ahh, friend, i would love to see some wintertime sickfic with 🤍 (forehead kisses) & 🐻❄️ (warm cuddles) for Ed and Stede. thank you 🥺
this is soo cute for them pls :( a streamer au ficlet for you <3
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“I have to cut it short this time, lads,” Stede hears Ed say from the other room. They must ask why because Ed’s voice changes just a fraction, a little softer than before, so slight Stede doubts anyone but him would even notice it. “Stede’s not feeling so hot,” Ed continues. "Gotta go make sure he's alright, wouldn't want him to be sick alone too long."
Another pause, more comments Stede can't hear, then:
“Mm, best, I don’t know about that, but I’m certainly a pretty fucking amazing boyfriend. Thanks, yeah, I’ll tell him. Okay, see you later this week, you know where to find me.”
Stede hears the smile in Ed’s voice and smiles right along with him. He doesn’t mind strangers on the internet knowing he’s sick, though he’d canceled his own small stream tonight. The thought of even his small handful of internet friends seeing and hearing him like this, congested and red-nosed and sneezing every ten minutes, is not Stede’s idea of a good time. He sniffles a few times, tentatively, then shifts the pile of blankets he’d assembled over the course of the day, making room for Ed.
He has to stop midway through to sneeze a few times all in a row, then blow his nose, which had started to run from the effort, and by the time Stede’s situated again, Ed’s made his way out of his back office room.
“You’re up!” Ed says when he gets to the living room. He rinses out his empty iced coffee cup and grabs a box of crackers from the counter, bringing them over to the couch and dropping right into the spot Stede had just vacated for him.
“I’m up,” Stede confirms, shifting a little so Ed can get comfy beside him, then curls himself up around him. “And I happen to think you are the best boyfriend ever,” he tells him.
Ed kisses him on the forehead, to feel for the fever Stede always gets when he's sick, probably, but he lingers a minute longer than he has to, and Stede sighs at the soft, reassuring touch. “Heard that, did you?”
“Mm,” Stede smiles. “You’re not exactly quiet,” he teases.
Ed pretends to look stricken. “Me, loud?” He pauses just then, realization dawning on him. “I didn’t wake you up, did I? Fuck, I’m sorry, you never sleep when you’re sick as it is.”
Stede shakes his head. “No, no, you didn’t. My nose woke me up, sneezing all over the place,” he grimaces.
“Well, belated bless you, then,” Ed says, and kisses his forehead again. He picks up Stede’s discarded Switch. “What were you playing?”
“PIzza game,” Stede says, smiling. It’s just about all he’s felt like playingL Good Pizza, Great Pizza, a silly game that didn’t require much effort, but was simple and soothing when his brain felt scrambled by cold medicine and exhaustion.
“D’you want to play now? Or we can watch something?” Ed asks, pulling the blankets up and around the both of them. Stede had grabbed Ed’s favorite one from their bed, along with a heavier, weighted blanket that was his only shot at sleeping when he’s sick like this, and finally the soft, oversized fleece throw they keep on the couch. It’s overkill, probably, but it’s comforting and soft and Ed hardly seems to mind.
“You get mad at all the customers,” Stede reminds him, yawning as he settles back against Ed’s chest. He nuzzles himself into the soft skin of his neck, breathing in as much of him as his stuffy nose will allow. He doesn’t think he’ll ever get tired of the soft familiar scent of Ed.
Ed rolls his eyes. “They’re so confusing! Spicy flatbread should not mean bell peppers. Bell peppers aren’t spicy, Stede!” he argues, getting agitated just thinking of the last time he’d watched Stede play.
Stede laughs, though it quickly devolves into a coughing fit, which has Ed rubbing warm, soothing circles over his back. “Maybe just a movie,” Stede says. He’s tired again already, comfy and warm with Ed wrapped up around him.
“Movie it is,” Ed says, grabbing the remote and scrolling through until he finds When Harry Met Sally without having to ask. It’s been Stede’s go-to sick day movie for as long as he can remember, and he’s touched that Ed remembers. It’s not often he gets sick, but it always hits him hard when he does, leaving him on the couch for far longer than he’d like.
“Hh’IittshhH! Eiiishh! Hm’TSH!” The quick rush of sneezes catches even Stede off guard, and he has to sniffle a good few times in a row when he’s done, gratefully accepting the handful of tissues Ed offers him.
“Bless you!” Ed says, kissing him lightly right on the bridge of his nose when Stede’s done.
“Sorry,” Stede murmurs. “It will happen again…”
“I know,” Ed says simply. “S’alright, you’re sick.” He wraps his arms around Stede’s waist and pulls him in close again as the opening credits roll. “Everyone says feel better, by the way,” Ed tells him.
Stede smiles. “Tell them thank you for me, and apologies for taking their favorite person away from them.” Ed has a huge following now, something Stede can’t really wrap his brain around, but it’s fun to watch or listen to him in action, even if its from a room away like he had today.
“They’ll survive,” Ed laughs, kissing the nape of Stede’s neck now. He certainly never shies away from him when he’s sick, and for that, Stede’s entirely grateful. “Had to call it a day to spend time with my favorite person.”
Stede feels himself flush, his whole body too warm from all the tea and blankets and low grade fever, but this is something else. Just Ed, and the way he just says little things like that, like it’s just that simple.
“Favorite, hm?”
“The most favorite,” Ed reminds him, smiling crookedly at him. “Don’t look at me like that, you know it’s true you lunatic. You’re extra sappy when you’re sick. Look, watch Meg Ryan’s giant hair meet Billy Crystal for the first time,” Ed says, but he hugs Stede a little tighter beneath the blankets, and grins even wider when Stede tucks a sniffly kiss against his cheek.
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