[MINGLE] Worried/Sick 1: Symptoms Manifest & Reaction

[sixthiteration]

WHERE: Anywhere; multiple locations
WHEN: Apx. 13-18 November
OPEN TO: ALL - MINGLE
WARNINGS: Serious illness and reactions to such

IMPORTANT NOTES: This is the first of two mingles. Please see the timing and general event details here.

Illness Presents and Putting Heads Together will have their own top-levels in this post, but you may make separate top-levels for whatever you like! Anything is welcome, as long as it tangentially relates to the Worried/Sick plot.

Please keep in mind the established plot details, but creative license is welcome and encouraged as long as it doesn't step on toes.

Comments

[nonstopnarcissist]

"M'not going anywhere. Not dissolving. Not dying. Promise." Like that'll keep him from keeling over if (when) the fever takes a turn for the worse. Bruce worries too much about- everything. All the time. Giving him a little room to breathe shouldn't be difficult but-

Tony presses a hand to his chest, turning to cough into his own shoulder. Trying to keep from getting germs on Bruce though, honestly? He's probably infected too by this point. Overexposure to the bacteria or virus.

"Not leaving you. Pretty sure you'd get all sad if I died, make the face. Can't stand the face." The pinch of Bruce's brows, the way his eyes go dark and wounded- it sticks in Tony's ribs. He'd hate to think he'd make him make the face.

[notsoangry]

Tony can't promise that but Bruce needs desperately to believe him. Tony was his center point, no matter what, and he tried so hard to be one of those for Tony too. He wants to keep this two ways. They give and take from each other. He needs to be here and alive to keep that going. This isn't about you, this is about him.

He knows he is likely already infected. With how close he is to the virus and the people breathing on him, it's a countdown to when, not if. Bruce no longer has the Hulk to shield him. What he has to do is keep with it long enough to fix this. He does take a step back when Tony coughs, but not because of him breathing on him, but because he'll need to the space to get the air back into his lungs. Bruce's clinging to him doesn't help that.

"I would never make a different type of face again. That would permanently be my face." Bruce would lose his mind for sure. He needs that mind. He needs Tony Stark. He leaves for a moment just to get Tony that water and comes back, putting it in his hand. "I love you." He's said it a few times now, mostly because he is positive Tony doesn't hear it a lot, and also Bruce himself rarely gets to say it or express himself. But he does. "Spend some time talking to the others when they come in. You might be able to check in on each other if you're hallucinating and ground yourself."

[nonstopnarcissist]

"Noooooooooo." Tony mumbles, quiet and petulant, trailing off into a subaudible whine. He reaches up to poke at Bruce's cheeks like he can force him into smiling if he tries hard enough. "Not the face. You'll make everyone sad if you make the face. I'll haunt you if you promise not to make the face."

Holding onto the cup takes most of his focus. Feverish and floaty like this- the walls are down. The knee jerk flinch and tension is completely absent. shoulders slumped he sips, eyes drifting shut as he tries to breathe again. It's wet, thick in his chest and his heart- god- his heartbeat feels so slow. "Love you, Gummibear."

It's soft like a secret, but he says it. He means it. "Really I'd rather sleep through this. Wake up feeling better. But that's never been my luck."

[notsoangry]

"I will only make the face if you leave me, Tony. So you can't do that." He meant in death of course. Neither of them can control what happens here in terms of coming or going. Bruce has to keep his shit together, but in some ways, this gives him better incentive to move quickly and purposefully. He would have done that anyway, to save people, but with Tony on the line the fear and importance rackets up significantly.

Bruce knows that Tony cares for him, and he suspected already that deep emotion between them was equal, but it still means something, to be told that. He hasn't heard it much in his life, and he'll treasure it. Even if it's said in fever. That's fine. He strokes a hand through Tony's hair, and leans his head into it, breathing him in. You have to save him. Their physical connection is all kinds of intimate, and he doesn't feel bad about it in the least.

"I don't know if there's anything we can use to help you sleep, but I'll find it if there is. There's herbs I don't know, but people are here who do." Beverly might have recommended it already if she thought of it, but he'll check anyway. "I'm not so sure sleeping through this is good though." Fever this high, people awake meant they were still alive. "I'm sorry, just hang in there. Lie down. I'll come back regularly so you won't be alone."