Title: I love you, even when you're sick and look disgusting

Author: BrigidMN
Summary: Shortly after starting a relationship with Oliver, Percy comes down with a bad cold.
Rating: PG
**The title is a line from "Love Actually."

Coughing roughly, Percy Weasley wrapped the quilt tighter around his shoulders.  His book lay abandoned next to the couch he was now curled up on, having given up trying to read long ago.  He had caught a truly miserable cold.  Sniffling, he looked at the clock.  Oliver Wood, his boyfriend would be home soon.  Boyfriend, it still felt weird for Percy to call Oliver that.  They had known each other for 13 years now and had just begun dating.

He hadn't started off the morning that ill.  He had noticed a slight tickle in his throat and stuffiness in his nose, along with a general feeling of fatigue, but he had quickly worsened into a coughing, sneezing, sniffley mess.  After 6 hours at work, he had decided to take off early since he wasn't getting much done when he had to stop to cough, sneeze or blow his nose every 5 minutes.

Leaning back onto the couch, he closed his eyes and tried to ignore his headache.  The next thing he knew, he heard a voice calling his name.  Opening his eyes and shaking his head slightly to try to clear his sleepy brain, he turned to see Oliver standing there. "Hey.  You're home early."  Oliver commented.

"I wasd't gettig buch dode at work."  Percy mumbled, sleepily, inwardly groaning at how terrible he sounded.  "You bight wadt to stay away frob be.  I'be got a bad head code."  Picking a handkerchief up off the coffee table, he blew his nose, cringing at how wet the blow was.  "Sorry."  He sniffed.

"Nothing to apologize for."  Oliver told him.  "You got a fever?"

"Dod't dow.  Prob'ly.  I'b really cold."

Oliver pressed his wrist to Percy's forehead.  "Aye, you do.  Have you taken anything?"

"Just for the headache.  It's subber ad I dod't habe aythig id the house right dow.  Heh-chesshuh, chishoo, uhchishh, kehchushooo."  Percy managed to get the handkerchief to his nose in time for the second sneeze and blew his nose loudly, blushing at having sneezed uncovered in front of Oliver.

"Bless ye.  I'll run to the store and get you something since you can't take pepper-up.  What do you usually get?"

"Doesd't batter."  Percy coughed.  Oliver slid the water Percy had sitting there closer to him, and Percy took a long drink. 

"The shop's just around the corner.  I'll be back in 10 minutes."  Oliver promised, kissing him gently on the forehead.

"You shoud't kiss be.  I cad't ebed see why you'd wadt to.  I'b all sdotty ad gross."  Percy complained. 

Oliver shrugged.  "If I'm going to get sick, I'm going to get it whether I kiss you or not."  He replied, pushing Percy into a lying position on the couch and covering him with the quilt.  "I'll be right back." 

True to his word, Oliver was back in 10 minutes.  He handed a small box to Percy.  "I got maximum strength.  Ye sure sound like ya need it."

Percy sat up again.  "Cad you get be sobe bore water, please?" 

"Sure thing"  Oliver took Percy's glass and refilled it.  "Take the pills."  he ordered gently when he returned. 

Instead of opening the box, Percy instead snatched his handkerchief from the table.  "Hheh-heh-huh-uhhchishh,  ihhkshhishh, uhchushhh, huhhhchessh, ehcheshhuh, ahhhkishahh,  heh-huh-hurchuhshhooo."

"Bless again."  Oliver said after Percy blew his nose a few times.  "Need another hankie there?"

Wiping his nose, Percy nodded.  "Yeah."

Oliver handed him two capsules from the box.  "I'll be right back." he promised for the second time that night.  "Take those."

Percy finished taking the pills as Oliver returned with a couple handkerchiefs.  "Thags, Olly."

"Not a problem.  Have ya eaten?"

"Dot hugry.  Ehshuhh, huhshishh, hehkkshooo."  Percy took a fresh handkerchief and blew his nose.

"You're going to have to eat later."  Oliver informed him, "But for now, you can just rest."  He gave Percy another kiss on the forehead and sat next to him.

"Oliber, how cad you ebed stad to be dear be righd dow.  I'b sick and all disgustig." 

Oliver placed Percy's pillow in his lap and pulled the quilt over him.  "I love you.  I have for years."  He said simply, slipping Percy's glasses off.  "I love you, even when you're sick and look disgusting.  Now, sleep."  He picked up Percy's novel from the floor and began to read to him until his lover was asleep.