Day 57: Waiting Room / Lobby 2

[gald_digger]

Anise wasn't sure what to think when she was escorted to the waiting room. It was disturbing enough that Landel mixed up her family - and Ion! - in his stupid schemes, but the military was going to do it too? While it looked like they were pretending to follow the Head Doctor's schedule, she still felt uneasy, like they might do something

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[damned_visitors]

He'd been nervous about seeing her again. It hadn't even been a full week since he'd last seen her face-to-face and it felt like it had been even longer since they'd been able to see eye-to-eye, and already he was nervous about facing her. What if Fiona was mad at him for being put in here? What if she'd forgotten him as her condition worsened? What if-worst yet-she'd been assigned to some handsome doctor who'd swept her off her feet? He might have been wrong, but he was pretty sure she'd developed a thing for doctors before her illness had gotten bad enough to merit sending her here.

He had dressed in his best shirt and tie this morning (an attempt to one-up his potential rivals), and had arrived as soon as Landel's Institute had opened its front doors. That had led to a lot of waiting-it wasn't time for visitors for a few more hours, they'd said-and his nerves hadn't calmed down at all. When they finally called his name early in the afternoon and said that he could see Fiona now, he was practically shaking. He needed to know that she was doing alright; until he did, he simply couldn't relax.

A nurse showed him in, and he paused in the doorway, seeking out Fiona's face.

There.

His nerves seemed to disappear the moment he saw her face, and he couldn't help but smile. So what if she was mad at him, or had forgotten him, or had fallen for a dashing doctor? Even if any of that had happened, he still loved her.

"Honey!" he called out with a wave, starting to cross the room to where Fiona sat, looking beautiful as ever.

[sortaheadstrong]

She shouldn't have thought of him, she really shouldn't have, because doing so had taken her attention from the door exactly the wrong time. She'd been staring at her fists in thought when the voice had sounded out clear as day across the room. Most people would have just looked up, maybe jumped a bit in their chair, but not Celty. She bolted straight to her feet from surprise and looked around frantically despite there being really only one place that any non-patient would be entering from.

She spotted him quickly, coming for her with that stupid face and waving like absolutely nothing was wrong or had changed. And calling her honey of all things!

Part of her really wanted to run up and hit him, to smack the cheer right off his face and start making some demands, but the other part held her back. She stood frozen a moment, hesitating, before that latter part won out and had her starting to move for him as well. Only at a faster pace, a run really, and one that gave her the most force when she threw her arms around him and held tight.

Where the hell have you been, you idiot!?

[damned_visitors]

When she had stood up, he'd worried for half a heartbeat that maybe she wasn't happy to see him. She looked so surprised, but Fiona-the Fiona he'd fallen in love with, before all of this-should have known that he wouldn't leave her alone without a word.

But then she started towards him, and he stopped with arms outstretched to welcome her.

The next thing he knew, his back hit painfully against the floor thanks to lost balance-but it was worth it, because Fiona was wrapped in his arms. He laughed, not bothering to try getting up just yet. What had he been worried about? Evidently Fiona was pleased to see him, so now everything he'd been working himself up over seemed pointless.

Reluctantly, he removed one arm from around Fiona to adjust the glasses which had been knocked askew in their collision. "Sorry I couldn't come to see you sooner," he offered, beaming at her.

I just spent two hours on this pooooost...!

[sortaheadstrong]

The last time she'd run to him like this, he'd caught her without a problem, but instead of being mad at him falling over so easily, Celty could not have cared less about accidentally pinning Shinra to the floor. She continued to squeeze him in place, just happy that he had come and was there.

It was when he started laughing that she suddenly realized that yes, they were actually laying on the floor where the whole of the waiting room could see. Her face flushed over and she pushed up quickly, though did not move all the way to standing. Instead she remained over him, watching his face a moment as she wondered at the thought that had just overridden her embarrassment.

This was the first time she'd seen him while having a head.

The room and all it's inhabitants might as well not have existed for Celty in the next few moments. And even if she had registered their presences, she would not have cared in the slightest, because right then and there on that tile floor she was going to do something she'd only ever been able to think about. Something that, despite saying that he liked her better without a head, she was sure even Shinra had thought about as well.

She took a breath, smiled what she at least thought was a bright smile, then leaned forward and kissed him straight on the lips.

