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  “Hey, you, are you awake?” Rex felt himself getting slowly jostled from where he’d fallen asleep. He didn’t remember falling asleep here but after the amount of Mesmerize he’d used lately he wasn’t really surprised. One drop of the near constant rain managed to drip onto his face and he had to wonder if it was from the man who was currently standing over him and looking down with a mixture of concern and confusion.

  “Well I am now.” He knew his face looked a bit cranky, but he couldn’t help it. He’d finally found a decent place to sleep and he was disturbed from his sleep so soon? It wasn’t like sleep was an easy thing for him. “What do you want from me?” He was trying very hard to keep himself cool and calm. Anyone suddenly showing up right in front of him was always a threat, and this strange doctor man was no difference.

  Zeke however adjusted the angle he was chewing on lollipop was with very little intent or care, glasses sliding down his nose and getting shoved back up again. He looked particularly disheveled today; undershirt only tucked on one side, glasses askew, even his sleeves were all wonky on his lab coat. Rex thought he looked about like they could easily trade places for how tired he looked.

  “You know it’s raining and it’s really cold right? You’ll catch pneumonia.” They both appeared to be sizing each other up and Zeke pulled his, far too drenched to be any use, lab coat off with one ridiculous gesture and dropped it over Rex. It helped absolutely none but a few candies fell out of the pockets on him. “You need to wear something warmer to survive the cold out here.”

  “I really don’t think this is going to help either of us. What about you? You’ll catch a cold too, especially now that you don’t have an outer layer to keep you warm.” Rex squinted as Zeke grinned, lollipop stick moving to the corner of his mouth. “I appreciate your concern, but I promise you I’m fine. Though you’re right, that probably won't help you. Come on, let's get you somewhere a little warmer.”

  “My mother told me not to talk to strangers.” Rex found himself standing up all the same and picking out one of the suckers that had fallen on him. He unwrapped it and shoved it into his mouth, smirking as well. “Though she also told me not to take candy from strangers, but here we are. Why do you care so much? I was actually dry here, or I was until you dumped this nasty wet jacket on me.”

  “Jeez, try and help someone and they just berate you. Do you treat all your friends like this?”

  “I just met you.” Rex took off the gross wet jacket and offered it back to him.

  “I’m Zeke, I’m a doctor and I think the best way to keep people well is to provide preventative care when possible. So get up and come dry off.” He put his wet lab coat back on again and shoved his hands into its pockets. He definitely didn’t appear threatening, and thanks to his efforts Rex was now soaked. It was just cold enough he’d have to find shelter or warmth now regardless and he could always Mesmerize his way out if he needed to. Or maybe, he just really wanted a friend. The real reason no one would ever get out of him.

  It took a good fifteen minutes or more of walking in silence before reaching a rather sketchy looking back alley office. This was the point that he was tempted to back out, but once the door was opened it looked very… ordinary inside. It looked like some low budget play wanted to have an office scene but couldn’t afford any real props so they borrowed the furniture from their parents home office. Nothing matched but the heart of an office was there. Rex cracked a grin as he walked in, if anything else hadn’t tuned him into this guy actually being decent this would have.

  The couch that Rex assumed was supposed to be a part of the guest furniture was covered in a lot of what looked like old quilts. The kind someone might get from an older relative made in the ‘60s. Frankly it felt very quaint… for a back alley probably unlicensed practitioner.

  “Have a seat, warm up under those blankets. I’ll get you something hot to drink. Do you like tea? I hope you do because otherwise it’s hot water. I don’t really drink much hot besides tea.”

  “...Tea is fine. Really, why are you doing this? You really want to prevent me from needing a doctor so bad that you’ll bring me in here with no promise of money or safety?”

  “If you wanted to hurt me, you would have. I don’t think you seem like the kind of person to steal either because you gave me back my coat that had my wallet in it. You also didn’t attack me when I was in a vulnerable position leaning over you with my hands in my pockets.”

  “You were testing me. Me, a stranger, in a dark alley. All alone.” Rex seemed a little bit baffled by this man who was already busying himself with an electric kettle that was off in an enclave towards the small kitchenette. “Do you fear for your life?”

  “Not particularly. Though I do take great pride in my judge of character. Peppermint? Or would you prefer cherry almond?” Zeke leaned back out of the doorway where he was so that he could look at Rex instead of shouting back at him. Judging by the casual smile that formed on his face, Rex only assumed he was making a bewildered expression.

  “Cherry, thank you.” Zeke nodded and went back to his tea making, bringing it to Rex when it was all done. He looked ecstatic seeing rex with a few of the quilts wrapped around his shoulders and his shivering finally stopped. Zeke had noticed that he’d been trying to disguise it, but he was far too familiar with symptoms of that sort to let them go unnoticed. Rex was thin for being so strong and the constant rain would have worn him out before long. Sitting down beside him he handed over the tea, which was in a cute little porcelain cup on a matching saucer, and Rex had to keep from chuckling. The cute tea cups were not breaking the strange grandma aesthetic.

  Maybe he could relax here. Just for a little bit. Sipping the tea he leaned back into the cozy couch and embraced the warmth. Both the place and his physical warmth, and the emotional warmth that the doctor was offering.

  “Thank you, Zeke.”

