The Witch Doctor

x

“Hey, I also like astrology. And I read Tarot. And I take online quizzes to find out what movie characters I am. So, you know, pretty much any vague, abstract cosmic forces I can blame myself on, Buzzfeed included,” Rohan teased easily, lips falling into a smile. “The forces were out the night we met, though. Does ghost treasure count as a meet-cute? I don’t know.” He laughed, bashful in the flirting. “Tell me about them, though. Your professor? Why ladybugs? I’m sentimental about things too. I keep so many…little gifts or pretty trinkets. Every mug has a story huh?”

Rohan nodded. “Good. Great! That would be nice. I’d really like that. There a lot of, you know, stellar dishes you can make with vegetarian substitutes. I swear it’s not, like, all salads and celery.” He wrinkled up his nose, averting his gaze again as he felt his cheeks heating up, as if he really were a goddamn teenager. “I…uh, I get it. I mean, in my own way. Med school, no idea. But life and jobs and…everything.” He sighed, bringing up his other arm so that now both his hands were resting gently on Joseph’s shoulders. Rohan seemed mindful of his injury, but he dared to linger in his space, enjoying the closeness and the giddy newness of whatever this was or would be.

“I want to see you too. Romantically. I…uh, I think you’re rather wonderful. Is that, I don’t know, is that stupid to say?” Rohan was just about giggly. “But, hey! We like each other. That’s a good start.” He laughed before narrowing his gaze with a joking degree of seriousness. “Plus, we’re both, like, super easy on the eyes. You know what they say. Only bad witches are ugly. And here we are, a pair of healing hearts with nothing but nice things to say about each other.” 

x

How could he have fallen for some so incredibly different? Tarot and astrology, while Joseph had his feel planted so firmly on the ground. And then Rohan’s lips fell easily into a smile and it wasn’t much of a question anymore. Perhaps it was exactly what he needed. Somebody who helped lift him off the ground just a bit.

Joseph winced at the pain for the moment as Rohan’s fingers brushed against his injury, but his gaze quickly softened once more. He reached tentatively with his hand to stroke Rohan’s cheek. “I’d like to hear all about it. Life and jobs and everything.”

x

Rohan allowed himself to be led, squeezing Joseph’s hand gently in his own as they moved to the coffee machine. “Ah! This is a nice setup. Everything in its proper place. Which mug is your favorite, hm? That’s a veiled color theory question.” He gave a teasing smile, features softening as his companion continued. He offered a soft, sympathetic nod. “Hey, it’s practically morning. You and I could…you know?” Maybe that was still presumptuous, staying the night, but it hardly counted as staying the night when the night had already gone. 

The cramped spin brought him nearer into Joseph’s space, and Rohan lifted his free hand up to rest on his shoulder as they settled. But he liked the closeness. He smiled, giving a nod as he leaned back on the counter. And gnawing his lip, Rohan allows his features to settle into something of an apologetic simper. “I’d love that. I’m just…well, I should tell you I’m a vegetarian. But king oyster mushrooms make a wonderful stand-in if you’ll humor me. But I really would love for us to have…you know, dinner. A date. A dinner date.” He swallowed. “Let’s focus on that, then, huh? Bright and exciting things to come. We’ll have dinner. Maybe go to a show. Pop into one of those silly ‘I heart NY’ stores and get a new pair of coffee mugs. When you’re ready, of course.” He wrinkled up his nose. “Am I being too forward?” 

x

“You and you color theory.” Joseph chuckled. It was one of the many adorable things about Rohan. “If you must know, the one covered in ladybugs is my favorite. But that is not a color theory, it is my favorite because it was given to me by my old professor.”

When Rohan began to gnaw his lip, Joseph felt for a moment like his heart was sinking. Here would be the moment that Rohan would tell him that he’d been humouring him this entire time and that he wasn’t interested in Joseph that way. His offer of dinner had been the thing to tip it over the edge. Instead, he said something so much less terrifying.

Vegetarian.

