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For as much as Gabriel enjoyed rooming with Crowley, he was also enjoying having a room all to himself. He liked the quiet, the not having to worry about cleaning up after someone else, the not being woken up at odd hours of the night because Crowley is clearly nocturnal. He just wished it was happening under better circumstances.
The second Crowley had even mentioned a sore throat, Gabriel had refused to return to their room. He was fine just sleeping on a couch in the rec room, but Aziraphale would hear none of it. He offered to switch rooms while Crowley was sick, attesting that his iron immune system would keep him well protected. Despite being three days into the arrangement and not getting sick, Gabriel was still doing his best to stay far away from both of them, just to be safe.
“Is this really necessary?” Aziraphale asked from the other side of the door. They were in the library, Gabriel squirreled away in an independent study room as Azirpahale huffed outside.
“Yes,” Gabriel assured him. “What was it you needed?” Why Aziraphale couldn’t just call and talk about this, Gabriel didn’t know.
“I need your help taking care of Crowley this afternoon.” Gabriel let out an involuntary shudder. “I have to stay here and work on a group project. So I just need you to check in on him and make sure he takes his medicine and eats some lunch.”
“Is it really that bad if he misses one dose?” Gabriel asked. It’s not like he had the flu or anything. Just a really bad cold.
“Yes. The sooner he gets better, the sooner you can stop hiding.”
Gabriel frowned. Aziraphale was right. Gabriel did miss spending time with them, even if he’s gotten more schoolwork done in the last week than the whole semester by far.
“Alright, fine.”
“Thank you.”
-
There was nothing more miserable than being sick. But Crowley liked to look on the bright side of things. And this particular brightside was Aziraphale taking care of him. After Gabriel had abandoned him, that is. Crowley knew the guy was a germaphobe, but refusing to even come back in the room to get clothes or anything was just taking things a bit too far.
The door opened, stirring Crowley from a half-nap. “Aziraphale?” He mumbled, suppressing a hoarse cough.
“Wrong boyfriend,” Gabriel answered.
Crowley summoned the energy to roll over, peeling his eyes open so he could squint at the figure in his doorway. The sight almost made him laugh. Gabriel was wearing gloves, a face mask, safety goggles, and even one of those little plastic face shields. “I’m surprised you’re not in a full-on hazmat suit,” Crowley said.
“I tried,” Gabriel informed him. He shut the door and assaulted Crowley’s eyes by turning on the overhead light. “But they’re surprisingly hard to get last-minute.”
“Where did you even get that face shield?” Crowley asked.
“Borrowed it from the art department. I guess paint or whatever splashes?”
Crowley huffed a soft laugh and deflated more into the mattress. “Finally decided to brave the room for some clothes, huh?” Although Crowley thought the fit of Aziraphale’s clothes of Gabriel wasn’t too bad at all.
“Not quite. Aziraphale got held up with a group project, so I’m here to administer the medicine.”
Crowley shivered and pulled the blanket up over his head. “No, thanks.”
Gabriel sighed, already rummaging through the box of meds Aziraphale left dutifully on the desk. “You need to take them.”
“I can’t,” Crowley informed him. “They’re too big.”
“Oh, please. I’ve seen you swallow bigger things before.”
And there was just a hint of suggestion in his voice that made Crowley laugh. Unfortunately, the movement of laughing lodged some of his throat-phlegm loose, leading to a truly unpleasant coughing fit. “Don’t make me laugh!” He warned.
“Sorry.” Gabriel stepped up the bed and pulled the sheets down. He held the pills out along with Crowley’s cup of juice. “C’mon.”
Crowley groaned and backed away into the mattress as much as he could. “Do you want me to choke and die?”
“No. I want you to get better so we can hang out again.”
Crowley pouted. Because he wanted that, too. “Fine.” He took the pills with a shaky hand and managed to swallow them. But he shuddered and made a face as he felt them go down all the same.
“Good. Now, what would you like for lunch?”
“Not hungry,” Crowley informed him.
“Aziraphale made me promise to make you eat lunch,” Gabriel said. “So either you can tell me what you want, or I’ll force you to eat something healthy.”
Crowley stuck his tongue out at him, but he knew Gabriel wouldn’t back down. Guy could be as stubborn as Aziraphale was some days. “Noodles.”
“Good. I’ll be right back.”
“Okay.”
Gabriel shut off the light and left, leaving Crowley to burrow back under his blankets.
