Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Medkit couldn't seem to look away from the pool of pinkish red blood on the floor of the lab, the pinkish blood that stained his right and his own blood that stained his left. His arms shook as he tried to brace himself against the floor, hearing nothing but the whirring of the AC unit and Subspace's pained rasps a few feet from him.

It was a common nightmare, common enough that Medkit dragged himself up by the lab table next to him, none of the vials on it falling, though they should have  with how shakily he grabbed hold of it.

"Ill-" Subspace rasped "-Kill you-" He took another breath "-for this." Subspace burst into a coughing fit.

Medkit shakily grabbed the towel off the table, the same one they had always kept there in case subspace was clumsy enough to spill the vials again. Right now it served a different purpose, Medkit's left hand holding the towel to his eye socket, and his right arm steadying him against the wall as he stumbled towards the door. Medkit sucked a breath through his teeth, the rough towel soaking up the blood leaking from where his eye was.

Now, He knew he would make it to the door. He did every time.

Except this time.

An explosion of bright pink erupted next to medkit, and he barely had time to brace himself before slamming against the cold concrete floor, the blueprints that had been strewn across said floor flew everywhere. The air was knocked out of his lungs, and he gasped to get it back. Except he didn't get to.

The moment he was on the ground, a boot stomped on his ribcage.

Medkit cried out, but acted fast and immediately summoned his gear, slamming the briefcase into Subspace's shin with all the strength he could muster up.

The neon pink inphernal hissed but only leaned more of his weight on medkit's ribs.

"I told you I'd kill you for this" Subspace seethed. Voice clearer, no pained gasping, though muffled. Pure hatred was conveyed through Subspace's tone.

As the view of Medkit's eye cleared, Subspace looked different, somehow more crazed than before in the dream. A gas mask covered the lower part of Subspace's face, and the wound that had just been open over his eye and left side of his face was scarred and rotting over.

Medkit felt over his eye socket only to feel smooth black leather over the spot that was usually empty in this dream.

He didn't have time to really think about the changes before a boot crashed into his face and he woke up breathing heavily on his couch.

The alarm clock on the coffee table made loud abrasive beeps and Medkit reached over to clap a hand over the off button.

He checked the time. He wasn't meeting up with Sword today, who had something planned with Rocket today.

Medkit was disappointed at that, he needed a distraction of some kind today.

What was there to even do anymore?

He'd gotten a tip that Banhammer was in the area, so markets were off limits.

Parks were.. enjoyable? But at the moment, Medkit didn't feel like doing anything other than staying here on the couch.

He had that numb anxiety in his stomach, the kind that feels like bugs worming around in your gut. He felt over his nose, as if expecting it to hurt from being stomped on in the dream.

Obviously, no pain arose, but Medkit still sank back onto the couch. He had nowhere to be today. A few more hours of sleep wouldn't hurt... more restful, hopefully.

Medkit closed his eye, and a faint tint of pink crept into his vision.

He opened his eye.

Maybe the park wasn't such a bad idea.

----

Medkit breathed in the fresh air of the outdoors.

Medkit mundanely walked through the park in the center of crossroads, briefcase summoned and held close to his side, swaying as he walked and occasionally annoyingly bumping into his thigh.

He found something mundane to do, bringing a black leatherbound clipboard with him, tallying up blades of grass or reciting medical practices.

Like how he used to study in Blackrock.

Medkit was not particularly comfortable here, on edge as ever.

The dream shouldn't have been that bad. It's a dream. A nightmare.

But Medkit couldn't take his mind off of it. He saw a flash of pink in the corner of his eye,  and he turned his gaze to the spot. Nothing but some pink inphernal, wearing clothes much more casual than subspace ever would. You'd think that uniform was glued to him

Though Medkit couldn't say much different for his own.

A shout from behind him dragged him back from his thoughts. "Hey Medkit!" A familiar voice called from behind him. Medkit had never felt more relieved, sword and rocket giving him a very welcome distraction.

“Wasn't expecting to see you here! I thought you worked today?” Sword said with a smile.

“No, I have off today, just didn't want to interrupt your time with Rocket.” Medkit said. 

“Well, you're welcome to join us now, I wouldn't mind. Rocket?” Rocket looked from Sword to Medkit and shrugged, content enough if he got to spend time hanging out with Sword.

Medkit gave the two of them his signature tired look and a nod.

"Yeah, I'll come." He carefully closed the leather-bound clipboard, stuffing it in his gear before de-summoning it.

