All the world is a stage, and everyone has their part

[kingofrooks]

Who: Jack Kelly [cowboy_newsie] and Batman [kingofrooks], Black Mask [ebony_mask] and Batman [see above].
When: The 16th, post-sirens.
Where: Black Mask's hideout.
Summary: Batman finally finds out where Black Mask is keeping Jack. He goes for a rescue. Then Black Mask comes back.
Warnings: Violence. Mentions/explicit descriptions of torture, gore, drugs and drug abuse. Stuff like

Comments

[gaveherwings]

[No, he's just hoping it may go away if he keeps perfectly still and plays possum.

And when he's hoisted off the bike and placed on sailor's legs, Daedalus sways on the spot- one, because he's off balance, but also because the task set before him (with that almost-gentle push between the shoulders) is unbelievable. Malnutrition and shock from hemorrhage.

His autoreivs could handle that, without manual command instruction.

It's both the highest commendation and the most ludicrously banal and offensive task that's been set before him since 'Here is this comatose specimen, Doctor Yumeno. Your Purpose is to keep it asleep.'

So he laughs. It's Batman who teases it out of him, not Joker. It's more like a heady, hysterical little scoff, as he stumbles two steps forward then wheels around, pacing backward towards the double doors, flinging one arm out for emphasis.]

There are a slew of capable, trained medical staff in this building!

And yet you drag me, from my job, through the night, and expect me to just-

[His mouth hangs open, and it dances alluringly on the edge of his teeth.

'Just who do you think you are? Bruce Wayne.'

The sort of perfectly climatically spat accusation, blown opportunity, that he'll hate himself for weeks about, and replay mentally over and over in tweaked cerebral cinema. Because Daedalus does not let those tantalizing words slip.

It's what he'd dare to say, in this moment, if he were just a hairpin's wobble more self-indulgent. It would be the perfect time to, after all. Alone, in front of the ER glass, with no one to see a shadow's twitch of all the confirmation needed.

But he has a patient in ICU, to see. His priorities take a split second's pause, reshuffling. He reaches for the lapels of his lab coat and straightens it, flicking his head upright and wrinkling his nose, which somehow gives him the distinct suggestion of a very ruffled pygmy owl.]

You insufferable Gotham citizens will be the death of me.

[He punches the entrance button, and the sliding glass zips open.]

[cowboy_newsie]

[As soon as the door opens, a doctor with a sour expression and a sizeable bruise on his cheek marches forward. Thank god you're here, he drawls, and the words couldn't be dryer. You've been asked for.

And a little farther back, sitting right where Batman had set him, is Jack Kelly. Fear and anger switches back and forth in his expression, fighting for dominance; a nurse stands next to his gurney, looking hesitant. She holds an IV drip on her hand, and it's clear she wants to slip it in-- but it's equally as clear, from the way Jack keeps glaring at her, that he absolutely won't let her.

He gives Daedalus a tight smile when he catches sight of him.]

Evenin', Doc, and how are you?

[gaveherwings]

[Daedalus sheds his lab gloves that he's worn through the ride, stuffing them into his pocket with a mutter on his lips that might be a soured 'hello to you too, Williams', snatching a free pair from a passing cart and snapping them on before he swings into the curtained off section of the ER.

One look at Jack, sitting up, speaking, churlish with the nurses- and it's almost painful, how unnecessary his own presence here is. He releases a long sigh, swiftly surveying the situation. And comes to the sudden striking realization that he probably left his good bedside manner- oh, in the settling dust on some gritty street corner now covered in charred monster guts.]

Vitals? The nurse chirps status in return, and he shakes his head with a little roll of his eyes ("Stable!")

[It's singsonged, with a brisk click of irritation. He hasn't exchanged pleasantries with the patient yet, and some of the passing staff seem surprised to find him here in the night clinic, the bottom half of his trousers (not scrubs!) stained with mud.]

BP? (in units, please.) [He quizzes the nurse, still fighting to fluster into some state of preparation..]

And with that kind of significant blood loss, I assume we're all ready for transfusion, here? [He eyes Jack meaningfully.] His file, Kelly, jack- I hope you might at least have managed to pull it up without me?

