InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "Sanity is but a state of mind."

Aubrey Gauthier (sweartoburn) wrote in acttwo,
@ 2009-08-19 22:31:00

It probably wasn't a good idea to get into a fight. A random bar fight, no less, which was just about as cliche as you could get. Aubrey couldn't exactly tell you how it had started. He had just wanted a drink because it had been a long day, but the man beside him simply kept hassling him and going on and on about something- Aubrey hadn't cared enough to actually pay attention to what he was saying. And then the man got rude and insulting because Aubrey wasn't interested in whatever bullshit was coming out of his mouth and then it just happened. It had been a rather fantastic adrenaline rush at the time and he had wondered why he didn't get into fights more often when the thrill of it all was so undeniable.

But now, after he had been kicked out of the pub and was slowly making his way back home, the pain was setting in. As he lit a cigarette, he wondered vaguely if he should seek some sort of medical attention. It wasn't like he hadn't been in a fight before but nothing like this and he didn't remember ever hurting this badly. But visiting doctors was for the weak, and Aubrey was not weak, thank you very much.

And then it occurred to him that there was another option. It was admittedly not that different as a healer is a healer, but at least he could avoid hospitals and talk to a friend instead. So a moment later, he was outside of Booker's flat, trying very hard not to grimace. "Booker!" he called out gruffly, less he think that he was some sort of late night salesman and refuse to open the door. "Open up." He added, knocking on the door as well for good measure.

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booksy
2009-08-20 04:15 am UTC (link)

Days spent working with sick children and worried parents, Booker enjoyed decompressing in the evening. He would cook a small dinner, read a book, maybe listen to some music. It was the only way he was able to sleep through nights--at least, the nights when he wasn't on call. This was supposed to have been one of those relaxing nights. Currently, he was curled up on the couch, reading a good book, enjoying the silence--

Or, conversely, noise. Noise he definitely recognized. Frowning a bit, he saved his page, padding over to the door. "What--oh," he said as he opened the door, frowning at Aubrey. Sighing, he opened the door the rest of the way. "Why do you always show up here after you get into a fight? Which is what I'm assuming happened." He gave Aubrey a rather reproachful look, raising his eyebrows as if daring him to say otherwise.

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sweartoburn
2009-08-20 04:29 am UTC (link)

Aubrey didn't bother confirming Booker's assumption; what else could have happened? Instead he just shrugged. "Where else would I go?" 'Home' was the obvious answer, but had he returned home, he would be attending to his own battle wounds, and that just seemed silly as Booker was far better at it. "Besides, you never say no to me. Won't or can't, it makes no difference." Or, rather, Aubrey didn't take no for an answer; he was usually the more stubborn of the two.

He took another drag, waiting for a moment to see if Booker would contradict him or surprise him by turning him down just this once. "And it is your job. You're supposed to heal people," he added. "What would your superiors say if they found out you refused to help someone who asked for your assistance? No, that would not look good."

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booksy
2009-08-20 04:51 am UTC (link)

"Don't smoke inside," was all Booker said, shooing him inside and closing the door. Completely ignoring Aubrey, he headed into the bathroom, grabbing various muggle first aid supplies. If Aubrey insisted on interrupting his down time, he was not getting out of this without some hydrogen peroxide. There was simply no way.

Clearing his throat, he motioned for Aubrey to sit, still giving him a reprimanding glare. "You need to learn not to rely on me all the time when you do something stupid."

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sweartoburn
2009-08-20 05:02 am UTC (link)

Aubrey gave an irritated sigh, but he dutifully dropped his cigarette outside, put it out with the toe of his shoe, and let Booker herd him inside. He took a seat, glancing at the book that Booker had left as Booker went to get supplies. Now would be the appropriate time to apologize for interrupting him or thank him for his help, but Aubrey did neither. He had never been especially good at apologies or thank yous.

Instead he just raised a brow at Booker's comment. "And you should learn to stand up for yourself and refuse to help me when there are other things you'd rather be doing." At least he was acknowledging the fact that he was inconveniencing Booker, albeit in the most roundabout, impolite way. And that was, unfortunately, probably the closest Booker was going to get to an apology.

"Besides," he added, waving a hand dismissively. "I hardly rely on you all the time."

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booksy
2009-08-20 05:11 am UTC (link)

Booker rolled his eyes, because it wasn't as though this was a new argument, and simply took out a bit of cloth and dabbed it with the peroxide. "It isn't as though you'd get medical attention if I said no, and I doubt you would manage it by yourself," he said, before cleaning one of the cuts on Aubrey's face without warning. He knew Aubrey wasn't the type to admit the peroxide stung at all, but Booker took a bit of solace in the fact that he didn't give Aubrey the easy way out.

"Only when you get into fights. Right." Taping up the cut, Booker moved onto the next one. "I hope you take pride in this black eye that's developing."

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sweartoburn
2009-08-20 05:22 am UTC (link)

Booker was right, but he didn't have time to respond because Booker had already started on one of the cuts. It caught him off guard, and Aubrey couldn't stop himself from wincing. He didn't know why Booker couldn't just use magic like a normal human being, but he wasn't going to complain. Booker was probably trying to teach him a lesson or something silly like that, but Aubrey would take what he could get, even if this was likely the more painful, less effective route.

"Only after some fights," he clarified. He could deal with most minor injuries himself. Or, rather, live with the pain and wait for it to heal naturally. "You would likely be appalled if you knew just how much trouble I get into. You should be thankful that I don't come to you every time."

