Chapter 8
The warm, fuzzy feelings didn't last long after Stephanie bided them goodbye and headed down ladder towards home. Sportacus began busily making dinner, moving around way more than Robbie thought necessary for simple sandwiches. Finally he finished, walking over to the bed and handing Robbie a plate. Robbie eyed the sandwich with suspicion but hunger won over his distrust. After one bite he pulled a face, tossing the barely touched sandwich back onto the platter.
"Ugh! What did you put in that thing?"
Sportacus looked completely mystified at the reaction. "It shouldn't taste that bad. It's lettuce and fruit leather! It's really good for you." He happily devoured the rest of his sandwich while Robbie looked on, his lip curled in disgust. "I can make you something else, if you want."
"Don't you have anything that isn't stomach-churningly healthy?"
"Hey, you said it! I thought you didn't want to hear that word."
"I don't! " Robbie seethed, handing the plate back to him. Sportacus took it and began munching on the unfinished sandwich absentmindedly, walking over to the larder-board once more.
"Let's see…I've got all kinds of fruits and vegetables, lots of different nuts, milk, water, eggs, wheat pasta and bread, some no-sugar-added peanut butter…"
"What? You don't have anything remotely edible!"
"Sure it is, Robbie! I think if you tried something, you'd like it." Sportacus rubbed his chin, pondering. "…what about pasta and tomato sauce? Would you try that?"
Grumbling, Robbie grudgingly agreed to try it. Steam was soon emanating from the wall-stove, and the pleasant smell of Italian spices filled the airship. Pretty quickly Sportacus returned to the bed, bowl of noodles in hand. Robbie steeled himself for a moment, then closed his eyes and took a bite of the tomato-based concoction.
Sportacus leaned forward, waiting for a reaction. "How is it?"
Robbie reflexively swallowed, coughing for a moment. "It's not the best, but it's certainly better than what you tried to pass off as a sandwich." He was simply too hungry to persist in being finicky, so despite his complaints he cleaned bowl out, much to Sportacus's delight.
"See? It's not so bad to eat healthy."
"…don't say that. It's terrible. It's almost torture, like starving someone to death."
Sportacus just grinned. "I think you're making it out to be worse than it really is, Robbie." Putting the dishes in the cleaning panel, he snapped his fingers. "I have a great idea! Stephanie told me once that when she was sick, she always felt better after getting clean."
"…absolutely not."
"You have to get clean sometime! It's good for you, and it might help you feel better."
"Look, I've already had enough trouble just going to the bathroom. I can't even stand on my own for more than a minute. A shower is not happening."
"I don't mind helping. Robbie…? Are you alright?" Sportacus asked. Robbie had turned a shade of red so deep it was almost purple, staring a Sportacus with his mouth open in shock. "What's wrong?"
After a few soundless attempts, Robbie finally managed to speak again. "E-everything, that's what. You cannot seriously be offering what I think you are."
"What's so bad about taking a shower?"
"With another person? That's the kind of thing only couples do. Really, really close couples." At Sportacus's confused expression, Robbie added, "As in dating, kissing, sleeping together couples."
"But Stephanie told me that her parents used to help her wash when she was sick. Besides, we are sleeping together."
Robbie just hid his face in one palm, trying to think of a simple way of explaining it. "Not like that, idiot. Sleeping sleeping together, as in sex. Just…forget about it, alright?"
Sportacus shook his head stubbornly, crossing over to the bedside. "I really do think it would make you feel better. Even if it doesn't help get rid of the sickness, it should make you smell better and feel more comfortable."
Robbie turned to offer a sharp reply but was cut off when a pair of arms slipped under him, raising him off of the bed. "…what do you think you're doing? Put me back down!"
Chuckling, Sportacus tapped the floor switch and carried his protesting charge into expanded bathroom. Setting him down outside the tiled stall, he steadied Robbie and tried to get him to calm down.
"What part of 'No' don't you understand?"
"Robbie, I think you're making a bigger deal out of this than it is. No one's going to see you, and it would make me feel better to know we did everything we could think of to help you get better. Is there any way you'll try it? Since you don't want to do this, we could do something else another time that you do want to do…"
Robbie's mind spun with the possibilities. "…anything I want?"
"Anything you want, I promise."
Robbie smirked before he could stop himself. He really is like an innocent. "Alright, I agree. But you have to swear you'll never tell anyone about this, deal?"
"Deal! That was quick. Did you already decide what you want to do?"
"Yeah, but you don't get to find out now. I'll tell you later."
As soon as Sportacus started helping him undress, the smirk quickly vanished without a trace, replaced with a nervous half-smile. Sportacus frowned in concentration, carefully peeling the blue and white shirt off over the bandages. Robbie shivered as the cool air hit his skin, looking more and more uncertain by the minute. Sportacus paused for an instant, looking up and giving a reassuring smile.
"Relax, Robbie. It's ok." Bending down, he began working on easing dark blue pants over the leg cast while Robbie leaned against the cool white tile, becoming more flustered by the minute. Finally freeing Robbie's legs of the clinging material Sportacus stood, twining one arm in support around Robbie's slender waist as he started the water. Nodding to himself after testing the temperature, he helped Robbie step into the stall. "Just one second. I'll be back."
