Unicorn - Tom Hiddleston fanfic

3 - Not such a lonely ward

When you open your eyes again it's dark. You can hear the sound of your own panicked breathing and pull the oxygen mask off, taking big gulps of fresh air. Someone left the window open and you can feel the night breeze on your burnt and blistered skin, soothing it.

You roll over awkwardly and use your left arm to turn the dial up on your morphine. Sighing contentedly as the pain slides away you lie back and stare at the ceiling. You begin to sing to yourself.

"My first life was so boring, just forget I mentioned it," you begin softly. 

"My second seemed to let me do all of the things my first life didn't; third life was a hateful man, all poison to the bone; in the fourth I played piano but just didn't have the eyes to read the notes." You pause, counting the beats in your head before you need to begin again. 

"My fifth life I supported girls, of course that wasn't all," you sing, getting louder and more confident. You add emotion into your voice making it sound as if you're actually telling a real story, as if you're in a musical. 

"My sixth life was corrupted, though I guess it was a little fun; seventh life I cried so much and all I did was mourn-" Your voice cracks as you think of your family, dead because of a simple arguement and an icy road. You shake your head, unable to feel pain, and continue singing. 

"My eighth I was so rich I could have bought the world and everything; in this life, is a game played by a flaky god; he gambles every life. Try to escape but you know the path you're on is game and set.

'See how the game of life is playing all of us for fools; dancing a string around us making all these silly rules; see how he looks down on us like we're acting out a show; throw the dice and let's see which head will roll." You begin to whistle the notes and tune in between the chorus and the next verse, smiling sadly.

"By nine I drew some manga but the deadlines left me dead; my tenth life was a teacher as a pedo- I worked part time! Next life, what, eleven, sorry I try to forget; never could describe how awful no I'm terrified to think of all the things; that such a die can do, kinda crazy; deciding everyday. Try to escape but the days repeat and keep you here to stay.

'See how the game of life is never won you only play; bore him and you will find you're crumpled up and thrown away; clinging to fate and blaming it when life won't go your way; such a laugh, HA! Life is just a game." You stop singing, pondering the lyrics you just sang. They were a good idea, you decide, especially 'clinging to fate and blaming it when life won't go your way'. 

"That's what we do," you say softly. "If you can't explain it you blame it on fate. But there are stronger forces at work here; 'flaky gods', just like the song says. Why is it people always think of the best things when there's no one around to hear them?"

"I'm here," a voice pipes up. You jump. The person is in the bed to your left and if you roll over just a little more... You reach out with your non-broken arm and pull back the light green curtain to see who had spoken. It was the same man who had pulled you from the car wreckage. And for some reason he seems familiar... 

"Hullo," he says suddenly, rolling over slightly awkwardly and fixing you with an intense gaze from his blue eyes. You blush and smile, suddenly feeling nervous. You decide to cover your embarrassement by asking a few questions.

"Why are you in here?" you ask. "You're my hero, aren't you?" 

The man laughs and lines show around his eyes and mouth. Lines that seem natural as if they're always there. This is a man who loves to laugh and is always smiling. 

"Heroes get hurt too," he says, slightly teasing. His blue eyes have come alive as he smiles at you again. He points to his back using his arm, bending it up and around. "I burnt my back walking away from the car when it exploded. I only just got you out in time."

"Thanks," you say, smiling back. "Do you... did you... what happened?"

His smile fades. "It was the Secret Service who blocked the road. He got away and arrested the three men who'd pinned your car in. One of them shot a passer by. Then the cars all exploded and nearly everyone got hurt. About eight more people died in the blast. We're the only two to have actually survived it without too serious burns."

"But your back-"

"Just stings. All the other people caught in the blast got limbs burnt off or the majoirty of their skin turned to ash."

"So we're the lucky ones," you say. He nods.

"That's why the ward is so empty," he explains, the ghost of a smile on his lips. "So you have an audience of one. Nice song. A little odd, though."

"I just found it on YouTube," you shrug, wincing as your shoulder rubs against your burnt face. Your neighbour frowns.

"I never knew how to work that thing. YouTube," he admits. A look of surprise spreads over your face.

"Seriously?!"

"Ja. Is that a bad thing?"

"Yes! Well, actually... If you get someone to bring in a tablet or something I'll show you." Your look of surprise doesn't leave your face and the man narrows his eyes slightly.

"I don't know your name," he says at last. 

"I don't know yours," you counter. He smiles.

"Tom," he says, leaning towards you with one long arm outstretched. Your heart flutters and you grin. You knew you recognised him!

"Hello, Tom," you say, freeing your left arm from underneath you and reaching out for his hand. The tips of your fingers link and you shake hands that way. Laughing, you take your arm back. Tom lets his dangle to the floor, making patterns in the dust.

"Your name," he prompts, glancing up. You panic slightly. 

"Oh, um, it's..." you hesitate. For some reason you don't want him to know your proper name; you never liked it much. 

"Well?"

"I'm... a unicorn," you blurt, blushing furiously. Tom laughs, blue eyes crinkling up. 

"Hullo, Unicorn," he chuckles, staying on his side whilst you roll onto your back. Your eyes are shut and your teeth are gritted with annoyance. Unicorn? Really, brain? A nickname from when you were a child, for God's sake.

"Goodnight. Or morning. Yes, good morning." Tom's voice carries across the ward, sleepiness hinting at the edges. You smile and turn your head to see him looking at you, eyes closing with exhaustion. 

"Good morning, Tom," you say softly as he finally falls asleep.