“I can handle vegetarian. I’ll have to buy a cookbook or two, and you’ll have to help me of course. But I can handle vegetarian.” He listened to Rohan ramble - a trait they shared - before his question came to a finish. “You are not being too forward. I’m just new to this. Now new completely, I’ve dated before. But in Med school, and working I just... there was no time. You’re the first person I’ve wanted to see. Romantically.”

There were quite a lot that he was insecure about, he tended to be an insecure guy in general, but his musical skills were not one of them for the most part. He was a little bit self conscious about it sometimes though, he wouldn’t say that he was 100% confident on it, but he was definitely more than he was compared eveything else, so when people complimented his voice or the way that he played, he always got happy, and it could bring up his whole day, depending how he was feeling in that particular one. He supposed that they could just have complimented it to be nice, and didn’t actually mean it, but he would hope that wasn’t the case most of the time.

“Oh, thank you, that actually means a lot,” he smiled, “Especially because it’s an original song.”

x

“Oh? Are you an... artist? Like a musician? I can’t say I’m a huge music fan. I prefer a good podcast but that’s not to say you aren’t good!. I just - I’m sorry I feel like that was rude. I’ve been trying to get more into music. The person I’m - seeing? I’m not quite sure what he is. But he’s creative and I’m trying to get more into creative things for him and -” Joseph took a deep breath and looked down at his watch. He still had some time before his next appointment. 

He gestured towards the open spot beside the man. “May I sit down?”

Ivy bit back a chuckle as he rambled, it was just one of those things she missed about him. “I know right. Thank goodness for smartphones.”  She said upon entering the home. “Oh here.” She handed him a bag  “I brought strawberry cheesecake.”

x

“Oh! Thank you.” Joseph reached out and grabbed the cheesecake, making right for the fridge to put it away. Hopefully Ivy hadn’t been walking with it for too long. He turned back to them as he closed the fridge, a smile from ear to ear. It felt good to having family again. To have Ivy home. “Right! So I have a bunch of toys for Mal, and after dinner I have a special treat as well. Nothing crazy! No food or anything. Just something that made me think of him. At least in the best way I can. And I know I’m rambling again, I’m sorry, you know I do it when I’m nervous. And I’m nervous. Because... god Ivy. You’re home.”

He laughed, nervously putting his hands in his pocket to at least stop one part of himself from fidgeting.

One thing she did not miss about New York were the subways it was like people had no concept of personal space. She huffed hurrying hopefully to the right address. Ivy smoothed out her dress before knocking on the door. Mal knocked too. 

x

Even though he was expecting it, Joseph still jumped at the knocking at the door. When a second, lighter, knocking followed there was no mistaking who was at the door. Joseph quickly rushed over and opened the door, breathing a sigh of relief to see Ivy and Mal at the door. “Good, good you’re here. I was worried you would get lost. I know with New York addresses can be a little weird and everything. Plus, ya know, apartment. Doesn’t make it easier. But you’re here! And I’m... I’m blocking the door. Come in, please.”

Joseph finally stepped away from the door after rambling away, allowing for Mal and Ivy to step inside.

x

Rohan could not help but return the smile—what with Joseph smiling at him like that and all. Giddiness and foolishness fluttered through him with flapping wings, and he seemed to muster all his focus to keep them from simply bursting out. “Please. Astral project into mine sometime. I have too much stuff, coming out of drawers, out of cabinets, my ears. You’ve got a really nice place.” He spun in a bit of a half-circle. “Do you need…? I mean, can I help with anything? I’m sure you’ve been on bedrest. Any lightbulbs in need of changing?” 

The move surprised him, in truth, but finding his grasp entwined with Joseph’s, Rohan gave it a gentle squeeze, taking the cue to move into his space as they passed through into the kitchen together. He laughed. “I’m…uh, oh God, I’m a teenager. I really am making a genuine effort here to be charming. Suave maybe. Could you settle for endearing? Boyish even? You see, I never know what to do with my hands. So this a very good option.” He playfully wrinkled up his nose. “But the tour! Come. What is your kitchen must-have? I have this wooden spoon that says ‘kitchen witch’ on it, and I think it’s literally the funniest thing in the world.” 

x

It was a very good option to do with their hands. Thrilling and comforting all at once.

