The fitting went well. It felt strange. The leg was lighter than his real one had been, but it was heavier than not having the leg. For the second time in as many weeks, he found himself staggering around, off-balance. He had something to catch himself on this time, however, and he was quickly adapting for the prosthesis.
"Any questions?" the specialist asked.
Adolin glanced to his father, who sat waiting in a chair in the corner. "Can I drive?"
"Should be able to," the young woman, Doctor Jenkins, said. "It'll take practice, but it's entirely possible. Because it's your left leg, that makes it even easier. Your car may need slight modifications, and you can't drive a manual, but you're young and healthy. You'll be fine."
Adolin grinned. He had been afraid to hope.
"Anything he should know, Doctor?" Dalinar asked.
"It's going to take a lot of practice to learn to walk with that limb. With time, he should be able to return to nearly a normal level of activity. A prosthetic limb is more work, however; there is no shame in taking other means of transportation."
Adolin nodded. They had bought a wheelchair for a reason. Kaladin had even suggested it.
"I have the name of a physiotherapist here. It would be a good idea to meet with him. He'll help you really get back on your feet." The woman smiled, clearly intending the pun.
Adolin snorted in dry amusement. "Right, thanks. But what's wrong with the man I've been seeing?"
"He has rehab training, but he's not trained for the level of rehabilitation you need."
"Yeah, okay." That made sense.
"Anything else you need to know?"
"Can I try walking?" The few steps he had tried to take had not gone well.
Adolin's request was greeted with a few chuckles. At the doctor's nod, he took his father's arm. Wobbling for a moment, he took a deep breath...and stepped forward.
It felt...unnatural. The limb didn't quite bend with the suspension of a natural limb. Furthermore, he had no feeling in it. He realised very quickly how difficult it would be to navigate uneven terrain—his leg just did not have the sensory information to alter the distension and extension necessary for simple things like stepping up a curb or, Heaven forbid, climbing stairs.
"...this is going to take some practice."
"Hours and hours," Doctor Jenkins agreed. "But you're young and healthy. I have no doubt you'll catch on quickly. Once you do, you'll be able to walk and run no problem."
"I can't wait."
"Good. Then do all of your exercises and get in touch with a proper physiotherapist. You'll be up and about in no time."
"Right. I will," Adolin promised.
"I'll see to it he does, Doctor," Dalinar added.
"Good. I'll hold you both to it. Now, if you have no further questions...?"
They didn't, so after bidding her farewell, they headed home. This time, Adolin and Renarin both went with their cousins, Adolin enthusiastically sharing the good news. He couldn't wait to drive again.
They went out to supper, an unplanned celebration of Adolin's new leg. He found that he couldn't stop grinning the whole night. After losing his leg, he couldn't have imagined feeling this...happy again. But he did.
There was only one thing missing, and the moment he was home, he picked up the phone, calling Kaladin.
"How'd the fitting go?"
"Hi to you too, Kal," he muttered, chuckling softly.
"Right. Hi. How'd it go?"
Stubborn. "Really well. She said I can drive again."
"Sure, I don't see why not. You can run and jump and skip too, if you want."
"Good. You're coming with me."
From the other end of the phone, Kaladin scoffed. "Not a chance."
"At least for a drive?"
"Maybe once I'm sure you won't get me killed."
Adolin laughed. "Fine. Nice to know you have confidence in me."
"As much as you deserve."
"Ass."
"Anything else?" Kaladin asked, smoothly switching topics.
"She's sending me to another physiotherapist," he admitted.
"Probably a good idea. You need more than I can do."
"...I'll miss our visits."
"Oh good grief, Adolin..."
Adolin chuckled, not giving him a chance to continue as he added, "In fact, I miss you now. Can I see you tonight?"
"...we're going out tomorrow night. Isn't that good enough?"
"Come over."
"...your father—"
"You're not my nurse anymore. We can officially move to...friends." Or whatever they were. "Besides, we never finished Return of the King."
"...fine. I'll be over in thirty."
Adolin grinned. "Great. See you then." Hanging up, he turned to his closet.
What to wear...
