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If Secret Agent and Secretary had one thing in common, it'd be their shared indifference for drama.
If the exasperated glares weren't enough, there were more than enough blatant eye rolls to get the point across. To the Agent, drama was just drama. A theatrical performance that would evaporate as soon as it came. Secret Agent was far from keen on dwelling on such feeble rumors, nor participating in the gossip that seemed to resurface every single shift. It haunts him like a ghost, pestering him down the hallways. But, like all ghosts, it's more than easy to ignore, albeit much more difficult to appease.
Which is why when they start talking about it, Secret Agent doesn't pay it much mind.
"No, seriously, there's no way he's been single for this long," Secretary— #2, a stark contrast with her puffed out hair and trimmed sheep ears— whines as they all sit about the break room. They're mid shift and exhausted, scattered about with coffee mugs and empty wrappers. "Have you seen him? Look me in the eye and tell me you think he's not hot." The purple sheep sighs dramatically, draping herself over the chairs like a hammock. Secret Agent rolls his eyes, setting aside his empty mug with a frown.
"I will admit he's rather attractive," Head Nurse agrees, mopping the slime off the floors. "But he has never displayed much interest in romance, as far as I know. There is little things he likes that isn't work." The mop clumps together with the gooey slime, and Head Nurse grimaces as she dumps it all in the bin.
Secretary #2 looks at Head Nurse as if she'd grown a second head. "Are you joking?" She laughs incredulously. "That doctor has love plastered all over his face. Have you seen his face when he looks at Intern?" Secret Agent's hands pause halfway from his cup. Intern, who everyone had forced to take a paid leave after he'd gotten a bad gash on his arm, would be off duty for at least two shifts. He'd come stomping back eventually, Agent knows, because for some godforsaken reason Intern actually liked his job.
Or maybe he just liked Dr. Harlow.
…Secret Agent may not care, but he's not at all blind.
"Oh my god, didn't you see how he looked when he saw Intern like that before he left?" Secretary #2 gushes on. "He looked like a wet puppy. Kind of like you, Sec-1, when you spill your coffee."
"Hey!" Secretary #1 says, then thinks it over. "Okay, actually, you aren't wrong…"
Secret Agent finally starts paying attention, because if the incurious Secretary was participating in the discussion of Dr. Harlow's love life, something was definitely going on.
"He looked quite angry," Head Nurse adds on, scratching her chin in thought. "Didn't he insist on treating Intern himself? He never does that for anyone."
"Yes!" Secretary #2 cheers, beaming at the others. "And didn't you see his hands? They were so skilled… it was kinda ho-"
Secretary #1 has the decency to whack the other on the head, and she yelps, glaring angrily at her coworker as she rubbed the back of her head. She looks to Dr. Harlow's office, shutters on but devoid and empty of its owner's presence. The doctor himself had been appearing less since Intern's injury, his visits brief and short whenever he came. Secret Agent would catch his eyes wandering about during every single visit— always, inevitably, landing on the Intern's favorite resting spot near the chairs. He pretends to be lost in thought, wandering into the Check-In room, pretends not to care when his hands brush against Intern's coffee mug obsessively, too much to be coincidence. Agent had been trained for that— perks of being, well, a Secret Agent. Agent had seen more than most.
And most of all, he can see Dr. Harlow's big fat crush on the Intern in vivid, unwanted detail.
"Yeah, yeah, we all know Dr. Harlow likes the bunny." Security raises a brow, spinning about his chair in front of the security panel. "And we all know the bunny likes the doctor."
Security snaps his fingers, a playful smirk on his lips. "You shouldn't think about the if." He stares back at the cameras, slouching back on his seat. "You have to think about the when."
"I bet twenty bucks on one month," Secretary #2 says instantly. "They make googly eyes every time they're in the same room. It's a matter of time."
Gently, Head Nurse puts down the mop, now wrung dry but still sticky with residue. "Dr. Harlow is a patient man. He'll wait as long as he needs." She looks at Secretary #1, a hint of challenge in her eyes. "I'll bet 30 on two months."
"Head Nurse…" Secretary #1 looks stunned. Head Nurse was always one to gossip— but she'd never actually participated in the staff's betting pools before. This was serious!
"Psychologist already placed ten on six weeks," Secretary #2 goes on. "Surgeon put 50 on ten."
Secret Agent chooses this time to speak up, at last. "There's already a betting pool?" He questions, trying to hide the astonishment in his voice. "How long has this been going on?"
"Oh, since Intern's second month with us." Head Nurse chirps in helpfully. "The doctor's visits became twice as long right after he joined. It wasn't hard to notice the pattern." She sends Secret Agent a wink, patting her hands on her clothes.
"That long?" Secretary #1 cuts in, brows furrowed. "How come I've never heard of this?"
