Work Text:
Ough.
Ada let out a quiet groan as her eyes creaked open to stare at her bedroom ceiling. Her head felt like it was full of cotton, and her nose was definitely blocked. The doctor’s mouth tasted bland, and as she moved to lean into a more upright position, her head spun.
Okay, yeah. I don’t think- Nope.
With a huff, Paige rested her head back down on the pillow. If she strained her ears, she could hear shuffling in the rest of the house. The Intern, without a doubt. Ada briefly considered calling out to them, but thought on it before reluctantly reaching to the nightstand for her phone. Her throat felt raspy, so best not to push her vocal chords if she could help it.
She blinked blearily at the phone screen, immediately lowering the brightness as she thumbed over to her texts.
AP > heyintern? i think im mega sick
INT > oh you’re up! Don’t worry, I’m getting breakfast ready
INT > be up in a few with some meds :)
AP > youre a saint i love you
Ada whined as she flopped over in bed, pulling the sheets closer around her. She felt cold, but she knew it had to be a result of a fever. She just needed to tough it out; she didn’t feel confident enough in her equilibrium to try to stand right now.
Her phone buzzed a few times as she lay there, trying to warm up. Ada figured that the Intern would let her know if something was up, so she shut her eyes for the time being. She probably had some form of flu, right? Either way, it wouldn’t do to spread whatever she had to the patients at the hospital. She would have to call off work for the day.
A part of her tried not to feel so relieved at the idea of time off, but Ada found herself relaxing more at the thought of staying home today. She had been working her butt off, and the trio of doctors were up to their necks in work all the time, so… surely a day off wouldn’t hurt?
Paige tried to breathe in before sighing as she shuffled through the nightstand’s drawers for any napkins. She found a sealed pack of tissues bundled up in plastic, and briefly thanked her past self before blowing her nose with a loud honk. It didn’t do much to help with the pain in her head or the sinus congestion, but Ada felt a bit better.
Her phone buzzed again, and Ada reluctantly pulled it into the blanket cocoon she was starting to accumulate to try to warm the frigid screen up a bit before using it. She squinted at the screen, seeing a few texts from other people before finding the activity was in her polycule’s group text.
IAN > Damn, that sick?
INT > yeah :( I’m a little worried, but it doesn’t look life threatening.
IAN > I get that.
IAN > I could probably head over to help out. I don’t have work today
INT > That sounds good! Could you also get tissues and cough syrup cause I think we’re gonna need it
IAN > 👍
AP > canyou get me some candy too
IAN > Yeah, sure. Chocolate?
AP > yeag
IAN > you got it.
AP > yaaayyy :o)
She couldn’t help but smile at her phone screen as she watched the dots on Ian’s end float for a minute, then settle as he sent a message.
IAN > orange or apple juice, ada?
AP > oragne
IAN > you got it, boss. I’ll be over soon, okay?
AP > yayyyyyy
INT > I’ll finish making breakfast then! Thanks again Ian 💙
IAN > 💕
Ada chuckled to herself, reaching for another tissue from the small pack she had. She could tell that Ian was shy about affection, but loved it a lot. Even the emoji told her what surely happened on his end, which was usually ‘Ian flailing his hands in the air in a flustered manner.’ It was adorable that she could see it so vividly in her head.
She heard the floorboards creaking in her direction, before there was a gentle knock knock on her door.
“Come in,” Ada groaned before blowing her nose again, making a small whine.
Something shuffled on the other end before the door opened, revealing the Intern holding a tray of food set upon a lap desk. Their pulse on the monitor wavered for a second and got droopy – no doubt their version of a pout of concern – before they stepped closer, nudging the door closed behind them with a slipper clad foot.
Her lovely partner set the lap desk down and helped Ada sit up, every ounce of care in every motion they did. Paige couldn’t help but chuckle at the gesture, nuzzling into the Intern’s shoulder. They took a moment to press a fuzzy static kiss to Ada’s forehead before adjusting the blankets. It wasn’t until they were satisfied that Ada would be kept warm that they picked the lap desk up again and set it in front of the sick doctor.
