hex

[pixiesweat]

Manuel’s first ever ambulance ride wasn’t one he was going to remember very well; most of it had already faded into a blur. He vaguely remembered sitting in an alleyway listening to the sound of sirens getting closer and thinking he should move before they reached him. He remembered lights. It seemed like it was only a few seconds later when they arrived at the hospital.

By the time they got there he was already more alert. He was actually focusing on what was going on around him, watching the world with wide, frightened eyes. He was finally able to keep a train of thought going long enough to realise how big this mess had the potential to get. He was sure he remembered the woman who’d been with him mentioning a “possible mugging” to the emergency services – were they going to send the police? He really didn’t want to try to explain a vampire bite to the human police force. Or the human medical staff. And he didn’t have the first clue what he was going to say if somebody asked to call his parents.

He wished he’d managed to disappear into the night when he’d had the chance.

He was still pale and sweaty. There were red, already swollen marks on his upper arms and left wrist from being manhandled by the vampire. They weren’t serious injuries, but he was going to have some impressive bruises. His neck had already stopped bleeding, but whoever looked underneath the blood-soaked gauze was in for a bit of a surprise.

((Relevant thread is here, btw c:))

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[just_hex]

Once the initial flurry of activity was done all that was left was Hex, checking leads and doting with his magically soothing way. Patients liked Hex. Trusted him. He was handsome and kind, had an interesting accent and large blue eyes that laid sympathy like a sweet hound.

"Time to get an IV in, mate," he said. "Looks like you got the rough end of it tonight. And you look like you're about to come out of your skin. You want a little something to relax you a bit? Keep the white coat syndrome at bay?" he chatted amiably.

[pixiesweat]

Manuel was silent a moment, trying to get his thoughts in order long enough to speak. He still wasn't exactly firing on all cylinders.

He swallowed. "I don't... it's fine and I... I mean the... it's not bad."

He didn't even know what he was trying to say.

[just_hex]

Hex rested his hand on the young man's shoulder.

"Let's just get the IV. If you don't like needles, take a look over at that war infection chart..."

[pixiesweat]

Manuel most definitely did not like needles. He did as Hex suggested, trying not to think too much about what was about to happen. He was visibly tense.

[just_hex]

The needle was barely there ad then gone, only the small tubing bit left in the vein. Hex taped it in place and set up a bag, injecting it with some medication to help calm Manuel down.

"So," he said in his gentle tone. "Why don't you tell me what happened. You won't shock me. Not old Hex," he promised- and he meant it.

[pixiesweat]

If it hadn't been for the drugs that question would have made Manuel freak out even more. But they were already working their magic and he only felt confused and a little groggy as he tried to work out how to answer.

"I don't... I don't remember." It was a lie. It wasn't like he could tell the truth.

[just_hex]

"You don't? Why don't you tell me what the last thing you do remember is," he said kindly.

[pixiesweat]

He thought for a moment. Lying was a lot harder when someone asked you for details.

"I was walking."

[just_hex]

"That's good. That's good. Where were you walking?" he asked, trying to keep his tone light and casual. No pressure. It was part of what made him good at his job.

[pixiesweat]

“To the…” He didn’t think admitting he’d been aimlessly wandering the streets in the middle of the night was a good idea. But he couldn’t think of a lie, and the truth ended up coming out anyway. “…nowhere."

[just_hex]

"Nowhere? That's a hell of a place to go," Hex teased. "Were you just wandering around? When I was new to London I wandered everywhere. Took the tube. Explored. Nowhere particular was me goal. You sound like you might be new to town, eh?" he asked, probing a little.

[pixiesweat]

"No. I've been here for ages." All his life, with the exception of the time he'd spent living in Faerie.

[just_hex]

"Oh, I see. But you don't know your way around the city?" Hex asked gently, then followed it with, "Do you know what year it is?"

[pixiesweat]

He had to think for a moment. "It's 2015, right?"

[just_hex]

Hex nodded slowly.

"All year. It's almost winter, though, so not for much longer."

[pixiesweat]

"I knew that," he said, though he looked confused still. Had he known what time of year it was? He couldn't remember.

[just_hex]

"Alright, yeah? That's good. That's a start. Where have you been for the past bit? Say...three days? Do you know where you've been?" he probed, hoping he could stitch together some sort of picture.

[pixiesweat]

"Just... around. In the city." He wasn't sure what else to say. He could hardly tell Hex that he'd been spending his time loitering and committing the occasional petty crime.

[just_hex]

"Do you have a home?" Hex asked. "I can call services to help set you up if you don't." It was a genuine offer meant only out of kindness. He was finding Manuel more confused than evasive and that concerned him deeply.

[pixiesweat]

"Yes." I live alone in a flat given to me by a faerie prince. More things he couldn't say. "I mean I do. It's fine."

[just_hex]

"Manuel, I'd like you to get comfortable. I'm going to go see about getting a little something to help you sleep," Hex said.

[pixiesweat]

"I don't need to go to sleep." Though considering that he still thought he wasn't badly hurt and didn't even need to be in hospital, he probably wasn't the best judge of that.

[just_hex]

"Just a little bit to take off the edge of worry. Not a big deal, mate. And I'll come back and sit with you a bit, yeah?" he said, but without waiting for Manuel's consent he left the room for what seemed like a terribly long time. It was only because it took a bit of time to get things into the charts and get permission for the medication.

[pixiesweat]

Manuel just lay and waited. There wasn't much else for him to do.

[just_hex]

Hex came back, all smiles.

"Sorry," he said. "I know it can be boring. I should have shown you how to turn on the telly. Alright, then, let me see your arm. This really won't hurt a bit."

He put the filled syringe on the bed and began to tear open an alcohol pad.