Chapter Text
The conference room on the 8th floor of the Swardani City Hospital was uncomfortably sterile, cold, and currently crowded with hospital staff that all concluded they had better things to do than attend a spontaneous 'important meeting'.
But here they were, department heads, chief attendings, unit representatives, and anyone with any kind of say.
At the far end of the conference table, framed by large windows, sat the hospital administrator Pariston Hill, who sported a beaming smile. Blond, tall, blinding white teeth and bottomless dark eyes.
"Thank you so much for taking the time out of your busy schedules to meet with me, everyone. I promise to keep this brief, since I'll be seeing you at our weekly conference this Sunday."
A groan echoed around the room by those who had the hopes of one meeting a week being enough.
"I am not a believer in singling out people, which is why I'd like each and everyone one of you to pass this message along to your respective units and work areas." Pariston leaned back in his large black-leather chair, signature smile fading away for just a moment.
"We reviewed security footage of the Emergency Room supply closet number 7, and I am very disappointed in those of you who chose to breach the 'No Workplace Relationship' Policy. In an explicit manner. This is a warning that repeat offenders will have to be dealt with accordingly, for example with a contract termination."
Silence.
The administrator smiled again, careless as ever, and dismissed everyone with a wave of his hand. "Have a wonderful rest of your work day!"
Four people swallow their anxiety down as they exited the room.
One of the last few new policies introduced by the late administrator Netero was about how every elective, invasive cosmetic surgery needed a prior psychiatric clearance. This proved to be extremely beneficial for both the mental health of the patients and for post-surgical recovery time, so much so that it earned the hospital an award for its dedication to mental health awareness.
However, two people suffered under this.
1)The chief attending plastic surgeon in charge, Hisoka Morow and
2)The psychiatric attendant Kurapika Kurta.
The two of them had been forced to work with each other now almost every day that they were scheduled on the same shift.
After the first week they had escalated in a yelling match on the floor.
After the first month they redacted petty insults from their consults.
And 6 months later they could address each other with their first names and shared a coffee after particularly stressful patients.
Kurapika, a short, lean blonde with shining scarlet eyes made his way to the cosmetic surgery ward today as well, he tied his hair into a low ponytail as he walked. He had been called last minute for some psych evals on a breast augmentation and a liposuction, which now had become routine for him.
The other man, tall, muscular, and with obnoxious pink hair waved at him as he stepped through the milk-glass sliding doors.
"I’d appreciate it if you’d stop paging me short notice for consults, it’s unprofessional and inconsiderate. You know these are planned in advance, and I have other patients to take care of."
"What can I say, I’m a spontaneous man. You seem a little spicy today." Hisoka leant on the nurse-station counter while he slid some patient files over.
"I'm fine. "
"That's the universal code for 'I am not fine'. But I get it, whatever, if you even care, I am also quite upset today." He dramatically shifted back with a hand to his forehead as if he were to faint.
They held eye contact for an uncomfortable amount of time in pure silence.
"...It is common courtesy to ask why someone is feeling bad. I thought psychiatrists are supposed to be good at the whole talking thing."
"Will you stop bothering me for the rest of the day if I ask?"
"I can't promise anything, but I can certainly try ."
" Why are you upset, Hisoka?" Kurapika started to look through the files, passively reading over the details of the patients he had to evaluate. No psychiatric history, no age extremes, no history of prior procedures.
"Oh thank you so much for asking. After the surprise meeting earlier today my fiance has given me the cold shoulder as if it were my fault that we suddenly have people reviewing security footage. He’s not even replying to my texts!”
Kurapika froze, short circuited by the sudden influx of unwanted information.
"Wait- Your fiance also works here? Did you know about that policy? You have a fiance? You had sex at work? "
Hisoka grinned. "I've never made a secret of him working here- the same doesn't go for him though, I think he'd rather say he's a widower than to acknowledge us. Which is why I wasn't worried about that little policy thing; You can't punish us if you don't know who I'm hooking up with. But I guess that will change now."