“Right! Yes. The kitchen tour. Of course. We can begin with my favorite, most used thing in this household. And yes, I am not talking about the stove.” Joseph pulled Rohan over to his coffee nook, truly his favorite part of his favorite apartment. Set in a seperate corner from the rest of counters sat his espresso machine, as well as three separate mugs - all gifts from past patients. Sat beside it was his two favorite espresso grounds. “It’s where I make my morning coffee. Or I used to at least. I fell off a bit after the-” He paused. He didn’t want to talk about it again. “After everything. But I’ll be getting back to it I promise. And then-”

Joseph spun the two of them around, which was not an easy feat considering the island that left a small, non-spinnable gap where they stood. “This is where the magic happens. And not that kind of magic.” He pointed to the stovetop. “Believe it or not, I’m actually a good cook. My scallops? Legendary. I’ll.. uh... I’ll make it for you sometime.”

The sun was still sitting on the horizon, not yet dipping below. The beginning of the evening was here, and Joseph had found something to be excited for. Joseph turned back from looking out the window and look one last glance around the apartment, searching for anything that he might have missed in his deep clean of the apartment. Once he was sure there was nothing missed, he ran over to the kitchen one more time to check the oven. The timer was still going, nothing was burning, everything was going fine. He still couldn’t stop pacing.

He did another loop around the apartment, waiting for Ivy to arrive.

x

Rohan smiled softly, eyes flicking upward to study Joseph’s face, as if trying to gauge just how he was doing or feeling or coping. He bit his lip. “It’s for the best. Me? The patient? No, I’ve always been far too restless. How are you, Joseph?” The wordplay came easily, gently as Rohan stepped inside, but the question came sincerely. He shook his head. “No, no, not at all. But we’ve…uh, we’ve passed the point of ridiculous, don’t you think? Ghost treasure. Supernatural speed dating. What’s an owl message?” He swallowed, a surge of heat rushing to his face. 

“I’ve missed you too.” He fished into his shirt pocket and retrieved the pen with Joseph’s number. “I was using this to outline my next play tonight. And I should have checked in sooner. I’m sorry. I’m really very bad about gauging when people actually want me to. I’m a meddler, and I overcorrect. I was so worried when you…” He offered a weak, apologetic shrug, trailing off. “But I’m happy to be here now. I’m happy to see you.” An uncertain hand came up, and Rohan seemed to test out physical contact, patting Joseph’s arm. 

“Cookie dough coffee pods sound amazing. Come on. I can help. Give me the grand tour. I want to see if I’m weird for keeping witch things in my kitchen drawers.” 

x

As Rohan reached out and pat Joseph’s arm, his heart began to beat just a tad faster. A mix of panic and excitement - it was the first time another person had touched him since he’d left the hospital. It was a really good start. Joseph smiled at Rohan - a pure, unbridled smile that spread across his entire face. “Right. Yes. Of course. I’m happy to see you as well. Very happy. I’m.. I’m so sorry about the apartment. I’ve been bad about cleaning lately. Lots of Netflix however.”

Joseph started to head towards to kitchen, and then reconsidered for a moment and turned back to Rohan. He reached out, grabbing the man’s hand in is own and nodding towards the kitchen. “Come with me. I’ll give you the grand tour.”

⋅𖥔⋅ ━━✶━━ ⋅𖥔⋅

“Wow. Hey, that’s not fair. You’re far more than the newbie and I have attachments to you. Your sister has attachments to you. The coven has attachments to you and just because the seraphs can’t see it, doesn’t mean that it is okay or even fair. I mean frankly this is- this is discrimination! That’s what it is. Voting in the black man to get hurt? Are you kidding me! No, you know, it’s not fair and I won’t stand for thi-” Reina started to defend him, anger pulling in the pit of her chest at the thought of how he had already seemed to have accepted his fate just like that. “Wait- are you still hurt? How are you? How’s your neck? What all happened in there?” She asked, anger quickly morphing into concern as her eyes began to scan him over for any visible signs of distress or ware. 

