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"What do you mean Pearson has a new apprentice? Since when?"
Virgil chuckled, his fingers fumbling with the buttons of his waistcoat. His ring and little finger were currently bandaged together; a stupid fight he lost with a slamming door.
"For about a year now. Two years if you count how long he's lived with Agatha," Virgil shrugged, standing up from his desk and pulling his coat off the back of the chair. Fate crossed her arms from where she leaned against the door.
"He's been here as long as Blindhollow? Are you sure someone so young can be trusted?" Fate asked, her tail swaying lazily by her legs.
"He's a very close friend of mine from Venompeaks. He's very smart for his age, and I'm very proud of how far he's come, but..."
Virgil paused, looking down at the bandaged fingers of his right hand. His injury was minor. Bruised with a couple of scratches. The same could not be said for his closest companion. Virgil knew he'd never be able to talk about the late nights he spent trying to calm down a boy who claimed he was dying.
He practically was. His right arm was gone.
"I need you to be delicate with him."
Fate scoffed.
"Delicate? Have you even met me?"
Virgil chuckled at her words as they both left his office. It was true. He had not known the coyote hybrid for very long, but he knew her personality and wit were both sharp. She could cuss you out before you even took a breath and shoot you before you could have the chance to exhale.
"I know, I know. Russell's been through a lot recently, and I know how you can be. He's a-" Virgil hissed, forgetting about his injured fingers as he opened the front door. "He's- He's human, and he's sarcastic: the opposite of what works with you."
Fate walked in step with him, her hand resting on the stock of her shotgun. Her eyes never stopped scanning those they passed. His aim would be worse while he was injured; Fate was essentially his weapon.
"I'll play nice if this "Russell" guy isn't prejudiced towards my kind," Fate growled. Her hand twitched against her gun.
Virgil hummed.
"I assure you, that won't be an issue. Russell is very accepting of humans and hybrids."
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Dr Pearson's waiting area was empty when the two arrived. Only a mother and her toddler were preparing to leave; the boy in her arms was restless and cranky. Virgil held the door open for her, letting them leave first.
"I'd be careful, Sir. I hear Dr Pearson has an unruly patient in there. He's violent and angry," The mother frowned, gently patting her son on the back. His bull tail curled and twisted in agitation.
"Thank you kindly, Miss," Virgil tipped his hat, watching her leave with a small smile.
"You don't seem worried, Holloway," Fate's arms were folded, her foot tapping against the wooden floor. She didn't move to sit in any of the chairs, leaving Virgil to pick a seat of his own.
"Just give them a minute. Russell wouldn't hurt a fly, I promise you."
Before Fate could retort, the two jumped at the sound of glass smashing in the room behind them. Fate's fists clenched at her side, ready to jump into action. Virgil hummed, bouncing his knee to an unheard tune.
"I can't do it, okay!? Both of- Both of you are asking me to- to be s-someone I'm not-" The first voice that followed the smashed glass was panicked. His accented voice stuttered and cracked around words as if foreign to his mouth.
"You don't have to do anything you don't want to, Russell. Dr Pearson is just trying to help," The second voice - sounding as if trying to talk down a wild beast - was deep in pitch and soft-spoken.
"That may be true, but I'm not letting you give up on your dreams so easily, Lector. Do you want to work on the dexterity of your left hand? Here's an opportunity presented right in front of you," Dr Pearson's exasperation was audible through the wall. It was as if Virgil and Fate could see her crossed arms and disappointing stance.
"And if I can't get the- the trembling to stop? You're both going to just stand by as I- as I hurt Mr Holloway and-"
Dr Pearson sighed loudly, her footsteps moving across the room, "You're just changing his bandages, Lector. Get out of that headspace before it consumes you... Again."
Virgil and Fate turned as the door to the room opened, Dr Pearson shutting the door behind her and pinching the bridge of her nose. She looked at them both with mild surprise.
"Agatha, it's so good to see you," Virgil smiled politely, standing from the sofa to greet her. He held out his left hand to shake, Dr Pearson gripping it in a slightly-too-tight grasp.
"Virgil, a pleasure as always to have you visiting my office," Dr Pearson replied, the smile on her lips very forced.
"Is everything alright in here?" Fate asked, her eyes darting to the door behind her. Dr Pearson followed her gaze, the forced grin slipping into mild annoyance.