The other Secretary shrugged. "You never asked," she huffed. "Plus, we had to be more sneaky since Dr. Harlow was coming about more. And… well, the Intern practically lives in this hospital." Ah, right. At this rate, Intern would have worked more hours than Head Nurse and the Agent himself combined.
"Well, you should've told me," Secretary #1 snaps."I know for a fact that those two will be smashing their faces together sooner or later."
"Two weeks," he announces confidently. "I bet thirty."
"Wonderful! Wonderful," Secretary #2 seemed stunned, but recovered seconds later with a blinding grin. "Well, it seems almost all of our staff have placed bets, so that leaves one more person."
She turned, facing Secret Agent in his quiet corner of the room. "Agenttttt," she whined, a pleading shine in her eyes. "Just this once. You don't even have to bet anything. Please?" Secretary #2 clasps her hands together, practically begging.
Secret Agent stares at her, a pondering look on his face. And Agent thinks. He thinks about hands that lingered seconds too long, eyes that strayed to each other no matter the time. Agent remembers long stays and worried stares. He reminisces on it all, and he thinks.
A long, quiet moment passes. Then, Agent speaks, and the world seems to still.
"Fifty," he says simply, watching the coffee swirl around in his cup. "That they won't get together. Ever."
"Okay. But seriously, why?"
Secret Agent was about to roll his eyes so hard they were going to fall out of his head. It's been three days since that fateful day— three long, arduous days of Secretary #2's insistent pestering. Secret Agent ponders just taking his gun out of his pocket and shooting something, maybe himself, but he's got reasons to live. His fifty, for example.
"It's not your business," Agent says curtly. "I have my reasons, Secretary. I am not keen on sharing them with you."
"No, seriously!" Secretary #2 snaps, impatience seeping into her tone. "What is up with you? Anybody with eyes knows that those two are the most infatuated idiots on earth. Why the hell would you think they'd never get together?" Secret Agent would have politely said that she was supposed to be at her work station right now. But after endless nagging and comments, Secret Agent was done being nice.
"You'll come to realize eventually what I mean," he snaps, carrying a patient towards Room 7. "Now, if you excuse me, I have a job to do. I don't have time for this."
Secretary #2 watches him leave, an annoyed look on her face. But she doesn't push further.
It's exactly an hour later when the Agent's phone dings. He knows because he's halfway through a sip of coffee, ready to get back on shift, when his phone lights up on the counter beside him. The notification reads loud and clear, glaring on the screen. Agent picks it up. He clicks on the notification with more force than necessary, and when the chat opens he doesn't even try to muffle his groan.
You have been added to:
Operation: Get Together!
Secretary #2 created a chat with @Secretary#1, @agent, @psycho-logist and 6 others.
@secretary#1: on shift? Seriously?
@secretary#2: you're no fun >:( there's no patients right now!! Besides, you have to admit it's kinda boring rn…
@paramedic: there's surprisingly not a lot of patients today. A good half of them are anomalies. It's a good break.
@agent: I suppose it wouldn't hurt to use our devices for a while.
@agent: so, what's this about?
@secretary#2: okay so :D everyone here placed bets on when our dearest Dr. Harlow and our little Intern will get together!12!
@secretary#2: But you gotta admit, they've been SO INSUFFERABLE LATELY
@secretary#2: so this is just a GC where we can just rant about how lovey dovey these two are being!1
@secretary#1: please never use those words ever again.
@headnurse: this group chat does seem like it's made for us to get them together. The title is very misleading, Ms. Secretary.
@secretary#2: well, it wouldn't hurt to speed things up a little :< I CANT TAKE THIS ANYMORE
@pyscho-logist: it couldn't possibly be THAT bad?/?
@headnurse: dear, as the person who's been helping Intern around the hospital again, it is that bad.
@secretary#2: THANK YOU HEAD NURSE!! Okay I get that you guys have bets and money… all of us bet a lot on these two
@secretary#2: BUT this isn't just for my sake, but also for them, because they've probably been pining for god knows how long and still don't dare to say anything to each other
@secretary#2: You don't have to do anything actually, just watch them and make sure they don't screw up and stuff
@secretary#2: if they keep acting like this they're bound to get the hint eventually :/ at least I HOPE SO
@agent: so you're asking us to observe them like they're anomalies??
@psycho-logist: doesn't sound half bad, actually
@iamasurgeon: nothing we haven't been doing already :]
@pyscho-logist replied to @iamasurgeon: HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN HERE??
@iamasurgeon: long enough
@iamasurgeon: I don't have any protests about this. Don't act like we haven't been watching them like hawks since we realized something was up
@security: sometimes I use the cameras to watch them… I'm in
7+ people reacted ✅
@secretary#2: then it's settled!! Starting no
@secretary#2: INTERN IS COMING HIDKDS
Secret Agent startles, hearing the footsteps approaching the office. He quickly stuffs his phone into his pocket right as Intern appears around the corridor.
