Desolation //Imp Tweek x Pastor Craig //

Reposing.

The hours ticked by. Day break was just creeping in through the windows. Most of the waiting room had emptied, a few remainders were scattered in various chairs around the room.  Waiting was boring, no update had been passed on to the blond haired demon either. The only persons who had graced his presence were the cops - though they didn't stay for long. They took his name, he convinced them about a fake address out of town and why he was in town for the night before taking his statement. It struck him as odd that it didn't seem that out of the ordinary, maybe this town was a little more messed up than what met the eye.

Watching the clock had got tiring and the chair was far from comfortable to make any kind of nap space out of. The imps clothes itched and his pale skin was still streaked with dried blood, he picked and scratched away at it but he wished for somewhere to get cleaned up. Where the hell was he meant to go, he had no money after all.

...

Upstairs, secluded from most patients, was a tiny room in which the pastor rested. The room itself was that typical clinical style but with large windows along the back wall. The early morning sunlight grazed his body as he remained unconscious. The smell of disinfectant was vigour, enough to keep one asleep for an entirety if too deeply inhaled. A few beeps and whirls brown the silence, machinery was keeping an eye on the sleeping pastor for now.

Sat beside his bed was three figures, all intent on watching the young pastor particularly close. Sat to his left was a blonde woman, her hand wrapped around Craig's. Her complexion was the exact of the pastors - Craigs' mother. His father, now greying and face more worn, remained at the foot of his bed. To the right sat someone notably younger, pale faced and ginger locks framed her face - his sister.

They all remained in silence. The first call from the hospital almost broke the pastors mother and the car ride over to the hospital grounds felt like an eternity.
Doctors would come and go and only Thomas, Craig's father, would speak with them for any further updates. So far, they were told they were pleased that there was no damage to his brain - most of his injuries were external and that they patched him up pretty well. His nose was broken and had to be reset and that the pastor was extremely lucky that the puncture to his side had missed his vital organs. He had however lost a fair bit of his blood, enough to keep doctors concerned so his fluid levels were constantly monitored with a cocktail of other IV fluids.

His sister Tricia set about doing her best to gently remove any of the dried blood from his face and arms. She did so with a dampened cloth she had pinched from one of the nurses stations. She couldn't bare to see him in such a state. His face was very bruised and swollen, bandages wrapped the top of his head and over the bridge of his nose. His torso was covered from the chest down in tight bandages too, covering the stitches across his body.

Finally, the silence broke.

'I'll kill them...' His mother muttered, her hand tightening her grip on her sons hand. 'I'll kill those bastards for what they've done.' Tears rolled down her face, but she refused to give into breaking her stern façade.

Thomas sighed, sitting forward in his chair and taking his wife's spare hand in his own. 'I've spoken with the cops, Laura. They're already dead... Meth heads apparently - they set the place alight while  with themselves inside it. It was lucky their other victim pulled Craig out of there when he did...' He couldn't bare to imagine the alternative outcome.

'Good. Let them burn in hell.' She growled, refusing to take her eyes off her boy. But eventually she cracked, a small sigh escaping her lips. 'I should go and speak with that boy... Poor thing, neither one of them deserved this.'

Tricia simply nodded, eyes not pulling away from her brother. 'We should thank him, Craig wouldn't be here if it wasn't for him.' She continued to work, wiping her brothers brow.

Thomas, who usually would pick an argument decided it would be a good idea too but he couldn't bare to tear himself away from his boys bedside just yet. 'I'll stay here for now - just in case they have any more news.'

'Okay. I won't be long.' Laura released Craig's hand, taking one more look of her son before disappearing out of the cubical door.

...

Downstairs, the imp had decided his resting spot was no longer satisfactory. Running slender fingers through messy blond hair repeatedly was dull, constantly staring at the ceiling had become boring and the lack of any form of interaction had him feeling rather stale.

Forcing his weary frame from his seat, the little demon decided to pace about outside of the room - either in hope of some form of staff to appear or find something to appropriately kill the time; perhaps find a bathroom to try and scrub his skin while he searched.

Venturing through the examination room door, the imp appeared in the waiting room once again. The room was starting to fill up again with more patient's. He couldn't help but feel everyone's stares tearing into him but he kept his gaze well clear of their own. With that, he hurriedly escaped the room and stumbled into a corridor. The walls were scattered with various information posters; from how to wash your hands correctly to sepsis awareness. Along the walls were dotted some more waiting chairs and some glowy  boxes at the end.

Upon noticing these boxes, a burnt and earthy aroma tickled the imps nostrils. Replacing the chemical smell that had burnt most of his senses away. Wow, he couldn't remember the last time that scent  blessed the air around him. Following the scent trail, the imp appeared before the glowing machine - eyes studying the contraption, figuring out how the blastered thing worked. He pressed a few options but it came to no avail, the machine requested money in return. Of course, nothing in this world was for free.
His fists landed on it a couple of times in a dash attempt at convincing it to work, but it continued to hum without worry. 'Ergh...' His forehead pressed itself against the machine. The lack of coffee made him feel distraught.

'Please allow me.' A voice came from behind the imp. It had taken him off guard and almost made him jump out of his skin... quite literally. Well, apparently looking desperate was enough to convince someone into purchasing his drink. He turned on the spot, facing the newcomer.

Laura met with his gaze. 'Someone said they'd seen you come this way, I was hoping to catch you.' She stepped before him, rummaging into her pocket and plucking a few coins from within. She guided them into the slot. 'Is black ok?' 

'Uh... Thank you!' The little demon was taken aback, his hand reaching to rub the back of his head as he gave half a smile. The machine whirled into life.

'It should be me thanking you.' She replied, tilting her head towards the blond boy. He simply gave a puzzled look in return.  'The pastor you brought in... I'm Craig's mother.'

'Now- that makes sense.' His uneasiness seemed to wavered now he understood the situation. 'Don't-don't thank me, I just did what I had too. He's okay? No one bothered to update me down he-'

Suddenly, arms wrapped around the imps frame and pulled him in tightly in a warm embrace. What was this human doing? The demon was so quickly overwhelmed with the affection that he simply froze, arms struggling to relax and remained rigid for the entirety of their awkward hug. How did his statue not scare the woman, he looked like a massacre. 'Thank you for bringing my boy back.' She mumbled before pulling away. The machine finished processing its task.

'I couldn't... I couldn't leave him there.' He muttered through pursed lips as she finally pulled away from him. 'He's okay though... yeah?' His hand reached for the freshly dispensed coffee, he cradled it with two as he felt a little shaken.

'He's going to be okay...'

They were both cut off from their interaction.

'He's awake.' Panted Tricia who'd tanked it down the stairs. 'Craig's awake.'