Every day is a payday when you work here!
"This is the dumbest shit I've ever seen, Brian," Kai stated.
The blonde tore off the dumb note then unwrapped the Payday bar. He took a big bite from it and started chewing slowly as he glared in Brian's direction.
Nancy looked at Brian and then looked at the candy bar he had handed her. She grinned and walked over to Kai, slipping the bar into the nurse's scrub pocket.
"I figure you like nuts more than me," she smirked as she patted him on the back.
"Fuck you," Kai mumbled as he took another bite of the candy bar.
Nancy grinned at Kai and then walked off to answer call lights.
Brian, stroking his goatee as he nestled the box of Payday bars under his other arm, looked at Kai and smiled. "Remember to complete the employee survey."
"Why?" Kai asked as he shoved the remainder of the candy bar into his mouth.
"You love it here!" Brian grinned as he pushed up his black-framed glasses.
"No."
"I'll give you another Payday," Brian offered, holding out another candy bar.
Kai snatched it and nodded. He hated completing the twice-a-year employee satisfaction surveys, but he loved getting free stuff. For extra free stuff, he may actually decide to complete the survey. He would have preferred a raise, though.
Brian smacked Kai playfully on the shoulder as Liam came up and looked into the box the supervisor had tucked under his arm. He dug in, got a candy bar out, and began to eat it himself.
"Make sure to complete the survey."
"Yeah," Liam nodded as he essentially inhaled the candy bar.
"Alright," Brian began. "I'm going on break to check on the cats."
Kai shrugged. What was new? Every evening, Brian would take an hour-long break. He always timed his breaks for the busiest parts of the day, probably to get out of doing any actual work.
He had cats. Cats didn't need to be checked on. They shit in litter boxes.
Kai knew Brian stated he was going to check on his cats, but he knew the man, who was even shorter than the blonde, was going to circle around the block and smoke weed.
His office smelled worse than a skunk. He was a great example of leadership—a nurse supervisor who was always blazed at work.
Kai couldn't care less, though. He watched as Brian walked off. He would rather Brian be high than in a pissy mood. He hated talking to Brian when he hadn't smoked.
Kai looked at Liam.
"Want a kiss?" Liam asked him with a grin.
"We're at work," Kai huffed.
"So?"
"So," Kai sighed. "No."
Liam shrugged and scratched his head as Kai went to the supply closet to look for an island dressing for Jean's dressing change to his elbow. The man had fallen during the week and had a wound that was still bleeding, so it was in his chart to change the dressing every evening until it healed.
Kai entered the code and went into the room. He grabbed the box and turned around, only to see Liam had followed him into the supply closet.
"Jesus," Kai gasped. "You scared the shit out of me."
"You're adorable when startled," Liam hummed as he leaned down, his face inches from Kai's.
Kai blushed but frowned. "Stop it."
"We're alone in here."
"Fine," Kai sighed.
He was never going to get his work done.
Liam moved in and pressed his lips against Kai's. He gently rested his hands on the back of the blonde's head. He gently stroked down to the smooth skin on the back of Kai's neck, which made the nurse shiver.
Kai figured it would be a quick peck, but Liam deepened the kiss, capturing his lips tightly against his. He could have torn himself away, but something about the kiss made it impossible for Kai to break free.
It was warm. It was nice. It was sweet. It made him crave more.
He got more.
Liam slipped his tongue against the blonde's. It startled Kai at first, but his body nearly melted against Liam's as they stood in the closet and kissed.
Kai could feel his heart beat rapidly as he stood there, his free hand moving to rest against Liam's chest. His face was flush with a sort of hunger that the blonde had not experienced before.
Kai wanted Liam.
But they were at work.
Kai shivered and pulled away. He looked down shyly.
Liam grinned, reaching down to softly stroke Kai's flushed cheek.
"I can't believe I'm dating someone that cute," Liam stated.
"I can't believe I'm dating an idiot," Kai replied, not looking at him.
"Touché," Liam nodded in agreement.
He gently kissed the tip of Kai's nose. Kai sighed and playfully punched Liam in the stomach. He needed to get the kiss off his mind.
"We need to get to work."
"Yeah," Kai mumbled.
The two left the closet. Kai scratched his head as he watched Liam take a resident to their room. He had just kissed a man in a closet at work. Did it mean something? He thought it was dumb. He came out of the closet.
"I'm fucking stupid," Kai mumbled under his breath as he went to Jean's room.
He knocked on the door, then walked in. He saw the sweet old man sitting on the side of his bed, watching the evening news program.
