FP 100 Prompt Fic Challenge
Who: Hartley Rathaway (aka Pied Piper), Rick Sanders, Lucille Welcher, Robert Chase, and Felicity "Lucky" Washburne What: FP 100 Prompt fic challenge Where: St. Pancras Hospital When: Saturday
Not Beta'd
Disclaimer: This fic is part of a game, but the world itself and many of the characters are copyright and owned by various other authors and companies. No infringement is intended. We're just RPGing and having fun. This fic is part of a 'challenge' within the game.
"Piper? Are you ill?" Rick frowned, as he raised his brows. "You did not look ill last evening?"
Piper furtively looked from side to side. "No, I'm not sick. But are you free?" He asked, looking down the hall, his cloak pulled around him.
"Yeah. I guess?" Rick said, confused as he watched the ex-villain glance around. "You know you're acting suspicious, right? I mean, with the looking around? You humans are very... overt." He decided on.
"I thought you couldn't read body language?" Piper asked, a small smile tugging at his lips as he opened one of the office doors and ducked inside, gesturing for Rick to follow. He locked it behind Rick.
"Ray Charles could read your body language about now. You're attempting to be sneaky. It is no wonder then that you were always caught when you were a bad guy." Rick shook his head as he closed the door behind him.
"Would you look at our costumes? We weren't TRYING to be 'sneaky'. We wanted to be noticed. We practically wore signs that said 'look at me, look at me, pay attention to meeeeeeeeee!'" Piper waved one of his hands around as though flagging down attention right this second. "It was no fun if people didn't notice it. No fun if the Flash didn't know!"
Rick tilted his head and shook it as he sighed. "I will never understand you humans. We are much more straight forward. If we do not wish someone to 'know', we do not tell them. We tell no one. If we want someone to pay attention to us, we tell them, pay attention to us."
"Well, what can I say. Most of us had mommy and daddy issues." Piper deadpanned. "Now, will you help me, or not?"
"Depends. What is it we are being sneaky about?" Rick asked, leaning against Lucille Welcher's desk, his arms crossed over his chest. "If it is something that will get me thrown out? No. I like it here."
Piper frowned as he pulled his cloak away, showing him the injured rat. "I don't think it will get you into trouble."
"Dinner?" Rick frowned, confused, still.
Piper looked appalled, pulling the rat to his chest with a gasp. "NO! No. He's not to eat! He's hurt! I found him in London, in a rat trap! He's hurt!" He gently smoothed a finger over the top of the rat's head.
"Why didn't you just go to Nelson?" Rick asked, squinting at the creature. "Or perhaps Remus? Either creature would have been able to help it. Perhaps you could call upon Lucifer? You must remember, my 'patients' are all dead. I'm not sure I can heal him. My energy is not geared specifically to life."
"I can't find Remus. And Nelson is out of communication." Piper huffed in irritation. He personally didn't like how few communication choices he had when it came to contacting wizards and witches. They relied on methods he was neither used to nor well versed in. "I was hoping you at least knew someone that could help him."
"I'm sure someone can--" He started to say, as the door opened behind Piper.
"I thought I locked that." Piper glared at the door as Lucille closed it again.
"You did. It's my office." Lucille shrugged. "I have it warded silently, so that I know if someone's mucking about in here. What's going on, Piper, love? Did Rick steal your flute?"
"I would never." Rick protested. "I much prefer the piano and the guitar." He grumbled, glaring at his 'boss'. "He found a hurt rat. Remus and Nelson are off doing whatever today."
"Mmm hmm. I'm not sure I could help. While I'm connected to nature, I'm connected to the decomposers and decayers. My brother is connected to growth and regeneration, but he would be with Remus." Lucille peeked at the animal. "That's why they only let me handle small cases when it comes to the Free Clinic. Poor baby. Maybe we could call Lucifer?"
"Lucifer? I've heard of him, but I've not met him. And Rick was speaking of him before you came in." Piper carefully wrapped the rat back up and held it against his chest.
"He's an alternate universe future version of my possible, but improbable grandson." Lucille rattled off. "He's a Hufflepuff, when he's at Hogwarts. But well? He's been at Durmstrang since the mutation crisis."
"How, the hell, do you all keep track of this kind of thing?" Piper still didn't get it. He knew from the others that he was somehow related to the Weasleys and the Mayfairs, but he still couldn't quite tell at a glance who they were and how they were related or if they were at all, that is. Of course, Rick had told him a few days ago that 'just assume they are related, and only worry if they are bad guys or good guys. If they are good guys, you'll be all right. If they are bad guys? Run like hell.
So far, Piper still hadn't quite worked out WHO were the good guys and who were the bad guys. And despite the other advice? The advice of 'if they point a weapon or a stick at you, they're the bad guys'? He still couldn't quite count on that! He wanted a score card, damn it!
"You get used to it." Lucille patted his shoulder. "Now, come on. We're pretty much free for the rest of the day so long as no one else dies or is brought in dead. We'll go see Lucifer."
She had already opened the door and was stepping into the hallway when she saw Chase turn around the corner. His wings fluttered as he squinted at the three people leaving the office and asked. "Okaaaay? What are you up to? And how much is this going to suck when Lucky finds out about it?"
"She's not going to find out about it." Lucille held up her hands. "We're just taking a... patient... to Durmstrang for examination."
"Taking a pat... Lucille? Are you insane?" Chase asked, rushing toward Piper, already reaching for his pen light.
Piper ducked under his hands and to the side. "I'm fine." He protested, but was stopped in his retreat by Chase extending a wing and blocking his exit. "I promise, it's not me."
Chase next looked at Rick, frowning.
"Not me either. It's a rat. Piper has a thing for rats. It's injured." Rick leaned casually against the door. "I'm surprised it is still alive as much time as we're taking..."
Piper winced at that as his fingers gently stroked the fur as he unwrapped the 'patient'.
Chase sighed, rolling his eyes. "I see. Okay. Look... argh. Lucky is going to kill us. But... come on. We'll... If anyone asks? It's an animagnus stuck in his rat form, and we're um... treating his wounds. Lucille, go ahead and call Lucifer, have him come straight up to Diagnostics." He wiped a hand down his face. "At least dad and Greg will understand. Greg LIKES rats."
He offered a small smile to Piper. "I also like them. Don't worry, we'll do all we can."
As they walked upstairs, Chase chuckled. "Smallest patient I'll ever have operated on... this is going to be..." Lucille could almost hear the word 'fun' somewhere. But he said, "Interesting!" instead.
Rick merely rolled his eyes as he followed behind.
Half an hour later? A small crowd including Piper watched in observation, while a small 'team' operated on the even smaller rat. Expensive potions and medical equipment, meant to be used on humans, were being applied with no thought of cost to the unconscious creature.
There was also an argument in observation about the name. Everyone had an opinion, ranging from Alf to Zotz.
In the end, as Lucky loomed behind them arms crossed over her chest, they agreed with her.