Chapter Text
They stared.
Intern was looking at him, with wide black eyes staring intently on those yellow ones. They looked like radiant stars in the night sky, full of brightness that was as beautiful as it was blinding; but his eyes weren’t blinding, they shone bright, but not with light, but with a feeling Intern had no words to describe.
The cat he had seemed to recognize only saw him with an unreadable expression, his tail still and ears down; his hand moving to his waist hovering over something he had yet to see. Head Nurse, who had been standing there giving a report and introducing them, stopped; her attention being captured by the staring contest the two animals in front of her seem to be holding.
The assistant didn’t move, his nose twitching, that Intern… he smelled funny. A familiar scent was cast over them, and at the same time, it was unrecognizable; like wearing a familiar scent and being a stranger at the same time. They smelled strongly of something he couldn’t quite put his finger on, but something told him he knew it, deep down he knew what it belonged to, his instinct telling the answer he refused to acknowledge.
His hand only hovered over his gun, hesitant, as much as this new Intern was here to help and should be clear, they still felt off. He looked tired, so tired that their eyes were sunken into his skin making him look possessed even if he knew better; that mask… it was a problem.
Not only did it covered their face, but made him unable to pinpoint exactly if they were an anomaly. It was a problem, though that was not were his attention was right now, his gaze following that Intern, he looked nervous, but hopeful?
How weird.
Intern was sweating, being nervous didn’t cover half of whatever he was feeling. It can’t be, it really can’t be, can it? That animal, that black cat that stood there in the entrance with pristine clothes, a serious expression, and an energy that screamed composed in so many ways; was his one night stand.
The thing is that he didn’t seemed to recognize him, in which the hare didn’t know he should be happy for, or hurt; though maybe it was for the better. The lesser problems it would cause, because really, what was he even going to say? Not that he could talk but he could sign and tell him.
Imagine someone coming up to you signing: “Hi I’m your one night stand at the bar, I’m pregnant with your baby and I’m an anomaly!” First, it sounds (or looks) absurd, and second, it most likely will get him killed; he wants to live right thank you. Apart from the statement being ridiculous on its own, is most likely unbelievable.
It’s better if he doesn’t know, it will makes things easier, he’s not only his coworker now, but he’ll need to interact with him from time to time. Goodness what was is he going to tell Theresa? Wait- he can just not tell her! Though it feels wrong, it will save him some grace at least. As much things had been going, Theresa is fine with only knowing he’s fine; detail can be left for another day.
“Are you two finished with the staring?”
Head nurse asked, they had been standing there for 20 minutes now, what was up with them? It was supposed to be a quick introduction, the patients are starting to pile up and she still needs to teach Intern the ropes; nurse is there and she knows it, but she has her limits too, they can’t leave her that workload all to her.
“If you’re finished, go to your positions, specially you, Assistant. Intern, please follow me to the back, I’ll teach you one more thing and then you can go home for the day.”
Head nurse explained as she grabbed Intern by the wrist and dragged him away to the back, as much as she wanted to ask what happened, she’s not going to dwell on her coworkers business unless told; as long it doesn’t interfere with work, it’s not her problem.
The Assistant saw how the Intern was dragged away, his scent still faint on were he stood, uhm… he’s going to keep an eye on him. He doesn’t bring himself to trust him just yet, not until he’s sure they’re safe, after all, the agency didn’t send him here for nothing.
…
“Phew! I think that’s all, Intern. You already know how to treat a patient with the basics; you are a quick learner.”
Head nurse said as she wiped her forehead, they had finished the lesson a while ago, going to move some supplies from the back because they were running out and Intern decided to help her.
“You can already head home, tomorrow we can talk about your schedule and other things that need to be assessed, Dr. Harlow wasn’t really… specific when he explained, did he?”
She arched an eyebrow, what was she asking? Of course he didn’t specify, lazy asshole…
They did need the help, but at least he could be professional about, he doesn’t even work on emergencies!
“Anyways, see you tomorrow, Intern!”
She said, turning around to keep on the work, her thoughts to herself; leaving the hare standing on the hall with his bag and phone in hand. He should tell Theresa he’s going back, staying on her house a few more days before going to his apartment again; is better that way, she can check on him before things get settled and more comfortable.
So the hare went out of the hospital, giving a small wave to the animals on the front desk who promptly ignored him. His other coworkers hadn’t really arrived yet, only Assistant, which Head Nurse said always came two hours early; good to know.