The small man glanced up at Kai.
"Hey, Jean."
"Hi, honey," Jean smiled. "Are you here to change my dressing?"
"Yes," Kai nodded. "Let me wash my hands."
He washed his hands thoroughly, then dried them with paper towel. Kai then grabbed a pair of gloves and put them on.
He sat next to Jean on the bed and rolled up the old man's flannel shirt. He pulled the dressing off, which had a small amount of shadow drainage, and examined the small skin tear.
"It's healing well," Kai told him.
"I hate having this bandage."
"I know," Kai replied. "It'll be a few more days, though."
"Sure," Jean nodded.
Kai applied some Bacitracin and the dressing. He made sure to keep the area clean and covered. He pulled his gloves off and threw them away.
"You're all set," Kai stated as he used the sanitizer pump at the entrance of the room.
"Thanks," Jean smiled. "How are you and that other boy doing? What's his name?"
"Liam?"
"Yes," Jean nodded. "You and him. You guys are together, aren't you?"
Kai gave Jean a blank stare. He wondered how he knew—why he even knew.
"How did you know that?"
"You guys act like you are," Jean shrugged. "I'm old, not blind."
"I didn't say you were," Kai grumbled.
"You know, my brother had a partner, too. It was a while ago. I remember he would always get the same look in his eyes whenever he looked at his boyfriend. It was a special kind of love."
Kai sighed.
"I know," Kai began. "I have that look, too, huh?"
"Yup," Jean nodded. "That's love."
"We've only been dating a week," Kai began. "I can't be in love."
"Maybe not." Jean nodded. "But you care about him."
"I guess."
"Just like I cared for my wife," Jean smiled. "We were married for 62 years. She died two years ago. I miss her every day."
"I'm sorry," Kai said. "I remember you two moved here together. She was so sweet."
"Don't be," Jean told him. "I was blessed. She was the love of my life. She was the one thing I was thankful for."
"I'm not sure, Jean," Kai began. "Love doesn't come easy for me. I don't think I have loved anyone like that."
"I'm not going to pretend to know how you feel, because I don't," Jean stated. "I don't know much anymore. But, I do know what it's like to be in love. If you find a person that makes you feel alive, then you grab ahold and don't let go."
"Yeah," Kai sighed. "But Liam is an idiot."
"All men are idiots."
"True," Kai chuckled.
"I'm not sure what kind of idiot he is, but he makes you happy. It's obvious."
"It is?"
"Sure is," Jean nodded. "It's written all over your face. It's the way you carry yourself, too."
Kai had never considered any of these things. He never had a relationship or felt the way about a human like he did about Liam. It was strange.
"I'm happy, aren't I?"
"I think you are," Jean nodded.
"I've never met anyone like Liam," Kai stated.
"That's good, isn't it?"
"It is."
"You should be happy."
"Yeah," Kai replied. "I think I am happy."
"I think he feels the same about you, too," Jean said.
"How can you tell?" Kai asked as he tilted his head to the side.
"Like I said involving you," Jean smiled. "The way he carries himself."
"Really?"
"Definitely," Jean nodded. "Do I need to have a talk with him?"
"No," Kai chuckled.
"Are you sure?"
"I'm positive," Kai laughed. "If he doesn't, I'm going to kill him."
"There we go," Jean laughed. "That's the spirit. My wife used to tell me she would kill me all the time."
Kai couldn't stop smiling. Some of the residents made his job worth it. He loved hearing their stories and learning more about them. Even though it was a hard job, it was the little things, like talking with Jean, that made being a nurse one of the most fulfilling things in life.
"Thank you," Kai told him.
"For what, dear?"
"Giving me advice."
"Advice is all I'm good at," Jean started with a smile. "I shit myself from time to time and need help, but I still have my mind. I wouldn't want you young folks to make terrible mistakes."
"Oh," Kai began. "You've never shit yourself, have you?"
"Not today," Jean laughed. "But it will happen."
"You're funny," Kai smiled. "Everyone has shit themselves at some point."
"I try," Jean winked. "I might as well make you kids laugh."
"I gotta go," Kai told him. "I'll see you later on."
"Bye!" Jean waved. "Come talk to me again."
Kai exited the room and headed down the hall.
Liam walked up to him and gave him a curious look. Kai simply looked up at him and smiled. It was a smile that took the dark-haired man's breath away. He had never seen Kai smile at him like that before.
Perhaps Kai's feelings were becoming a lot more than a simple fondness.