[tryout for Opal]
prompt; ' when was a time they experience unrequited love '
name; erikur bryant meaning; one who has great strength gender; male user; neondisaster
notes; if formatting does not work - please see images here | bretton is a generic oc used for story purposes
[299/300]
He sits in the hospital, fiddling with the tube that leads up to his face. Up to the mask that covers most of it.
It’s masking, smothering, unattractive and obtrusive. It’s also helping him stay alive.
His nurse comes in. He recognizes him, but he’s hoping its not mutual. They’d gone to high school together.
Him, short and founder of two robotics clubs (because of course aerial robotics would be separate from
land-based), but not president because that meant he’d have to lead and speak and be looked up to- And
he’d been so, so uncomfortable with that, back then. And his nurse - who’d been prom king, in high school,
untouchable and smart and taken. In a long-term relationship with the girl he’d grown up with.
He’d had a crush on him from the moment the other had helped him find his way to classes. ‘We can go
together’, he’d said, ‘I have English too’. He’d put a hand on his shoulder, and steered him through the halls.
But from then on, he’d wanted a little more than just walking together, a little more than just a hand on the
shoulder. Each day, the desire deepened.
If they’d met again before now, maybe it could have been different. Not dating- He’s sure he’s moved on
from that crush- but at least they could have been friends. Make a new impression, with his new self. He’d
been running marathons, had a great job in robotics- and then he’d been hit with debilitating spells of
weakness that had turned into trouble sleeping, trouble breathing- and he’d ended up here. In the hospital.
“Erikur Bryant? Hi, I’m your nurse, Bretton. I’ll be working with you for your stay.” And as he smiled, Erik
couldn’t help but think that everything would be alright.
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- He is in the hospital for days that stretch into weeks, moving onto months that cared not about who they were inflicting their time
upon. But Erik cares, and Erik despises it. He is getting better, though better itself is subjective. Better means that he can move
onto physical therapy, where his limbs are jellied and feeble, fractions of what they could be. Bretton is still his nurse though, and
Bretton makes it better.
Maybe it’s ridiculous, getting attached to someone when it’s their job to look after you, but he can’t help himself. Bretton hasn’t
changed much- his touch is still gentle, still guiding. He still makes ridiculous jokes and tells metaphors that make sense only to
himself. Erik finds it all ridiculously charming. He wants to charm him right back and give himself in to attachment. Bretton doesn’t
recognize him. He’s different now- taller, more self-confident and talkative. Maybe he’d have a chance. His illness burns in his chest.
But he finds himself falling into the same ways he had in high school. Though his body and attitude has changed, his mind seems
much the same. Erik finds himself with a ridiculous blush whenever Bretton smiles at him. And he can’t stop those possessive
thoughts, that little voice that tries to read into every action- ‘he doesn’t smile like that at his coworkers, does he? It’s just for
you.’ He can’t stop that self-hatred he has for his own weakness. It was his height in high school, his lack of self-assurance making
him weak, and now it’s his lungs, dragging him down and forcing him to need assistance to breath. It’s hard to flirt around a tube.
And winking is not nearly as seductive when you’ve got a mask on your face.
Sometimes, they go out to the park together. The word park exaggerating it a little- it’s the hospital courtyard,
and the only trees are scraggly, thin things. Still, he likes to stand a little taller out here. He rolls his oxygen
tank behind him, and wishes that the fresh air would give him the same help. ‘It’ll be spring soon- look, you
can see the little leaves on the trees. A great season for recovery and rebirth.’ Bretton observes, maybe just
as a doctor, trying to get his patient interested in life around him again. Erik likes to think the comment is
something more personal though. Maybe, just maybe-
His hand brushes against the oxygen tube, leading around his nose. At least he can speak. “You know what
spring is also the season of? Romance-” He sighs dramatically, making it into a joke, “Even the birds have
more luck than me.” And into what he really wants- “You have any special someone?” He won’t say woman.
He was just dating that one girl in the past- he could still have a chance now. School didn’t mean certainty.
“Well, I’m actually hoping to propose.” Erik’s world stopped, but Bretton kept going. “Do you remember
Alice? She was the valedictorian of our class, dark red hair, played volleyball… Well, she’s just finished
graduate school, I’ve gotten through my years here- we’re looking to settle down. I’ll have to bring her
to meet you soon- We can have our own little high school reunion.
"You know, I wasn’t sure at first, but I found our old yearbook. Erikur Bryant- robotics club. I can’t believe
I didn’t recognize you at first! You’ve gotten taller, but really, you’re almost exactly the same!”
Ah. Erik thought.
So that’s what it felt like when your world shattered.