Intern chirps in greeting at the black cat, munching happily on a bar of chocolate as he skipped into the room. Agent feels something akin to relief, forcing the tension out of his shoulders.
"Hello, Intern." He says, reaching for the coffee again. "Done with your last patient?" Intern nods, waving hello to Security who was busy dozing off at the camera panel. He nibbles contentedly on the chocolate bar, sitting next to Secret Agent with a huff. The sweet seems new, wrapped in the usual delicate foil and paper that crumpled beneath Intern's hands.
But Agent thinks harder, and something feels somewhat… wrong. The store had been closed much earlier, hadn't it? And they never sold any chocolates…
"Hey, Intern." Intern's head perks up, tilting to the side in question. "Where do you get the chocolate from? I don't remember there being any." Intern shrugs, taking another small nip of the bar.
"Head Nurse," Intern murmurs halfheartedly. He pushes himself off the counter and runs out before Agent can say another word. An awkward silence hangs in the air. Agent stares at the open door, the gears in his head turning but finding no answer. Finally, he fishes out his phone again— crammed painfully into his pocket, how uncomfortable— and types in a message.
@agent: Head Nurse, are you free right now?
@headnurse: Agent? What do you need?
@agent: did you give Intern chocolate just now? Just saw him with one
@headnurse: no, I'm afraid I did not. Why?
@agent: … nothing. Thank you :)
Agent shuts of his phone with a click. It echoes throughout the silent room, and he feels something almost like satisfaction tinge under his skin.
"You good?" Security says across the room. "You look a little smug over there."
Secret Agent shakes his head, rattling the mug in his hand. "Nothing," he shrugs. "Just confirming something I already knew."
Operation: Get together!
@secretary is typing…
@secretary#2: Dr. Harlow came by again.
@secretary#2: for the third time
@secretary#2: in one shift
@secretary#2: I rest my case
Agent looks over from where he was uploading the DNA sample in room 2. He'd just happened to be in the room across from Dr. Harlow's— Intern's,he corrects himself, watching the deer tower next to the chattering rabbit. The doctor's hands guide Intern's own, drawing blood from the patient with acute focus. His grip is gentle, like cradling a child, and Intern's face is relaxed as he focuses on the patient with all his might.
Secret Agent— dare he admit it— couldn't fault Dr. Harlow for falling in love with Intern. He was lively despite his lack of words, menacing but kind with a joyful, eerie smile. Even the Agent himself found himself fond of him at times, even with his initial disdain for the other.
As Agent looks on at the two, he can see the same fondness in Dr. Harlow's eyes. But it was deeper, more affectionate, and tender in the way that felt disgustingly sweet. He had seen it there, planted since the day those two met, and then now, with Dr. Harlow much closer than necessary to Intern's side.
The machine dings, startling Secret Agent out of his stupor. He analyses the data, thankful for the recent upgrades, and goes to get the remedies.
When all is said and done, he ducks towards the closed store, hiding behind a wall as he takes out his phone. He shuffles against the doorframe, eyes scouting— the coast is clear. His fingers dash against the keys, every footstep and voice resonating loud in his ears. It was risky for sure; yet, some part of Agent compelled him to answer.
@agent: they're in room 1. Treating a patient. Together.
@psycho-logist: are they making the eyes
@agent: what
@secretary#1: the very ugly and disgusting I'm-deeply-in-love eyes.
@agent: oh
@agent: yes
@secretary#2: HAH I KNEW IT
@secretary#2: PREPARE THOSE BILLS GUYS, IM ABOUT TO BE RICH
@secretary#2: ESPECIALLY YOU AGENT, YOU'RE GOING BROKE
@secretary#1: don't forget that I bet earlier than you
@secretary#1: at this rate YOU'LL be the one paying me
@secretary#2: NUH uh
@headnurse: go back to work, everyone
@headnurse: also if Intern sees us all on our phones he'll get suspicious
@headnurse: we can discuss our observations after shift :)
Secret Agent sighs in relief, craning his neck as he typed one last response.
@agent: thank yo
"-Agent?"
Agent refused to admit that he might have slammed some random keys at that voice. He hadn't anticipated that the doctor would finish so soon. The procedure takes longer than that…
He shuts his phone off in an instant. Dr. Harlow's voice carries that normal tone of severity and wistfulness, suspiciously devoid of surprise. Secret Agent is careful to hide the phone back in his pocket, looking up to meet the other's unreadable gaze.
"Dr. Harlow," Agent starts slowly. "My apologies for disturbing you. I don't mean to intrude." He searches for anything in Dr. Harlow's expression, guarded but somewhat relieved when his eyes didn't catch how he carefully slid his phone behind him. He was good, that way. Dr. Harlow was as impossible to read as Agent was.
"It's alright," Dr. Harlow gives a hollow smile. "May I ask who you're chatting with? It's not often I find one as diligent as you texting during your shift."
