The Bad Guy's Doctor

TWO

I flip over on my bed, resting my cheek on another pillow. I cuddle the it, pulling the covers higher. Except... I don't have a second pillow and pillows don't move--I shove myself away from him, my eyes ripping open. 

"Arsenio!" I groan and he chuckles. I already knew that it was him, after all, this wasn't the first time he's done this. "What did I say about doing that?" I get out of bed, walking over to my bathroom.

"You didn't seem opposed to snuggling up to me, just right now, though." I sighed, grabbing a dollar that I had left on the counter and tossing it over my shoulder. He laughs aloud, rolling off of my bed. "A dollar? I'm not an escort, Althea," 

I yawn, picking up my toothbrush. "A stripper then?" 

"I can be your personal stripper."

- - - 

"Althea, what's on the menu?" Another patient, Sera, said, rolling her shoulder tentatively. She had dislocated it a few hours ago from a bar fight and came here. I haven't opened yet, but decided to treat her since she was already here. 

"Beef stew." I tidy up the cabinets, dusting my hands off absentmindedly. "Are you hungry?" 

She nods quickly and I get a bowl out, scooping some soup into it. Sera watches me, slouching over the counter. "Where's Arsenio? I'd expect him to be attached to your side, 24/7." I raise an eyebrow at her, sliding the bowl over the laminated wood. 

"Why?" I scoff, handing her a spoon. She digs in, taking a hefty bite. Chewing slowly, Sera brandishes the spoon like a pointer, gesturing to me. 

"He's, well, the equivalent to a teenage girl discovering boys. Like that boy-crazy phase." She swallows, before lighting up. "You-crazy. Althea-crazy!" I groan, shaking my head at her. "He's like a hopeless little puppy when he's around you." 

"Tell me about it." I tuck my hair behind my ear, sighing. "He's nice and all, but he has no perception of personal space." Sera giggles, drinking more soup. "He sneaks into my room through the balcony. I don't even know how he gets up there, he's like a cat." I spin around, checking the time. 

"You know, I would expect you to be the evil boss. With your unbothered personality and your ice-cold stares," She references my nickname, to which I laugh. "But it's Arsenio, the love-sick puppy following you around, that currently is taking over the Underground." I let out a breath. 

"I couldn't picture Arsenio as a blood-thirsty killer if I wanted to." Sera laughs, mixing the soup. She smiles at me, resting her hand on her chin. 

"You'll probably never will. See him as one, that is." I raise an eyebrow at her, questioning her words. She smiles at me, almost incredulously. "You're eighteen, Althea. You're a kid. You've seen your fair share of injuries, but you've never seen someone die, have you?" I swallow hard, choosing not to respond. "You might be the ice-cold doll, but you're a kid." I grit my teeth, before glancing down at my hands. She was right. 

I've known Arsenio for about a year now. He's never let me see anything that would scare me. Always fought outside, took care of loud customers, and even accompanies on my early morning trips to pharmacies. 

"It's just a crush. He saw something that he liked and... well, let's just say it won't last for too long." Sera giggles, before nodding slowly. 

"It's been a year, doc." I rolled my eyes, smiling at her and shaking my head at her expression. I move past the counter, walking to the door. I turn the sign, unlocking it and pulling it open. Someone walks in, striding quickly in a dark coat. He's a new customer, someone that I haven't met before.