The soft hum of the hospital's fluorescent lights filled the silence after Mia left.
Vardan lay back against the pillows, staring at the ceiling, his mind racing.
A Wing is the lead doctor…
He couldn't shake Mia's words.
A few hours passed, the weight of the information sinking deeper. The faint click of the door handle snapped him back to attention.
A man in a white coat entered, his smile unnervingly calm.
He carried a clipboard, flipping through the pages as he approached Vardan's bed.
"Good evening," the doctor said, his voice smooth. "I'm David, the lead physician here."
Vardan felt it immediately — that oppressive aura, subtle but undeniable. He's strong.
David stopped at the foot of his bed, glancing at the clipboard.
"It's quite impressive you survived. According to this, you were practically carved up."
Vardan didn't respond. He simply watched as David set the clipboard aside and stepped closer.
Their eyes met.
David's gaze was calm but piercing, like he could see through every layer of Vardan's lies.
The silence between them grew heavy.
David smiled wider, as if sensing Vardan's discomfort.
Before either of them could speak, the door burst open.
"Master! Where are you?"
Jay's loud voice shattered the tension.
Both Vardan and David looked toward the door, where Jay stood grinning.
David's smile softened as he turned toward Jay.
"Your friend has good timing," David remarked. "Rest well, Vardan."
With that, David exited the room, leaving behind an unsettling calm.
Vardan sat still, eyes following David until the door closed behind him.
What was that?
Jay hurried over, practically bouncing with excitement.
"You're alive! I thought you'd never wake up!" Jay's voice cracked slightly as he rubbed his eyes, pretending not to cry.
Vardan finally relaxed, sighing.
"I'm fine, Jay."
"No, you're not! You look like you lost a fight with a blender," Jay joked, sniffling.
Vardan smirked faintly, but the image of David's eyes lingered in his mind.
"Jay," Vardan said, sitting up straighter. "Did Oliver talk to you yet?"
Jay tilted his head. "Yeah, he did."
"Did he ask you about Kuro?"
Jay's face twisted into a mischievous grin. "Oh yeah. He asked if I saw you chop his head off."
Vardan tensed, but Jay burst out laughing.
"Relax, I'm kidding! I didn't tell him anything."
Vardan sighed in relief, shaking his head. "You shouldn't joke about that."
As they laughed, the door creaked open again.
Leo stood in the doorway, arms crossed.
His eyes met Vardan's.
"Thank you."
Vardan nodded slightly.
Leo lingered a moment longer before walking away, leaving Jay standing in stunned silence.
"Did he… just thank you? Leo?"
Vardan smiled faintly but said nothing.
Even as Jay babbled on, the feeling of David's presence gnawed at the back of Vardan's mind.
That wasn't the last time they'd meet.