Note: I do not own Hetalia, Alfred F. Jones, Arthur Kirkland, or any other characters mentioned. This story belongs to myself and Cain-Wright. Leroy is me and Cain's.
1
The smell of chlorine and window cleaner permeated the lobby air. The man walking into the building sniffed it, his nose crinkling slightly. It smelled odd to him. New, but very clean, which he appreciated.
The sound of shoes on tile was nothing new, but the soles were a bit more polished than usual. Khaki pants, pressed, ironed with care, adorned legs, connecting to a slim torso. Of course, that wasn't naked. A crisp button-up shirt covered that up, followed by a long white doctor's coat. A small nametag read "Arthur Kirkland", pinned to the man's left lapel, just below his collar. The crinkled nose settled into calm on his face, and his eyes darted to assess his surroundings.
"Just like England," he thought, letting out a small sigh, his large eyebrows furrowing together. "Only... bloody America. Bloody, nasty... bastard America. Why did I come here? Oh right. The job. The pay. God fucking damn, why?"
Arthur continued down the hall, hands running through his choppy blonde hair. Where was he again? "America," he muttered. "Baystate Hospital." It sounded like a curse leaving his lips.
-o-
"Hospitals are always fun to visit!" a young American chimed, walking through automatic slide doors. He briefly scanned the floor before walking up to the check in desk.
"Not a busy day, Mrs. Grace?" he asked the old woman behind the desk.
"Oh Alfred what did you do this time" she said ignoring the question.
"Got my leg caught in some equipment." he said looking down at his right leg. A sloppy bandage job over torn pants covered the skin that was bloody and torn.
"You should really rethink the work you do as a construction worker" Mrs. Grace stressed. "But the doctor will see you shortly. So take a seat and wait"
Alfred smiled, "Thanks!" and limped over to take a seat.
"Oh ,and Alfred?"
He stopped and turn, "Yes?"
"There's a new doctor so take it easy on this one okay?"
"Of course!"
Maybe this time Alfred won't need to kill this one. His smiled stretched from cheek to cheek. "How exciting…" He sat in his chair nicely, waiting to be seen to.
-o-
Arthur rubbed his temples and went up to the front nurse, grumbling, "Morning, first day. Arthur Kirkland, the new physician?"
The white-haired woman nodded, giving him an encouraging smile. The blonde's bad mood lifted momentarily, and when she let him through he said, "Mornin', love..." before continuing through to his new office.
He sighed, rolling up the sleeves of his coat. A young woman appeared and said, "Doctor Kirkland?"
Already he was being called on. "Yes...?"
"We have a patient in 204A for you, some damage on his lower right leg. We need to you to basic inspection."
"Yes yes, of course..."
"Here's his information," the black-haired girl handed over a clipboard.
Green eyes skimmed over the page, "Alfred F. Jones... alright... fine. You, bloody bastard, are my first patient."
-o-
Alfred was moved into a different room. He sat on a gurney, swinging the one good leg he was like a child.
"What was this new doctor like?" he wondered.
Hopefully he wouldn't try to bud into his personal life like the last. Being a regular at the hospital caused the last doctor to be suspicious. It was only a matter of time if this new doctor could make the same connections and figure out who Alfred really was. It would be a damn shame if he actually had to move away from this beautiful city.
"If people weren't so fixed on defending themselves I wouldn't have to be here so many times." the American pouted. "That last woman with the garden clippers was clever though...Then again the hunt wouldn't be as fun if they didn't try to fight back"
Alfred heard the door make a click.
Arthur looked his patient over, "So, Alfred Jones?"
"Yep!" the other replied, not looking concerned at all with his injury.
"Hm." Arthur took note of the leg that was laying on the cot. "Well sir, what did you do to your leg?"
"Oh, I was just working and got hurt. It happens all the time…"
Arthur's brow furrowed, "What business are you in?"
"I do odd jobs. I'm usually asked to do dangerous stuff like cut down trees or help out with construction. I have a talent for that kinda stuff they say. I'm a handy man too. I can fix almost anything in a house." Alfred paused,"I'm rambling aren't I?"
"Quite." The doctor said, taking a chair and sitting in front of the other. He held up the injured leg carefully. "You have a very high tolerance. I've seen grown men cry like a child with this kind of wound."
Alfred paid no mind to Arthur's words. He tilted his head to the side and stared down at the blonde with intense blue eyes, an odd smile on his face.
"I know."
Arthur felt a small spike of fear run up his spine, but quickly dismissed it. "Well, I just moved into a shi-...a small house on the other side of town. If something happens, perhaps I will call." He was kidding, of course. No way would he have this strange man come into his house to fix a leaky sink.
"If you need anything, I work cheap!" Alfred replied. "Although," he thought to himself, "You may find that you will be the one that will take fixing~"
"M. It seems there is no fracture, which is good news for you. Your cuts run deep though, I'll have to stitch them up."
