I walked down the busy city street with a smile on my face. It was so nice to be back. It has been a two days since I have been back, and life was already pretty busy for me. I had spent a lot of time with my mom. We caught up on some lost time, and I helped her around the house as well as helped her run some errands. Just like every great mother though, she worried about me.
As I walked down the street towards my destination, I played back our conversation.
"Honey, you were in a coma for 2 years, and you're already talking about joining the Hero Association, and putting yourself in danger. Are you sure this is what you want to do?" She had asked me, and I had just smiled at her.
"I am. Its been my dream ever since I was young. Even since Victoria gained her powers, and became a strong hero. I want to fight to protect people, and I want to do it by her side." I told her, and she had frowned, before just nodding, and wrapping me in a hug.
"I don't like it... but I'll always support whatever you want to do. I love you, son." She said.
"Love you too, mom." I had said.
I smiled at the memory as I finally reached my destination. I was back at that damned hospital. That Doctor had called me back the other day and set up an appointment for me, saying that I needed to periodically come back for some more tests and check ups. I sighed as I looked at the building, before heading inside.
I walked up to the reception counter past the entrance, and gave a friendly smile to the older woman behind the counter.
"May I help you?" She asked me.
"Yeah. I'm here to see Doctor Westly... is that his name? I'm Gideon Astier." I said, and the woman typed some stuff into her computer as I spoke, and her eyes opened slightly wider.
"Oh... in coma for two years... unpowered human male... struck by..." She said, and then gasped, "An A-Class energy attack!" She looked at me in shock, "You're lucky to be alive!"
I just grinned, as she truly had no idea. No one did, but I had yet to tell anyone about my long forray into the other world.
"Yeah... that did suck ass." I said, and she said chuckled at that.
"Glad to see you're bouncing right back." She said, and then picked up a corded phone next to her, and dailed few numbers, "Hello. Yes, this is Greta. Gideon Astier is here for his appointment with Doctor Weston. Yes. Yes. Okay, thank you." She said, and then hung up the phone and looked at me with kind eyes, "Miss Nagashi will be here soon to collect you."
I paused. Nagashi? That was the cute nurse I woke up to if I remembered correctly.
"Well, today is not to bad." I said with a smile, and stepped to the side, and leaned against the wall as I waited.
As I waited, I thought about Victoria, and that kiss I had shared with her days ago. It was... really nice, to say the least. After that, we had talked for a bit, and we both reluctantly decided that we should take it a bit slower. Neither of us had been in a relationship before, and she said she wanted to do it right. I was fine either way, as long as I got to be close to her. The thought of tumbling in the sheets with her was a grand thought, but I wouldn't rush her to do anything she wasn't ready for. I respected her immensely, and for now, just being near her, and seeing her was enough for me. The kissing was nice too.
Still, duty calls, and the world waits for no hero. She had been busy ever since that day, fighting battles and training with her hero team, which she insisted that I met when I went to take my hero test. It was actually in a few days, as they only held the tests once a month and she had gotten me a spot pretty easily with her recommendation, and I was grateful for that. I had conveniently woken up at the right time. She had also told me her team was compromised of herself, and 3 other women. Apparently, her and her team did not like or get along with many of the A-Class male heros, as many of them were, as Victoria put it, "Pompous asshats." I had laughed pretty hard at that.
"I wonder how it'll work for me. Will I work by myself or join a team? I wonder if I could join their team... hmm, probably not. Working with a bunch of girls would be cool though." I thought, thinking about those old animes with the male protagonists surrounded by beautiful women. I liked Victoria, and I'd never betray her or anything, but I had eyes after all, and they wandered.
Victoria also said that any relationships a hero got into was publicized, and she had made it quite clear that I was not going anywhere, and that she wanted that for us. My chest had swelled when she said that. I loved her, that was for sure, but our romantic feelings for each other were still fairly new, as I had been quite the goddamn idiot when I was younger, and I did not intend on being that way any longer. I couldn't stop smiling.
My thoughts were interrupted by the soft voice a woman.
"M-Mr. Astier?" The voice asked, and I turned to see the smiling fox like face of Evelyn Nagashi.
I smiled at the small woman, and gave a small bow, which seemed to shock her. Old habits die hard, I supposed.
"Evelyn, good to see you again. Please, just call me Gideon." I said.
"Oh... uh, yes. Mr- I mean, Gideon. Doctor Weston sent me to get you. Please, follow me." She said, and I nodded and followed her to an elevator. We entered it, and she pressed the number 3 button, and we began to ascend.
"How have you been feeling?" Evelyn asked me.
"Pretty well. Been catching up with my mom, and talking a lot more with Victoria." I replied, causing her to look at me curiously before her eyes widened in surprise.
