delicate ;

   that was something that eros liked about jace-- the fact that he always had a ‘coolness’ around him, even if at times it came across more as an awkwardness. there was a confidence there, fraudlent or not? it was nice. “aw, you’d miss me? you’re so full of it.” the giggle that chased his words was sunny and light before his nervous look twinkled back in his eye. oh boy was he nervous. this was probably the most ‘out of the box’ thing he’d ever signed up for, and yeah every bone in his body was telling him to make up an excuse to leave, but then jace might think he wasn’t cool. he had to be cool. “yeah!” he jumped eagerly at the offer of having a safe distance-- a little too quickly, causing his cheeks to flush a brilliant vermillion. “we-- we can hit it up. if you want. i’m good here. but a think a drink’d go down pretty well right about now, don’t you? i’m in the mood for something fruity.”

   “sir,” he started very softly, the gentle smile never leaving his face but looking much more sympathetic. he didn’t like causing pain, but it was a necessary evil, especally when it came to getting shrapnel out of flesh. “you can ‘deck’ me all you like, however it’s not going to fix your situation or make it any easier. i’m trying to help you, and i know it hurts, but you need to let me work. if we get it done fast, it’ll be like ripping off a bandaid. okay? i’m sorry for lying about the counting.”

   “see what?” he asked, having been far too absorbed by his phone as he sat at the bar, legs kicking off the stool in a slow pace as he unwound from a busy night. “i, uh. i mean! it could’ve been, but i was too busy reading about another raid that’d happened in the city. what did it look like, exactly? was...it outside, or in here? there’s so many questions.”

   the whole drag racing scene wasn’t exactly eros’ thing-- not usually. for one, it wasn’t legal. he could easily be discribed as a ‘goodie two shoes’. he went to work, did his shift, went home watch tv before falling asleep. but after meeting some people? he thought it’d be a nice change of pace-- something to add a little thrill. as he made his way through the grounds, he was looking out for someone. jace. the nice guy with the smile that made him smile. however, as the short guy waded his way through tall men and women in heels bigger than his bank account, he couldn’t catch a glimpse. maybe he wasn’t there. maybe he-- “AH!” eros called as he felt arms wrapping around him, shock pulsing through his veins before calming down into a giggle at the familiar voice. “don’t do that!” he half-yelled as he twirled around, lightly smacking the other on the arm with a grin tugging more and more at his lips. “hey you too. didn’t realise you were on a mission to kill me before the night had even started.” musing a hand through his own hair, he tugged as he looked around. “...s’pretty busy. i-is there anywhere we can get a drink, or is this it?”

   difficult patients weren’t something new-- hell, he dealt with about twenty a day. so, with his usual sunny smile in place, eros made his way back across the ER ward and stood behind the male, a pair of clamps in his hand. “sorry, sir, i was just fetching what i needed. looks like they’re in there good, so it might sting a little. alright?” he asked before wrapping the metal teeth around the first one. “on three. one--” did he wait for two or three? nope. because then he’d be bracing for it. and once it was free, he placed the small piece of metal into a small bowl. “there. not so bad, right?”