[The assembled nurses seem bewildered, but compliant, and Daedalys Yumeno is thoroughly done with bike rides and games. He doesn't want to think yet, about the headache of excuses he has yet to concoct to satisfy SERO, and Jack Kelly has just lost parking privs on the NCC roof.]

(I wasn't on call, for the record. Please cooperate.)

[cowboy_newsie]

You weren't on call?

[He doesn't bother to keep his voice down, too exhausted for that. One of the nurses glances back, attracted by the tightly held fury in Jack's tone, but the others hustle her away.]

Well, excuse me, Doc. Why don't you go home? Get some beauty rest. I didn't mean to wake you up. I'll just be rescued from torture at a more convenient time, oy? Say, nine AM, that work for you?

Fuckin' hell, I don't need this, I can take care o' meself--

[He slips off the gurney-- and for a moment, the world spins sickishly. Jack sways, his face paling, his hands gripping at the bed in an attempt to steady himself.]

Just call Sirius and I'll nurse myself back and you can go back to bed.

[gaveherwings]

Sit back down. That's a clean needle, Mr. Kelly, and it's only saline. And you know it.

[And that's really more like doctor's orders, straining to curtail the tired, trying patience of one who's be hauled through hell to get here and play cooperation staredown with a boy too stubborn to take a needle.

It's little wonder Dr. Williams was so quick to turn over attending position.]

You are probably quite dehydrated, and could use some overnight observation. So sit down, stay awhile. Since we're both here till sun up now.

[Daedalus frowns, in no mood.] And let Sirius get some rest too. He and Re-l have been combing the city for you, for days.

[cowboy_newsie]

[He glares hard at Daedalus, but sits on the edge of the bed.]

I don't fuckin' like needles and I can drink water on my own. Go home, I don't want to be in the damn hospital and neither do you.

[But he's trembling with the effort of speaking, and he's covered in enough blood and dried vomit and tears and god knows what else that he's getting looks from every person in passing.]

[gaveherwings]

Considering you've worked for the damn hospital, Jack, one would think you'd be a bit more understanding.

[But his tone is leveling, gradually, adjusting to that place where the dynamic meets into something workable. Because he's really not so stuffed (Diego Armando would never have compromising if he wasn't.)

Daedalus looks him up and down with sympathizing crease in his brow, although the vomit doesn't help the queasy feeling in his stomach from the jostled sandbagging and the ride over.]

You wouldn't like to change into a gown, and have some towels bought over right now?

[He finally leans in and cajoles, wondering just how long Batman left him waiting here, that no one's gone ahead and cleaned him up.

Then, in one of Skye Medical's fine off-cuff traditions, one that he still hates clearing his throat and hollering clear across the ER and all too casually for, the coded language of a hospital that certainly doesn't run on SPGH's kind of behavioral restrictions-]

Heeeey! How far do I have to go for a hand towel!

[ "White Star!" Chimes a cheerfully cheeky voice from down the hall. ]

Thank you!

[He calls back, surprised at how easy it is to fall back into that patter, and soon there's the squeak of an orderly's cart with damp towels, Daedalus passes them off to Jack while the man in scrubs tries to instigate small talk.

"Heeeeeey, it's Doogie! They got you pulling nights again, Kid?"]

No. A favor. Busy now.

[ "Yeah, yeah, clean your boy up, Dr. Malthus. Good to see you on the floor." ]

[cowboy_newsie]

[He begins scrubbing himself hard, trying to wholly devote himself to the task. It's no easy feat; he's entirely covered in blood. Still, at least his face is somewhat clear now-- and his hair and the back of his neck-- and his hands--

And when he thinks Daedalus isn't looking, he presses the damp cloth to his lips, sucking out a bit of water there.]

You know I can regenerate. I'm fine, I know how to take care o' malnutrition. Daedalus, please. Let me go home.

