Fin

[just_hex]

It had been a rather slow night in A&E and Hex had had plenty of time to chat with the other nurses. He'd been put off with the peds just because he was so good with the kiddies, but when warning bells went off in trauma Hex ran to where he was needed. The bloke was young and terribly thin and Hex got the distinct impression from the state of his hair and nails he was probably not well.

"I'm Hex," he said as two other nurses fussed over the young man, installing an IV and affixing EKG pads. "I just need to get a bit of history."

They went through the details and Hex took it all down, but what he was watching for with all this was to see how lucid Mr. Finlay Flynn was. The other nurses left before he got through the complete questionnaire.

"Almost done, Mr. Flynn," he said, then paused to look at the EKG printout. It wasn't good and the gravity of the situation settled heavy on his brow.

Comments

[just_hex]

"Two years. I was a combat medic before that," he replied, taking the menu but looking at the chalk board over the cash register. "I like it. It's all I've ever wanted to do- even when I was a boy. Never wanted to be a doctor."

[prince_of_nymphs]

"Military then. That makes a bit more sense I suppose. You look military," Fin noted as he looked Hex over with a casual flick of his eyes.

[just_hex]

"I do, do I? How many blokes have you know who've served, then?" he asked with a bright smile.

[prince_of_nymphs]

"Er- Well, none, really. My dad, I suppose," he shrugged- though he didn't feel as if he really knew his father at all these days. The man was a virtual stranger. Just a lie he'd grown up with.

"Why nursing though? What made you so keen on it?"

[just_hex]

"Well, you see...me nan told me from the time I was a boy that when I picked a career I should do something people will always be in need of. And I think she had it in mind for me to be a cobbler, because people always need shoes, yeah? But they're all made in China now these days, anyway. But I did a report when I was about nine. A report on Florence Nightingale. I think that was the first time I knew I wanted to be a nurse."

And it was just best that he keep mum on the fact that he'd met the woman and she'd been every bit as brilliant as he'd imagined her to be.

[prince_of_nymphs]

Fin laughed a little, because it was all so innocent sounding. Somehow, he just believed it.

"I never knew I wanted to act until I was doing it. Always figured I'd end up check out clerk like my mum," he admitted with a shrug. "Sometimes I wonder if I still should. You know, if I could get one to hire me. My condition's a bit off-putting for 'em all."

[just_hex]

"Just how much are you able to do?" he asked, but before Fin could answer, the waitress came over.

"Hex, love, are you on break? I can give you tomato soup and a bacon sarnie quick as you like," she offered. But he smiled and shook his head.

"No, I'm off. Me and me mate Finlay, here, we're looking to have a calm meal, not all in a rush."

"Oh, in that case the specials are on the board," she said. "Tea first?"

Hex nodded and then looked to Fin, unsure if he wanted tea or coffee or something else.

[prince_of_nymphs]

"Oh, um, tea would be brilliant, thanks," he told her, nodding a little and offering a small smile.

He could tell Hex came here a lot, and as he glanced at the menu, he wondered what the other man would suggest.

[just_hex]

"This is my treat, yeah? I know you're flush enough, but I want you to get a really good meal into you. Order anything you like. Enough for a go box if you like," he said. He could easily afford to get food into Fin and though the man had a place to live and money for food, he had a feeling he probably didn't eat well all that often.

"The chips and gravy are good. Not entirely American- I stayed at an American base and they call them fries and drown them in ketchup," he chuckled. "But the burgers are good. And so is the pie."

[prince_of_nymphs]

Fin hesitated and frowned just a bit.

"I don't need charity you know. I can buy food. ...And I eat, yeah? Just my meds make me ill a lot. Can't always keep it down. Some days I don't have an apatite at all," the thin man said, sinking down in his seat and looking just a bit humiliated.

He suddenly didn't want to be here.

[just_hex]

"It's not charity." Hex paused briefly and considered what he was going to say next for just a heartbeat. "It's a date."

But once he said it he thought that perhaps Fin didn't want it to be a date and he found himself blushing.

"...Erm, if, ah, if that's alright with you."

[prince_of_nymphs]

"It bloody well isn't, mate," Fin said, eyes going wide. "I'm not gay. I dunno wot you are, and I don't care- You be whatever you want to be. But I'm not, alright? I'm not like you."

