Miserable Children
The next time Sage woke up, she was cold again. She shivered and pulled the blankets laying on her tight to her chin, looking around to see who was sitting with her. She felt a sudden gust of air and then the weight of all of the rest of her blankets off of her bed and hummed contentedly, seeing Pietro sitting on the floor in front of the couch she was on, watching My Little Pony.
“My Little Pony, Pietro, seriously?”
He turned and grinned at her. “You’re not allowed to judge me. How are you feeling?”
“Not so hot. Heh. Because I’m actually cold. Ugh. I dunno bad. Grossly sweaty.”
“Yuck. Here.” He shoved a cup of soup under her nose. “If you can sit up enough, I need you to eat this.”
“Why? I don’t wanna.”
“Bucky said you should.”
“Bucky? The heck does he know?”
“Apparently he had to take care of Steve a lot during the war so he knows more than pretty much anyone here.”
“Ugh.”
“Pietro, you little shit, if you started My Little Pony without me- oh! Sage! You’re awake! Pietro! I told you to tell me when she woke up, dammit!”
Sage smiled weakly as Wanda entered the room, eyes closing gently as the older girl placed a kiss on her forehead. “Hi.”
“Hello, darling. Are you feeling any better?”
“Not really. Just gross.”
The redhead cooed sympathetically. “How’s your head, sweetie?”
“Still hurts.”
“Do you need ibuprofen?”
The blonde shook her head. “Doesn’ work.”
“That… doesn’t sound good.” The twins exchanged a worried look. “Will you drink the soup, please, Sage? It’s chicken noodle.”
She squinted at the soup suspiciously. “Is it from a can? Because that’s the best chicken noodle soup.”
Wanda rolled her eyes. “Loki made it. He feels terrible because he doesn’t know how to take care of you since Asgardians do not get sick.”
“Well then he should stop having pushy people babysit me.” Sage grumbled but sat up, draining the cup and then slumping back down, burrowing under the blankets again. “Can we watch Lord of the Rings? I know I won’t be awake for most of it, but please?”
Pietro grinned. “Of course!” He hopped up to put the dvds in just as Sage drifted back to sleep.
---
By the time Sage was well enough to go back to school it was two days later, and she was aching to see Adeline. Needless to say, she was accosted as soon as she set foot in the school building.
“SAGE!” Adeline practically jumped on her as she pulled the blonde into a hug, nearly smothering her. “Where in the hell were you?! I was worried!”
Sage laughed softly, wrapping her arms around Adeline in return, leaning her head against the other girl’s collar bone. “Sorry about that. I had a fever. Pretty much out cold for a day.”
“Oh no! Are you okay? Are you still sick? Do you need to go back home?”
The blonde laughed again, pulling back slightly from the brunette as she saw a teacher approaching and instead taking the other girl’s hands in hers. “I’m fine. My fever broke really early yesterday morning, so I’m safe to be back at school. Did you miss me terribly?” She simpered at the other girl, hoping for a smile, and she was rewarded when Adeline broke out in a grin.
“So much, babe, you don’t even know. Classes are so boring without you! You’re never allowed to be sick again, do you hear me?”
“Yes sir, Madam Captain sir!” Sage gave her a pretend salute and smiled when the other girl started laughing.
“Rude. Why am I dating you? There’s so much sass in such a little person. How does it all fit in there?”
Sage gaped at her and smacked Adeline on the arm. “How dare! I’m going to class without you. I’m offended.”
“No, wait-” Adeline tried to stop her but couldn’t stop laughing as the other girl stormed off in a huff. “Sage!”
“I’m not speaking with you currently!”
She chuckled again, not entirely convinced that the other girl was really mad at her.
---
“Are you really that mad at me?”
“You called me short!”
“I… Didn’t mean it like that?”
Sage scowled at her and continued to eat in bitter silence.
“Sage… Baby, I really didn’t mean it like that. I just meant that you’re so damn sassy and it’s adorable. I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings.” Adeline sighed when the other girl didn’t acknowledge her. “Honey, please don’t be mad at you. I haven’t seen you in two days.”
Sage rolled her eyes. “It’s only two days. If we were really dating, you’d have to wait longer than that before you could see me.”
“If we were- what the fuck is that supposed to mean?”
Sage’s eyes widened as she realised what she’d said. “Shit. I didn’t-”
“So, what, you don’t think we’re ‘really dating’?!” Adeline’s face was turning red as her eyes filled with tears. “Do you actually have an explanation for that, or are you just trying to get back at me?”
“No, Addy- that wasn’t- I didn’t mean-”
“No. No, I’m not-” The brunette stood up, shaking her head desperately, trying to keep the tears from falling. “I’m not continuing this conversation right now. You’ll have to finish lunch by yourself, I’m sorry.” She turned tail and ran, and Sage felt her heart break.
“Goddamnit. Why am I like this?!”