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He was shaking.
Steve felt numb as he helped the kids into the back of the humvee that would take them home. He wasn't sure how much time had passed or what was said, but they were free to go home.
His hands trembled as he helped the last kid, Derek, into the back of the vehicle. He watched someone shut the door, felt himself take a perfunctory step back, and then the humvee was gone. God, he was a mess -
“Steve!”
His head jerked up as he watched Robin break away from Vickie. A moment later she was tossing her arms around him in a vicious hug, nails digging into his sore shoulders as she buried her face against his neck. His arms automatically wrapped around her in return as he let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding.
“Hey, it's okay,” he mumbled softly. “We're okay.”
Her tears felt warm against the dirty collar of his shirt. “Back there, on the tower - “
Steve tightened his arms around her. His stomach dropped whenever he remembered that moment - the brief second of realization before his hand had slipped. He was lucky Jonathan had been close enough, had moved quick enough. He rested his forehead against her dirty hair with a soft sigh.
“Yeah, that was a bit much,” he whispered softly. He was too tired for jokes and far too shaken to play off anything that had happened in the last few hours - hell, the last few years. “Not gonna lie, I definitely thought I was a goner.”
“I'm sorry. I'm so so sorry. When I saw you go over the edge I just froze - “
“No, hey - “ Steve pushed Robin back just a bit, just enough to see her tear-stained cheeks and sad eyes as she looked up at him. “We're good, Buckley. You don't owe me an apology or an explanation,” he insisted softly.
Robin shook her head. “But - “
“But nothing. You and me? We're good. We're always gonna be good,” Steve reiterated. Robin's fingers flexed against the back of his vest as she took one deep breath and then another, exhaling slowly in the way Vickie had taught her. Speaking of which, Steve squeezed Robin's elbow as he looked over her head to see Vickie watching them even as she talked to Max in quiet tones. She was crouched down at the arm of Max's wheelchair, but her eyes kept darting toward them every so often.
Unlike everyone else here, she was new to this entire situation. It only made sense that she was anxious and afraid. It wasn't every day you were introduced to monsters and then dragged to a military outpost to see the destruction of another dimension.
Steve pulled Robin into another quick hug before taking a step back. “You should go, Vick’s waiting on you.”
“No way, nu uh Mister.” Robin grabbed into his sleeve firmly. “You're coming home with me tonight.”
Steve felt the surprise take over his expression. “Robin - “
“You almost died. We saved the world. I think a sleepover is in order,” she stated with a shake to his arm. “I already asked Vickie. She's cool with it, since you know, she'll be there too.”
Something settled inside Steve as he stared down at Robin, realizing that he wouldn't have to go home alone. The unnerving tightness of his skin faded away slowly as he felt himself unconsciously relax. His eyes darted back to Vickie who offered a shaky smile and quick wave from where she was crouched.
“Okay,” Steve agreed.
Robin's face lit up with a small smile despite the redness of her eyes and the clear tear stains on her cheeks. Her fingers shifted to circle his wrist in a gentle grip.
“Okay,” she echoed back.
The world was a screwed up place. Shit happened. People died. It fucking sucked.
But sometimes shit situations resulted in good things happening too.
Staring at the back of Robin's head, Steve felt an almost dumb smile overtake his face as he let her drag him toward the others.
It wouldn't be today or tomorrow or next week, but a year or two or ten from now everything would fall into place.
They were gonna be okay.
He was going to be okay.