733. Chapter 733

It’s something Maggie hates to tell them – that they can’t bind while they’re sick.

Because they’re laying on the couch and they’re already coughing up phlegm, and binding is only going to make it worse. Much worse.

And Alex has never been good at being sick, at letting themself be taken care of.

All Maggie wants to do is take care of them. But reminding them, gently and with plenty of kisses, that they can’t bind while they’re sick, feels like she’s doing exactly the opposite.

They don’t always feel the need to bind. Just the other night, actually, they were out in stilettos and a low cut dress that had made Maggie trip over herself and drool. Alex had loved it, and damn, so had Maggie.

But today is not that day. Today, all Alex needs to feel real is to bind, to feel self-sufficient. And they can’t do either.

“Hey handsome, want some more orange juice?” Maggie runs her hand over Alex’s muscled upper arm, making no effort to hide her pleasure at the touch.

Something flickers behind Alex’s eyes, and Maggie thinks it looks like the beginnings of relief.

Alex just nods, though, because when they’re feeling this way, talking is hard. Too hard.

Maggie knows.

So she touches Alex’s muscles as she spoon feeds them homemade soup, and she runs her fingers over the buzzed side of Alex’s hair as she makes sure they drink all their medicine. She lets Alex hold her as they watch TV together, instead of insisting that she hold them. She snuggles into Alex’s touch, even though their fever makes their skin almost uncomfortably warm.

“I love you,” she murmurs to Alex as they fall into an uncomfortable sleep.

“I love you back,” Alex croaks out, and Maggie smiles at the accidental husk in their voice from all the coughing.

“Sexy voice there, Danvers,” she kisses Alex’s forehead, and Alex smiles with their eyes closed.

“I’m still sexy? Not gross and…” Their question trails off, but Maggie still knows exactly how to answer it.

“Yes. You’re always sexy, babe, and you’re never gross. And, you’re always the best enby hottie I could dream of being with.”

“Enby hottie,” Alex chuckles, and they both laugh helplessly when the chuckle turns into a cough.

“Thank you,” Alex mutters when they both remember how to breathe, as they’re falling asleep, finally.

“Always, Alex,” Maggie promises.