"An old friend of mine," Agent smiles back. "They've been meaning to reach about about my life in the hospital."
"Ah! I see." Dr. Harlow, in fact, did not look like he sees. "I trust that all is well, yes?"
"It is. Working here is quite the… experience." Alarm bells were ringing in Agent's ears. "But I have made a great many friends, and for that I am grateful." He felt sweat forming on his back, but he forced himself to remain focused on the deer in front of him. Letting his eyes dart around would be far worse.
This, however, did not seem to be the correct response. "Wonderful," Dr. Harlow says, and for once Agent wishes he could read whatever was going on in his head. "Just one last thing I have to consult with you."
Dr. Harlow takes a step forward. Agent tries to take one back, but his back hits the door behind him with a dull thud. He mentally curses, body rigid as the doctor continues to approach. He hadn't anticipated this. Or maybe he did, but he'd discarded it into some far corner of his mind while he was talking to the others. Faintly, one sole thought creeps into his mind.
Had his cover been blown?
"This hospital means dearly to me," Dr. Harlow drawls. "It is the heart of this city. It is of much value to me— but more importantly, the people who have worked by me."
He takes another step. "I am glad to know that you enjoy their company as much as I do." Another step. "And I feel the same way. However…"
Dr. Harlow leans in, so close that Agent can see the malice in his eyes. "I want them all to stay safe," he continues. "Especially the ones I treasure most."
"If any harm were to come to them, there is little I won't do to for their retribution." Dr. Harlow leans a little closer, and Secret Agent can feel his breath against his own fur. "You understand, don't you?"
"Yes," Agent barely manages to say, and this time his voice cracks just the slightest.
Dr. Harlow's eyes narrow, apparently satisfied by his fear. "Wonderful," he says. "Just… keep this in mind, my friend." The last words fall short, flat.
"Some things aren't meant to be attained."
Then as if nothing had happened, the doctor stand upright again, that friendly look back on his face. He sidesteps around the frozen Agent, opening the office door. Dr. Harlow does not spare him another glance as he closes it on his cornered back. Agent stands there for an eternity longer, chest heaving and heart hammering, and he slumps against the wall, finally able to breathe.
It's only later, much, much later, when Secret Agent is lying in the silence of his home, that he finally realizes what he had seen in Dr. Harlow's eyes. It had not been doubt, nor had it been ire.
Jealousy.
It had been jealousy.
…
@secretary#2: @agent? What did u see? You got anything good?
…
@agent is typing…
@agent: nothing abnormal today
@agent: doesn't seem like anything changed.
The next time Secret Agent sees Intern, he's crying.
Secret Agent wasn't even trying to avoid him. He had no qualms with his and Dr. Harlow's confrontation, even if he should have. But Agent doesn't see the bunny for another two days— until he steps into the Check-In room and sees him crying.
Agent stares at the hunched figure shaking below the Check-In counter. Intern's hoodie is shadowed but visible in the dim lights, but it's slightly soaked with tears as his shoulders shake with soundless, muffled sobs. Agent hesitates, staring at Intern with a lost look on his face. A gentle hand tugs at his sleeve, and he looks up to see Head Nurse's sheepish stare.
"Not now," she mouths. "Give him space." The shutters are closed shut, the light from the room outside highlighting the silent worry in her eyes. Awkwardly Agent follows her, retreating away from the room and towards the far end of the hall. The Surgery room is ajar, soft voices coming from inside. Gingerly Head Nurse opens the door, giving way to Surgeon, Secretary #1 and the dead anomaly on the table.
The corpse's teeth are yellow with rot, sickly green saliva still dripping from its teeth. It's upper and lower half are covered by a blanket— thankfully so, for Agent thinks that he would not have been able to handle the sight beyond the dried blood on the sheets. Surgeon is staring at it emptily, face blank. But his eyes shine with unshed tears, and he has to shove his face into another bloodstained sleeve to hide them away. There are still pills scattered at his feet— the whites of it glaring back at Agent with unsaid blame. The antibiotics sat just a mere few feet away. It had been right there, Agent realises. Intern had probably realized that too.
For a moment, no one speaks. Then at last, Surgeon whispers, "It was Intern's first time assisting me in a surgery. I thought he was ready." His hands are trembling uncontrollably, cradling his face in his hands. "He mixed up the antibiotics and the medicine. We- we didn't realize until it was too late."
"We heard the patient scream," Head Nurse adds, voice subdued. "Ran in when we saw it trying to attack Intern."
"It was gone a second after." Surgeon couldn't look at anyone in the eye. "Just… dropped dead. Bleeding all over Intern and not breathing."
"I've shut out all the other patients for the night," Secretary #1 speaks up. "The rest are healing in their rooms. But Intern… I don't know." He rubs his forehead, desperate frustration written all over his face. "The kid definitely won't want to talk to anyone right now. Maybe we should just… leave him alone for now."
