Closing her eyes tightly, Steph willed the room to stop spinning. She was halfway through her economics class, the teacher's voice droned on and on, the words muddling together in her head. Biting the inside of her cheek, she took a deep breath in and slowly exhaled. She could feel bile trying to rise up the back of her throat, and her stomach was starting to knot.
Opening her eyes, she looked around the room and realised no one was paying attention to her. Pulling her phone out, she opened the Batfam group text and quickly typed a message and hit send. It was a simple message. Can someone pick me up from the campus library? Don't feel too great.
Resting her phone on the chair next to her, Steph clenched her eyes shut as the room started to spin once more. The room smelt of sweat and something vinegar-like and she needed to get out as soon as she could. Quickly packing her bag, she quietly left the room and waited until she was outside to lean against the cool brick of the building.
Looking at her phone, she had two replies. Both Dick and Cass apologised, stating they were busy. Tim had left her on read six minutes ago – he was probably with Bernard. Feeling her phone vibrate, she looked at the screen. Father won't let me drive the Batmobile. Feeling the need to tell Damian he was too young to drive, Steph pushed it aside and pulled the water bottle from her bag, taking a long drink.
Rubbing her hand over her face, Steph tried to suppress the feeling of wanting to throw up. Another vibration from her phone pulled her out of her thoughts. Jason could pick her up and he would be only a few minutes. Wondering how fast Jason thought he could get there, Steph shoved her water bottle back in her bag, typed a quick response to Jason, and walked across the courtyard and to the library.
Everything still felt like it was spinning but as she kept on going, it became a little easier. Leaning up against one of the trees, Steph tried to control her breathing. The short walk reminded her of how upset her stomach felt. The bile was nipping at the back of her throat, the taste of acid making her feel like she was choking. Dropping her backpack to the ground, Steph turned towards the bush and started vomiting. She didn't feel good and there was nothing she could do to fix it.
Walking out of the library with a stack of textbooks under his arm, Jason pursed his lips together when he saw Steph bent over the bushes. Making his way over to her as quickly as he could, he rested a gentle hand on her back and rubbed soothing circles into her back until she stopped throwing up.
"What's the matter?" Jason asked, setting his textbooks on the ground and opening Steph's backpack. Handing her the water bottle, he waited until she had rinsed her mouth and taken a drink.
"I don't know. Everything is spinning, my head feels cloudy, and my stomach is in knots," Steph replied, noticing the stack of textbooks on the ground next to her. "Jason, were you in the library?"
"I was, I'm taking a class and thought I'd get some studying in before the test," Jason casually replied as if it was nothing.
"What are you taking?" Steph asked, her curiosity piqued.
"Just an English class, nothing fancy. Stay here a moment and I'll bring the car round," Jason said, changing topics.
"Okay."
Grabbing Steph's backpack and his pile of textbooks, Jason headed to his car and unlocked it. Unceremoniously dropping everything onto the backseat, he drove out of the parking lot and pulled up right in front of Steph.
Getting into the passenger seat, Steph rested her head against the headrest and closed her eyes. Everything was spinning again and she was starting to feel exhausted. Feeling something cool and plastic-like shoved into her hand, Steph opened an eye and looked at the vomit bag in her grasp.
"Please try not to throw up in my car," Jason said, accelerating out of the parking lot and exiting the campus.
"I'll do my best," Steph replied, leaning against the window and watching as the city passed by as they headed to Wayne Manor.
Large, fat droplets of rain started dropping from the sky quickly making everything in sight wet. The weather reflected Steph's mood well, and she felt herself begin to vibe with the dark greys and rumbling sounds of thunder.
Pulling up outside of the manor, Jason moved to the other side of the car and helped Steph out. She didn't look very well; her face had gone pale and she kept closing her eyes and taking in deep breaths. Knowing Steph was just as stubborn as he was, Jason knew she wouldn't want to see a doctor just yet.
Pushing the car door closed with his foot, Jason picked Steph up bridal style and felt her cuddle into his chest. Easily carrying her through the manor, up the stairs, and to her bedroom, Jason gently lowered her onto her bed.
"I'll be back in a moment," Jason said, quickly leaving the room and returning moments later with another vomit bag, a glass of water, and some Tylenol.
"Thank you for everything," Steph said, throwing back the painkillers and climbing under the covers. Smiling softly when Jason began to tuck her in, Steph was glad she had Jason in her life.
"I'll be right here when you wake up or if you need anything." Placing a gentle kiss on Steph's forehead, Jason retreated to the chair in the corner of the room and pulled out a book from the inside pocket of his jacket.
Opening his battered copy of Alice in Wonderland, he continued to read from where he left off, keeping an eye on Steph as she drifted off to sleep.