“I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I’m probably the last thing you need right now, but more coffee it is and maybe a distraction, if you’re down? We can put what happened behind us and just focus on the now, okay? Like, Spring is here. Which is nice? I’ve always liked Spring. I mean I could do without the rain and the flu season, but roof top bars are opening back and that’s always a plus, if you ever a break and want to check one out?”

x

He’d done the anger part already, and he watched it bubble in Reina the same it had in him. He remembered the feeling of injustice and discrimination. There had been some nights - and he wasn’t proud to admit it - that he wanted to punish whoever had put him in there. Joseph wanted to burn people’s houses to the ground, as long as the people were outside. He didn’t want to harm them physically, but he still wanted them to hurt.

Now, as he watched Reina go through the same feelings, he turned on the coffee machine and reached into his cabinet for some coffee. “I’m still blurry on the details after the vampire bite. Bleeding out can cause an extreme loss of consciousness, you see. I remember we were told that we had to injure somebody to get out. Some people were happy to do it. Others weren’t. I think you can guess which side I was on.” At the last sentence, Joseph gestured to his neck and let out a small laugh.

“Now what kind of coffee do you like? Are you a dark roast person? I feel like you’re a dark roast person.”

─── · 。ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

Logan smirked slightly as he walked into the room, she knew he hadn’t been expecting her. “I see. Well glad to know your at least communicating with Reina. Or is it more just she’s texting you and your not replying?” Logan questioned to him. Knowing that she couldn’t ask Reina in the off chance it was patient client privilege. “If I say yes will you sit here and talk to me? Because I can come up with a lot of concerns if it helps?” She offered to him. “What do you say Doc? Do you need me to bring up my medical concerns or are you going to talk to me?”

x

He so badly wanted to be the old Dr. Graves. He wanted to switch back and to sit down with Logan and be the perfect doctor. But it felt like there was a darkness over him, stopping him from reaching out fully. He couldn’t turn her away - even with how he felt now, he would never do that to somebody. Even if there was nothing wrong, a patient in his room was never turned away without help.

With a sigh, Joseph stood and walked over to Logan. He pointed to the blood pressure machine and raised an eyebrow. “How about a full work-up? I’ll check everything and make sure you’re okay, and you can talk.”

x

His face caught in the shifting glow of an informercial, playing across the television for perhaps the fourth time that night, Rohan had dozed off on the sofa, an armload of handwritten notes sprawled about where they had fallen in his stupor. He had been working into the early hours on the vague initial draft of a new play, an original idea that had been bothering the edges of his mind for some days now. But sleep had come before very much headway.

Still, in this moment, Bustopher had startled him awake, pouncing from the floor onto his lap with a definitive mew. “Ah!” Rohan cried out, eyes fluttering open as the papers fluttered to the floor. He sniffed. “What was that for!” A visitor. The words fluttered through his head the way they did whenever his familiar spoke, and blinking through the dark, Rohan caught the distinct shape of a bird at his window.

Rising with a stretch, he pushed it open hurriedly to properly greet Percy, gaze falling on the letter tied to his leg. “May I?” he asked politely, putting his hands up in mock arrest until the animal allowed him to untie it. Narrowing his eyes to read the note, then, Rohan could not help the soft smile that spread across his face.

He had thought of Joseph often, worried about him. And now, it was the middle of the night. And he looked a mess. He looked a mess. “Yes. Bustopher, tell him yes.” The next few minutes were a blur, of Rohan rushing to the bathroom, of brushing his teeth and fixing his hair and throwing on a clean shirt. 

And then, he was on the street, note in-hand, catching a glimpse of the peculiar owl returning home as he made his own way down a set of subway stairs. Percy had perhaps been waiting for his reemergence, and Rohan took him again as a guide as he set off into Brooklyn for this peculiar visit.

He knocked on the door almost bashfully, too softly, as if afraid Joseph may have fallen asleep in the time it took him to commute. “Uh…if the offer still stands, I will take you up on the coffee, Dr. Graves. I’m terrible and showed up empty-handed, but I’m sure in a few hours, you could use a proper breakfast. I can do that. Hi.” 

x

Opening the door and seeing Rohan’s face was better than any painkillers he’d been prescribed. “Hi.” He breathed, the first words he’d said to another human being in days. And he did have to specify human being, because Percy had heard more than he was wanted.