"Leave him alone?" Surgeon snaps, his tone rising a level before stopping. He glances nervously towards where the Check-in room was, before starting again in angry whispers. "Someone just died in front of him! And he thinks he's at fault. It's too dangerous to leave him like this. We can't just abandon him!"
"But what else can we do?" Head Nurse sighs. "We won't be of any help to Intern right now. There's no better option…" She and Surgeon dissolve into frantic whispers, darting back and forth from the door back to each other. Secretary #1 looks just as helpless as Agent was, gripping his pen so hard it almost creaked. Agent stares on at the mess. His eyes travel from the dead anomaly, to the arguing duo, to the door where Intern was. I has an idea, he thinks. A very stupid idea, but Agent had to try.
While the others are distracted, Agent slips into room 7. The Cardiac room smells of a metallic tang, hitting his nose like an unwanted stench. Agent paces around the empty space, and he fishes his phone from his pocket and stares at it.
Secret Agent knew that there was still some tension between Dr. Harlow and himself. He also knew that this was not his business— the anomaly, Intern's breakdown, the others' worry— none of it involved him. He could walk away and no one would stop him.
But Intern's sobs still echo through his mind, and they continue to do so down the halls and still corridors. And Secret Agent can't bring himself to leave. Intern was his friend— the first one in a long time. And if Agent knew anything about friends, it was that they always helped each other out.
Agent takes a deep breath, sucks in his pride and dials a number.
Intern couldn't breathe.
He's still tucked under the counter, sucking in harsh breaths that burned his lungs. He can still feel the weight of that patient, writhing and aiming for his face until it went still. He can feel their weight crushing him, suffocating against his ribs. Intern couldn't breathe. No mind that the patient was an anomaly, a barbaric, mindless anomaly— they were still a person.
He clawed frantically at his arms, ignoring how his skin burned in protest as his chest heaved and threatened to collapse on his bones. Intern could feel bile rising in his throat, the serrated and abnormal sets of teeth churning in his mouth. Not here, he wants to say. Not here. But all that comes out is a scratchy wheeze, and Intern's vision blurs as air no longer comes. No no no please no-
Intern wheezes so loud he almost doesn't hear the knock on the door. The hand is precise, rhythmic, and it taps intently on the door. A voice, muffled yet somehow clearer than the ringing in Intern's ears, comes from the other side.
"Intern?" Dr. Harlow's voice was low, quiet. "Are you there, my love?" Intern can feel his heart racing, eyes wide and hollow as he stares into the emptiness. But suddenly he could breathe— slow, steady, and his vision comes back into focus. Intern hesitates for a moment, watching the shadow of the door and the sound of the deer on the other side. Then, carefully, he starts to get up. His bones ache from his long hour on the floor, and Intern's hands are shaking as he steadies himself on the counter. Yet he doesn't fall; and so, Intern limps over and opens the door.
Light floods in, blinding as Intern's arms shoot up to cover his face in a panic. The brightness eventually dies down, fortunately, and slowly Intern lets his arms relax as he stares at his lover in front of him.
Dr. Harlow stands tall before him. His coat is on, mask too— but its all slightly askew, ruffled and messy as if he'd rushed there in a hurry. The doctor himself looks out of breath, hands fiddling to pull up his sleeves before freezing when he sees Intern's face. Intern knows he looks like a mess, with dried blood and spent tears dirtying his face like filth. He tries frantically to rub away the stains, till a hand reaches out and stops him midway.
"Oh, don't do that to yourself, love," Dr. Harlow says softly. "You're not dirty, dear. Look at me. Please." His voice cracks, the rare sadness seeping through, and Intern's heart shatters into a million shards. He looks up, feeling the hand slowly withdraw from his arm, and lets it cradle his face instead.
"Oh, my love," Dr. Harlow smiles, pressing a gentle kiss to Intern's forehead. "If only you knew how you looked to me." He presses another to his cheek, lips pressing against the dry blood without pausing. "You look beautiful, my dear. Always."
Something in Intern breaks, then. Tears spilled out of his eyes like a broken dam, and he crashes into Dr. Harlow's chest with a guttural sob. And Dr. Harlow holds him there, hand on his neck and head, letting him rest against his chest and pulling him closer even when he feels the tears soak his shirt.
"Dr. Harlow…" Intern sniffs, voice muted against his chest.
"Just Harlow, my love," Dr. Harlow presses his face into Intern's fur. "Only you can call me that. My pretty rabbit."
"I look like shit," Intern snorts.
"No, I think you're breathtaking."
"You always say I'm breathtaking."
"I say nothing but truth," Dr. Harlow says solemnly, inhaling the subtle scent of coffee on Intern's fur. "You are always divine." He nuzzles his nose between Intern's ears, smiling wide when he hears him giggle and swat at him weakly.
