Author's Note:

My belated birthday gift to myself... now onwards to finals!

Suggested by: Author's Original Creation

Drabble location in R.W.B.Y. timeline: Between Volume 2, Episode 4: Painting the Town and Episode 5: Extracurricular

Basic Scenario: Ren wakes up sick... and Nora takes care of him

*BOOP*

"Wakey wakey, sleepy butt!" Nora flopped onto Ren's bed, "we don't wanna be late for breakfast!"

Ren groaned under his covers, pulling them up over his head despite Nora lying on top of him.

Nora tilted her head, usually Ren wasn't this resistant to getting up in the morning.

"Nora..." Ren coughed, "please..."

Carefully peeling back the covers, Nora could see that Ren's nose was running and his face was much paler than usual. He turned onto his side and coughed in his hand.

"Uh oh!" She looked to her teammates, who were already in their uniforms, "looks like Ren's sick!"

"Should we call the nurse?" Pyrrha asked.

"Nah!" Nora put her hands on her hips, "I can take care of him!"

Ren answered the proposition with a lengthy moan.

"You're..." Pyrrha glanced from Ren back to Nora, "you're sure?"

"Yup!" Nora smiled widely, "Ren's taken care of me dozens of times before... it's only fair that I return the favour."

Pyrrha didn't seem entirely convinced, but changed the subject, "Did you want us to get you anything from the cafeteria?"

"I'll just grab something from the pantry." Nora shrugged; she then caught sight of the textbooks sprawled across her bed, "Oh yeah! Can you take some notes for me and Ren from class?"

"I-" Pyrrha shook her head and smiled, "of course."

"They'll be fine." Jaune led the way, "Feel better, Ren!"

Ren responded with another groan.

Shortly after Pyrrha closed the door behind herself, Nora's mind kicked into overdrive; creating a list of everything she'd need to take care of Ren.

"Never fear Ren!" She cheered, "Doctor Nora is taking house calls!"

Ren slowly blinked.

"Great idea Ren! You can blink once for 'yes' and twice for 'no'," she poked his nose, "that way you don't lose your voice... I mean, not that you use it very much, but I still want to have my bestest buddy to talk to!"

Nora's stomach rumbled, reminding her that she hadn't yet eaten breakfast.

"First order of business!" Nora checked off her mental list, "can't go doctoring on an empty stomach. Are you hungry for anything, Ren?"

Ren blinked twice, rolling on his side and curling into a ball.

"I'll be back lickety-split then!" Nora zipped into the kitchenette to retrieve some cereal.

True to her word she quickly returned, opting to eat on her bed so she could keep an eye on Ren.

Nora systematically positioned a wastebasket and several boxes of tissues -all within arm's reach- around Ren's bed. She then piled all of the extra blankets onto Ren.

Instinctively, Ren snuggled within his blanket cocoon and fell back to sleep; Nora giggled at how adorable he looked.

Nora decided that something quieter was in order to allow Ren some sleep... like catching up on her late homework.

*BOOP*

It had only been a couple of hours when Ren suddenly stumbled out of his bed. He dropped to his knees and retched into the wastebasket next to his desk.

Nora bolted to his side and held back his bangs until he had finished.

Ren shakily stood, trying to regain his balance, but ended up falling against Nora.

Nora easily shouldered his weight, but it was the height difference that made supporting him awkward.

"Let's... let's get you to the bathroom..." She adjusted her grip on him so he could lean against her as she led the way.

Ren brushed his teeth in silence, sniffling a couple of times. Nora rubbed his back between the shoulders and watched him closely. Her fingers brushed against the back of his neck and she noticed how warm it was.

Great... looks like he's running a fever as well...

Ren had finished rinsing his toothbrush and leaned heavily against the sink. Nora wrapped her arm around his waist -squeezing gently- and offered her shoulder to him. He looked down at her, his magenta eyes didn't seem to focus properly, but nodded and leaned against her once again.

Helping him back into his bed, Nora seriously contemplated getting the nurse. It wasn't often that Ren got sick, but when he did... she shivered slightly.

"Ren." She sat on the edge of his bed after tucking him in, "did you want me to go get someone?" she sighed and looked away, "someone... who's better at doctoring than me?"

She felt Ren's hand wrap around hers and squeeze it gently. She looked back at him and saw him blink twice, slowly and intentionally.

He wants me to keep taking care of him? Even if I'm not very good at it?

She felt better at that thought and smiled down to him, "Think you can keep down some magic soup?"

A smile tugged at the corners of his mouth and he blinked once with a nod.

She couldn't help but brush the bangs from his eyes, "spicy chicken with lobster stock right?"

Another single blink and nod, although he seemed to be drifting back to sleep.

"I'll be sure to put lots of vegetables in it for you, Ren," Nora tapped his nose affectionately before hopping off of the bed and skipping into the kitchenette.

*BOOP*

Nora ladled the finished soup into the largest bowl that she could find.

"Oops! Almost forgot the secret ingredient!" she grabbed a bottle of red chili sauce and drew a smiley face on the surface of the soup, "Happy thoughts!"

Ren was sitting up in his bed when she returned, looking much better than when she had left. Nora placed the soup on the desk next to Ren's bed, plopping down next to him.

"Open wide!"

"Nora..." his voice was hoarse, "I can feed myself-"

Nora had shoved a spoon of soup into his mouth before he could protest any further.

Ren smirked when Nora removed the spoon, "It's... really good, Nora."

"Like magic." Nora brightened at the compliment and scooped another spoonful.

Neither of them had noticed the ripples on the surface of the soup morphing the smiley face into a small heart.