Keith hated hospitals.
He never thought he would have to step foot in a hospital again, after he swore to never come back. Hospitals reminded him of how he felt the last time he was in there. He remembers the feeling of being lost, of being angry with everyone, of sorrow, of how the universe betrayed him. It was in there that he had lost everything. And it was in there he realized how really alone he was. Until the day he met Shiro.
To Keith, hospitals were one of the most hated places that existed, or one of the worst places to be. He understood the need and the situation for a hospital to exist, but he didn't understand why he had to be there again. Why did all this happen? Why? Maybe the universe really hated him? Maybe it was because he was finally happy, had a family and friends who liked him and the universe understood this as a sign that his luck was over and it was time for him to lose everything again.
After being able to have a family again, Keith forgot all those feelings, but he never thought that he was going through the same thing that happened four years ago, when he lost both of his parents in a fire. He was so alone for a long time until he was adopted by Shiro, as his brother. Keith never thought that the same thing was about to happen, he never thought that he was going to lose Shiro, just as he lost his parents all those years ago.
He remembers, and he never wanted to feel the way he did again, he wasn't prepare to lose his family again.
Keith looked at the huge hospital entrance and sighed. Another day in this place.
He entered the building, and went straight to the receptionist, who smiled at him and already gave him his visitor badge. He went there for so long that she stopped asking him for register the request to visit a patient. Almost everyone who worked in that hospital knew who Keith is, and who is going to visit.
"How are you today, Keith? Did you sleep well?" Romelle asked after Keith took his badge from her.
He shrugged.
"I think that you already know the answer" he said, rubbing his eyes "I'm the same as I am everyday" he answered, putting his badge on his shirt.
Romelle gave him an apologetically smiled. She seems to do this very often when they talked.
"Don't give up hope" she said, in a sincere tone "I think I already told you this, but don't give up. He will wake up eventually"
Keith felt at little uncomfortable as Romelle looked at him intensively. He cleared his throat and changed the subject.
"Is Allura here today?"
Romelle frowned and sighed, a sign that she wasn't completely happy with his change of subject. Keith felt at little guilty because she was only trying to help him, but he was never good at talking about his feeling. He usually punched a near wall and cursed, and he was good. Sometimes Keith asked himself if Romelle was more worried about his physical state or his mental health. Maybe it was both, he couldn't tell.
"She is" Romelle said, consulting her computer, before turning again to Keith "I think she is with Dr. Coran and a new patient"
"Oh" Keith looked at the clock that it was hung on the wall behind Romelle. "I should get going"
"Ok, see you around Keith." She waved at him, and turned back at the computer to continue to work.
Keith walked to the same hallway and took the same elevator to the same fifth floor where the patient room was located, the same floor that he walked every single day for the last year. He looked around at the same white walls and located the 510 room. Shiro's private room. Keith walked towards Shiro's room, noticing that the private room 507 was being occupied. He heard Allura's voice echoing through the hallway as she talked in her professional tone. Another voice, a man's, filled the hallway and Keith recognized the smug tone in his voice
That must be the new patient, he thought.
Keith walked passed through the closed door where the voices was amplified, now Dr. Coran's voice with the other two, and shook his head. What matters now is Shiro.
He opened the door of the room, and immediately felt a chill run through his body. Shiro's room was silent, except for the beep of the machine that was connected to him, showing the beating of his heart. The room was dimly lit, the curtains were closed preventing sunlight from penetrating the room. It was the way he'd left it the day before. Keith walked over to it and opened the curtains to brighten the room a little. He looked out the window, observing the people through it. Some of them entering the hospital, others was just walking to other destinations, taking care of their life. These people were lucky, Keith thought. They had no idea of the suffering of the rest of the people who was in this hospital.
Keith turned and looked at Shiro. He carried the same expression from the day he was admitted to the hospital, for the last year. Since then, Shiro was in a deep coma and showed no sign that he would wake up anytime soon. All because of an incident on a mission. Keith always thought that Shiro trusted him enough to tell him what kind of mission he would have to do, and why he needed to go so far away from him, leaving him alone.
Keith shook his head.
No, he couldn't blame Shiro for this, it's was bound to happen if it was any other person who went to this mission. No, Keith blamed the Garrison Organization, the place that Shiro worked, they knew that this could happen and they sent Shiro anyway. Now Shiro was in a coma because of them. Keith once had a dream to be accepted on the Garrison as a pilot, but all that went away after the incident.
Dr. Coran had been taking care of Shiro ever since. He was still hopeful that Shiro would wake up. This type of coma was common to the accident that occurred to Shiro, he could still wake up for the next few months. Sometimes he would show signs of consciousness, sometimes it would happen for days straight, sometimes it wouldn't happen for months. But that was a good sign. That's all according to Dr. Coran. Keith didn't even know what to think. Since the accident, he was on autopilot, his mind wandered like he was underwater or in a dream he couldn't wake up.
Keith went to the chair that it was next to Shiro's bed, he could feel his body shaking. He put the backpack he carried on the floor beside the chair, and sat down. Keith took a deep breath, trying to calm down. His gaze returned to Shiro.