Medkit stood up and stuffed his hands in his pockets, trailing behind the two.

"Right, so you know that café we hang out at every now and then?" Sword started. Medkit tried to focus on what Sword was saying, though often falling into thought again.

Medkit did his best to pay attention to sword's rambles, though when he would rant for a little too long, Rocket seemed to catch Medkit's drifting attention and redirect Sword back to a real conversation, instead of the mountains of detail he would dive into.

Though, Medkit never really had much to add when the two talked. He was never good with small talk, preferring to listen to other people talk rather than add himself.

Rocket's face twisted as they passed by one of Medkit's favorite diners, across the street from the electronics store.

"I still don't get the appeal of those. Me and Sword have seen like two of them in the last week. They're creepy." Rocket said, gesturing with his head to the electronics store across the way.

Something reflected sun into Medkit's eye when he turned to look.

What.

The.

Fuck.

The Biograft stood next to the electronics store with such innocence, unsuspecting. It's metallic head turned enough to look directly at Medkit. Though Medkit had to squint to see it. Medkit's breath caught in his throat. Medkit didnt give it time to recognize his face.

Medkit ducked next to sword ungracefully, using him and rocket like a shield from the biograft's eyes. Medkit scowled, sword noticed.

"You okay med?" Sword checked in, concern lacing his face.

"Hm? Yeah. Just saw something." Medkit mumbled, having to actively stop himself from looking back at the biograft, to check it was real.

Biografts in crossroads. He knew about Playground and obviously Blackrock, but crossroads? This was new, and Medkit didnt have a good feeling about it.

Medkit tried to focus on the people he was with, listening to their injokes, even when his didn't understand some, but he couldn't take his mind off of the biograft issue. it pressed into the forefront of his mind no matter what he tried. his eyes scanned every alley they passed, trying to ensure himself he was safe when a part of him was convinced he wasn't

It was later in the walk that they circled back to the same electronics store, though the biograft was gone. The tv display switched from the news to an advertisement for biografts as personal bodygaurds. A flashy price tag displayed on screen, and Medkit almost flinched when Subspace was noted as a credit.

He averted his eyes from the tv and back to sword's boots in front of him. Screw this. Medkit didn't want to be out here anymore.

"Apologies, you two. I remembered something i left back at the clinic, so ill leave you two to your date." Medkit said. Before Rocket or Sword could refute the date claim, Medkit was already back down the street, vanishing down an alley. He was going home

Chapter Text

Medkit's rest didn't last. He didn't sleep that night, instead turning to the old trashy computer in the corner of his apartment.

He replayed the advertisement a good 30 times at least. The familiar blue glow shifted as he scrolled through article after article.

'Breakthroughs in Biograft technologies!' 'The golden standard of safety!' 'Blackrock tech in crossroads, everything you need to know.' Medkit read every one.

This wasn't good for him, he knew. Sfoth, why was he so bothered? He knew his old lab partner had moved on.

A website was pulled up in front of him, the tab open to a list of Biograft variants, the designs up for purchase and commission.

Medkit recognized multiple from old schematics Subspace's dorm was constantly littered with. Medkit had pretended to be uninterested in them as he studied the blueprints littered around his lab partner's cluttered room.

Subspace was nothing if not smart.

Medkit ran a hand down his face, from his left horn, to his temple, to his cheek in an ungraceful movement.

Medkit hovered the mouse over the 'x' in the corner of the screen, taking another glance at the dozen tabs before clicking the 'x'.

The peace he felt with the tabs gone didn't last long. He threw the worry off of him only for it to come back with a vengeance. Medkit drew his knees to his chest on the crappy folding chair, the metal against metal hinges making an ear splitting squeak.

What if he missed something? Why would he sleep now when the restore page button was right there?

Medkit hit the god forsaken button and delved back into his research.

Medkit woke unrested with hair falling out of his messy bun. His antler-like horns were tangled with the mouse cord on his desk, and he could envision the bright red mark on his cheek from sleeping on the desk again.

He rubbed at his eye and checked the time, to be greeted with the dim screen's reply of 2:47 am. He groaned and stood up, using the dim blue light of his laptop screen to take off his jacket and rest it on the back of his chair, switching out his usual formal church uniform in favor of a comfortable white tank top and a pair of loose sweatpants.

He clicked the off button in the left corner of the laptop, and made his way through the dark to the couch in the middle of the room.

