea to help him out. He really hates being sick."

Charlie nodded, stepping closer. "Let me know if he needs anything. I can whip up some soup or something to help him feel better!"

"Thanks, Charlie. I'll keep that in mind," Vox said with a grateful smile. He paused, then added, "Do you think you could distract Niffty for a bit? I want to give Alastor some time to rest without her bouncing around."