Page 77 of Monarch

“I’m saying we’re going to make sure that Roos rests and avoids stress,” Lex explains in English.

“Well, yeah,” Mari says. “Duh. Of course.”

“I’m happy to hear that.” Dr Timmers steps back and continues in English. “Good luck, Roos and your…” He looks at Mari and Lex. “Partners.”

Lex cocks an eyebrow at him, and I can tell xe is trying not to smirk and failing. Mari moves to come closer to me, finding my hand with theirs.

“Thank you, Dr Timmers,” I say, and then he leaves the room.

“Well, I think we suitably queered up his day,” Lex says dryly.

“He was very nice,” I say, not exactly in the mood for Lex’s commentary. I’m also not really in the mood to be coddled by Mari, which is what they’re trying to do now, stroking my forearm with one hand while the other locks with my fingers.

“I wasn’t saying he wasn’t nice,” Lex says with a far too familiar defensiveness. “Just that he wasn’t used to how queer we are.”

“Even I’m not used to how queer you are,” Mari snaps, and even though the way they’re running their fingertips up my arm is irritating me, a small laugh escapes me.

“I didn’t realise we were in a queer-off,” Lex says, crossing xir arms and standing with xir feet further apart.

“Enough,” I say, but it lacks the force I hoped it would. “Can you both just…not? I want to go home. Please.”

“Of course,” Mari says, and they reach over to help me move my legs off the bed, like I can’t walk or something.

“Jesus, I’m fine, Mari!” I snap, and this time, there is an edge in my voice. A sharp, serrated one. Mari steps back. “I can walk. I’m just tired.”

It should be impossible, considering how much I’ve slept in the last 36 hours, but I really do feel like I could sleep for a whole year.

“Before we go,” Lex says, and I sit back down on the bed, “we need to know what’s happening next.”

“Next?” I raise my eyebrows. “Next, I go home, call in sick for work like the doctor advised, and I take a really long nap in my own bed.”

“Yep, sure, you can do that, but Mari and I, we both want to help you.”

“Great,” I sigh and close my eyes. “Make me some cookies. Do some laundry for me. Whatever.”

“No.” Lex’s voice gets closer. “One of us should be with you. Move in with you.”

My eyes open. “What? Why?”

“In case it happens again,” Mari says. “You shouldn’t be living on your own until we know what we’re dealing with.”

“The doctor didn’t say anything about me needing to live with someone.”

“Well, that might be because he thinks we all live together,” Lex says in an almost shy tone.

“Why would he think that?” I glare at Lex, as does Mari.

“Because I told him as much. That we were all partners. When you were admitted.” Xe shrugs.

“Why did you say that?” I demand as Mari says, “What the fuck!”

“It was just easier to say that so we could both stay with you. If he thought we were just your friends, I was worried he’d send us away.”

“For fuck’s sake,” Mari mutters.

“Well, we’ll just go and talk to him or a nurse and ask them what they think is best,” I say, standing up again.

“Or,” Lex drags out the R in the word. “Or you could just let one of us move in with you and look after you anyway. And I am happy to be the person.”