Day 128: Sleep deprivation
experimental injection VS. sleep deprivation VS. "take me instead"
“--he even breathing? What if he’s-”
“He’s breathing, Rem, just relax. Panicking won’t-”
“Wait, look! He’s waking up!”
Rob groaned slightly, wincing at how sore his throat felt. He opened his eyes into a squint, wincing at the bright light streaming in through the window. His cheek was pressed against something solid, and it took him a moment to realize it was his office desk.
Two gentle hands gripped his shoulders, pulling him to sit upright against the back of his chair. Even through his narrow eyes, Rob could make out Spencer’s bright red streaks of hair. “Spence?” he croaked, voice hoarse with disuse.
“Hi there, philatos,” Spencer said softly, raising a hand to block the sun from Rob’s eyes. As the brightness faded, he could make out the rest of his office. Rem was standing just behind him, eyes wide with worry.
“Hi,” he said back, blinking to clear his bleary eyes. “W-What happened?” Spencer grimaced, reaching up to push Rob’s damp hair away from his sweaty forehead. “I was hoping you could tell me. Rem came in this morning and found you slumped over your desk.”
Rob rubbed his eye, his pounding headache slowly making itself more and more known. “Guess I fell asleep here last night,” he murmured, rubbing the bridge of his nose. “Sorry, Rem. Didn’t mean to scare you.”
“It’s alright,” Rem said quickly, still looking concerned.
“Rem, would you excuse us for a moment?” Spencer said suddenly, his eyes not leaving Rob’s.
Rem hesitated. “Oh, uh, yeah. Of course.” She turned and left the room, glancing back at the two heroes once more before shutting the door behind her.
There was a moment of silence. “So,” Spencer said slowly. Nobody else would be able to hear the anger underneath the calm, but Rob knew Spencer too well not to notice it. “Do you ever intend to sleep in your own bed with your husband, or is that beyond the Head Hero?”
Rob sighed, putting his elbows on his desk and rubbing his face. “Spence, come on, it was an accident-”
“Oh, spare me the bullshit, Rob,” Spencer said, his voice growing subconsciously louder. “You and I both know you could have come home hours before you fell asleep.”
“I was exhausted, philatos. I haven't slept well in days-”
Spencer’s hand landed on the desk with a loud bang that echoed around the room for a moment. Startled by the noise himself, Spencer took a deep breath, then turned away from Rob. “What is it?” he asked quietly. “Why won’t you come home? What’s--what did I do, Rob?”
“What?” Rob stood up, crossing to the other side of the desk to stand beside Spencer. “Honey, no, it’s not you. Not in the slightest.”
“Then what is it?” Spencer turned to face Rob, and the latter’s heart sank when he saw tears in his eyes. “You don’t come home, you barely talk to me when we’re at work, you’re leaving and I just--you promised,” he finished weakly.
“I promise,” Rob said, staring out at the street from the front steps of the group home. He reached to the side, taking Spencer’s hand. “Long as I’m alive, you’ve got me. I’m not gonna leave you.”
Rob sighed, slumping forward so his forehead was resting against Spencer’s shoulder. “I’m sorry,” he murmured. “I love you, you know that?”
“Don’t do that.” Spencer stepped back, a tear breaking and running down his cheek. “You always do that, Rob. You tell me you love me and ignore what I’m actually saying. Don’t brush this off again. Don’t brush me off again.”
“Philatos,” Rob said tiredly. “I’m fine. Just a bit overworked.”
Spencer went quiet, his face slack. A single tear track ran down one cheek, stark against his dull, tired skin. “Fine,” he mumbled. “I’m going on patrol, then.”
“What? Hold on, Spencer, wait-”
“No, just-” Spencer backed a step away, a hand held out warningly. “Not right now. I don’t want to do something I’ll regret.” He turned, opening the office door. He looked like he was going to say something else, but decided against it and stepped out, the door clicking shut behind him.
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