[damned_visitors]

He might have worried that Fiona still hadn't said two words to him-he'd always been able to finish her sentences, but usually that involved her at least starting them... but she gave a smile that took his breath away, and then she kissed him and nothing else mattered. It had been so long since they'd last kissed, and usually he was the one swooping in for a quick peck (or more). For Fiona to make the first move was rare enough, but for her to kiss him so quickly, and on the floor in the middle of a room full of patients and their visitors?

Heart bursting with joy, he reached out the hand that had adjusted his glasses and now wove it into her hair, while his other hand traveled to her waist. Some part of his mind was distinctly aware that people could see them, but he didn't care in the least. Let them watch. He didn't plan on stopping any time soon, if he could help it.

He was hopeful now-Fiona was already on her way to getting better, he was convinced. His hand in her hair came to rest and he pulled her closer, adding pressure to the kiss. He didn't want to push her too much too fast-she was recovering, but he still needed to let her move at her own pace-but after so long, he couldn't help but feel a little greedy. He'd missed her. He'd missed this.

This was the best day ever.

[sortaheadstrong]

Whatever she'd thought it was supposed to feel like, Celty was sure that the reality was better. It didn't take experience to know that finally being able to kiss someone you loved, even an idiot like Shinra, was one of the best things that had ever happened to her. Maybe the best thing, since getting her head back had only brought questions. Kissing didn't have questions, it just happened. And she was so glad it did.

Shinra, she thought at feeling his hands move, then remembered that there would be more that she could do now. Speak to him, without typing. She didn't have to just think things anymore or take the time to text them out either; she could simply speak her mind.

The thought of it excited her mid-kiss, so despite Shinra's added force, she ended up withdrawing. Not enough to break the kiss completely, but just enough so that she could draw a breath (which she'd almost forgotten the need for) and say her first, truly spoken word so him. "Shinra..." she said just above a whisper, and that was enough for her before she pressed to him again.

[damned_visitors]

He should have known that the bliss of having Fiona in his arms again couldn't last. Not as long as she was here, because being here meant that she wasn't well. It may have felt like far longer, but it hadn't even been a full week yet and that meant it was far too soon for miracles. He should have known that all too well.

Still, when Fiona pulled away, the sobering reality of the situation came crashing down on him. She whispered one word, one name, before she moved in for another kiss: "Shinra."

It had been nice to pretend while it had lasted. This time, he was the one who ended the much shorter kiss, pushing her away. That morning he'd resolved to face her bravely instead of just sending her a letter, despite his nerves, but that resolve wasn't quite enough to keep the heartbreak out of his eyes.

"No," he said. He couldn't feed her delusions, so he had to be clear about things; he couldn't just let her call him by some other man's name. "My name isn't 'Shinra'. It's me, honey... Michael."

[sortaheadstrong]

Because it was Shinra, Celty had not considered that he would have been the one to end their kiss, even if it was for a second time. Shinra had always been really lovey-dovey and such, and she had felt that would have made him more inclined to not have let her pull away. So when he pushed her away, the Dullahan could not help but feel some confusion.

And then she remembered yet again that they were still very much on the floor. Her face suddenly warmed to a bright red and she scrambled off of him, setting up on her knees and looking away from him to hide the clear embarrassment. As she set there, balled fists pressing into her legs as she mentally screamed at herself for being "too impulsive", Shinra began speaking where, as far as Celty had thought, he should have been laughing. Wasn't he supposed to tease her for something like this?

She glanced back with a new look of confusion as Shinra said something she didn't quite understand. Michael? she repeated to herself, her head tilting off in confusion.

[damned_visitors]

If it hadn't been for the first word she'd uttered being the wrong name, Michael would have lamented the fact that Fiona had flushed a bright red and scrambled away, suddenly remembering where they were. But things being the way they were, that was for the best. Probably. That's what he'd tell himself, at least.

It seemed like it was back to the silent treatment, anyway; confusion read plainly on her face, but she didn't say anything. He almost wanted to take it back-to say that she could call him "Shinra" if she wanted to, even if it wasn't his name-but he reminded himself he had to be firm about this. He had to be; she needed him to be, so that she would get better, so that he could bring her home.

He shifted his position on the floor, drawing his feet closer to sit cross-legged. He stayed quiet, a minute or two dragging on before he finally ventured: "Don't you remember?"