[IC] Amnesia [Suki & Summer]

[sukikyoufu]

“Stupid, stupid, stupid!” Iris muttered to herself as she limped towards the toilet hands clasping at the toilet roll on one of the holders. How the hell would she explain this? Dr Emett and the nurses had been nothing but kind but yet she had ruined one of their mirrors, broken it like some child having a tantrum. Shaking her head to herself as she plopped herself down on the floor being careful not to hurt her leg, she had to sit on the floor to clean this there was no way she could lean down on one leg without falling face first to the floor.

Pulling out a couple of squares of the tissue she laid the toilet roll on the floor and started to move the shards onto it, being careful to not cut herself she continued clearing up the mess best she could whilst she thought on ways to explain what had happened.

Would they believe if I fell? No… no that’s silly. I should just tell them the truth. I got angry. Would they think bad of me? What a mess…

“I suppose this is what my mind looks like. Visual representation.” Chuckling darkly to herself as she continued to pick up the shards, she felt so bad for doing that. Guilty for breaking something that wasn’t hers. She had only been here a day… barely and she was already disrupting like this.

Panicking slightly, she grabbed the toilet roll full of broken mirror and placed it in the sink with the rest, using the toilet to hoist herself back up she hoped to the sink looking at the mess inside. Glancing around looking for a bin in the room she grabbed the tissue that was wrapped around the shards from the floor she limped over to the bin dropping it inside. Moving back to the sink she started to clean the rest of it, still feeling the guilt from breaking it in the first place. Cleaning the rest of it she placed all evidence in the bin before grabbing her crutches to move back into her room like nothing happened, her heart was hammering in her chest feeling like she was going to caught. She was going to get into trouble over this and that was all she could focus on.

Hoping back up on the bed she placed the crutches at her beside before reaching for the glass of water, hands trembled as she picked it up taking a sip. I should just tell someone. They won’t be mad I’m sure, it was an accident… well… sort of. Letting out a breath she had to calm down, she was overreacting over something so simple. Finishing the drink, she placed it back on the side, her heart wasn’t hammering anymore which was a positive and even though she felt bad over it she was starting to feel calmer. It did make her wonder if she had reacted like this before? What was she like? Did she have anger outbursts before losing her memory?

[Rogue Sloth]

Just before he reached Iris’s room, Cas slowed to a stop. He hadn’t made very many hospital visits before—the doctor usually made house calls to treat his father unless he needed special equipment to run tests—but he was pretty sure it was general etiquette to bring a gift for the patient when he stopped by. Distracted by his conversation with Jay, he hadn’t even thought to make a stop at the grocery store to get her flowers or anything. Would she think it was rude of him to show up empty-handed? He wasn’t sure. She didn’t seem like the type to care about that sort of thing, but even if she didn’t notice, it might be a nice gesture if he could find a last minute present to give her.

Glancing over his shoulder, he spotted a vending machine at the other end of the hall. It wasn’t much, but maybe she’d like something to eat that wasn’t generic hospital mush. After all, he’d found her with nothing but the clothes on her back, so she probably didn’t have any money to buy food for herself. Deciding it was the best offering he could come up with without running out to a store, he backtracked to the machine and swiped his card. Of course, the method of payment went through, and he looked over the variety of snacks inside, trying to figure out which one she’d want. It was hard to say, since he’d only met her the night before and she didn’t even remember anything about herself. To be safe, he bought three things, so she’d be able to pick whatever she wanted.

Maybe tasting food she likes and dislikes will help her get her memory back, he thought hopefully, bending down to collect the assortment of snacks he’d picked: a chocolate candy bar, a bag of chips, and a blueberry muffin.

With a cheap but thoughtful gift in hand, he stood up straight again and walked back to her room, knocking once to announce his presence before he stepped inside. “Hey, Iris, how are you doing?” he asked, closing the door behind him and then turning around to face her. She looked a little distraught to him, but he had expected that. She was probably upset that no one had come to claim her yet, as anyone would have been after spending a whole day in a flimsy hospital bed. It made him feel better about his choice to visit her today, since he guessed she needed some company from someone who wasn’t wearing scrubs.

“I brought you some food,” he held up the assortment of vending machine goods as he approached her bedside. “I’m not really sure what you like, so I got you a few different snacks. If you’re not a fan of anything, just give it to me, and I’ll eat it.” He shrugged, offering her a friendly smile. “I hope you like some of it though. It’s gotta be better than whatever they’ve been feeding you so far.”

[sukikyoufu]

“Ah… come in.” Calling out as she heard the knock on the door, perhaps it was her family to come get her? However, it was stupid to hope such a thing but none the less when she saw Cas she couldn’t help but smile, it was sweet of him to return and such a nice gesture because quite honestly, she didn’t really know anyone else. It was also nice to see someone else other than the doctor. Glancing towards the bathroom she became conscious of him finding out about her outburst, what would he think of her if he saw the smashed mirror? Shaking out the thought from her head she distracted herself with something else.

“I mean, I wish I could say I’m great, but I don’t know… it’s just it’s weird not really knowing. However, the pain isn’t too bad just wish I knew who I was.” Iris chuckled slightly answering his question honestly, it sucked being stuck in this hospital room with no family coming to collect her.

Eyes widened in shock at the gesture, he had brought her some food? Features softened as she smiled once more at him, “You know this drink I owe you will soon become more than one.” Looking at the different range of stuff he had brought it was sweet, kind and she already felt like she owed him her life. “Thank you, you didn’t have too. Well you didn’t have to visit me either but I’m glad.” Looking between the options she took note of the chocolate candy bar already knowing she would like that; bag of chips didn’t really call out to her but when her eyes caught sight of the blueberry muffin she grimaced. Nope definitely not that one. Oh wait… I don’t like blueberry muffins!

The grimace soon turned back into a smile as she met his gaze once more, “Well I know I don’t like blueberry muffins… I remembered something.” She sounded amazed with herself at that fact but again relieved, perhaps it wouldn’t be a long-term thing. “I know it’s not really helpful but it’s something. I just hope I remember something to get out of here. It makes me think that maybe I lived on my own. Well… I don’t know I just think that by now someone should have come for me. Maybe I’m just overthinking it but still…”

Shrugging off her thoughts she pointed to the chocolate bar in his hands, “However that will surely beat lunch… it’s nice here but the food. Yikes. I do not recommend bringing anyone here for dinner.” Making a joke to keep things lighthearted, it distracted her from the reality of the matter, the idea that she might not be able to leave this place if no one came from her. She’d be stuck and a burden and for some reason she didn’t like that idea.