"You're calling the Glacial Queen by her name?" She asked me, and I laughed. That's right, people were always weird about that kinda thing.
"Of course. We've been friends ever since we were kids. You and everyone else may refer to her as the Glacial Queen, but to me? She's just Victoria, my best friend." I said, and my words actually seemed to touch the woman in front of me, because she smiled.
"That's... kinda sweet, actually." She said, and that made me smirk. She was a nice girl, and heaven knew we needed more doctors and nurses that actually give a shit about people.
The elevator soon reached the third floor, and she gestured for me to follow her. I did so with a grin on my face, mainly because my eyes tracked downwards to admire the surprisingly thick ass I could see even through her scrubs. Now, that was something worthy of worship. I followed her down a couple long hallways for another couple of minutes before we arrived at a door, and she knocked on it without fanfare.
"I've brought Mr. Astier." She said.
"Ah. Good. Come on in." The recognizable voice of the dull doctor echoed from the other side.
Evelyn opened the door, and beckoned me inside. I followed as instructed, and gave a brief wave at the doctor.
"Good afternoon, Doctor Winky." I said, and he looked at me with a raised eyebrow.
"Doctor... Weston." He corrected, and I waved my hand dismissively.
"Oh, yeah. My bad. What's up?" I asked, and I actually saw his eye twitch.
"Mr. Astier... how are you feeling?" He asked, and I grinned.
"Wonderful. Thanks for asking. Can I leave now?" I asked, and I saw a vein in his forehead throb.
"After a few questions, and a few tests, yes... but not right now." He said, and I sighed, and gestured for him to get on with it.
The questions were straightforward, boring ass questions that I had expected. Any changes in my body? Any pain? How does my head feel? Any memory loss. Honestly, this dude could actually be a wonderful treatment for insomniacs, because I felt my eyes drooping the longer he talked. He did not appreciate my attitude much, but I didn't really care. I doubted this dude actually gave a shit about anything other than this job paying him well.
Evelyn was much better company, and she actually held my attention as we talked while she took my vitals, and checked my relfexes.
"Eep!" She yelped as she went to take my blood, and the needle broke against my skin.
"Woops." I muttered, and then I channeled the null aspect into my skin to nullify its hardness, "Try again. That was just a weird spot."
"O-okay." She said, grabbing another needle, readying it, and then poking it into a vein in my arm, and the needle actually punctured it this time, "Huh. Weird spot." She mumbled.
I just sat there patiently while she did the tests. I didn't think it was necessary, but she was just doing her job, and I didn't blame her for that. Besides, the faster I did this dumb shit, the faster I could leave. I had to stop on the way home to pick up my clothes, and I wanted that goddamn candy I had died for.
After she took a healthy amount of my blood, of which I nullified to destroy any trace of my elemental cultivation and my Ki, she brought me back to the Doctor's office. Once we walked in, I found that the good doctor was actually not very pleased to see me again. Evelyn gave him some of my test results, while informing him that the blood tests were in progress.
"Very well. That's good." He said, and then turned to look at me and gave me a forced smile, "I guess that means you are good to leave. Ms. Nagashi, thank you for staying longer to help with these tests. I hope you have a good night and I will see you tomorrow."
I guess she was working overtime or something. I turned around.
"It was a pleasure. Good to see you again, Evelyn." I said, then began walking towards the door to leave, "Till next time, Doctor Wiener."
I heard a loud exhale as I walked out of his office, and began to make my way towards the elevator.
"Hey! Wait up!" I heard Evelyn shout from behind me, and I waited for her to catch up fo me, "What is all that about? Doctor Weston has been getting unnaturally frustrated with you, and you're not helping anything." She said, and that made me chuckle.
"He'll be fine. That dude just bores the shit out of me." I said, and she frowned at me.
"He's not that bad once you get to know him. Can you please try to be nicer?" She asked me, and when I stopped and looked at her earnest expression, and those big brown puppy dog eyes, I caved and just sighed.
"Fine. I'll try, but only because you asked me to." I said, and she gave me a smile as her cheeks turned a slight pink.
"So... where are you off to now that you're done?" She asked me.
"I gotta go and pick up some clothes, and then I'm gonna head over to the store, or a gas station or something. I really want some peanut butter candy." I said, and her eyes lit up from my words.
"I LOVE PEANUT BUTTER AND CANDY! THE COMBINATION IS THE BEST!" She said quite loudly, before covering her mouth with her hand, and turning beet red, "I... was going to go to the store after work. Would you...uh... like to go with me?" She asked me.
I actually think this girl has a crush on me. It's kinda cute. I did like the girl, and I wouldn't mind being her friend. I'd just have to make sure to keep it mild, and make sure there were boundries in case her infatuation got any worse. That being said, she was very nice, and I honestly didn't have very many friends. I actually don't have any besides Vicky.