-
Gabriel got a few strange looks in the common room as he made Crowley’s lunch, but it was better than being unprotected. Already he could feel himself infected, and he had to remind himself that the mask and gloves should keep him safe. Crowley was back under the blankets when he returned, snoring softly. But it was a fake snore, so Gabriel turned the lights back on, much to Crowley’s vocal dismay.
“Sit up,” Gabriel said.
“Can’t. Too weak.”
Gabriel sighed and set the bowl of noodles down on the desk. Crowley groaned as Gabriel pulled the sheets back down and grabbed his arms. He pulled Crowley up to a seat and then helped him settle against the wall, hardly supporting his own weight.
“Eat up.” Gabriel handed Crowley the bowl and he just made a noise and stuck his tongue out at it. He truly was a child when he was sick. How Aziraphale put up with him, Gabriel would never know.
“I don’t have the energy to chew,” Crowley said. He let his head flop to one side.
“Well you have to eat. Or else Aziraphale will be disappointed in you.”
“Eh.” Crowley pouted and looked at the noodles, but he still didn’t move.
“I’m not going to feed you,” Gabriel said. “Now eat.”
“I’ll only eat if you stay.”
“What?”
“I can’t sleep when I’m sick unless someone’s holding me. And I’m tired.”
“You want me to cuddle you while you’re sick?” Gabriel shuddered at the very thought.
Crowley just nodded while he continued to pout. “Please?”
“No.”
“Pretty please!”
“No.”
“Pretty, witty, please?”
Gabriel sighed and dropped his head. “If you promise to not complain about having to eat or take your medicine ever again to either me or Aziraphale, then yes.”
Crowley eagerly nodded. “I promise.”
“Fine.”
With a smile, Crowley lifted his head and started eating with renewed energy. Gabriel scoffed.
“So much for not being able to chew,” he mumbled.
Crowley just shrugged, looking pleased as punch as he finished eating. Gabriel, meanwhile, was dreading his promise. He was happy knowing he had made Aziraphale’s time dealing with Crowley a little bit easier, but he was about to get himself covered with germs. He really did wish he could get a hazmat suit.
“All done!” Crowley handed Gabriel the empty bowl and then scooted over to the edge of the bed, leaving just enough room for Gabriel to climb in.
With a groan, Gabriel turned off the light, got in, and settled himself in a half-seated position, waiting stiff as a board as Crowley partially climbed over him. Crowley rested his head on Gabriel’s chest, one arm wrapped over his waist as his legs took one of Gabriel’s hostage in a vice grip. Crowley sighed happily and snuggled closer. Gabriel placed on gloved hand on Crowley’s head, not able to smooth through his hair as gently as he’d like, and the other over Crowley’s arm.
Crowley made a huff. “Are you wearing two sets of gloves?”
“Three,” Gabriel corrected.
Crowley laughed again, which just made him cough. All over Gabriel’s shirt. He shuddered and closed his eyes, trying to ignore it.
“I love you,” Crowley said, his voice already weak with sleep.
It wasn’t the first time they had said it, but it still wasn’t something they threw about very often yet. Gabriel allowed himself a small smile as he relaxed. “I love you, too.”
-
Aziraphale had tried to hurry his way through the project, but he didn’t exactly want to get a bad grade just for rushing. He was still dreadfully late getting back to Crowley, and he knew the poor thing would be just miserable left to his own devices all afternoon. He opened the door carefully, peeking in to see if maybe Crowley had managed to fall asleep on his own.
“Gabriel?” Aziraphale asked, stepping into the room. “What are you still doing here?”
Gabriel shrugged and gestured to Crowley, who was asleep on him. “I got coerced.”
Aziraphale chuckled softly, his heart swelling at the sight. He knew it must have taken a great deal of coercing to get Gabriel to stay and cuddle Crowley in such a state. And now his duty was done.
Aziraphale stepped up to the bed and gently ran his hand through Crowley’s hair, waking him. “Crowley, dear, I think it’s time to let Gabriel go now.”
Crowley grumbled and lifted his head, leaving behind a decent amount of drool on Gabriel’s chest. Aziraphale smiled softly at Gabriel and helped detangle them so Gabriel could roll off the bed.
“Thank you for your help today,” Aziraphale said as he walked Gabriel back to the door. “Now, go disinfect yourself and enjoy the night off.”
“Thank you,” Gabriel said, looking physically relieved as he practically ran out of the room.
Aziraphale returned to the bed and took up his own post, letting Crowley wrap himself around him. “How on earth did you get him to stay?” Aziraphale asked.
“I used the best weapon of all.”
“What’s that?”
“Love.”
“Ah.” Aziraphale nodded in understanding and placed a kiss to the top of Crowley’s head. “Yes, that would do it.”