[Rogue Sloth]

Cas nodded when Iris said she wished she knew who she was. He couldn’t imagine what it was like to go a full day not remembering more than his own first name. He couldn’t blame her for having a hard time with it. Hopefully she would start getting useful pieces back that would help Dr. Emett figure out which family she belonged to. She deserved to be surrounded by people who cared about her after everything she’d been through. At least her pain wasn’t unbearable though. It could have been much worse if she was both amnesiac and dealing with the discomfort of her recent injury.

When she said she was going to owe him more than one drink, he laughed. “I mean, if you really want to, I won’t say no, but this stuff was only about three bucks.” Despite his nonchalance, he really did hope she would still want to get drinks with him after she recovered. If she got her memory back completely, she would also remember who he was too. Every high born in the capital knew his face. It would be disappointing to meet with her again, only to be treated the same way every other girl treated him: awkward and unnecessarily respectful. He wanted to keep talking to her the way they were now with no important title looming over his head to make things weird between them.

As Iris made a face at the muffin he’d brought, Cas blinked in surprise. Did she remember something? His hunch was confirmed when she looked up at him to express that she wasn’t fond of blueberry muffins, and he grinned. “No, that’s great,” he shook his head when she said it wasn’t much. “It means things are coming back to you. I think it just takes specific triggers to unlock the parts you can’t get to right now.”

At her point that she might have lived alone, he mulled over the possibility. He didn’t know too many people in the capital who lived on their own, since everyone pretty much survived off their families’ wealth, but there were a few apartment complexes here and there for people who wanted to be by themselves. If she had been living in one of them, it could take a lot longer for anyone to notice she was missing, and she might be stuck at the hospital for a while longer.

Deciding not to bring up the depressing thought, he eagerly jumped on her change of subject. “Nice?” he chuckled, handing off the two snack options she did like. “Yeah, right. Just yesterday you were saying you hated it here. The food in this place must be God-awful if you think it’s even worse.”

Taking the rejected muffin for himself, he made himself comfortable in the doctor’s chair. Unlike the wooden seat near the door, this one was cushioned and had wheels. It even swiveled at the base, the kind that would keep him occupied if he needed to entertain himself.

He ripped open the plastic packaging around his food and crumpled it in his hand before tossing it into a nearby wastebasket. “Well, I guess this is kinda nice,” he admitted, taking a bite of the muffin as he leaned into the flexible back support of the chair. “At least it’s peaceful here. Not as much zombie moaning as I always imagined I’d hear in a hospital. If we just had some music, it would even make a good two-star café.”

[sukikyoufu]

“Yeah… you got me, it’s not nice but least the people I have met seem to be.” Iris smiled as she took the other two snacks from him, “Honestly though I think it was meant to be a casserole? But I’m not sure.” Shaking her head at the thought she opened up the chocolate bar and began to munch away listening to him, it was strange how nice it felt just chatting like this with someone. Regardless of what had happened and her situation it could have been much worse had she been left alone; the visit had really perked her up as she hadn’t expected to see him again.

Finishing off the chocolate it felt good to have some sugar in her, the food was alright but nothing beat unhealthy snacks especially when feeling poorly. “Well I mean if you want me to zombie moan, I’m sure I can accommodate. One press of my leg and I’m sure I can recreate sounds you should hear in a hospital.” Teasing gently as she placed the empty wrapper from her chocolate bar on her bedside cabinet.

“I think this would be the most expensive two-star café I’ve ever stayed in.” Chuckling once more as she glanced around the room, she could remember how hospitals cost and she remembered they were expensive. It was strange but she felt it was connected to her mother in some way but she couldn’t be sure, her memories were all over the place if she was honest but it seemed positive little things were coming back.

“On a brighter note I don’t seem to be forgetting the present and the doctors said it was a good sign. I can still remember my name; your full name is Caspain but I’m assuming you prefer Cas since that’s how you introduced yourself to me.” Leaning back in the bed she glanced up at the ceiling wondering what it would be like to have music in the background, did she even like music? “We tried these flash cards earlier which told them my brain isn’t completely broken.” Thinking to herself as she ran her fingers through her hair it felt a lot better without the constricting bandages on her head, there was no sign of blood either, so it almost looked like nothing had happened. Well if you didn’t count her leg of course.

“I just wish I knew more and being stuck in a place you don’t like is no fun. I have nothing to do in here.” Smiling over at him she watched him on the chair, it looked more comfortable than the wooden one from last night. “Oh! Whilst I do remember! Your father wasn’t too mad at you last night, was he? I’m sorry you got caught up in my mess, I’d be happy to write him a note saying sorry if that would help?” The concern filled her blue eyes as she watched him, she felt like he had done so much for her, so she didn’t want him to get in any sort of trouble. She would be more than happy to take any sort of blame, she felt it was the least she could do for him.

[Rogue Sloth]

“Alright, that’s fair,” Cas admitted when Iris said the workers at the hospital were nice. Emett was one of the most pleasant people he’d ever met, especially for a doctor. He’d gone to him for all his appointments for as far back as he could remember, and aside from his own disagreeableness—he’d always hated getting vaccines as a kid—he couldn’t remember having any bad experiences. The man was probably just as patient and gentle with Iris as he had been with him.

As she offered to recreate the sound he’d been talking about, Cas made a face. Just thinking about messing with an injury that serious made him feel squeamish. “Don’t you dare,” he shook his head firmly. “You leave your leg alone or I’m going to call a nurse in here to duct tape your hands to the bed.”

At her mention of the cost of the hospital, he just shrugged, though inwardly he couldn’t help but dwell on the comment. As of right now, all the bills for her room, treatment, and medications were going to be charged to him. He didn’t mind covering it, but the longer she stayed here, the more that expense was going to cost. If he came home with a massive hospital receipt for a girl he didn’t even know, his father would be livid. Of course, as the reigning family, the Maydestones had more money than they knew what to do with and could easily spare enough to cover whatever Iris needed, but the king wasn’t as generous with their wealth as he was. It would take a lot of explaining to get him to understand why he thought they should pay for her. He hoped her family would get her soon so they wouldn’t have to have that conversation.

When Iris went on to say that she was remembering everything since she woke up, he was glad, although he wavered when she called him by his full name. Exhausted yesterday, he hadn’t noticed that the nurse who’d stopped by to tell him about the sedan had called him “Caspian” instead of just “Cas.” Discreetly, he studied her face to see if the name rang any bells, but she didn’t seem to make the connection that he was the heir to the throne, so he relaxed again.

“Yeah, I do,” he confirmed with a nod. “Some people still call me Caspian, like Dr. Emett, but I like Cas better. It’s simple and easy to remember.”

When she suddenly brought up his father, he stared at her in surprise. Even though he knew she didn’t know his father was the King of Aspiria, he found her offer almost comical. A random girl writing a note to the king to apologize for keeping the prince out late one night? He bit back a snort at the thought. Still, the concern on her face was kind of sweet. He could tell her suggestion to help came from a genuine desire to make sure he was okay, and he liked that.