"They aren't actually going to fire the.. guilty parties, are they? That would be outlandish."He adjusted the cuffs of his dress shirt, then brushed some stray hairs away from his face.
"Are you…nervous?"
"What? No-"
Hisoka leaned in closer, his devilish grin grew thin. "Doctor Kurapika Kurta- Which of your coworkers have you been fucking behind closed doors?"
"I did
not-"
He could feel a blush that crept up his cheeks. "-And lower your voice, please-" His eyes shifted to the nurses that had been charting near them and his voice turned into a whisper. "It's not like that, and it was only one time. If I knew it could risk my entire career, I wouldn't have done it at all. I feel so stupid."
A heavy sigh left him. Kurapika had rarely acted impulsively in his life, he prided himself in being a planner and following his goals.
But there had been that one night shift that initially made him feel like he was on top of the world, and was now threatening to ruin his career.
Losing his job at the Swardani City Hospital, something he has worked so hard for, would be a setback he could never forgive himself for. But potentially losing someone he had now grown so close to somehow felt just as bad.
He looked back up at the other man, who leisurely waited for him to finish his thoughts. "I feel like a horrible person for even having to ask myself what’s more important to me, my career or that person. How are you so calm with this?"
"It’s not a particularly hard decision to make; I'm a certified, award winning surgeon, so I can easily find new work or even open up my own clinic if I felt like it. Furthermore, my fiance is filthy, disgustingly rich and I have no problems at all playing trophy husband if I were to lose my job. Lastly, it's worth it.” He added a wink while wiggling the fingers he had used to count his reasons.
"That’s surprisingly well thought out. Who even is your fiance, someone I know?"
"You tell me yours, I'll tell you mine." Hisoka leaned dangerously forward and he noticed Kurapika glancing towards the nurses again. "Don't worry about my nosey bunch. This floor is full of policy violations from both nurses and doctors, and everyone knows what happens to snitches, isn't that right?"
A male nurse took a poignant sip of a coffee with a raised eyebrow- drinks at the nurses station aren't allowed . Another nurse tapped long acrylic nails on the desk- also most definitely not allowed. But still, if anyone were to snitch, the consequences…
"I could also take an educated guess."
Kurapika startled. There's no way this clown of a doctor-
"Let me think…There are no other eligible bachelors, nurses or doctors, on the psych floor, so you're not dating within your speciality.”
Bingo.
“You don't trust the nurses with your secret, meaning it's not a nurse, because you'd know they wouldn't rat out one of their own.”
Correct.
“You seem more worried about your own reputation than his, meaning you probably rank higher than him- he's a resident? Obviously it's a him , no offense."
"Okay, okay that's enough-"
And also true
.
"Takes one to know one. We are looking for a gay, single, non-psych resident, passable looks." He closed his eyes dramatically and waved his hands in the air.
"Oh, the universe, it is telling me…pediatrics floor. A tall resident with black hair and a 3 day stubble." There was a gasp from behind the nurses station.
"Wait, Hisoka-"
"Kurapika Kurta, are you hooking up with Leorio Paladiknight ?"
The nurses clapped at the 'magic trick' while Kurapika felt his face flush and heat. There was no way he could deny it now.
"You can't tell anyone, Hisoka, please." He pleaded in a soft tone, but he also grabbed Hisoka's arm with frustration.
"Don't worry, I know yours, you get to know mine. But be aware, if you end up running your mouth, I may just have to kill you- before my future father in law kills me.” He laughed while he pulled out a smartphone from his coat pocket, long nails tapping on the screen until he turned it around for Kurapika to see.
On the screen, there was a picture of two people in front of an ocean view. Obviously there was Hisoka, hair styled up, wearing a mostly unbuttoned dress shirt. One arm curled around the waist of another man, who in turn rested his hand on Hisokas bare chest.
