(Keep My Head Above Water)

“Stupid fucking bitch…” Arthur muttered under his breath. He lent back and hit his head against the wall “Shut up!” he said to his head, hitting it harder the second time.

“Woah--What are you doing?” Danny happened to walk past the other as soon as he bashed his head against the wall.

“Deadpool is so much better than Spiderman, you’re crazy.”

“Umm,” Xan reached up and ran her fingers through her hair, a nervous tick. “I sort of woke up here… It’s a really long story, but yeah I basically hung around London for a few days, crashing on an old friend’s couch for a few days, then realized I wasn’t better yet and decided to come here. I lived there for about a year when I was fourteen. I’ve never been to Bristol though, too bad we can’t go see the sights.” She said with a laugh, looking out the window to the fence that closed them into the hospital.  

“Oh.” That was certainly caught him by surprise. “At least you’re in someplace safe, right?” He laughed nervously, trying his best to make the hospital seem like a better option.

He plucked up the glass water presented between them and took a long gulp of it as he nodded to the other. “You’re the new guy who has a big ass puppy crush on the other new nurse. I agree, man, she’s fucking hot.” Aiden began, trying to start on a note he knew would pique interest. 

Periodically he sipped at the drink, resting the cool glass against his lip that has been slowly recovering over the weak. Most of his bruises had faded besides the fresher one on his cheekbone. He’d managed to stay out of the limelight for a few days, new bruise unnoticed but he was tempted to bring it up. “They didn’t tell me anything – they just picked me up, took me away, set me here. What do you want to know about me for?” Aiden narrowed his eyes, resting the glass against his bruised cheek, sighing at the soothing feel. “You don’t seem excited to meet me, why aren’t you excited? Everyone likes meeting me. They have this smile that shows they know what’s up – you know – where’s your smile?”

Daniel ignored his comment, brows furrowing as he nervously fidgeted with his fingers. He could already tell this would end badly for him, how they expected a trauma nurse with poor social skills to be able to handle a red patient was beyond him. He couldn’t help but feel a little pissed off about it.

“Maybe… not yet.” She said, she liked Danny, she liked the possibility of having a friend too, she didn’t want to ruin that yet, especially while Ari was still staying under wraps. She defaulted to the more normal modes of conversation, “I grew up in New York… what about you? Where are you from?” 

“yeah,” She smiled, nodding her head. “I’d like that too. And thanks, for saying you won’t read it. I’ll tell you whatever you want to know, i really don’t mind, I just hate the idea of a piece of paper explaining everything about me. It’s so clinical, so emotionless, you know?” 

“It’s short for Xanthippe.” She said, she usually got strange reactions to her name, her least favourite among them being people who said Gesundheit and trying to guess her ethnicity. But cute had never been one of the descriptors. “I’m glad to meet you too.” She said, feeling the sincerity as the words left her lips. 

“I’m Xan.” She said, extending a hand for him to shake. 

“It’s not stigma man, trust me. But still, it’s kind of adorable that you’re sticking to cliches.” She said with a smile. 

“Wh–” Frankie jumped, her hand flying away from the item that was currently taking up space in the seat she’d been hoping to occupy. “Uh… Shit, sorry, man.”

The noises Aiden made as he was dragged into the room were animalistic to say the least. He was squealing, squawking, hissing, barking, everything all at once. The guards were somewhat used to his erratic behaviour by now, prepared for the most Aiden could throw at them, legs, arms, foreheads, teeth. 

He tried them all but they managed to get him into the chair and as soon as they did – as if it were a game – he seemed to settled and look happily at the slightly familiar stranger before him. He had no idea who the male was, or what he wanted. Nothing had been explained to the teenager, not that anyone thought he’d listen.

When he heard the pathetic stutter he burst into hysterical laughter, holding his stomach as he bashed a fist on the table. “Hi?” he repeated between cackling. “Just hi? Nice to meet you? Oh man… Oh man.” Aiden began, chuckling but finally calming. “…What is this? This is totally uncool, am I being recorded? Am I being used? This is totally against my rights.” He shouted to who he presumed was watching or listening.

The laughter only caused Danny to tense up more, he should of expected a reaction like this and not  get so nervous. He immediately started to doubt himself, questioning if he was a failure at his job.

Danny waited in the empty room, tapping his fingers nervously as he awaited the patient to be brought in. He needed to do some sort of assessment, to see if he was able to handle a patient in the Red. He honestly had no idea what to expect, or who they would pair him up for that matter.

Finally, the patient was brought inside but two guards had to drag him inside. The guy was struggling, throwing cusses at the security and this only made Daniel more anxious than he was before. ‘Great...” He thought to himself as the patient was finally placed down in the chair across from him.

“H-Hey.” Danny spoke after the guards had finally left. “I’m Danny, it’s nice to meet you.” He was starting to have doubts about this whole ordeal. 

Vlad chuckled lowly, the sound muffled greatly by the fabric of the pillow his face was still firmly buried into. “That’s bullshit,” he mumbled, lifting his head for a brief moment to roll over and face the other, the blankets tucked right up and around his head. “I don’t wanna’ go for a walk.” The offer was a good one; but refusing to leave the warmth and - comfort, perhaps - of his bed could be equally as efficient. Plus, it meant he didn’t have to leave the bed at all.

“Good for you, bringing yourself here to work and help yourself get better. Although, I gotta warn you, I’ve been to a few Psychiatric wards and I’ve learned that people have a tendency to get stuck in places like these. Patients and staff.” 

“Wow so you’re a nerd.” Xan said, a small laugh following the words. “What kind of issues?” She stopped herself. “Sorry, I’m being nosy and shit, I’ll admit being in a mental ward doesn’t exactly improve your conversational skills.” 

“Alright… good.” She said, “Good. Then, how’d you end up being a nurse? Or a nurse here for that matter?”