No Choice | Peter Ballard x Reader

Leisure

Today, according to Brenner, is a free day.

He announced how he's planning to have another group session tomorrow.

He doesn't want to stress and exhaust any of the children too much which is why he decided that the kids receive a full day in the Rainbow Room. No lessons are going to be run today.

Now, it might be a free day for the children, but it is still a full, regular shift for you. Yay.

Shifts like this are always so boring.

With individual test days, at least a few children stop by to get checked up. However, these free days just result in you being by yourself with pretty much nothing to do.

So, here you are.

In the infirmary.

You're already three hours into your shift, and you're starting to get a headache from the constant, unwavering ticking of the clock. It normally isn't this noticeable, but then again, no one's come to stop by.

You're about to grab yourself some ibuprofen when suddenly you hear the door creak open.

Thank God.

"Ms. Y/n?" calls a young, timid voice.

It's 010. 

He's clearly apprehensive based on how his eyes wander to anywhere but your eyes.

"Yes, Ten? What's the matter?" you ask.

"I'm here for my iron..?" 

The way he talks is almost always in a whisper. For someone who's visited so much, you would think that 010 would be more confident in his requests.

"Ah, have you eaten yet?" you prod which 010 shakes his head no. You smile and thank him for remembering. 

You then move around the infirmary and grab an iron tablet. You jot the details down on your clipboard before handing the tablet to 010.

You fix him a disposable cup of water and squat down. You look at the young boy's face. He's staring down at the small tablet that's in both of his hands.

"Okay, buddy. You ready?" you ask, and he nods.

You gently instruct him through the process, but you know he's memorized this already. He tilts his head back slightly and puts the tablet far down on his tongue. You hand him the cup of water, and he uses it to swallow the tablet. He squints real hard, and then shows you his tongue.

"Good job, Ten! Look at you go. Thank you for remembering."

You greet him goodbye, and 010 exits the infirmary. 

What a kind kid.

Another hour passes by when Peter walks into the room. As soon as you see him, you start to smile, and he reciprocates it.

"Hello, Dove," Peter greets.

"Hi! What brings you into the infirmary?" you ask. You're sitting in one of the wheeled chairs, playing with the cap of an empty pill bottle.

"Brenner wanted the new orderly to take my place for the last half of my shift, so I decided to visit my favorite nurse."

You gently pat the empty chair across from you, and Peter quickly accepts your invitation.

"Is Brenner trying to replace you or something? He normally doesn't hire new orderly without a reason," you state.

Peter stiffens. His eyes are focused on the empty pill bottle that you're fidgeting with.