Work Text:
They haven’t been friends for a while. Not even a year. They met at uni, in a safety class. Powder was an engineering major, Ekko went for the enforcer program. Not much in common, the only thing connecting them back then was this class they had once a week. But somehow, when talking, they felt like they’ve known each other for years. Always finding a topic to discuss, trailing off into something else or just sitting next to each other in class, sharing looks.
Right now, sitting in his dorm with nothing to do, Ekko decided to call Powder for the first time. See, they’ve texted a lot, shared voice messages, but never called. And he was not in the mood for waiting for a response for 5 minutes because that’s about how long it always took to listen to everything. So he decided to call.
When, right after the first ring, the call was declined, he was a little taken aback. It was 8 pm and he knew she didn’t have anything to do today, she’s said so just a few hours ago. Then why did she decline? Did she not like calls? No, that doesn’t make sense, she spent hours on the phone with her sister at least once a week. Did she not want to talk to Ekko specifically? That had to be it, right?
Ekko sat there, overthinking this way too much, but what can he do if the girl he’s had a crush on for almost as long as he’s known her for declined his call?
While Ekko was still staring at the open contact on his phone, the green dot marking her activity popped up. And then “ typing… ” appeared and he almost cartoonishly bit his finger, half-expecting her to say something along the lines of “sorry, not in the mood for talking to you rn”. But then…
Pow-Pow, 8:13 pm
– Sorry, im sick, cant really talk on the phone
– Whatd u want
Ekko, 8:13 pm
– Are you alright? what hurts?
– I was just bored, wanted to talk to u
Pow-Pow, 8:14 pm
– Ive got a sore throat, lost my voice
– Well, ig i can still technically talk but it sounds like a dying rhino skdjk
Ekko, 8:14 pm
– Damn, that sucks
– Do you have the stuff you need to take?
Pow-Pow, 8:14 pm
– Like a few tabs left over from the last time, but no, not really
Ekko, 8:15 pm
– Gimme ur address
– And a bit of time depending on where you live
Was he serious? No way the best guy she knows just offered that.
Pow-Pow, 8:16 pm
– Are you kidding? It’s pouring out there
Ekko, 8:16 pm
– So
– Idc, ur sick and dont have medicine
Pow-Pow, 8:16 pm
– Are you sure? You dont have to do that, Vi’s coming tomorrow, i’ll ask her to bring some
Ekko, 8:17 pm
– That’s almost a whole day, im not letting you wait that long
Pow-Pow, 8:17 pm
– I mean ig if you insist
– It’s Expo drive 13, apt 4a
Ekko, 8:18 pm
– Looked it up, be there in 20
Yeah, sure, maybe he didn’t have to do that. And maybe the weather was shit. But he knew how awful it felt not having anyone to take care of you and he didn’t want Powder to experience that. Living alone was hard enough for her as is.
So he threw on a tracksuit, a jacket, grabbed his keys and wallet and left as quickly as possible.
It was windy as well, so no umbrella would help him. 5 minutes to the pharmacy and another 15 to her house. Easy. Looking at the map in that weather was a struggle, but he was there on time.
A knock. Then another two. No response. Did she fall asleep?
After a few more thoughts she finally opened the door. A worn t-shirt with a stretched neckline, sweatpants and a messy bun of her short blue hair. He hasn’t seen her with her hair up in a while, huh. She unlocked her phone and started typing something. Then his phone buzzed in his hand.
Pow-Pow, 8:39 pm
– Hi. Howd u actually get here in 20 minutes?
– Hi. Well, I said I'd be here in 20 so I am. You can’t speak at all, huh?
Powder just shook her head, and then immediately winced.
– Do you have a headache as well? Have you checked your temperature?
Pow-Pow, 8:40 pm
– Yes and no. Also i feel like ive been hit by a truck
– Sounds like you have a fever. Mind if I actually go inside?
Powder stepped away, letting him in. Pulled out a pair of slippers, then looked him over properly since he came and grabbed her phone again
Pow-Pow, 8:41 pm
– Ur soaked!! ur gonna get sick too and its gonna be my fault
– My jacket is waterproof, only the pants are wet.
Pow-Pow, 8:41 pm
– Take them off then, i dont need you getting sick
– Its enough ur near me
What? Did Ekko read it right? She wanted him to take off his pants? He looked up at her with a bewildered expression, but the look on her sick face read “if you don’t I’m gonna do it myself”. So he took off his jacket, hung it on the door handle to let the water drip on the floor, toed off his shoes, grabbed the waistband of his pants and froze. Did he at least wear decent underwear today? A few moments later he breathed a sigh of relief as his memory supplied him with the pair he was wearing right now, just black boxer briefs. And his hoodie was long enough to cover them. Gathering his strength, he took off the pants as well.
