kings of babylon [completed]

sun

Everything was soft and cold, Eve realized as he woke. His body felt swathed in something thick, but his skin still felt cool. He couldn't pinpoint where he was until a harsh smell invaded his nose. It was like cinnamon rubbing alcohol. The whole hospital smelled that way. Eve would know, he'd spent so much time there.

"He's the youngest I've ever treated with it." A male voice rumbled.

"Only seventeen and already 3. So sad," a female voice replied. "Did you see how long he's got?" The same voice asked, not really in question, but more with a pitying tone.

Eve decided to make his presence known right then. He cleared his throat and began to sit up, pushing the thick blanket off of him. When he opened his eyes, he saw the female nurse rush to the equipment next to his hospital bed. At the door was an older doctor, not Eve's usual one. Dr. Hart had a pot belly and beard and looked a bit like Santa. This one was slim and had red and grey hair. He began to approach Eve's bed with a smile.

"Hello, Mr. Ross. How are you feeling?"

Eve adjusted his gown. "Okay. Where is Dr. Hart?"

The redheaded doctor pulled over a chair. "He's not in today. I'm Dr. Gale. Do you know what happened to you?"

Eve shook his head. "I remember... Ponyu." Eve smiled at the thought.

When Dr. Gale gave him a questioning look, Eve began to explain. "My brother. He came to visit with his dog. Her name is Ponyu. I remember playing with her."  

Dr. Gale nodded in understanding. "You passed out in your home. Your parent brought you in." Eve sagged where he sat. He must have worried them terribly.

"Do you know why you lost consciousness?" Eve nodded. He'd been so excited that he hadn't taken his pills that morning.

Eve looked to Dr. Gale. "How long have I been out?"

"Just a few hours. Your parents are waiting outside, if you'd like to see them," the doctor replied. Eve nodded and Dr. Gale gave his knee a soft pat before he left, the female nurse following close behind.

Eve longed to burrow into the covers of his hospital bed and scroll through his phone until the cold on his skin went away, but instead, he prepared a smile and nervously tugged on the longer side of his hair as he waited for his parents.

He heard the footsteps of someone entering the room, but when he glanced up, he only saw scrubs. Assuming it was the nurse, he focused back on his hair.

"Do you need anything, Steven? I could get you some ice chips or water?" Eve's head snapped up at the sound of the silken voice, and he found a face he recognized, one that made his breath catch.

"Luc?" Eve whispered, as if he might scare him away.

The devil grinned. "Yeah. I wanted to check on you. How are you feeling, really?"

Eve shrugged. "Fine. Kinda cold." Eve was certainly not fine. He felt guilty he'd worried his parents and that Luc had worked time out of his busy schedule to come check on him, and that he'd probably sent his brother home early with Ponyu for no reason other than Eve's own foolishness. But he said none of that, because he wasn't going to make Luc fret any more than he had.

Luc didn't seem to believe Eve's response regardless. His perfect, thick brows were puckered, and his full lips turned down in a frown.

"You know, your parents are coming in here to yell at you. We could go." Luc said, almost shyly.

Eve cocked his head to the side. "Go where?"

Luc laughed nervously. "Out of here. Wherever you want." Abruptly, in his mind's eye, Eve saw the one place he'd wanted to go, but hadn't been able to since he was diagnosed. His parents insisted it was too dangerous. His parents.