“It’s alright,” he smiled at her. “He wasn’t happy, but it wasn’t the first time I’ve missed my curfew. He always gets over it as soon as something more important comes up. There’s nothing to worry about.”

Not wanting her to linger on it when it was his problem to deal with, he changed the subject. “Hang on, I’ve got an idea.” Slipping his phone from his pocket, he opened up his music app and pulled up a playlist of bossa nova songs. He glanced up at her with a smirk as he hit ‘play,’ and the sound of cheesy jazz music filled the room.

“And voila,” he said with a flourish of his hand. “We’ve got ourselves a two-star café.”

[sukikyoufu]

Tilting her head rather curious at his reaction to touching her leg wound, was he squeamish? She couldn’t help but giggle at the idea as she never would have imagined him to be squeamish. Blood had never bothered her, nor any kind of wound or sickness and she wondered why. Had something happened in her past to feel that way? It seemed familiar, the idea of sickness. “Duct tape my hands to the bed? I doubt they’d do that. You don’t have the authority to command it.” Smirking triumphantly as if she had won that argument.

“I like Cas too, sounds nice. I’ve always been envious of those who could shorten their name. It doesn’t really work with mine.” Shrugging slightly as she looked over at him, eyes caught his reaction it seemed he was surprised she would offer to write a note to his father. It only seemed polite, but she relaxed when he had said it was okay, if she was honest, she would have no idea on what to even write. “Well I am glad he wasn’t too harsh, I’m sure he understands you were being kind.” Smiling once more she leaned forward when he pulled his phone out of his pocket, interested in what he was going to do.

“Oh!” Surprised as she started to hear the music, she couldn’t help but beam especially when he mentioned the two-star café they had going on. “Not bad, not bad music taste. Do you like jazz?” She always thought of it as elevator music, but it was nice easy listening, she did enjoy music that wasn’t too heavy. It was strange how different if felt just with a bit of music, it felt much more relaxing and if she closed her eyes, she could imagine she was anywhere but the hospital. “I do enjoy music myself; I can’t tell you what kind but maybe I quite enjoy it all.” Pondering the thought as she leaned on her hand eyes turning back to look at him once more.

“Hey, thanks Cas. For coming to visit. I’ll be honest I didn’t expect to see you again, but it has been a nice change. It’s easy to talk with you.” Leaning on her hand she looked back at the phone that was playing music, it filled the room just enough for them to hear but not to cause any disturbance to others around. “I mean I would have changed my outfit but who could deny a black dress from being a classic.” Perhaps she could ask if they had anything in lost and found here, she assumed lost and found was a thing, right? It would be nice for a change of clothes and she didn’t really need to wear the hospital gown, she wasn’t in any sort of critical condition where they needed to operate. The only problem she had now was her memories and how to fix them.

“So what time is curfew today?” Looking up towards the clock she didn’t want him to be late or get into any trouble again so she would keep an eye on the time. Not to get rid of him, in fact she’d prefer he would stay but she’d feel bad for causing him any sort of trouble.

[Rogue Sloth]

When Iris said he didn’t have the authority to tell the nurses what to do, Cas nearly gawked at her before he remembered that she didn’t know who he was. Technically, she was probably right that the nurses wouldn’t listen to him without asking any questions first if he made such a ridiculous request, but by law, they had to do what he said, no matter how absurd the command was. The royal family had the highest authority in Aspiria, and the only person whose word carried more weight that his was his father. However, not wanting to ruin the lightheartedness of the evening, he kept that to himself.

“I don’t think you need to shorten it,” he mused when she mentioned her envy. “Iris is a pretty name. I like it.” Did that sound flirtatious? He hadn’t meant to flirt with her. It was an honest remark, since he did think her name was unique, but it was hard not to second guess himself when he knew he thought she was cute too. Either way, he hoped she understood that he wasn’t just trying to flatter her or anything. He just wanted to hang out with her so she wasn’t alone.

At her comment about his father, he just lifted his shoulders again in response. He wished the king was that understanding, but he had always been more interested in making sure his heir was safe above anyone else. Sometimes, Cas wondered if his father only cared about making sure his own bloodline would succeed him when he passed, but, knowing he was probably just making something out of nothing, he tried not to dwell on it much. Atlas had said before that he loved him, and he often made small gestures to prove it, such as when he had delayed his economics lesson to let his son sleep in a little later. He was just being paranoid.

When Iris beamed at the music, a grin spread over Cas’s face as well. He liked seeing her smile. It was definitely an improvement compared to the desolate look he’d seen in her eyes when he’d first arrived. He nodded at her question, “I do a lot of studying for my… trade—” he substituted the word a bit clumsily. “—and music like this helps me focus. I listen to a lot of other stuff too though—usually not this mellow, to be honest.”

Setting his phone down on the table where the doctor’s computer was set up, he leaned back in his chair with a relaxed exhale as he listened to the music play. Her grateful expression for his visit made him feel warm. He was glad he’d stopped by too. “Well, I called Dr. Emett, and he said no one else had come for you yet, so I just figured you’d like some company,” he explained with a sheepish smile.

As she brought up her dress, he chuckled. He wanted to say that she didn’t need to change for him, especially since the black dress she was wearing looked good on her, but he’d already made one borderline flirtatious comment that evening. The last thing he wanted to do was give her the impression that he’d only come back to hit on her. He hadn’t dated very many people before, but he was smart enough to know that picking up an amnesiac girl in a hospital was pretty sketchy. All he was here for was to spend time with her and nothing more.

“Well, I’m supposed to be home by midnight every day,” he said in answer to her last question. “But the hospital doesn’t usually let visitors stay past nine. The doctor only let me be here as long as I was yesterday because you had just gotten here. Now that you’re settled in, I’ll probably have to go when they ask me to leave.”

[sukikyoufu]

“Ah… thanks.” Iris flustered a little at the comment, she hadn’t expected him to compliment her name but then she had only just said his own name was nice. It didn’t leave her the fact that his name sounded familiar for some reason, but she had no idea why, perhaps one day she would remember but then maybe not. It all depended on her recovery and there was no guarantee that her memories would even return which was a grim thought. Even though the thought was grim she hated dwelling on it, she’d rather hope that her memory would return and that she could go about living a normal life.

Recovering from feeling a little embarrassed by his compliment she returned to looking at Cas, he was so curious to her. Would she have done what he did? Assist someone to the hospital and visit them after just to ensure they were okay? It was an act of kindness sure and she liked to hope that in her situation she would have done the same, been this kind to a stranger. Not knowing what she would have done didn’t sit right with her, at times it felt like she didn’t know herself and even though snippets were returning it wasn’t enough.