The other man seemed almost as tall as Hisoka, with shining black hair down to his waist, large dark eyes on a pale face, wearing an expression of indifference.
They’re both wearing gold rings.
“Wait, is that…?”
“Illumi, are you not going out for lunch today? You usually disappear the entire hour.” Biscuit Krüger, medical massage therapist in Swardani City Hospital, poked her head out from her side of the Physical Therapy shared office. She took another bite of her lunch. She had tied her long blond hair into a bun and stretched out on her massage bench.
On the other side of the office sat her colleague Illumi Zoldyck, acupuncturist and Neurology Clinical Specialist, who had been staring with disgust at the sandwich he had bought at the cafeteria.
Usually he would be drinking an espresso and eating a croissant at his favorite café by now, like he did at every shift.
“Not today.”
“Trying to save money? I get it, I’ve been making my own lunches because there’s a gem collector convention coming up and I have my priorities.”
“I see.”
“...”
“...”
Bisky frowned and took another frustrated bite. She wondered if he didn’t talk to her much because he thought he was better than her- being the eldest son of the family that financed this hospital and all of its programs.
Then again, she never really saw him talk to anyone else, either.
She finished the rest of her pasta salad, discarded the empty container into her purse, then pulled out a large poster from it.
She hadn’t worked here for long yet, only about 4 months, so her workspace still felt sterile and foreign to her. But that would change now.
With the help of some tape and a step-stool, she fixed the poster to the wall. With a proud expression she stepped back to observe her decorative effort.
A white cartoon cat, clinging to a branch, with a cursive font ‘Hang in there!’.
It’s kitschy. It’s cliché.
“It’s cute.”
Illumi still had his normal scarily-neutral expression, but he appraised the poster from his seat.
“Oh, right? Really? I didn’t think you’d like something cutesy like this. Do you like cats?”
He seemed to think about this question longer than necessary. “Yes, their personalities are…endearing, though challenging.”
"Totally! Like when you pet them and out of nowhere they attack you.”
“They usually give subtle signs before attacking, like tail- and ear-twitching.”
“Wow, I’m working with the cat-whisperer.” This had been the longest conversation the two have had since they started working together; Bisky wanted to keep pushing. “Do you have a cat yourself?”
“Ah, no, I’d like one, but leaving it home alone would be unfair.”
“Just get two cats, then. Can’t be lonely if you’ve got a partner.”
Illumis expression changed, only slightly, but his thin lips drew into a subtle frown. He started to tie his hair back into a long, smooth ponytail, revealing more of his pale neck. “Unless they end up fighting because one of them is misbehaved and unruly.”
“...”
“And inconsiderate.”
“...”
“And disgusting.”
“...Are we still talking about cats?” Bisky had slowly walked over to Illumis desk and leant over.
"Oh. Right.”
“Call it my , quote unquote, womanly intuition , but I feel like you might be upset because of someone.” She awkwardly tapped on the desk; This was a chance to have an actual bonding conversation with her co-worker. “If you want to talk about it, or just vent, you know, I’m a good listener.”
“There is no need.”
“I’m just saying, it might be better to get your frustration out now, before your next appointment. I wouldn’t trust myself with needles if I was mad at someone.” Or with vases. Or anything within throwing-range.
“...My fiance has put both of us into an uncomfortable position with his reckless behavior, and doesn’t seem to care about the consequences of his actions.”
Bisky was grateful she had finished her food early. Because otherwise she’d surely be choking now. Fiance ?
“I-i see. That does sound annoying. Did he say he doesn’t care?”
“He has made it very obvious in his actions- or lack thereof.”
“Have you told him it pisses you off?” Bisky made herself more comfortable on the desk. She was so here for the juicy relationship drama. Even if it was the drama of someone as peculiar as Illumi.
“...I have told him he’s an idiot and that I don’t want to speak to him. Which I don’t.”
“Oh, is that why you aren’t going out for lunch? Usually meeting your fiance?”
“It’s the most convenient for our schedules.”
