Lab Rat: Subject 253

In Which He Heals

     "Sorry," the meek whisper was predictable as usual.

     253 shakes his head, a peice of brown hair flopping into his eye. "You're fine, darling."

     He knows it's not the young, blondes fault. She was a pawn in their game just as much as he was.

     Of course, that wasn't his first impression. When he'd woken up he'd lashed out at her just as much as the others, but when he'd calmed down and took in her soft features, sad brown eyes, and Liberian style glasses, he just knew.

     No one could be that quiet, sweet and timid, and have monstourous intentions.

     And as the years passed, his instincts proved him to be right.

      Her hands remind him of silk cloth as they pull the needle free, digits stroking as if to sooth him. He wonders if she even realises she was doing it.

      A fond smile curls his lips. "You free tonight, beautiful?"

      Her teeth sink into her lip, repressing her smile. A flush appears on her cheeks and he grins, satisfied. "253... you're always teasing me."

     "It's 'cause you're too pretty when you blush." He doesn't take his eyes off her, heart skipping a beat when she let's her smile free.

      She glances over her shoulder, making sure they were still alone. "You'll get me into trouble," she reminds him, slipping the band up his arm. Blood pressure was next.

     "Never," he tells her firmly, ignoring the uncomfortable sensation as the band tightens. "I'd kill them before they touch you."

     She frowns, not responding, and continues the tests.

     - -

     253 couldn't tell you how long he'd been in this place.

     And he remembers nothing. Couldn't tell you his parents names. His age. Birthday. Hell, if he didn't have a mirror above the sink in his cell he wouldn't even know what he looked like.

     "You see your hot little nurse today, hippy?"

      Laying flat against his bed with his hands behind his head, 253 rolls his eyes at the muffled voice coming from the cell next door. "Maybe. What's it to you, ya damn fairy?"

     216 laughs. "C'mon, man, your love life is the only damn entertainment I get!"

     253 snorts. "I fucking wish I had a love life. Pretty sure my virginity has grown back." Assuming he didn't have one to begin with...

      "Least I ain't the only one!" Another voice cuts in, more feminine than the last. Subject 109.

      "I can help you with that one, sugar," drawls 216.

      253 laughs. "Get a fucking room."

      "Gladly!"

     "I ain't that desperate yet," 109 teases.

     "Ouch! Ma heart!"

     "Why don't ya ask hippy to kiss it better for you?"

     "You know, it's been so damn long I wouldn't mind playing swing the sword with him," 216 muses.

     "Jesus Christ." Sometimes 253 wishes his cell wasn't located between the two chatter-boxes.

     "Oh god, please let me watch!" 109 pleads with a laugh.

     "Or better yet - join us." 216 suggests crudely.

     "Nah... I'm not into unavailabile men. We all know who Hippys heart belongs to."

     253 doesn't comment. Simply rolls his eyes with a small smile. It fed his male pride having others acknowledge his claim on the sweet nurse.

     "Yeah... Me!" 216 laughs at his own joke.

      - -

     253 wipes the sweat off his forehead with the back of his arm. The other hand grips the punching bag, stopping it from swinging.

     "You should take a break," his nurse suggests quietly.

     Always looking out for me... He feels warm inside. Glancing over at her spot on the floor where she sat with a book resting on her knees, he responds, "I heal, sweetheart, you don't need to worry about me. I can't hurt myself."

     She's quiet for a moment. Not that he's expecting any less. "That's why I worry," she murmurs under her breath.

     He releases the bag and approaches her. Slides down the wall until their hips are touching. "Sweatheart?" he encourages her to continue.

      The thing was, his little nurse was rather shy. She always thought over what she was going to say before she said it. Never used unnecessary words. Hell, for the first three months he'd thought she was a mute.

     She fingers the pages of her book. "You have a tendency to overdo it because you heal and don't know when you should give your body a rest."

     He tilts his head as if to say true. "I've survived all their damn tests and punishments. A... Enthusiastic work out isn't going to kill me, Nurse Ella," he curls his tongue flirtatiously when he says her name.

      Her breath hitches and she gives him a hesitant glance.

      His smile is wide. Hazel eyes excited. "Yeah, you like that, huh? You like it when I say your name like that." He leans closer, voice dropping to a whisper. "My little nurse Ella." Filth practically drips off his voice.

      Her cheeks redden and she doesn't respond. She didn't need to; The small twitch of her lips tells him more than words could say.

      With a satisfied grin, he leans back against the wall and gives up on his work out routine to spend the rest of his free time next to her.

     - -
    
     A/N: Anyone got any theories as to why 253 is only one number down from 254?