It’s a few hours later and Kris has managed to pull himself together enough to tell Yixing the whole story more or less coherently. They’re lying on the couch, Yixing on his back with Kris head resting on his chest and Kris’ long legs dangling over the armrest.
“Do you believe me?” He asks softly after he finishes. Yixing sighs deeply.
“I don’t know Kris. It just doesn’t make sense. Maybe this is just something your brain drummed up because you’re overworked and tired.”
“No, I don’t think that’s it. I mean sure it feels a little like I’m dreaming but at the same time not. I know disappearing into thin air is impossible but the cold when he touches me is too real to be a fragment of my imagination. And he looks so familiar Yixing. It’s like I’ve seen him before I just can’t remember where.”
“Well you probably have seen him before Kris. The brain can’t just make up an entire face, it relies on memory even if it isn’t conscious. That doesn’t mean that he’s really there though.” Kris grumbles and hides his face in the crook of Yixing’s neck.
“I’m not imagining him.” Yixing sighs again, deciding to let it go for a little while.
“If you say so, but seriously love, I think you should take a few days off work and rest.”
“I can’t. The trauma unit is understaffed as it is. I need to be there and you know it.” The hospital where Kris works is so small it would probably be more accurate to call it a clinic and the low budget limits the amount of staff that can be afforded significantly.
“Alright. On one condition. I will come pick you up after your shift ends. No more walking home alone in the dark.” Kris smiles affectionately.
“Kay.” He leaned up to press a kiss on Yixing’s soft lips. “I love you.” Yixing gave a low chuckle.
“And I you.” He gently pushed Kris off himself and stood up. “Come on, let’s go to bed.”
Kris wakes with a start as the shrill ring from his phone cuts through the quiet night. He hears Yixing groan beside him as he feels for the phone on the bedside table. Fumbling with the offending object that disturbed his precious sleep he manages to press the green button and holds the phone to his ear as he falls back against the pillows again.
“Hello?” His voice is thick with sleep.
“Kris, it’s me Kyungsoo.”
“Kyung? Come on the suns not even up yet.” He whines irritated. ”What do you want?”
“I know and I’m sorry I woke you up. I know you don’t work during weekends but something came up and I really really need you here right now.” The words tumble out of the speaker so fast that Kris’ groggy mind has a hard time keeping up.
“Okay, but slow down a little will ya. What happened.”
“Two women were attacked down by the river really close to where you live. Someone heard screaming down by the river bend and found them there. They were brought in just a few minutes ago.” Kyungsoo pauses to catch his breath before continuing at the same lighting speed as before. “One of them is dead but the other is in a critical condition. All we can really do right now is try to staunch the blood flow but she needs to be operated and I can’t do that so I would really appreciate if you could get your ass out of bed and come help me out here before we lose her to.” Kris is wide awake by now, scrambling out of bed and trying to find his clothes.
“Alright I’ll be there as fast as I can.” Kyungsoo breathes a sigh of relief on the other end of the line.
“Thank you. Just hurry.” Kris hums and hangs up the phone as he finds his pants and shirt. Trying to put on both the articles of clothing at the same time he calls Yixing’s name softly. The younger man mumbles something incoherent and turns over on the bed. Kris walks over to his lovers side of the bed and shakes him.