"Hey Shiro, how are you today?" he said, his voice at little shaking "Today was the same as it was yesterday, and how has been the days in for the last year. I hate school and everyone who goes in there, except for Pidge, I could never hate her… She says hi, by the way, she said she couldn't come today because she was busy doing a project for her Science class" Keith stopped and looked at Shiro's expression. He was the same. Keith sighed. "I still hate my teachers. I think that they want to get to my bad side on purpose. My history teacher tried to make do some kind of group work with three other kids in my class. I told her to piss off" Keith smirked when he remembered his teacher expression "She didn't sent me to the principal officer, but she tried to talk to me about 'what I was going through' and said that work in class project with my classmates would help me… That's bullshit, she doesn't know what she is talking about. No one of my classmates liked me, they would never understand me to the same way you did." Keith's voice faltered and he took another deep breath. He looked at his hair that it was still shaking "Romelle also tried to talk to me, she said to never give up hope"
Hope, he thought. That word left a bitter taste on his tongue.
"I don't think that I know what hope is anymore" Keith said, running his fingers through his hair "Hope won't make you wake up" he looked at Shiro again "Please wake up Shiro" he whispered.
As always, there was no response from Shiro and Keith felt a tightness in his chest. He didn't know for how long he would have to endure this silence.
Keith kept talking to Shiro for long minutes. Talking to Shiro left him with a sense of stability. Every minute of the day Keith thought he was getting more and more close to insanity, and the only person he could talk to was his brother. Then he would tell him about his day, about the people who Keith encounter, about what it was in his troubled mind, about what he hoped would happen, and his insecurities. Today was no different, he was starting to talk about his frustrations of Shiro's situation and how won't wake up soon, when Allura entered the room.
She was wearing a tired expression, but Keith could see a little of annoyance in her eyes. He noticed the bag under her eyes, and he wondered when was the last time that he saw Allura so tired. Allura noticed Keith sitting on his usual chair and smiled at him.
"Hey Keith, how are you?" she asked softly, starting to check the machines that it was attached to Shiro, and wrote down on the clipboard that she carried in her arms.
"I'm… fine" he said. Allura gave him a sharp look, knowing that Keith was lying, and he sighed "You know what I mean" he shrugged watching her movements.
"I believe I don't" she said, her accent showing up. She was finishing checking the machines and started to check the I.V that it was connected to Shiro's right arm.
Keith chuckled at her sentence.
"Yeah…" Keith rubbed his eyes "What about you, Allura? You look more tired today than lately". He said looking at the woman who now let her expression soften. Allura looked like she had aged over twenty years.
She waved her hand at a sign to him that said "it's nothing". Keith raised his eyebrows and Allura sighed.
"It's nothing that I never done before" she started saying, now checking Shiro's vital signs on the monitor next to the bed "I have been in the hospital since 10 p.m. the night of the previous day, and I have been called to accompany a new patient who will have to be hospitalized here for an undetermined time. I'm with him, his family and Dr. Coran, following his exams since then" she explained to Keith.
"Oh?" Keith crossed his arms trying to understand. It was like she said, nothing that she had not done before, but that didn't explain why she looked so tired. Even her beautiful silver hair that who was always tied perfectly in her hair seemed a little messy.
"It's just… the new patient, he it's just a little… inquisitive."
"Inquisitive?" Keith frowned.
"Yes!" she said and then turned to Keith and started pacing back and forth. Keith tried to hold a laughed. He never saw Allura like this before "He talks a little too much and flirted with me the whole day I was in his company!" she said as she gestured with her hands." I could even understand why he acted like this because of his situation, I thought it was just his way to deal with it, but he did not stop until I asked deliciously. He even flirted with the other nurse who accompanied him for an exam!" Allura paused to take a breath and looked at Keith as if she is about to tell a secret that was going to change the world. "When I left, he shot me finger guns" she whispered, with wide eyes.
"Finger guns?" Keith giggled, with his hand on his mouth.
"Yes! The disrespect!"
Keith couldn't help himself and started to laugh. Allura looked at him slightly offended, but then laughed along with Keith, their laughter echoing down the hall. The tension Keith felt relieved a little, and he let out a content sigh. He couldn't remember the last time he laughed like that.
"I could use a break" Allura said with a little smile "Come with me to the cafeteria and we can continue chat without disturbing the other patients on this floor with our laughter."
Keith hesitated a little. He was afraid that if he left now, the Shiro could wake up. He looked at Shiro who continued to sleep soundly.
"You also need a little of distraction Keith" Allura said, her voice was gently "He will be fine. Besides, if anything happen, I will be the first to know"
Keith looked back at Allura who smiled and reached out for him. He looked back at Shiro, and with a sigh he got up.