“You like to study?” It was hard not to smile around him, Cas had such a bright smile and as much as she hated to admit it, she knew that because he was one of the only people she had started to bond with he made her feel at ease. Maybe it had to do with the fact he saved her life? She wasn’t entirely sure but who wouldn’t want a good-looking man visiting you in such a dull place and showing kindness. “For your trade? You make it sound like you’re learning something important.” Her smile dropped slightly when he had mentioned no one else had come for her, yet. There was still hope. Slim but she could try to believe it. Why hadn’t anyone come for her yet?

Without even realising she had sighed to herself, realisation setting in that it had been this long with no one collecting her. No one would collect her. It was such a depressing thought and she bit her lower lip as her eyes focused on the door. Zoning out as he continued to speak, her own thoughts circling her mind.

What am I doing? I can’t stay here forever… maybe tomorrow I’ll ask to leave. Or sneak out. Walking around the city may help. She caught the last of his words and instantly regretted it. Settled in? I don’t want to be settled in. The thought made her sick that perhaps she was becoming too complacent, relying on his company to forget the truth of the situation.

“Ah sorry! Midnight eh? I’m assuming you like to party then? Be social?” Trying to smile once more and ignore her thoughts she turned her gaze back to him from the door. “Don’t let me keep you from your friends eh.”

Just because I don’t know my life, don’t let me keep you from yours. She so wanted to say that to him but held back her words, perhaps she was being selfish? She did enjoy his company.

[Rogue Sloth]

When Iris questioned him about his “trade,” Cas toyed with the hem of his shirt as if it was suddenly interesting. He’d never been a smooth liar, and he wasn’t always quick on his feet when it came to coming up with excuses either. It was a skill he’d simply never had the chance to develop, since he rarely found himself in a situation where he had to play dumb. But he didn’t want to just give up either. Things were going so well with her. He didn’t like the thought of ending the ease of their conversations by confessing that he wasn’t actually going to trade school. Even his closest friends, Jay and Miles, didn’t always speak their minds to him out of fear that his father would have them arrested if he found out. They had to agree with everything the royal family said just like everyone else.

“You could say that,” he shrugged in response to her inquiry. Being the next king was pretty important. “I don’t really like to study though. It’s boring. I just do it because I have to, so I know what I’m doing when I start working my future job.” It was a good enough answer, he thought. As long as she didn’t directly ask him what sort of field he was going into, he hoped it would slide.

As he spoke about his curfew, he noticed that her mood seemed to wane again, and he wondered what had made her upset this time. He observed her with a frown. Was it something he’d said? He’d gotten pretty comfortable in their conversation, so he had forgotten to watch his tongue as closely as he had the night before. He hoped he hadn’t done anything that had offended her when they were getting along so well. It would have been nice to still be on her good side by the time she recovered. He still wanted to go out for drinks with her.

After a moment of silence, Iris spoke again, and Cas was sure he’d messed up something. Just a minute ago, she had been eager to spend time with him, but now it almost sounded like she was pushing him toward the door. He groaned inwardly. “Yeah, I spend a lot of nights out, but no one is doing anything tonight as far as I know,” he shrugged, glancing at his phone. Usually, someone would text him whenever a good party was happening, since they always wanted him to join. He hadn’t gotten any alerts this time though.

“You’re not keeping me from anything,” he assured her. “I don’t have to spend every day going to parties anyway. A little variety is good.” Still concerned that he might be overstaying his welcome, he added: “…But I can leave if you want to get some rest.”

Honestly, he had been hoping to hang around until nine, since he really enjoyed talking to Iris, but if she didn’t want him to be here that long, there was nothing he could do to change that. He reached for his phone to turn off the music that had been playing. Whether she wanted him to go or not, he didn’t want to drain the battery like he had last time. If his father tried to call him, he needed to be able to answer to let him know he was okay.

“Someone will probably come for you tomorrow, you know,” he said, hoping to lift her mood if he could. “They probably just haven’t thought to check the hospital yet. I bet they’re searching high and low until they find you though. They’ll be here as soon as they realize where you are.”

[sukikyoufu]

Inwardly groaning as she realised how it must have come across, grimacing she just didn’t want him to feel like he was wasting time visiting her. Like it was an obligation and not a choice. Well done, you’ve managed to push someone away. Probably the only person who wasn’t a doctor who wanted to spend time with you. Way to go Iris! Rubbing her head slightly she didn’t know what to say at first, should she apologise? Mention it at all? Would it make things awkward? Well it couldn’t get any worse right?

Brightening up when she heard his words that she wasn’t keeping him from anything she was glad, to her he probably had more interesting things to be doing than sitting here with her, but she felt like he wanted too. She hoped he did but now she felt bad for seeming like she pushed him away. “I’m sorry, that must have come across like I didn’t want you here. I assure you I do.” She thought that being honest would be the best option for this, admit to him that she didn’t want to push him away. “You’ve done a lot for me already and you’ve even come back to keep me company. You didn’t have to I’m sure, but I do appreciate it. I like you and your company” Sheepishly she felt her cheeks heat up because she realised how that must have sounded.

Idiot!

“Ahh… well..” Stuttering she felt quite warm, she didn’t mean for it to come across in any other way. “I don’t mean it like that well… I do like you but not like.. jeez.” Her hands trembled as she became quite flustered, he had been a nice person to her so of course she liked him, but she was bad with words clearly. “Please don’t leave.” Watching as he had stopped the music on his phone, she feared she had pushed him away, that he was just going to leave and perhaps not visit her anymore. It panicked her because he was consistent, not knowing anything or anyone she liked the fact she knew him. Well she didn’t fully know him but compared to everyone else in he was probably the only person she could consider she knew.

“Maybe my brain is broken.” Chuckling as she made the joke, she had not been able to voice the meaning of her words fully, but she hoped making a joke would lighten the mood that she had managed to turn. Smiling sadly when he tried to lift her mood, she appreciated it but still doubt his words, she didn’t feel like anyone would come for her, but it was nice to pretend. Even if for a little while.

“You never know though, if you visit tomorrow, I could be home with my family.” Playing along she could hope that would be the case, be at home with family. Memories would flood back. It sounded perfect… too perfect. “But… ah.. if that is the case, I should probably tell you. I may have broken something…” Fingers began to fiddle with the hem of her dress, something she had done the night before. “I didn’t mean too but the mirror kind of… broke? I cleaned it up! But well I don’t really know how to tell them. I’ll pay for it! I’ll pay for everything! I guess I just kind of got mad, not being able to look at my reflection and know who it is.”

[Rogue Sloth]

Cas was just about to get up from his seat when Iris objected, saying she hadn’t meant to come across like she wanted him to leave. He looked up at her with a flicker of surprise. She had been so quiet before that he’d thought she’d been offended somehow. He must have misread the situation. Too late, he realized he shouldn’t have jumped to conclusions so fast when he still barely knew her. Hell, even she barely knew her. It was way too early to gauge what she was thinking from just one prolonged silence. He should have just asked her directly if she wanted him to stay or go.

