These Little Moments / Ironstrange

14~ Sick

Thump thump thump

Three knocks on the door. I looked up from my newspaper instinctively, sipping my tea before looking back down.

Thump thump thump

It's probably that FedEx delivery guy. Wong'll get it. There was a pause of silence, presumably Wong signing for the package.

...

THUMP THUMP THUMP

"STRANGE! I SWEAR IF YOUR BOYFRIEND KNOCKS ON THAT DOOR ONE MORE TIME, I'M GOING TO, as his son Peter says, YEET HIM INTO ANOTHER DIMENSION."

Oh shit. I flew down the stairs, almost tripping over my own feet as I vaulted to the door. Flinging the door open, I grabbed my idiot boyfriend's arm and pulled him in from the cold.

"Tony! What were you doing outside in this weather?" I chided, summoning a blanket from the linen closet for him. "You could get sick!"

"Too late," Tony mumbled as I wrapped him in the soft, green quilt. "That's why I came here."

"For a genius, you're pretty stupid," I grumbled, sweeping him up in my arms and carrying him bridal-style into the sitting room. "Why didn't you use your sling ring?"

"I tried. Didn't work," he mumbled, crossing his arms. I placed him down on the couch tightening the quilt around his shoulders. Summoning my basic medkit, I dropped next to Tony and pulled out a thermometer. I passed it to him but he just eyed it, confused.

"What are you waiting for? Put it in," I groaned, searching the kit for my stethoscope and some Motrin.

"In where?"

"Your mouth, where else-" I cut myself off and swung my head back, groaning even louder. "Oh my goddd Tony nooo."

"Okay okay I wasn't sure," he said, placing the tip of the thermometer under his tongue. I placed the half-empty bottle of Motrin on the table and was about to take out a few pills when Tony's thermometer beeped. I snatched it from his mouth without even turning and read the temperature. 101 degrees. Running a fever, as suspected.

"Alright, so you have a fever," I informed him, sanitizing the device, putting it back in the kit, and taking a tablet from the bottle. "This'll help ease your headache for now."

"What is it?" He asked, taking the pill between two fingers.

"Motrin," I answered and he grimaced. "Is there something wrong?"

"Yes, there is something wrong with giving a grown man Motrin," Tony grumbled.

"It'll help you!"

"I'M NOT ON MY CYCLE, STEPHEN!"

"OH STOP BEING A BABY AND TAKE THE DAMN PILL!"

"Okay fine mom," he spat, popping the pill onto his tongue and swallowing it dry.

"Mom? I think you'll be calling me daddy soon," I muttered under my breath. Tony choked on the pill.

~

I figured it was about time I put on some real clothes, seeing as it was 1 in the afternoon by now and Tony was showing no signs of getting better. I quickly ran up to my room, slipping on a purple button up and black slacks, a bit formal but quite polished. Looked a lot like that Benadryl Cucucumberpatch guy that Tony talks about seeing on TV. Nevertheless, I had to be quick, so it had to do for the time being.

Rushing downstairs, I slid into the kitchen, grabbing a can of soup from the cabinet and pouring it into a pot. While that was heating up, I started a kettle of tea for the two of us. I figured some hot green tea with a few drops of honey would serve him well.

Amidst all the bubbling and sizzling, I could hear Tony humming to himself in the next room over. Imagine spending every day like this. Imagine waking up each morning with him next to me, soft snores sounding through the room. Imagine cooking breakfast and watching the morning news together. The more I imagined it the more I realized: everything is better with Tony.

The whistling of the tea kettle pulled me out of my thoughts, my hand absently moving to pour the tea into cups and the soup into a bowl. Sliding on my sling ring, I deftly opened a portal on the floor to the ceiling above where Tony was sitting. My head dropped through first, followed by a tray with his lunch. His face instantly brightened when he saw me, smile spreading up his cheeks and making the creases around his eyes crinkle.

"Thanks Steph," he said, reaching for the tray. I pulled it back abruptly, making that gorgeous smile dissipate. "Uh Stephen? Can I have my lunch now?"

"One second," I answered, swinging back up to place the tray on the floor before jumping through the portal and landing on my boyfriend's lap. No sooner did I land did I slam my lips against his, hands grabbing at his hair and pressing against him aggressively. He gasped in shock, giving me the opportunity to slip my tongue into his mouth, fighting his for dominance. I won, of course, earning loud moans that vibrated in his throat as I shoved him into the back of the couch. His fingers fumbled at the buttons of my shirt, my hands staying rooted in his hair as I made my way down his neck. As his rough fingers grazed my now bare chest, I nibbled at his collarbone, causing him to let out a throaty chuckle. He pulled away, making me whine and try to pull him back towards me but his hands stopped me.

"Stephen, you do realize I'm still sick, right?" He whispered, lightly ruffling my hair. I froze.

"...shit."