Road Trip Disaster (Sickfic)

Just Tired?

Steve knew something was a bit off. Like his body just didn’t feel right. He didn’t feel ill but just a bit funny. It was like the one and only time he had an hangover and his body was desperately trying to get rid of the toxic alcohol. He didn’t think anything of it, though. Probably just exhaustion or Tony's maniac driving.

Fury had sent him and Tony to attend a serious of meetings in the middle of nowhere and each one of them were taking longer than expected and they weren't even halfway through them because nothing can be that simple when it came to the Avengers. Both men were beat from it, it had required a lot of energy and willpower for them to be up in time this morning. However unluckily for them there was no time to rest as they were needed on another location for another boring reunion but at least that meeting was a couple days ahead they just had to endure a twelve hours drive.

"Did I do or say something wrong?" Steve quickly opened his eyes, that he didn't even realized that he had closed, when he heard Tony's voice. The genius was looking quizzically at him, his brow furrowed in a questioning way. "You've gone quite."

"I'm just tired." Which was definitely true but he also knew he had gone way longer without getting proper rest and even then he didn't feel that bone tired. His body just felt a bit heavy.

"Well, lucky you I'm on driving duty today." Tony said, glancing quickly at Steve. There was something off about the younger man but he couldn't pinpoint what is was yet. Steve was clearly paler than usual and he had huge bags under his eyes. "Get some sleep."

"I'm good." Steve mumbled but he did rested his head on the car's cool window. In less than a couple minutes his eyes slipped shut against his will and he let out a soft sigh. It was a mixture of exhaustion and the fact that he wasn’t sure if he was coming down with something.  

Tony chuckled when he saw that Steve had indeed taken his adviced and was now softly snoring. Tony lowered the volume of the music playing on the radio and kept driving.

....

Tony stopped at a gas station to fill up the car and get some breakfast almost half an hour later. Steve was still asleep and Tony seriously thought about waking him up but decided against as he only would be gone for a couple of minutes. He quietly existed from the car, closing the door as quietly as possible.

Steve was still thankfully dead to the world  when Tony came back with steaming cups of coffee and food. He tapped on the window of the passenger side causing Steve to jump and hit his head on the window. Great now he is going to get a headache on top of whatever was going on.

“Hey! Was that really necessary?” Steve glared at the genius, rubbing his head.

“I literally just  tapped the…Never mind here’s the coffee” Tony didn’t have the energy to quarrel, really there was no point.

Steve clearly detected the exhaustion when Tony couldn’t be bothered to argue.

“Maybe I should drive, you look shattered”

“Nah it’s fine. I’ll tell you when to take over” Tony chose not to mention the fact that if he was looking like crap, Steve was ten times worse.

They carried on driving in silence and for once peace took over the car's atmosphere.

...

After an hour Steve who had been unable to fall back asleep again broke the silence. The funny feeling in his stomach was intensifying and he was starting to worry.  Maybe it was from the coffee. He did not really feel like eating and had left his food for later. Yep definitely from the coffee. It was just sitting so heavily in his gut. He began fidgeting trying to get comfortable and shake this weird sensation.

“Hey, you feeling alright Tony?”

"Yes. Why are you asking that?"

“I think there was something wrong with the coffee."

“There's no much that can go wrong in a coffee that makes a person get sick. I think it's just your impression. I feel just fine”

“Huh” No, no. I’m sure it was the coffee it's because he has a faster metabolism. Tony will feel it soon. Steve attempted to convince himself.

At first Steve didn't know why Tony had chosen a car that had a front bench seat instead of regular ones but he was definitely enjoying it now as it meant he could change positions easily.

He took off his shoes and curled on his side the best he could with his seatbelt still on. He was on the verge of falling asleep again when an unexpected but strong cramp shot through his stomach.

Steve bit his lips to avoid groaning out loud and gently rubbed his belly. He decided to let it go when the strange feeling passed as quickly as it came. He brought his knees closer to his chest and sighed when he felt some of the ache that he had been feeling since this morning left his body.

"You good, cap?" Steve nodded, his cheeks turning red when he realized that Tony had been watching him. He knew he should probably sit straight so Tony could buy his excuse better but the moment he had tried to uncurl from his little cocoon the uncomfortable ache had returned.

"Yep. Just need to a change of position." Steve said through a yawn.

"If you say so." Tony shrugged "I'm gonna call Fury and then if you want to stop for lunch just say it. I know your metabolism runs faster than normal people and you didn't eat breakfast."

Steve refused to acknowledge the way his belly flipped and gurgled just by mere mention of food. It had to be hunger pains.

"Okay. 'm probably going to fall asleep 'gain. Wake me up when you want to switch."

"Still tired, grandpa?" Tony teased, but he couldn't hide the concern in his voice. It wasn't normal for Steve to be so run down by a bad night of sleep.

"Exhausted." Steve mumbled, letting his eyes slip close. He shifted in his seat a bit and not even a couple minutes later Tony heard his breathe even out.

Now Tony was sure something was wrong with Steve. There's no way he would willingly admit he was tired if he was as fine as he claimed to be.

Tony's thoughts were interrupted when his phone rang. Fury.