He sat down on his couch, since he didn't have a bed in the one room apartment. He pulled his thin blanket over himself, the only light in the room was the dim moonlight through the window and the faint teal glow of the crystal between his horns.

He closed his eye with hesitance. His mind forcefully replayed a memory he would've gotten rid of if he could.

In which there were two people crammed on the poor mattress of a Blackrock dorm. the floor was littered with plans, blueprints, trinkets, some of which from Medkit himself. Medkit's face was buried in the other scientist's hair, a welcome warmth at the time. there was a faint pink glow in front of him painting the nothingness of his closed eye with a gentle magenta.

Medkit knew it was a dream. He didn't move. It was better than the nightmares at the very least. He rested into the arms of the ghost. the light flickered, though Medkit's eye was closed he could still see the light over his eyelids. the scientists arms tightened around him. though the hold wasn't too tight, the claws holding onto the back of his tank top proved something was wrong. the peaceful breaths against his shirt collar suddenly became a raspy gasp. Medkit's eye flew open with a sharp inhale.

He was greeted with amber filtering through the windows, illuminating the dust in the apartment like tiny specks of gold. Medkit rubbed his eye.

He was back on the couch, and by sfoth did his back hurt.

Why couldn't his dreams be normal? One out of the ordinary nightmare was bad enough. Two is miserable.

Medkit slipped into his uniform, the fabric feeling more uncomfortable than ever with the anxiety that already felt like it was suffocating him. maybe he'd do without the jacket today.

One thing Medkit could rely on to not screw him over today was the stained coffee pot in his kitchen, seated across the countertop from the polished old phone. the one that only one line ever called. the one that reminded him he was protected, even if his nightmares said otherwise. 

Crossroads was colder at sunrise, a chill breeze running over him as he made his way to the clinic. A fairly wealthy lady walked past him, bragging very loudly over the phone about the shiny expensive Biograft bodyguard she had bought herself. the ugly thing was a good two feet taller than the lady. Medkit couldn't understand someone wanting to buy one of those robots, though if you had asked him years prior, he could've given you a list.

Medkit could've sworn the damned thing looked directly at him when he passed by it on the sidewalk, his gaze dipping low to the pavement he was walking on, in order to avoid the robotic glare. Just a couple more blocks to the clinic.

The late morning sun glared off of the clinic window as he fished his keys out of his pocket and opened the door, flipping the shabby sign and opening for the day.

"So. An engineer?" The interviewer asked with a serious but intrigued tone. A much younger Medkit respectfully nodded.

"Right. And you are aware that your gear would be much more useful in the medical wing, yes?" The interviewer drawled and Medkit resisted the habit of shifting in his seat.

"With all due respect, sir, my mind would be of more use in a lab. I was top of my classes. it hardly seems to be in the interest of progress if a good mind goes to waste." Medkit skillfully recited the argument he had practiced earlier, with the kind of quiet confidence that left little room for argument. The kind that you had to learn in Blackrock, else the faction would rip you to shreds.

The interviewer had nodded.

"Very well, we have a few positions open, but we can't be too sure you're fit for them yet. So how about a trial run, in a way? We have a scientist who has a... tendency to get himself hurt. If you can work with him for a few months, we'll find you your own personal lab."

Medkit had a bad feeling about whoever this 'partner' was. He had never been particularly good with people. Especially the impulsive kinds who would always get themselves in trouble. Medkit worked his best when he was left to do things on his own. 

But despite his hesitance, the offer of a personal lab was a fine carrot on a stick, and Medkit started chasing after it as soon as he shook the interviewer's hand.

Chapter Text

Medkit didnt get many customers that day, just some scheduled checkups, or thats how it seemed until rocket walked in with his prosthetic arm in his right hand.

Medkit could imagine what this was about.

As Medkit treated the stump of rocket's left arm, which was currently inflamed from some accident he had waking up that morning. Rocket mentioned forgetting to take off his prosthetic? And now the arm was terribly blistered.

Medkit applied ointment and started wrapping gauze around the inflamed area.

Rocket tinkered around with the prosthetic in his lap, trying to figure something out with the fingers.

Rocket was bright.

Medkit didnt like him at first, the smartass personality clashing quite annoyingly with Medkit's calm demeanor. Though when Medkit saw the young adult sitting here, that innovative spark in his eyes, Medkit couldn't help but see a little bit of himself in rocket's eyes.