He felt sick and shaky, refusing to look at Hex as he considered getting up and leaving.

He couldn't think about being on a date with Hex or any man. He wasn't his father, he refused to be like him. It was easier to repress any attraction he might have to the other man than admit he might have more in common with his father than he'd ever known.

[just_hex]

"Oh my god...I'm sorry. I thought you were," he said, blushing so badly it stained his neck and cheeks up to his eyes. He didn't quite know what to say...he'd never made such a mistake.

"I thought...the way you smiled and...and, god, I'm sorry, mate. My mistake. Really. If you want to get something to go...or you can order and I'll fuck off..."

[prince_of_nymphs]

Fin didn't want to go though- He found he liked Hex and wanted to be near him.

"No, it's fine- I'm just... I'm not. Alright?" he said awkwardly.

[just_hex]

"Alright," he agreed. Embarrassment boiled in him, hot and liquid filling his chest and twisting his gut. He didn't need to look but he distracted himself by picking up his menu to look at it.

For the longest moment he wasn't sure he could speak, but then he did find something worth saying.

"I've really made this awkward. I'm sorry. I do think you;re lovely, though. Maybe we'll be mates after all. What else do you do? Other than acting? Maybe we've got something in common?"

[prince_of_nymphs]

"You into music? I go to a lot of gigs. I saw Crystal Castles the other week, and my mate's got tickets to see Dragonforce next month, so that'll be brilliant," Fin said, offering a very small smile.

[just_hex]

"I like music a lot, but I've never been to a concert. Not a proper one. I've seen musicians in bars and the like, and once when I was in Afghanistan they had a show with the newest incarnation of the Pussycat Dolls. Something of that was lost on me, though," he chuckled.

[prince_of_nymphs]

"You should go see a proper show sometime. There's nothing like it. Makes me feel alive to be in the front row with the sound vibrating through me," Fin admitted, deciding he'd just have chips and vinegar as he closed the menu.

[just_hex]

"Who's your favorite? Or do like a variety of music?" Hex asked. He couldn't help that he kept studying Fin, thinking he was really quite lovely. His lips were so pink and the shape of his jaw so fine. And Hex knew he needed to not be thinking such things when Fin had been nothing but clear, but he reasoned he could think the man was attractive and still be just friends.

[prince_of_nymphs]

"Like a bit of everything, if I'm honest. Don't have favourites, just like whatever's good, yeah?" Fin shrugged, aware of how he was being studied, and finding he didn't mind it.

In fact, he sat up a little straighter, shoulders back as he rested his elbows n the table and his chin in his palm.

"Wot about you? You got a favourite?"

[just_hex]

"Not really. I had a mate who really enjoyed the Sex Pistols so I like them, but more because they remind me of Ace than because I think they're any good," he replied. "Mainly I listen to the radio and enjoy what's on then forget it five minutes later."

[prince_of_nymphs]

"Yeah? Well, if we're gonna be mates I'll Have to do something about that," Fin grinned. "Tell you what, I'll make you a mix. You'll love it."

[just_hex]

"You'd make me a mix?" Hex said, a bit taken aback. He had mates and all, and they had good times, but none of them had ever done anything like that for him before. It was...kind. Kind in a way he wasn't accustomed to.

"I'd like that. A lot." More than a lot, but he didn't want to gush and frighten Fin away.

[prince_of_nymphs]

"Yeah? Cool," Fin replied, offering a faint smile, then falling silent as their waitress returned.

"Um, I think I'll just have a large side of chips. Oh, and can I have some vinegar for them?" he asked.

"Sure, love. We do fish you know. You don't fancy fish and chips?" she offered.

"Nah. Thanks though," Fin replied, not wanting to admit in front of Hex that his stomach might not keep fish down.

[just_hex]

"Eggs Benedict for me, love," Hex said cheerfully. She smiled and scribbled it down.

"I could have guessed. You never get anything different when you've got the time to sit and wait," she said, then bustled off to see about their order.

"Are you vegetarian, then?" he asked. It was the only reason he'd think that Fin might decline the fish. Nothing against that- Hex tried to watch his own meat intake, but it was curious. Fin looked like a stiff breeze might blow him away. He could hardly afford to skip the fat and protein.