-chaoticdumbass- you're very rawr and chaotic, much brain, please take this peace offering
(Fire safety history knowledge sponsored by my 7th grade ELA notes (this is the Florida education system so I can't guarantee accuracy))
Notice: York and Connecticut aren't brothers in this, sorry
——————
New York walked into the living room to see Colorado laying on the couch.
Fire season had been hitting hard this year and the state had been putting so much effort into not filling the whole damn house with smoke he wasn't able to,, well, smoke.
So Colorado looked like shit.
His clothes were a mess and his hat was close to sliding off, goggle having been completely discarded. There was what looked like soot that had manifested as smudges on his face. A blanket was laying half on the floor, half on his legs while there were multiple melted ice packs on his head and chest.
It looked like he had spent all night there.
Now, New York has some of the best safety measures out of any state. In fact, most fire safety laws, labor reforms, and building regulations of other states were modeled after the ones he put in place after the triangle factory fire.
This doesn't mean he doesn't have any, wild fires are still a thing, but he doesn't have many dumb people burning down the city and he definitely doesn't have fire season.
The only fires he's ever really felt are the big ones from disasters that just have to happen every 100 years or so because why not. Every time one does was he's either to weak to get help or (most recently) straight up can't remember the details because he blocked it out. 1835, 1911, 2001, all sucked and the only things he can remember is what the fire, destruction, and death felt like.
For the life of him he can't remember what helped, what anyone did that made something better, outside of actually putting out the fires. New York pulls himself from his thoughts when he realizes he's been standing at the doorway way too long. Colorado is still on the couch, mind too foggy with heat and exhaustion to have ever noticed York.
He still looks pitiful as ever, why can't someone else help him.
...no one else would be helping Colorado, would they.
Deciding to screw it and just go with whatever he thinks would help based on how fires feel along with what he knows about being sick, he heads back to the hall where his room is, rummaging through the hall closet before heading to the kitchen.
Fucker better be thankful.
——————
This sucks.
Fire season sucks, fevers suck, cold flashes suck, the way the couch sticks to him when he shifts sucks, this sweaty grimy feeling sucks, him being too tired to even get up and wash it off sucks, and not having any drugs to help sucks.
Everything sucks.
Colorado had collapsed onto the couch almost immediately after dinner the previous night, accidentally commandeering the entire living room in the process. DC had told him to go to bed and rest if the fires were getting that bad but once he'd done his best to explain that no DC, he's too tired to get up, my room is all the way upstairs DC, I will pass out right now DC, don't make me do it.
He very quickly realized his mistake when DC's mother hen mode kicked in and suddenly he had three more pillows, a blanket, a glass of water, 3 ice packs, and a thermometer in his mouth. He could hear DC tell everyone still in the dining room that the living room was 'off limits, as Colorado isn't doing too good and if he falls asleep I don't want any of you waking him up or else' while he tried his best to keep the thermometer under his tongue.
DC had come back after what felt like forever before giving him two pills and reading off his temperature. He doesn't remember what it was but DC told him to just take the medicine and that he could sleep there tonight.
Now it's almost 1 in the afternoon the next day and DC hadn't come back.
This usually happened if DC was up working all night for a few days. He'd stay up until he crashed and end up sleeping till late in the day. Colorado was happy DC's finally getting some rest but the timing couldn't be worse.
The pills that he's figured out to be fever reducers have worn off and he's out of water and everything is pain and suffering. At this point all he wants is a cold shower, food, and cuddles with his boyfriend, weed isn't even in the top three anymore, but Connecticut was out on business and wouldn't be back till Tuesday.
Just as he was about to fall into another bought of self pity he heard someone stomping through the room to the kitchen. Using what strength he could gather Colorado pushed himself upright, only to immediately fall against the pillow stack DC had set up the previous night. Well, at least he could see who it was now.
He watched as someone with a bright red hat disappeared into the kitchen. Now who had that hat? California,,, no California's hat was bright orange. They're probably east coast. He remembered Connecticut ranting about his 'rat bastard' of a neighbor who 'won't stop fighting with the masshole and I'm sick of being stuck in between that, next time they fight I'm killing the closest one.'
That's who it was, New York! How did he not recognize New York? Is he really that out of it?
...oh wait it was New York.
He was kinda hoping for someone less 'grrr' and more caring but he'll just wait for the next person to come through for help. Florida definitely wouldn't listen to DC this much later, right? He was figuring out who might come in next when suddenly New York was back out of the kitchen and walking towards him. Oh no, what'd he do?
