Work Text:
It’s been a ridiculously long day in the emergency department; one of the med students had of course mentioned that it was a quiet day and was promptly confused by the chorus of nurses and doctors shushing them, looking alarmed. Everyone had then glanced at Maggie, checking the phone as the horrifying realization of a busier time caused all staff to fall silent.
They had gotten away with it for a short while, relieved that the curse had seemingly disappeared, until the department became a cacophony of phones ringing, ambulance lights flashing, and monitors beeping. A pile up, along with two gunshot wounds took up their time, exhausting them and causing a very flustered medical student to take a break to write up their notes, unable to look at anyone in the eye.
It was one of those days where things just kept piling up and Maggie called up to have some chairs brought down, allowing those that were ending their shift to write up their notes off their aching feet and giving a small moment of reprieve before their drives home.
And that had gone perfectly fine until Will Halstead had sat in the one office chair provided, resting his back as well as his feet.
It was a single noise at first, one that caused everyone to wince and look round at the attending physician with a frown, a grimace or a scowl. Will’s face went red, freezing in the office chair and not moving, head tilting slightly with a half-smile on his face. “Sorry. Didn’t realize it had a squeak to it.”
“I’ll take the office chair.” Maggie had appeared behind him, face all smiles, but not quite reaching her eyes as she planted her hands on the back of it. “You can use the doctor’s lounge for now, Doctor Halstead.”
“Oh, come on, Maggie. Don’t make me log out and head over to log back in just to fill in two more reports and three signatures. I’m almost home bound. I'll be as quiet as a mouse.”
There was hesitance as she took him in before sighing. “Make it quick. I want this thing out of my emergency department.”
Will nodded, sitting up. He rested his elbow on the desk, chin in his fingers as he read over a report. Mostly silence fell upon the staff, murmuring to and fro to check something before they signed off on something before another ear splitting squeak cut across the noise.
Ethan sighs, looking up from the paperwork he was reading, a frown set deep on his face as he stares at Will. He's focused entirely on the computer in front of him, typing quickly. Every now and then, he shifts, swinging side to side ever so slightly, just enough for an annoying sound to cut through the near silence of the nursing station. He doesn't even seem to be aware he's doing it, and Ethan is just about to call his name when Will looks up.
He catches Ethan's eyes and smiles, winking, as he shifts again in the seat, making Ethan wince as the sound catches his ears.
He takes a deep breath as everyone else glances at Will before going back to their work. Ethan doesn't move, keeping his gaze steady, taking Will in.
Every now and then, Will looks up, glancing around before turning in the seat, hiding a smile as people shoot him a look. Ethan furrows his eyebrows, huffing almost silently as he observes Will do it once more.
Ethan clears his throat, glare holding steady as Will looks up again, meeting Ethan's eyes.
There's mischief in his eyes, deep down and he grins at Ethan, winking to show that he's such a mastermind of pranks. Ethan doesn't allow his look to waver, keeping steady as they stare each other down.
Will takes it as a challenge, eyebrow raising as he shifts again.
"Doctor Halstead." Maggie looks round, eyebrows furrowed at the attending, who promptly smiles back at her, dropping the eye contact with Ethan.
"I did say I'd be as quiet as a mouse, Maggie."
"Then why am I hearing the chair still?"
"Mice squeak, don't they?"
Everyone groans, Connor grips the bridge of his nose and Will looks back round to Ethan, expecting at least a chuckle for his pun.
Ethan still holds his glare from earlier, but this time, his frown is deeper, eyes darker.
Will watches him for a moment before his head hangs slightly, sitting up straight in the chair. "Sorry."
Ethan shakes his head with a smile and focuses back on his own computer. He finishes his last report before standing up straight, cracking his back out. Silence falls among the nursing station once more. He signs off, heading into the doctor’s lounge and opening his locker, getting ready to go home. It isn’t long until the door opens and Ethan glances up.
Will stands in the doorway, arms crossed over his chest, a frown on his face. "You could have at least laughed at my joke."
"I would have, if you weren't getting on the nerves of every single staff member trying to get their paperwork and reports done so they can go home and get dinner and go to bed."
"You need to loosen up sometimes, Ethan."
"And I do. Just not when everyone is tired, needs to focus, and is desperate to get food and into bed. It was a funny joke, but you need to read the room a bit more often."
"Everyone was tired, I was just trying to lighten the mood a little."
"By annoying us all?"
Will scoffs and walks across the room, letting his arms raise, wrapping around Ethan's waist. "Speaking of dinner and bed, I managed to get the day off tomorrow."
"Did you now?" Ethan raises an eyebrow, a smile slipping onto his face. "Would that have anything at all to do with the fact that tomorrow is my day off?"
"It might do... With that being said, do you want to get take out from that Chinese restaurant near yours?"
"Is this your way of asking me to let you stay the night?"
"It might be."
"Alright. But I'm going to bed tonight. No heavy activity until the morning. I'm beat after today."
"That I cannot agree to," Will smirks a little, eyebrows raising. "But I can promise to do all the work."
Ethan groans, tilting his head back and pulling Will close, hands tight on his waist. He leans in, pressing their lips together with a smile and a sigh. "You drive a hard bargain, Will."
"Just making sure you have all options available to you so you can make an informed decision."
Ethan pulls back, eyebrows raised, scoffing slightly. "Are you serious right now?"
Will chuckles and tilts his head, eyebrows raised. "A scoff, not even a chuckle?"
"You're a pain."
"Well, maybe when we get home you can be my doctor and take a look at that."
"I'm not playing doctors and nurses with you, Will."
"Guys, no one needs to know what you're doing when you get home, nor your kinks."
Ethan looks up, Will spinning around to find Connor watching them as he walks over to his locker, smile on his face. Will's cheeks start turning red and Ethan hangs his head for a moment.
"For the record-"
"I am not interested in your sex life, Doctor Choi."
"We are not-"
"Well, enjoy your night you two." Connor winks as he heads back out, coat wrapped around him as he grins at them.
Will looks up, meeting Ethan's eyes before they both start laughing. Ethan shakes his head and steps back, pulling his coat on. Will snickers, shaking his head as he dresses.
"We're never living that down are we?"
Ethan sighs, pulling his bag onto his shoulder. "At least, not for a few days. Your fault, I may add."
Will chuckles and heads to the door, pulling it open and holding it as Ethan follows him. "So what are you going to do? Punish me?"
Ethan groans, letting his arm wrap around Will's shoulders as they head out to Will's car. "You're going to put me in the ED as a patient if you keep going on."
"Well, isn't that half the charm of me?"
Ethan sighs, pausing only to open the car door for Will, shaking his head. "Maybe. But for now, let's get some food and just head to bed."
Will gets into the car, letting Ethan shut the door for him before he grins. "So, do we get to shower together?"
"Drive, before I take you to your own apartment."
Will bursts into laughter, shaking his head as the car thrums to life. Ethan sighs heavily, reaching over rest his hand on the back of Will's neck. He leans in, pressing a kiss to Will's lips before the journey home.
"Can I at least get extra Chinese tonight?"
"If you're paying."