Paige smiled as she took the tray in. There was a steaming cup of chamomile tea, a bowl of apple slices carefully cut to look like rabbits, and two pieces of toast that were slathered with peanut butter and dotted with banana slices. Nothing that required utensils, which was perfect because anything that wasn’t in the blankets with her felt frigid to touch; metal would be even worse right now. Ada gently picked up one of the apple rabbits and looked up at her partner, taking note of their expectant but caring gaze.
“This is new. Did you watch a video about this sort of thing online?” Ada asked before popping it into her mouth. Her taste buds were definitely a little shot, but the fresh juices of apple lifted her spirits a bit.
« Samurai and Insomniac showed me the other day, actually! » The Intern signed, excitement clear in their posture. « I came across them trying to make ‘the most perfect apple rabbit’ in the hospital cafeteria the other day. So when I asked them to show me how, they did! »
“Ooh. That’s impressive, did they, uh-”
« Yeah, no, they were cutting the apples with their swords. I had to ask them to do it with a knife so I could replicate it at home. » The Intern’s shoulders sunk in exasperation. They still seemed happy judging from the light amount of steam that leaked from their monitor however, so Ada smiled.
“Well, it’s good. I think it’s really cute,” she said, gently wrapping her hands around the steaming cup of tea. The warmth started to seep into her fingers, a welcome reprieve from the cold.
The Intern beamed, a blurry shape coming across their pulse. Ada had learned by now that the Intern’s display did that whenever they were truly happy, chuckling to herself as she lifted the cup to her lips. “You’re cute, too. But you knew that already.”
Her words hit home, and a second blurry heart shape ran down the pulse line. Ada tried not to laugh, quickly downing the chamomile tea.
« Hmph! You’re too good at doing that, » The Intern tapped onto the lap desk, feigning anger as they crossed their arms. They unfolded them after a brief pause, however, and reached to tap on the desk again. « How are you feeling? »
“Mmm?” Paige sipped her tea, feeling the warmth spread through her body. “Oh, um… stuffy. Head hurt. Feels too full. Body cold, but tea’s helping.”
The Intern nodded sagely, typing away at their phone for a second before holding it up in front of their monitor. They waited for a bit, before waving at the screen.
“Eh? Intern? What’s up?” The Janitor’s voice drifted out from the phone speaker, tinny despite everything.
Ada watched them sign a few sentences almost too quick to keep track of – ‘Ada’s sick, I’m not supposed to work today but I can if needed, please let Edega know’ – before they turned the camera to her, the Janitor’s face squinting before nodding. Paige didn’t bother trying to make herself look presentable and just waved with a hand, taking another sip of tea.
“Gotcha, I’ll let him know. I’ll call you if any of the patients need emergency care, okay?” The Janitor said, his voice crackling. “You rest up, by the way, Doctor Paige. Don’t even worry about work today.”
Ada nodded, managing to smile as she set the cup down. “No prob, I’m sure Intern’s gonna blow a gasket if I don’t rest. Have a good one.”
“Oh jeez she really IS sick. Croaky voice and everything. Well, see you around.”
The Intern pulled their phone back and waved at the Janitor before hanging up. They stretched before looking back at Ada, leaning to press a hand to her forehead.
Paige tried not to wince at how cold it felt.
« Definitely a fever, » Intern signed before pressing a hand to the bottom of their monitor, thinking. Their monitor whirred before they snapped their fingers, like they had their mind set on something.
« Okay! Do you want to eat in the living room or here? I can carry you if you need me to. I’m gonna make something for Ian and then start a soup for later, so I don’t want you to be left alone in here if you wanna come with. »
Ada thought on it, taking a bite of her toast. Admittedly she did like it when the Intern carried her, and she did want to watch them cook, even if her body ached a bit . “... Okay. I’ll come with, I don’t want crumbs in my bed.” Only half a lie.
