I'm the alpha, I'm the leader, I'm the one to trust (trust) 😈🐺

is it normal to have romantic feelings for a crow with only two toes

Knock knock..

"Come in."

Alden shook his head. He couldn't think about things like that at work, where focus is an absolute must.

As the door opens, he turns his palms downward and gathers his papers to straighten them out. Tapping the bottom of his desk, his eyes catch on the familiar form.

"Oh, Mister Baccay. What brings you here?"

The tall man closes the door and sits casually on the seat opposite Alden.

"Please, no need for formalities." He sinks with a short grunt and sigh. The bags under his eyes are notable, as he is usually quite pristine and well-kept. Has something been going on lately..?

"Then, Mister Luan, what can I help you with?"

Luan was still older than Alden, so he felt that he couldn't just talk so casually. Even more so because of the ten-year difference between them.

"I won't bore you with sugarcoating. I want to leave by the end of this week."

As always, his words were well-spoken and though his voice was gruff, he seemed to be healing quite well. He seemed to be walking just fine and didn't have any previously mentioned mental illnesses, but it would still do him well as a doctor to double-check. He doesn't want to keep such a towering man here any longer than he has to, since it might scare the children. Especially with his new look.

"I'll see what I can do."

...ugh. Who am I trying to fool? I just want Polaris to stop worrying about some regressed old man. He's even slacking on his grades now, which is rare...

Luan seemed unimpressed and even a little disappointed, as he asked for more details.

"Is there anything more I have to do? I can find a job soon enough and pay for whatever the cost may be."

"Oh, uh, no need. Ronan had an automatic payment go out every month for your hospital bills. You're free to go whenever, really, we just need to check some things."

"Like... what."

..I can see what Ronan was talking about.

"Your overall health."

"Yes, like what."

"If you're still going through PTA, you'll need a bit of time before being released. We also have to worry about any heart-related conditions, since the nurses told me about how you still have a slow heart rate."

With that, he should be satisfied, right? Seriously.. nothing like Ronan, where he would say 'okay' and be on his merry way. Polaris and Luan.. they had to know everything, didn't they?

Luan was thinking for only a moment before blurting out with a straight face, "That's quite stupid, isn't it?"

I'M YOUR DOCTO--

"I'm afraid that's the procedure we have to follow to make sure you'll be fine after being discharged."

They both share a smile. Luan was more relaxed and was simply mirroring Alden, but Alden was smiling for him to leave.

"Well, the earliest you can get discharged is next week."

Luan's smile fades instantly and he looks as if he wanted to say something, but holds back. Alden's smile grew cold and he thought of the many scenarios that could play out. Luan throwing a fit, arguing with him, asking him why it'll take longer than he wants it to, or perhaps reciting some poetic bullsh...