Hot and Cold

Day Off

Maddie trudged from her bedroom, a blanket wrapped around her frame and dragging behind her on the floor. Her fluffy white polar bear was curled up on that part, seemingly enjoying being dragged around, the lazy thing. The Canadian let out a yawn, rubbing her sleepy lilac eyes with the back of her hand, then smiled. "Hey, Kuma.. it's Saturday. I'm off. Couldn't come any sooner, eh?" She said, but her words fell upon deaf ears because Kumajiro was still snoring away on the blanket. The young woman simply laughed to herself and shrugged off the blanket that was wrapped around her, tucking it around the dozing polar bear cub and giving him a soft scratch behind his ears before straightening up and then stretching. She headed into her room to retrieve her phone since she always liked to check it first thing in the morning before she went off to do something. Usually on the weekend, her days off from work, she liked to go hiking or just walk around town sometimes. She didn't know where to go though and was thinking something up when a text popped up with a musical ding.

'Privet, Maddie! Dr. Wesson is giving me pass for free day today. I was wondering if you'd want to hang out?
-- Vanya'

Madeline smiled. Good for him. With his nearly two months spent in therapy with her, he'd been doing exceptionally well. The Canadian texted him back a moment later.

'Sure, sounds great! I'm off today and didn't have anything else planned. I'll come and pick you up from the institution in a few.
-- Maddie'

She hummed quietly to herself as she started getting dressed. Her outfit consisted of a black tee that had a fanciful pattern on it in different bright colors, a pair of her cutoff jean shorts, worn out red sneakers, her red beanie, and a few of her hemp and bead bracelets she made herself to seemingly purposefully cover her wrists. Maddie smiled brightly at her reflection in the mirror as she passed it, then grabbed her small purse and keys, heading out the door after giving Kuma a kiss on his forehead and telling him to be good.

It took Madeline not any more than half an hour to get to the institution of which Ivan was currently residing. She parked and got out, heading towards the doors. It was a lot cooler inside the building than the mid-spring weather outside, causing her to get a light dusting of goosebumps on her arms. Smiling once more, she walked up to the front desk.

"Hello. I'm here to pick up Ivan Braginsky. I've been told he had a day's pass." Madeline said, watching the receptionist nod and click a few buttons on the keyboard of the computer in front of him. "Okay, sounds right. Who are you?" He asked, raising an eyebrow in questioning. "Madeline Williams. I should be authorized to pick him up, yes?" She replied. The receptionist glanced back at his computer screen and nodded. "Yes. Ivan will be here shortly, Miss Williams." He said with a friendly smile, gesturing for her to take a seat in the room that they were currently in. Men and women dressed in white occasionally passed through, all seeming to have somewhere to be. She folded her hands, setting them in her lap neatly as she waited for her friend.

About ten more minutes later, Ivan entered the lobby, walking side by side with Doctor Wesson. The older man looked pleased to see her when she stood up to meet them. He stuck out his hand, which Madeline met with her own, and shook it a few times while smiling. "Ivan was one of my hardest, toughest patients to crack, but you somehow did it. You are exceptionally amazing, Miss Williams." Dr. Wesson said, placing a hand on Ivan's shoulder. "Today is his first free pass in.. hm. Nearly a year. However, his behavioral patterns have much since improved, and drastically at that. If this day of his goes over well with you, then Ivan will be filed for temporary release. So bring him back by and we'll talk for a spell, yes?" The white-coated man finished, adjusting his glasses slightly, which were crooked on his slightly askew nose. Briefly, Madeline thought it Ivan had done that, but then shook it off. This man had many patients before him. The Canadian smiled modestly at the praise of her work, then nodded at his words of Ivan's release. "Yes, of course. That sounds amazing." She said excitedly, happy for Ivan. The ashen haired Russian had remained silent during their conversation, but beamed when she looked over to him.

Maddie and Ivan were now seated in her car. She turned the key in the ignition and the engine rumbled to life, then looked behind her to start backing out of her parking space. After that, they were on the road. She glanced over to Ivan, still happy over the doctor's announcement, to find that he was already looking at her. "You're doing really well, I'm proud of you, Vanya." She said, stopping at a red light. "Spasibo, Maddie. You've really helped me through a lot, and I'm grateful to you for that." He replied with a smile. "No problem at all." The Canadian said. "Where do you want to go? Or what would you like to do?" She went on to say, turning at the red light once it has flashed green. "Hm.. maybe somewhere to eat first? I'm starving." Ivan said after a minute. "Yeah, okay. I'm pretty hungry, too. " Madeline agreed, continuing down the road for a second before looking over to him. "Is Chick-Fil-A alright with you?" She asked, spotting the red and white sign down the road. "Da. I haven't had that in a while." He agreed, happily looking out the window at the other cars driving past.

"So, Maddie?" Ivan looked up from his sandwich, speaking after he'd swallowed his bite. "Yes?" She replied, taking a sip of the lemonade in her foam cup afterwards. "If Doctor Wesson does give me the release, I'll be needing a place to stay. I haven't talked to Dmitri for years.. and Nikolai isn't exactly the best person to temporarily live with either. I was wondering.. if I could stay with you? It would just be until I get back on my feet." He rested his cheek in his palm, elbow on the table and deep abysses of violet eyes trained on her as he waited patiently for an answer. Maddie assumed a thoughtful look, fiddling with the straw of her drink. She was currently renting a one room apartment. It had a bedroom, a bathroom, a small living room, and a tiny kitchen. Investing in something bigger hadn't come to mind in a long while. She was just content with what she had. However, if Ivan needed a place to stay, she wouldn't deny him that. The Canadian looked up with a smile. "Sure, I wouldn't mind. I only have a small apartment for the time being, though.. I haven't lived with anyone in a few years." Ivan smile grew wider. "Da, I wouldn't mind, either. It's better than the asylum, that's for sure." He said, rubbing the back of his neck. He then shrugged and continued eating his lunch, as did Madeline.

"Ah, Miss Williams. It went well, I'm presuming?" The tall and wiry frame of Doctor Wesson was standing in front of the two, his expression curious. "Oui, it went quite well." Maddie said with a small and polite smile. "And while he is searching for a job to get his own place to stay, Ivan will be temporarily staying with me in my apartment." She finished, glancing over to the tall Russian standing beside her, who looked just as happy as he did earlier. "Ah, alright. Makes it easier for me to monitor his progress," He said with a curt nod, adjusting his wire-framed glasses. "And if he starts giving you a hard time, acting up again, just give me a call." Wesson finished, scrawling something down on the clipboard he had in his arms. Madeline nodded in reply to this. "Yes, sir. Have a good rest of the day!" She said as he waved the two off back towards the doors from where they entered. "Of course. I hope to see you again in the future, Miss Williams." He replied, another curt nod, then dissapeared down the corridors of the white-walled place.