Aaron (hospital AU)

[mooningremus]

Remus woke up laying in a bed in the emergency room. "Where... am I?" he asked, his voice a croak.

"Ah, welcome back," said a woman standing by his bed. She was wearing a nurse's uniform. "You're in the hospital. A helpful bystander found you passed out on the sidewalk. You don't have any ID on you. What's your name?"

"Remus Lupin." He rubbed his head, and realized he was connected to an IV.

"It's saline," the nurse said. "You're severely dehydrated. Malnourished too from the looks of it though we're waiting for more bloodwork. Any medical conditions we should know about?"

"I'm HIV positive," Remus said with a sigh. "I... I'm so sorry about all this trouble. I'm fine, I probably just... haven't been taking care of myself..." Or more accurately, couldn't afford food.

"Well you should feel better once you're hydrated, and I'll send a doctor in to do a workup," the nurse said. "Rest."

Remus nodded, feeling like a complete idiot. Or maybe burden to society. Or something. And a few hours later he had a diagnosis of nothing worse than what the nurse had said. Though at least confirmation that his HIV status hadn't transformed into something worse. Sometimes he had trouble with food when the shelters were full, but he went to the HIV clinic to get his meds.

The nurse also kindly brought him some fresh clothes. He did feel better as he prepared to leave.

Comments

[quitollis]

"Don't worry about that," Aaron said and smiled. "I promise I'm not trying to convert you. Just to see that you leave with a full stomach." He put a tray in Remus' hand and took one for himself. "Don't hold back. Take what you like."

[mooningremus]

"Thank you," said Remus.

He wasn't stupid, or impulsive. He didn't head for pizza or cookies, but instead piled his place with leafy greens and whole grains and lean meat. Food that was better than what he could typically afford but that he knew was good for his health. He finished off with a cappucinno.

[quitollis]

Aaron watched him fill his tray with healthy food and took a salad for himself. Well, he wasn't going ho opt for the hamburger when Remus was making an effort for health.

Once they were back at their table Aaron spoke again. "Glad to see you didn't hold back," he said with a smile.

[mooningremus]

"I am long past pride when it comes to charity," Remus said with a shrug. "You're right, I haven't had a good meal in a while." He smiled. "I'm grateful." And then he took a bite of salad.

[quitollis]

Aaron nodded, closed his eyes for a very quick prayer of thanks ('I'm grateful also'), and didn't let religion to make things too awkward. "Why can't you go back to teaching?" He asked after a moment.

[mooningremus]

Remus ran his finger over the rim of his water glass. "I was fired. The short version is, they found out I was gay, and then they found out I was HIV positive. And the great irony is that those two things aren't even related."

[quitollis]

"I'm sorry to hear that... There is still so much prejudice in this world..." Aaron said sadly.

[mooningremus]

"Yes," Remus said quietly. "Though I should have been more careful. Should have done more to keep it all a secret. Because I should know that by now."

[quitollis]

"You shouldn't have to hide who you are," Aaron said, knowing the wry irony of that statement.

[mooningremus]

"No, I shouldn't have to," Remus agreed. "But if I had, I'd still have a roof over my head."

[quitollis]

"You lost it call because you're gay?" Aaron wondered aloud.

[mooningremus]

"No, I lost it all because I am gay and HIV positive, which obviously means that I'm the bad sort of gay," Remus said, rolling his eyes. He sighed. "Also they found out I was gay because I told a student. A student who needed reassurance that he wasn't broken. But of course I got accused of grooming on top of all of it. Anyway, after that no school would touch me with a ten foot pole."

[quitollis]

"That's terrible," Aaron said feeling that quite personally. Accusations like that could ruin a life. In Aaron's case, he was lucky the Church wanted to keep it all under wraps and putting him away was the easiest way to do that.

He wondered if the school was very religious, but prejudice existed everywhere.

[mooningremus]

“It’s… well. It’s not fine. It is what it is. And I did hide my HIV status from my employer. Or tried to anyway. So I also got a chewing out about how much danger I was putting everyone in. Double whammy.” Remus carefully cut the chicken on his plate with a knife as he spoke.

[quitollis]

"But it's not... it's not the thing it used to be, though, is it? Not usually, right?" Aaron asked. "I didn't know it was still stigmatised as much."

[mooningremus]

Remus shrugged. "It definitely used to be worse."

He offered a small smile. "I've also just had a string of bad luck since then. I don't mean to just dump my sob story on you, though. Like I said, I'm hopeful I can turn things around soon."

[quitollis]

"Hope is good," Aaron agreed. "I hope it turns out for you. And who knows, perhaps you can find a new career or a new passion."

[mooningremus]

"Perhaps I will receive a mysterious inheritance or win the lottery," Remus quipped, "and then I can just continue to spend my days reading, but while also having money to eat. How do you spend your days, besides picking up stray charity cases?"

[quitollis]

"Well, I run the Chapel," Aaron said. "It's a Christian one by nature, but I'm aiming for a broader spectrum. Everyone can use a little hope, after all."

[mooningremus]

"So you try to give that to people?" said Remus. "Hope? Does it work?"

[quitollis]

"I've always tried that... it hasn't always worked. I'm hopeful it might, here," Aaron said and couldn't help a little sadness shine through.

[mooningremus]

"Well, I don't know about God, but I find you very comforting," Remus said.

[quitollis]

Aaron smiled. "Thank you," he said, honestly grateful. "Good to hear, really. But my hope fof you is genuine. Life seems to have been particularly hard on you."

[mooningremus]

"On the bright side, I don't think it can get substantially worse," Remus said with a small smile. "And hey, a lovely man bought me lunch, that's a step up."

[quitollis]

Aaron smiled kindly and wanted to think nothing of being called lovely. But he was quite touched to be called it by such a sweet man.

"I'm glad you accepted the meal," he said instead. Now he wanted to offer more.