A revised narrative. | bsd

Chapter 5

Your eyes followed Doc throughout the entire time being in the clinic; it was either him or anyone who entered. A little disappointed that you didn't see anyone you knew, sometimes Albatross came in, and as much as you loved him in Stormbringer, he gave you too much trauma after training with him.

Two days barely passed, and each moment felt like an eternity spent being fed hospital food that did not taste good and feeling absolutely disgusting, unable to maintain basic hygiene. The sterile smell of antiseptic mixed with the blandness of overcooked vegetables and rubbery meat was enough to make you long for the comfort of home and a decent meal. You never thought you'd miss the warmth of sunlight on your skin but you did, you miss the sound of laughter among friends, and the taste of your favorite dishes.

The curtains swooshed, moving to the side, and you assumed it was Doc when you saw a dark blob of hair, but at the sight of no white coat, you turned your attention to see Mori. His presence was a source of anxiety; the lingering trauma from your training with Albatross made it difficult to fully relax in front of him.

Feeling your heart shudder as you shifted on the bed to sit straighter, Mori smiled at the sight of you. He walked over, tilting his head in a way that made you feel strangely exposed. "You looking for someone?" he asked, a hint of curiosity in his voice.

You shook your head, refusing to use your voice to communicate. Your throat didn't hurt anymore, but you had become accustomed to this silence, using it as an excuse to avoid conversations that felt too much. Mori's expression flickered with disappointment at your lack of response, but he nodded.

"Well, you're probably sick of the hospital food, so I bought you dinner. I hope you can handle spice," Mori revealed, lifting a plastic cover to reveal a steaming portion of rice and curry. The rich aroma filled the room making your mouth water in anticipation. You took a spoonful of curry, mixing it into the rice before shoving the hot food into your mouth. The flavors were a welcome relief from the bland hospital meals, and you found yourself juggling the hot food in your mouth as you struggled to keep it all in.

He chuckled at the sight of you before warning you to be cautious. "Careful."

You ignored his advice, too caught up in the delightful taste to listen to his words. You kept repeating the same motion until the little container was empty, your hunger finally sated. You wiped your lips with the back of your hand, feeling slightly more human now that you had something decent to eat.

As you closed the containers, Mori pulled a chair beside your bed and sat down. The closeness made you uncomfortable, and you instinctively shifted back.

"I have many inquiries; it's a shame you can't talk..." he mused, thinking for a moment before pulling a small notepad and pen from his pocket. "I know, why don't you write on this?" he suggested, smiling as if he hadn't thought this through beforehand.

You opened the notepad and wrote with the pen a simple, 'ok,' feeling a bit uneasy that you were given a choice communicate your thoughts in another way.

Mori smiled back, resting his hands folded on his lap. "So, I heard from Albatross that you ended up here after an attempt on your ability." You nodded, unsure how else to respond.

"Well, I'm sure we can get in control of your ability with a little more force," he added, flipping a page before you began writing again, catching Mori's attention. 'Will I vomit blood again?' you scribbled, the question hanging heavily in the air.

He squinted to read it before smiling unconfirmingly. "Let's hope not; though it's unlikely since it's just an after-effect of your ability."

A sudden screech interrupted the moment, and both of you turned to see it belonged to the curtain being moved as Doc entered with a glass of water for you. Doc looked over to Mori before nodding at him with respect, "Boss."