Oneshots [IdentityV]

Holding on that IV bag [Ithaqua x Grace]

It was just another day, with the pedestrian roads half-covered with dead leaves in the harsh autumn of October. Like every day, Ithaqua was on his way to a small hospital. It was the only one in their lost countryside, and was about half an hour's walk from home. On the way, he reflected, past and present, on the monotonous routine of visiting the same person every day, without fail.

He greeted the lady at reception with a faint smile, playful enough to appear in a good mood, and dull enough not to let his emotions leak out. He crossed the corridor until he came to a room with several beds, separated by a simple curtain. He moved to the back of the room, to the bed facing the window, and arranged the bouquet he'd brought in the vase on the bedside table. He sat down on the stool beside the bed and took the sleeping patient's hand to check his pulse. Still alive.

"Hello Nathaniel. I brought you some flowers, I hope you like them." He got no response, obviously. "You still don't want to wake up, do you. But... I guess Mom could use some company too."

His thumbnail dug into the pallid young man's skin, only enough to leave a thin red smear as he was suddenly surprised by the unobtrusive arrival of a nurse. When Ithaqua met the young woman's gaze, he immediately let go of his brother's wrist in astonishment, not because of what he was doing, but rather because of the lady's identity. She had snow-white skin, with slight dark circles under her eyes, surely due to the exertions of her profession, but despite everything, she always kept a smile on her face, today, like all the other times Ithaqua had come to the hospital.

She waved a friendly hand at him as her lips sketching a smile hid a sealed voice, and he replied with an awkward smile.

"H-Hello, Grace."

She glanced beside him, her smile softening. She probably thought he was a brother who cared a lot about his family to visit more often than anyone else in their little burg. In fact, that's what everyone must have thought of Ithaqua.

The truth couldn't be further from it, but for his own sake, it wasn't something he was going to admit. Ithaqua only visited his brother to keep an eye on when the latter might be about to pass on, for some special reason. Perhaps the village elders, with a bit of insight, could guess the reason, but Grace had arrived here not so long ago after suffering some unfortunate incidents at her last workplace.

Fortunately, she seemed to have adapted to her new surroundings and everyone appreciated her for her friendliness, Ithaqua being the first of course, and he wasn't about to let old problems interfere.

"This may be ill-timed of me, but I wanted to thank you for taking care of my brother. Would you agree to dinner at my house tonight?"

Grace seemed surprised, not in a bad way, her cheeks pinkened slightly and she seemed to hesitate for a moment but eventually nodded in agreement to Ithaqua's proposal.

"Wonderful, I'll expect you at eight in that case."

Ithaqua rose from the stool euphorically as he left the hospital. It was a compromise with his objective, but perhaps his brother's vegetative state could be beneficial. He hurried home, trying to contain his impatience for the evening.