…in case this isn't already known to some of you, Nadia Rizavi (you know, the MFE pilot?) was pressured by her parents to become a doctor. This enlightens me to the headcannon that…both her parents are doctors. I'm probably wrong. As always. Don't ask me for advice.
Three hours later, Veronica arrived, still in her normal clothes, cadet uniform forgotten.
Matt had already brought his sister over, let her try (and actually succeed) in doing his math homework while she messed with the computers, and brought her home so that their parents wouldn't suspect a thing.
Then, Matt told them about needing to be there for his hospitalized friend, and his parents gave him immediate leave to come back.
Now the three friends were sitting together, in absolute silence. The only thing that gave away their knowledge of each other's presence was how tightly they were gripping each other's hands, their white skin color becoming quiet pale.
They fidgeted uneasily, staring at the ground.
It seemed like an eternity before a doctor came from the operation room, smiling.
"It wasn't too bad." She told the waiting three, relief in her face. "It took a bit to stabilize him enough to reset his arm, and he reacted a bit oddly to some of our equipment, but he'll be waking up soon. You can come see him if you like."
Shiro stood up to follow her, his two friends following in suite. "What about his head wound?"
"That's what took us so long. It already had signs of infection by the time you brought him back, and it wasn't clearing up with our medicine. But we managed to clean it up, as well as stitch it." She glanced at him, arching an eyebrow. "Are you his older brother?"
Why did everyone keep asking that? "Not lawfully. But we're close enough to be brothers." Shiro truthfully answered.
"And you two?" The doctor asked, looking at Veronica and Matt.
"We're friends with him." Matt responded, half-smiling.
"No family?" The doctor frowned, pursing her lips.
"He's an orphan, and his father didn't have any close family besides his son before he died." Shiro explained, narrowing his eyes slightly.
"And his mother?"
Shiro shrugged. "Missing since he was an infant."
"Does he have an emergency contact? Any lawful guardian?"
"I…suppose I'm both." Shiro realized, blinking in surprise.
"There's a lot of paper work to sign, and a lot of money to pay." The doctor - Rizavi clarified her name tag - frowned uncertainly, shaking her head.
Shiro and Veronica exchange a look over Matt's short head. Shiro, as a lieutenant, was paid some money, most of it going to taxes and food, and not a lot leftover. Veronica had two part-time jobs at a shooting range and at a fast food place that she claimed sold awful food, so none of the boys tasted them. The work shifts were long and far between, and she was scarcely paid, but it was enough. She also got her own grant from personal research, but she had already spent most of that. All in all, she still had more money then Shiro and Matt convinced. In Matt's financial case…Shiro actually wasn't sure about Matt. He was pretty sure Matt didn't have any money accept for twelve dollar-allowance every month and the hundred bucks he kept on him just for 'emergencies'.
Shiro wondered if this counted as an emergency.
"I'll have the costs covered." Veronica assured Rizavi before Shiro could say a word. With a silent glance at the boys, she added "ALL the costs."
Shiro frowned at her curiously, pondering her statement. She couldn't have that much money, could she?
Rizavi looked from a determined Veronica to a confused Shiro to a mellow Matt, and back again.
"Alright. Well, we have paperwork for both of you to sign, so. If you would like, you can do it in his-" "-Keith-" Shiro informed her, realizing she probably had no idea what his name was.
She nodded with obvious relief, smiling. "You can sign the paper work in Keith's recovery room." She pushed open the door to said room, gesturing in. Then she disappeared to get the paperwork.
Keith was more still then Shiro had ever seen him. His pale face was even paler, taking on an almost sickly picture. His hair had been brushed out of the way of his forehead to make room for the bandage wrapped around the entire length of his head. Still, he looked peaceful, the furrow between his brows that was usually there - even with his friends - gone.
His right arm was the only thing that didn't look serene about him, wrapped tightly in a white bandage. And resting across his chest.
"He looks so peaceful." Veronica noted.
"Despite the broken arm." Matt deadpanned, snapping a photo.
Veronica and Shiro, both the little jerks they were, copied his example.
There was a window seat/couch/thing as well as two chairs in the room, which were quickly divided among the three worried companions.
Veronica - who apparently had always wanted to have a window seat - got the window seat, and Shiro took the chair closest to Keith while Matt sat somewhere in the middle, biting the inside of his lip.
Rizavi came back a moment later, giving them the paper work.
As they filled it out, Matt began to explain to the two (supposed) multi-taskers how to play five crowns, which was one of his favorite child hood games.
Shiro found that it was too much to fill out paperwork and listen, so decided to listen. However, once Matt began dealing, Shito went back to the task of filling out his name, not paying attention to the boy laying on the bed next to him.
Later, Shiro couldn't decide if it hadn't mattered in the grand scheme of things or if it was a bad decision.
The curiously was because when Keith woke up, Shiro didn't even notice.