“What does he do?” Bisky tilted her head with a smile.
“He’s a plastic surgeon.”
“Ah-” Her smile stiffened. “Like, at a different Hospital?”
“No, he’s up on the third floor, Hisoka Morrow.”
“...”
“...”
“...Are you sure?”
“Am I sure that I know who my fiance is?” His brows furrowed.
“ That Hisoka? With the obnoxious star tattoo on his face? Who almost got fired twice ?”
“Soon we can make that thrice.” He crossed his arms. “Because he had promised me there would be no consequences to our situation. And then the meeting happened.”
“Oh god- you two have- at work ?”
“I don’t care about being judged by someone like you. But now my job security is being threatened, and if I get fired, my family is bound to find that out. I made it very clear to him that if it came to that, I would have to terminate our engagement.”
“That’s pretty harsh. I can understand you’re upset, but seeing as you agreed to even eventually marry him, he must have some redeeming qualities, right?”
Illumi looked aside for a moment.
He did agree to the engagement, since they had both agreed prior on when and where Hisoka was going to propose.
Just like he had agreed to that first date, after Hisoka had bugged him for weeks, in hopes that one date would deter him. But one turned into two, two turned into three, and then they lost count until Illumi found himself in his own apartment cleaning out a bathroom drawer so Hisoka could finally take all of his products off of the counter.
A Partnership had just naturally turned out to be beneficial. Someone was always able to get groceries. The chores were split evenly. There was someone to listen when someone had to complain about work, someone who understood the work-environment.
It wasn’t as …lonely.
“You may be right. I appreciate the talk, Miss Krüger.” He got up from his chair and grabbed his phone, typing something out.
“Oh, no problem at all. And you can call me Bisky!”
“Right. My break is almost over, I should go. But, one more thing, Bisky.” He turned from the doorway with an intense stare.
“If you tell anyone about this, I can and will turn your time of employment in this hospital into a living nightmare.”
And with that, Illumi went out the door.
The Rainy season in Swardani City was in full swing, downpours lasting anywhere between 5 minutes and 5 hours.
Leorio Paladiknight, medical resident on the pediatric floor, snuck through the emergency department into the waiting bay for oncoming ambulances. The only smoking-area that was at least somewhat shielded from the onslaught of rain.
Not a soul in sight.
He sighed with relief and got comfortable against the rough wall. A few meters across he could see his reflection in an ambulance's window.
A light stubble had started to grow and spread out over his chin and jawline, thick bristle-like hair over tan skin. Even from this far back he could see dark circles forming around his eyes, and his hair gel had stopped doing its job around 5 hours into his shift.
He fumbled his phone out of his coat pocket.
LP: You ok?
LP: can we talk??
[Read at 9:23 am.]
It had been hours after that frankly embarrassing staff meeting. A single meeting had managed to completely body-slam Leorio’s chance at an actual relationship in what felt like an eternity.
They had been taking it slow, cautious for both of their sakes. Dating, relationships,
love
, all of that was difficult, even more so in exhausting professions.
So a smile and nod in the hallway turned to polite conversation.
Turned to coffee in the cafeteria.
Turned to 2 am pizza dates in break rooms.
Turned to off-shift walks in a park.
Turned to regular dates.
And that should have been it. No one would have probably known or cared that the two of them meet outside of work, sometimes spending the night, because they are adults damnit .
Except adults don’t have a quickie in the emergency departments supply closet, usually.
Leorio could slap himself now for having had that idea; But that Kurapika had even agreed to it had driven him wild.
And now Kurapika wasn’t answering him, there was video evidence of their encounter, and they had been threatened with contract termination .
He wished he would have actually read his work-contract when he initially signed up, but he also hadn’t been convinced a “No Workplace Relationship” Policy would have deterred him from flirting with Kurapika after getting to know him.
But losing his residency-spot after praying, crying and bleeding for this opportunity wasn’t an ideal either.