For the next thirty minutes, he was with Allura in the cafeteria. They ordered a sandwich, and Allura also ordered a coffee. Keith knew that coffee was one of the few drinks that Allura didn't enjoy much, but she confessed to him that this was the only drink that could keep her awake for the rest of her shift until she could go home and rest. They talked about anything, avoiding talking about the hospital and everything else that Keith didn't want to talk in the moment. He appreciated Allura for understanding. She tried to make Keith laugh, talking a little more about the new patient who was getting on her nerves and Keith could laugh easily. The people around them sometimes looked at the strange pair when Allura said something that one of her patients said to her and Keith laughed at little too loud. But he didn't care Allura has always been a good friend, and a great nurse. He looked when someone familiar was sitting on the table next to them and looked at his direction when he laughed.
They frowned and Keith looked away.
When the thirty minutes passed, Allura said goodbye to him with a promise that she will rest soon and that she would see him again tomorrow. Keith felt a little lighter as he left the cafeteria, holding a pack of muffins and handed it to Romelle who was still working at the reception desk. She looked surprised at the pack in front of her, and looked at Keith, with a silent question clearly in her expression.
"Thank you" he said, feeling at little uncomfortable "For trying to talk to me. I know you only wanted to help"
Romelle accept the muffins and smiled at him.
"You're so kind Keith" she said, laughing at little when she took one muffin of the pack and took a bite "I was really hungry, my break is only in 20 minutes"
"It's nothing" he shrugged, feeling the tip of his ears burn, now feeling at little embarrassed.
Keith turned to leave when Romelle's voice called him back.
"I'm sorry Keith, but can you do me a favor?" she asked at little uneasy.
"Sure"
Romelle rummaged in something on the reception counter and handed him a package.
"Can you deliver this to the patient in the room 507? One of his friends was here but couldn't stay, so she asked me to deliver it. Since I can't get out of here, and I didn't want to disturb his family that is finally resting in the break room, you are the only option, since you are on the way to the fifth floor." she said in a rush.
Keith looked at the package that was now in his hands. He didn't feel comfortable talking to someone he didn't know, but he didn't want to bother the family. God knows what they must be going through right now.
"Ok" he said and Romelle sighed in relief.
"Thank you Keith, you are a life savior" she smiled at him and returned to her work, while eating her muffins.
Keith walked through the fifth floor, feeling a little nervous. He stopped in front of the door of room 507, rising his hand to knock, but hesitated. What was he going to say? Would he just come in and deliver the package and leave? That would be a little rude, but Keith didn't want to stay or talk at all.
Taking a deep breath, Keith knocked.
"OH MY GOD, please I don't want another nurse coming in just to fill my delicate body with holes, drawing half a liter of my blood and leaving." said the voice inside the room "You can go!"
Keith raised his eyebrow.
"It's not a nurse" he said, a shaking his head. Why did he agree with this again?
"Oh" said the voice "Come in"
Keith rolled his eyes before entering the room. The 507 patient's room was exactly the same as Shiro's except for the patient and the room full of flower and colored balloons tied at the head of the bed.
"Who are you?" asked the boy in bed.
Keith walked a little closer to the bed, now having a vision of the boy. He looked that he had the same age as Keith. He had a light dark skin, as if he went to the beach every single day, brown hair framing his face and curling at the tips and freckles that spread across his nose and cheeks. But what caught Keith's attention were his deep blue eyes. Keith never saw eyes so blue before. Keith thought that he was kinda cute.
Keith didn't realize he was staring when the boy spoke to him again, drawing his attention. Embarrassingly, Keith reached out to show the package.
"T-This is for you" he said walking to the bed and delivered the package to the boy, feeling his face getting hot of embarrassment "Someone left with the receptionist and she asked me to deliver to you."
"Oh thank you…?" he said making a puzzle expression at Keith.
Keith frowned. He didn't understand what the boy wanted for him, he just wanted to leave and go to Shiro's room, and stay in there until another nurse make him go home.
The boy made a sound and pointed to Keith.
"Me?" he asked confused.
"Yes, you!" the cute boy answered, impatience clearly in his voice. Keith crossed his arms and glared at him.
"That doesn't matter, I only came here to deliver this for you, and now I'm going" he said, pointing ate the door.
Keith turned to leave and heard the boy making an offended sound. When he was already near the door he heard the boy calling him again.
"Wait! I know you, don't I?" he said, looking at Keith as if he just realized something important.
"No…?" Keith said.
The boy seemed to stop to think, closing his eyes and folding his arms for a moment. Keith looked at him in confusion, and was about to leave when the boy spoke again.
"Yes! I've seen this mullet before!" he said now pointed at Keith's hair "You don't fool me mullet boy!"
"I don't have time for this" Keith sighed turning around again to leave.
"WAIT" the blue eyes cute boy said again, trying to get up but gave up, remembering the I.V it was attached to his arm "You seriously don't remember me?" he asked, a little voice transcending in his voice.
"No" Keith answered.
"That's fucking rude, buddy!"
They looked at each other for a few seconds, and when the other boy opened his month to talk again, Keith left the room, feeling at little strange.
"Weird" he muttered and went to Shiro's room to stay in there until he left that hateful place again.