The blue eyes seemed to brighten at the prospect. "No problem, doc!"
Arthur grumbled to himself, "Strange Americans..." as he turned to the cabinet to get the needle and surgical thread.
"You're not from around here, are you." Alfred stated more than he asked. "I hope you like being in the land of the free."
He flinched from a needle suddenly piercing his skin. "Ach… Is that a bit of annoyance I detect?"
Arthur didn't look up at the American. "Maybe. I didn't ask to be here." Why was he even telling this to a random patient? Maybe culture shock? No... He wouldn't be so phased by something as trivial as this. There was something about this man that made him give whatever he wanted.
Arthur stopped sewing for a second, rechecking himself. "What? What am I doing, thinking about someone like this?" Arthur was confident in his sexuality, but he didn't go around flaunting it to others. He was rather conservative in nature, causing him to pause at his current thoughts.
And he sure didn't start crushing on injured Americans!
"Why am I acting like this?" he muttered under his breath. "It must be the jet lag. Just jet lag."
"Somethin' wrong, doc?"
Emerald eyes pierced blue. "No. Of course not."
Arthur realized he hadn't numbed his patient's wound, and let go of the needle suddenly. "I think I need to step out for a moment. I'm just... not myself today."
"But you just said you were fine. It's not nice to lie." Alfred said "We're all friends here."
He looked down at his half sewed leg. "I mean are you really gonna leave me hangin' here?" He was tempted to squish his finger into the wound and play with the flesh.
"I didn't like the last doctor. Mean old Spencer, but you seem nice. I'll be the friend you can come too when you need help. If you want..."
"I'm so... so confused that I forgot to numb you...!" Arthur slammed his fist on the counter, then tensed up. "...Forget that I did that. I apologize. I'm... I'm feeling a bit befuddled at the moment. And that's against regulation."
The doctor turned around and tugged on his lapels, straightening his coat. "There's no patient-doctor involvement on a personal level."
"But Doc...!"
"I'm Doctor Kirkland," he stated curtly. "Now stay still, I'll sew you up and you'll be on your way."
Alfred stayed still as Arthur finished what he was doing. He was annoyed... maybe even outraged. Who knows? He couldn't tell.
"You're being really cold." He said snaking his hand around the others neck. "I guess you doctors are all the same."
Alfred was curious what reaction he can get from Arthur if he squeezed? His fingers twitched in anticipation but he took back his hand and placed it on his lap.
"But who am I to judge? You're the ones with a shitload of money. I wish I was smart enough to do what you do. Than I'd really love my job." he hummed.
"Why. The fuck. Did you touch me?" Arthur recoiled suddenly, snapping the threat unintentionally, probably causing a good amount of pain for the other man. But he wasn't thinking about the last few stitches on his patient at the moment. "The cretin just touched me! Around my bleedin' NECK!"
"Look at what you did Doc." Alfred stared at his leg. The last few stitches made blood ooze out unnaturally. He ignored the pain, it really wasn't a big deal.
"Ha ha ha I'm not paying for this crap job. I think I'll go home and redo this myself. What a waste of a good visit!"
He jumped off the cot and limped towards the exit."I'll see ya later alligator!"
Arthur grabbed his collar, "No, don't!..." he sighed, "Could you... just... do me a favor, and sit? I'm sorry. I'll redo it. I'll numb you up..."
The man looked at him with a questioning stare, as if trying to decide whether to leave or stay.
The doctor let go. "I don't know what's wrong with me today... I feel jittery. This country is rubbing me the wrong way. I just..." He sighed again, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Please... Mr. Jones. Sit. Please. Just... just sit down. I'm good with my needlework... I really am, believe me. And… it's not a crap job, it's your fault for touching me and making me jump!"
"I believe you, and I'd love to, but I gotta go! I have to prepare for work." Alfred said, frowning for once. He gently pried off Arthur's hands from his collar. "If it makes you feel better I'll pay the hospital bill. Plus if anyone asks I'll say you did a great job."
He stepped out of the room and continued walking down the hall towards the exit.
The doctor groaned and sat on the cot himself. "What's wrong with me today..?" He held his head in his hands, feeling tears prick at the corners of his eyes. "What the fuck is wrong with me?" he yelled to the world. He looked at himself in the mirror mounted on the wall. "I am not crying!" he yelled.
And he wasn't crying. He refused to let himself show such useless emotion. He took a deep breath, "Arthur Kirkland, you're going to go home, and take a long bath... with a Jane Austen novel, and a cup of that new Indian Spice tea... maybe some lavender scented candles...doesn't that sound delightful? Yes, of course it does. Now get a hold on yourself!"
-o-
Alfred went back to house. He was surprisingly dizzy from not being numbed up for patch work. After fumbling with the key's to open the front door he crashed onto his couch in the living room.
"This morning was exciting. That new doctor was cute...he was funny.
I hope I get hurt again." he giggled.