Dirty water kicked up from fleeing footsteps lick at the hem of dust-stained trousers, the drizzle from an overhang far above sending beads of rainwater showering down upon the fabric of a white lab coat. The material darkened where raindrops fell, sinking into the growing stain that bloomed in shades of muted carmine upon a buttoned lapel. Chilled sweat soaked an ashen brow, and only shallow, feeble breath stutters past cracked lips— tutted almost like a nervous mother hen.
It was a mistake.
He didn't mean for this.
Hands shake as bleary eyes peer down, body weakened by bloodloss spasming in response to a searching prod. Trembling fingers pull away to reveal a shard of verdant glass, glistening edge sliding away almost wetly from bruised flesh. It's all he can make out— his glasses are gone, and it's only rain, sharp and icy, that falls upon his bleeding form.
Eva.
The glass slips from his hands, discarded, and his fingers leave a smear of dark maroon across a glowing screen. It doesn't matter; the dialtone sounds. It's midway through the second toll that a familiar voice rouses him from his almost-slumber.
"Hello? Neil?"
Relief and something glowing and warm swells his throat and he's speechless, this time a prickling warmth surging behind his eyes.
"Neil. I swear..."
"Hey Eva," he croaks hoarsely before swallowing, clearing his throat with emphasis despite the simple action spilling dark spots into his vision. They dance before him, threatening to drown out the words he wants to say. That he still can't say. "Wait, wrong tone of voice—" he has to take a breath here, the pain tightening his chest. "Eva, I'm being serious right now."
There's an exasperated sigh across the line, and Neil nearly chokes up again, nearly abandons his motions.
"It's raining, right now, and you didn't even- didn't even have the decency to bring me an umbrella?"
The response is immediate, natural. "That's your job, you moron! You have a phone; check the weather every once in a blue moon."
Eva.
"Fine," he sniffs, and it's difficult even to breathe. "Be that way. Guess I should just overwater your plants and see how they" stopped-up hiccups choke his words "- like being told to get an umbrella." The words start to feel like cotton in his mouth, and he doesn't even shiver as more raindrops seep into his skin. He just peers, unseeingly, smiling as watery eyes give way to tears.
"Don't you dare, Neil. If you even think about stepping within a two-meter radius..."
He smiles into the grayness that hums faintly at the edges of his consciousness, a cool chill coaxing the feeling from his fingers. The sound of familiar nonsense trickles in a comforting stream, genuine despite the tinniness afforded by a mere phone call. Despite everything.
Numb fingers fall to his sides. He wanted... ... just, a moment.
The sound of her voice lulls him to sleep.