The Intern’s pulse squeezed horizontal like they were beaming a big smile, and they stood to open the bedroom door before they tried moving Paige anywhere. Without saying anything, Ada drained the mug of the rest of her tea and set it onto her tray, lifting it off of the lap desk. The Intern pulled the desk up and aside, setting it on the edge of the bed.
« You think you can hold onto the tray comfortably, or do you want me to come get it after I get you situated? »
Ada paused, then lifted the tray for the Intern to set aside. Their shoulders shook like they made a silent laugh, and they gently looped their right arm beneath Ada’s knees as they supported her back with their left. With little fanfare but great care, the Intern lifted Ada into their arms where she laid her head against their chest comfortably. She looped her arms around their neck, careful not to dislodge any of their cables.
She could feel the way their artificial heart quickened at the gesture and smiled to herself. “Thanks. I don’t know if I can really walk around like this.”
« Of course, » they tapped into her shoulder with their left hand. The Intern made their way into the hallway, careful not to move too drastically.
Ada simply sat there, watching as the Intern descended the stairs with her in their arms. This was nice. It was comfortable, and she didn’t have to necessarily worry about the Intern getting sore holding her. She let out a hum as the Intern stepped into the kitchen, the robot briefly pausing to look for a good comfortable spot for Ada to sit.
They settled on the counter where she could watch them cook, and gently set her down in one of the trio of chairs by it. She watched as they held up a finger to wait, quickly going back up the stairs to get the rest of her breakfast.
Such a sweetheart, was the only thing Ada could think. They didn’t need to do any of this, but they did it anyway to help her feel included in what they were doing. She supposed that by now the Intern had figured she didn’t like laying around feeling useless, even when she was sick.
It didn’t take long for the Intern to shuffle down the stairs again, her breakfast on the tray in one hand and a blanket folded over the other. Ada smiled as the Intern set the tray down in front of her on the counter, then wrapped her warmly in the blanket before pressing another static-filled kiss to her forehead.
“So, Chef Intern, what’s on the menu for our boyfriend today?” Ada asked, watching the Intern put another kettle of water on the stove for more tea.
They pressed a hand to their monitor in thought, clearly deliberating between options. « It’s cold out, but Ian doesn’t like the texture of oatmeal. I think maybe I’ll make him some congee instead. »
Ada hummed in approval, poking her hands out of the blanket to hold the peanut butter banana toast up to her mouth. “You thinkin’ soft boiled egg or fried egg?”
The Intern reached beneath the counter and hauled a medium sized pot over to the sink. They wavered their hand, like they were still deciding between the two options. Ada chuckled, watching as they filled the pot with water before also propping it onto the stove. It took no time at all for them to light the flame and the fire started to roar beneath the burner.
“He does really like those jammy center eggs you make. I totally get it if dishes are a problem though,” she mumbled before taking another bite of her toast. The taste was muted slightly, but just present enough that she could still enjoy it.
The Intern thought on it for a second, before slipping some rubber gloves on to wash some rice in a bowl while the water warmed up. Ada simply let them work, smiling as they eventually peeled away from the sink to set the rice aside then reach for their phone.
It took only a moment before they hooked their phone up to a speaker they kept for kitchen ambiance and before long, relaxing piano jazz started to play. The Intern then rolled up their long sleeved shirt, reaching to toss an apron over their neck.
Ada’s heart skipped a beat. She tried to push the thought back, but she did like seeing the Intern cook. It felt very domestic, and… well, Ada was realizing that it was comfortable and intimate to her. All of this felt like some sort of intricate ritual – one that the Intern themself couldn’t actually enjoy the results of.
Ada made a mental note to ask Ian about getting something even resembling tasting systems under way.
For now, she watched as the Intern tied their monitor cables back in a very loose bun of sorts. Ada couldn’t help but grin as her partner tied a big bow with the loose ends of the apron, securing it into place.
“You look fancy,” Paige murmured. She took another bite of toast.
The Intern’s pulse quickened. They pressed a hand to their chest in a proud manner before tapping on the counter, « Well, I do have an audience! I need to look nice for her! »
“But you’re always looking nice,” Ada mumbled, propping her elbows on the counter. She adjusted the blanket to cover the skin properly, getting comfortable.
