*briiiing*
‘Hello?’
‘Heero?’
‘Duo? Why aren’t you in bed?’
‘Well, I was just thinking about eating some of that soup you left me, and was trying to remember how long you said to heat it.’
‘Two or three minutes should be fine on high, just stir it once. I left a note on it.’
‘Oh. Ok. I guess I’ll go do that then.’
‘Is that all?’
‘Yeah. Just… making the soup.’
‘Ok then; I’ll let you go eat. Bye, Duo.’
‘Bye.’
*briiiing*
‘Hello, Duo.’
‘Hey.’
‘What’s the matter?’
‘Well, I was thinking… if you’re supposed to gargle salt water, why wouldn’t it be the same to just eat something salty?’
‘I don’t think it works like that.’
‘Oh. But I can’t gargle salt water… it makes me gag.’
‘Well… just swish it a little if that’s the best you can do.’
‘Oh. Ok.’
‘Was there anything else?’
‘Uh… no. I guess not.’
‘Then you should try to get back to sleep.’
‘Ok. Good night then.’
‘Good night, Duo.’
*briiiing*
‘Yes, Duo?’
‘When they say fluids, do they mean any fluids at all, or does it have to be water? Because…’
‘I’m pretty sure they don’t mean soda pop.’
‘Oh.’
‘Water, or juices, or those sports drinks I left you…’
‘Did I thank you for those?’
‘Yes you did… right before you threw me out.’
‘I didn’t throw you out…’
‘You threw me out.’
‘Is that why you won’t talk to me?’
‘I’ve been talking to you all evening, Duo, so I really don’t see why I couldn’t have just stayed in the first damn place.’
‘But Heero…’
‘Not like I’ve gotten anything else done this evening…’
‘But…’
‘Between the phone calls and the text messages. You do realize you’ve texted me at least once for every phone call you’ve made…’
‘Heero, I…’
‘And have called me at least once every half an hour since I left your place. I hardly see…’
‘I feel like flaming crap!’
‘What?’
‘Heero, I feel like hell! Like over-cooked, over-tenderized, road kill! I hurt in places I never knew I had! I’m burning up, I’m freezing, I can’t breathe, and I can’t stop coughing. It hurts to sit up, it hurts to lie down and…’
‘All the more reason why I ought to be there to help…’
‘Will you just let me finish? And the biggest thing… why the hell would you think I would want to inflict that on the one person who means the most to me in the whole stupid world? I love you, damn it! I wouldn’t give this to you for anything!’
‘…’
‘…’
‘Duo?’
‘Uh… soup… burning… uhm… gotta go.’
*briiiing*
‘Uh… hello?’
‘Don’t you dare hang up on me again.’
‘…’
‘And don’t you dare use the ‘medicated’ line or I will hurt you.’
‘…’
‘Say it again?’
‘I love you. Always have.’
‘I’m on my way over…
‘Heero!’
‘Shut up, Duo.’
‘I don’t want you to suffer through this…’
‘Damn it, Duo… I love you too, and the hell if some stupid flu is going to keep me from being there with you right now.’
‘But…’
‘Duo…’
‘Ok, fine, but don’t you blame me when you’re the one trying to figure out which end gets priority in the bathroom when they’re both going at once!’
‘…’
‘Heero?’
‘Ok… maybe waiting a few days would be prudent…’