He almost opened his mouth to say that he wouldn’t leave her yet, but then froze when she added that she liked him and his company. The way she worded it made his face feel hot. He knew he had no reason to get flustered over something so simple—she probably hadn’t even meant it the way he’d taken it—but part of him wondered if perhaps she thought he was attractive too. The idea was unexpectedly appealing to him. With all the other women in the capital, he could never tell if they were genuinely interested in him or if they were just trying to get something from him. Even if nothing came from it, he enjoyed the thought of someone liking him for more than just his status.

Apparently, Iris was even more flustered than he was. As she tried to backtrack, a smile tugged at the corner of Cas’s lip. He thought her awkward stammer was kind of cute, and it made him feel a lot better about the accidental remark he’d made earlier. Knowing that she was clumsy too helped him to relax again. “I’m not going anywhere,” he assured her when she asked him not to leave. Making the connection that she might have thought he was going home because he’d turned the music off, he clarified: “I haven’t charged my phone in a while, and I don’t want it to die again in case my dad calls. Sorry, but the café is gonna have to be put on hold for now.”

When she joked that her brain was broken, he chuckled, “Maybe a little, but it’ll get better just like this will.” He gestured at her bandaged leg. Really, he wasn’t certain how bad her brain damage was from the fall, but he hoped she would be back to normal with enough time. The human body was supposed to repair itself when it was hurt, right? Surely the brain would fix itself too.

“I hope you will be,” Cas nodded when Iris said she could be home with her family by his next visit. He was starting to like their conversations quite a lot, but it was better for her to go back to the people who actually knew her. They would be able to help her reintegrate back into her life better than he ever could. Still, he wanted to keep in touch with her if she left. “And if you are…” he went on, standing up to rifle through the doctor’s desk drawer until he found a pad of neon orange sticky notes and a pen. He scribbled down a quick note on the top sheet and then pulled it off to hand to her.

“Here,” he smiled. “This is my personal number, so you can still reach me if they send you home.”

Noticing her fidget with her dress, his smile faded slightly. As she talked about the broken mirror, he glanced at the bathroom. Even though she said she would pay for it, he silently added it to his growing tab. A new mirror probably wasn’t too expensive, especially compared to healthcare fees, but it was still more money he would have to cover on her behalf, since the bill was already under his name.

Besides that, to him it was evidence that she was unhappier than he’d realized. Being cooped up in a hospital room all day probably hadn’t helped anything either. If he had been in her shoes, he would have wanted a way to take out his frustration about everything that had happened. Here, there was no way to do that. At least, no non-destructive way that he could think of.

“Don’t worry about it,” he said, turning back to her. “I’m sure they’ll understand. And if you don’t want to tell the doctor, I could do it for you. I had something else I wanted to ask him about anyway.” He needed to find out just how much this whole thing was going to cost him. As much as he wanted to see Iris get picked up by a family member tomorrow, there was always a chance she would go yet another day in the hospital. He wasn’t sure how many more nights he could pay for without incurring his father’s wrath. In fact, he hadn’t expected to be charged for more than one to start with.

But if she can’t stay here, where will she go? He wondered, absently running his fingers through his hair. If the king forbade him from covering her stay any longer, the hospital couldn’t hold her. They didn’t have any other person to charge with the bill. They would have to make her give up the room to another patient who could pay for it.

Deciding that was a problem to think about if her family didn’t show up by tomorrow, he put it aside for now. “So, is there anything you want to do when you get out of here?” he asked, trying to lift her spirits again by changing the subject to something more lighthearted. “I know you don’t remember a lot, but maybe you can think of some hobbies you liked?”

[sukikyoufu]

Feeling relieved when he said he wasn’t going anywhere Iris relaxed once more, she was thankful that he didn’t seem offended by her words especially as she had trouble explaining herself. Iris was also thankful that her little outburst was calming down, she hadn’t mean to get so flustered or awkward, but it gave her hope that he was still here regardless of all that. He wasn’t going to leave and for some reason that made her happy, but she put that down to him being the only other person she had really spoken with. Letting out a shaky breath she hadn’t even realised she was holding she touched her cheeks, they still felt slightly warm, but she was calming down.

“Oh, yeah of course!” Laughing to distract herself so she didn’t feel quite so stupid, of course he didn’t want to drain his battery. Especially after yesterdays events when he had gotten in trouble with his father for missing curfew, having some charge in his phone meant he could contact him if he was going to be late or if something else happened. Silly me, jumping to conclusions… Glancing down at her leg when he gestured to it, she knew that was healing, she could physically see it but her brain. Her head. That was something different entirely and she had no idea on how her progress was going.

Curious as she watched him rummage for a pad and pen, she wondered what he was doing. It was nice to hope that someone would come get her and it made far better conversation than the alternative. “Thank you.” Taking the small sticky note with his number on she couldn’t help but smile, if someone was to get her, he wanted to stay in touch and that excited her. She didn’t know if she had any friends, family or anyone really but what she did know was that she could still keep in contact with him and it was a comforting thought. Placing the note safely in the bedside cabinet she would be sure to message him if she got out, she assumed she'd have a phone and if her family collected her she could put his number in it.

Her gaze wandered back towards the bathroom door, guilt that she had destroyed something. She was surprised that he didn’t get angry, he understood? He was reassuring her that they would understand too which had caught her by surprise. “You would really tell him for me?” Smiling at yet another act of kindness she felt a weight lift off of her shoulders at his offer, it seemed that she felt far more guiltier than she had originally thought. “If.. if that’s okay. I don’t want to trouble you anymore than I already have.”

Turning her gaze back to him she watched as he ran fingers through his hair, he seemed troubled and she had this nagging feeling it was because of her. Hobbies? What do I like to do? Thinking on it briefly she couldn’t help but smile once more when she remembered the music, “Dancing, although I doubt, I can throw down some moves with this dead weight at the moment.” Gesturing towards her leg as she thought on if there was anything else, she liked to do, it couldn’t be hard right? “Food! Oh, like a takeout pizza or something. Pure unhealthy food.” The food wasn’t entirely bad here, but it had certainly sparked her taste buds to wanting something else.

“I’m not really sure what other hobbies, I just know I’d like to be outside. I think I like wildlife and exploring.” Every time she thought about the forest it reminded her of something, she didn’t know why but she could only assume it was something to do with liking the wildlife? Maybe she liked to explore forests and that’s how she ended up in this mess in the first place. “I could be completely wrong but not being stuck in here would just be great.”

