Disclaimer: I own nothing, well maybe the laptop I am using, but nothing more than that.
Pairings: SuFin and a few other side pairings.
Thank you for taking the time to read this.
An Ordinary Day
Part Two
Tino had to practically run in order to keep up with the others' strides. By the time they reached the animal clinic which was about 15 minutes away, he was out of breath. And the fact that he had his hands full with his shopping bags wasn't helping much.
Pushing open the glass doors, they scurried towards the reception area. Seeing their disheveled the receptionist ushered them into the vet's office. The vet was a young man in his early twenties, with a head full of strawberry blond hair and a distinct curl that bobbed as he moved. Hidden behind his spectacles was a pair of violet eyes, which spoke of warmth and kindness. The tag on his white coat read, 'Mathew Williams'.
Quickly assessing the pup's condition, the vet took him into another room; instructing both Tino and the stranger to stay put in the waiting area as they tried to follow him in.
And so they waited.
Tino settled for the chair right next to the door while the larger one of the two male opted for the one right across him.
Even though it took Dr. Mathews less than an hour to stabilize the puppy, for Tino it felt like ages. The feeling of anxiety building up in him was even more encouraged by the smell of disinfectants and the sight of bandages. As his senses took in his surroundings, Tino found himself revisiting a memory he thought he buried deep in his psyche.
It was of the tragic demise of his childhood friend; his sole companion in the nights when his mother had to work late shifts and the whole house was like a monster out to get the 10 year old boy. His best friend was a Maltese dog with fur as white as the snow that fell from the heavens above, covering anything and everything. The fact that the puppy in the next room had similar traits only made things worse.
He felt like he was watching a train wreck, unable to look away despite knowing the end.
Blood…lots of it……so cold……so very cold……red snow…like the blood on his hands…like the puddle at the side of the road……they were shouting…why? There was a voice…with a deep timbre…..deep and powerful………
"H'y, h'y!"
"Mmmmmmmm……"
"W'ke 'p."
"Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!"
Before he could stop himself, a high pitched shriek escaped though his lips as his mauve eyes fell upon a frowning man. He would've fallen out of his chair if it hadn't been for the strong arms of said man clasped onto his shoulders.
Looking around, he realized that he fell asleep while waiting for the vet. Smiling sheepishly at the man before him, he turned towards the vet standing nearby, with concern drawn on his face. And suddenly fear and dread rushed into him.
"Is he……?"
His voice shook as he struggled to end the sentence, to find the right word.
"He's fine. A bit roughed up, but luckily most of his wounds were superficial. I would still like to keep him under observation for a few more hours, say till tomorrow afternoon. You can take him home after that."
As his mind grasped the meaning behind Dr. Mathew's words, he slumped back into his chair as if a heavy weight was lifted off of his shoulders, and he whispered to himself, "Luojan kiitos! Luojan kiitos!"
"H'w m'ch?"
"Excuse me?"
"Wh'ts th' b'll?"
Dr. Mathew was staring at the man as if he was speaking in some alien tongue.
"He means, how much is it going to cost us for the treatment?"
Tino was too busy explaining to the doctor to notice the slight change in the facial expression in the other man at the word 'us'. If he had looked back, he would've seen what seemed like a smile in the making; lips slightly turned upwards, eyes having a softer gaze.
"Oh, the bill will be ready when you come to pick him up later."
On hearing the soft tenor of the vet, the taller of the two (actually three, counting the good doctor) nodded while Tino thanked him earnestly, glad that at least this dog would come out as a survivor.
As they stepped out of the little clinic named 'Espoir', Tino glanced at the man next to him, thinking of offering to keep the dog in his house after its recovery. But on seeing the scowl on the man's face his voice died in his throat.
But little did he know, the supposedly scowling man was thinking something along those lines as well.
And so neither one of them spoke their minds out loud, each going their separate ways.
Feeling agonizingly tired, Tino called for a cab to drop him off at his house. Wringing open the kitchen door, he promptly dumped the shopping bags on the marble counter and headed straight for the showers. Despite his protesting stomach, he stepped into the shower. And as the water cascaded down him, he felt as though all his troubles were being carried off to a far away land.
Stepping out of the shower after a good half an hour, he dried himself off and slipped into a long-sleeved, cotton undershirt and black slacks. With a towel still hanging around his neck, he moved towards the kitchen, planning on sorting out the groceries and making a late lunch.
As he finished his Lammaskaali and sat the dishes in the rack, he decided to go over a few of his files. Flinging himself on a soft divan, he flipped through the pages, each containing a sketch of a studio set or the various rooms in a house, pausing here and there to glance at the numbers or scribble a little note.
The grandfather clock chimed the passing of evening, though Tino barely heard it. The agitation he felt at the clinic had taken its toll on him and he was fast asleep, his files lying on top of his chest.
It was in the midst of that slumber that Tino dreamt of a giant with blue-green eyes, standing in a field of snow, beckoning him forward.
And else where, a man named Berwald Oxenstierna, thought of a young man with mauve eyes and a kind smile.
Luojan kiitos is Thank God in Finnish.
Espoir is Hope in French.
Lammaskaali is a Finnish dish where, pieces of fresh or browned mutton or lamb and cabbage is layered in a pot, moistened with water and simmered gently and slowly until done. The stew is seasoned with salt and allspice, sometimes also with dark molasses.
I wish I could say that no animal was hurt in the making of this chapter, but I can't! I am so sorry you had to die Pochi (the Maltese dog), may you rest in peace and not haunt me tonight or any other night. Any request regarding character appearance and name, along with suggestions and criticism is most welcomed.
And now I would like to reply to those wonderful people who've taken the time to leave me such kind reviews and those who've read "Finding Each Other".
LittleGirlInRed: I used a translator so I had no idea that 'Tyvärr' had that kind of an undertone. I would be more than happy to have you double check my Swede or any other language for that matter.
Kendye: Thank you!
xxXSporkSistaXxx: Oxygen mask received and in place. lol!
SonChin: Thank you! I plan on updating every two days, one of the many plus sides of being done with A-levels for good!
MonkeyGirlNaNoDa: Thank you!
Reviews equates to CPR, both sustains life!