[Summary] Harry/Draco [Hospital AU] The man was heading out of the ward, head down and deep shadows under his eyes. Draco was tempted to ask if he was okay, but didn't think he would particularly appreciate it.
A/N - This is written for Rayne (Rayniekinzz). Not a Lucissa AU this time :) Still an AU, though…
This was a lot harder to write than I thought it would be. Mostly those middle sections really; I think I've got about three different versions of it.
Also (just because I'm not sure how clear this is) all of these scenes take place by the lifts, on various floors.
"Malfoy? What are you doing here?" Draco looked up, startled, at suddenly being addressed. It was a quiet night at the hospital - usually foreshadowing a sudden surge in patients, but he wasn't planning on worrying about that just now - and he wasn't expecting visitors during the graveyard shift.
"I work here," he said, after a moment. It had taken him a while to place a name to the face currently watching him with mild confusion; not because he didn't recognise the man, but simply because it was such an unexpected sight. The elusive Harry Potter, sighted at last. "Can I help you?" he asked with feigned politeness.
"I- I'm here to visit-" Potter began.
"Visiting hours are over," Draco said. "You can come back tomorrow morning." He made as if to turn away, but Potter began to speak again.
"I was hoping to visit when there weren't so many people," Potter said. "The nurse yesterday-"
"Hoping for some special treatment, were you?" Draco sneered.
"No, I-" Potter shifted uncomfortably. "I just wanted to visit my son." Draco felt a brief flash of something - guilt? embarrassment? - but he pushed it aside before it could fully register. Draco nodded, pointing him in the direction of the boys ward, despite knowing he must already know the way.
Potter nodded his thanks and walked stiffly away.
.oOo.
He was just finishing up his shift when he next saw Potter. The man was heading out of the ward, head down and deep shadows under his eyes. Draco was tempted to ask if he was okay, but didn't think he would particularly appreciate it.
"Hey, Malfoy," Potter said, somehow managing to sound even more tired than he looked.
"Potter," Draco replied, nodding slightly in acknowledgement.
"So," Potter said, breaking the slightly uncomfortable silence. "You're a nurse now?"
"Yeah," Draco said stiffly. "Training to be a doctor."
"Oh? That's… nice."
"Not what you expected?"
"No, not really." The awkwardness seemed to have lessened somewhat, but it was still present. "I figured you'd follow your father into politics."
"Well, I didn't," Draco said shortly.
"Yeah, I can see that," Harry chuckled uncomfortably. "What made you choose medicine?"
"I wanted to. I like it." Draco knew he could be more helpful, keep the conversation moving, but he didn't particularly feel the need. They weren't friends and, whilst he felt sorry for the man - enough to be civil, at least - he wasn't going to go out of his way to be friendly.
.oOo.
"Malfoy? Isn't your shift normally over by now?" Potter asked. When he'd familiarised himself with Draco's schedule, Draco had no idea.
"I'm on day-shift now," he said, not caring to elaborate. Potter had a well-worn teddy under one arm, and was carrying several comic books. Draco considered asking after his son, but decided that it was none of his business.
"New comic book day," he said with a grin, noticing where Draco's eyes had been.
"Right," Draco said with a nod, not familiar with any of the overly muscled characters in strange costumes and bright colours.
"Thor," Potter said, as if that would mean something to Draco.
"Uh huh."
"You don't like Thor?" Potter asked incredulously.
"Why would I? Those are for children," Draco said dismissively, ignoring Harry's slightly offended expression. Draco stepped into the lift without another word.
.oOo.
"Hey, Malfoy," Potter called, running to catch the lift before the doors shut. "I got you a coffee."
"Uh, thanks." Draco frowned, confused, but accepted to costa cup regardless. He took a hesitant sip, his frown deepening.
"Okay, so it's tea. Still caffeine. Less caffeine, but-"
"I like tea," Draco said with a shrug, taking a longer swallow. Harry seemed to release a breath.
"Good, that's… good." He didn't seem to be bringing anything today. Again, Draco found himself wanting to ask about the child, but it really wasn't his business.
.oOo.
"Hi," a small voice said. The child was standing at Draco's elbow, smiling widely up at him. His frame was perhaps a little on the skinny side, and his skin just a bit too pale, but his eyes were bright and happy, and he continued to grin up at Draco, waiting for a response.
"Hello," Draco said. He tried looking around for a parent, but the boy had other ideas.
"My name's James," he said, still smiling. "I'm seven."
"Hi, James," Draco said, assuming a parent would turn up. "I'm… a little older than seven."
"How much older? Like Teddy or Dad? Or Grandma Molly?"
"I am most assuredly not as much older than seven as Grandma Molly," Draco said indignantly. He could hear laughter to his left, and turned to see Potter walking over and grinning like a fool. "And what do you find so amusing?" he snapped.
"C'mon, Draco," and when had Potter started calling him Draco? "he didn't mean it." The words might have held a little more value if he'd managed to stop laughing. "James, you've upset Mister Malfoy," Potter said, turning to the child - his son, presumably.
"Oh! My dad likes you!" James told Draco, clearly excited. "He talks about you all the time."
Draco chanced a glance at Potter; he'd gone bright red, his eyes looking at everything but Draco.
"We should really get going," he finally muttered, moving as if to steer the child towards the opening lift.
"But, Dad," James whined.
"You must be tired, and I want to get you home quickly," Potter said, perfectly reasonably in Draco's opinion. James, however, did not agree.
"I want to talk more with Mister Malfoy," James scowled, sulking. "I know!" he said, suddenly brightening. "You should get his number, 'cause then he could come visit."
"He won't let up any time soon," Potter said, before Draco could say anything, still looking anywhere but Draco.
"Well then I suppose I'd best give you my number," Draco said with a smirk; it took all of his willpower to hide his amusement at Potter's shock.
"Really? Um, yeah, that'd be…" Harry trailed off, handing his phone over, fumbling slightly with the lock screen.
"There you are, Potter," Draco said, handing the phone back after quickly typing in his number. "That wasn't so hard, was it?"
"Maybe you should call me Harry," Harry said.
"Alright… Harry," Draco tried out the name; it felt a little strange, but not entirely unpleasant.
"That wasn't so hard, was it?" Harry repeated his words with a smirk.