He was about to bury his phone back into his coat pocket, when it suddenly buzzed to life.
KK: where are you?
LP: Ambulance Parking
LP: Are you okay??
KK: stay there. be down in 2
Okay, this was great. Kurapika was going to come and they could talk this out.
Actually, this wasn’t great. It was terrifying and Leorio secretly hoped for an emergency call or an important pager-call, or for lighting to somehow strike him even through the robust roof covering.
But there was nothing and no one, just the steady downpour on the pavement and the increased beat of his own heart.
Eternity passed and yet not a single second did.
“Ah, there you are.” Kurapika poked his head through the door as he scanned for anyone else in the vicinity.
He stepped out into the humid air, fidgeted with the cuffs of his dress shirt. “I’m sorry for not answering your texts- I don’t keep my phone on me anymore. One of the nurses got hers stolen a week ago.”
“I get it, some of these kids always jump at the opportunity to rummage through my coat. I think they’re expecting candy, but the only thing they’ll find is three pairs of gloves and maybe half a protein bar.”
“Look at you, subtly bragging that you had time to eat half a protein bar today.”
They both half-laugh-snorted and for a moment Leorio could feel his muscles relax. Kurapika stepped closer, leant on the wall next to him, both of them looked out into the rain.
“So-” “About today-”
“Sorry, go ahead.”
“Oh, okay, uh,” Leorio scratched unsurely at his neck. “Obviously we are in a shitty situation now. I had no idea that there was a whole rule about dating co-workers, and now I feel extremely stupid for, y’know… at work .” An embarrassed blush crept up to his cheeks for the second time this day, it stretched all the way to his ears. “I’m sorry, but I also don’t regret it.”
“You shouldn’t have to be sorry. It was stupid, impulsive, risky… but also very fun, maybe because it was all of those things. I don’t want you to be sorry for making me happy.”
Leorio swallowed hard as Kurapika stepped closer. “O-Okay.”
“I know you worked really hard to be here. This pediatrics program is the best one this side of the country, all the attendants are already praising you and hailing you as a permanent addition to their team.” He reached out just to touch Leorio’s arm. “I don’t want to be selfish and take this from you.”
Leorio wasn’t sure what set him off: The sudden increase of rain, which now thrashed against the pavement violently; The way Kurapikas lip wavered as he tried to force a smile; Or the fact that those beautiful scarlet eyes couldn’t even look at him.
Whatever it was, it made him grab Kurapikas shoulders, not in a sudden movement, but controlled, desperate.
“But I do.”
“Leorio-”
“I want to be selfish. I want to keep seeing you and getting to touch you and to hear you snort when you laugh, even if you hate that. I want to risk both of our jobs because I’m selfish and because I like you.”
He used his height to his advantage, crowded more into the others personal space, which forced him to look up to him.
“Kurapika, if you don’t want this, I’ll let it be. We can go back to being colleagues, calling each other by last names and maybe sometimes having a polite chat. But I want to be with you.”
The silence could kill him, he thought, it could kill him and he’d be fine with it.
He had given all of the control over the situation to Kurapika. Whatever would happen next was up to him, and Leorio tried not to flinch away from how vulnerable he felt.
But there were those gorgeous eyes again, and finally a real smile that reached them. “You’re so stubborn.” Kurapika moved his hands to Leorio's neck, carded fingers through the thick hair just at the nape, and gently pulled him down until their lips met.
It was a short, soft kiss.
It was everything.
“I want to be with you too. If you want to risk it, I think this could be worth it.”
Relief washed over Leorio. “Of course, no doubt.” He kissed the other man's forehead, before he pulled him into a gentle hug, rested his head on top of Kurapikas’. He chuckled, “I just said some really embarrassing stuff, didn’t I?”
Kurapika nuzzled comfortably into the curve of his shoulder and neck. “Yeah, you did.”
“Extremely embarrassing.” A third voice chimed in.