A puff of steam escaped the panels of her partner’s monitor. « You’re lucky you’re so cute and hardworking and caring and beautiful and- I’m getting distracted. Fried egg. I think I just settled on fried egg. »
Ada laughed at that, resting her chin on her hands. She watched as the Intern set up another pan on the back right burner, drizzling a bit of oil on the inside surface before lighting the flame. Her partner tapped their foot as they stepped over to the fridge to get a few eggs before waiting for the pan to heat up.
Before long, there was the insisting tap-tap-tap of eggshells on the counter edge to the beat of the music. The Intern gently dropped the egg’s insides into the pan, making a pleased swaying motion at the sizzling sound. They had been practicing lately to make sure they didn’t have any eggshell left in the final product, and to Ada it seemed they had succeeded this time.
She didn’t comment on it, just watching as the Intern continued to cook. Her eyes started to get a little itchy and annoying, but Ada knew she shouldn’t be touching them right now. She settled in, folding her arms to lazily watch her partner.
At some point, the front door of Ada’s house unlocked and opened, revealing Ian brushing snow off of himself at the entrance. Her boyfriend was wearing a mask and what looked like two layers of sweaters. He had a couple of plastic bags in his hands, setting them down on the floor for now as he peeled off the outer layer of sweater.
The Intern let out a cheery whistle, signing a big « Welcome home, Ian! » to their mutual boyfriend. Ada could hear Ian chuckle before saying, “Give me a minute, I gotta lock the door.”
There was a click, then the turning of locks, before Ian’s footfalls finally approached the kitchen space. He set the shopping bags onto the kitchen island, letting out a sigh. Ada managed to lift her elbows off the counter, blinking blearily as she did so.
“Oh, she’s really sick. Poor thing,” Ian mumbled, leaning to press a kiss onto her forehead.
“Nuh-uh, nope!” Ada cut in, smushing her hand in between her and Ian. His soft lips collided with her knuckles, and she tried not to dwell on how gentle it felt. “You’re gonna catch it too if you kiss me. And yes, even if you’re masked. You know close proximity can still spread it.”
“But you look so sad,” Ian whined, though he stepped back. “I got you your orange juice and chocolate, plus the stuff Intern needed. Can’t I get one kiss?”
“Nnnnn… No. You can’t use your cute anxious demeanor against me.”
Her boyfriend’s shoulders sunk in a way that told Ada he was pouting beneath the surgical mask he was wearing. “Oh well, I tried. Intern, do you need any help?” Ian asked, reluctantly peeling away from the counter where she sat. Ada watched as the two of them signed to each other, Ian’s ASL still coming along.
Ada, on the other hand, wanted some juice. She reached for the closest shopping bag, inching it closer to her with her fingers before getting enough purchase on the plastic to pull it. The Intern spotted what she was doing, and reached into the cupboards to grab her a glass.
“Thanks,” Paige mumbled when the cup was set down in front of her. She sniffled, pulling the jug of orange juice Ian had gotten her out of the bags – then held it out for the Intern to open for her. Their shoulders shook with a silent chuckle, but they reached out and pried the bottle’s seal open before passing it back.
Ada hated feeling useless while she was sick. She wasn’t particularly fond of people fretting over her and treating her like she would have their head for not reading her mind. Thankfully Ian had known her for almost a decade now, and the Intern was a quick learner; they both knew when to offer their help, and she appreciated it. Her two partners watched as Ada carefully poured juice into the glass, then sealed the jug closed again. She nudged it a little across the counter, and the Intern picked it up to store it away in the fridge.
Ian watched the stove for the Intern in the meantime, giving the pan of eggs a cursory shake. A delightful smell of frying oil wafted out from the stove, enveloping the kitchen in a warm feeling.
“You ate already, right, Ada?” Ian asked, turning to look at her.
