Work Text:
„ACHEW!!!“
The whole house echoed once more, and Irene Red could only sigh.
From the moment she met Ruce, it was clear to her that the doctor was one of the most difficult people she would ever meet. Stubborn, self-destructive and careless, Ruce Duval always found a way to drive her up the wall with her beyond reckless behavior. Even after everything they had been through, and all the progress the doctor had made, some things remained the same. One of those things, unfortunately, was Ruce's lack of care for her own well being and of all things that angered Red, this one took the top spot.
On one hand, the mere thought that even now, her wife didn't consider her life important enough to take better care of herself, broke her. Each time Ruce's self-destructive habits crept back into their lives, the images from their first meeting would flood Irene's mind. Even when it was something minor like refusing to take a break while having a cold, the only thing Red could see while looking at Ruce was a pale figure in a white coat in the middle of the battlefield, waiting for a missile to hit her.
Her friends would say that she is overreacting or even that she is a hypocrite, as she isn't exactly known for taking it slow when injured or sick, but they didn't understand her point of view. They weren't there to see Ruce throw her life time and time again. They didn't know what it was like to love someone who couldn't fathom that someone thought they were worthy of love.
On the other hand tho, Red wanted nothing more than to punch her wife as hard as she could. Their physical fights were long behind them, but while she couldn't imagine going back to that, Irene also didn't know how else to deal with a grown-ass woman who refused to lay down and rest while sick. A doctor at that!
How can someone who spent years helping others go through their injuries and sickness be so irresponsible when it came to her own health? And the hypocrisy... Whenever Irene would get anything from a cold to a broken bone, Ruce would have her tied to the bed, forbidding her from doing anything but going to the bathroom, and even then, she'll offer to help her get there.
Words couldn't describe how angry it all made Irene. She was both mad at her wife for giving her literal war flashbacks and bossing her around without letting her do anything when the roles were reversed.
„ACHEW!!!!“
This sneeze, somehow louder than any up until this point, was the strew that broke the camel.
Irene stood up and practically marched to Ruce's office. Usually, when she confronts her about this, things escalate into a fight, but Red doesn't care. If she has to yell and sleep on the couch, so be it, but Ruce Duval will listen and obey.
She opened the door without knocking, ready to put her wife in bed, even if it meant using force. What she found inside tho, told her that it might be easier than she anticipated.
Ruce was lying her head on the table, heavily breathing, while piles of medical papers and used tissues were around her. Usually, the window was open as she smoked in here. Today, the window was closed and there were no cigarettes in sight. She was too weak even for that.
Red's gaze softened. As annoyed and angry as she was, she found it hard to act on those impulses when her wife couldn't even raise her head to acknowledge her. She made her way to Ruce and patted her on the back. As a response, she only got a tired „Hmm“. Still, she knew better than to go easy on her.
„Should I carry you to the bed or can you do that on your own?“ she said firmly, now rubbing her wife's back.
Ruce finally raised her head and turned to look at Irene. Her cheeks and nose were red, eyes blurry, but she wasn't willing to surrender yet.
„I have work to do.“ Ruce barely managed to utter these words. Her words raspy and nasal, throat hurting with every breath. She turned back to her papers, her eyes so tired that she wasn't even sure what she was looking at.
Irene wasn't impressed, but years spent with this woman taught her how to be patient, so before doing anything radical, she continued.
„Work can wait, you need to rest.“ She took a moment to turn into her beast form, just in case.
„Please, Ruce...“
This time, the doctor didn't even look at her when she responded.
„I am fine.“ She kept blankly staring at the papers in front of her, as if it would make Irene disappear.
It didn't.
Fed up with Ruce's antics, she sighed. Why did her wife always have to choose the worst option?
Not interested in debating this further, Red turned the chair Ruce was sitting in so her wife would face her.
„Wha- AHHH!!!“ Before Ruce could form a sentence, Irene had already picked her up, putting her over her shoulder as if she were a sack of potatoes.
„What are you doing?! Put me down!“ Even tho she was yelling, Ruce's voice was only slightly louder than moments before, signaling to Irene that she was doing the right thing.
As her wife halfheartedly protested, Red made her way to their bedroom and put Ruce down on their bed.
„What do you think you are doing?!“ It would be an understatement to say that Ruce was displeased with her wife but Irene wasn't going to back down now.
„What am I doing?! What are YOU doing?! You've been sick for days! Sneezing, coughing, shaking in cold and still refusing to take care of yourself. What else was I supposed to do?!“ and the yelling match began, with Ruce sitting on the bed and Red towering over her.