"Oh, man," Intern says suddenly. "We shouldn't be doing this here. Someone could see—"
"Let them," Dr. Harlow says gently. "We've been hiding for quite a long time, don't you think?"
"Two years," Intern thuds his head against the doctor's chest. "I've been dating you longer than I've been working here." His voice is almost whiny, and Dr. Harlow lets out an amused chuckle as he plants another kiss onto Intern's head. Intern chortles, resting his head on Dr. Harlow's shoulder.
"I'm pretty sure they're already onto us," Intern says hoarsely. "We're not very good at hiding this, you know."
"I am… well aware." Dr. Harlow grimaces, thankful that Intern couldn't see his expression. "But I feel that it's better to let them wonder than to let them know." The world can just be us for a little while longer, he does not say. I can just be yours for a little while longer. The words are there, lingering, prowling, but he does not let them free.
Instead, he cradles Intern's body in his arms, breathes in a little lighter, and just lets the world be.
Out of the corner of his eye, Intern spots a familiar figure.
Secret Agent stands to the far side of the hall, hidden by the broken glow of the hospital lights. He's not staring, exactly— more like observing, watching, face a mask of neutral calm. Intern sees the phone glowing in his hand, a number dialed and rang to someone Intern already knew the name of. Agent meets Intern's eyes, face unreadable, but there's a hint of relief in his eyes and his shoulders are relaxed by a fraction. Intern realises that there's no surprise in his eyes at all. He couldn't say he didn't expect that, either.
Intern looks intensely at him, channeling all his gratitude into his stare. "Thank you," Intern mouths silently as Dr. Harlow rubs circles on the back of his neck. "Thank you."
Secret Agent doesn't say anything back, doesn't seem to react at all. But he gives Intern a minuscule nod— so small he almost missed it— turns, and leaves the two alone.
Operation: Get together!
@Secretary#1 is typing…
@secretary#1: @agent you called Dr. Harlow??
@secretary#2: WHAT
@agent: how did you know?
@secretary#1: I saw him leaving the hospital just now. Intern was with him.
@iamasurgeon: that was a good call, Agent. I don't think any of us were equipped enough to handle him.
@secretary#2: ??? You did what??
@agent: I called Dr. Harlow after the surgery.
@secretary#2 is typing…
@secretary#2: Agent, my guy
@secretary#2: are you SURE you don't want to change your bet??
@secretary#2: because it seems to me that you're very much not oblivious to those twos feelings
@secretary#2: you seriously can't stick to it after this, can you?
@agent: first of all, this has nothing to do with the bet.
@agent: second of all,
@agent: I'm still sticking to it.
Agent can hear Secretary's complains from the other side of the hall. He pays the sheep no mind, and decides to actually do his job.What he thought was not Secretary #2's business
Plus, if Intern's and Dr. Harlow's hushed voices told any truth, the answers she's been searching for were coming very, very soon.
The reveal itself proves to be very… anticlimactic.
Lazy Sundays are Intern's favorite— the days when the sunlight streams through the windows and the hospital earns a precious peace that eases the fear in your bones. Intern skips along, chortling excitedly. But for the very first time, he does not come alone.
Dr. Harlow trails behind him, watching Intern fondly as he bounced along the path. His coat is crisp and newly ironed, eyes carrying a hint of exhaustion from another late night burnout. But when Intern asks him, hands clasped in a silent plea, for him to tag along, Dr. Harlow doesn't hesitate before agreeing.
Dr. Harlow knows what's coming. They've always come in separately— an exact two hour frame, occasionally less, between each other's arrival. There will be no proper explanation to this. Dr. Harlow finds that he couldn't care less.
They stop at the door, murky glass staring back at them as they stared up at the building. It takes Intern a while to realize that the drums in his ears is the sound of his own heart. He'd dreamed of the same scenario over and over— sometimes a impromptu meeting with a grand reveal, sometimes some slip-up in which both couldn't be blamed. There were millions and millions of outcomes to this. But it's a matter of time, eventually.
"Love?" Intern startles. "We don't have to do this now, dear. There's always a next time." Dr. Harlow looks at Intern worriedly— loving, selfless, and always as if Intern had hung the moon and stars. It had been the exact reason why he'd fallen in love with this man two years ago; and it was why that, now, Intern didn't want to turn back.
Intern paws insistently at Dr. Harlow's hand, shaking his head as he stomped his foot with impatience. Dr. Harlow pauses for just a brief moment. But eventually he obliges, locking Intern's fingers with his own.
Dr. Harlow suddenly thinks that Intern's hands are very, very soft.
When they enter the building nobody looks up. Secretary #1's busy typing furiously on the hospital computer, the other Secretary engrossed on her phone. Head Nurse and Doctor are there, clipboards in hand, engaged in silent conversation. Surgeon, paramedic, Agent— they're all here; which is precisely why Intern knows that this has to happen here and now.