And just as he thought of the bird, the brown owl soared through the window and landed comfortably in his cage, settling down for a night’s sleep. A well deserved night sleep.

Joseph laughed, opening the door even wider. “Please, never call me Dr. Graves. Unless I am playing your doctor, then we will have a different discussion. Now please, come in. I hope it wasn’t raining or too cold? I know it’s ridiculous asking you to come over in the middle of the night but I was thinking of you and we hadn’t talked since everything, and I missed you and -” Joseph cut himself off, moving over to the coffee machine in the kitchen. “Do you need anything to drink? I don’t think I have decaf, but I got these new cookie dough coffee pods?”

Delphina paused as she turned to listen to the man. She was quiet and careful as she listened to what he said. A smile tugged at the corner of her mouth as she considered what he was saying. She gathered he was looking for confirmation and she nodded her head. “Honestly that sounds like a really awesome gift. I’d be happy to get that.” She hummed as she folded her arms across her chest. “Spiderman is really good for those who are just starting out so that is a great choice.” She noted as she tucked some of her blonde hair behind her ear. “Can I ask how old your nephew is? Maybe you could get a figure that is different that way if he isn’t into the comic he might like the figure!” She suggested with a bright and hopeful smile. 

x

“I think he’s... 3?” Joseph tried to think for a moment, only to draw a blank. Another side effect of not knowing your nephew his whole life, and only meeting him once. “I swear I’m not a bad uncle. I just learned he existed this week. I need to get him something special, something amazing. To make up for all the parts of his life that I missed.”

Tough crowd. “Of course, Jojo you have all my info now. Call me, maybe we can have dinner at my place.” Ivy smiled as she stood up and gave him a tight hug. “It really is good to see you Jojo and I’m sorry I was such a fuck up. I promise I’m better now.” She whispered to him. To be honest she was happy to be home. Happy to see her big brother because for once she genuinely felt safe.

Ivy let go and grabbed her sons hand “Text me.” 

x

He hugged Ivy back, hard. Barely letting go even as she began to pull away. He watched her turn and leave and for the first time in a long time, he knew he would get to see his sister again.

.

“Joseph. It’s a real pleasure.” He smiled with a nod as he moved through his kitchen. Reaching up, he hissed quietly to himself, truly not wanting to concern the doctor. He opened up his cabinet and grabbed a couple glasses down for them. With a huff, he placed them down and wandered over towards his fridge to grab out the water pitcher he had. Ruairi poured them each a glass before crossed back towards the male, “T'ank you. T'at’s very kind.” He said, genuinely.

Taking a sip from his glass and shrugged his shoulders a bit, “I’m uh…you know. Healing t'e best I can.” He laughed out and cringed a bit, wrapping an arm around his middle, “Ribs still hurt.” The Irishman admitted, “I have a couple broken ribs and a couple fractured. But t'ey’ll heal okay, I t'ink.” Ruairi was no doctor, but he was really trying not to move around too much, “If I move too much, I get an uncomfortable stinging so I just…stay put.” He chuckled.

“Do you want to sit down?” He asked, beginning to move into his living room. Ruairi had made camp on his couch. He had a nice warm blanket and several pillows there, “Have you uh…seen anyone else?” Ruairi asked, his gaze shifting back towards Joseph.

x

He couldn’t help but notice the was Ruairi moved. It was deliberate and calculated, as though he had to prepare himself before every move. He was in pain. Joseph wished more than anything he could reach into his bag and pull out a magical salve that would heal wounds in seconds, or even ease the pain. But all he had in the bag was painkillers, gauze, and a whole lot of word searches. 

“No, no, you should absolutely not move much. Please, sit back down. I can get anything. Do you have anyone to take care of you? You really shouldn’t be alone when you’re like this. I’m surprised they even let you out of the hospital. You either had to fight tooth and nail or had a terrible doctor. I’d have never let a patient out in your condition. And even then I’d need physical and verbal confirmation of a 24/7 caretaker... I’m rambling again. I’m so sorry.”

Joseph sighed. He did that a lot more lately. “I haven’t seen anyone, no. You’re the first. You felt important.”