He chuckled darkly at Booker's last comment. "But of course. And I think I can pull off the roughed up look quite well, yes?"

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booksy
2009-08-20 05:33 am UTC (link)

"I think it makes you look like you an idiot, but that's my opinion. I'm sure others would think it very dashing," he said, raising an eyebrow a bit and turning Aubrey's head the other way. "And you're right. I would be appalled. When you are inevitably hospitalized, I refuse to visit."

Cleaning another cut, Booker frowned, his features pinching together. "Who did you insult this time? And I hope you managed to get a few hits in, while he was destroying your face." Which was probably as close as Booker would admit to being a little worried, because he shouldn't worry, and he knew it. So, he just wouldn't say anything.

"Are you bruised or bleeding anywhere other than your face?" he asked, taping up the second cut before pinching Aubrey's nose to make sure there wasn't a break or anything. It didn't sound like it, but it didn't hurt to make sure.

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sweartoburn
2009-08-21 03:51 am UTC (link)

Aubrey scoffed. "I see. You just don't want to admit it. That is alright. I understand." He gave a solemn nod- or, rather, as much as he could nod with his head in Booker's hand. He really was teasing, as difficult as that may be to tell; it wasn't as if Aubrey was without a large ego to begin with. "You'll visit me," he added, sounding completely sure of that. "You worry about everything. You'd worry about me if I was hospitalized." He paused for a moment. "I would visit you, you know. Obviously you would never be hospitalized for a fight but."

He pursed his lips as Booker brought up the fight. "I don't know who he was. Some random man. He was itching for a fight anyway. I simply helped him out. You should have seen him." He couldn't help but smirk proudly at the memory. "No, he was much worse than I was."

"No bleeding, I don't think." It felt like just about everything was sore, but most of it didn't seem too serious and he didn't think there was any other bleeding. "I think he did something to my ribs though," he added, gesturing. "Bruised, maybe."

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booksy
2009-08-21 04:04 am UTC (link)

Booker pulled a face, halfway between annoyed and confused. "I suppose I would, even if you are a big idiot. I don't know why I'd worry." He sighed, massaging his forehead a bit, because just thinking about the sheer amount of stupid things Aubrey got himself into was giving him a headache.

"Why am I not surprised? You can never walk away from situations without them getting violent." He gave Aubrey another reprimanding look before his face fell. He hated rib injuries. They always lasted too long and never healed right. Well, without magic, that is.

Wand in hand, Booker took a small step back and gestured for Aubrey to stand up. "Let me see it. If it's bruised, you might have broken a rib, and that never ends well." His expression was a bit sad, because despite everything he did worry and he really didn't like seeing Aubrey seriously injured.

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sweartoburn
2009-08-21 06:27 am UTC (link)

It was extremely likely that Aubrey was going to give Booker a heart attack if he kept up this behavior. If he was a better person, he would refrain from getting into quite so much trouble, for Booker's sake if not his own. Except that was clearly too much to ask for. Aubrey didn't particularly care what happened to him, and while it was sweet that Booker worried, he didn't especially understand it.

"There's no enjoyment in walking away," Aubrey pointed out. "And cuts and bruises and broken bones are easily fixed with magic." Of course, that sort of behavior could get him into trouble with the law or cost him his job, but that wasn't the sort of thing Aubrey thought about. That required some sort of logical thought process; Aubrey just acted, and he had never learned how to ignore his impulses.

Aubrey stood and began to unbutton his shirt. "You just want to see me shirtless." But despite his teasing, Booker's expression did have him a little concerned. He wasn't worried about broken bones- he had complete faith that Booker could heal a few broken ribs- but Booker looked sad almost and Aubrey almost felt guilty for upsetting him. Almost. Aubrey didn't exactly do guilt. But this was close.

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booksy
2009-08-22 03:45 am UTC (link)

"I refuse to get into an argument about why fighting is not a good idea," Booker said, crossing his arms and scowling a bit. He knew he was overreacting a bit, because it wasn't as though Aubrey couldn't handle himself, but he was a doctor. And okay, maybe he would be less worried if it was someone other than Aubrey--but that was what happened when he a friend with an already dangerous job showed up at his house after a fight.

"Just take your shirt off," he said, deadpanning at Aubrey because, of course, he had to make jokes when he could have a broken rib, which, had Booker not been a fairly talented healer, would probably have left lasting damage. He flicked some hair out of his face, fixing Aubrey with a rather annoyed look.

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sweartoburn
2009-11-18 03:50 am UTC (link)

Oh, that's cute. Booker scowling at him. He couldn't help but be a little pleased at that. He always found it rather amusing when Booker grew irritated with him. It was perhaps the most normal response, but Aubrey had never really been normal. And annoyed Booker tended to stand up for himself more than he normally would, something that Aubrey always approved of.

"Wise. You would, of course, lose that argument," he answered with a decisive nod, smiling faintly at Booker. Or, rather, Aubrey's equivalent of a smile, which was really more of a smirk; smiling was not exactly something that came naturally to him, after all. Admittedly, Aubrey didn't believe that fighting was always a good idea, which may have shocked more than a few people. But he rather enjoyed being contrary sometimes. Or all the time.

Aubrey gave an amused hum. "I repeat, you just want me naked. Next you'll ask me to take off my trousers." He gave Booker a knowing look, but he complied, undoing the last buttons and shrugging off his shirt.

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