I'm almost done tendinng to Adrian's wound, when- “Doctor—” 

The same man again. He's Persistent. Annoyingly persistent. I didn’t look up this time. I have to focus on the patient, yet this man keeps trying to distract me.

“If you’re about to tell me how to do my job,” I said evenly, adjusting the bandage with precise pressure, “don’t.”

A beat. “He’s bleeding more because you’re taking too long.”

That did it. My hand stilled.Just for a second. And then I exhaled slowly through my nose and set the instrument down with deliberate care, after making sure Adrian wasn't in any critical danger.

“Alright,” I said, straightening, fed up with his attitude already. I looked at him. Really looked. 

“You’ve got two options.” I said slowly, The room went quiet again. Not tense yet. But close enough.

“You can stand there,” I continued, calm, measured, “and question everything I do—”

I took a step toward him. Not aggressively, but with intent. But I will not be yielding either.

“—or you can leave and let me work.” His jaw tightened. I could see it this time, I looked slowly at every facial expression he made. The shift. And how he felt when I got closer. Good. 

“Because right now?” I added, tilting my head slightly, “you’re just slowing me down. Even this little conversation is precious time I'm wasting, that I could use on my patient. Who is your boss.” Aflicker of movement from the others. Unease. Anticipation. Waiting to see who’d break first.

“…watch your tone,” he said again, lower this time. And there it was. The problem. That same warning, I head it from a different guy just this morning.

That same expectation that I’d back off. I didn’t. I come from a time where you speak up and don't take anyone's B.S. I won't let myself be bullied, if I don't put them in their place now... I just know they'll take advantage of me. Instead, I let out a quiet breath and ran a hand briefly through my hair, irritation slipping through just enough to feel real.

“Yeah,” I muttered, almost to myself. “Long day.” Like you wouldn't even believe. Figuring out where I am, coming to terms with who I am now. Yeah, it's a lot buddy. The day hasn't even ended yet.

I will not be giving an apology. Not quite. But close enough to take the edge off—

If they wanted it to. But Before I could respond—

“Enough.” The word cut cleanly through the room. Not loud. Not forceful either. But absolute. Everything stopped... or at least that's how I felt it. I didn’t turn immediately. Didn’t have to. I felt it. That shift again. That weight. With just one word from Adrian, this lackey looked nervous.

“…you’re distracting him,” Adrian said calmly. Not looking at them. When I turned to ok at him, he was still looking at me. His voice didn’t rise. Didn’t even change in tone. But it carried something heavier than theirs ever could.

Authority. Final.

The man in front of me went still like a statue but he stepped back.

“…understood.”

Just like that. They must have some type of fear for Adrian to react this way. Everyone was silenced with that. My brows lifted slightly. Huh. Well. I guess I'll have to stick closer to Adrian in the future judging by the stink eye his lackey was giving me.

But it worked.

I turned back without comment, going quickly towards Adrian and picking up where I left off like nothing had happened.

“Hold still,” I said again, more out of habit than anything. My hand came up—steadying his side as I secured the final wrap, fingers pressing lightly against his skin to check the tension.

There.

Done.

But—

Something shifted under my hand. Subtle. Almost nothing. But His breathing wasn't uneven nor strained. Just—

Different.

A fraction deeper. Slower. Like something had caught his attention and refused to let go. I frowned slightly, adjusting the bandage again just to be sure.

“Does it hurt more here?” I asked, pressing lightly along the edge.

A pause. Too long for a simple question.

“…no.”

The answer came just a second delayed, Controlled. But not immediate.

 Hmm, Weird. I glanced up briefly. His expression hadn’t changed. Still calm. Still composed. Still—

Watching me Closely. Like he was trying to figure something out. Or—

Like he already had. My fingers shifted again, brushing briefly along his side as I pulled my hand back. That same pause, like he contemplating something. While also having that same stillness. But Stronger this time.

…huh. But I didn’t dwell on it. Didn’t think too hard about why. Didn’t connect it. Not yet. I'll think about later. Instead, I stepped back, pulling my gloves off with a quiet snap.

“…I’m done,” I said simply. No buildup, Nor with any dramatics. Just—

Done.

Only Silence greeted me. Then—

“…you can stop hovering now,” I added, glancing toward his men. “He’s not going to fall apart the second I step away."

A few of them shifted awkwardly. One coughed. Another looked away. And for just a second—

Something almost like amusement flickered across Adrian’s face. Gone just as quickly as it had appeared.

But there.

I saw it.

And somehow—

That felt more dangerous than anything else in the room.