take care

Hans isn’t good at most things, but there’s one thing they’re very good at. Worrying too much.

Yuri was someone they considered a close friend, if not their best friend. It had taken them a while to grow close. Yuri never rejected their overly-friendly nature and always took their affection and ridiculousness in stride, but whenever it was just the two of them alone and talking about nothing, Hans could tell he was holding back something that was bothering him.

It wasn’t until recently that he learned what that might be, when Yuri told them that he’d be having surgery on his back. It wasn’t a surprise. Hans had obviously seen the giant lightning bolt scar that ran up Yuri’s spine and cupped the back of his skull, but they didn’t know why it was there. When they asked Yuri to tell them, he simply said there was an accident when he was still a Provident soldier.

Hans wanted to know more, but the look on Yuri’s face and the sadness in his voice was enough to crush them into silence. Then he asked if Hans could be there to take care of him after the surgery… they couldn’t even imagine saying no.

They wince when they bite their nails out of habit, which are already cut to stubs and the skin around them is broken. The sterile waiting room is doing nothing for their nerves. No matter how much they shift on the bench they can’t get comfortable. They read through all the magazines about an hour ago and their dead phone is charging next to Bosco, Yuri’s ‘sister’ who is also stuck in this waiting room hell.

She’s another lucan with striking red and white markings against blue skin that looks lavender from behind their glasses. Hans looks to her for comfort, but she looks back with tired eyes and no expression. They’ve known her longer than they’ve known Yuri, so they’re used to it, but it still makes them frown. She’s barely smiled at them since she got back from her service.

They know the surgery will go okay. Yuri made sure that they understood it was relatively low-risk. But something about the distant way Yuri talked about it made them nervous. Hans takes off their glasses and starts to fidget with them, and they look to Bosco again who also seems worse for wear. They want to say something to comfort her too, but — oh the nurse is here.

A tall human with rose gold hair and a dark purple uniform approaches the pair. “He’s ready for visitors.” They say politely and the two lucans practically jump out of their seats. The nurse leads them down hall, and Hans keeps trying to run ahead despite not knowing where the room is.

Bosco is the first one through the door. Her eyes scan the room, which is strange but Hans is so focused on getting to their friend that they don’t pay attention. Yuri is laid up and connected to a bunch of tubes and wires. A heartbeat monitor beeps steadily while he slurps something from a foil drink pack. “Hey guys.” He croaks in a dry voice.

Hans moves to scoop him up in a hug, but he stops them before they can. Instead, they sit on the edge of the bed and pick up his hand to hold it between their two shaking ones. They must be making a face because Yuri gives them a worried look. Hans quickly flashes him a big smile to make it better. “You. Uh. You look great!” About as great as someone that just got forgotten metal shrapnel removed from their spine can look.