Chapter Text
Commander Robert Anderson walked into the nurse’s office for his check-in. He had been working hard recently and had battled a bit of a head cold, but overall, he felt like he was doing okay.
As he stepped into the pristine and well-organized clinic, he already knew what to expect. He was going to run into the one person who fussed over his health and habits more than anyone else—Vestal. She would no doubt have plenty to say about his diet and sleep schedule, especially given his recent neglect of both.
Sitting down, the laid-back blonde commander leaned back in his chair, trying to relax. At the moment, he looked nothing like the important figure he was in the Eagle Union. His hair, usually kept neat, was a mess, pulled back into a long ponytail. He wore a colorful Hawaiian shirt, paired with painter shorts and a pair of fisherman sandals—an ensemble that completed his lazy, off-duty look.
He had plenty of bad habits. Nothing particularly terrible, but certainly not ideal for someone in his position. He had a horrible weakness for sour candy, an unfortunate tendency to indulge in junk food, and he often got far less sleep than a man with his workload should.
Cracking his knuckles, he heard the door open and knew that Vestal was about to have a field day with him. Granted, he might get away with the casual outfit since he was technically off duty, but the health report... well, it wasn't going to be favorable. And he knew she knew it.
Vestal stepped into the room, her soft footsteps barely audible, but her presence undeniable. The moment her eyes landed on Robert, her heart clenched with both fondness and concern. There he was, slouched in his chair, dressed in that ridiculously casual outfit that screamed he had completely ignored his health—again. His laid-back demeanor and unkempt hair did nothing to hide the exhaustion behind his usually bright eyes.
"Commander..." she began, her voice a gentle scold wrapped in warmth, though the affection she felt for him was unmistakable. She crossed the room, the soft fabric of her outfit flowing behind her. Her vivid blue eyes flickered with both exasperation and care. "You look like you haven’t slept properly in days... And I won’t even ask about your diet."
Vestal stopped just in front of him, hands on her hips, tilting her head slightly as she examined him. She had seen this far too many times. Robert, with his reckless habits, always pushing himself beyond his limits, never bothering to take care of himself. But that was why she was here—to make sure he didn’t fall apart completely.
"Robert, you are such trouble," she said as she knew the truth of his bad habits, "Sleeping little, eating pizza, burgers, sour candy, and drinks," she said as she looked at him. She saw just based on the sheepish look on his face she was right about it. "Now, if you keep doing this, you're going to leave yourself in a tricky spot, and you can't do that, there are way too many people who depend on you, Commander."
She sighed, but it wasn’t frustration. It was the deep concern of someone who cared more than she could put into words. Vestal had spent so long tending to him, both physically and emotionally. She knew him too well by now. The way his body slouched, the slight dark circles under his eyes—he was pushing himself too hard again. And it hurt her to see him like this.
"I’m your personal doctor now, remember? You promised you'd take better care of yourself, but here we are," she said, her voice softening even more as she sat beside him, her eyes searching his. "What am I going to do with you, Commander? I just want you to be healthy. For me, at least."
She gave him a playful smile, though her worry was still evident. She looked down at him leaning back in the chair with poor posture as she knew that he could do much better than he was at that moment. That he was being too stubborn for his own good.
"I know, I know, it's just been busy with life," Robert said, his tone apologetic as he met Vestal's gaze. He could see the concern in her eyes, and he hated that his actions had caused it. He cared for her too much to ignore the effect he had on her.
"I did win a battle against the Sirens recently," he added, trying to shift the conversation. "Pretty impressive, actually. A massive battle, but I pulled through." He sighed, the weight of the intense fight from a week before still lingering in his mind. "I haven't really slept since then, mostly just playing games to get my mind off things. And, well, you know my eating habits—pizza, soda, sour candy, ice cream—the whole nine yards."
He paused, doing his best to offer her a big smile, though he knew it wouldn’t be enough to ease her worries. "Now I’m here with you, and we both know why. It's my own fault. I'm not very good at following orders, as you already know."
Vestal crossed her arms, her bright blue eyes narrowing, but there was a softness behind them. “You always have an excuse, don’t you, Robert?” She sighed, shaking her head, though there was no true anger in her voice. “Busy with life or not, that doesn’t mean you can neglect yourself like this. You know how much I worry about you.”
She moved closer to him, reaching out and gently straightening the collar of his Hawaiian shirt, her fingers lingering for just a moment as she studied his tired face. “Winning battles is great, but you won’t be winning any more if you keep running yourself ragged like this. You need rest, proper meals, and *less* of that sour candy you love so much.”
"However, we both know that if you win battles but lose the war, nothing good will come from it," she said firmly as she shook her head, her voice was filled with both determination and concern for him. She loved Robert dearly, he meant the world to her, and to see him in this state hurt. The fact it was of his own doing hurt even more. She couldn't let this slide anymore, she had to do something about it.
