I wrote this a long time ago and posted on ao3. Though it wouldn't be bad to post it here to.
It's just some pre-relationship fluff where MC gets jealous of a patient she sees with Zayne. Little did she know... hehe.
You quickened your pace as you walked down the corridors to the counter. A faint smile tugged at your lips as you approached it. "Hello, Yvonne" you said, your voice faint from hurrying to get there on time. Usually, Zayne would have already called in to complain about your being a few minutes late. Today, though, he hadn't called.
"Hello," Yvonne greeted you warmly, looking up from the computer screen in front of her to smile at you. "Dr. Zayne is finishing with his previous patient. You can wait outside his office," she said, returning her attention to the monitor.
You sat in a chair outside his office and fixed your eyes on the door, your heart fluttering in excitement as you waited to see him.
Well, every thought of him warmed the depths of your heart, slowly making you realize there was more to it than you were willing to admit or express. As you gazed into the distance, you could feel the weight of those hopes and thoughts involving your very dear doctor.
The sound of the door opening snapped you out of your thoughts, and you turned with a reflexive smile, expecting to see the man who had been on your mind more than you wanted to admit. Instead, your smile faltered as your gaze landed on the scene before you.
A girl you'd never seen—a hunter judging by what she was wearing— stepped out from Zayne's office, laughing as if she had just heard the funniest joke in the world, while behind her, leaning against the door frame with a relaxed expression, Zayne was smiling.
Something twisted inside you, your breath catching involuntarily. You couldn't stop staring, your eyes darting between the girl and Zayne. His gaze flicked toward you—barely a glance, just enough to acknowledge your presence—before returning to her, still smiling.
Something in the scene in front of you felt uncomfortably off, and yet you couldn't quite tell what it was or why. Your eyes settled on him—your friend, your doctor—and something in the way she was interacting sent a pang through your chest.
Jealous? The word rang in your head, almost making you chuckle at the absurdity of how it sounded. You jealous? Over Zayne? You wanted to deny it, but deep down, you knew the truth.
Over the last few months, you and Zayne had been getting closer. It all started with that late check-up, which found you two having dinner together because of course neither one of you still ate.
That night was filled with casual chatter and laughter, revealing a warm affinity you hadn't realized was there, not after all those years. It grew into more evenings out, daily conversations, free time spent together, and dinners at each other's houses. Had some feeling grown on you without you realizing it?
Your attention refocused on them, your mind blank. The girl said something about "going out Saturday night" and your stomach twisted as your heart began to race. She was smiling up at him with a kind of hopeful familiarity you knew too well. Did you look like that too?
Then, in a calm, even voice that was always characteristic of Zayne, he said, "No, I'm sorry. I already have plans with someone." That struck you like a sudden draft of cold air. You saw the disappointment flicker across the girl's face before she nodded, said goodbye, and left.
It wasn't until she had taken a few steps down the corridor that Zayne finally turned to you. His gaze softened as he offered a small smile. "Sorry to keep you waiting," he said, holding the door to his office open for you. "Come in."
You forced a smile back, and then stood, walking past him into the office, not able to stop one last look at the girl disappearing around the corner.
The silence in his office was just deafening. Zayne pointed for you to sit down and asked you to wait while he finished writing up some notes on his clipboard. You watched him, swallowing hard, weighing the value of anything that might pop out asking about that girl.
"So... do you know that girl?" The question escaped before you could stop yourself. Immediately after the words slipped through your lips, you regretted the impulsiveness, biting your lip.
Zayne looked up at you, his eyebrows arched slightly in surprise. His facial expression changed from one of focus to one of curiosity. "Yes, she's one of my patients," he replied, leaning back in his chair and setting the pen down. "Why?" His tone was calm, but there was an edge of strange interest in his gaze.
You hesitated for a moment, not knowing how to continue further. "I think I saw her on a mission recently," you stammered, trying to make it sound casual enough.
Of course Zayne had other patients, and knowing how good he was at his job, he was probably in high demand, working directly with a lot of hunters like yourself. But the thought of him spending Saturday night with someone else left a bitter edge in your mind. Another patient? A hunter? Someone you even knew? It left your stomach in a tangle of nerves.
His voice brought you back from the spiral of thoughts, and you refocused your attention on him. He reached for his stethoscope, gesturing toward the chair next to him. "Come here."
The check-up passed in weird silence. Usually, you would be talking non-stop about some little anecdote from your missions or about stores and places you wanted to visit, possibly with him. That was happening quite a lot lately.
At times, he would even ask you to stop talking so he could continue with his work. Today, every word seemed stuck between your chest and throat. You did answer his questions about your health, but nothing beyond that.
When the examination was finally over, you went back to the chair in front of his desk. He finished writing down the notes before he set his pen aside and looked at you with concern. "Are you sure you're okay?" he asked, getting up and walking to stand in front of you, leaning against the desk. "You've been unusually quiet today."
"Yes," you said quickly, giving him the best smile you could manage. "Just... tired."
He didn't seem so convinced, his eyes scanning your face as if searching for something you weren't telling him. It made you feel nervous, but you kept your cool, the small smile still on your lips. After a moment, he nodded, moving on for now.
You exhaled softly, collecting yourself, and were about to excuse your way out when he spoke again.
"Are you free this Saturday?"
The question caught you off guard, and you looked up at him, blinking in surprise. "I thought..." You hesitated, looking toward the door and remembering what you'd overheard earlier. "I thought you said you were busy."
Zayne held your gaze, a subtle smirk playing on his lips. "I lied," he said quietly and calmly. "I have a plan, though I don’t know if the person I want to invite will agree." Zayne paused once more, watchful. "So, are you free?”
The heat shot to your cheeks, and you stared back for a second with your mouth partially open, your body freezing as you realized what was happening. That tension inside your chest melted into something strangely warm. You swallowed once, tried to collect yourself, and hushed, "Yes." Clearing your throat, you spoke a little louder, "Yes, I am.”
You could see his lips curving subtly, his relaxed confidence only making your pulse quicken. "Good," he said lightly, heading back to his chair. "I'll wait for you at my place for dinner.”
As you left his office, you exhaled a breath, the weight that had settled in earlier on your chest shifted to fluttering excitement. You turned the corner, but not before glancing back at his office, not quite able to suppress a wide smile as warmth spread through your heart.