He made his way to the bus station, this time with not salmon colored dog at his side, which he now knows is called Nurse, she’s shy, or so Head Nurse said; when he passed the hallway she ran away from him in a dash. He felt a little hurt for scaring her like that, he doesn’t know if it’s because he looks creepy or something else; he’ll find out eventually.
Intern sat there at the bench, his body relaxed on the hard surface, oh god his feet were sore and he felt tired to the bone; he was able to hide most of it but it still made him a little sloppy. Most of his symptoms are dull, it’s good, Theresa said that she had found better ways to deal with them than painkillers, but going like this every day? It was actually a challenge.
What is going to happen when the months pass and it becomes more noticeable, more difficult? He doesn’t even want to think about it.
Might as well get home and talk with Theresa, the burden is killing him.
——
“Oh! And this also helps, I also bought this, and this one too! what do you think? Aren’t they cute?”
“They… are, but why do we need so many baby clothes, and what is that?”
The hare said, exasperated with the situation, pointing at a big box on the side of the room; it was dusty, Theresa probably took it out from an old basement on her apartment, she had a whole room full of things she didn’t use but refuse to give up.
“Oh that? A rocking chair for you, I think you’ll need it more than me, I can affirm that is really comfortable-“
“A ROCKING CHAIR?! Ah- sorry, is just that you didn’t really need to…”
“Nonsense, you definitely do.”
“But-“
The hare stoped, it was pointless, what use would he have arguing over a rocking chair, Theresa seemed enthusiastic about it, too. Showing him everything she brought from the store and whatever she took out for him form her closet.
“Oh! Look, I remember this! it’s a small cat plush my grandson used to love, it’s a little worn out and the stitches could be better but it’s still pretty much in good condition.”
Theresa exclaimed happily, putting the plushie on the hare’s paws before he could protest, a cat plushie, one half was a light brown, the other a dirty turquoise with black buttons as its eyes, stitches were sewed right on the middle of the head and body.
“It looks like… an anomaly?”
“Eh.. you could say that, it was on sale when we bought it so many years ago, nobody else wanted it; and oh did the little one loved it, he practically dragged it with him everywhere.”
She cooed, clasping her hands at the memory, her face soft as the image of her grandson dragging the plush everywhere flashed across her mind; he dragged it to the park, to stores outside when they went shopping, to school happily showing it off to his classmates, to bed when he would sleep with it on comfort. That’s until he grew out of it and started getting older, leaving the plush behind tucked in old boxes left to be forgotten.
He sure was adorable back then, those memories a treasure.
“Anyways, I took it because I thought you would like it, I planned on giving it to the baby when they were born, maybe they would like it as much as my grandson once did, what do you think?”
“Oh… that’s very sweet of you, but are you sure, won’t it be weird to have his plushie and give it to my baby?
The hare asked, petting the soft plushy in his hands, it sure was pretty, a little weird, but it surely looked loved and well taken care of. Was it really ok having it for himself? For his baby? Would they even like it?
“What are you talking about? He wouldn’t even know! He left it a long time ago in one old box to be thrown away, what makes you think he would care? It’s ok for you to have it honey, you’ll make good use of it, I’m sure.”
Theresa explained as she bragged, the hare relaxing at those words, he like it, the plushy was cute; He hoped his baby did, too. Though that is one problem out of the window, now, what in the god forsaken world was Theresa doing? She’s taking out more boxes, at this point they’re gonna drown on them.
“Look at this, dear! A small mushroom lamp! I didn’t know I had it here… you should put in in the baby’s room!”
There she goes, another round of endless things for the baby, he’s really grateful and happy about them; but isn’t it to much already? Were is he even going to put those things in his apartment? Theresa’s is bigger than his, she has two bedrooms and a big living room, which is a privilege in this building; he has a one bedroom apartment, just that.
“Theresa…. But- where I’m I going to put this? I barely have space…”
He deflated, it’s a grim thought to have. And talking about it, he really needs money; the rent is not going to pay itself.
“Oh… well, maybe we can squeeze it all in? Or better yet, get you a better home! Though you can barely afford rent, let’s see what you can do with your salary at the hospital.”
She said as she grinned, an idea popping on her mind as she patted the hare’s head.
“After all, didn’t you say that the better you worked, the better your pay would be? And just before a forget, hunny. I have a gift for you.”
