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]

"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."

[quitollis]

"Do you have a favourite author, or period?" Aaron asked. It was clear Remus had a passion for it and Aaron was keen on making him feel good.

[mooningremus]

"Oh I'm rather cliche," Remus said with a small smile. "I love regency and Victorian era... Oscar Wilde, the Bronte sisters, Jane Austen... I'm a sucker for a romance."

[quitollis]

Aaron smiled. "Not too cliched," he said. "You didn't lead with Shakespeare."

[mooningremus]

Remus chuckled. "He's all right, I suppose. I do like using Shakespeare to teach about adaptations. There are a lot of films that students have no idea are based on his work." He took a sip from the glass. "Oh, it's very good!"

[quitollis]

Aaron's smile was bright. "It is, isn't it?" he agreed. "I should probably catch up on some reading. My list is... well, ancient, mostly. Not that much light reading. I do have a soft spot for Virginia Woolf."

[mooningremus]

Remus began chatting enthusiastically about Mrs. Dalloway, and the conversation went on for some time. In fact, their conversation and camaraderie went on for several days as Remus continued to sleep on his couch. And he began to look a bit healthier as well, as he ate and slept well.

And then, out of the blue, he found out that a spot opened up in the transitional housing sooner than he'd anticipated. He was both relieved and a little sad. He'd very much enjoyed staying with Aaron. Though he also worried he was becoming too... attached. And given that Aaron was a priest, the feelings he was starting to have were entirely inappropriate. So this was good. He should leave.

"You've been so kind," he said to Aaron as he readied to leave. "I really don't know how to thank you."

[quitollis]

"Don't be a stranger?" Aaron suggested.

He'd grown very fond of their conversations and of Remus' company. Too fond, probably, so it was probably good that he would leave now. Before hd got used to hsving him around.

Still, Aaron had come to consider him a friend and wouldn't want to loose the friendship.

"I still want to beat you at chess some day," he joked lightly.