Before he could make up an excuse for,, whatever New York was coming over about, a new cup of ice water and a cold, wet washcloth were shoved into his hands.
New York immediately re-crossed his arms and stepped away a bit, "Drink the water and put the washcloth on the back of your neck, it cools your nervous system faster that way."
Was he,, nervous? Or at least uncomfortable to some extent, he's acting like Florida when he's on crack. Following the older states instructions he drank the water and moved the cloth to his neck,, only to use it to clean his face. It's just so cold and nice and he already feels so much better.
——————
There was a groan from York before he took the now empty cups and melted ice packs, heading back to the kitchen. He came back with a new ice pack and a plate of toast. This time he just put the ice pack on Colorado's neck himself, putting the plate on the coffee table until Colorado is done with his bird bath.
Scooting over and motioning to the other side of the couch for New York to sit, Colorado took the plate and got to work with eating.
"Y'know- mmm, ure no t- mm"
"Don't talk with your mouth full, it's gross and I will leave"
"Mmhm"
A few minutes later Colorado finished his food and was infinitely happier.
He turned to face New York, "Y'know, you're a lot nicer than you act. "
"I have no idea what you're talking about." New York's eyes were firmly set on the blank TV screen. He has no idea if he's even doing this right and even if he is, he's never going to admit to helping.
"Yeah you do, a jerk wouldn't do all this."
New York stopped him there by shoving two pills just like the ones DC gave him last night into his hands, "Shut up and take the fever reducers"
Taking the opportunity to give his excuse New York continued, "It's your fault for looking so sad."
Colorado did the dopey grin he does when he knows full well that he's being a little shit, "Aww, you didn't wanna see me sad, that's so sweet."
"You know that's not what I meant."
"Do I, softy?"
"You're a disaster and I'm leaving." York got up from his spot on the couch and was about to walk to the door when Colorado grabbed his arm.
"Nooooooo! I'll stop, I swear, you can even pick the show, I didn't want the remote anyway there are too many buttons."
New York gave in and sat back down "Fine, only because Friends is on right about now."
Colorado was satisfied that he'd won and the two states settled in to watch as Ross and Rachel debated the existence of the word 'gleeba'
——————
A few days later and Connecticut was finally home. Colorado took the chance to immediately attach himself to the other's side.
Connecticut laughed as he was practically dragged into cuddles on the bed, "I missed you too Coco." He paused to adjust his head on Colorado's shoulder.
"So how have you been while I was gone? Did anything happen? Did the fires get too bad? Did you get help? Should I have come home earlier?"
"Don't worry, I had help. Something fun did happen though"
"Oh?"
Colorado grinned, "Yeah, I'm friends with New York now-"
"You're what."
"-of course he would deny it but that's only 'cause he's set on keeping up the tough guy image-"
"No, babe, what?"
"But he's secretly a softie and we're totally friends now."
"Colorado"
"Yes, love?"
Connecticut sighed, "I love you"
"I love you too!"
——————
New York was leaning against the counter in the kitchen, scrolling through something on his phone when Connecticut approached him.
"Hey"
New York looked up, "What do ya want?"
Connecticut rolled his eyes, "Yeah, I really don't know what he was talking about." York is still a jerk and he can't see that changing anytime soon. But,, he helped Colorado so there's gotta be something there.
"Just, thanks, for helping Coco. I don't know why you did it and I still don't like you but he's decided you're his friend now and that's good enough for me."
"We're not friends, he was just on the couch and in the way. Besides, he looked like the human equivalent of a puppy someone let too close to the fireplace."
Connecticut was silent for a moment before,"Huh, he was right."
"About what." It wasn't really a question, New York had a feeling already knew.
"You are soft."
"Oh fuck off."
——————
I'm probably gonna move this into a different fic later but said fic isn't posted yet or at the point where this would happen so it's gonna chill here for now.
Now: I just realized I haven't shown you your friendship bracelet yet so here it is, please excuse my failed attempts at photography
Absolutely none of those pictures were crisp except for the one that had my whole hand because my phone is absolutely shit at focusing but I tried for over 20 minutes at this so im just gonna dump all the best attempts
You only said red and black, and I was out of white so I used gray as the 3rd color but I'm actually quite proud how it turned out, hope you don't mind <3