Work Text:
You're sitting in group therapy, waiting for Dr. Klein to show. You look around the circle at the collection of individuals there. There are a few of you in this group, all there for various reasons. There's Phil, who had a schizophrenic break a while back and was admitted. He's a nice guy, really into poetry writing. Then there's Daniela, who's really struggling to recover from the loss of her child. You can't imagine how horrifying that would be, to lose someone who is that important to you. Then there's Kenny, who is there for the same reasons as you, for the most part. Except he's been here for much much longer. After multiple attempts on his life, he's been upgraded to a permanent resident of Green Valley.
You? You're in because one night you caved and drank way too much and had to have your stomach pumped. That combined with your poor coping mechanisms and rampant depression meant that your doctor had recommended you stay in constant observation, at least until they could be sure that you wouldn't try again. That thought makes you roll your eyes. You weren't TRYING to kill yourself. You're just a novice drinker who got a bit sad and a bit carried away one time. Please, as if you'd try to die from alcohol poisoning and some Advil.
You're distracted from your thoughts by Dr. Klein, approaching with who has to be the newest intake. The nurses had been gossiping about that this morning. The new guy has apparently been in and out of rehab and a couple of facilities, but he just keeps coming back. From the snippets you heard, he's lucky to be alive after his last overdose. You look at him, only to catch him already studying the group curiously. He catches your eye and gives a wink and a smirk. You feel yourself flush, unused to attention from someone as pretty as he is.
Dr. Klein clears his throat as he steps into the circle of chairs.
"Everyone, this is Klaus. He'll be joining us for group for the next couple of weeks."
Klaus eyes the empty chairs in the circle before flinging himself into the chair next to you dramatically, moaning, "I don't even know why I'm here. I'm FINE!"
Dr. Klein pointedly ignores him. Klaus rolls his eyes before narrowing them at an empty chair nearby. "What do you know, ghost boy?" Before grumbling and settling into the chair more comfortably.
You smile over at him and introduce yourself, before also introducing the rest of the group.
"yes, thank you Y/N." Dr. Klein says as he shuffles his papers. "now, Phil, would you like to start us off today?"
As you turn to Phil, you hear the new guy pipes up next to you, "so what're you in for?" He asks, leaning his elbows on his knees.
"you know, the usual. Destructive coping mechanisms, too many jokes about wanting to die, then almost dying." You whisper, as Phil drones on about his newest poem and inspiration.
You see him clap his hands together delightedly before pressing them to his chest, "ah, a girl after my own heart! Well then sweetheart, I think you and I are gonna be good friends!"
You smile and there's a pause before he looks at the empty chair all offended. "Excuse you Benarino, I'm a goddamn delight!"
You chuckle quietly and share a conspiratorial look with him, before you're both scolded by Dr. Klein for disrupting group.
You don't know if this man is crazy, but you know one thing for sure. Your stay at Green Valley is about to get much more interesting.