Positive and Negative

The red blood rushed into the needle that Arthur was slowly pulling back and he smiled at the young man sitting in the bed. "There, told you it would only take a tick, you can open your eyes Trey." He heard a sudden beeping and turned quickly to the machine. 200bmp... Arthur's eyes flicked back to the boy, sitting quietly in the bed, frowning a little at the spasming machine.

He looked relaxed to say the least and when Arthur placed fingers to his neck, the pulse was normal. Stupid machine, couldn't even count something properly. Before Trey could look anymore disconcerted by the machine, Arthur unplugged it, sighing heavily. "Try not to do any intense running while I call the repairman," he said, still shaking his head while Trey smiled weakly, coughing into his hand.

Picking up the phone on the wall, his fingers slid over numbers as he waited, hearing the other line pick up. "It's Kirkland," he said, not really bothering with anymore of an introduction, "I need someone to come fix a bloody heart machine in the intensive care ward, room 302."

Arthur turned slowly and immediately sighed. Of course he'd get the angry tech, not the nice, sweet and quiet one. "Mr. Vargas," he started, shaking his head slightly, "If I knew what was wrong with the bloody thing, I wouldn't have called you. It said heartrate was 200BMP which it clearly wasn't."

He pointed at the machine, huffing a little. "Fix it."

Glowering at the back of his head, trying to not imagine hitting him with his clipboard, Arthur hoisted himself up onto a bed and watched him. "I need it fixed now." he said, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. Which is was; it was a bloody heart monitor, what was he supposed to do without it, just look at the patients and GUESS if they were going into cardiac arrest? He snorted to himself.

"And I heard your brother was here," he said, tone just a bit more conversational now that opening snark remarks were out of the way.

The Brit shook his head. Did the Italian not know what exactly the heart monitor did? It monitored hearts and that was hardly something that could be kept waiting. "A few hours? Mr. Vargas, my patient could die in a few hours from a heart-attack and I wouldn't even know!"

This was all very silly in the end though, there were plenty of extra machines, but Arthur felt that the ones he picked were the best and wouldn't fail him. "And I see no need to look after your brother, Dr. Beilschmidt is quite competent in his own way, I have confidence that your brother will be healthy in his hands in no time."

Damn that Italian was smarter than he looked. He shook his head, folding his arms over his chest. "Goddamn Lovino... Alright, but only if you talk to the German, I don't want to break the news that I'm stealing his favourite patient."

He walked over to the machine, frowning at it, kicking the bottom of it lightly. "Stupid thing... you really think I'm a better doctor than the German?" He blinked at Lovino, sighing. Great segue Arthur, just ask exactly what you were thinking. Brilliant.

The Brit nodded. "I see them together a lot and Ludwig seems to be very intent on making sure he's healthy." he quickly moved away form the machine, foot now scuffing the ground. "And I'll pray for you, I wouldn't want to tell Ludwig that news with a ten foot pole between us."

"And you could've at least pretended you thought I was a better doctor," he sighed, "Why do you trust me more? Just 'cause I'm not German, right?"

"Hell no," Arthur sat down on the vacant patient bed, "That man could stop an entire armada with a single glare, have you seen the man? He's bloody scary! And he's abnormally tall, like... hormone growth tall."

Quirking his head a bit, Arthur sniffed slightly. "Reliable is a good word," he concluded, "And whatever you say, I'll treat that brother of yours... Has he always been sick or...?"

Arthur laughed mirthlessly. "I'm not touching the German. Ever. Unless I'm really drunk, then maybe I'd punch him and tell him he's got a huge fuckin' stick up his ass but besides that I'm steering clear. He's probably got trained German Shepherds that he keeps around just to murder people..." he rubbed his face tiredly, "Or maybe I should really sleep... fourteen-hours shifts make me a bit loopy."

Looking over his fingers at the Italian, Arthur tried to smile. "I'll figure out what's wrong with him," he said warmly, "Don't worry, I won't let him get any worse."

"Oh what a comforting thought." Arthur drawled, putting on a very official voice, barely about to mask his English accent with an American one, " 'Breaking news; skilled and handsome British doctor killed in freak dog accident, but dog owner has been put behind bars.' Very comforting."

He chuckled a little. "He seems like the kind of young man that should be out painting... He does do that right? I've barely had time to look over his case file."

"I'm keeping you to that." Arthur said, walking over, kneeling down next to the Italian, frowning at the machine. "And I'll be sure to do that, I do like paintings..." knees already aching in protest, Good Lord I'm out of shape, Arthur plopped into a sitting position.

He hummed for a moment, watching the Italian. He was dating the Greek guy right? He felt his cheeks flush unexpectedly. "Hey Lovino," he said in a would-be casual-voice, "Have you and Heracles ever shagged?" And that was that, another shining example of Arthur's complete lack of social skills. Oh well, at least he might get an answer after the Italian was finished punching the living day-lights out of him.

Reaching over, Arthur was quick to slam a hand over the Italian's mouth in an attempt to stem the yelling coming out. He waited for a few moments, watching the door to make sure no nurses opened it out of curiosity before taking his hand away, wiping it on his jacket do to the spittle there. "I was just curious." he sniffed, "I've... Well, truth me told I don't know how it works and I'm just curious. In the name of science," his cheeks flushed, "B-because I don't care about stuff like that."

Arthur rubbed the palm of his hand nervously, swallowing. How did he think it worked? Scientifically speaking he could come up with a lot of ways but... This wasn't an act of science, it was of love! Or... Something equally as tender and cheesy. He took a moment, letting his head flop back against the edge of the bed, taking a deep breath.

"No I don't know..." he admitted, voice oddly quietly, "And I'm scared, that's why I'm asking."

"Well I know the physical bits of it but I just don't..." Arthur was having a hard time finding his words while a blush had started at his neck and was slowly creeping up to his ears, turning them a bright pink. He found that his hands were hiding in his sleeves and he picked at his fingers nervously, not quiet able to meet Lovino's eye.

He swallowed. "I heard... it hurts." he mumbled, "But I really... want to."