[TW] Pyrophobia

Chapter Fifteen | "Resignation"

DOC

"I'll be fine..." Duh mumbled groggily, although Doc raised a brow and could obviously tell that he at least felt otherwise.

It had been a week since the incident. Duh still felt a bit odd, but he was starting to feel better. Doc was hesitant on bringing him home, though. He wanted to keep him at the hospital for a bit longer. But he could understand why being stuck in a trauma center for days on end was so... uncomfortable.

"Duh, you really just need more rest. I can get you home, but you're getting straight to bed."

"But I saw some things..." Duh insisted.

"Elaine, RED. You told me already, love." Doc sighed. "Please, just listen, it's for the greater good. Both for mine and for yours."

"Okay." Duh sighed. "I'm sorry."

"Stop apologizing, okay?" Doc sighed. "Look, none of this is your fault. You were doing what was the best for everyone. You got hurt. That happens, life sucks. We'll move on, right?"

"I know. I'm just worried. What do we do about RED?" Duh let out a frustrated sigh. "I thought we dealt with him a long time ago..."

"I thought we did, too..." Doc was upset, too. That bastard and his stupid excuse of a sister kept coming back to fuck up their lives. "But it's okay. We'll deal with this, slowly but steadily. Just like last time. We're fighters, through and through."

"Y-Yeah. We are." Duh let out a small smile.

As Doc lead him back to his car, he stopped abruptly as their path was blocked by a colossal figure, taller than Duh. They stood in front of the car, staring down at both of them. "Hello. Going somewhere?"

Doc narrowed his eyes. He recognized this man. "You. You need to move. I've got an injured patient with me, and—"

"That's no way to address your boyfriend." They frowned. "I will move. But only if you bring me along."

"W-What?" Doc gasped, then his shock turned to anger. "I'm not just bringing some random stranger to tag along with me!"

"But I can help you beat RED. Don't you want that?"

"How do you know who RED is?" Duh asked, eyes narrowed.

"I know who you all are. I know your whole situation, actually. With RED, with Scope, I even know that man you were talking to a while back... Edward, was it?"

"That's none of your business." Doc snapped.

"I know it isn't. I'm sorry." The man frowned. He crouched down, seemingly inspecting Doc. "I didn't expect you to be so... small."

"What'd you call me? Duh, let go for a second."

"I'd prefer not doing that." Duh nervously chuckled.

"Is that... offensive?" The man tilted his head. He moved his curly black hair out of his eyes. A sparkling, icy light blue... "Sorry about that."

"Woah, woah. That is fucking weird. His eyes look just like yours." Duh willingly let go of Doc now, taking a step back. Doc only went with him, staring at the stranger in bewilderment.

"Okay." Doc huffed. "Who are you?"

The man straightened himself. "Professor Mateo Hernandez. Senior resident and a lead professor at the Laboratory of Independent Studies. Recognize that name? I'd think so."

Doc took a step back. Yes, he definitely did recognize that name. The last name specifically. "W-What... you're telling me...?"

"Kid, you're my son, if I've got this all right." Mateo towered over them, brushing his hair back into his eyes. "Glad to know you've grown interested in the medical field, it really just runs in the family, doesn't it?"

Doc was speechless. He glanced back at Duh for any help, but even he didn't have anything to say, staring at the larger figure, intimidated.

"I'm sorry if I'm bringing such a fright to you both." Mateo tilted his head. "Take my advice. I'm one of the lead professors at the LIS, I've studied this 'Spreading' much more than you might think. I might know a way to get rid of RED once and for all."

Doc only stared at Duh unsurely for a little longer before he slowly turned to face Mateo—or, well, his father. "Fine. Anything to help us."

His whole world had shifted. He had parents. He had living parents. He... hated this guy. But suddenly he felt a passion for him that he wished would stay as long as it could. Doc got into the car with Duh in the front and Mateo in the back. He wasn't sure whether he could call him his father yet. He'd call him Mateo for now.

The world became a blur. One moment, they were in that same parking lot, and the next, at the house. One moment, standing, the next, sat in the living room.

One moment, it was quiet, the next, Mateo's booming yet soft voice spoke.

"I found some strange, spilled liquid that was almost identical to that of the Spreading, left by Scope after I spectated your little fight with her." He glanced up at Duh. "Remember that?"

"Of course, I do." Duh narrowed his eyes slightly. "You're... saying it was some kind of blood?" As he spoke, he glanced down at Doc. If only he could look up at him in return. He wasn't sure how to feel.

"I'm... not sure. It's likely. When I merged this with a massive amount of the Spreading, I noticed that everything dissolved. This may get rid of everything. Including the Spreading on your arms. And RED himself."

If only it could get rid of Scope. Doc bitterly thought.

"So, what are we meant to do with that information, exactly?"

"I don't know just yet." Mateo stood and paced the floor, his hand raised to his chin, deep in thought. "But we have to find a way to use Scope's presumed blood to kill off RED. Perhaps even a small amount."

"But knowing her... why would she ever agree to that?" Duh rolled his eyes.

"You've got the right idea, kid. We may have to do it by force." Mateo turned sharply as he said this, eyes narrowed.

"I don't like the sound of that." Duh flinched.

"Come on. It's only karma. After everything she's done to you, doesn't she deserve a little bit of justice? Just some?"

"I-I guess." Duh looked down. He glanced at Doc and whispered, "I'm not so sure about this."

"It's the best we can do." Doc whispered back. "...Let's trust him for now."

Duh sighed and looked up at Mateo. "...Right. What do we do?"