Chapter Text
1. Prompt: I've missed you. Inspired by 3x08, mild spoilers
Angus was walking along the hallway, contemplating Dr. Guthrie’s words: “You have to blaze your own trail. Do not forget who you are, young squire.”
Lost in his thoughts, he almost didn’t notice a figure slumped down further along the hallway, back against the wall. The man, too, seemed lost in his own world. Angus hesitated, wondering if he should come closer. After all, their last encounter hadn’t ended well. Dr. Guthrie’s voice echoed in his mind.
Do not forget who you are.
With what courage he could muster, he moved to sit beside the other resident.
“Hey.”
Mario just turned to look at him, eyes impassive. It hurt Angus to see; they used to be such good friends- they’ve been through so much, and yet here they were. Almost strangers.
“What are you doing here?” Mario queried, an edge to his tone that made Angus wince.
“I just… wanted to ask how you were. You don’t look well.”
Mario looked away. “I’m fine.”
“Fine. That never actually means fine, you know.” Angus laid a hand on the other man’s forearm, but he shrugged it off. Ouch.
“It’s none of your business. Go, don’t you have to get your house in order or something?”
The green-clad resident closed his eyes firmly and took a deep breath. They’ve drifted so far apart, haven’t they? He let this happen.
“I deserve that.”
“Yeah, you did.”
“I’m sorry, Mario.”
Expression hard, the raven-haired resident spat, “It’s like I don’t know you anymore, Angus.”
“Me too.” The brokenness in his tone was palpable, and Mario immediately regretted his harshness. He wanted nothing more than to be able to bridge the widening gap between them. Angus played with the hem of his scrub top, picking at the loose stitches. “I- I’m just trying to find a place in this new environment, you know? And Campbell… he’s trying to make me like him. He- he’s a great surgeon, and I thought that maybe that’s who I’m supposed to be.”
Mario scoffed. “Arrogant and rude?”
Angus shook his head with a sad smile. “I didn’t mean to be. I just wanted to be respected. For people to see me as more than this bumbling newbie surgery resident.”
Mario punched him lightly on the shoulder at that. “When will you ever see yourself for who you truly are?” Adjusting his position so that he was facing Angus, he continued, “But that’s my fault too, isn’t it? I told you that that’s what you got me for- to make you believe that you’re better than you think you are. But I haven’t been around to do that, haven’t I?”
“It’s not your fault, Mario, come on.”
“I should have tried harder. We’ve barely talked these past few weeks, and I knew what was happening, but I never did anything to stop it.” He sighed, and gave Angus a sad smile. “You’re always the one reaching out, Angus. Even now."
They were silent for a while, not feeling awkward anymore, but not quite reaching the comfort it used to be. Mario whispered, head leaning against the wall.
“My father died a year ago.”
“Oh. That was today?”
“Yeah.”
Angus laid a hand on Mario’s shoulder, like he did a year ago on the same day, down at the morgue, when they were the closest they’ve ever been. “You miss him.”
“I- I do. I wish we had more time together, that things had been better between us.”
Angus squeezed his shoulder and Mario patted his hand in return.
“I knew you’d understand. I wanted to tell you, but we… it seemed like we didn’t have that kind of relationship anymore.”
When Angus replied, it was with a ferocity that made Mario’s heart flare with hope. “Well, I’m here now. And I promise, this time, I’m not going anywhere.”
They smiled at each other then, and remained locked in each other’s gaze, until a couple of harried nurses rushed past them.
Angus cleared his throat. “Come on, someone might accidentally trip on us.” He helped Mario to his feet, and as they were walking down the hall, he bumped the other resident with his shoulder.
“I’ve missed you.”
Mario reciprocated with a lopsided smile, a dimple showing.
“I’ve missed you, too.”
He knew then that they would be alright.