WHO: Anthony Goldstein & Padma Patil. WHEN: Thursday, May 4th before lunch. WHERE: St. Mungo's. SUMMARY: Anthony sneaks out to pay his friend a visit. WARNINGS: N/A.
Peeking his head through the slits in the curtains that surrounded his bed, Anthony gave a quick look up and down the row before emerging on crutches. It probably wasn’t the best idea for him to be hobbling around unattended given his injuries and the pain potions, but there was only so much sitting in a hospital bed he could take. As quickly and carefully as he could managed, he made his way down a few bays until he arrived at the one he was almost certain was Padma’s bed.
“Knock, knock,” he said quietly as he shuffled behind the curtains.
Padma laid in bed, trying to go over every memory she’s had for as long as she could remember. This would be all she had left in her mind, there would be no more seeing someone smile, the colour of Parvati’s new dress, or the words on a page. There were bandages still around her eyes and throughout her body from burns, she had the urge to try and examine them, but she wouldn’t be able to see anything.
Her head moved towards the familiar voice, and she was lucky that it was one she knew extremely well.
“Anthony,” she smiled.
“Hey Padma,” he answered as he navigated through the confined space to the chair beside her bed. After carefully lowering himself down into it, he leaned his crutches against the bed and gingerly lifted his leg up so it could rest on the mattress. It had to be kept elevated according to the healers. “My legs on the bed. They have this funky brace on it and I’ve been told to keep it elevated.”
“My bed is your bed.” Padma said then immediately winced. “I mean not- I didn’t mean it that way of course.” Blind and injured and she still managed to put her foot in her mouth. Her head turned to the side, where she was pretty sure Anthony was sitting, based off the direction of his voice and feet. Her head reached out for her. “Where are you exactly? My other senses haven’t reached superhero level just yet.”
Anthony initially laughed, but it was promptly followed by a cough that cause the all too familiar pain in his chest. “Well I’m sure that little display gave you a better idea,” he answered as he took a few shallow breaths after the coughing subsided. Reaching up, he took hold of Padma’s hand and gave it a tight squeeze. “But I’m right here.”
“Sorry,” Padma whispered. She didn’t like the sound of his cough, she frowned slightly but relaxed when he took her hand. “Good.” For a while she didn’t say anything, what could she possibly say in this situation? Of course she’s glad he’s alive, but there other unknowns and other people that had died. Then again there were people she needed to know about now, she wouldn’t be able to focus until she knew they were all right.
“Terry?” She started. “Michael? Tracey?” Yes, it terrified her of what the answer might be, but she needed to know. “Do you know if they’re okay?”
“Michael and Tracey are doing fine. And Terry....” Once again, he squeezed Padma’s hand, though it was more for his benefit than anything else. “He still hasn’t woken up and I haven’t heard much beyond what his Mum said yesterday. I’m going with no news is good news..”
All Padma could do was nod. She was certainly glad to hear about Michael and Tracey, but a pain shot through her when he mentioned Terry. He’ll be okay. Padma told herself. “I saw Parvati earlier too. She’ll be okay, they’ve been working on her, but they’re positive.” Her voice cracked slightly. Padma was sure she got that right, or was it just hopeful thinking? Did her brain perhaps make it sound less serious than it actually was? She breathed in and out, trying not to think about it. Parvati would be okay, Padma was certain of it. “How bad is your leg?”
With his hand still on hers, Anthony simply nodded. Healers were always talking about being positive. Even with his own injuries, they maintained a low-level optimism that things would be fine. They were positive of it. Simply positive.
“Everything from the knee and below is a fucking mess. Simply shattered were the words they said to my Dad.” Of course, they thought he hadn’t been able to hear the conversation concerning just how much damage the self-made explosion had done. “Going to take a while to get back to normal, but they’re positive too.”
Anthony wasn’t sure if he should inquire about Padma’s injuries.
Padma sighed, but it could have been much much worse. He was alive, and that mattered. She knew others weren't going to be so lucky, but it made her heart feel so much better to know that her friend was going to be okay. "That does sound painful," she replied. If she could, she would have narrowed her eyes at him. "I hope you haven't spent this entire time walking around, checking on people, Anthony!" They were in a hospital, so she couldn't raise her voice too much, but she was clearly concerned. "Make sure you give that leg plenty of rest so it'll heal properly."
Anthony didn’t ask, but at this point she wondered if he was thinking the worse and if he was just too scared to ask her. Padma couldn’t tell what he was thinking, but sooner or later he would have to know the truth. “They’re still healing, but there’s nothing more they can do about the sight. They can repair some damage, but I wont be able to see.” Padma sighed. “I found out a few days ago, but they’re still going over treatments, and of course Mom and Dad want them to go over anything that could possibly be wrong with me.” She shook her head and laugh. “They’ve been so great, but hopefully I can convince my parents to let me go home soon, there’s too many people that need their attention.”
“You know I'm not one for staying still, he answered eventually as he let himself slouch slightly in the chair. Staying put in the hospital bed was making him antsy, or perhaps that had more to do with the setting than the actual bed. The news of Padma’s condition was only going to further that feeling. “You don't deserve that. After everything and...”
Anthony didn't know what else to say.
“Hey,” Padma said quickly. “It’s okay.” She did her best to smile, but it was difficult. It wasn’t that she thought the situation wasn’t serious, it was. Perhaps it hadn’t fully hit her yet, or maybe she was hoping for a miracle. Still, she didn’t want her friend to be sad. “We’re alive.” It was important for all of them to remember that because other people weren’t so lucky. “And I’ll figure it out. Like I said, I’ll probably get superhero level with my other senses. I can be like-” Padma paused. “Who's that guy that fights crime but he’s blind?”
“Oh! I know this one. It’s Daredevil and he -- “
“Mr. Goldstein!” The curtain around Padma’s bed flew open to reveal a rather exasperated healer. “You shouldn’t be out of bed right now!”
Padma cringed slightly but smiled at Anthony being scolded. “Uh oh. Someone’s in trouble.”
“It’s nothing I can’t handle,” he said as he gave her hand one last hearty squeeze before reaching for his crutches. “And don’t worry. I’ll be back as soon as Healer Furmage goes on her lunch break.”