#bysk1ppy

Kip definitely would not call himself the type to just willy-nilly go on dates. Mainly because, well — it wasn't very often he had the free time at all. His main job, and side hustles he took on, all of it sort of snatched up his time and kind of held it hostage, so to speak. So to say he was surprised with himself when he was winding down on a third date with an admittedly very handsome man? Would definitely be a bit of an under statement. Not to mention the date being at said mans place — something Kip certainly did not do often at all. Had already made his ice-breaker joke about being murdered, gotten a laugh out of it. All was going good. Really good, in fact, if the comfortable way they settled into the couch and watched a movie had anything to say about it. Amazingly good, if said movie soon got ignored for some mutual glances that ended in a few little breathless laughs on Kip's end. Breathless laughs that, inevitably — got caught in his throat when Owen began to lean in after one mighty long staring contest they seemed to have.

Kip could have backed up. Could have called it a night, admit he was tired, maybe admit he never moved so fast, but. . . Somehow he really did not find that any of that was true. When their lips met it was warm, it was gentle. There was no rush and no pressure to go farther than that. It was sweet, to say the least, and when it broke it was only with a few inches between them, just enough space to meet eyes once again. " . . . Soooo I take it you're bored of the movie, then? " Playful, a smile twitching onto his lips with too much ease.

I can't help getting emotional about that. These past few weeks without Manny have been… rough. I can't believe it's been almost a month since he passed. Since then, Emma and the kids have been a vital source of support for me. They've stuck by me, checked on me, and let me stay with them when the home we'd built felt too lonely.

Louie sits on my lap, missing his daddy as much as I do, and I sigh.

"I know, I know, but…"

I feel my eyes start to swell with tears, a knot in my throat I try to swallow. I press my finger under my nose, sniffling, pulling myself together as much as I can.

"I don't know. I still feel like I owe you guys for everything you're doing for me. If there's anything I can do for you…"

What a fucking day this had been. Robby wasn't actually sure how long he'd been at the hospital. A massive pileup had resulted in injury after injury coming in; one of the other hospitals had shut their ED ten minutes in, and they were the next trauma centre. Everyone had smashed into their mass casualty incident protocol. They'd done well, even with more loss than he would like to continue. He was… so tired. His very bones felt like they were rattling in his skin, and he'd had to go for a ridiculous debrief where Gloria had scattered praise in amongst calling him out on all the rules he'd bent.

They'd received one final drop of blood bags, but it had come too late to be useful. He barely registered them sitting in the corner, as environmental got to work making the ED operational again. On his way back from the 'meeting', fuming, he found himself walking past it again and frowned, not sure why it looked… weird. Then he sighed. He needed a moment to compose himself… he came to a stop, frowning, eyes drifting after… a few drops of blood, on the floor. Odd.

@bysk1ppy wanted adam

adam sits nervously at the table waiting for his date to arrive. they'd met on an app and spoken enough to know that they wanted to meet up, do this dinner, but adam's nerves are on fire. his palms are sweating and he keeps wiping them off on the knees and thighs of his trousers. all he can think is don't be weird, don't fuck this up.

when manny enters, adam stands too quickly and bumps the table with his knee almost knocking over the glass of complimentary water he's been sipping while waiting. great, already he's messing up. he thrusts his hand out, grinning, "nice to meet you... in person... uh, manny." he grins again, a little sheepish, then settles back into his seat. "hope it wasn't too hard to find parking?"