[gaveherwings]

Jack, please listen. [And now he's really moving down eyes to eye, in that way that's almost doting and paternal, but wears like a concerned friend on a twenty-two year old babyface. And there's a hospital gown, set beside him on the gurney. His voice lowers to a volume that's one to one, beneath the clamor of the ER.] I understand you've been through a great ordeal, I know you'd like to go home and sleep it off, and I don't doubt your training and capability. But you have suffered trauma, and there are precautions of recovery that are best taken within a medical facility.

I really don't want negligence to be on my hands, particularly given the person who just brought me here.

We need to run a few tests to be sure your blood- regenerative or not, hasn't been contaminated by whatever's been done to you. I know you don't like needles. And I know you've probably seen enough of them. But this is with your best interests in mind. Now that I'm here, that you called for me, please trust in me.

[And then, because he knows these boys well, he feels obligated to add-]

Sirius will be by as soon as he is able and aware, doubtlessly. Dramatic hospital escapes are fanciful and may even seem desirable for you, I'm sure, but they are not by any means practical in this situation. I won't be happy if you take it upon yourself to discharge.

[cowboy_newsie]

[He stares at Daedalus, his eyes hard, his expression blank-- and then abruptly gives a curt nod, glancing away.]

How long do I have to stay? And tell the other staff here I ain't lettin' them near me.

[He glances back toward the other man, his expression still hard-- but there's fear there as well, subtle and tense, if Daedalus is looking close enough.]

I've had needles in me for the past two weeks. Like hell I'm lettin' anyone but you or me put another in me.

[gaveherwings]

[If Daedalus had one weakness in career, one fast way to make him fold, it was a sense of self-importance, and the acknowledgement that he was exceptional at what he did.

The thought that Jack Kelly trusted him and him alone was something he couldn't argue- not even on behalf of his colleagues, as long as they weren't in earshot.

After all, it was the simplest way to do things, between the two of them.

The confidential mark of a personal physician. Which he still longed to me, no matter the swirl of the system around him.]

Alright. [He reaches for the hanging bag his nurse had abandoned, when staff had cleared off, and the needle.] This is just a fluid replacement drip.

I'm only going to do it for you, because I've been watching you wash yourself off- and your hands are trembling.

[cowboy_newsie]

[He pushes the dirty and tattered sleeve above his elbow, his free hand clenching as he tries to stop it from shaking.]

You try not eatin' for two weeks, you see how bad your hands get.

[But it's not as angry as it was, and Jack sticks his arm out.]

Go.

[gaveherwings]

I'm not shaming you for it. I'm just stating fact.

[Daedalus points out gently, steady with the needle and catheter, now that he's absorbed in finding a vein, not in the burning rawness on his face from riding fast through the biting cold outdoors.]

I'm going to be clear on procedure, so you understand what's going on-

Fluids first, and then we'll try you on some solids. Food may be difficult, if you haven't been digesting much in two weeks, so we're going to start you easy. Meanwhile I'll run a blood sample down through the lab, (which I'm going to take right now), to rule out any infection.

If your blood pressure does not remain stabilized, then your regen ability is not acting fast enough to counteract the lost volume, and we may need to move to transfusion.

[cowboy_newsie]

I'd like to stick to fluids for a while, whether I can handle solids or not.

[He winces a bit as the needle slips into his skin, but keeps still. He pointedly glances the other way, though, nauseated at the sight of his blood leaving him once again.]

Once you're done, I'm goin'-- Jesus Christ-- I'm goin' to the bathroom. I need to get outta these clothes. How much blood do you need?

[gaveherwings]

I'm going to draw 20ml right now. [He's eying the syringe closely, replaces it with another- it's been awhile since he's done something so menial in the hospital hierarchy as playing phlebotomist, but it's a skill that you don't really lose.] Two vials.

And then you can go to the bathroom, if you keep the IV in.

[cowboy_newsie]

Well, thanks, Doc.

[He falls silent after that growled sarcastic retort, glaring at the floor.]

Is there--

[Jack hesitates, glancing around, making sure they're alone. It's something that's been preying on his mind for a week now-- and normally he would trust his ability, but since Roman's been playing hell with it who knows what sort of diseases he has?]

Don't look at me funny, all right? Don't look all horrified, don't get all funny, just answer the damn question. Is there any diseases I could have from eatin' another person?