Chapter Four: Spacey Confrontations

Renly's Point of View

Today is my second day taking care of Robb Stark. The last thing on Earth I wanted to do is take care of the guy who has the other half of my flower's heart. I owe Robb for all the times he has saved Loras's life or been there for him when I wasn't, and for that here I am.

I'm skipping school for this asshole. The things I do for love. At least he is somewhat less loopy today. Of course it was sort of my fault he was tweaked off his ass yesterday. I gave him five painkillers and a lot of caffeine. That was probably not a good idea in hindsight. I think I only kindled the fire by thinking that cough syrup would make him go to sleep.

"How are you feeling, big guy?" I ask Robb. He is sitting on the couch in the living room with tissues all around him; a bucket that I am guessing is for his upset stomach, a bottle of Pepto-Bismol on the coffee table, and five blankets thrown around him.

When I pick up the used tissues I find that stupid bear the jerk made me buy for him yesterday. I hand it to him. He squeezes it tight. I squeeze his shoulder and pitch the used snotty tissues in the trash. I sit down in the chair beside couch and look at the television. Robb is watching some boring war movie.

"Where's Grey Wind?" I ask.

"Outside," Robb says.

"Are you hungry?" I ask, "You haven't eaten anything since lunch yesterday."

"No. I threw up yesterday's lunch yesterday."

And this guy got a 2100 on the SAT. You've got to be kidding. I dangle my legs over the side of the chair and watch the boring war movie. As boring as it is some of the actors are really hot, especially in their uniforms, I really hope there is a shirtless scene coming up.

"Did you know that Loras tried to kiss me?" Robb asks.

"What?" I ask, unable to hear him because of the gun fire and explosions in the movie. I grab the remote and turn the TV down and ask Robb to repeat himself. "When did he try to kiss you?"

"I think it was Monday when I took Tor to the doctor. Where is Tor?" Robb asks between sniffles. He blows his nose and lies down on the pillow and starts whimpering. I fluff his pillows and pull his blankets up to his neck. He cuddles Loras 2, the bear, to his chest. He's sort of cute when he's like this. I shove a thermometer under his tongue and wait until it beeps before I continue our conversation.

"Tor is at Jeyne's until you're better. I took him there myself. 102, I'm going to get a cold compress for your head and see if it brings your body heat down."

"Don't leave me," Robb reaches for my hand. His grasp is so weak I almost feel sorry for him. I kiss his forehead and sit back down in my chair. Robb takes a nap. I have to wait until he wakes up before I can get any more information about this kiss. Robb makes little whimpering noises while he sleeps. He reminds me of a helpless infant.

I could smother him in his sleep, but where's the fun in that? He is cute when he's sleeping. It figures that Robb Stark could make an illness look sexy even wearing a vomit stained T-shirt and sweat pants. Damn him.

Robb wakes when the movie ends. The big explosion near the end must have driven him from his slumber. He rolls over and vomits into the bucket. The smell is so strong I nearly gag. I wipe his mouth clean and dispose of the bucket's contents outside and clean the bucket with disinfectant and soap.

"So Loras tried to kiss you," I say when I come back. He vomited all over himself while I was outside. I pull his shirt off and take it to the laundry room. I grab a sponge in the kitchen and fill a bowl with soapy water. I can't believe I am about to give Robb Stark a sponge bath. Loras would be so jealous.

Robb's body is perfection. Damn him. Damn his stupid abs. I can look like that too. I just need to hit the gym more. I looked that like over Christmas when the Tyrells made me work out every day until it hurt. I swear that trainer was a drill instructor for the marines. I have lost a lot of tone since then.

"Yeah, but I rebooted him. I mean, rebuffed him."

"Why did he try to kiss you?"

"He doubted his feelings for you and he said he couldn't fully commit to you unless he got over me. Then he tried to kiss me."

I know Robb is a little delirious and spacey as hell, but he's never been a liar. Even in his craziest state he's always managed to tell the truth. I clean him up and try to find him a clean shirt to put on. I had to change his shirt three times yesterday.

"Try not to puke on this one," I tell him.

"Renly," Robb says.

"Yeah," I say.

"Don't be mad at Loras."

"Who should I be mad at?"

"Me. I never did anything to…I never…" he throws up in the bucket I just cleaned, but thankfully manages to keep his shirt looking good. Hallelujah. "I never turned him away. I can't hurt him, Renly."

Damn it. I wanted to hate this jack ass. Why does he have to be such a nice guy? Now I feel like a jerk for even thinking about smothering him in his sleep, even if I never intended to actually do it.

"I don't want you to hurt him. I just want you to back off a little. Sometimes I think he loves you more than he loves me. I have been so jealous of you for so long it's killing me."

"You're wrong. Oh, God, I hurt. But you're wrong. Could you get me some saltine crackers?"

"Yeah, I'll be right back."

What the hell? I don't live here. Where are crackers? I open cabinet after cabinet, cupboard after cupboard until I finally find the crackers. I take out a package and take them back to Robb who has thrown up in his bucket again, and is chugging Pepto-Bismol. I hand him the crackers.