"Robert, Commander, Starting now things are going to change," she said as she pulled him up off the chair as she held him in her arms, and led him to the bed. She helped him into the bed, finding very little resistance to her efforts as she took off his old fisherman sandals and looked at him lying on the bed, "No games, no all nighters to get your mind off the fighting, and real meal, vegetables, and healthy food."
She took the blanket and pulled it lightly over him, "No, excuses as I am not going to let you give them anymore. You're going to take care of yourself, and you're not going to run yourself down anymore into the ground."
Robert's face flushed at Vestal's words, his usual confident demeanor faltering as he nervously rubbed the back of his neck. He hadn’t expected her to be so direct, and the warmth in her tone made his heart skip a beat. He glanced at her, noticing just how beautiful she was—the way her silver hair framed her face, and the way her eyes held a softness only reserved for him.
He knew how much she cared for him, how tirelessly she looked after him, and the truth was, he had feelings for her too. Her kindness and dedication to helping him always left him feeling both guilty and grateful, especially since he wasn’t the best at following orders. He could see how much effort she put into worrying about him, and it made him feel even worse for making her stress.
“Y-You’re allowed to do that, Vestal?” he asked, still blushing. “I mean… I don’t want to cause you too much trouble.”
Vestal smiled gently, her eyes full of warmth as she placed her hand over his, still resting on the back of his neck. “It’s no trouble, Robert. Besides, I wouldn’t have said it if I didn’t mean it.” Her tone was light but firm, leaving no room for doubt. “I care about you, and I’ll take care of you if you won’t do it yourself.”
Her fingers brushed against his hand, her touch soft but insistent. “Now, stop worrying about causing trouble. You’re more important to me than that. So, let me help you, okay?”
Robert felt his heart race, his blush deepening. He knew there was no arguing with her—she was far more determined than he was stubborn, and that combination was something he couldn’t resist.
However, he also couldn’t help his playful side either as he slipped his arms around her way, pulled her down onto his lap, holding her close to his chest. “Vestal, don’t blame me if I make sure to impress and make it so you can’t ever leave my side, my love,” he said so tired he didn’t realize the last two words she said, letting her know his feelings for her.
Vestal was taken completely off guard as she felt Robert reach up and grab her around her waist. She found herself pulled into the bed as she felt his still strong arms around her pulling her closely as he held her almost protectively. She looked into his blue eyes for a moment as she wondered if there was more to this then she realized at first. She waved it away mentally as she leaned into him a bit resting her head against his strong chest.
Vestal thought about protesting or getting up, but she thought about those last two words again. My Love, she blushed just thinking about those words, she knew she heard him, and she had a feeling he meant them too. Had this been one of his tactical moves to make sure she was there, and that he could be so honest about his feelings. Was this him finding a smooth way to get her to stop and listen to him. She wasn't sure, but her feelings were just as strong for him.
She pressed her hand against his chest as she laid in the bed with him. Her smile growing a bit as she pressed her hands against his sides as she leaned in close to him. She rested her forehead against his, her voice barely above a whisper, filled with affection.
“Well, Commander,” she teased softly, her hands gently running along his shoulders. “I’ll hold you to that promise. But if you want me to stay by your side, you're going to have to take better care of yourself… for both of our sakes.”
She leaned in just a bit closer, her lips hovering near his ear as she whispered, “And for the record… I’ve never wanted to leave your side, either.”
“I see if that’s the price for keeping you in my arms like this it’s worth it,” Robert commented as he slowly drifted off as he smiled. When he wanted something, he could work hard for it. He smiled softly in his sleep.
Vestal felt the steady beat of Robert's heart as she leaned against him. She knew that he was a tricky man, that he had been able to win against the Sirens because of his plans. She thought about his words, and she had a feeling about something, that this might be a move by him. She smiled as she knew that from all this that he cared and that he wanted to be near her and would do what it took to make that happen.
Gazing at him now, so peaceful and vulnerable, she wondered if this had all been part of some unspoken plan. Had he really been that careless with his health, or had he done it just to end up like this—wrapped in her care, with no escape? She chuckled lightly, the sound barely audible as not to wake him.
“You sly commander,” she whispered to herself, her fingers gently tracing the line of his jaw. *“Was this all just to get me closer?”*
But even as she teased herself with the thought, the idea warmed her. Whether it had been intentional or not, she was right where she wanted to be—taking care of him, ensuring he was safe and comfortable. If this was a game of his, she didn’t mind playing along.
Leaning down, she pressed a soft kiss to his forehead, her lips lingering for a moment before pulling back. “I’ll always be here, Robert,” she murmured, her voice barely above a breath. “No matter what.”
As she settled more into the bed, she held him close, her heart full, wondering if fate had simply given her the moment she had always wanted. Either way, as she watched over him, Vestal couldn’t help but feel like she had won something far more precious than any battle.