The Bad Guy's Doctor

SIX

"Arsenio has two phones?" Jasper hands me a slice of the apple that he peeled, nodding. I take a bite, the crisp flesh singing across my tongue.

"Yeah, one for personal uses and the other for pictures of yo—" He cuts himself off, closing his mouth quickly. I raise my eyebrows, his words already soaking in. "I shouldn't have said that."

"Yeah, you shouldn't have."

"I'll change seats now." Jasper bids me goodbye, before pausing. "Here." He slides another slide into my hand. I roll my eyes, waving him away. I look up at the clinic, catching Arsenio's eye. He grins at me and I beckon him to me.

His smile falters slightly as he rises to his feet, unsure. "Am I in trouble again?" I reach against his dark hoodie, pulling the hood downward. The collar sits low on his neck, mimicking a choker. It suits him. I let him go and he sits at the counter.

"So what's this I hear about you having two phones?" Arsenio pauses, before feigning ignorance.

"I don't know what you—"

"Hand it over." He grumbles before reaching into his pocket and retrieving a phone. Arsenio places it onto the counter. "When have you been taking pictures?"

"I—Nothing weird or, uhm, bad stuff, just," He swallows as I click on the photo's app. Picture after picture appear on the screen, some in the clinic, some outside, and some...

"While I'm sleeping too?" None of the pictures were shaky or blurry, instead, they seemed clear enough to have been taken by a professional photographer. "How did you get all these?"

"You know, bits and moments." He shrugs, looking slightly sheepish. I stare at him for an extra moment. "It's just you never let me actually take a photo of you, and-and what if you go missing, we have to put up signs—"

I smile before clicking the circle at the bottom of the screen, taking an adequate picture. He watches me with his mouth open mid-sentence. "You're really pretty." Arsenio blinks quickly, before clearing his throat. "C-Can I have it back—"

"You'll get it back if you promise to never take a photo of me again."

"What if you ask me to?"

"Photos that I don't know of."

"Forever? Like, for the rest of our lives?" He questions. I nod. He shakes his head, declining.

"A month." He hesitates, then shakes his head. "Three weeks."

"Deal." He chirps, beaming. I glance back at the pictures. How have I not noticed him take all of these? I hand him back the phone and he immediately goes to back up the photo that I just took.

- - -

"A mirror?" I nodded, my hands stuffed into my pockets. The fresh morning air stings my skin as we move. "For what?"

"Just felt like my bathroom mirror isn't big enough. I'll get a bigger one so that it'll be easier to see myself." Arsenio pauses and tips his head to the side.

"Then you need to get curtains." I raise an eyebrow at his words. "The small window at the top. People might be able to see your reflection if you angle it a certain way." I turn to look at him.

"You certainly know an awful lot about my house." He chuckles, rubbing the back of his neck. I glance at the collar. "Is it uncomfortable?"

"No, I forget it's even there sometimes." I reach up and ruffle his hair, before picking up the pace. "I really am your guard dog, aren't I?"

I laugh, shaking my head. "Do you want me to take it off?" Arsenio glances down at me quickly before veering away.

"Nope." He chirps, clearly declining my offer. The doors slide open, stagnant air greeting me as I walk in. We head toward the aisle of mirrors and I glance at the variety. There were plain ones and ones with stiff metal frames, bulky and large. "That one would look good."