"Thank you. Oh God. I think I'm dying."

"You're not dying."

"How do you know? I hurt everywhere."

I cover Robb up more and he starts crying. I feel like an ass. I move the bucket and kneel beside the couch. I stroke his forehead gently while he cries. I feel his body trembling, and the sobbing thickens. I kiss his forehead, and then resume petting his hair.

"It's okay, Robb. Shh, just calm down. You're gonna be okay. Shh."

Robb's sobs quiet down. I am working him up by asking him all these questions. I shouldn't be putting strain on him like this. When he falls asleep I clean out his bucket again. The smell is atrocious. I almost gag cleaning it.

Grey Wind licks my hand when I feed the dogs during lunch time. I take the lick as his thanks for taking care of his master while he's ill. Robb is awake when I come back. A single tear falls down his cheek. I wipe it off with a clean tissue.

"I want my mom," Robb whispers.

"I know."

"Renly," Robb whispers.

"Yeah, buddy?"

"I had an accident," Robb says looking into my eyes with remorse. He bursts into tears again. I help him up and somehow get him to the closest bathroom in the Stark House. I practically carried him, but he helped when he could. When we get to the bathroom I understand what Robb meant by "accident." Damn.

"I'll get you some clean clothes," I tell him.

I plug up the tub and make sure the water is cool. I go upstairs to Robb's room to find him something to wear. I am not comfortable sifting through Robb's underwear drawer. Hell, I am not even comfortable going through Loras's underwear drawer, and I've seen him naked.

Stripped blue boxers, track pants, and a T shirt are what I pick out for him to wear. Not the most flattering of choices, but he needs comfort not style. Robb is having a hard time getting his clothes off. I put the clean clothes aside and help him.

"This doesn't leave the bathroom," says Robb.

"Believe me, sweetie, you don't have to worry about that."

"I'm sorry."

"It doesn't matter. Get in the tub."

I kneel to wash Robb, but he puts a hand up to stop me and weakly takes the sponge from my hand. I step back.

"I can wash myself."

"Do you want me to leave?"

"No."

I sit on the floor facing away from the tub so I don't have to watch Robb bathe. He just wants me around for company. This is surprisingly a lot less awkward for me than I figured it would be.

"What did you mean when you said I was wrong?" I ask.

"Don't talk to me while I'm washing myself," Robb says.

"Sorry."

It's another three or four minutes until Robb is done. I am waiting with a towel to dry him off. He collapses in my arms. I have to dress him while holding him up. I deserve an award for this. He is so heavy.

After I get him back to the couch, make him comfortable, and take his temperature again, I make myself a snack. Robb munches on crackers at a slow pace and we watch a romantic comedy together in silence.

"Loras loves you more than you'll ever know. I've seen the look in his eyes when he's with you or talking about you, or looking at you. It's like you're the only person who matters, you're the one he wants to spend all his time with. He loves me, but he's in love with you," Robb says. He coughs hard, and I fear he might throw up again but he doesn't.

"Thanks," I say.

"Would it be too weird for me to ask you to hold me like my mom does?" Robb asks.

I give him a quizzical expression, but think about his request. It would be weird because this is Robb Stark, but he is sick and he misses his mother. Oh God I am so going to regret this. I help Robb sit up and I sit down pulling him down with me. I cradle him in my arms the way I hold Loras.

"Now will you play with my hair? My mom does that too."

"I'm not your mother, Robb."

"I know, but I miss her and you're all I have."

"Lucky me."

I don't remember falling asleep, but I am awakened by Sansa nudging me in the shoulder. Robb's head in resting in my lap, and he is snoring softly clutching onto the little teddy bear. I wipe my eyes and wait until Sansa lift's Robb enough for me to slide out from underneath him. I shove a pillow under his head where my lap was. He grunts, and starts snoring again.

"What time is it?" I whisper.

"Half past four, Loras called. He needs you to pick him up from detention."

"Oh, yeah, alright," I yawn.

I kiss Sansa on the cheek, and put my shoes on. I bump into Bran in my hurry to get out of the Stark house as soon as possible. Loras gets of detention in half an hour and I need to be there for him.

"I'm sorry, Brandon," I say.

"Dad wants to talk to you."

I follow Bran into the kitchen. Ned is helping Arya with her math homework at the table. He stops when I walk in. Arya and Bran get into a punching contest.

"I hope Robb wasn't too much trouble. Cat should be back tomorrow afternoon so I only need you until then."

"Robb was no trouble. We bonded."

Ned claps my shoulder. I nod and grab my keys from where I left them on the counter. You can't clean the vomit off another man and not bond with him. It's not possible. I learned a lot about Robb Stark today.

I am so excited to see Loras that I pick him up off his feet in one giant hug. He winces beneath my touch. I sit him down and notice the bruise over his left eye and the cut above the other.

"What happened?" I ask.

"I fell down," Loras says.

I know he's lying, but questioning him further will only make him lie more. If I want to know why my flower is covered in bruises I am going to have to approach it differently. He gets in the car as a sign that he is ready to go. One way or another I am going to find out what's going on.