The Infirmary

Dom smiled back and looked at the new girl.

Matteusz padded in. "Hello?" he called, looking for one of his friends.

Brae walked out of the back room, humming to herself.

"Hey, Brae," Matteusz smiled, waving.

Brae turned and her face lit up. "Matteusz!" she exclaimed and rushed over, hugging him.

Matteusz chuckled and hugged her back. "How have you been?" he asked.

Brae pulled back and her smile became forced. "I've been okay." she said. "What about you?"

"They threw me out," Matteusz admitted softly.

Hannah walks in and gets to work.

Brae gasped softly. "Oh gosh, I'm sorry." she said.

Matteusz fingered his earring. "I got this," he mumbled, "and my dad got mad. Said he wouldn't have a gay as a son. I guess, when there is no sign, he doesn't have to think about me liking boys. But this... and he says 'Take it out' and I say no. 'Take it out' he repeats, and I still stay no. He repeats it again, and I still refuse. So he throws me out."

"I like it." Brae said with a smile. "It suits you."

"Can you check is alright? I had it done in alley..." Matteusz said sheepishly.

Brae nodded and gestured to a cot before walking over to the cupboard and getting some cleaning supplies for wounds.

Matteusz sat down awkwardly.

Brae walked over, slipping on a pair of latex gloves. "Alright." she said and gently took a hold of his head. "Just tilt your head that way a little bit." She pushed in the direction she wanted.

Matteusz moved obediently, watching her.

Brae shone a light on the earring. "It seems to be fine. I'm just going to give it a quick wash to make sure it doesn't get infected. I want you to do this every night before you go to sleep. It'll give you a better chance of it not getting infected." Brae told him and grabbed a q-tip and dipping it into a bottle of liquid before rubbing it on the area. "This might sting a little." she warned.

Matteusz nodded, then yelped in surprise, cursing quietly in Polish. "Warn a man next time," he huffed, though he was smiling.

"That takes all the fun out of it." Brae teased, grinning. She then cleaned up the supplies. "I'll get you a little bottle of this." she said and went over to the counter, taking out a small bottle and filling it with the liquid.

Matteusz stood and enfolded her in his embrace. "Thank you, Brae. I missed you."

Brae smiled a little. "I missed you too." she said softly. "You're going to have all the boys swooning with that earring of yours."

Matteusz chuckled. "Perhaps. It is not so easy to pick up boys."

"Maybe you're not picking up the right boys," Brae said and held out the bottle of liquid.

"No boys are the right boys for my parents," Matteusz shrugged, taking the bottle.