– Where do I even put them?
Instead of answering, Powder just started walking, so Ekko followed behind her. She led him to the bathroom and pointed at the towel rack. Then picked up her phone again.
Pow-Pow, 8:43 pm
– Im tired of texting. Gonna get a notepad or smth. Wash your hands ig
And then she left, leaving him alone in her bathroom, pantsless and a little out of breath. Of course, he was nervous. Not every day does your crush ask you to take your pants off the minute you get inside her flat. And oh god , was she still beautiful. Ekko thought that maybe he just looked up to her because of how smart and creative she was, but seeing her like this and still wanting to kiss her proved that he was in deeper than he expected. He washed his hands and then went to get the meds he brought her.
– Hey Pow? Did you find anything?
She walked out of her room, shaking a small marker board with a little smile. Then she turned it around and started writing something.
“I forgot I had this!”
– Oh, that’s convenient. Now, where do you keep your thermometer?
She just walked into the kitchen, took out the thermometer from a little pouch she picked up from the counter and stuck it under her armpit. It beeped after a while. He took it before she could.
– 99. Yep, you have a fever. Go lie down, I can figure out how to boil some water for the Coldrex.
He turned to look for a cup and heard some quiet squeaking. Looked back around and saw Powder writing something again.
“Yk i’m an adult and can take care of myself right? i’m not gonna break”
– Yes, but I care about you, so shut up and go.
Oops. He definitely shouldn’t have said that. Now he’s gonna make everything awkward and she’ll kick him out. But she just stared at him dumbfounded, erased from the board, lifted the marker to write something, froze, looked back up at him, turned around and walked towards her bedroom. Okay, this is fine.
He prepared the medicine, took the rest with him and went towards the room she disappeared into. Well, it’s not like he could get lost. The only other door was the bathroom and he’s been there already.
Powder only had the lamp on her bedside table turned on, the rest of the room was dark.
– Here you go. Drink this first, – he handed her the cup, – then take this, – he shook a box of tablets, – and then try going to sleep. Oh, fuck, have you even eaten proper food?
Powder almost didn’t register what he said. His face was lit up by the warm light of the lamp, looking so soft she wanted to put her hand on his cheek and pet him.
– Pow?
She blinked a few times, trying to remember the conversation they’d been having.
“Yeah, i had some leftovers”
– Okay, good, at least we don’t have to worry about that, – he smiled lightly, and Powder thought he was way too cute. She couldn’t let him notice that though, so the next time she turned around the board for him it said
“Feels like ur forcing me to do this”
– That’s because I am. You need to get better as soon as possible. We have a project due on monday and we haven’t even started it, – Ekko was lucky he could use this excuse because he wasn’t about to reveal his feelings right now. The awkwardness of being only in his underwear was increasing with every second since because she was laying down now she was about eye level with, you know, whatever she shouldn’t be eye level with. So he sat down on the bed next to her, noticing her eyes widen behind the mug. He knew this medicine made you sleepy, so he hoped she would fall asleep in the next 20 minutes. He’ll make sure she’s asleep – definitely not just enjoy her sleeping form – and go home. But when Powder finished the drink and took the other medicine, she grabbed the board again and started scribbling.
“How’d u guess my fav flavor?”
– Huh?
“Black currant coldrex”, she added at the bottom.
– Oh, uh it was the only one aside from the lemon and I know you don’t like that one, – he definitely didn’t ask Vi that, – you really should try going to sleep, you’ll feel better in the morning. I’ll wait for you to fall asleep and then I’ll leave.
Powder got a weird expression at that, almost like a kicked puppy.
“Please don’t go”
Ekko’s eyes widened, he tried looking for something in her face, but now she just looked tired.
“I don’t want you to get sick too. It’s still raining and your pants are still wet”
– Well, where do I go then?
“Can’t sleep with me, I'm prob contagious. That armchair folds out”, she pointed at an armchair in the corner of the room.
“Can I please ask you to stay here tonight? I don’t wanna be alone rn”
– Uh, sure, I guess, – he didn’t tell her how much his heart was beating right now. She needed him. That felt like the best gift he’s ever received.
He went to fold out the chair and then sat back down on her bed.
– Goodnight. I hope you get better.
“Gn <3”
Oh, his heart definitely couldn’t handle that right now.