Upon waking up, I was greeted with the thing I love the most: Rainbow Dash sawing logs like she always does. I swear, she denies it like it’s a felony. I’m gonna have to get a tape recorder and record her one night, then maybe she’ll believe me.

I think I woke up a little too early, because the sun was just beginning to rise and I can make out the silhouette of the mountains in the distance. Funny thing about living in a cloud home, is that no matter what direction you face, it’s a great view all around. I don’t know how those earth ponies and unicorns do it.

As I let out a breath, I let my head fall to the pillow. Work was going to suck today for sure. Yesterday was bad enough. Rainbow was flipping out on everypony because it just seemed like everyone didn’t have their shit together. And, of course, being the boyfriend of the Weather Captain always gets me the best looks and under-the-breath words around town. Can’t count how many times someone’s always giving me a hard time for, “Sleeping my way to the top”. It’s ironic, really. I get so much crap for it, but at work, no one would ever guess that Rainbow Dash and I were a couple if they looked at how she treated me. Nothing but her orders barked at me, and me carrying them out. Oddly enough, she was very professional about our relationship from the time we clocked in, till we clock out. She won’t even kiss me until we get home every day, for fear of scrutiny from the weather team.

That part was a bit of a downer.

But, that was okay, because I had mornings like this to look forward to.

I looked over, and Rainbow Dash started to stir. The sun was rising a little higher in the sky, slowly spreading its rays over the landscape below, the nighttime shadows lining the ground retreated as the day made its approach. I smiled, knowing that my Dashie would be coming into consciousness soon. I hear her yawn, and smile as I casually watch her sleep. Not in the creepy way, geez. It’s just calming, ya know? Watching the one you love enjoy total serenity. It really makes the whole relationship thing worth it.

As I keep thinking about this, Rainbow is stirring more. She licked her lips and rubbed her hooves over her eyes, as she slowly took in the morning. I muttered to her softly, “Good morning, sleepyhead.” She smiled. Good. I leaned in for a morning kiss. As I made my move though, instead of a kiss, I got something else entirely.

Violent coughing, with a side-dish of phlegm sprayed all over my face.

I slowly wipe the spray off my face and grimace. “Ugh, good morning to you too, I guess.”

She swatted her hoof in front of her, trying to stop her coughing fit. Once she got it toned down a few notches, she spoke up, “I’m soooo sorry about that. Ack!” Her voice was hoarse and dry, almost like someone was rubbing sandpaper on her vocal cords. She tried to swallow the spit in her mouth, but winced as it went down. Her mane was matted against her face, and there was a giant sweat stain underneath her body. She looked more exhausted from the past five minutes of being awake than she did after her shift yesterday.

I press my hoof against her forehead, and I’m pretty sure I need to be treated for third degree burns. “Rainbow, you’re sick.”

She deadpanned. “Really? I never would have guessed. What was your first clue?”

I let out a sigh. “Well, it was probably when I got sprayed by Neighagra Falls as I tried to be all romantic and stuff.”

She managed a smirk. “Pfft, that’s what you get for trying to catch me off guard.”

“Well, I’m about to catch you off guard again: you’re not going to work today.”

“What?!” Her coughing struck up again like a diseased symphony.

That got her attention.

“Well, yeah. I’m not gonna let my girlfriend go in and make her condition worse. That’s like, boyfriending 101.”

She was quick to retort. “Yeah? Well, I say that I’m technically my boyfriend’s boss, and I’m ordering you not to call me in sick today.”

I frowned at that remark. It got annoying sometimes when she tried to use that against me to get her way, especially when I was trying to be serious about something. I felt a smirk slowly grow on my face though, because I knew just how to use her own rules against her. “Rainbow, you’re my boss from 9-5, Monday through Friday. Any time outside that box, you and I are just regular ponies, who happen to be dating.”
She pouted. Good. That means I win.

After several moments of adorable sick-pouting, she spoke up. “Well, then, I have a request.”

“Sure, what is it?”

“You have to stay home, too.”

Okay, maybe it wasn’t so much a win, but a hasty celebration.

“But Why? I can still work, and this way I can be out of your way.” Okay, some of that may have been a little harsh. The part about me working was true, but the part about me being out of her way was a bit harsh. I know how Rainbow Dash is when she’s sick, and she’s more impossible than Rarity when she can’t find something.

Her eyebrows did that thing when they narrow together all scary-like. “Oh, sure. Keep me home stranded while you go out and look like Mr. Big Shot, huh? I got your number, Storm. You’re gonna stay home here and take good care of me. Who knows? Maybe I’ll even give you a raise.”

