No Choice | Peter Ballard x Reader

Universal Rules

Working in the Hawkins Laboratory requires everyone to follow its specific set of rules, including the workers themselves. 

You know this because the first year of your employment, Brenner attached a small camera to your collar to survey your actions. He didn't want any child to get harmed because of some untrained nurse which is understandable.

You're currently in the infirmary. It's open for the children to go into since it's no longer harboring an injured Peter. Speaking of which, Peter was acting weird this morning. He brought up 011 but quickly dismissed it, telling you to forget about it. You think he has something planned with her.

The other nurse on the left side of the laboratory also told you how 011 suffered a concussion the other day. You remember 002's words, and you frown.

So many things have happened in this laboratory recently, and you barely have a grasp of what's happening. You're the nurse after all, stuck in the infirmary. You never get details about what happens with the kids unless Peter tells you.

You never know anything that's happening in the lab.

Suddenly, Peter walks in, carrying an unconscious 002.

A clear example.

He drops off the child's body on the gatch bed. You observe Peter's face. It's unclear, unfamiliar. You can't seem to read him today. Either way, it doesn't take a genius to know that he's upset with the way his eyebrows are furrowed, and his lips are strained into a flat line.

"They collared Two—shocked him in front of the kids for the lesson today," he gravely states. His tone holds a slight hint of fear, probably thinking back to the night they shocked him as well.

Once Peter explained what occurred in the testing room, you're quick to attach the electrodes and get the cardiac monitor reading. You also put 002 on a mechanical ventilator because you noticed the child's irregular breathing pattern.

"I can't take this anymore, Dove," Peter admits, staring into you as you make sure 002's vitals are normal. His voice is low and quiet.

"I'm going to go talk to Eleven."

You don't know what to say, and Peter quickly strides back to the Rainbow Room.

You feel bad for not saying anything, but you aren't really sure what you could've said. Anyway, he did have to go back and monitor the kids, but you wonder why Peter specifically mentioned 011.

You focus on taking care of 002, noting any slight difference with his heart readings. 

Your mind is everywhere yet nowhere at the same time. You've been having trouble processing everything that's happened lately, and this current situation just made things a lot more complicated. You don't know how long you can keep this job up. You've recently been thinking about throwing in the towel and quitting the job, but you remember how in Brenner's contract that the minimum of five years must be attained before quitting. You recall how your past self thought it was ridiculous, but the pay certainly makes up for the ridiculousness.

You're just sitting in the infirmary with the beeping cardiac monitor, watching over 002.

You're rethinking everything's that happened lately.

011 beat 002.

002 and three other children bully 011 for it, causing her to suffer a concussion.

Peter gets shocked as punishment for encouraging 011.

You take care of Peter, and he takes care of you in some other ways in return.

Thinking back on that night, you realize that you two never kissed, causing you to mentally groan. 

002 gets shocked by Brenner as a lesson to follow rules.

That's it. That's all that's happened so far.

And you're not even past half of your shift yet. Great.

You hear a knock on the door before it fully opened, letting out a loud creak over the cardiac monitor.

You're currently checking 002's blood pressure when Richard walks in with an exhausted look on his face.

"Sorry to bother," he states as he fully walks into the infirmary.

You stare at him and raise an eyebrow.

"Is everything alright?" you ask.

God, this beeping is going to drive you insane.

"Not sure," Richard says, pointing behind him. You lean a little bit to the left to see no one behind him.

"She says her head's still dizzy. Lights are hurting her," he finishes, making odd hand movements.

"Hurting who?" you question. You're completely confused as to what Richard is talking back. He slowly turns around to see that no one was behind him. You can see his posture stiffen. He quickly turns back to you, eyes filled with panic.

"Shit."

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738 words.

yeah not a lot of peter in this one, sorryyyyyy. also i've been kinda behind on chapters 'cause i'm building my minecraft base rn. i'm rlly proud of it.