[Rogue Sloth]

“Sure,” Cas nodded when Iris asked if he would really talk to the doctor for her. “It’s no trouble at all.” The conversation would probably go better if he was the one to deliver the news anyway. He didn’t expect Dr. Emett to get upset with Iris, since he was a patient man, but if there was any frustration on his part, they could discuss it privately without making her feel any guiltier than she already did. Plus, the fact that he was the crown prince always helped in these sorts of situations. People were usually willing to cooperate with him because they had to. He wasn’t sure if they would need to come to an agreement about anything, but it was often best to be prepared anyway.

While Iris thought about what hobbies she liked, he subtly checked his phone to make sure he hadn’t missed any calls or texts while he’d been staying with her. Luckily, there was nothing important, just a long string of messages from Miles demanding an explanation about the girl he’d found in the woods. Jay must have told him what had happened. He rolled his eyes. Miles always talked a lot when he got excited. It was why he had muted their text thread. If he hadn’t, his phone probably would have been buzzing all evening and interrupted the chat he was having with Iris. Not wanting to type out the full story, he set the device down again and made a mental note to get back to his friend later.

As she told him that she liked dancing, Cas smiled with her, finding her enthusiasm infectious. “Dancing, huh?” he repeated with interest. “That’s pretty cool.” He didn’t know a lot about dancing, himself. It was a skill his father had wanted him to learn in case he ever needed to impress a princess from another country. However, he knew the king had just been talking about an arranged marriage, and he thought the concept was outdated. No one had their marriages arranged by their parents anymore. Still, his father always lectured him about “the importance of an alliance through marriage” whenever he expressed interest in any women from the capital. It made dating hard, and it was why he only had two ex-girlfriends even though he was already twenty-four.

When Iris named another passion she had, his smile turned into a grin. “Now, pizza is something I can get on board with,” he stated. “Maybe before we go for drinks, we can get dinner at Luigi’s? That’s my favorite pizza place in the city. They make a great deep dish.” The more he thought about it, the more he realized that their plans were starting to sound like a date. The only thing missing was a movie. He kind of liked it though. Spending time with her in the hospital was already fun, so going out with her had to be even better. As long as her regained memories didn’t ruin it, that was. He was still hoping that nothing would change in the way she acted around him when she remembered he was the prince.

But what if she has a boyfriend? He winced as he suddenly thought back to his previous guess that she might have been out on a date with someone else when she’d lost her memory. He didn’t want to step on another guy’s toes if she was already in a relationship. He was sure it would come across like he was just using his status as royalty to take whatever he wanted too.

Maybe it was best if he didn’t get so ahead of himself until after she got her memories back.

“That might explain why you were in the forest,” Cas mused when Iris said she liked to be outside and explore. It was a strange hobby, in his opinion. Most high borns stayed within the capital walls, and there wasn’t a lot of wildlife around apart from the odd stray. Leaving the city was dangerous too, especially with the war going on against the Scourge. The rebels hated them, and from what he’d heard, they would kill anyone they found wandering past the stronghold in the most brutal ways imaginable. He couldn’t help but wonder how she would have developed a like for nature when it was so inaccessible right now.

“I can’t blame you for that,” he agreed when she spoke about not being stuck in the hospital. “Hopefully you’ll be out of here soon.” The mention reminded him of the reason why he needed to talk to Dr. Emett. “One second.” Not wanting to forget, he got up from his chair and stepped over to press the pager for the doctor before returning to his seat. “Just wanted to make sure I talk to Dr. Emett before I get distracted again,” he explained to her with a smile as he settled back down by her bedside.

[sukikyoufu]

“Do you dance?” Iris asked as he had mentioned it was pretty cool, perhaps he also liked to dance? Dancing was always fun, not even in just a formal sense but even when out being social in parties just to have a little dance seemed fun. Well from what she remembered it was fun. That was if she could trust her memory and sense over the little things, it felt right so that was all that mattered to her for now. It made her think though, did she go out on social outings? Did she have friends she went out with? Family? Maybe even a boyfriend? No surely, she didn’t, she would remember right? Well she couldn’t even remember her family let alone if she had a significant other.

Watching as his smile turned into a grin, she couldn’t help but feel elated, the smile widened on her own face as he spoke about pizza. “I’d love too! Pizza is so good and hey if you recommend this Luigi’s, I have to try that deep dish!” The excitement was in her voice and she didn’t care if it sounded like some sort of date. Making plans was good for her, it gave her something to look forward too and it was just nice to feel like he wasn’t here out of an obligation. It felt like he wanted too, and it only made her feel great. “However, I will hold you to it, so you can’t back out of these plans now.”

As much as she wanted that to be a hobby to explain why she was in the forest it still didn’t make sense, why had she been in the forest that late? What was her purpose for being there? It just didn’t add up for her and she had no idea on how to explain it. It would be best not to dwell on it because it would only wind her up and frustrate her even more, she didn’t want to break anything else here.
“Hopefully, if I do you will be the first to know.” Smiling as she glanced back at the note with his number scrawled on the paper, she hoped he was right. Tomorrow was another day and the idea of being able to leave was a good feeling, even though she doubted that she could leave she would still hope for it.

It hadn’t taken too long and Dr Emett moved inside the room with a gentle smile, “Good evening Caspain, Iris.” Nodding to them both as he clutched his clipboard glancing over a few things. “How is that leg doing?”

“Oh, much better thank you! Just a slight twinge of pain every now and then but it’s feeling a lot better.” Iris smiled as she looked down at the bandages that were covering her leg, there was less blood and no sign of infection

“Brilliant, there’s no other reason for you to be here other than your memory so hopefully someone will be along to collect you.” Emett smiled as he scribbled a few things on his clipboard before looking over at Capsain, “Did you want to discuss a few things? I am free now if you like, my office is always open to you. However, if you’d prefer to wait until visit hours are over I do not mind, I can wait around a little bit longer for you.”

[Rogue Sloth]

“Sort of,” Cas touched the back of his neck sheepishly when Iris asked if he danced. “Just at parties though, and I wouldn’t say I’m very good at it. I also usually have a few drinks to make myself less self-conscious first.” Whenever there was dancing at the clubs or parties he went to, he always took a while to work up the nerve to join everyone on the dance floor. As the crown prince of Aspiria, he was the center of attention wherever he went. Any time he went out, there were eyes on him and sometimes even cameras. So, if he was going to make a fool of himself in public, he preferred to be a little tipsy to take the edge off his discomfort.

When Iris got excited about his idea to get pizza together, it just made him more eager for the plans they were making. “You don’t have to worry about that,” he assured her with a laugh as she told him she would make sure he didn’t back out. “It would take something drastic for me to skip out on food and drinks.” And spending more time with her, though he kept that part to himself. They still barely knew each other, and he still didn’t know if she was taken, so he didn’t want to make any assumptions.