That last part hurt me right in the wallet.

Alas, I sighed in defeat. “Fine, you win this round, Rainbow.”

She chuckled. “Of course I did. Winning is what I do best.”

Things were going well. I quickly flew out to the weather patrol office to let Cloud Kicker know that Rainbow Dash and I were going to be taking the day off because she was sick. After she gave me a less-than desirable look, she let me know that everything was fine.

When I got back home though, everything suddenly went from fine, to not fine. I saw a bowl of cereal spilt over on the floor, as well as the recliner knocked over. I followed the trail of tissues to the bathroom where I heard heavy heaving. I knew she was getting sick, but I didn’t want her to suffer alone. So, I knocked on the door and let myself in. I held her hair back as she vomited up nothing, just more dry heaving. She had tears building in her eyes, and she was coughing more violently than she was when she woke up this morning. Drool hung into the toilet as she nearly collapsed. I held her up and got a towel and wiped up her mouth. She let her head fall into my shoulder as she quietly sniffled.

I knew I hated seeing her sick, but I think she hated being sick more. It went against her brave and tough persona that she was so used to putting out. She knew she wasn’t at her best, and that just seemed to eat at her more than the fact that she couldn’t even choke down some breakfast.

After her stomach seemed to have settled down, I carried her to bed. She lay on her back, but her head drooped to the side weakly.

I brought the covers up to her chin, and stroked her mane for a while. At one point, I guess my hoof drifted too far, for I felt a bit of drool start to gather on my foreleg. As I looked down in disgust, I saw her eyes half-opened looking up at me. She smiled for a second, then closed her eyes and let sleep overtake her. After I saw she was no longer awake, I gently removed my hoof. I went on to clean up the kitchen and fix the furniture that she knocked over.

Once she had fallen asleep, I left her to rest. But about an hour later, I heard her voice call me into the bedroom. “Storm? Could you come here?”

I walked into our bedroom and saw Rainbow lying on her side. “What’s up, babe?”

She made a sour face. She hated when I called her that, for some reason. “Uh, could you grab me something to eat? I’m kind of hungry.”

Sure, that sounds reasonable. “Yeah, I’ll get you some crackers and toast.”

She started to pout. “Aw, can’t you get me some real food? If I give you some bits, can’t you run to Hayburger for me?”

I scoffed. “Yeah, let me just run to Hayburger and get you something even worse than cereal to eat. That’ll sit well in your gut.”

Her face lit up. “Great! Here, lemme get my wallet.”

She started to get out of bed and I stopped her with my hoof on her shoulder. “Uh, Rainbow, I was being sarcastic. I’m not gonna get you greasy food. You can’t even handle cereal!”

She narrowed her eyes at me. “What? Of course I can! No stomach bug is gonna keep me from enjoying the food I love! Now, go get me Hayburger! I can totally handle it!”

“Ugh, Rainbow. You literally flung the chair on its side this morning to avoid puking on the floor, because you had what looked to be only a few bites of some somewhat healthy food. Can you imagine what would happen if you ate the crap you want me to get for you?”

She rolled her eyes. “Yeah, my taste buds would be satisfied and you’d stop your bitching about it.”

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath in. “Okay. One last time. I will get you something to eat, but as long as you’re still sick, you gotta listen to me. Got it?”

Seeing that she wasn’t going to win, she pouted again. I think that makes two times today. “Ugh. Whatever. Don’t talk to me. Just get my disgusting crackers and leave me to die.” She violently flipped over and tugged the covers over her head. Ya know, despite the fact that we were arguing, she always manages to be adorable. Maybe I’ll say that the next time she pisses me off. That’ll just make her day.

So, I ventured into the kitchen to get her totally not-disgusting crackers. Seriously, they’re great. A pinch of salt on these things and they were heaven. We’ve often snacked on these while we cuddle up and watch movies. I think she just didn’t like that I wouldn’t get her that hayburger she wanted. So, with just a bit more force than I meant to use, I poured some crackers onto a plate and set them down in the bedroom next to Rainbow’s bed.

I tried to knock her awake with my words. “Hey, Miss Snores-a-lot, I got your disgusting crackers.” There was a slight stir in the sheets as she cracked a tired eye open at me, and then down at the plate.

“I’m not hungry anymore.”

I just kind of took a deep breath in, holding my temper back. My therapist said it was a good idea to count to ten.

Just kidding, there’s no therapist.

I gently leaned in to give her a kiss on the head, but she pulled the covers up to shield her from it. Still mad.

