inflictwounds | •daybreak inbox

[He's lost time. A lot of time. He knew he would in all this but now that it's all crept up, it's become heavy. Not that he can do anything about it. The important thing is handling it all as soon as he can.

Which is why, that night, he goes around to Hieke's office, after class. He takes a breath and rap the back of his hand off the door.]

Señor Hieke, are you in?

[It's probably a good thing Hieke is a workaholic - finding him in his office isn't a difficult task.

He blinks up once Héctor calls for him, before motioning for him to step inside.]

Of course I am. [Where else would he be!!] Is something the matter?

[Why were so many in this place either over-achieving workaholics or general hopeless slackers? A question for another time. ]

Ah, yes. There's something important I wanted to speak to you about. It's regarding one of the students here. Can I shut the door? It's kind of a private matter.

[Because sometimes it just be that way.]

Of course, yeah, that's perfectly fine. [He wonders, briefly, which student it is. There's so many of them that seem to excel at getting into trouble.]

[The door clicks. He takes a breath, needing a moment before he begins.]

I don't know if you recall, but about a month ago, there was a boy in the infirmary. He goes by Peter Parker. I was told you tried to fix a scar for him.

I remember that. [It'd be hard to forget.] Did something...happen, with him?

A few things. It's a little complicated. I was wondering if you could tell me what it was going through your mind. If you... came to any particular conclusions about Peter.

He's dead. [Blunt and to the point. Hieke doesn't seem to feel the need to beat around the bush, which...is either a blessing or a curse.]

[He flinches at the blunt delivery. It's better they get to the point, but between how fresh the wound is and how dangerous such words are in terms of the contract, it's hard not to recoil a little.]

... Right. Right, okay, okay... I'm not sure how you worked it out, but... Peter's been revived by a contract. I'm not sure the details but what I do know is that we need as few people to find out as possible. The more people who know the less his magic holds up. His life depends on this. And so, I think you can understand why I need to ask your secrecy on this...?

[He hopes so.]

[He's quiet as the other man explains the issue, a grimace slowly crossing his face.

He can already feel a headache coming on. This is why he gave up on contracts.]

Right, of course. I wasn't planning on saying anything about it.

[A beat.]

But what's your plan if a student finds out?

[His shoulders sag with his relief. He hadn't seen Hieke the sort to laugh and flaunt but confirmation is no small thing.

his relief is short lived. His face falls, brows furrowing as his gaze drops to the floor. He shakes his head.]

The same way as with you, I suppose. Try to contain things.

[Until he can't anymore. Until they run out of time.]

[He scrubs his face, this close to letting out a groan.]

That's an awful lot of work. Is there...anything else that can be done?

[Any way to work around the contract? Or break it, without risking Peter's life?]

[He grimaces further. He wishes the man wouldn't put it like that. It makes things sound so... futile.]

I don't know. I don't really think so. But I mean, it can't be that hard, It's not like it's obvious. He's pretty much alive in every way but for having already experienced death.

[He pauses, brow furrowing at Hieke himself.]

...It's not obvious, is it? Did your healing magic work it out or something?

[Things might be a little futile. Word spreads quickly, even if you try to stop it, so why not have a plan of action just in case?]

It's not that obvious. I don't think most healers would even be able to work it out.

[He's got a knack for searching out death that most people...don't.]

[Why not? What action can they really take? Erasing everyone's memory? Even if he knew how to do that he's not sure it would actually reverse the damage done.

He heaves a sigh of relief for what Hieke says ay least.]

Good. That's good... though if it's all the same to you, señor Hieke, I wonder if I can ask you to be Peter's doctor specifically. Just to be sure this doesn't happen again. And if I know that kid, which I do, he's going to need this.

[It wouldn't be the worst idea!]

Of course - I wouldn't want more people to find out.

[Who knows how many people already know? Ugh. This is a mess.]

Though I'd hope he doesn't show up here very often.

I hope so too.

[That gets said rather dryly.]

Ay, but thank you, Señor Hieke. I think would be a bit on the nose to say you're a life saver but... well, I appreciate it.

[He waves a hand dismissively.]

I'm just doing my job. If I wasn't, I wouldn't be worth keeping around, huh?

[To say he's just doing his job is... wrong but normal enough on it's own. That second statement completely throws him however.

He starts and blinks.]

Hey now, that's not how it works. [He laughs, so alarmed and confused it just slips out.] There's no thing about having to do something to be worth keeping. You're a person, you're here, that's all enough. But, ah, I was going to say, it's not exactly a small thing to be promising to look after a kid for as long as either of you can manage that.

[Héctor, you're sweet, but you're very naive. Hieke gives him a blank look, before letting out a dry laugh.]

Maybe, but I'm not so sure. But it's fine - I'll keep an eye on Peter, and hopefully he doesn't need that much help.

That--

[He really wants to point out that using someone for all they've got and throwing them aside is super messed up but he suspects he's hitting a wall here. He doesn't know what is going through Hieke's head.

He sighs and frowns, looking away.]

Gracias. He does heal really fast but he gets into a lot of trouble. It might be a mixed bag there.

[That's just how life is, Héctor! If you're not good enough, you'll die.]

Yeah...Maybe he'll be a little more cautious now that he knows people are looking out for him.

[He doubts this.]

[Hieke, what exactly are you implying about him?

He tries to smile at that comment but it really looks more of a pained grimace.

He highly doubts it too.]

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