Paige simply nodded slowly, taking a small sip of orange juice. The citrus stung the inside of her throat for a minute, but quickly passed as she drank more. Throat’s dry, I guess. “Intern made me toast and apples.”
“So probably not in the mood for a fried egg, then?”
Ada hesitated, weighing the options. She did like a fried egg, and she did like the way Inny cooked them just enough that the yolks were still runny…
Ian laughed gently under his breath, leaning over Intern’s shoulder to murmur something next to their monitor. They nodded, a light puff of steam escaping their monitor as they reached into the fridge to grab two more eggs.
She didn’t whine at the inclusion, and sat there with heavy eyelids as her partners cooked. Inny flipped the eggs over with a practiced flourish, then turned the first batch of eggs out onto a plate with a paper towel to absorb the excess oil.
At one point, Ian sat down at the counter next to her, reaching to gently massage Ada’s back while Inny kept working away at his breakfast. She must’ve made a noise, given how Ian chuckled and adjusted himself to have better reach of her sore back muscles. Ada’s entire body felt achy and exhausted, but this was certainly helping.
Two eggs were cracked and poured into the hot pan, the sizzling sound rather satisfying even to Ada’s plugged senses. She made a hum as she leaned into Ian a bit more, turning her head to meet his gaze. “d’you think it’s the flu? I hope it’s not the flu,” Ada mumbled.
“You do feel a little feverish,” Ian responded, taking the time to fix Ada’s hair. “Do you want me to put your hair up? It might help with the temperature.”
“’m cold,” she whined.
Ian hummed as he adjusted Ada’s blanket around her, making sure that none of her skin was touching the counter. “It’ll be alright. Do you want to lay on the couch, or?”
“Here’s fine…” Admittedly, she did feel tired. She knew it had to be because of her immune system, but it didn’t make her feel any better about the circumstances. Ada just wanted to be present while her partners were looking after her.
The clatter of the kitchen was soothing, though, and now that Ian was playing with her hair, she couldn’t help but shut her eyes now and then…
And then her phone rang loudly, startling her awake.
There was a tea kettle noise from Intern as well – equally scared by the sudden noise, no doubt – before Ada groggily reached into her pocket.
“Euuugh, it’s Edegaaaaa.” She didn’t want to talk to him like this, she knew damn well what he was going to say.
Before Ada could debate with herself about whether or not it was worth it to just decline his call and lay down for a bit, Ian plucked the phone out of her hands and answered it.
“H-Hello? Doctor Edega?” He asked, pressing it to his ear. “No, I was just stopping by Ada’s place because she sounded really sick. Yes, it’s probably infectious…”
Ada wheezed out a sigh – which then escalated into a rough cough that wracked her body. There was Edega’s deep voice over the line, barely audible with how baritone the man spoke.
“No, I just wanted to check in on her. She didn’t sound good this morning.” Ian blinked down at her, his eyebrows knitting up in concern as he gently pressed a hand to her forehead. “Symptoms are sore throat, cough, fever, and body aches. I haven’t checked her temperature yet, but she’s hot to the touch.”
Ada almost wanted to blurt out how Ian was hot to the touch, but kept her mouth shut for now. If anyone overheard her, Edega was NOT on the list of people she expected to be cool about it, regardless of if she was sick or not.
“Me? Well, I- Today’s my day off, sir, and I’ve been- No, it’s not that there’s a problem, it’s that I’ve been in physical contact with a sick individual.” There was a pause, before Ian sighed. “Yes, I have a mask on, but I wouldn’t want to risk bringing it into the hospital anyway…”
Inny suddenly tapped on the counter, looking over their shoulder. Ada wasn’t nearly awake enough to try to decipher it, so she mumbled to herself as she watched Ian’s expression light up, then squish in a sort of consoling look.
“Well- The Intern – Internbot, I mean – they were supposed to have the day off too. I could send them a message to come into work today, if you want. They already can’t get sick, so…”
There was a pause, then something that sounded like a grunt of approval, and the call clicked off. Ian sighed, setting the phone on the counter next to Ada.
