13 - It's your lucky day
13 YEARS POSTS!
What an achievement, my honourable friends! Hopefully we'll still go strong after this ;)
The usual things:
1) All fills for prompts of the earlier prompt posts go in the post the prompt was posted in. No re-posting or splitting up prompts and fills.
2) Self-prompt when you post unprompted fic. (This means posting what ( Read more... )
What an achievement, my honourable friends! Hopefully we'll still go strong after this ;)
The usual things:
1) All fills for prompts of the earlier prompt posts go in the post the prompt was posted in. No re-posting or splitting up prompts and fills.
2) Self-prompt when you post unprompted fic. (This means posting what ( Read more... )
"Well you can't be that hurt if your sense of humour is still intact," replied David, arm looped around the hobbling younger man. James' weight bore down upon him, making it really quite difficult to walk. He had ignored the hitch of James' breath at the pain spiking through him in his attempts at movement.
James' subsequent chuckle sounded rather disconcertingly wet, but David merely kept walking.
Once inside, a glare stole him a wheelchair from an attendant and James was able to sag down against the canvas seat. "Now I feel broken."
"Nothing but complaints from you," observed David, pulling a numbered ticket from the dispenser at the second set of doors. "Whinging won't get you painkillers any faster."
There was something of a smile upon James' lips as he was wheeled towards the desk. Twelve months ago, David might have left him at the desk, might have summoned someone else to care for him. This time, David would rightly claim him as his partner.
000
David waited. And waited. And dithered. He hadn't wanted to watch them prod and poke James, list the Latin names of the various damaged appendages, as he lay there; a helpless specimen.
No one got to see their relationship; it was theirs and it was private and he didn't know these doctors. He didn't want them gathering anything from any expression he might display in a moment of foolishness. Weakness was not permitted, and there was... possibility for foolishness.
There were people watching him, in the waiting room, some wondering why they recognised him, perhaps, though some just bored and looking for distraction, in any available sight. There were only so many times one could count the number of ceiling tiles. David wanted to flee, though whether towards or away from James, he was not entirely certain. The only thought was 'not here', but he was certain that would be reflected anywhere. He was useless and he knew that well.
He paid little attention to the time, knowing that it would only lead to each second lengthening, and he was therefore startled when his phone buzzed and revealed the hour to be long past two in the morning. Reading the text announced by the noise made his lips quirk downwards for a moment, before he hid his discomfort with stoniness, and slipped his phone back into his pocket.
Have you gone? Floor 11, N. Wing, GP ward, bed 7 if you're around
David wanted to reply, wanted to respond that of course he was around - but he had to concede that James had more than adequate reason to doubt. He could have left; perhaps he ought to have done, but he hadn't, and his feet were already taking him towards the lifts.
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"I imagine I shouldn't be here," David said, his voice low.
"Probably not. But shit happens." James waved away the question. "Do you like my new boot?"
David's eyes had been drawn to the metal cage around one of the younger man's legs. "I can't say it suits you particularly well." He took a seat on the worn chair next to the bed James inhabited, and James shifted somewhat awkwardly to face him. "So, what's the matter with you and how much are you going to complain about it?"
For a moment, James pretended to look thoughtful. "Cracked ribs, compound leg fracture and generally hurty. But as long as I can milk it for, and as long as you temper your generally horrific bedside manner." A smirk flashed across David's lips, but fell somewhat as James added, "Surgery tomorrow morning."
Sudden alarm. That sounded - far more serious than David had previously considered. "On-"
"My leg," James hastened to reassure him. "My chest is fine. They were worried, but it's fine. Just resist jumping on me, if you don't mind."
"I leave for Yeovil in four hours," David blurted out.
James shrugged, and an instant later winced, regretting the movement. "I know." That didn't, however, prevent a slight sense of resentment or hurt, David suspected, but dared not to pursue the issue.
Though he had only sat for a moment, David jumped to his feet at the sound of nurses' low voices outside the curtains. "I can pop by early tomorrow. Bring you... pyjamas."
"And underwear, if you don't mind. And socks," James added, wriggling his feet at the end of the bed. Bare toes peaked out. "These beds are made for people like you."
"People like me?" David hissed, an eyebrow raised.
"Tiny people." Smiling with an air of weariness, James gave a vague wave. "Food of the non-hospital variety would also be appreciated."
"I'm sure." The MP hesitated, unsure of the version of goodbye that would be acceptable, before muttering, "You're not supposed to use your phone in hospital. Listen to the rules. I don't want you kicked out."
"They don't kick people out of hospital." James' call followed David out into the corridor, and was met with grumblings by other patients. James ignored them as he pressed back down into the mattress. Closing his eyes, he listened to the short, sharp steps of his partner, as he disappeared down the corridor and from the hospital.
He didn't mind. He wasn't allowed to mind.
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This is lovely but heartbreaking at the same time. Their limited, somewhat
dysfunctional relationship is so sad, with them always feeling unable to display the full affection they would like to.
This is perfectly written.
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