Stethoscopes and Bandages

The drive into town had taken hours of his time. Sometimes Calcifer wondered if it was worth it. Then he'd get a patient in and realize he didn't want history to repeat itself. The brunette adjusted his grip on the study materials he’d come into town for, flipping through the latest updates. Even though his practice was far from the city, he refused to fall behind. Medical knowledge was always evolving, and staying informed meant he could provide the best care for those on the ranch. He just hoped he could get through this practice exam with ease.

Nearby, he noted another brunette was skimming through a similar packet, one earbud in, listening to what sounded like a recorded lecture. He didn’t seem thrilled about the test any more than Calcifer himself felt, but he knew they both knew staying sharp was essential, especially when treating supernatural kids.

"Does the audio help?"

There was a blink, and then the other lanky-looking male looked up with slightly wide brown eyes. Almost as if surprised someone was speaking to him.

"Yeah," He admitted, pulling out the earbud. "Always had trouble just sitting and reading. Listening helps me retain things better." He studied the other man for a second. "Guess you're here for the license renewal, practice too?"

Calcifer nodded. "I am. And I’m glad they’ve started including more supernatural medicine in the materials. Makes it easier for us to get proper care when needed."

The other hummed in agreement. "Yeah, that’s what got me looking into it in the first place. My sister had a kid with a werewolf, and when I first saw him… well, I guess my protective uncle instincts kicked in. Figured I should learn as much as I could." He hesitated before asking, "Mind if I ask what you are?"

Calcifer chuckled but shook his head. "It’s not something I can share. My kind… we don’t talk about it with outsiders. Not unless we have no choice."

That seemed to pique curiosity from the other lanky male. "Huh. That secretive, huh? Past mistreatment?"

Calcifer’s expression softened. "Yeah. That’s exactly it."

The other frowned slightly, seemed they both knew supernatural rights were still a work in progress and not all were fully covered under the law as more and more started coming out of hiding.

"That’s rough," he said sincerely. Then he extended a hand. "Ben Duncan."

The other man hesitated for just a second before shaking it. "Calcifer Murrow."

As they kept talking, their conversation drifted from work to life in the city versus more secluded living. Ben quickly picked up on Calcifer’s easy going nature, and Calcifer found himself enjoying Ben’s straightforwardness.

Eventually, Ben smirked. "Feel like teaming up for a last-minute study session?"

Calcifer returned the grin. "Why not? Two heads are better than one."

They went back and forth, quizzing each other, offering tips, and laughing at some of the more absurd medical scenarios they’d encountered in their careers. By the time they finished, the test seemed a lot less daunting.

Ben stretched, collecting his things. "Shall we get this over with?"

Calcifer laughed. "Yeah. Ready as I’ll ever be."

They parted ways for the exam but reconvened after, both relieved to have it behind them. As they stepped out into the evening air, Calcifer hesitated, then glanced at Ben.

"I was planning to stay in town for the night before heading back. Want to grab dinner? To celebrate surviving the practice test before the real test?"

Ben looked surprised for half a second, then grinned. "Yeah, I’m down. Food’s always better with good company."

"Any allergies I should know about?" Calcifer asked.

Ben shook his head. "Nah. You?"

Calcifer rubbed the back of his neck. "Not an allergy, but my kind sticks to a more plant-based diet."

Ben considered that, then nodded. "I think there’s a good vegan place nearby. Up for that?"

Calcifer’s smile widened. "Sounds perfect."

They fell into step together, continuing their conversation as they walked.

"So, since you’re staying the night, I take it home’s pretty far?" Ben asked.

Calcifer nodded. "Yeah. Pretty isolated. What about you?"

"City-born and raised," Ben said with a shrug. "Lived here my whole life. Only left for family trips or work reasons. Like this."

Calcifer chuckled. "Sounds eventful."

"You have no idea," Ben muttered. "Last week, some lady let loose a swarm of crickets in the subway. Just opened a box and—bam—total chaos."

Calcifer’s eyes widened before he burst out laughing. "Oh, that’s insane."

Ben smirked. "Welcome to city life."