I sighed, then went out into the kitchen. I poured myself some cereal. After about half of it was gone, I heard hoofsteps behind me. I got tense and readied myself for a verbal exchange, but what happened next caught me completely off-guard.

I felt her forelegs wrap around my midsection, and her head rest on my shoulder. She leaned in and whispered into my ear, “Hey, you.”

First thing that killed me was her breath. It was like typical sick breath, but it had a mission to make me gag. I held it back though, in an effort to find out what the hell she was up to now. Second thing that wasn't right was how sensual she was trying to be. I knew she was up to something. “Uh, heyyyyy….what's on your mind?” I figured if I played it cool, I’d get to the bottom of what she wanted.

She pointed her face away from me, and talked. I think she saw my nose scrunch. “Oh, I was just wondering what you’re doing out here all alone. I kind of missed you in there.”

Uh.

She continued. “I was just wondering if you wanted to play with me for a little bit…”

I facehoofed.

Knowing what she was trying to do, I responded. “Rainbow, you trying to act sexy is not going to get me to buy you that hayburger.”

She gasped in faux surprise. “Me? Want a hayburger? What ever gave you that idea? I’m just a lonely girl who wants her big, strong boy to come back to bed with her. And besides, who said I ever needed to try?” She finished up that sentence with a big sniffle to snort up the snot that was hanging from her nose.

Oh yeah, that really gets me going alright.

No. Just no. Besides, she’s sick. That’d be icky right now. And anyway, I have a way to counter this whole ordeal.

I grab her around her midsection as well and kiss her cheek, pushing past the bad breath the best I can. I have to play this up to make it work.

“Okay, Rainbow. I’ll come to bed...as long as I can give you a hoof massage.”

Her face dropped and she stuttered. “Wha...what...why? Why would you do that to me?”

Time to have a little fun of my own. “Oh, come now. Surely that would feel good when you’re feeling sick, wouldn’t it?”

Her head pulled back and she looked like she was going to vomit. “Uh...I just remembered, I’m feeling kind of sick today. I don’t wanna get you, ya know, infected or...or whatever.” She flashed a toothy smile and flew back to the bedroom, slamming the door. I heard several disgruntled screams in pillows and swear words not fit for even someone my age to hear.

It was about dinner time now. Rainbow had been watching TV in our room, I guess because she slept too much to try again. I flew in with a salad in hoof, and sat down next to her. “So, how are you feeling?”

She made a face. That pretty much told me all I needed to know. But, she still spoke up. “I’m feeling a little better. Those gross crackers kind of helped the queasiness go away a little bit.”

“Good, glad to hear it.” As I munched on some lettuce, she layed down next to me and wrapped her forelegs around my waist again. I prepared for the worst, and looked at her, but I looked at her, and she had a look on her face similar to a little kid when they got caught rummaging through the cookie jar. She cleared her throat a little, “I’m uh...sorry about today.”

I chuckled. Her voice got to the point of being so quiet, it was like a sick little mouse was apologizing to me instead of the mighty Rainbow Dash, the best...well, whatever she claimed to be the best at today. It was always something different, depending on the situation and her mood.

“It’s okay, Dashie. We all get a little temperamental when we’re sick. Besides, it made for a fun day being off work with you.”

She smiled a little. “Really?”

“No. But, it was fun to see you get your hopes up.”

She quickly frowned and hit me with a pillow. “Meanie. And to think, I was about to give you a nice kiss. I even brushed my teeth.”

“Huh, going the extra mile, aren’t we?”

She smiled a little. “Only for you, babe.”

I faked a frown.“Oh, sure, I can’t call you pet names, but you can with me?”

She nuzzled my side. “That’s because when I do it, it’s awesome. When you do it, it’s just sappy.”

I chuckled. “Glad to know I’m appreciated.”

She pulled herself up and looked me in the eyes with that goofy smile she likes to wear. “I always appreciate you.” She pulled me in for a kiss.

I smiled, forgetting about what happened earlier that day. “I love you, Rainbow.”

“I love you too, Storm.”

We both settled in for the rest of the evening, just planning on relaxing and taking it easy. As I went to go and wash some dishes, I heard her ask, “You know where we could go for our next date?”

Curious, I took the bait. “Where’s that?”

She giddily responded, “Hayburger!” She clapped her front hooves together and beamed.

I facehoofed and sighed.

Author's Note

Hope you all enjoyed this little one-shot I thought of, featuring my OC, Storm Cloud. This is loosely based off of my other story, "Running Into You", which is not completed, (nor will it be for quite some time). Anyways, I hope you all liked it.