“I’ll hold you to that,” he teased when she said he would be the first to know when she left the hospital. Really, he had a feeling she would have a lot of people she needed to call when she got home. All the friends and family who had been worrying about her would be eager to know she was safe. Next to them, he could wait for a few hours to find out she’d been released. As long as she bothered to tell him herself, that was all he cared about.

Not long after the words had left his lips, the door opened and Dr. Emett stepped inside. Cas glanced at him and raised a hand in greeting when the older man addressed him and Iris. He had responded pretty fast. Had he not been working on anything else when he’d seen the signal from the pager? Cas couldn’t help but wonder if that was the reason or if he’d found out from the receptionist that the prince was visiting again and had hurried just because it was him who had called. The doctor certainly didn’t look surprised to see him here. He wouldn’t have been surprised if the latter was true.

While Emett asked Iris about her leg, Cas turned back to her, glad to hear that she was recovering well physically. Hopefully that meant she would at least be back on her feet soon, even if it took her memory a while longer to restore itself.

“No, we can discuss it now,” he stood up when the doctor spoke to him. “I’d rather say what’s on my mind before I get tired and forget. Let’s talk in the hall though.” He offered Iris a smile, “I’ll be right back.”

Stepping out of the room, he waited until he and Dr. Emett were alone before he launched into the conversation. “I was wondering how much this is going to cost,” he said in a hushed voice, crossing his arms loosely over his chest as he leaned against the wall. “I can still cover it, but I know overnight stays are expensive and, well… no one’s come by to pick her up yet.” He frowned concernedly. “I don’t know if I can pay for her to stay here past tonight, and honestly, I don’t think she’s handling being stuck here very well either. She told me she smashed the mirror in the bathroom today. Of course, I’ll pay for that too, but I think she needs to get out of the hospital so she doesn’t feel trapped.”

He faltered slightly, “I mean, I know I’m not a doctor or anything, so this is all just my opinion, but… If her family doesn’t come to get her tomorrow, what are you going to do with her?”

[sukikyoufu]

“Understandable, I feel the few drinks can give you that confidence boost to dance. Especially if at a party in front of everyone.” Agreeing with his comment on how he had to have a few drinks to feel less conscious. “I’m sure I have embarrassing or funny stories about me failing at dancing, everyone has one. I’ll be sure to tell you when I remember them.” Chuckling to herself as she wondered what kind of embarrassing memories she would uncover when her memories returned.

It was nice, the way they had just sort of got on. The company had been great, and he seemed considerate which was lovely, as much as she disliked her situation she would be lying if she denied that she was glad she met him. She always believed that everything happened for a reason and perhaps this incident had been the same. Keeping the smile in place as he reassured her that he wouldn’t skip out on food and drinks she was happy enough with his word, she had a feeling he would keep it.

“I’d like to think my word is good, I have no reason to believe it not so.” Iris smiled as she leaned back in the bed getting herself comfortable. She knew that deep down she’d be excited to tell him that she was home, it was one of the things she had consistently spoken about and the reality of it happening she would be over the moon and want to share it.

Thankfully her leg was getting better and she could only hope that her mind would follow suit, having no memories was not something she could recommend. Dr Emett seemed pleased with her recovery and she was glad, it meant she was going in the right direction but ot her it wasn't quick enough. Returning his smile as he mentioned about speaking with the doctor in the hall, she couldn’t help but be curious, what where they discussing? If her leg wasn’t in the state it was, she would probably try to go listen, but it was something she wouldn’t risk, maybe she’d just ask Cas when he returned.

Following the Prince outside Dr Emett looked over waiting for him to speak, ah yes. He had expected the conversation of expense to come up at some point. Especially as the girl was still here and no one had collected her. “Wait… broke a mirror?” Surprised at the mention of it Emett glanced towards the door of her room before back at Caspain. “I mean I’m not surprised; no memories and you’re looking at yourself in the mirror. That has to be difficult.” Sighing to himself they had not had many amnesia cases come through, they hadn’t really dealt with huge traumatic injuries as this was based in the centre of the capital. They had another hospital closer to the outskirts but that one was filled with the fighters who were fighting against the Scourge.

Pulling up his clipboard he glanced through the treatment and had a thought to himself, adding up everything in his head as he flicked between pages. “You’re currently looking at around twenty-six thousand credits, twenty for the overnights and six for the treatment, food and everything else.”

Sighing he knew costs could be quite expensive and as much as he was the Prince everyone was always charged, as much as he was a kind man it cost a lot of money to keep his hospital running and the costs to him were fair. Looking back up to met Caspains gaze he offered a gentle smile, the one he used when giving any sort of bad news “Honestly Caspain, we will probably let her leave. Although dangerous with no memories we can’t have someone who can’t pay. I know her parents could still come to take ownership, but we have run that risk before, and the hospital was out of pocket. I wish I could do more but with our current board of directors constantly at each others throats over costs I can’t risk it.”

[Rogue Sloth]

Cas nodded when Dr. Emett echoed what he’d said about the bathroom mirror. “Yeah, that’s what she said,” he confirmed. “I didn’t see it for myself, but she’d have no reason to lie about something like that.” He could also tell when she’d told him about it that she had been honest. The guilt in her eyes wasn’t something that could be faked. Like the doctor, he could understand why she’d done it though. It hard to be rough, looking at her own reflection and not recognizing the face that stared back. It was hard for him to imagine what that must have felt like. He wondered if it would be best for the hospital to wait until she checked out before they replaced the mirror, so she wouldn’t have to go through it again.

As Emett looked through Iris’s notes to determine how much her care would cost, Cas drummed his fingers against his bicep, a bit nervous to hear the number. He’d overheard the doctor talk about hospital expenses with his father before, so he already knew it was going to cost a lot of money. However, when the words twenty-six thousand came out of the older man’s mouth, he couldn’t stop his eyebrows from raising in shock. That was a hell of a lot of credits. Even though it wouldn’t even make a dent in the Maydestone family fortune, his father was definitely going to be furious when he found out. It would have been one thing if he had paid for Jay or Miles or someone else he considered a close friend, but Iris was a total stranger. The king would never support his decision to help her.

However, he’d already promised to foot the bill, and none of her family had turned up yet, so there was no getting out of it now. He would just have to tell Atlas what he’d done and hope he could walk away without too severe a consequence.

“Okay.” He cleared his throat when he noticed his voice leave him a bit hoarsely while he recovered from his initial surprise. “Right. Twenty-six thousand? I can have the funds wired over either tomorrow or the next day… depending on how long it takes to go through.” And how long it takes my dad to calm down, he added silently. God, he might actually kill me this time. If he wasn’t the king’s only son, he might have considered working on an escape plan after tonight. It was a good thing his father didn’t have any other heirs to replace him if he was strangled for his impulsiveness.

