#propofol

[Warnings: medical setting, coming out of sedation, IV mention]

Hero blinked, face contorting in a mix of confusion and discontent. Slowly, their surroundings came into view. A curtain, a small room cornered off by it, a figure by their feet. They laid on a bed lined with blue sheets with several white blankets layered over them. A nurse tapped quietly on a standing keyboard to their side.

They closed their eyes for another second, and when they opened them again the figure at their feet now loomed closer. It took a second, but Hero recognized the features peering down at them.

“Villain?!” They tried to exclaim, but it came out more as a cough. Their throat was dry and partially numb, making it difficult to form any subsequent words.

“What-“ they coughed again, falling into a short fit. The nurse laid a gentle hand on their arm, assuring them that that response was normal.

Momentarily distracted from their enemy’s presence in the room, Hero noticed their right arm feeling oddly cold. When they managed to untangle the limb from the sheets, an IV was revealed settled into the crook of their elbow.

Not that surprising, considering that it was there before they were put to sleep.

Hero gathered themselves, eventually able to ask weakly, “What are you doing here?”

“You asked me to drive you,” the villain replied, something disturbingly close to concern lurking behind their eyes as they gazed down at the formerly-sedated hero.

Hero narrowed their eyes suspiciously. They remembered signing in for the procedure, but they decidedly did not remember asking their nemesis to accompany them to the hospital.

“Yes, really. I can show you the paperwork if you want.”

Hero glanced to the nurse for help, but she too betrayed them with a confirmation.

Talk about being vulnerable, it didn’t get more trusting than asking your arch enemy to stay in the building while an anesthesiologist rendered you unconscious.

Hero didn’t have the energy to be concerned though, so they accepted the help of the rival that was shifting on their feet.

A change of clothes and a wheelchair ride later, Hero was settled into the front of the villain’s car, fully awake and ready to complain.

“I’m so hungry. Let’s stop at McDonald’s. I would die for some salty fries.”

“Sorry, you can’t eat yet,” Villain informed them apologetically.

Hero glanced at the clock and groaned.

“Some water, at least?” Hero begged.

“No on that too, I’m afraid.”

“What? So you just want me to starve?”

“Not me,” Villain replied easily, not bothering to take their eyes off the road to witness Hero’s grumbling, “Doctor’s orders.”

“So you let doctors do your dirty work now,” Hero huffed, crossing their arms over their chest.

They pointedly ignored the smile that spread across the criminal’s lips at their tantrum.

A long winded rant about dehydration followed.

When they were finally handed a water bottle an hour later, Villain had to snatch it right back out of their hands before they chugged it.

Prosecution, "Oral administration of drugs" Yoo Ah-in Arrest warrant Rechengqu, Shanwei