"You've gotta take better care of yourself" Medkit said. "Even sword doesnt come in here this often."

"Right, right, sword also doesnt have two prosthetic limbs to worry about." Rocket witted, flapping his hand for a moment after getting it pinched in one of the moving pieces.

"But he's gotta worry about training every day. You've just gotta worry about working that shop." Medkit pointed out. Rocket gave an exasperated eye roll and sigh, not pausing his tinkering with the arm.

Medkit wondered if rocket had ever considered engineering. Maybe it'd give him a better start than what he had now. Maybe he'd have more of a chance.

Medkit wondered if he would've had better luck with his passion had he spawned anywhere but blackrock. Maybe he could've been renowned instead of infamous.

Medkit hoped Rocket could have that chance. The one he didn't get.

"im gonna have to start charging you for how much of my time you take up" Medkit threatened unseriously, a hint of almost fondness in his voice.

"You know I don't have that kind of money." Rocket said while tuning a knob to tighten his arm.

"My point exactly." Medkit said, taking the prosthetic out of rocket's hands for a minute, the inphernal giving him a half-assed scowl over it.

"You made all these modifications?" Medkit asked in an impressed tone.

"Just about all of them." Rocket said with pride.

Medkit nodded with approval for a quick moment, turning it carefully around in his hands for a moment.

He handed the prosthetic back to rocket after a moment, the inphernal rubbing at the stump of his arm, seemingly examining Medkit's work.

"If you rub that off again, I swear to sfoth." Medkit sighed.

"It'll be fine." Rocket retorted, though as he did so, his rubbing at the bandages caused one to fall loose. The blue horned inphernal reached to awkwardly fix it.

"You gotta learn to do this yourself if you're just gonna keep rubbing it off by accident." Medkit rubbed his temple.

"Well then someone has gotta teach me." Rocket said back with his usual snark.

----

"Someone's gotta teach you how to clean your own wounds." Medkit said as he wrapped subspace's arm, the messy wound from the glass vial shattering was now wrapped in clean white gauze.

"Why would I do that when that's what you're here for." The inphernal mused, leaning back on the lab stool. Medkit just sighed, holding back an amused smile. His facade of sternness stayed prevalent on his face. He wished it could've stayed a facade. 

"Im serious, subspace. I'm not always going to be here to patch these up for you." Medkit said absently, too casually for the subtext behind his words. The admission of something he promised he wouldn't tell subspace about until he made a decision there.

The facade faded into a real emotion when subspace gave him a confused look. "Well for a while, at least, we're lab partners. Can't get away from me that easily." Subspace said, his tone teasing, though there was a hint of nervousness or panic behind it. Medkit could feel the way the muscles in the inphernal's arm tensed, as well as feeling a large twang of guilt when the scientist stiffened.

Medkit's stomach churned with unresolvable dread as his mind flashed back to the letter on his desk. The offer for a new lab. The offer he had written an acceptance response for, that was sitting in the top drawer of the desk. His ticket out of this lab. Away from his self-sabotaging Lab partner, away from the constant messes and constant wounds to heal, away from the concerning experiments and comments... away from the hands that would brush away the hair from his face when he was too tired or focused to do it himself.

Away from the arms that held him gently, like some precious piece of the stars themselves, even when those same arms would scorch the world if they got the chance.

Did Medkit really want that?  He knew it was wrong to stay around. Subspace wasn't right in the head. This wasn't good for either of them. they would only hurt each other. when Medkit would ignore subspace or make a comment that hurt a little more than the banter, or when Subspace would sabotage a project, to keep Medkit around to clean up both of their wounds. Every time they exchanged affection, it felt like twisting a screw loose, waiting for the machine to fall apart. waiting for something to break or explode.

It felt like something that could break everything either of them loved. Like knowing the plot twist of a movie and anxiously waiting for it to hit.

Medkit hated it.

"You alright Meddy?" Subspace said, the affectionate nickname feeling like awful, neon pink poison to his ears.

"Hm? Yeah, just lost in thought is all." Medkit responded and rubbed at his temple. The glowing green-blue crystal on the table pulsed. Medkit tried to clear his head and focus on the task at hand. Medkit quickly finished wrapping up the burn on Subspace's arm. 

Subspace's hand moved to Medkit's after Medkit let go of the gauze. the knife in Medkit's heart twisted. his hand tightened around subspace's

----

"I think I've gotta get back to the shop." Rocket said. "I'm supposed to help my dad out today." Rocket said with a sigh, standing up and stretching his arm, leaning his weight on his prosthetic leg. Medkit tossed him a roll of gauze, and Rocket caught it with ease.