“Are you sure you want to go into work like this, Inny? I wouldn’t want you to have to handle all that by yourself, y’know.”
Inny simply nodded, pulling a ladle full of rice porridge out of the stock pot and pouring it in a porcelain bowl. Ada must’ve dozed off at some point, then, if the congee was already cooked. « I don’t mind at all. Some of the other interns should also be there, so I won’t be completely alone! Plus, you need a break, and it might be good to have someone here to keep an eye on Ada. »
Ian made a sound like a whine, though he stopped when Inny leaned over to set the bowl of porridge down in front of him. The top of the congee was covered with shredded chicken, chopped herbs, and the fried eggs that Inny painstakingly prepared, the yokes just broken enough to have a small stream of rich yellow spreading into the rice. He sighed, and leaned in to give Inny a kiss on the monitor.
« You gotta eat your breakfast, and I gotta make sure Edega doesn’t bother either of you! So there, » Inny signed proudly, a triumphant puff of steam coming out of their head. « I also got some for you, Ada, if you want. There’s plenty leftover. »
“Maybe in a while,” Paige mumbled. She was starting to fall back asleep, and Inny circled the counter to gently pat her shoulders. “Could you… I’unno, put me on the couch? Don’t wanna fall off the counter.”
Inny nodded, lifting Paige up just as effortlessly yet incredibly carefully as last time, before walking into the living room. They laid her across the couch’s cushions, gently fluffing up a pillow and setting it beneath her head before they leaned in once more to give her a static filled kiss on the forehead.
« I’ll be back in a few hours, okay? Don’t worry about anything, just rest up. I love you, » Inny signed, brushing a few strands of hair out of Ada’s face as she got comfortable, looking up at them with loving yet exhausted eyes.
“I’ll rest, you just be careful,” Ada mumbled.
« Ian will be here in case you need anything. Alright? »
“Mhhmmmmm.”
The Intern’s shoulders shook in a silent laugh again, and they adjusted the blanket around Ada’s shivering form before at last stepping away from the couch. If she craned her neck, Ada would be able to see Ian and the Intern talking, but she was already slipping back into an uneasy slumber.
Buh. I’ll just sleep for a bit…
Her head ruffled into the pillow, pulling the blankets close.
They’re both way too sweet to me.
There was a bit of shuffling back and forth, before the front door clicked open and shut once more with a heavy clunk. She could hear Ian eating at the counter, taking time to savor his breakfast. Yes, it should be fine for her to sleep now. Ada was sure that he would be alright on his own, so she shut her eyes and drifted off.
Work had been fine enough, even if the Intern had to scramble around a lot to get everything under control. At one point, they had sat in Ada’s office because people kept walking in expecting her to be there, only for Inny to tell them that she was sick at home today, and that they could handle whatever they needed Ada for.
Of course, a mute intern wasn’t the easiest to communicate with, so Inny found that they had someone making the rounds with them, cycling between a few of the other interns. Doctor River and Haniel in particular had been especially helpful, the two swapping in and out with each other to act as Inny’s interpreter to patients that didn’t know ASL or Morse Code. They were endlessly grateful, and found that it was a lot easier to get things done with some help.
Edega hadn’t even bothered them that much, thankfully. The head doctor seemed surprised at Inny’s sudden appearance – he hadn’t even sent them an email, after all – but immediately got them to work without missing a beat. So, in summary, it had been business as usual at the hospital for the most part.
They had texted Ian at some point during their break, asking how Ada was holding up, but the message stayed unread by the time Inny clocked out. They hummed silently at the thought, feeling an anxious thought process pop up with unhelpful thoughts like ‘what if something happened?’ and ‘what if Ian had a heart attack while I was away ?’
The Intern grumbled to themself quietly, shaking their head as they stepped out of the hospital’s front doors. They were going home anyway, so they shouldn’t worry like this! They would find out soon enough if everything was alright or not. Plus, knowing Ian, he probably got sucked into a videogame while entertaining Ada, so he probably just missed it. Honest mistake, really!