Head Nurse is the one who sees them first. Her pen freezes halfway through a stroke, still and unmoving as if it'd turned to stone. Her eyes travel from Intern, to Dr. Harlow, to their intertwined fingers and Intern can see the gears turning in her head. Doctor notices her sudden silence, and follows her eyes as he spots the two as well. Nurse spots them next and almost drops the clinical tray in her hands. She fumbles wildly trying to rebalance the tools, her cursing catching Surgeon's attention. Secretary #1 looks up, then psychologist from his lounge on the chairs; one by one they all go to stare, until finally Secretary #2 casually looks up and immediately drops her phone. Intern is very sure that the screen was probably cracked.
There is a very, very pregnant pause, and Secretary #1 looks like he's ready for its abortion. Then, in the stillness, Head Nurse finally asks the big question.
"How long?"
Intern takes a breath, looking them all in the eye. "Two years." He says flatly. That was absolutely not what Intern was going for, oh god. He's ten seconds from full blown panic, words clogging his mouth like a dam. Then the chaos erupts, and suddenly everyone's shouting, cheering and looking slightly less constipated.
"You- you two!—" Secretary #2 gestures furiously between them, arms flailing like a confused child. "How long- wha- what?" Her words turn to gibberish, now more to herself than to the couple. She tries to say more, but what comes out is sounds more of a dying goose than an actual sentence. Secretary #2 pauses, then just throws her head into her hands in defeat.
"I knew it!" Surgeon says, finger darting between Intern and the rest of his coworkers. "I knew something was up, and you all refused to believe me!" He's cackling, grinning triumphantly at Intern who contemplates calling him a therapist.
"Dear god, this is somehow worse," Secretary #1 mumbles, smacking his head lightly on the keyboard. "I knew it was bad, but this is so, so much worse." He groans into the screen. "You two are practically married and still have your asses stuck in the honeymoon phase. Oh my god…" He continues hitting his head on the computer. Intern swears he's turning green.
Head Nurse looks like one of the only sane ones in the room. "Congratulations to you both," she smiles kindly. "We're very glad you decided to tell us about this."
Meanwhile, Secretary #2 is still stuttering. "I— you—"
She spots Secret Agent, lounging on the soda machine like it was the most comfortable place in the world. "You!" She wriggles an accusatory finger at the cat. "You knew about this! Why aren't you surprised? Why am I not surprised that you're not surprised?" She looked like she was going through a midlife crisis, hair ruffled and eyes wide. Intern and Dr. Harlow eye each other amusedly.
Agent shrugs, leaning back on the wall. "I'm not surprised," he said curtly, taking another sip of coffee. "I knew for a long time, Secretary."
"You—" the sheep bleats. "Then why did you make that bet?"
Agent stares at her, face blank."It's simple logic, Secretary," he says. "I bet that they'd never get together because they already were."
Secretary #2 opens her mouth to say something more, but nothing seems to come out. She stares at Agent as if he'd kicked a child.
"Everything makes so much and so little sense at the same time," Secretary #2 says helplessly. "I'm pretty sure my worldview is never gonna recover."
"If it helps, we didn't intend for anybody to notice," Dr. Harlow says with the helpfulness of a rock. "We were unsure of what the reveal would cause."
"Well, it caused something alright," Paramedic snorts. "Because you two are the exact opposite of subtle. Like, literally."
"Oh my god," Secretary #2 whines. "The group chat is going to explode after this."
"Group chat?" Intern asks abruptly.
"Nothing! What group chat? I don't know a group chat…" Secretary #2 chooses this time to turn away and throw a 50-dollar bill at the cat on the machine. Agent catches it effortlessly, which seems to piss off the Secretary even more. She hurries away before Intern can ask her again.
"How dramatic," Secretary #1 sighs. He rubbed his forehead, a bump already forming below the fur. "Seriously, though, we're all happy for you two. We've all been waiting for this. Well, not really all—" he gestures around, taking in the still-stunned faces of the crew— "this, but I'm still happy for you two. Congrats." He pats Intern's shoulder before retreating back into the office. Head Nurse gives him a hug, and slowly the rest of the staff seem to regain their composure. One by one they come up to congratulate them. Surgeon gives Dr. Harlow a ' we-will-talk-about-this-later' side eye, which promises a very thorough shovel talk after they were done. Dr. Harlow doesn't falter, not a twitch in his expression. The fondness the staff all had for Intern was known as a universal fact— and with fondness came protectiveness. Dr. Harlow nods at him understandingly, wrapping an arm around Intern's neck as he pulls him closer. Surgeon huffs, giving him one last look, before he retreats to join the rest of the (probably gossiping) staff.
Finally, as the last of the crowd dissipates, Secretary #2 emerges from wherever she came from. She looks more composed, having neatened her shirt and settled her hair. She approaches them sheepishly, uncharacteristically nervous as she looks at them both.
