Gabriel's POV
Sighing as Nathan left the room, I couldn't help but feel like my mind wasn't entirely with it right now. All I could think about was keeping him close. The moment he slipped out of my sight, anxiety clawed its way in. I just wanted him in my arms again.
Looking over at Elliot, I could tell he felt the same. He was still staring at the door, as if willing it to turn transparent so he could see exactly where Nathan was.
A moment later, Adam stepped in. He pumped his arm slightly, giving us a brief glance, eyebrows raised. We must've looked like completely different people compared to our usual selves.
"I've arranged for the doctor to run some scans and tests," he started, raising a brow. "Where's Mr Newman off to?"
Sinking into one of the chairs, I let out a deep sigh—one that sounded entirely too love-struck. "He's headed to the hospital ahead of us. He didn't want to walk with us—understandably, considering recent events and the potential negative attention it could draw. Could you let them know to expect him?"
Adam looked faintly shocked—like he couldn't quite wrap his head around the idea of someone not wanting to be seen with two of the Association's top-ranked ability users. But, ever the professional, he simply nodded and began texting. "Of course. Anything else I can do?"
My thoughts drifted to what had just happened. The image of Nathan's flushed face as I thrust against his pert arse was burned into my mind.
Thankfully, Elliot spoke before I could drift further. "He's a bit too thin right now. Adam, would it be alright to get some food delivered to the hospital? Maybe some extras for the staff too. We don't want Nathan feeling indebted."
Still mid-text, Adam nodded and then left us. I checked my phone—it had only been three minutes since Nathan walked out.
I looked at Elliot. "What do you think?"
He thought for a second. "If I don't see him in the next ten minutes, I might want to destroy something. That feeling from this morning… it was intoxicating. It didn't feel like a man-made drug though. More like a regular guiding session had taken a bottle of Valium and forced some down my throat. I've never felt anything like it."
I nodded. "Same here. I could feel your ability flowing into me even when we weren't touching. That's never happened before."
He looked a little sheepish. "Feels like what the marked pairs go through. That same glazed-over look and mutual craving."
He wasn't wrong. There weren't many marked ability users around. Too many espers and too few guides meant pairing rates were low—guides became hot commodities, and some held out for 'better options.'
"I know what you mean," I murmured. "I'm feeling possessive as hell. I kind of want to kill John for what he put him through. The fear in his eyes felt like a stab to the gut. He's different. We can't let others know—not yet. They'd either want him… or use him."
Elliot's power spiked—his emotions flaring at the very idea of Nathan being threatened.
I reached over and patted his shoulder. "Ease off, or you'll blow something up. Let's head to the hospital and get some answers."
It had been ten minutes anyway.
As we passed the cafeteria, a few people were gathered near the bins. A couple squealed when they saw us, but we ignored them and walked faster.
At the hospital, a nurse was waiting outside. She ushered us in and led us to the consultation room where Nathan was. The room was connected to a private section with hospital beds, but also functioned as a bedroom—handy for when one of us didn't want to be far from the other while recovering.
Seeing him again, even after such a short time, made the tightness in my chest ease. I smiled.
There was a tray of sandwiches and a bowl of fruit salad near him, untouched. Walking over, I asked, "Which one do you feel like having, Nathan? Chicken, Caprese, or steak?"
He looked up. "Oh, don't worry about me. You guys eat. I'm not feeling too hungry."
Of course, right then, his stomach betrayed him with a loud rumble. I laughed out loud, and Elliot gave a soft chuckle as I tossed him a chicken sandwich.
Grabbing the steak and Caprese ones, I offered both to him. Blushing from the stomach incident, he shyly took the steak one and unwrapped it. I bit into the Caprese just as the doctor walked in.
Our usual doctor—late sixties, grey-haired, with laugh lines etched deep around his eyes. He'd treated us since our abilities manifested. Friendly. Trustworthy.
"Hi boys. How are you feeling after your recent… excitement? Walk me through what's been happening."
I kept it concise, glossing over the more explicit details. I described our reactions with Nathan as akin to what marked pairs experience. His eyebrows lifted, and he looked thoughtfully at Nathan.
Asking for Nathan's account, the doctor nodded along and took notes. Then he set about organising some tests.
A few minutes later, nurses came in and drew blood. They also hooked us up to monitor our energy levels. Both Elliot's and mine were lower than usual—a good sign. It meant the contamination levels had dropped.
When it was Nathan's turn, we gave him some space so he wouldn't feel scrutinised.
Afterwards, we all let out a collective breath. The doctor would be back soon. Perks of high rank: rapid service.
Elliot scooped a generous portion of fruit salad into a bowl and offered it to Nathan, who ate it with a content smile. I probably looked just as silly smiling back at him.
About ten minutes later, the doctor returned. This time, his expression was more serious. He carried a stack of papers and sat down across from us, looking at Nathan.
"So," he said, "we have the test results. There are some… unique findings. Before I go into details, would you like me to ask these two to step out? This is your private information, and they don't have to hear it."
I spoke up before Nathan had to answer. "We're happy to wait outside if you'd prefer. It's entirely up to you."
Nathan gave the doctor a quizzical look. "Is there something wrong with me? Do I have a disease or something?"