Why Don't We One Shots

Sick days, Zach Herron

Zach wasn't the type to complain. His usual energy was contagious, and his smile could light up a room. But today, despite the sun shining outside, he felt like everything was off. His head throbbed, his body ached, and no amount of water seemed to help the dry feeling in his throat. He was sitting slouched on the couch, wearing an old hoodie of his. His normally combed hair, usually effortlessly styled, was now just a mess, falling in loose strands over his forehead.

His phone buzzed on the coffee table. He reached for it with a sigh, already knowing who it was. Y/n had a sixth sense when it came to him.

"Hey, how's my favourite boy?" Y/n's message blinked on his screen, and a small smile tugged at his lips, despite the weight of his illness. He quickly typed back: "Hey, I'm okay. Just a little tired. Probably nothing serious."

She didn't buy it.

Within seconds, his phone buzzed again. "Nothing serious? Zach, you're literally never tired. I'm coming over."

He sighed but didn't argue. He could feel the warmth that radiated from her texts even through the cold haze of his fever. She'd been through this before—he'd been sick a few times over the course of their relationship, and each time, she always showed up like some sort of comforting force of nature, ready to make everything better.

By the time Y/n arrived, Zach was half asleep on the couch, wrapped in an old blanket. He could hear the sound of her footsteps before she knocked. The door creaked open, and there she was, standing in the doorway, her eyes immediately finding his.

"Zach..." she said softly, her voice already full of concern. She set her bag down by the door and walked over to him, kneeling beside the couch.

He managed a weak smile, trying not to let his exhaustion show. "Hey, I told you, I'm fine. Just... tired."

Y/n raised an eyebrow. "Sure you are." She placed the back of her hand gently against his forehead, and her expression softened. "You're burning up, idiot."

Zach closed his eyes for a second, letting himself melt into the cool touch of her skin against his forehead. It was the kind of comfort that could make him forget about everything else. But even through the fog of illness, he still wanted to make sure she didn't worry too much. "I'm serious, I'm fine. I just need some rest, okay?"

She didn't buy that either. "Come here," she said, pulling the blanket back slightly. She slid onto the couch next to him, tucking herself under the warmth of the blanket. "You're not fooling me, Zach." Her voice was soft but firm. "You're sick, and I'm not leaving until you get better."

Zach chuckled weakly, his body still aching, but the sound of her teasing tone made him feel lighter. He shifted a little to get comfortable, allowing her to rest her head against his shoulder. The quiet of the room, the gentle weight of her presence beside him, made him forget about the pounding in his head, if only for a moment.

Y/n reached for the TV remote on the coffee table, turning on the screen at a low volume, but she didn't seem interested in anything that was playing. Instead, she leaned into him more, wrapping her arms around his waist. "I'm not letting you hide your sick self away today, okay? You've been working too hard lately, and I can tell you need this."

Zach smiled again, though it was a bit strained. He wasn't used to being taken care of, not in the way she did it. He was the one who usually looked after her—bringing her snacks when she was stressed, staying up late to talk through anything on her mind, always finding ways to make her laugh. But now, he was the one who needed her, and that made him feel oddly vulnerable in the best possible way.

"I don't like being sick," Zach murmured after a long silence, his voice raspy.

Y/n chuckled softly. "I can tell. But don't worry, I'm here to make it all better."

She reached over and grabbed a bottle of water from the table, helping him drink from it slowly. He felt a wave of gratitude flood through him as he leaned back against her, his eyes closing again.

"You're really good at this," he mumbled between sips.

Y/n laughed lightly. "What, taking care of you when you're being a baby? Please, it's like a full-time job."

Zach made a face. "Hey, I'm not a baby. I just... I don't feel like myself when I'm sick, you know?"

"I know," she said, her voice quiet now. "But I think it's cute how much you try to act tough, even when you're clearly dying on the inside."

Zach laughed, a little more heartily this time, though his body still felt weak. "I'm not dying."

"No, but you might as well be." She playfully poked his side, making him squirm. "Seriously, though, I'm happy to help you get better. You're like my favourite person to take care of."

Zach's heart fluttered at that, and he wrapped his arm around her, pulling her closer. "I'm lucky to have you."

She smiled up at him, brushing a stray lock of hair from his forehead. "You are. But I'm lucky to have you too."

They settled into a peaceful quiet for a moment. The only sound in the room was the hum of the TV in the background, but it didn't matter. Y/n's presence filled every inch of the space, and Zach's heart was full. Even though he didn't feel good physically, everything about this moment with her made it all worth it.

She looked at him, studying his face with gentle eyes. "Hey, if you need anything, I'm right here. You just have to ask."

Zach nodded, his breath still a little shallow from the fever, but he felt cared for in a way he'd never quite experienced before. "I don't need anything more than this."

Y/n smiled softly, her fingers running through his hair. "Okay, but I'm still making you soup later."

He grinned, a small laugh escaping his lips. "I could get used to this."

She rested her head on his chest, closing her eyes, content in the quiet peace they had together. Zach's fingers absently traced patterns on her arm as they both drifted into comfortable silence, the kind that only lovers could share—no words needed, just being there for each other.

And in that moment, even with the fever burning through him and his body aching, Zach couldn't help but feel like the luckiest guy in the world. Because he knew, deep down, that no matter how sick or tired or stressed he got, Y/n would always be there. And that was the greatest comfort of all.

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AN: Hey everybody, I'm back. I've been looking for new stories to read but I haven't found anything that I really liked, so I've decided to lock in for the holidays and write and publish them myself. Please remember to vote!! Thanks for reading xx