"If you take that off again, just ask your dad to help you put that one on." Medkit said. "I'm sure he'll know how." 

"Yeah, yeah. War veteran or whatever, how do you even know about that?" Rocket asked.

"He was.. well known." Medkit responded, subtly and anxiously fidgeting with his briefcase as he shut it.

He wasn't particularly lying by leaving out bits of the truth. Rocket didn't need to know about his time with Blackrock.

He had left that behind; he lied to himself.

Chapter Text

It was only a few days later that Medkit had the dream again.

The one that always seemed more peaceful than the others.

Medkit learned not to trust it this time around.

This time, subspace didn’t breathe easy all the way from the start of the dream. Medkit didn't open his eyes. The uneasy dread curled in his stomach as he gritted his teeth. Part of him wanted to shove Subspace away, but the other part, the one that had been working for days, the one that hadn’t held or been held in ages, that made him pull his former lab partner closer.

A raspy chuckle echoed against his collarbone, rotting flesh pressed against the skin above the collar of his shirt. Medkit should’ve shoved him away by now. Yelled at him about how sick he was both physically and mentally, but instead, he didn’t move an inch. It was just a dream, after all. It wouldn’t do him much good.

The horns that Medkit always thought looked like pincers were lightly digging into his neck. He shifted his head, and Subspace shifted his right back. 

Medkit’s fingernails dug into the back of Subspace’s shirt, and if Medkit didn’t have so much restraint, he would’ve clawed them straight into the damned demon’s back.

Subspace's tail lazed over Medkit's leg. Moving sluggishly and tiredly, like it always did when subspace worked too long. Medkit used to never feel put off by it, knowing full well that his lab partner would never attack him with it. But now, even if it was a dream, the threat of rot and death felt more real than ever.

This wasn't the Subspace from the memory. Of course it wasn't. In that memory, Subspace wasn't a walking corpse. In the real memory, this embrace felt much less like a trap or a threat. The room had been fully dark then, instead of the sickening neon pink that painted the view behind medkit’s eyelids.

That subspace's embrace had always been sporadic, sure. A random hug in the lab, a hand around  his wrist during briefings, claws clutching his thigh when he had to patch the reckless inphernal up.

But there was always affection behind it. Not like this one.

This one felt like a claim. Like a reminder of his past. Like he was a mouse, and the embrace was a snake, constricting until he was lifeless. Like something was screaming into his ear that he wouldn’t get away. That subspace would catch up, and every measure he had taken to stay lightyears away from his past wouldn’t matter.

When the horns dug into his skin again he didn't bother moving his head. He just opened his eyes.

The empty apartment stared back at a disheveled Medkit. And the cycle begin anew.

Medkit didn't get out of bed. The ceiling was a welcome sight. Medkit reached for the cell-phone on the coffee table next to the armrest, above his head. He had a few missed messages, small stuff like Sword sending him videos.

Would Sword get it?

Medkit couldn't help but wonder. Sword always came to him about this sort of thing. Whether he was stressed about training, or Rocket, or his dad, Sword always came to medkit to talk it out.

Medkit was good with listening. And he cared enough to listen to Sword's venting. Maybe if he talked to him he may feel a bit better?

Medkit shut the thought down. Sword shouldn't have to bear Medkit's issues.

Sword's issues were.. normal. To say it lightly. The kind of issues that were more along the lines of worrying about his friends or obligations. Medkit’s problems were more.. Paranoia inducing, to say the least. trying to hide from a past that was insistent, near desperate to cling to him, or try to drag him back.

It would be unfair to shove his problems onto Sword like that.

Medkit's eyes drifted to the red phone in the kitchen. He couldn't help but feel drawn back to it, after such a nightmare.

His computer was on. It must've come on in the night during a power flicker or something, the monitor displaying his 8 tabs of biograft research.

Medkit sat up on the couch, taking a deep breath before standing up and moving into the kitchen.

He set his cellphone down on the counter before resting his hands on the counter. His hands were chilled by the cool granite countertop.

His gaze wandered between the two phones on the counter. One to try and get better, and one to run away again.

He could call Sword, which led him to two options. A would be to come clean about the issues he was facing, let himself come loose for a bit and talk with his brother. Or B, he could be vague. Provide himself with nothing more that a temporary distraction from the issues that he’d already been facing for years.