When Dr. Emett answered his last question, Cas nodded contemplatively. It sounded like Iris was going to be leaving tomorrow whether her family picked her up or not. He wished he could pay for her to stay longer if she needed to, but he’d already landed himself in a deep enough hole by covering her first two nights. Although, who knew? Maybe it would be a good thing for her to get out of the hospital, so she wouldn’t be cooped up like a coddled housecat anymore. Being able to freely explore the capital might help her get her memories back too. It could be just what she needed to beat her amnesia.

But where will she go? He couldn’t help but wonder. With no family to go home to or friends to bunk with, she could end up on the streets or even exiled from the city. With the rise in rebel activity lately, the military had cleared the capital of all people who weren’t high born. If a soldier saw her looking homeless with no ID to prove her status, he would assume she was from one of the lower cities and force her out. She would never get back to her old life if that happened.

“Maybe… she could stay with me,” the words left his mouth before he could think them through. Realizing what he’d just offered, he bit his lip. He shouldn’t have made the proposal so quickly. There was no telling what his father would say if he asked to let a strange girl live with them, so he couldn’t make such a suggestion in confidence. “I mean, I can ask my dad if he’s okay with it,” he corrected, trying to set more realistic expectations. “But… if it works out, we have plenty of place at the house. If her family calls the hospital looking for her, you can just give them our general number. I’ll just tell the appointment receptionist to keep her ears open for anyone asking for Iris.”

[sukikyoufu]

Dr. Emett was already making a mental note to not replace the mirror until she had left, just in case it happened again. Again, he completely understood and sympathised as he didn’t know how he would personally react. Thinking over the cost once more he knew it was high, of course it was nothing to what the Maydestone wealth was worth, but he had an inkling his father wouldn’t be too happy. It was an act of kindness but if Capsain did this every time someone was hurt or struggled their fortune would be gone.

How long it takes to go through? You mean the chat with your father. Dr. Emett thought but he did not voice his opinion, not to the prince of course. “It’s fine, I trust they will be sent when ready.” Smiling as he looked at Caspain watching him go into thought when he had spoken about releasing the girl with no one to collect her. It was concerning as to what would happen because if no one collected her, if she wandered the streets she’d stick out like a sore thumb. Especially as he imagined the lost expression on her face due to the amnesia. Soldiers could mistake her for homeless and they had none in the city, if you couldn’t afford it you were thrown to the Scourge. It was as simple as that.

Coughing at his sudden proposal he shook his head slightly, “I doubt your father would allow it, he is a kind and fair man, but she is a stranger. There could be a threat there, what if she came to hurt you? Use you. Your father would find every excuse under the sun.” He might not… well… Dr. Emett couldn’t confidently predict the Kings actions as they could change, he could be saying now that the King would do such a thing but then he could just let it happen. It was so unpredictable, but he nodded when Caspain said he would ask his father, that seemed a more realistic expectation than just saying she could stay with him.

“Your father should take his medication around half nine, ten-ish in the evening. If you want the best results ask him them, the medication relaxes him and that may have an effect on his answers.” Or less of an outrage. “I warn you though Caspain, taking responsibility for another with no memories might be difficult. Especially as she starts to recall them, we don’t know who she is. If her parents are even alive.” Sighing he felt he had to warn Caspain about the possible bad times, she had already smashed a mirror. “It will be quite the emotional rollercoaster, for instance say her parents aren’t alive. She could remember the pain, the sadness of it but not know why until she pieces back what happened. Patience will be key.”

Holding up his hand as if to say one-minute Dr. Emett scurried towards his office and dipped inside for a few seconds before walking back out clasping a bottle of pills. “Whilst you’re here you may as well take your fathers next prescription, I’m sure he would appreciate it.” Smiling as he handed over the medication to Caspain, “It’s the exact same as what he is taking so no need to change any routine.” Glancing at his watch he checked the time taking note that visiting hours would be ending soon, “Did you need anything else?”

[Rogue Sloth]

At least Dr. Emett sounded willing to give him time to collect the money from his father. Since it was such a large amount, it would probably take at least twenty-four hours to transfer from his account to the hospital’s, plus however long it took for him to calm the king down when he finally told him what he’d done. He already knew there was no way Atlas would approve charity work like this right away. He just hoped he would be reasonable enough not to delay the payment for weeks.

Then there was the unsolved issue of what to do with Iris since she couldn’t stay here any longer. He wanted to believe his father would be willing to take her in, since their house had more than enough room for one more resident, but he knew Emett was right. It was ridiculous to think that an amnesiac girl had come here to hurt him—why would she have wandered out to the woods to do something like that?—but the king was a cautious man. If there was even a sliver of a possibility that she could be dangerous, he wouldn’t want her anywhere near their house. He wouldn’t think her safety was worth the risk.

Cas was just beginning to wonder if he should even bother making the request when the doctor surprised him by offering advice. He met Emett’s gaze with lifted brows as he told him to ask his father when he was under the influence of his medication. It didn’t seem like the most ethical advice a medical professional could give someone, but he appreciated it nonetheless. “That’s a good idea,” he agreed. Maybe he could bring up the hospital bill then too. Anything that would better his chances of getting away from that conversation unscathed was good news in his book.

As Dr. Emett went on to warn him about the difficulties of taking care of a person with amnesia, he nodded thoughtfully. He hadn’t really thought about that before, but it didn’t deter him from wanting to do what he could to help Iris. Even if she didn’t have an easy time getting her memories back, at least she wouldn’t be alone. Plus, they didn’t know for sure that she would be staying with him the entire time she recovered. Her family could still call at any time, asking for her to come home. He hoped they would.

“Thanks for the heads up,” he smiled gratefully. “I’ll be sure to keep that in mind if my dad agreed to let her stay with us.”

When the doctor hurried off to his office, Cas unfolded his arms to check the time on his phone. It was almost nine, so he didn’t have much time left. However, he had a feeling his night was far from over. His father would be taking his medicine soon, so he needed to talk to him as soon as he got home. There was a lot to cover. He mused if he would have enough time to hit a drive thru and get coffee somewhere on his way back. The caffeine boost might be necessary.

Looking up again, he saw Dr. Emett return with a bottle of pills. He recognized it as the same kind the king was already taking. “Thanks,” he took the container from the older man’s hand and slipped it into his jean pocket, so he wouldn’t forget it on his way out. “I’ll give it to him when I get home.” Thinking about the doctor’s last question, he shook his head. “No, that’s everything. Thanks again, Dr. Emett. I’ll see you when you come by tomorrow.”

Having covered all the topics he had needed to, Cas opened the door to Iris’s room and headed back inside. “Hey there,” he greeted her with a friendly smile, stepping over to the swivel chair and sitting down. “I hope it wasn’t too boring without me.”