Ryden Oneshots

Honey And Lemon

Summary: Brendon agreed to love Ryan 'in sickness and in health'- even if that sickness meant the wakeup call of horrendous hour-long coughing fits.

At first, Brendon just kind of ignored it. He was curled up on his side of the bed, Penny lying against his chest and head tucked under his own, far too tired to move and acknowledge Ryan’s attempt at muffling his cough. It was short enough that Brendon didn’t even have time to open his eyes before the bed shifted as Ryan moved around and then went silent again. It happened again about a half hour later, and Penny was actually the first one to get up and move over to Ryan. Brendon was able to sleep through it for the first hour, but the next three tested both his hearing and patience.

“Are you choking?” Brendon asked quietly, rubbing his eyes and rolling over to face Ryan. When he lowered his hands, he expected to see Ryan’s face across from his own, but Ryan was sitting up, arm up over his face as he coughed. “Ryan?”

He gave Brendon a thumbs up with his other hand as his body began lurching forward. “F-Fine.”

“You sure don’t sound it.” Brendon countered flatly, pushing himself up into the sitting position beside Ryan. Dottie scrambled to sit between them, looking up at Ryan with her wide round eyes. “Are you coming down with something?”

“Don’t know.” Ryan replied, his voice scratchy and quiet. After his two words, he began coughing again.

“You sound terrible.” Brendon noted, making a slightly disgusted face as Ryan continued to sound like he was seconds away from vomiting all over their bed.

“Thanks, Brendon. I feel better already.” He muttered, glaring at Brendon over his arm. Although, his narrowed eyes and stern expression had less impact when it was interrupted by a cough. “Good to know in our vows you were insincere about the ‘in sickness’ part.”

“Oh come on- I meant it!” Brendon laughed, moving Dottie aside to be able to sit shoulder to shoulder with Ryan. “What can I do? What’s wrong?”

“My throat hurts. And my chest and head. And my whole body.” Ryan sighed, hunching over and placing his head in his hands; the coughing fit seemed to have exhausted him, but he looked beyond uncomfortable to sleep.

“Very specific, Ryan.” Brendon replied, trying to add humor to lift Ryan’s quickly sinking spirits. He only groaned in response, his hands slipping down to cover his face. “Okay, it’s okay.” Brendon hushed, placing a hand on his back and patting between his shoulder blades. Ryan leaned into him and rested his head against Brendon’s chest.

“I feel like shit.”

“I know.”

“And I’m tired.”

“I know.”

“And I’m cold.”

“I know, Ryan.” Brendon continued to rub Ryan’s back as he sighed and pressed against him. “Wait, let me get up for a second. I’ll be right back.”

Ryan grumbled disagreements as he moved away from Brendon and fell back onto his pillow. Dottie scurried over to begin licking his face while Penny circled and sat between his knees. Bogart hopped off the bed and followed Brendon out of their bedroom and down to the kitchen.

Brendon wasn’t really sure what one does for someone who has every symptom, but he assumed hot water with honey and lemon was the best option; it would at least ease his throat so talking no longer felt like rubbing nails over sandpaper. He plugged in the kettle, checking to make sure it had enough water before turning it on and beginning his search for a mug. Most of the mugs in the cabinets were small- regular mugs for regular cups of coffee- but Brendon knew they had one that was practically a birdbath with a handle. Typically, it was for eating out of, but Brendon figured the more hot water and steam, the better. He just didn’t know where he put it.