I scowl as I walk down the Diasomnia hall, the dirt and grime against the walls making me take pause.
It never got this dirty here... the cleaners would have fixed it. Why hadn't they taken care of this? "Ugh... I'll have to pester Crowley to get the cleaners in here..." I say, more to myself than Elijah.
The raven haired man raises an eyebrow me, before looking around the hallway. "Is it not usually this disgusting?"
I shake my head, my eyes narrowing. "No... it's almost like all the cleaners Director Crowley hired just disappeared." I rub the back of my neck in frustration, if he tried to get me to do cleaning, I would probably have some kind of breakdown.
Elijah goes to say something, before his eyes lock onto something down the hall. They widen into saucers, despite his expression staying calm. His arm shoots out in front of me, keeping me behind him as he stops.
My eyes widen in worry, looking up at him. "E- Elijah, what's wrong?"
"End of the hallway. Something... Someone is there." He murmurs.
I quickly look to the end of the hallway...
...
... is that...
... Is that Jasmine..?
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Ah. It was Smiley.
I let out a breath, hoping to the seven that she wasn't feeling particularly defensive or aggressive.
She stared at me, eyes locked onto mine. After a moment, that wide smile that I'd come to recognise spreads on her face. She swiftly starts to approach, movements uncanny accompanying her silent footsteps.
As she gets closer, Elijah reaches for something on his belt, but his movements halt when i push his arm down and meet Smiley's movements. "Wh- Doctor." He says sternly, eyes now concerned.
"It's okay. She's with me." I say confidently, as Smiley stares at me. Elijah reaches out for a moment, as if to grab my wrist and pull me back towards him. But he doesn't.
"... Fine. Good to know." He murmurs, he obviously doesn't trust this, in his eyes, random woman that came out of nowhere.
I nod to him, before turning back to Smiley. "What are you doing, lurking around here?" I say with a polite smile.
"Stalking." She says simply, voice raspy.
"Yeah, I can see that. I mean, why Diasomnia? I've never seen you around here."
"Looking for you." She says simply, as if it was obvious.
Despite her intimidating appearance... Smiley was only really aggressive as a defence. She wasn't violent by default. Not if she didn't have to be.
She was just creepy, and she knows it.
"Who's the alt?" Smiley says with a giggle, looking at Elijah. He frowns slightly.
"Elijah Viéto. It's a pleasure."
"Aah... New guy." She smiles menacingly, clicking her teeth together.
"Leave him be. Tell me, what did you need me for?" I say, hoping I was keeping her attention away from trying to terrorise the new hires.
"... Ah, yeah.." Her voice is quiet, almost hesitant.
"Something happened.. With Fern. Freaked Jasmine out. Bad."
My eyes widen in concern. Elijah looks confused. "Who are Jasmine and Fern..?" He whispers.
"Is he okay?" I ask quickly, as Smiley slowly shakes her head.
"In the medic room. Struggling to breathe."
My eyes widen in horror. What on earth had happened..?! He was struggling to breathe?!
"E- Elijah, I think that's enough for you today. I need to check on Fern."
"Is he another patient of yours?"
I pause. "No... Not currently."
Elijah's eyes narrow, before he nods. "Alright. I'll see you tomorrow then?"
"Yeah, meet me out the front at 8!" I say with a nervous smile, as Smiley starts to tug me towards where Fern is being kept.
Elijah watches me go for a moment, before sighing, and looking through his notes.
-----------------------------
The nurse yelped as they saw Smiley, before quickly apologising, a bashful look on their face. "I'm so sorry- Oh! Doctor L/N! Welcome, who've you got with you?"
I approach with a worried face. "She doesn't need the nurse. We're here to see her friend."
The nurses eyes widen. "... The Fishman? Go ahead, but he's not too happy."
I nod, muttering a thankyou before walking to the back with Smiley, towards the medical rooms.
I eventually find Fern, slumped in a saline tank with a bandage around his neck. His eyes move to look up at me. His antenna do a small twitch.
His skin had more markings than usual. Maybe it's because he was in the salt water? Like a partial transformation.
"Hey.." I murmur, moving to sit at the corner of the tank. His eyes follow me, before looking over at Smiley.
I look back too, upon hearing her sniffle.
...
Jasmine sits down next to me, tears brimming in her eyes.
It's silent for a while, as Fern seems to relax. But it's obvious he's in some pain, his breathing laboured.
"... What happened?" I ask Jasmine, as she wipes her eyes.
"No one believed me when I said so..." She murmurs, as Fern closes his eyes, probably to focus on his breathing.
"You know I'll believe you." Jasmine smiles at that, before a frown reappears.
"Aren shoved her fingers into his gills." Jasmine whispers. I feel myself stunned into silence.
"I was sat right next to him... I- I saw the whole thing."
"... Oh Sevens..." I whisper, dragging a hand down my face.
I slowly stand up. "I'll talk to the nurse. Plead your case."
Jasmine smiles sadly up at me. "Thankyou..."
Fern nods stiffly, before letting out a weak, raspy cough.
