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

[mooningremus]

"I am not," Remus confirmed. "My grandmother was, but not in the good way. In the like, you're going to burn in the fires of hell if you touch yourself or don't obey your husband kind of way. Turned my mother off of it enough that I never set foot in a church growing up."

[quitollis]

"There's a lot of that, unfortunately," Aaron admitted. "I try to follow a different path. One where everyone is welcome."

[mooningremus]

"Yeah, uh..." Remus sighed. "They're both dead now but my mother never spoke to her again after my grandmother suggested that what happened to me was because she'd raised me as a heathen."

[quitollis]

"Those are very difficult discussions. I've had them often. People find blame in the different and it's hard changing their minds."

[mooningremus]

"Well I don't think you're going to turn me into a priest, but you may at least change my perspective on the church a bit," Remus said.

[quitollis]

"And perhaps provide a little hope along the way," Aaron added. "This is it," he said, walking up to a plain building. It wasn't shabby, but it wasn't fancy either.

And once inside, there clearly wasn't a lot of personal stuff either. It was simple. The only things that stood out were the crucifix on the wall and a number of empty carved wooden picture frames. "Make yourself at home."

[mooningremus]

Remus set his bag down, and then walked past the picture frames. He picked up one of them.

"This feels like quite a metaphor," he said.

[quitollis]

"I just like woodcarving. And picture frames. I usually end up gifting them, but...well, the hospital doesn't have jumble sales," he smiled.

[mooningremus]

"They're very nice," Remus said, running a finger over the wood. He chuckled. "You could put paintings of Jesus in them I suppose."

[quitollis]

Aaron chuckled. "I'm not sure about that..."

"Anyway, they'll vanish one by one, I'm sure," he said. "And I don't have a shed anymore, so I can't carve more."

[mooningremus]

"That's a shame," Remus said. "I mean, if you enjoy it. I imagine there's something soothing about woodcarving." He put the frame back down.

[quitollis]

"I'll find something new, I'm sure," Aaron said, trying not to mind too much. "It was very soothing, yes. Sometimes it felt like it brought me closer to God even than prayer. The repetitive motions of filing and polishing... I suppose some might call it meditation. And it's nice to create something new from a piece of plain wood."

[mooningremus]

"Maybe a coloring book," Remus offered. "The ones with all the complicated shapes."

[quitollis]

Aaron chuckled, assuming it was a joke, but it was a kind suggestion still. "I can set you up here in the living room, if you don't mind. I don't really have a spare bedroom."

[mooningremus]

"Oh of course," Remus said immediately. "Yes, that's completely fine. And I don't want to be any trouble."

[quitollis]

"You're not, honestly," Aaron said. "I go to bed quite early, so you will have the living room to yourself. I'll go get a pillow and some sheets."

[mooningremus]

Remus nodded. “Thank you. I certainly don’t mind the couch.” It was leagues better than many places he’d slept.

[quitollis]

Aaron got a pillow and some sheets from the other room and made up the couch as a bed as best he could.

"Would you like something to drink? A night cap?" He asked then. "I usually have one before bed." And he didn't believe Remus was an alcoholic.

[mooningremus]

Remus was briefly worried that if he agreed Luka would think he was more of a drinker than he was, but the offer seemed genuine, and Remus relaxed. "Yes, thank you," he said.

[quitollis]

Aaron opened a cabinet - the bottles of wine and spirits were plentiful. "I used to get these for Christmas from grateful parishioners," he explained. "Didn't quite wish to part with them when I left," he added jocularly.

[mooningremus]

"I'm sure it's very good quality compared to what I've had recently," Remus said lightly.

[quitollis]

"Oh, yes, it's quite good," Aaron said and poured them both a glass. "This is an apricot liqueur. It's one of my favourites."

[mooningremus]

Remus smiled at him, and clinked his glass to Aaron's. "Cheers," he said pleasantly.

[quitollis]

"So, you were an English teacher?" Aaron asked, conversationally.

[mooningremus]

"I was," said Remus. "I love literature. And I love sharing it."