She said smiling, moving away to her purse in search of something, she pulled out a small envelope, it was thick and tight nicely.
“This is some money I had stored, is my way to congratulate you and help you at the same time, please accept it. It will help with basic needs so you can have extra money.”
“Really?”
“Of course! I think you deserve it, things aren’t really going well… and this is the mist I can do for you now.”
“Then…”
The hare said, already opening the envelope, a thick stack of cash inside, all around 100 dollar bills.
“What is this?! You can’t give me this much money!”
“Of course I can, dear. Is a gift, I have more of it if you are worried; my family tends to get overboard with those types of things.”
“But- how!? And why do you- no! Why are you still here? With this much money… why did you stay?”
“Dear, I have told you I had no reason to, as for how I have this much and as why my family gives me this many…. is not really a conversation I should have with you right now. When things get settled, and you are safe, I will tell you; you deserve to know.”
“What… what’s happening? But- no… I think I’ll wait, this is too complicated.”
The hare said, sank on his sit he decided to not pry. He knew that Theresa was not exactly short on money like him… but this… is not normal, and things seem different, something had happened.
He won’t say anything right away. He’ll wait.
He trusts her that much.
“Well, dear. You already have that gift! And I have another thing for you hun, this are prenatal vitamins, you should take them everyday from now on.”
‘There she goes…’
It’s going to be a long while, isn’t it?
——-
“So… what do you think of the new intern?”
The secretary^ said, he was sitting on his chair sipping a cup of coffee as his other coworkers from the day shift just stared; they were on the break room, that’s also the front desk because they didn’t really have a break room (Harlow is fucking cheap), though when he asked, they all seemed to have an opinion.
“They’re really creepy… and a little clumsy… every time I see him a shiver runs down my spine; and the things is they don’t seem to talk much.”
The nurse said rapidly, she was the first to answer, nervously fidgeting with her clipboard as she averted her gaze from the others.
“How he looks is the least of my concerns, if Dr.Harlow hired him then he should be good enough. Although during training he was a little clumsy, he learns fast and is a good person as far as I can tell. You shouldn’t judge people on their looks, nurse. And if you’re wondering why he doesn’t talk, I’ll tell you he’s mute.”
Head nurse answer this time, looking directly at nurse at the last part, the nurse flinching at the remark.
“Uhm… nurse just told me he might be a creep, so I shut the shutters on him, he looked like an anomaly not gonna lie.”
Secretary said, his arms crossed as he looked at the others. He didn’t really care about the new intern nor he had an opinion about him, he’s too tired to care anyways, maybe a good night’s sleep would do the work; but people had been coming more often and they’re short staffed. He really wants to kill himself.
“That new Intern you say, he’s an interesting guy, he looks like an anomaly, but he’s eyes are just… tired. He also smells funny, but that might just be me.”
Assistant finally said, he was the last one to answer, but also he didn’t really have much of an opinion, he haven’t met them long, just a few hours ago, didn’t they?
“Uhm… so what are you exactly all talking about?”
Security said, inserting himself on the conversation, he had been hearing them for some time while looking at the cameras. Now that caught his attention.
“You said he looked like an anomaly right? Did any of you though of taking a photo of him? Or look at the cameras? Any? Goodness don’t tell me you didn’t think about it.”
He exclaimed moving his hand frantically, did they never thought of that?
“You know… that might be a good idea.”
Assistant said, putting up his scanner, might as well use it just to be sure.
“We won’t worry about that, he’s coming tomorrow for the day shift again, already told him I was going to assist the rest of things he might need to cover, Harlow didn’t really seem to have assessed them; that would be one of them.”
Head nurse told the rest, resting a hand on her hip while she looked at the clock.
“We just need to wait, I’ll present him to the rest of the staff tomorrow, now. Everyone get back to work!”
She yelled as they stammered off the office. Assistant stayed a little longer, he wouldn’t patrol the perimeter on a couple of more minutes, so he decided to use them to check his phone; and if right on cue, a messaged popped up.
“You need to come back to the house right now, something happened with your father.”
It was from his mom, his eyes glued to the text as he processed it. What does that mean? An emergency? … it can’t be that.
The cat stood so fast that he almost got whiplash. Tucking his phone away and getting at the door, yelling something over his shoulder to security.
“I’ll patrol one last time and I’ll go! I need to do something!”
He said, already looking around the rooms to finish the shift.
He needs to go home fast.
Thing don’t seem to be good.