„I already told you I am fine! No need to make a fuss over a fucking cold.“
This irritated Irene more than anything. People used to treat her like a stupid child all the time and she hated it! It took all her strength, multiple big fights with her friends, and years of enduring it for things to finally change. One thing that immensely helped was the fact that Ruce was never one of those people. Yes, she made jokes at Red's expense and pointed out their age gap on a few occasions, but it never went further than that. In their day-to-day lives, Ruce always treated her like an equal, always caring about her opinion, even when she didn't have much to add. So to see this woman who trusted Red with her life look her in the eyes and tell her such a blatant lie as if she were an absolute idiot.
„Do you think I am that stupid?! I may not have a degree, but it doesn't take a fucking genius to see that you are sick!“ Ruce was still staring at her with an intense gaze, but Red wasn't done.
„You are fine? Please. The last time you looked this bad was in that fucking mine when you nearly died because of hypothermia and being stabbed!“
At this point, Red was panting, her tail and ears stiff, jaw tight, but her eyes never left Ruce's. She knew she was right and no one was going to tell her that she should just sit and watch while her wife suffers, not even the said wife.
Their staring match continued for a few more seconds, before Ruce looked away and lay down.
„Fine. I'll take a break.“ Expression on her face certainly was one of annoyance, but there was something else.
Was it guilt for worrying her or shame for even getting sick, Irene didn't know. But what she did know was that she won't let her wife ever feel like that.
She turned back into her human form, sat next to Ruce and took her hand, intertwining their fingers.
„That's all I am asking for.“ She brought Ruce's hand to her mouth and kissed it, earning a smile from her wife. When Red tried kissing her lips tho, Ruce stopped her.
„Don't get too close to me.“ Seeing her chance, Irene couldn't help herself. Performing the best clueless expression she could, she said:
„Why? I thought you were fine?“
Ruce rolled her eyes, making her wife laugh.
„You annoying brat. Getting all brave now that I am down.“ If she had more strength, she would have probably pinched Red's cheek. Now tho, she could only look at this woman laugh at her.
„Well, that's what you get for being so reckless. Now tell me what to get you.“
Red already knew what to give a sick person, but hey, when one of them is already a doctor, why not confirm it?
Ruce gave her a short list that didn't require her to leave the house, so she left the bedroom and got to work. It didn't take her long to find medicine and make some tea. The only thing left was a warm and nutritious meal. Even though Ruce didn't say anything about it, Red knew that some food would be in order as well. Even on regular days, her wife had a tendency to forget to eat. Combine that habit with her feeling too weak to even sit straight and you get a starved snake. Irene was also aware of all of Ruce's failed attempts to cook for her while she was sick so it was only natural to return a favor.
When she was done, Red made her way back into their bedroom, where her wife had changed into more comfortable clothes and got herself all cozied up in a blanket. Red put everything down on a nightstand, getting Ruce's attention.
„You didn't have to do all of that.“ The doctor said in a small voice, very unusual for her.
Irene gave the medicine and water to Ruce, only responding after her wife took it.
„Of course I had to! You are my wife. What else am I supposed to do when you are sick? Let you take care of it? I don't think so. Plus I like taking care of you...“ That last part, Red said with a slight blush on her face. Still, her eyes full of certainty, were on now shocked Ruce who could only stare back at her wife. This time tho, the doctor didn't break the eye contact. Instead, after she composed herself, Ruce gave Red the brightest smile she could and followed it with a quiet, but heartfelt „Thank you.“
Not breaking eye contact, Red put her forehead on Ruce's. She took her wife's hand and squeezed it tightly.
„You are welcome.“
The two stayed like that for a few moments, until Ruce broke the silence once again.
„You shouldn't be so close. You'll get sick as well.“ She said that, but never made an effort to move away.
In response, Red squeezed her hand once again and said.
„Well then, you'll just have to get better and take care of me.“
This got a chuckle out of Ruce who seemed to get better just by spending time with Red like this.
„You sure that's the only reason you want me healthy? Don't think that I didn't notice you feeling my ass while carrying me.“
Dramatically pulling away, Red let out a sigh of annoyance.
„Oh my god, woman, do you have to kill every single romantic moment we have? Can you just once be sappy and corny with me without turning it into a sex joke?!“
This got Ruce rolling on the bed, laughing. Red, as annoyed as she was, couldn't pull her eyes off of her. This sight alone made everything worth it. Eventually, the doctor calmed down, noticing her wife still staring at her. Before she could say anything, Red cut her off.
„I love you.“
The doctor wasn't the one to show her affection through words, but it didn't seem to matter in this moment. Without missing a bit, Ruce responded:
„I love you too.“
Red didn't have to sleep on the couch that night.