The man looked upset, and it didn’t feel like it was about what was going on at the moment. At least, not fully. “Is…something wrong?”
“Yes and no.”
“Well, that’s clear…”
“Sorry. It’s complicated…I’ll tell you, I promise, I will…but can I just think on it for a bit longer?”
“Is it…something about me?” Seri asked hesitantly.
“No! I mean…yes. It’s nothing that you did, Seri. It’s something between Cyrus and I, that I need to figure out and think over more. I’ll tell you everything though. I will, as it does involve you and Skya… I just need…”
“A little more time?” he stated.
“Yes.” Severo ran his hand lightly over his curls, leaning down to press a kiss to his forehead. “I just need more time to think.”
“Okay.” Seri reached out and grasped the man’s hand, smiling. Severo smiled back, even if it was slightly strained. “Do I have to go to the hospital?”
The Dweller chuckled. “Yes.”
“Ugh.”
Seri stood there on a circular platform in a hospital gown taking deep breaths in and out, and doing his best to not freak out. He’d been poked, prodded, scanned, and tested. Every healing bruise had been noted, current injuries…and past. The evidence of the damage he’d sustained was written clearly on his bones and tissue. There had been, admittedly…a lot.
Nymphs healed so fast that him breaking something didn’t really faze Preston. The only thing missing…was all the scars that should have come with the damage shown inside. But besides the pattern of fresh and still healing ones on his leg, from whatever surgery he went through when knocked out, and the stretch marks from giving birth…there was nothing. Preston had made sure of that. Ridding his body of all outward evidence of what he’d done, erasing it over and over again.
So, honestly, what was about to happen…shouldn’t have been a big deal…but as he stared at the white, overly clean room…it was.
A nurse with green hair in gray scrubs stood a distance away with a remote in her hand. The expression on her face was kind as she waited—looking to be in no hurry. “Whenever you are ready, Mr. North. Take your time.”
Severo was by the door, looking hesitant to leave. “Do you want me to stay?”
“I… No. You should go…”
The man nodded, and even though his face twisted with worry, he still turned to leave.
“WAIT!” Seri squeaked.
Severo froze.
“Stay…stay. I need you to stay…please,” he whimpered.
The Dweller turned back around, eyes glazed with tears now, and slowly he walked back in. The man took the only chair in the room. The one against the far wall. It felt too far…he wanted him to hold him. But Severo couldn’t for this.
“I’m right here. I’m not going anywhere,” Severo promised.
Seri nodded. He met Severo’s gaze across the room, took another deep breath, and slipped the gown off. A tear trickled down the man's face, causing his own to spill over.
“Arms out, please. I promise this will be over and done with quickly,” she said soothingly, her voice warm and soft.
Seri spread his arms out, flinching as a full circle screen dropped down from the ceiling. Except it wasn’t a screen…it was a giant camera. A split second was all it lasted, but it was enough to send his heart racing as it encapsulated him, his breath coming faster and faster. He gasped when a few flashes went off, the edge of panic was right there…but then it began to lift. Seri worked on slowing his breathing as it continued up.
“All done!” the nurse said.
Seri almost dropped where he stood, his relief at it being over was that overwhelming. Well, that and his leg was throbbing from overuse. Severo rushed over. He swept his robe up, and quickly wrapped Seri back in it, before pulling him into his arms. Seri clung to him, and buried his face into the man's chest, uncaring that he was being held much as one would hold a child in front of a random stranger.
“When willyou have all the test results and photos?” Severo reluctantly asked, his voice sounding thick to his own ears. Holding Seri against this chest like this, all he wanted to do was comfort him. And keep the topic far away from the last few hours…but he knew he couldn’t wait.
“Everything is pretty instant. They should have already uploaded directly to the CEB servers.”
