HOLDING HANDS AND INFIRMARIES

“This one’s pretty serious,” Will said, walking even faster. “She’s been drifting in and out. Emotional trauma more than physical. It’s going to be really hard for her to get adjusted if she-”
He paused, as he glanced over his shoulder back at Nico. Just stopped, in the middle of people passing, the injured being wheeled through, nurses and doctors rushing back and forth. He had a funny expression on his face looking down at Nico’s hands. “What are those?”
“Um,” Nico furrowed his brow, looking worriedly at Will’s face. “Apples?”
Does he realize he has a seriously traumatized patient to get to?
“There’s two of them.”
Nico couldn’t help but retort, “Nice counting. Will-”
“Why do you have two?”
“One’s for you,” Nico said slowly, completely thrown off balance. “I thought you’d want some breakfast. Or something. And I know you like apples.”
There was a very pregnant pause before Nico added, “Um, Will-”
Will reached down and grabbed one- the red one, with speckled highlights of yellow. His fingers lingered on Nico’s for a good four seconds,and it was only now, only this moment, that Nico finally allowed himself to hope. His mind raced, dreaming up scenarios, beautiful scenarios, that he didn’t think were really possible before now. Holding hands. Making out. Being alone in a cabin.
Will glanced up to Nico’s hair, his lips forming a happy, sarcastic grin. “Just woke up. I can see that.”
Will transferred the apple to his other hand so he could properly shake Nico’s disheveled black hair. Last week, Nico would never let anyone do that, other than Hazel. Ever. But for some reason, Will seemed to be the exception.
He seemed to be the exception to a lot of things.
Nico’s pulse stumbled into a ditch, and he closed his eyes for a long second before opening them with a start. His mind started grabbing onto anything that could make him come back to reality. “Patient,” he choked. He cleared his throat. “Don’t we have a traumatized patient to get to?”
“Right.” Will shook his head, also. “Right. Thanks for caring, Nico.”
For a second Nico thought he was talking about the patient, but then Will raised the bruised apple, grinning, and took a bite out of it.
Nico gave himself another second to breathe, and then he took off after Will, who was already on the move.
They rushed down to the room.

Notes

they make me so happy