Author's Note: Wow, this is my first story after being off this site for…well forever actually. It's been a while. I may be rusty and I apologize now if things are a little off. I have a thing for OC's, something about seeing an existing circumstance through new eyes. Hopefully you guys like it and find something good from it. Please read and review!

He didn't belong there.

It was the first thought that ran through her mind as she looked at him from her protective spot against the wall.

Mental hospitals were not happy places. The people were not models or actors, there were no quirky jokes told over the pleasing hum of indie music. They were cold forever clammy places filled with an air of desolation that the sea foam green paint on the walls only emphasized. They drained you and left a dark eyed husk that could only stand waiting, mouth opening and closing, swallowing medicine robotically.

He didn't belong here.

Her eyes narrowed as she tapped a finger against her arm in annoyance.

He was too tanned. Too well-built. Too good looking.

Dusk-soaked caramel skin that had been baked by the sun practically glowed in the stark expanse of the room, dirty blond hair that had been bleached to platinum stuck out sharply against the dim 'mood' lights. And his smile...

"Malik Ishtar", the director announced him, a firm hand on his shoulder and a smile so caring it looked like it had been transplanted from a sympathy card.

She tilted her head eyes critically studying him.

Malik Ishtar she mentally repeated. Malik Ishtar looked like he belonged in an ad for suntan lotion or a free vacation to Maui...maybe even an escort service. Malik Ishtar did not look like he belonged here.

Not with them.

She took a deep breath folding her arms over her chest. She hated Barbie's. The nearly perfect people who's overprotective families sent their little darlings for nothing more than an escape from personal responsibility, because they had the money and luxury to do it on whim, because the littlest problems deserved the most extreme reaction.

So what did he have...an eating disorder?

Her eyes skimmed over his taut body. ...no, despite the potato sack fit of the uniform she could still see he was muscled and thin underneath, slender but healthy.

...sexual issues?

She paused at his eyes; bright pools of violet filled with joy as she amended her earlier thought and ran her tongue over her teeth. ...maybe. He wasn't crazy enough to be here...but still just a little off. She couldn't deny that.

It was in his smile, in his eyes. A little too wide. A little too bright. With a big grin bordering on unstable and a flickering of light in his eyes like the frantic ballet of a firefly rather than a steady beam. Just a little...

"Hi!" his voice surprised her too caught up in her own reverie. He sounded so friendly as he addressed the room of other patients.

...

The response was less than enthusiastic; most of the people sitting in folding chairs were too busy caught up in their own psychosis to give him any attention. She scanned the crowd, she hadn't expected more. The girl with the stuffed animal offered a shy smile before looking down to her feet quickly, the boy wringing his hands and muttering to himself had a beefy attendant planted firmly at his side in case he got too 'excited', and the others? Merely slumped over the very robots she had become used to seeing, of course that only accounted for those who weren't temporarily confined to their rooms for one reason or another.

"Well Malik, everyone here is so happy to see you." the director said in that smooth comforting voice that completely disregarded reality. She rolled her eyes.

Half the people here didn't even know he was in the room.

Still, at least he wasn't stupid enough to believe that, she could give him credit for that much. His smile dissipated as he looked around the room tracing over the contents of everyone there before his eyes settled on her and the light in his eyes appeared again.

Shit

"Well Malik, I am sure you will be an excellent addition to our community.", the director said dismissively as she cocked her head signaling to the guards to begin to round up the unresponsives and fold up the chairs. He nodded eagerly already moving to the tips of his toes ready to rush from her control as soon as she released him. A simple uncurling of a hand was all the permission he needed.

"Hello!" Malik called out as he moved quickly towards her.

Her eyes widened slightly and she turned wasting no time in abandoning the group of loonies and walking back towards her room arms tightly wrapped around her.

"My name is Malik!" he offered as he caught up now matching her pace even as she tried to speed up again.

Unfortunately Malik was fast and matched her pace so effortlessly. "I heard." the response was dry as she turned the corner heading back towards her room. Despite her coldness he followed dutifully scanning all the walls with eyes that seemed to be recording everything. "...What's your name?" he asked after a moment turning to face her again and she frowned. "Don't worry about it.", curt and simple.

If he had any concept of human emotions he'd get the drift and leave her alone

"Don't worry about it...that's a funny name." it was an effort at a joke and she shut her eyes briefly as she spied the door to her room.

"Don't worry about it...", she whisked inside surprised by the sudden feeling of relief which filled her as he stood outside the threshold bouncing on his toes, arms folded behind his back.

"Can I call you Dwai for short?" he wanted some confirmation of camaraderie, latching onto the first person to give him any attention even if it was as little as a glance. She had seen it happen many times before to patients who needed something safe to comfort themselves with because of the unfamiliarity of their new surroundings. She stood inside her sanctuary eyes narrowed before speaking.

"No."

She slowly swung her door shut knowing nothing brought unwelcome attention faster than the sound of a door slamming.

He stood outside, bright smiles and totally out place.

"Bye Dwai." he replied and his wide grin was the last thing she saw as she closed the door in his face.