theonwyndham:
It happened, not working alongside Raven in the medical wing. Theon hated it with a passion, feeling the anxiety creep out in his veins each time she sent a look at him before going out. He never knew really if she was silently asking him to take care or wishing that he did not touch anything. He was not a doctor, nor a real medical assistant. It was all just a lie, so that they could stay together. Not much after their meeting, he had been pushed into this very room, Raven waiting for him and urging him to wear that white lab coat and to be prepared for their next surgery.
Surgery was all right, he guessed. Theon had some experience slicing up some skin, android skin, but Raven had a real talent for it. With sharp eyes he observed her, mimicking her movements when she passed him the scalpel. Raven did not speak often while working with him, too focused, but when she did, it was mostly educational. The thing was, there were others doctors, and assistants, though not much. It felt like a punishment when they kept sending the same woman in to assist Raven that week. Theon assumed they were trying to play games. Test them, or something. The only thing he could do then was work, and so he did, updating for of Raven’s cases.
Theon definitely did not think he’d get patients while the doctors were away. But then again, the prison seemed to like messing with him. Not even lifting his sandy head when he heard the door open, he only let out an exasperated sigh. The door slammed and to that, Theon jumped. Turning on his chair, frowning, his eyes automatically went to the wounded man standing in the middle of the place. A dry ‘well don’t just stand here’ died on his tongue as he recognized the bloodied face. Pyre.
“Oh.” Of course, he knew Pyre was alive. Though, the engineer did not think he’d see him. Thought they reserved him for Raven, usually. The last time he had seen him was at the ball, and he cringed internally as he remembered the awkward conversation that had taken place. He made his way to the taller man and softly placed a hand on his arm, directing Pyre to a near bed, urging him to sit. He was in a bad state. Why was he always in a bad state? “Wait here.” Theon whispered before quickly gathering medical supplies and dumping gently on the table next to Pyre.
A memory came flashing in the forefront of his mind; Eretreia sleeping next to a once again hurt Pyre, exhaustion and worry colouring her features. She had been holding his hand then, and Theon’s heart clenched at the thought of her. “Pyre.” He took a moment to examine the other man and before he knew it, he was encircling Pyre in a desperate hug. Perhaps a little bit too emotional for Theon, but he did not care much as of now. Hope that others survived flared once again in his tired heart.
In their occasional meetings, Raven had told Pyre all the details he asked for on living crew members she’d seen, and Theon was usually the main one she spoke of. It was nice to know he was alive, to hear about how he was doing, even if the news was usually less than great. But, to hear about a survivor and to see them in person were two very different things. Although the emotions Pyre was feeling was not nearly the same as the first time he saw Raven after arriving in Purgatory, it still was nearly overwhelming.
Pyre let Theon lead him to the cot, and he took a seat. There was so much that he wanted to say to Theon, and it wasn’t the tight pain in his jaw, becoming more apparent the longer he sat, stopping him. It was that he wasn’t sure where to start. So much had happened in the month since he’d last seen Theon, and he had no idea what he knew and didn’t, from speaking to others.
It was strange, to say the least. Pyre couldn’t remember the last time--if there were any--he was excited to talk to Theon. Most of their conversations started just as they ended: awkwardly and without meaning. But, now, this was different. Everything had changed. If anything good could come out of what had happened, maybe this was it.
When Theon came back to the bed, dropping the tools beside him, Pyre looked up at him, opening his mouth to begin forming any words. But, before he could, Theon had stopped the examination he had just begun and was wrapping his arms around Pyre. It was a move he wasn’t expectin, but Pyre recovered quickly and enclosed Theon in a hug. Like the many words he wanted to say, it was odd, yet familiar. Good.
“Hey, man,” Pyre smiled. His words were strong. A great first choice. “It’s good to see you. Finally. I wasn’t sure I ever would.”
He pulled back from the hug, dropping his arms down to his side. Pyre glanced over at the tools Theon had dropped on the table. Raven had talked about Theon working beside her, but Pyre hadn’t been sure if that was valid or just to protect him. Obviously, there had been some truth to it. If anyone on the crew was smart enough to learn how to be a doctor, it was Theon.
As he waited patiently for Theon to begin his work, the pain in his jaw and ribs returning, the words that had faded before came back to front. There was plenty he wanted to say. There was even more he wanted to ask. But, none of it really seemed right. Not after what he’d heard.
“How are you doing?” he started, looking up at Theon from where he sat. They could discuss details of prison life later, if there was time. Pyre didn’t know how much time they would have. “Really. How are you?”