Robbie rested his forehead against the tile, letting the water from the showerhead stream down his back. This was probably a stupid decision. Not that he would have stopped bothering me about it, health nut that he is…but I'm not as naively detached about things as he seems to be. That promise just might be worth it, though…
There was a rustling sound behind him and the sound of the Plexiglas panel sliding shut. One hand settled on his shoulder in support while the other began firmly scrubbing his back and neck. Robbie turned his head to ask something, but the words remained stuck in his throat. Sportacus continued humming in what he thought was a soothing fashion and began working on Robbie's neck and shoulders, seemingly oblivious to his friend's open stare. Somewhere is in the jumble of disjointed thoughts pouring into Robbie's mind, something lucid surfaced.
…he's not wearing anything. Nothing. His thoughts continued to drift in this direction as Sportacus finished with his shoulders and began carefully running a soapy cloth down his arms. There was something indescribably erotic about watching another person so completely absorbed in touching your skin. Robbie shivered as Sportacus's fingers brushed across the insides of his arms, the palms of his hands. He felt his knees go weak as one tanned arm slid around his waist once more, leaning into the touch as Sportacus continued his ministrations, taking extra care around his battered ribs. Robbie felt his misgivings slowly sliding away, as if they were sluiced off with the soap. Supporting himself against the wall, he simply enjoyed the feel of the cloth as Sportacus knelt, soaping down his legs. However, when the touch began to slide higher Robbie quickly halted its movement, grasping Sportacus's wrist firmly.
"Don't…don't do that. I can manage by myself," he barely managed to whisper over the patter of water. I shouldn't have let that go so far. Turning his back on Sportacus and balancing on one leg, he took care of the rest of the washing. He didn't quite know himself whether he was hoping the blue elf was watching or minding his own business. Finished, he glanced over his shoulder, watching Sportacus begin washing himself off, memorizing every curving outline. Their eyes met briefly and Robbie didn't even try to avert his gaze. There was something intangible about Sportacus's expression, his body language, but Robbie didn't even know whether he should take that as a hopeful sign. He seemed as calm as always, a frustrating counterpoint to everything that felt like it was raging through him.
Robbie sighed. It would be so much easier if I could convince myself that it's only a silly crush. Honestly, I can't be sure anymore. And why him, of all people? It's not like there's a large selection of people to choose from, but I just had to settle on the most contrary person available, didn't I?
His internal soliloquy was interrupted as Sportacus put a hand on his shoulder, directing Robbie's gaze to him once again. "Can you tilt your head up and close your eyes, Robbie?"
Is he…? Blushing, Robbie did as he was bid only to start in surprise as he felt fingers tangling into his hair. "Hey, I didn't agree to this!"
Sportacus just chuckled. "Getting clean means getting all of you clean, Robbie." He altered the pressure slightly, massaging his scalp as he worked.
He received no more complaints after that.
Robbie had been fairly pliant after that. Pleasantly warm and wearing his own comfortable PJs, he only made a few half-hearted laments about his hair as Sportacus carried him back over to the bed.
"Oh, I don't know, Robbie. I don't think it looks bad at all," Sportacus said as Robbie tucked strand behind his ear. "You should wear you hair like that more often."
"It's annoying. It just gets in my eyes all the time," he muttered grumpily, but without any real weight behind it. …I'll think about it.
Turning the lights off, Sportacus tucked Robbie in before climbing onto the other side himself, draping one arm across him for safety once again. Robbie looked over at him sleepily.
"…who said you could be in the bed again?"
"…you don't want me here? I'll leave if you want me to…"
Stifling a yawn, Robbie shook his head. "Fine, fine. One more night." Sportacus settled at his side once more, quickly dozing off. Robbie savored the moment, covering Sportacus's protective hand with his own before he joined him in sleep.
Sportacus awoke later that night, jostled out of slumber by a kick to his shin. Bolting upright, he turned when he felt a fine trembling and slick wetness under his hand.
"…Robbie, are you alright? Lights!" His eyes widened as the illumination revealed his friend, shivering and sweat-soaked. Sportacus actually felt a twinge of fear as Robbie blinked in confusion at the sudden change in atmosphere before gritting his teeth and closing his eyes.
"It's too hot. Why's the sun up already?" Robbie murmured, shakily raising one hand to hide his face. Sportacus grasped his hand, ignoring Robbie's protests about the light, and held up two fingers to his wrist. A weak pulse beat, but frantically, with the wings of a trapped bird.
"Robbie, look at me." Grabbing his chin, Sportacus tilted his face up, even more concerned when Robbie simply stared ahead without any focus. "What's wrong? You shouldn't be having this kind of reaction to just broken bones…"
Moving Robbie back to the center of the bed, Sportacus quickly secured a tie around the platform before flipping into the pilot seat. Robbie may not like hospitals, but they have to know what's wrong with him. They have to! He pedaled as fast as he could towards Vigorville hospital. He only hoped that he'd get there before Robbie got worse.
A/N: What Robbie has exists in real life, and it will be revealed in the next chapter. I'm not telling just yet!