Kaladin arrived within the hour. Adolin had texted him the gate code, so he entered it now, parking in the visitors' lot. He was surprised when Adolin himself greeted him at the door.
"Wheelchair?" he asked, brow raised.
"...the leg's a lot of work," the blond admitted, looking a little sheepish.
Kaladin offered a small smile. "It's a hard adjustment," he agreed. Taking the chair's handles, he stepped forward...then paused. "Where...?"
"My room." Kaladin raised an eyebrow, but before he could say anything, Adolin quickly continued. "I have a T.V. and couch in there."
"Where is it?"
"Upstairs," Adolin said, propelling himself forward and prompting Kaladin to let go.
He followed Adolin to the bottom of the stairs, where the blond shifted to crutches. Kaladin had to admit, he was both pleased and impressed as he watched the blond clomp his way upstairs. His mobility was really improving.
Adolin led them to the correct door—and seriously, who needed a house this big?—and shit that was a big room.
"...I thought this was your bedroom?" he asked, noting the lack of a, well, bed.
"It's through the door over there."
...rich people. Rich cops, but he could stand to see past that, now. These cops were okay. At least, this specific one was. Dalinar seemed pretty okay, too.
Adolin grunted, sitting down on the sofa and setting his crutch aside. Glancing over, Kaladin raised a brow. "I'm handling the movie again, I take it?"
Adolin winked cheekily. "Of course, nurse."
Rolling his eyes, Kaladin took a moment to locate the movie and figure out the player. Once the movie was playing the correct scene, Kaladin dropped into the room's leather armchair. Comfy.
"You know," Adolin muttered, "we aren't in the hospital anymore."
Kaladin glanced over, frowning. "...so?"
Adolin stared at him, disbelief clear, then sighed. "Come over here," he grumbled, stabbing the couch with one finger.
"...uh."
"Oh good grief, Kal. Come sit here. With me."
Was that uncertainty in Adolin's eyes. He hesitated only a moment longer before rising and striding over to the sofa. With a good-natured sigh, he sat down. "Happy?"
"Not yet." Adolin met his eyes fiercely, holding his gaze.
Kaladin had, of course, settled on the opposite end of the couch. Adolin, it seemed, was not satisfied with that, and if Kaladin was completely honest...neither was he. Shaking his head with a small smirk, he laid down on his back, head propped up on a pillow.
Adolin squirmed in next to him, on his side against the back of the couch. Kaladin hesitated a moment, then wrapped an arm around him.
"Much better," the blond said, resting his head on Kaladin's shoulder and wrapping an arm around his waist.
"Comfortable?"
"Do you have to ask?"
Kaladin chuckled softly, glancing down with an admittedly soft smile. "Guess not."
Kaladin was not terribly surprised when Adolin fell asleep. He left the movie playing, but didn't pay it much mind as he scanned the blond's sleeping features.
Adolin was coming along well, he was happy to see that. The oft-depressed young man he had sat with throughout long nights in the hospital was slowly but surely coming around, and Kaladin was seeing the good humour that existed underneath. He had to admit, he liked it.
Into the West began playing, drawing his attention to the movie's credits. Fumbling for the remote, he flicked the television off once he found it. With a fond sigh, he pulled out his phone and headed online, killing time while he let Adolin nap.
It wasn't long before the blond shifted, groaning slightly as blue eye flickered open and he cracked a yawn.
"Have a good nap?"
"...how long was I out for?"
"Nearly an hour."
"Why didn't you wake me?"
"You looked so cute," he replied flatly, still not looking away from his phone.
Adolin huffed, snatching the phone and setting it on the table. "Enough. Pay attention to me."
Kaladin chuckled. "Someone's needy..."
"Damn right," Adolin muttered, rolling fully on top of him. "I'm a man who knows what he wants."
Kaladin couldn't complain when Adolin kissed him. Wrapping his arms around the man's hips, he returned it enthusiastically, grinning into his mouth as he did so.
"For only being eighty-five percent of a man, you're not a bad kisser."
Adolin smacked his arm. "You're an ass, nurse boy."
Kaladin chuckled, and dragged him back down for a kiss.