Robin hood (peter parker)

14: two dresses

"hold us together" WILD

Joey knew something was wrong before she even rounded the corner into Kota's room. The smell of vomit wafted past her even over the usual hospital antiseptic, and she could hear faint retching echoing down the halls. Quickening as she drew nearer, she passed under the doorway at a jog and stopped abruptly when she saw Kota and August huddled together in the small grey bathroom to the left of Kota's hospital bed. Her sister sat on the floor, legs curled under herself and face above the toilet, panting helplessly. The boy next to her looked just as fragile. Auggie was crouched by her sister, bracing himself against the wall and placing the other hand on her back, rubbing his thumb in small circles and whispering softly as she vomited again. His face was set, but even from the doorway Joey could see that he was holding back tears.

It reminded her of some dark, strange version of those cheesy romance movies, where the concerned boyfriend holds the girl's hair back while she's sick. Except there's no hair left to hold, Joey realized with a slow blink, noticing how empty Auggie's hands looked next to her sister's bare skull. It wasn't a sight unfamiliar to her, but that never changed the churning in her gut every time she watched her sister in her most vulnerable state.

August's head snapped up and his eyes widened when he saw her in the doorway.

"Joey! She just started..." He trailed off, and Kota looked up at her sister, eyes dark and heavy. She glanced pointedly at Auggie and mouthed help before turning back to the bowl and heaving. Joey's eyes narrowed and she took a half step forward, confused, but played along anyway.

"It's ok, Auggie. I can take it from here," she said. August just shook his head, not making a move to get up.

"No, I'll stay." August shifted on his heels, attempting to find a more comfortable position to crouch beside Dakota. It was clear that despite his want to stay by Dakota's side, he was just as exhausted.

"You don't have to." Joey pushed, stepping in further. She grabbed a handful of paper towels and used one to clean the rim of the toilet bowl, handing the other over to her sister to wipe at her mouth.

"I know. I want to." The young boy never took his eyes off the young girl, concern and understanding etched into his frown lines.

"August..."

"No!" Joey blanched. The boy was agitated now, twisting his hands together and hopping from foot to foot in a frantic rhythm. "I mean... I just need to stay with her, she's my - I mean, I really don't mind..." Joey clasped her hands and gave the boy a pointed look. He bit his bottom lip, but after a beat, dropped his hands and strode past her toward the door, muttering a halfhearted "Ok, fine," in her ear on the way out. She's his...what?

Her attention was torn from the question by her sister, who had begun gagging violently, struggling for a breath. Joey assumed August's position, rubbing soothing patterns on her back as the final remnants of Dakota's last meal spilled into the toilet.

"It's ok, just finish. Take your time," she murmured as she placed a comforting hand on Kota's shoulder. Her sister took a loud, deep breath and exhaled harshly. Joey winced as the next breath turned into another involuntary gag, but after another moment Kota raised her head and said in a cracked, barely audible voice,

"Ok, I'm done." Joey nodded and helped her sister walk back to her bed after flushing away the chucks of what looked to be orange mashed potatoes. While Dakota hoisted herself onto the bed and arranged the blankets, Joey turned the TV on and put it on mute in case Dakota felt like taking her mind off the past few minutes. Then Joey poured Kota a glass of water which she took gratefully and downed the entire cup in one go. She sighed and wiped her mouth with her sleeve.