Or he could call the church. It wouldn’t matter to them what the issue was. He knew they would happily accept their healer back to stay longer. Even if he hated it there, hated the fact that he knew about the bullshit and lies that wretched cult spewed, and knew how much of a coward he was to stick with it for his own safety, while being fully aware of what it truly was. 

Medkit remembered being given the phone, finding it on his doorstep only 5 days after moving to crossroads. He had plugged it in on the kitchen counter, and was soon met with a pre-recorded message from a familiar annoying voice.

“Greetings, Brother. Father Overseer had some.. Concerns - about you moving so far from the Family. I assume if you are hearing this, you’ve already plugged this phone in somewhere or other, and I must tell you not to unplug it. We’ll know. Now, that does seem a bit more threatening than I originally intended-” A chuckle broke the sentences. “-But it’s just a safety precaution. So you don’t lose touch whenever you need our protection, or we need your services. Can’t have you getting hurt where we can’t see you, right medkit?” The Broker’s grating voice spoke over the phone.

Medkit would come to learn that broker was just about the only person to ever use his phone, though sometimes medkit would’ve preferred even scythe’s slightly offputting sweet tone over the broker’s chirpy, cracked voice.

Medkit had listened to the recording a second time for clarity, and didn’t even touch the phone until the next call. The phone had never moved since he plugged it in, though he took care of it, wiping it down whenever he cleaned the countertops. So it sparkled like a constant reminder. 

Medkit’s cellphone buzzed. It seemed the decision had been made for him. ‘Hey, you weren’t at the diner today, are you okay med?’ the message from Sword read.

Fuck, Medkit hadn’t checked the time. He opened his phone to see the clock read ‘1:07 pm’.

He quickly typed back a response, temporarily forgetting the turmoil he had been in over the kitchen phone.

‘Apologies, I must've slept through my alarm again.’ Medkit frantically typed back, hoping Sword wasn’t too let down over his mistake.

‘It’s alright, i just wanted to make sure youre okay.’ The new message from Sword read a moment later. Three little dots appeared at the bottom of the screen, and a longer moment later another message appeared.

‘Youve been acting weird lately and i just want to make sure everything is okay with you. If somethings bothering you you could always talk to me about it.’ Medkit shed one last glance at the shiny red phone on the countertop, before focusing on the worn, cracked one in his hand. After a long moment, Medkit typed a reply.

‘Are you still free today?’

Chapter Text

Sword’s apartment was always welcoming, even with the dark decor and dingy walls, you could tell it was cared about and had been well lived in for a very long time. There were some things put on the wall, though grantedly not many. As Sword was putting water in the microwave in the kitchen, Medkit sat on the couch in the living room, glancing at the small things on the walls of the apartment.

One read JR. Fencing champion, with a picture of what looked like a 12 or 13 year old Sword, with a saber in one hand, and a blue ribbon in another. One of them showed sword and rocket, rocket holding a bouquet of blue and red flowers, with a red tag attached to them, and sword holding a bouquet of crafted paper flowers, which had a blue tag to match it.

Medkit recognized his own face in one photo that was up and couldn’t help but smile a bit at it.

His own face frowned back from the photo, and Sword was grinning next to him. It was a pleasant memory for sure, though one that had been at quite a dark time in his life.

Life had been kind to sword, for the most part. Sword had been one of the first patients Medkit had tended to in crossroads, and Medkit remembered it clear as day.

Sword winced as he opened the door to the newly opened clinic. Did they take his insurance? He paused. Crap maybe he should’ve just called Venomshank… he was about to awkwardly turn around, clutching his arm in his opposite hand, when a teal inphernal stepped back to the desk.

“Hello?” Medkit greeted, immediately assessing the situation, and the wounded person in front of him. This was going to suck. Medkit didn’t have too much experience yet with running a clinic, or reading people for that matter, but he recognized awkwardness as well as anyone else.

The inphernal in front of him was wearing some sort of armor, a metal mohawk and a shoulder pad, not much else though. Impractical from what Medkit could tell. Signs of a fight were obvious, his left horn had a scratch, and his right arm was clawed up. Medkit guessed this was from a phight, for quick bux.

He couldn’t help the pang of pity, though.

“Uh- do you guys take PhauxCare here?” The inphernal asked in that unsure voice of a teenager who had to do something adult for the first time.

