Chapter Text
Life. Was is it really? Seconds, minutes, and hours you fill doing something or nothing at all to get through the day and then you do it again. And again. And again. If you're lucky, the time goes by fast, especially if you have friends, family, someone you care, hell, even love to share it with. But if you're like me, chances are you don't have anyone. Not anymore. So... here I am. Working in a hospital most days to come home to an empty duplex with booze stocked cabinets, all the while trying to hold back the monster.
Life.
Don't make me laugh.
~~~
Clunk. The man's sneakers squeaked softly on the smooth floor as he turned, taking another bottle of alcohol from its box. Clunk. He swiveled the bottle slightly until it matched up with the one beside it, joining all the others in neat rows of five on the shelf. Leaning down, he reached for the last bottle in the box when a different scent cut through the familiar antiseptic smell of the hospital. The man paused, the bottle in hand, and inhaled discreetly. Lavender. She was here again. Fourth time this week. He glanced down the hall, past the doctors rushing to one place or another, nurses talking on phones and to each other, family members of patients pacing to see her come around the corner. Even dressed in just a tank top, jeans, and boots, she was beautiful. She walked like she was dancing, smooth and graceful.
He blinked suddenly, turning back to the shelf when he realized he was staring. She continued down the drab white hall in his direction, giving small smiles to those she passed, the smell of lavender growing stronger in his heightened senses. She was getting close now. He stared down at the bottle in his hand once again as he debated, not for the first time, whether or not to say something to her when someone shoved into him, making him stagger back as he lost his balance, and tripped over the box on the floor. He stuck his hand out to catch himself, but only succeeded in tipping over the cart, spilling everything and himself onto the floor with a crash. Startled gasps rang out through the hall as he gained the attention of everyone nearby. He shot an angry look at the person looking down at him. Around his own height, blonde hair, green eyes, scrubs. Derek. Figures.
Derek held up his hands and shrugged. "Oh. Sorry, Aidan, I didn't see you there," he apologized. Aidan narrowed his eyes at him for a second, seeing the grin tugging at the corners of his mouth, the twinkle in his eyes and knew he did it on purpose. He let out a breath then got to his feet, setting the cart upright again. Feeling something cold and wet on his side, he looked down and saw a wet patch, definitely from the open bottle of alcohol slowly leaking it's contents onto the floor. "Hey man, it's fine. Just be more careful next time," he told the other man, holding back the urge to deck him in front of all these people, opting to grab a towel and swipe at his blue scrubs instead. Derek grinned and slapped Aidan's shoulder. The vampire frowned at his back as he walked away without a backwards glance. Some things never change. Once a jerk, always a jerk.
Aidan knelt and began sorting through and gathering the supplies strewn across the floor. He grabbed another towel and wiped at the puddle on the floor, then righted the leaking container, and wrapped the towel around it. Two seconds later it started to drip in his hands. "Bullshit," he muttered under breath. He reached for another towel when a slender hand touched his and he froze and looked up to see the young woman's green eyes staring back into his dark brown ones. "I'm sorry," she said, pulling her hand back quickly, brushing back a strand of dark brown hair off her face; though it wouldn't cooperate with her and fell right back where it had been a second later as she gave him a small smile. "I thought I'd help clean this up." She paused, looking suddenly down at her hands.
Aidan's eyes drifted down to her exposed neck, unconsciously holding his breath. He could see her pulse. His hearing grew fuzzy, blocking out the surrounding noise until all he could hear was her heartbeat. Slowly leaning closer, he opened his mouth slightly, ready to lower his fangs, the throbbing pain in his stomach making him completely forget where he was. Just a taste... He came back to himself abruptly as the young woman looked back up at him. "By the way, that guy definitely saw you." Aidan cleared his throat and sat back on his heels, letting out a dry laugh. "Oh, I know. He loves to mess with me." She grinned sheepishly as he smiled at her. He pushed all the towels in a messy pile and placed them on the cart. "So, pretty girl like you got a name?" Her cheeks colored slightly as she blushed. "Ariana," she answered, holding her hand out to him. Aidan gently took her hand and turned it flat. "Aidan," he replied, planting a soft kiss on her knuckles. Her cheeks grew redder as he released her hand and gathered the remaining supplies, putting them back in their proper place on the cart.
"Well, I'll let you get back to work," Ariana said, taking a step back, conscious of the looks, well... glares really that were mostly directed at her by the attractive nurse behind the counter. She stuck one hand in her pocket and gestured with a thumb down the hall as she finished, "And I gotta go do... something..." The vampire smiled at her again as she trailed off, pulling at her earlobe subconsciously. "So, see you around then," she said, shooting him a shy smile. "See you around then," he answered, his eyes never leaving hers. He reached out and took hold of the supply cart as Ariana turned and started off down the hall the way she was going before. A tiny smile lifted the corner of his mouth when he saw her glance back at him as she turned the corner before he doubled over the cart in pain. With a grunt, he pushed himself upright and walked as fast he dared down the hall, ignoring the nurse who stared daggers at his back. He pushed the cart into the nearest utility room, hightailing to the locker room. He shoved open the door, and seeing no one there, went to his locker. The lock clicked against the locker while he turned the dial, unable to steady his shaking hands. He growled softly when the combination didn't work, took a breath, wiped a drop of sweat off his forehead and tried again. Click. Presto. He unzipped his backpack, throwing a glance over his shoulder to double check, then sank his teeth into the blood bag with a muffled groan. After sucking it dry, he returned the bag to his pack and locked the door, pressing his back against the cold frame. He rubbed one hand over his face slowly. That was too close...