Calcifer adjusted the strap of his bag as he followed Ben into the restaurant, taking in the warm, earthy decor. The scent of fresh herbs and roasted vegetables lingered in the air, mingling with the subtle floral notes of whatever tea was brewing in the back. His lips curled into a small smile as he glanced around, noting the vines trailing along the walls and the small potted saffron plants by the windows. It reminded him of home in a way—of the careful cultivation, the deliberate harmony with nature.

Ben’s voice pulled him from his thoughts. “Interesting decor,” the man mused, gesturing to the abundance of greenery.

Calcifer nodded, fingers absentmindedly tracing the edge of his menu. “Yeah, perhaps they’re trying to filter the air while making the place look nice.” His gaze drifted to the saffron again. “Though saffron is a bit on the pricier side for a cooking spice, so growing their own is a smart idea.” He hummed softly, deciding on a pasta dish that caught his eye.

Ben chuckled, shaking his head. “I suppose that makes sense. When I think of growing things, it’s usually just tomatoes or something like that. But that’s the city kid in me, I guess.”

Calcifer smiled at that, amused by the casual honesty. “We grow those where I’m at… We grow a lot of our food, actually. Makes us more self-sustaining.” He leaned back slightly as their drinks arrived, wrapping his fingers around the warm ceramic of his tea cup. The warmth was grounding, steadying. It helped settle the faint tension he always carried when interacting with outsiders—no, not outsiders. With people who weren’t his kind.

Ben watched him over the rim of his glass, curiosity flickering in his dark brown eyes. He hesitated for half a second before asking, “Probably a dumb question, but do you guys use electronic devices? Like cellphones and such? Or do you try to live like the Amish?” He winced slightly, clearly second-guessing himself. “Not that living that way is a bad thing,” he added quickly.

Calcifer let out a low chuckle, shaking his head. “It’s fine. We have cellphones and the like. A few of us have jobs outside of where we live, so we need to stay connected.” He sipped his tea before tilting his head slightly. “What about you? What’s city life like?”

Ben leaned back in his chair, smirking. “About as busy as it is now. Always something new happening, honestly. Just last week, some woman let a swarm of crickets loose in the subway.” He exhaled sharply, shaking his head in disbelief. “Busy and random at times.”

Calcifer’s brows lifted, a surprised laugh escaping him. “Oh goodness. That sounds like chaos.”

Ben grinned, shaking his head. “You have no idea. You learn to roll with the weird after a while.”

Before Calcifer could respond, the waiter returned. He let Ben order first, watching the way he spoke with casual confidence, completely at ease. There was something warm about Ben’s presence—steady, like a quiet ember that never truly went out. When it was Calcifer’s turn, he ordered a vegan lasagna, nodding his thanks to the server before turning back to Ben.

There was a brief pause before Ben rested his forearms on the table. “So, do you just take care of minor injuries, or do you go about fixing broken limbs and such?”

Calcifer blinked, caught a little off guard by the question. He hadn’t expected Ben to take such an interest in his work.

“All of the above.” He offered a small smile, scratching the back of his head. “Given what we are, I also end up acting as a sort of resident vet.” He chuckled, though there was a hint of tiredness behind it.

Ben’s expression shifted—concern flickered across his features. “Please tell me you’re not doing all that alone.” His tone was a mix of disbelief and mild horror. “Like, there’s another doctor, right?”

Calcifer hesitated for a beat too long.

Ben’s eyes narrowed slightly. “Oh, you’ve gotta be kidding me.”

Calcifer exhaled a quiet laugh, shaking his head. “It’s not that bad.”

Ben gave him a look—one of those unimpressed, deadpan stares that spoke volumes. “Uh-huh. Sure. You’re definitely not overworked at all.”

Calcifer huffed a small laugh, but something about the way Ben genuinely seemed to care caught him off guard. He wasn’t just making polite conversation; he actually gave a damn. It was… nice. Unexpected, but nice.

Before he could come up with a reply, their food arrived. The conversation shifted into lighter territory—stories about odd patients, cultural differences in medicine, and even some playful teasing. The warmth between them grew naturally, threading itself into the evening like an unspoken understanding.

For the first time in a while, Calcifer found himself enjoying a conversation without constantly weighing the risks of letting someone in.

Maybe, just maybe, this dinner was the start of something more.