Both men startled and turned, Leorio held one arm out in front of Kurapika out of reflex.
Leant against the door stood a man about as tall as Kurapika, with wild black hair, thick stubble around his chin and upper lip, and relaxed dark eyes. His white coat seemed about a size too big for him, and on the collar hung a cartoonish boar pin which held his name badge. Dr. G. Freecss , ER Physician .
Right, Leorio had heard plenty about this man; He was a talented physician, had traveled the world to help with charity and research projects, and supposedly had gotten his medical start as a veterinarian in his hometown at the young age of 16.
Coworkers either praised him to high heaven or swore the man was sent by the devil himself.
“How long have you been there?” Kurapika nervously shifted behind Leorio.
“Before the awkward kiss, after the even more awkward confession. Is this what young people do instead of a smoke break now?”
“We really don’t want trouble, sir.” Leorio straightened his back out, tried to be at least somewhat intimidating. “Can we make it so that you haven’t seen anything?”
“I’d love to pick a fight with you, kid, but I still have 10 hours left in this shift. Let’s play a game instead. If you win, I’ll forgive your entire medical student debts.”
Kurapika’s brows furrowed in thought. “And if we lose?”
“You’ll stop converting my Emergency Department into a love shack. The game is called ‘Try to find a single security camera in any of the supply closets down here’.” Ging smirked.
“Wait-” Leorio looked with confusion from Kurapika to Ging, though it seemed Kurapika had already understood what was going on.
“It’s all a bluff?”
“Great job. Now go back to your shifts and keep all that PDA stuff for after you clock out. If I find either of you with your pants down in my department I’ll give you a reason to be in this hospital.” He chuckled and started to tap away at his phone, as if he no longer cared about the two young men, only added as they stepped away through the door “Maybe try surgery, I’m sure Miss Yorkshire would love that.”
Leorio and Kurapika quickly hushed away into an escalator, and as it set into movement, they couldn’t hold their laughter.
“I guess I’ll see you after your shift?”
“Gladly.”
“That was a fun prank you played today.” Ging stepped through the administration offices’ doors.
“Not sure what you are talking about, I just wanted to remind my beloved staff of the rules they had agreed to.” Pariston stretched in his office chair. “Did I ruffle a few feathers?”
“Not really. As if anyone would believe this old junkyard could afford security cameras in supply closets of all places.”
“You don’t know the kind of renovations I’ve been up to since your last excursion.”
“No one knows my department better than I do.” Ging started to walk around the desk and towards the other man. “I’d notice if you moved one crash cart a centimeter to the side.”
“We’ll see about that.” Pariston leisurely moved a hand up to hold Gings’ chin. They held each other's gaze for a couple moments in pure silence.
“Does your office have any fancy security cameras?”
“Be my guest and try to find out.”
Without much effort Pariston pulled Ging closer until he was seated on top of him and their lips met in a forceful kiss.
Ging pulled Paristons hair until he exposed his neck to cover it with bites and kisses, with full intentions to leave bruises and marks. In response, Pariston started to rummage his hands under Ging's scrubs, over the curve of his spine, occasionally letting a sharp nail dig deeper into the skin there.
As Ging continued to kiss and mark down the soft expanse of neck, he undid the others' tie, started to unbutton the obnoxious suit jacket and bright dress shirt, to reveal light, near flawless skin.
He ran his thumbs over the two straight scars that ran along under Paristons pecks. Almost faded, they were nearly indistinguishable to the rest of the skin around it, probably invisible to people who didn’t know they were there.
And he craved to see more, even though by now he could probably draw a map of Paristons body, but he wanted more-
Beep. Beep. Beep.
Ging’s Pager started to vibrate and ring insistently at his hip. Right. Work .
He jumped off the other man's lap, ran a hand through his hair, and turned to leave.
“Have a wonderful rest of your workday, Paris.”
“I’ll see you in supply closet 7.” Pariston laughed and buttoned up his shirt again.
Do as I say, not as I do.