No, Medkit did not accept that insurance here. But he also knew the other nearby clinic didn’t either, and he wasn’t going to turn away an injured teenager just because of money. It was a slow day anyways, right?

“Yeah, we accept PhauxCare.” Medkit lied. “Let’s get that arm looked at” He said with his permanent exhaustion toning his voice.

It had turned out Sword’s injuries weren’t a one time thing. And on the 4th time he came in injured, Medkit broke the news about the insurance to him. 

“We don’t accept PhauxCare.” Medkit sighed and closed his namesake gear.

“What? Just last week you-” Sword started, confusion and momentary panic in his voice.

“I was doing it for free” Medkit gave him a pitying look.

“Im so sorry, i can’t- pay for that. I don't have the money.” Sword said. His face read panic and guilt.

“It’s alright, Sword. I don’t expect you to pay for it.” Medkit said, finishing marking down more stuff on a clipboard.

Sword just frowned, doing that thing Medkit had seen inphernals do quite a bit, where their eyes would flicker around as they thought of a solution to a problem.

“I can’t just freeload- I don't have to come back, ill be fine, I'm sorry for wasting your time doc.” Sword frowned, subconsciously rocking back and forth, which Medkit could already tell was a habit from seeing the kid do so two or three times already.

“Really, kid, You’re okay. It’s not even complicated proceed-” Medkit started, feeling a bit bad for making the inphernal feel guilty.

“Do you like burgers?” Sword cut him off.

“...Yes?” Medkit replied, confused. 

“Can I just buy you food? To make up for the unpaid treatments?” Sword asked.

“...Sure.”

And from the next Tuesday on, a tradition was born.

Medkit wasn’t sure when Sword looked less like some random kid he helped out, and more like a brother, but Medkit was sure that treating Sword that day had been the best decision he had ever made.

Sword came back with the tea as Medkit reminisced about the photo.

“Just double checking, you like tea with just the sugar and cream right?” Sword asked with a tilt of his head.

Medkit nodded, gaze landing on the two mugs in Sword’s hands.

“Got it, just making sure i remembered.” Sword set the cup down on the coffee table, taking a seat on the couch next to the  worn green armchair Medkit was sitting on.

“Thank you.” Medkit said, taking a small sip from the tea.

Sword nodded and sank into the couch comfortably with his own tea, which he preferred with honey and sugar.

Silence fell over the pair for a few moments before Sword spoke up.

“I don’t want to nag, but you’ve been… Out of it, recently. I’m worried, med.” Sword said, his gaze on Medkit pitying and worried.

Medkit didn't respond for a moment.

“There’s been a lot going on is all, I promise it has nothing to do with you or rocket, I've just been... Busy.” Medkit said, setting his mug on the coffee table.

“It has to do with me because you’re my friend, Medkit. You know if you tell me what’s going on I won't tell anybody else; I just want to make sure you’re okay.” Sword said, letting the words he’d wanted to say for the past few days slip out.

The silence that followed Sword’s concerned words was suffocating for the both of them, Medkit having to decide between actually talking about and acknowledging the problems at hand, and Sword left worrying again that he was pushing too far.

“...You know the robots?” Medkit tried.

“...Yeah?” Sword responded, taking a breath as the silence finally broke.

“I’ve got… a history with them, if that makes any sense.” Medkit said. “I don’t want to talk about all the details, but if it helps, that’s what's making me paranoid.” Medkit rubbed his temples.

Sword nodded, letting Medkit decide where the conversation went from here, to talk more about the matter or not.

“Don’t trust them, they… aren’t a good ‘product’ if you can call them that. I didn’t think I’d have to see them around crossroads, but I guess I was wrong.” Medkit said, making eye contact with Sword for a moment.

“Ill keep that in mind. You want me to let Rocket know?” Sword asked.

“If you want, I don't think he’s much of a fan of them himself, though, so it’s alright either way.”

Sword nodded and gave Medkit a smile. It felt like at least one of the weights on the doctor’s shoulders was now gone, and he could never be more thankful for the fact.

The conversation drifted to more trivial things, Sword’s day, something about a phight.

As Medkit was about to head out the door, he spoke once more to his brother.

“Thank you, Sword, for this.”

“Anytime, Med.” Sword said, offering a side hug to the doctor, who accepted and gave him a hug before heading out the door, and back into the cold streets of crossroads.

On the walk home, Medkit could swear to the swords that mechanical eyes were following him.