Chapter Text
In accordance with the acknowledgement of a new humanoid species named and identified within the past year, known as Demi Humans, the US government has officially approved laws of recognition of their rights, allowing them to live their usual lives alongside humankind.
The decision seems to be in response to the recent bomb threat in Japan, where an autonomous and illegal group consisting of Demi Humans who almost set the nation in chaos in order for their constitutional rights to be made and acknowledged.
Taking the nation as an example, the US court has adopted new rules for these Demi Humans, which states that any and all Demi Humans within the US must be registered and adhere to strict rules, especially when it comes to wearing government issued armbands in public in order to identify their identities.
Will Americans come to accept a new species walking among them? Find out now on XXXNews.
The wind rushing in his ears is a comforting familiarity compared to the churning in his gut.
3 months.
3 fucking months.
God, it’s been so long.
As if on autopilot, Dr. Michael “Robby” Robinavitch parks his dear Bonnie on his designated parking spot, still faithfully empty as if it anticipated his arrival. He’s almost touched, honestly.
In a final attempt to calm his fraying nerves, he readjusts his backpack and rolls his shoulders, taking in deep breath… and huffing it out. Right. It’s now or never, Robby.
His stride of confidence into the ED doesn’t go unnoticed by Lupe, smiling so widely her full cheeks only seemed fuller, “welcome back, Dr. Robby!”. As much as he missed seeing her, he puts a finger to his lips and gently shushes her, “good to see you too, Lupe, but don’t tell anyone else, it’s a surprise” he grins when she eyes him with a knowing look, shooing him into the back where the den is waiting for him.
There was never a time where he doesn’t worry about his ER without him, but just hearing the hustle and bustle behind those doors makes him think that maybe Jack was right after all.
The moment he steps foot onto the linoleum floors, he hears Dana’s rushed footsteps heading towards him, looking up and seeing her just in time as the older woman envelopes him in a warm, firm hug.
“Fuckin’ hell Robby, if I knew you were comin’ back I would’ve had a welcome party for ya’!”
They part with her hands roaming his arms and shoulders, her warm blue eyes framed by the short blonde hair she has in a claw clip, the casualness of the interaction settles a blooming feeling in his stomach.
He missed this woman.
“Good to see you too, Dana, Al-Hashimi running the ER well when I was gone?”
He ignores her knowing look behind her glasses, a not-so-subtle smirk on her lips, “better than ya’ think hun, what, you think I’d let her ruin this place if she isn’t? Hell no”. His shoulders slump minutely, good, he thinks, good to know he left it in safe hands.
Commotion in the waiting room has both of their heads snapping in that direction, Dana cursing under her breath as she pushes past him as he follows. What he finds is… nothing like he expects, instead of a dreaded catastrophe that might make the ED busier than it already is, there’s news playing on the TV about… a new species? He’s heard about them here and there, but he’s never given it any thought.
“Rights?! We’re givin’ rights to monsters now?!”
“Oh my God, this country’s getting worse by the year”
“What if they start bombing us too?”
Hushed whispers and exclamations fill the packed and hot room, some patients have their mouths covered with horrified expressions, some scowl as if the news has ruined their lives, while others simply nod along apathetically. Robby shakes his head, he could barely care less, and besides, isn’t it good that they have rights now? As long as they aren’t giving anyone trouble, they can live their lives as far as he’s concerned.
The noise fades into white noise as he and Dana walk back into the ED, more and more of his people flooding in with relieved smiles on their faces, even Al-Hashimi greets him with a neutral smile and shakes his hand firmly, “it’s good to have you back, Dr. Robinavitch”.
For this morning, he lets her take over briefing before the day starts, content to stand back with his arms crossed as he leans against the wall.
“As usual, let’s face today with efficiency and grace, keep the patient satisfaction scores up, and remember, if there are any questions you may want to ask, feel free to address either me or Dr. Robinavitch”
The room shuffles as patient handoffs are done in quick succession, and he’s handed his first patient.
A man in his 40’s who came in with a minor forehead laceration after playing a bit too hard with his teenage son in the backyard.
Easy enough, he takes the chart and thanks the nurse, Princess, with a cheeky smile as she nudges his arm with familiarity, already walking towards the treatment bay. He makes it a total of three steps when a familiar face across the room makes him stop in his tracks.
Loose strands of chestnut hair frames blue eyes accented by deep dark circles, tired yet warm.
Dr. Frank Langdon.
His once protégé freezes when they meet eyes, tense, before his shoulders slump, and he offers a small, almost hesitant smile to Robby’s direction.
And, without a moment of thought, he smiles back.
God, he thinks, he really owes the kid a proper apology.