"Sorry about that," she smiles awkwardly. "I can get a tad bit dramatic. That's my fault."
Intern shakes his head rapidly, reaching up to pat Secretary's head. She relaxes, smiling fondly at him before looking at Dr. Harlow.
"I really am happy for you both," Secretary #2 continues. "Well, I'm now fifty bucks short and probably broke, but I'm still proud of you two." She winks at them, and goes forward to envelope Intern in a hug. Intern chitters, wrapping her arms around her playfully before letting go. Secretary #2 looks at them for a second more, giving them a small thumbs up with a smile. Then, she returns back to the reception desk, a little skip in her feet as she left.
Intern sighs, relieved. "That went much better than I expected," he admits quietly.
"They're all fond of you, love," Dr. Harlow smiles down at him. "As long as you are happy, they will not oppose us. You are, aren't you?"
Intern stares at him. The man who loved him, for all he was and all he would be. The person he was willing to spend lifetimes cherishing, and a million more adoring till his bones withered away. Intern looks at Dr. Harlow, the one who'd drawn him in like a moth to a flame; and he stands on the tip of his toes and kisses him on the lips.
"Yeah," he says softly. "I am."
Operation: Get Together!!
@secretary#1 is typing…
@secretary#1: Can't say that was what I was expecting.
@iamasurgeon: idiots acted so in love it was like they were yearning for each other for decades :[
@headnurse: now that I think about it, I'm not that surprised anymore.
@headnurse: those two are way too infatuated with one another not to act like that :>
@headnurse: but does this mean the operation failed or succeeded??
@secretary#1: there was an operation??
@iamasurgeon: Operation "Let the two idiots fall over their feet whenever they're within two feet of one another", yeah
@secretary#2: not how I worded it, but okay :/
@psycho-logist: so did it succeed? Does it count if they were dating since the beginning
@secretary#2: for TWO YEARS
@secretary#2: remind me HOW WE DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT THAT??
@headnurse: because we're all idiots, moving on
@agent: I'd say it was a success.
@agent: we might not have gotten them together, but at least they became comfortable enough to tell us they were dating.
@agent: I'd say that's a pretty good outcome to me.
@agent: by the way, you all owe me 50 bucks.
@agent: I expect payment by the end of the day.
@headnurse: we'll make sure to pay you, agent.
@headnurse: I see your point
@iamasurgeon: ^^^
@secretary#2: so it's decided
@secretary#2: OPERATION GET TOGETHER WAS A SUCCESS!!!
9 people reacted 🎉
@secretary#2: ,,, wait, so what do we do with the GC now-
They never really did end up deleting the group chat.
"Oh my god," Secretary #1 groans. "Get a room, you two!! This is disgusting…" Dr. Harlow stared vacantly as he complained, wrapping his arm tighter around Intern's waist. Intern purrs, nuzzling his face into Dr. Harlow's coat. Someone whistles beside them, but Intern doesn't care enough to react.
It's been a good week since the reveal, and things changed so subtly anyone hardly noticed. No one longer cared when Intern and Dr. Harlow held hands in the halls; no one batted an eye when the doctor insisted to trail behind the other like a lost puppy. They were still rather withdrawn but were much more open than before— forehead kisses, lingering touches and long embraces became a much more common sight in the hospital.
"Is it me, or have they gotten worse?" Surgeon groans, snatching his mug from the coffee machine. "Am I seeing things? I'm not, right?" He takes a big swig, practically inhaling the drink.
Head Nurse chuckles. "No, they have." She watches them silently, something glinting in her eyes. "They don't really have a reason to hide anymore, do they? I'd say I'm glad they don't."
"It's disgustingly sweet," Secretary #1 adds, passing a patient his ID card. "Nurse, take this one to room 3."
Nurse nods enthusiastically, taking the patient away.
"And Intern? Your break ends in 5. Once you're done, you treat the patient in room 5." Intern perks up, throwing him a thumbs up. Dr. Harlow sits cross-legged beside him, smoothing out Intern's back as he looks at the documents in his lap.
Agent is a few chairs away. He's not looking at them, invested in his soda with his gun at his hip. He only looks up, once— and when he does, Dr. Harlow meets his eyes. There is no longer any venom in his gaze now. The former, dark viciousness is gone. What sits in its place is a silent, grudging acknowledgement. He gives Agent a silent, grateful nod, and Agent nods back without a word. They return to their own things without pause, the silent forgiveness enough for them both.
The air is content, and the light pools brightly beyond the windows. For the first time in a long while, Intern feels at peace. He could live with this. He could live with his forever.
He leans back on Dr. Harlow's shoulder, feeling his lover plant a quiet kiss on his head.
Yeah, the bunny thinks, dizzy with adoration. I could live with this.