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body div#devskin0 hr { }

  “Hey, you, are you awake?” Rex felt himself getting slowly jostled from where he’d fallen asleep. He didn’t remember falling asleep here but after the amount of Mesmerize he’d used lately he wasn’t really surprised. One drop of the near constant rain managed to drip onto his face and he had to wonder if it was from the man who was currently standing over him and looking down with a mixture of concern and confusion.

  “Well I am now.” He knew his face looked a bit cranky, but he couldn’t help it. He’d finally found a decent place to sleep and he was disturbed from his sleep so soon? It wasn’t like sleep was an easy thing for him. “What do you want from me?” He was trying very hard to keep himself cool and calm. Anyone suddenly showing up right in front of him was always a threat, and this strange doctor man was no difference.

  Zeke however adjusted the angle he was chewing on lollipop was with very little intent or care, glasses sliding down his nose and getting shoved back up again. He looked particularly disheveled today; undershirt only tucked on one side, glasses askew, even his sleeves were all wonky on his lab coat. Rex thought he looked about like they could easily trade places for how tired he looked.

  “You know it’s raining and it’s really cold right? You’ll catch pneumonia.” They both appeared to be sizing each other up and Zeke pulled his, far too drenched to be any use, lab coat off with one ridiculous gesture and dropped it over Rex. It helped absolutely none but a few candies fell out of the pockets on him. “You need to wear something warmer to survive the cold out here.”

  “I really don’t think this is going to help either of us. What about you? You’ll catch a cold too, especially now that you don’t have an outer layer to keep you warm.” Rex squinted as Zeke grinned, lollipop stick moving to the corner of his mouth. “I appreciate your concern, but I promise you I’m fine. Though you’re right, that probably won't help you. Come on, let's get you somewhere a little warmer.”

  “My mother told me not to talk to strangers.” Rex found himself standing up all the same and picking out one of the suckers that had fallen on him. He unwrapped it and shoved it into his mouth, smirking as well. “Though she also told me not to take candy from strangers, but here we are. Why do you care so much? I was actually dry here, or I was until you dumped this nasty wet jacket on me.”

  “Jeez, try and help someone and they just berate you. Do you treat all your friends like this?”

  “I just met you.” Rex took off the gross wet jacket and offered it back to him.

  “I’m Zeke, I’m a doctor and I think the best way to keep people well is to provide preventative care when possible. So get up and come dry off.” He put his wet lab coat back on again and shoved his hands into its pockets. He definitely didn’t appear threatening, and thanks to his efforts Rex was now soaked. It was just cold enough he’d have to find shelter or warmth now regardless and he could always Mesmerize his way out if he needed to. Or maybe, he just really wanted a friend. The real reason no one would ever get out of him.

  It took a good fifteen minutes or more of walking in silence before reaching a rather sketchy looking back alley office. This was the point that he was tempted to back out, but once the door was opened it looked very… ordinary inside. It looked like some low budget play wanted to have an office scene but couldn’t afford any real props so they borrowed the furniture from their parents home office. Nothing matched but the heart of an office was there. Rex cracked a grin as he walked in, if anything else hadn’t tuned him into this guy actually being decent this would have.

  The couch that Rex assumed was supposed to be a part of the guest furniture was covered in a lot of what looked like old quilts. The kind someone might get from an older relative made in the ‘60s. Frankly it felt very quaint… for a back alley probably unlicensed practitioner.

  “Have a seat, warm up under those blankets. I’ll get you something hot to drink. Do you like tea? I hope you do because otherwise it’s hot water. I don’t really drink much hot besides tea.”

  “...Tea is fine. Really, why are you doing this? You really want to prevent me from needing a doctor so bad that you’ll bring me in here with no promise of money or safety?”

  “If you wanted to hurt me, you would have. I don’t think you seem like the kind of person to steal either because you gave me back my coat that had my wallet in it. You also didn’t attack me when I was in a vulnerable position leaning over you with my hands in my pockets.”

  “You were testing me. Me, a stranger, in a dark alley. All alone.” Rex seemed a little bit baffled by this man who was already busying himself with an electric kettle that was off in an enclave towards the small kitchenette. “Do you fear for your life?”

  “Not particularly. Though I do take great pride in my judge of character. Peppermint? Or would you prefer cherry almond?” Zeke leaned back out of the doorway where he was so that he could look at Rex instead of shouting back at him. Judging by the casual smile that formed on his face, Rex only assumed he was making a bewildered expression.

  “Cherry, thank you.” Zeke nodded and went back to his tea making, bringing it to Rex when it was all done. He looked ecstatic seeing rex with a few of the quilts wrapped around his shoulders and his shivering finally stopped. Zeke had noticed that he’d been trying to disguise it, but he was far too familiar with symptoms of that sort to let them go unnoticed. Rex was thin for being so strong and the constant rain would have worn him out before long. Sitting down beside him he handed over the tea, which was in a cute little porcelain cup on a matching saucer, and Rex had to keep from chuckling. The cute tea cups were not breaking the strange grandma aesthetic.

  Maybe he could relax here. Just for a little bit. Sipping the tea he leaned back into the cozy couch and embraced the warmth. Both the place and his physical warmth, and the emotional warmth that the doctor was offering.

  “Thank you, Zeke.”