"Sure, I'll wait for you." I said, and her eyes lit up.
"Great! I'm gonna go get my stuff. Be right back." She said excitedly, and ran off to do just that.
I just smirked as I leaned against the wall, and pulled out my phone. I forgot to turn the vibration back on. I opened it up to find that I had 3 messages. 2 were from Vicky, and 1 was from my mom. I opened my mom's text first.
Mama: "Honey, would you be a dear and pick up some taco seasoning? I'm making burritos tonight, and I forgot it when I went to the store."
Me: "Can do. I'll be home in a bit. I gotta go and get my clothes, and I have a friend with me."
Mama: "Wonderful! I'm so glad you're making new friends. If they want to come over and eat with us, invite them! Victoria is coming over later as well."
Me: "I'll ask. I'll see you soon."
I probably wasn't going to ask her. Not because I didn't like her, but bringing another girl to my house when the girl that was pretty much my girlfriend was coming over did not sound like a good idea. Speaking of girlfriend, I opened Victoria's texts next.
Vicky: "Hey, are you doing okay today? My day has been boring, and I've been dealing wifh a bunch of D and C-Class criminals today, and I was just hoping that your day was more eventful than mine. I miss you. :)"
Vicky: "Also, I'm coming over tonight. Not sure if your mom told you already, but I'm telling you too. She said burritos, and that was enough for me. Plus, I get to see you. xoxo"
I couldn't help but smile as my fingers went at mach 4.
Me: "My day has been boring as hell so far. I'm leaving the hospital right now. And I just messaged my mom, and she did tell me. I can't wait to see you. I'm just getting my clothes and going to the store with a friend and then I'll be home."
I could have just left out that last part, but I didn't like lying, and I literally had nothing to hide. My phone buzzed only 10 seconds later.
Vicky: "Ooh, is she cute?"
My hands fumbled and I actually juggled the phone in the air for a brief moment before I caught it again. How the fuck did she know that? It was probably just a really good guess, but that was a little scary. How the hell was I going to answer this?
Me: "She is just a nurse from the hospital. She asked me what I was doing, and asked to go with me since we are going to the same place. It's nothing like what you're thinking. It's just a coincidence, but she is nice and earnest, so I would have felt bad saying no."
Vicky: "You didn't answer my question. Is. She. Cute?"
I didn't even know I could sweat anymore, but I felt trickles of perspiration beginning to form on my skin. Goddamn my honesty.
Me: "She is. Not as cute as you though."
That was all I thought to say, and I felt like even that was bad. What the hell was she playing at?
*buzz*
Vicky: "Ask her to come over and join us."
I stared at my phone as I contemplated throwing it down the stairs. Or throwing myself down the stairs.
Me: "I swear it's not like that. Plus, I don't think she'd agree."
Vicky: "I know. I do believe you. I've known you long enough to know you wouldn't lie to me. But, did you ask her?"
Me: "No, I didn't."
Vicky: "Then ask her, and if you have to, tell her I'll be there. A lot of people would jump at that chance."
I groaned and ran my hand through my hair. I should have just said nothing... but... then I would have felt bad.
Me: "Fine. I'll see you soon."
Vicky: "Good! I can't wait! <3"
I just breathed out a long and slow breath, and then put my phone away. What the hell was all that about?
Evelyn joined me only a few minutes later.
"Hey! Sorry about that. Are you ready to go?" She asked me, and I nodded, then thought about it what Vicky had told me.
I decided to wait for a bit before asking her. Maybe it would sound less weird and creepy if we hungout for a while and got to know each other a bit better. I followed Evelyn to the elevator, and followed her inside of it. We descended down to the ground floor, and she said her goodbyes to a couple of the staff as we made our way out.
"Do you drive?" I asked, and she shook hed head.
"No. I have a lot of loans to pay off, as well as bills and rent. I can't afford a car right now." She said, and I felt a little bad hearing that.
That's why I never thought college was particularly worth it. For her, it got her the job she wanted, and obviously liked, but there was massive downside. Living in debt sucked ass. I actually had some debt myself, but I wasn't worrying about it right now. Once I became a hero and started making money, I'd pay them back in full while telling their predatory asses to shove it.
"I'm sorry to hear that, Evelyn." I said, and she just gave me a brilliant smile.
"It's okay. It's what I chose, and I'd do it again. I love my job, and I hope to be a licensed medical doctor in the future." She said, and I couldn't help but smile at her determination.
"Well, I'm rooting for you. You ready?" I asked, and she nodded, showing off her perfect white teeth as I began walking with her following close behind me.