Chapter Text
Steve found himself dozing off on the couch as Robin laid curled up against his side. She was still unnaturally warm, but Steve figured at least she was resting. He was on the verge of sleep when Robin stirred. She groaned softly and stretched out her legs. She suddenly startled, when she saw Steve looking down at her.
"Holy shit," she gasped, nearly smacking the back of her head into Steve's face. He smiled at her. It was an expression that conveyed concern as well as having a joking quality.
"You really knocked out there, Rob," he said, not unkindly. She rolled her eyes a little bit, but otherwise didn't respond. Steve didn't know how to feel. When he'd first met Robin, she was different from the other girls he'd known, with an alternative style and a tendency to be rude. He'd made the assumption that she was "weird" and "hyper", when in reality she was bored to death with her job because there was no proper outlet for her energy. And to be honest with himself, he had a crush on her to begin with, but he wouldn't admit that to himself. The leather bracelets and chain necklaces, the black nail polish, her record as a band kid, all that shit he wished he hadn't cared about. But he'd gotten to know her, experienced trauma with her. And that rudeness became dry humor and a bad ass, no bullshit attitude. Her being hyper became an expression of her personality and the energy she gave off and it constantly made him smile.
Even after Robin confessed the one thing she was truly ashamed of (or she was ashamed of it until Steve told her she should never have to be), Steve never stopped wanting to be around her. He got over his feelings in favor of taking her in as his best friend, and he discovered that she was good for him. She wasn't afraid to call him out for being too awkward or saying the wrong things. She was ready to take on pretty much anything and her wit and bluntness had the ability to make him laugh at any time. After a while, he couldn't really see himself without having Robin to go to for help, or screw around with at work. They really were best friends.
And there she was, sniffling pitifully and shivering as fever chills wracked her body. Steve, to put it lightly, was not happy with the circumstances. Not because he was forced to take care of Robin, but because he wasn't too fond of seeing her out of it like this. She was exhausted and he wasn't sure if he should let her keep the blanket to combat the chills, or take it away from her to try to bring down her fever.
"Are you hungry? You should probably eat something considering you took medicine on, I'm assuming, an empty stomach," Steve said, voice taking on the same authoritative tone it had with the kids. Robin shrugged a little, still a little dazed from sleep. Steve rolled his eyes and smiled as he stood up. "Well I'm sure I have something I can manage to make without burning down the house." Steve walked into the next room and Robin could hear him opening cabinets and huffing with frustration. He came back a minute later. "Okay so I found a box of mac and cheese and a can of soup and I'm going to attempt to make them," he said, feigning confidence. Robin snorted.
"Yeah, okay dingus. Since when can you cook?" she asked, laughing a little as she stood up.
"Ah, but there's the thing," he began, pointing the box of mac and cheese in her direction. "I never said I could. As I said I would attempt to make them. At no time did I say I would be successful," he said grinning, earning another laugh from Robin. He walked over to her, pulled the blanket tighter around her shoulders and pulled her into the kitchen. He pulled out two pots and placed them on separate burners on the stove. Robin sat at the table watching him, looking rather amused.
With the help of several miracles, Steve managed to heat up the soup and make mac and cheese without burning the house down. Robin downed probably half the bowl of soup before giving up and resting her head on the table.
"Rob, you good? Did you just OD?" Steve asked, laughing a little and putting a hand on her shoulder.
"'M fine. Got a headache," she sighed, looking up at Steve. She kept her chin rested on her arms as she looked at him. He smiled back at her and put his hand on her forehead. It was still too warm, but if his memory served correctly, it was cooler than it had been before.
"Do you... need anything?" Steve asked, not knowing what to do for her. She mumbled something he couldn't quite understand. "What did you say?"
"... a hug?" she asked again, her voice quiet and uncertain. Steve almost laughed. Almost.
"You want... a hug?" He asked, though not unkindly. She waited a moment before just barely nodding her head yes. Steve smiled a little and walked over to her and knelt down beside where she was sitting at the kitchen table. "Yeah, sure," he said, wrapping his arms around her torso and letting her lean on him.
"Steve?" Robin asked, her voice barely above a whisper. "I don't feel well," she said, her voice breaking a little.
"Shit, Rob, I know," he replied, not really sure what else he could say. He kept one arm wrapped around her while he retracted the other to put a firm hand on her back. "C'mon. Let's get you back to the couch, yeah?" He suggested. Robin shrugged and turned to stand up, but before she could, Steve had scooped her into his arms and was carrying her back to the living room.
"I could've walked fifteen feet," she sighed as Steve sat her on the couch.
"I know, but you didn't have to," he said with a shrug, and Robin immediately rolled her eyes.
The next day, Robin still had a fever, and Steve forced her to stay home. It was not a simple task, but he managed. The third day was a Monday, and Steve made she he was awake to call Robin before she headed to school.
"Steve, please," she groaned, her voice still hoarse. "I'm fine. My fever broke at six o'clock last night. You were there!"
"Yeah, I know," he sighed. "I just want to make sure you're okay before going back to that shit hole." Robin rolled her eyes, though Steve obviously couldn't see.
"I am and will be fine, dingus. I have to go or I'll be late. I'll see you later," she sighed before hanging up.
At the end of the school day, Steve waited in his car for Robin to come outside. When he saw her, he hit the horn to get her attention and in turn scared a group of sophomores walking past. Robin speed walked to the car before getting in the passenger side and glaring at him.
"You are the biggest idiot I have ever met," Robin said bluntly.
"Yeah, well, I'm the idiot who spent the last two days nursing you back to health," he replied.
"Oh, hardly," she snorted. "And I didn't need your help." Though, she hardly meant the last part. Truth be told, she didn't know what she would've done without him there, and she was more grateful for him every day she could call him a friend. Though, she'd never tell him that. Steve just scoffed.
"Yeah," he started as he pulled out of the school parking lot. "Whatever, dumbass."