Regardless of their thoughts bickering back and forth, trying to reason with each other, Inny found themself strolling home in a relaxed fashion. The city was quiet, even as the sun began to set, the rolling noises of cars passing back and forth almost muffled by the remnants of snow in the streets. They liked the feeling of the snow and concrete against the bottom of their boots, finding a skip in their step as they walked.
They had wanted to make some sort of chicken soup for Ada to have for dinner, but would it still be good if they used some pre-made broth? If they had the time, they would’ve gotten it all ready and simmering on the stovetop before they left the house that morning, but they didn’t want to risk Edega’s wrath coming down on their partners.
Well, they knew what Ada would say regardless. She would say that the Intern’s cooking was good regardless of the process, so they figured maybe it would be fine. Inny passed by Cara’s bakery, but not before waving through the window at the baker. They brightened up at spotting them, giving Inny a thumbs up before they kept walking.
Yeah, no, everything would be fine if they just made whatever. That’s what everybody would tell them, right? That the thought alone in the gesture was enough? Inny had no clue. They were still trying to understand all of these social cues, and it was still a grueling trial.
They adjusted themself as they stood at Ada’s welcome mat, reaching into their pocket for their house keys. They could hear something from inside – something that sounded like Ian grumbling? - and unlocked the front door…
...to find a maskless Ian huddled on the couch next to Ada, the poor doctor half asleep and leaking mucus from his nose even as he pressed a tissue to it.
If Inny had a jaw, it would be on the floor. They closed the door behind them, locking it even as both of their partners wailed for their attention, and kicked their boots off before approaching the living room with disbelief.
“Inny, I failed,” Ada whined, Ian snuggling into her side. “His anxious demeanor was too cute and he got sick.”
“But you looked so sad when you woke, and I just wanted to cheer you up with a kiss…” It was a miracle, honestly, that neither of them had tipped over the edge of the couch by now. Ian made a muffled sniffling noise before reaching for the tissues again. “Sorry, Inny.”
« Honestly, I can’t even be mad, » Inny signed out goodnaturedly, their shoulders bouncing with a silent laugh. « I kind of expected this, that you two would be clingy and get each other sick. »
“Curse your predictive ability,” Ian groaned out, though the big smile on his face meant he regretted none of it. He would gladly do it all again, fret over her frown and get sick again, regardless of if Ada had a cold or pneumonia. Inny knew this, the three of them all knew this. “Well- I’m gonna have to call out tomorrow. Was work alright?”
The Intern nodded, taking their jacket off. « Went pretty smoothly, all things considered. I’ll be alright to work in your stead tomorrow as well, no worries. »
“But I wanna have you heeeereeee,” Ada whined. She stuck her hands out and opened and closed them repeatedly, only letting up when Inny knelt down to meet her halfway. She cupped their monitor in her hands before leaning in to kiss the screen. “I missed you, dork.”
« Well, I didn’t want you to have to work like this. Can I go make you soup, now? »
“Ah, soup,” Ada repeated, squeezing her eyes shut sleepily. “Maybe I can make an exception for soup. What do you think, Ian?”
“I think I need cough syrup,” Ian croaked.
The Intern’s shoulders shook with silent laughter again, but they nodded. « I can get that done, too. You just sit there, alright? I’ll get the lap desks so you can eat on the couch. »
Their partners made noises of approval, their limbs retreating beneath the blankets once more as they leaned on each other – Ada’s face smushed into Ian’s shoulder, Ian’s chin resting on her head. There was a shuddering click in the Intern’s systems again, as if they had blinked or something like that, and this time they stood for a moment trying to understand what it was.
It must’ve been noticeable because Ian blinked blearily at them, asking them what’s wrong. They shook their head. « It’s nothing, I’m gonna get that soup started. You want cough syrup too, Ada? »
“Pleeeeease.”
« Alright, you’ve got it boss. » Despite feeling a bit put off by the clicking their systems made, the Intern smiled to themself as they stepped into the kitchen.
After all, it looked like they’re the one on call this week…