It wasn’t there at first, not that he could tell but something had been bothering him with each subsequent visit and patrol. Another hiccup in his scheduled existence but unlike the others it hadn’t bothered him as much as time went on. Maybe it was because Kioshi was similar, much as Valeria was to him which was why he was less bothered by their existence as senshi for the Negaverse. Magic was magic still and while he didn’t like it, he could at least turn a blind eye in part to those two. He was still on the fence about Aoede but that was a more personal issue than a magical issue. The woman was cold and vile and he could tell that if she got her way it would probably be one of the largest headaches he would ever have to deal with.

That was the difference he had with Kioshi though, they didn’t pry and dig into people’s business. They respected schedules and work while keeping things professional as needed. It had changed from just being a professional working relationship to something different as the black-haired artist called on him to help out a few times now. He’d seen a bit more than the cold professionalism he was used to and it had him distracted from time to time, his eyes lingering randomly on some of the fashion choices the other chose as well as him looking into things he hadn’t really had an interest in before.

Then something had shifted, jarringly so, and it led him to where he had gone earlier today. Maybe it was the new restaurants he had gone to with the other, maybe the honey he had been using had been tainted with something, or any number of things to make his stomach flutter and feel off whenever the other was nearby. Keeping track of everything led him to notice the fact that it always happened around Kioshi so the thought that maybe they had had some sort of lingering thing that spread to him was on the table but he couldn’t think of anything that would be so asymptomatic for the other while effecting him as it did.

Sitting in the doctor’s office across from them, he sighed and went through the symptoms and time frames, giving a clear and concise report to his fellow practitioner as they nodded and took notes. “I just don’t really get it, I don’t have any other experiences when they aren’t around. I haven’t traveled out of the country or eaten anything that could possibly have some sort of parasite.” It had been vexing and left him a little more stressed and on edge than he normally was.

“And this only happens around another individual? Not always specifically after eating?” Owen looked at Lorcan and how exasperated they were and almost laughed. It was clear, painfully so, but somehow the amazing colleague of his just hadn’t considered something that they would say is illogical. Setting his pen down he looked at the blond as they dragged their hand through their hair to smooth it back. Whether or not Lorcan knew it, he was sure it was the tell of their stress.

“Yes, only around them, and also yes. We don’t always eat when we talk about work and projects. They’ve shown me a few interesting articles and looked into some of my own work a bit as well but otherwise I’m not sure there has been much of a way for transmission unless it’s something that gets about via aerosol.” It had been bothering him more and more as he tried to figure his own issues out, something that he knew he shouldn’t have done but the more often it happened the more it had bothered him.

“Well Lorcan, you aren’t sick. In fact, because of all the tracking and clear schedule of your symptoms, I am confident you are in your usual perfect physical health. However, you are much more stressed than I have ever seen you, even back in rotations when the ER was full all around the clock.” Tapping his fingers on the desk, it was his turn to sigh because how was he supposed to really explain something like this to someone like them? It was going to feel like smacking his head against a brick wall probably, it always was when talking with the other about personal things when they had been outside of work or school.

Getting frustrated, he sighed and looked at his colleague. “Then what? I have been stressed over this and other matters but those are things I cannot bring up since it relates to patients.” What did they mean? There was obviously something going on that worried him and made him have odd feelings in his chest and stomach. That and he really wasn’t sure why it was specifically around Kioshi.

“You really can’t see it hrm… I knew you were dedicated to work but I didn’t know you were so focused on things that you didn’t realize you may like someone?” It was the best way he could figure bringing it up to the other, the stiff and always focused Lorcan who never seemed to have a personal life.

“Like someone….?” And then it hit him and he pressed his hands to his temples as he felt a throb in them. This was more of a headache than if he was just sick, how was that supposed to work? They were a patient and a co-worker, there were professional lines that need not be crossed. It was a mess that he never thought he’d had to deal with since his brother had married and had kids. He hadn’t been expected to do the same since he had his work and his parents both understood that. But this was different, this person wasn’t anything like the cookie-cutter life he had carved out for himself with such meticulousness that he had apparently not noticed something that even Aberdeen or his cousin may have seen so simply.

“I need to think about things… Thank you for seeing me Owen.” Waving his doctor off, he stepped out of the office and hurriedly made his way towards home. He couldn’t be with Kioshi, not unless he stopped being their doctor and clear lines were drawn on what was acceptable and not. He hoped they weren’t intimate, that was an avenue he knew even less of and wasn’t looking toward just yet… unless that was tied to the way he had felt when he’d seen their back laced up or the dangling chain that had hung low over their chest.

Rubbing his face, he needed to make a plan, he had to figure out a proper and logical way to approach something that was so far out of his original goals in life. Then there was another matter entirely that was starting to drift to the front of his mind. Would they even agree to things once he let them know of things? It was hard to tell if their actions and time spent over were friendly due to wanting someone to talk with or if it was something more from the beginning. He’d seen them both cold and logical as he was but then also emotional beyond what he was used to handling. It was hard to tell how things would go so he had to figure it out and take his time. It would have to be done correctly because even if things didn’t work out he would still be their doctor. They needed the help and there were so many factors at hand related to what might be going on beneath the surface.

Oh how he wanted to ask Katya’s opinion but he knew if she knew then René and Alexandre would know shortly after. It was a mess, more than anything he’d had to work his way through in medical school and he wasn’t sure if his usual approach was even remotely correct at this time. This was all new territory for him and he was still conflicted on if bringing it up at all was a good idea. It was complicated, more than he’d wanted anything to ever be.

Writing a list of possible paths forward, he did as he always did and researched what he could about things. Though this type of research didn’t have peer reviews or really any solid evidence to back up methods. It was a shot in the dark but he had to do something. The main thing that would have to happen was that he needed to let them know that a conflict of interest had come up on things and go from there. He had a few colleagues who could take over as Kioshi’s primary care provider but after that, he really wasn’t sure. Would it be best to be blunt? Half the articles said yes and the other said no. His headache kept getting worse and with a sigh he knew it would be better if the other was here to help with that chilled and gentle touch they had.

WC: 1,522