A nurse stepped out of the operation theatre, offering Elias a reassuring smile before turning to the couple. "The patient is out of danger now."
All four of them collectively heaved a sigh of relief as some of the mounting tension in the room dissipated. As if on cue, the sound of a door clicking open drew their attention. Another tall figure entered- a familiar one. It was Raphael, dressed in a standard hospital gown and trailed by a panicked nurse. She was attempting to dissuade him from making any sudden movements, reminding him that he wasn't fully recovered yet.
"Elias?! Oh, you- are you okay? I heard you were in a car crash..."
Raphael seemed to be in no mood for small talk as he pulled Elias into a tight hug, as if to assure himself the other was safe and sound.
Elias, however, wasn't particularly surprised by Raphael's presence. He knew how quickly gossip traveled among the hospital staff, and no doubt they had been talking about the accident. Raphael must have overheard and had come running, even though he himself wasn't fully recovered.
"I'm fine, Raphael- you know you're not supposed to be up and moving around yet," Elias said, trying to reassure him.
Raphael scoffed in disbelief. "Are you serious right now? This isn't about me—it's about you. You're the one who was in an accident, you're the one who's injured. Right now, you're not the doctor; you're the patient. And for once, I get to make the call," he huffed, gently taking Elias' hands and guiding him to sit down on a nearby couch. His tone was firm but tinged with worry as he continued, "You shouldn't be walking on a bruised ankle. I might not know all the medical jargon about what happens if you do, but it can't be anything good."
Elias shot him a mildly offended look, though to Raphael, it seemed more like a pout. "...Don't mock me."
Raphael's expression softened at the blonde's petulance. "Fine, fine. No need to get angry," he relented, his gaze sweeping over Elias, scanning for any additional injuries. "They didn't say how badly you were hurt. You're not seriously injured, are you?"
"No, no, I'm fine. Just some cuts and scrapes- nothing serious," Elias replied, hoping to ease Raphael's worries. Then, without being prompted, he added, "I was with a friend, and we were driving when this car came out of nowhere and slammed into us. The rest is… well, this," he waved his hands towards his battered form, his voice tinged with helplessness.
Raphael held Elias' waist with one hand, the other gently holding his as he locked eyes with him, searching for any sign of deceit. He knew Elias had a habit of downplaying his own pain.
Though outwardly calm, a pang of jealousy twisted Raphael's heart at the mention of Elias spending his rare day off with a "friend." The thought made him irrationally irritated, but he quickly dismissed it. This wasn't the time to dwell on such feelings.
Pulling Elias into another embrace, Raphael murmured softly into his hair, his voice laced with worry, "God, you scared me, you idiot... I almost had another heart attack because of you."
"...You had a cardiac arrest. They're different," Elias mumbled, trailing off when Raphael gave him a pointedly unimpressed look. He sighed and leaned into the embrace, letting himself be held.
Meanwhile, Benjamin and Elizabeth, who had been observing the interaction, exchanged glances. Benjamin's expression screamed judgment, his raised eyebrow and side-eye practically shouting, This guy is really out here collecting men like Pokémon cards, huh?
Elizabeth, on the other hand, merely gave him a shushing look.
"You need to get this checked out, angel," Raphael said, his voice filled with concern as he finally released Elias from the hug and glanced at his ankle. "Are you sure it's not broken?"
Elias shook his head, touched by Raphael's genuine worry. For the first time in what felt like ages, he didn't feel so alone. "No, I wouldn't have been able to put weight on it if it were broken. I'll get an X-ray later," he added when he noticed Raphael's disapproving frown.
"Good. You do that," Raphael said firmly, pressing a kiss to Elias' forehead. He noticed the exhaustion etched into the blonde's features. "I want to ask more about what happened, but you're clearly tired. The nurse said your friend is out of danger now. Rest first; we'll talk later."
His tone was so tender, so affectionate, that Elias didn't argue. Guided by Raphael, he let his head rest on the other man's shoulder.
On the sidelines, Elizabeth was still trying to calm Benjamin down as he quietly fumed.
Raphael gave the two of them a brief glance, recognizing them as the Williams family. He vaguely recalled hearing they had a son and a daughter. Judging by the girl's presence, he assumed the injured "friend" must be their son. Dismissing the thought, he refocused his attention on Elias.
Elias didn't need any more prompting. Exhaustion washed over him, and he quickly drifted into a deep slumber as Raphael gently patted his head.