"Fate-" Virgil held up a hand to chastise her bluntness.
"Everything is good," Dr Pearson answered in his stead. She clasped her hands behind her back and nodded her head towards the door. "Russell and Markus are just setting everything up in the other room. Whenever you're ready, Sir."
Virgil hummed and watched as Dr Pearson strolled across the room to enter the other treatment room. He gently placed his hand on the handle, giving Fate a small smile when she stepped forward to follow him.
"Come along, Fate. This shouldn't take very long. Russell is very good at what he does."
"Hmm... "Shouldn't", you say?" Fate rolled her eyes, following Virgil into the other hospital room.
The treatment room was a decent size; enough to fit multiple cabinets (full of bottles and salves) and two single beds. One of the beds looks recently cleaned, the sheets laid neatly on the cot, as if untouched. The other bed was roughly made, the covers crumpled and stained with a couple of small spatters of blood and sand.
Markus sat on the dishevelled-looking bed, one hand in his lap. His other hand fidgeted with one of his dreadlocks, the subtle tick showing how the warm smile on his face was a façade. The tall man looked out of place in the room; someone so cheerful and happy shouldn't be hiding in the dark.
Speaking of the dark.
All the curtains in the room were drawn, leaving the room without the harsh sunlight of all the other rooms in the building. It was like an attempt to hide from the outside world. If no one could look into the room, then anyone could hide from prying eyes under the protection of Dr Pearson.
"Russell, it's so good to see you up and mobile. How are you, my boy?" Virgil's greeting was full of warmth and love; his hand pressed over his heart earnestly.
Russell was standing in the far corner of the room, attempting to make himself as unnoticeable as possible. His shirt was creased, sleeves rolled up over both his elbows hastily. The auburn-haired man looked as if he was two steps away from a complete freak-out; the clammy hand over his mouth looked as if attempting to hold back the build-up of bile in his throat.
Virgil waited to see if he would reply. Fate had to give the man credit. His patience was rivalled by no one. When Russell's eyes darted from them to Markus - who gave him a gentle smile - and then back to the wall, Virgil continued.
"I wanted to introduce you to someone while I was here," Virgil smiled, gesturing with his uninjured hand to Fate behind him. Russell's eyes darted over her quickly, making her slightly conscious of her shabby appearance. "Russ, this is Fate Pechman, one of the newest members of the Storm Blades. Their work keeping the peace in Xtesa is looking more promising every single day."
Virgil turned to meet Fate's gaze. She could see the hesitance in his eyes. "Fate, this is Russell Lector, my closest ally and the youngest, soon-to-be doctor of Blindhollow. I've known Russ for almost five years, so I hope you'll learn to trust him as much as I do."
Fate held out her right hand; an attempt of polite hospitality towards someone Mr Holloway considered a friend. The shaking hand over Russell's mouth stayed locked around his jaw, instead choosing to move the arm - his right one - from behind his back. Russell's mind seemed to be a couple of seconds behind his instincts as Fate drew her hand back.
The doctor's right arm ended a few inches below his elbow, bandaged heavily with delicacy.
Russell looked down, his eyebrows furrowing in confusion. Fate could pinpoint the moment he realised his mistake; his eyes widened a fraction before they darted to the bedside table on his right. On the bedside table there was a rough carving of a wooden arm; in multiple pieces. A single thread of elastic lay next to them, waiting to lock the puzzle pieces together.
The hand over his mouth moved to fiddle and scratch at the bandages. His eyes had glossed over - with a haunted look, Fate realised - and he refused to look at anyone in the room.
Markus looked down at the clasped hands in his lap before meeting Virgil's gaze. An unspoken conversation occurred between them before Virgil cleared his throat gently.
"Let us get this over with then. Right, Mr Holloway?" Russell's asked, his voice lacking any emotion - not even the anxious panic from earlier.
Fate could see the Blindhollow mayor wished to correct the doctor's formality. The softness in his eyes implied that it was a usual joke between them. One would be formal - the other would correct them and insist on informality.
Virgil chose to keep quiet.
Fate watched the three men from the other side of the room. She silently observed the new doctor, hoping to gather any intel on his dependability for Blindhollow's independence and the liberation of Hybrids all over Xtesa.
He was a strange and haunted man, but if Virgil trusted him with his life, Fate would learn to do the same.
Fate kept quiet when the doctor shakily started his work with one hand.