Chapter Text
It was unknown to Robin how long it took him to get back to consciousness, but the first thing he knew was he had a splitting headache. He slowly peeled his eyes open. Lifting his head slightly, he took in his sights.
For starters, he was in his room, all tucked up in bed with more pillows and blankets he normally had. His chest was bare and wrapped in a flurry of bandages. The sun was rising outside the windows and Sam was laying at the edge of his bed with his head resting on his arms.
Robin tried to sit up but a jolt of pain flared through his system, letting out a pained grunt. Sam jolted awake and wildly looked around, his sight landed on Robin. His face melted into what could only be described as joy.
"You're okay!" he exclaimed.
Robin let out a soft chuckle. "Why wouldn't I be?"
"You passed out and had all these wounds," Sam explained.
So that explained the bandages.
"How long was I asleep for?" Robin questioned.
"About three days," was the answer he got.
Three days?? He'd never passed out for that long; a few hours at most but never three days? Guilt began to crawl into Robin's nerves as he remembered how this all started.
"I want to apologize for planning to leave, it was selfish of me to just up and leave when I'd made a promise."
Sam looked down towards the bed and fiddled with the cover.
"I… can't say I fully understand why you wanted to leave but I accept it if you still want to leave, I shouldn't hold you back," he answered.
Robin slowly reached forward and softly touched the top of Sam's hand, making the gargoyle look up at him.
"Sam, I promise you, and I mean properly; I won't leave this time. I was angry and not thinking clearly before but now I am; I'm staying, for good," Robin stated, feeling determined about his words.
Sam gave him possibly the softest look he'd ever seen.
"And if I go back on my promise, you can have Willa throw me into the ocean," Robin commented.
Sam let out a soft chuckle.
"I'll hold you to that promise," Willa replied.
Robin turned his head to see the older wizard standing in the doorway.
She walked over to the bed and sat on the edge of it.
"Glad to see you're awake," she commented.
"Yeah well, needed the rest. My magic normally takes it out of me but I guess I used too much this time," Robin replied, trying to stretch but not getting too far.
Willa had a critical thinking look on her face. "We'll talk about your magic later but for starters, I want to apologize."
"And so do I," Robin stated. "I want to apologize for yelling at you and getting angry-"
He was cut off when Willa raised her hand to silence him.
"I get that and I understand, but let me apologize for what I did."
She took a deep breath before speaking. "I was too harsh on you. I was pushing you too hard and not letting you breathe. I thought it was because you could already perform wandless magic but I think it was partly because…."
She paused to take in a shaky breath. "You remind me of a student I once had. He was quite similar to you; spunky, determined, kind-hearted. I wasn't seeing you, I was seeing him and I apologize for that."
Robin was honestly a bit shocked at Willa's honestly and kindness.
"I accept your apology," Robin stated which gained him a smile from Willa.
"I do have a question," he continued.
Willa nodded for him to go ahead.
"You never fully explained how Sam got his curse and how it works."
Willa looked nervous and Sam just looked down in… shame?
"Well, as for how he got his curse, that's easy to explain. According to his brother Nau, he got it from a wizard named Zender when he was just three years old. As for why, I think it was due to wanting to 'purge gargoyles from the land' by using one of their own."
Disgust flowed through Robin's body. Who in their fucking right mind would curse a three year old???
"That's revolting. I hope they died a painful and horrible death," Robin growled.
Willa and Sam shared a look like they knew some terrible secret; Robin didn't want to pry.
"As for how it works, that's a bit more difficult to narrow down," Willa continued.
"Back when I was young, it was caused by Zender, using whatever spell he used. But now? It's a bit more confusing."
The older wizard turned to Sam.
"Do you have any idea what causes them?" she asked.
Sam was silent, still looking down at the bed.
"I think… I think I do. Both times before I transformed, I felt so angry and rageful and I think that's what sets it off," he answered, his voice barely hear-able.
Robin felt a bit of guilt for being the cause of one of Sam's transformations.
Willa nodded. "I'll need to possibly look more into it but for now, I suggest trying to keep your anger under control until I can find a way to hopefully reverse it."
Sam nodded in understanding.
"Speaking of reversing," Willa turned her attention back towards Robin. "I am quite curious as to how you were able to cure Sam's curse, at least temporarily."
Robin gave a gentle shrug. "I have no clue. It kinda just happened in the moment."
Willa looked down in thought and mumbled something.
"Now this is a theory but I suspect it has something to do with your magical element," Willa explained.
"My element?" Robin question.
Willa nodded. "Every magical being has one elemental magic that is their 'core magic'. Mine and Sam's are nature while yours is Light. And every element has it's opposite. Nature and Fire; Fire and Water and Light and Shadow."
"I suspect that due to your magic being light and Zender's spell likely originating from his shadow element, the spell on Sam weakened and temporarily retreated," she continued.
Robin nodded. "That makes sense, I'm just glad I was able to help."
He glanced over at Sam who gave him a happy smile. Robin leaned back on his pillow and stared up at the ceiling. Maybe he'd finally started to open his heart up to others like his mama had asked. Maybe this place could be his home.