Dustin stares as Ren walks away, and then looks at the doctor, then to the door. He noted his lip, feeling abandoned and forced himself not to think about. Thinking about it would lead to tears and he was not prone to crying on front of a doctor.
"No, sir. . ." He whispers, no to everything he asked. Ren was not his girlfriend, and he wasn't allergic to anything.
The doctor nods.
"Alrighty. Put pressure on that, and I'll be back in a bit." he says, indicating the gash before turning away and stepping out the door.
Renata was in an upright fetal position, head in her hands, right by the door.
She looks up at the doctor, who sighs.
"The boy needs you. You might wanna go in there." he says before walking swiftly down the hall.
Renata shakes her head slowly, to herself. She takes a couple moments to at least try and calm down, and gets up. She gets as far as placing her hand on the door before she freezes and steps away again. She tries to calm down again, but. . . can't. So she just stands there for a couple more minutes before she walks off.
When the doctor comes back, she'd be long gone.
He enters the room again carrying a sterile syringe - still in the wrapper thing - a vial and a pair of gloves.
"Alrighty. Left or right?" he asks.
Dustin keeps his gaze on the floor, silent for a long moment. He didn't seem to have heard the doctor until he finally spoke, "Doesn't matter. . ." He mumbles, closing his eyes and taking deep breaths.
The doctor nods. "Right it is then."
After withrawing the contents of the vial into the syringe and swirling it. He steps up to Dustin and rolls up the right sleeve, injecting the contents into him. He disposes of the gloves and syringe afterwards.
"Keep pressure on it for a few minutes. Here's a remote-" he hands Dust a TV remote. "-to a TV out in the patient rooms. Go into one and watch whatever. I'm keeping you here overnight."
Dustin sighs, keeping his hand to his cheek, “But-“
"No buts. You're staying here. Besides, if you go, your friend won't be able to find you." the doctor sighs.
Dustin gets up and walks to the indicated room, quiet.
The doctor nods.
As for Renata. . . well, if Dustin were to turn on the news, he'd see a story about a villain.
A former hero.
Dessicating an entire government building, with no help.
Renata was taking her anger at herself out on the very people that had caused this situation where she had hurt Dust.
Dustin watches the TV and then turns it off after a while, he presses his back onto the wall, pulling his knees to his chest, silent.
Renata returns to the hospital hours later, covered in dust, cuts, bruises and sweat. She goes through everything, finding alcohol wipes and bandages and some painkillers, before starting to fix herself up.
She checks the exam room and, not to her surprise, Dust isn't there. She checks the inpatient rooms and sighs in relief when she finds her friend. She finishes bandaging herself, pops the painkillers then takes a breath, stepping into the room.
Dustin looks up and then is up and by her in a moment, “You left me!” He says, thr hurt clear in his tone. “You left me here, to go do that?!” He motions to the now off TV, tears rolling down his cheeks and then he turns away, walking back tot the bed.
Renata stays quiet for a moment.
"Dust. I could have killed you. I couldn't- live with myself if I hadn't reacted in time or noticed." she whispers. "They're the ones who are forcing my hand so that I have to fight you, Dustin. What am I supposed to do?"
She sounds pained, like this was physically hurting her.
"Dustin. . . stop doing this. Stop trying to be a hero. It's not worth it. You're going to end up dead and I- I can't stand that thought. So stop. . . please. . ." she says, her words quiet but fast.
“That’s not what I care about Ren. I needed you and you left me here with strangers! People I didn’t know!” He turns and looks at her, “You just left me here. . . By myself. . . I needed you!”
Renata freezes in place.
"Dustin, you know me well enough by now. If I mess up and hurt someone, you know what I do. And why I do it." she whispers. "You know why I wasn't here. . . you may need me, but you shouldn't."
“I don’t care what I should do, or need or want.” Dustin looks at her, more tears on his face and he wipping his face, “You left me here. . .” He whispers.
Renata reaches out towards Dustin but doesn't touch him. (synbolism hell yeah- metaphorical distance and shite)
"Dustin, I'm sorry. . ." she whispers.
Dustin stares at her, shaking slightly, “I-I. . . You left me. . .” He whispers.
Renata staumbles forward.
"Dustin, I'm sorry. . ." she repeats, her eyes bright, a single tear falling down her face.
Dustin closes his eyes, hugging himself, falling silent, still crying.
Renata closes here eyes and turns away slightly from Dustin.
"I didn't know you needed me that much. . ." she murmurs.
“Well I do.” He whispers, “You;re my friend, one of my only friends, Ren. . .”
Renata takes another tumbling step towards Dustin.
"I-" she starts before she has to take a deep breath. "Dustin, I. . ."
But her voice fails her yet again. She swallows and takes a moment.
"Dustin, I. . . I care about you." she manages to say. It wasn't exactly what she wanted to say, but it was a start.
Dustin looks at her, quiet, his gaze wounded, but open, listening to her.
"And. . . and I want you to be safe." Renata continues lamely before she starts laughing at herself.
"What the fuck am I even doing. . ." she mutters, tears starting to flow freely as she straightens up and looks at Dustin head on.
"I'm just going to say this outright, I can't stand the thought of you getting hurt. It pisses me off. But I can't stop you, so I'll stay by your side to make sure you don't die before I can actually say how I feel." she says, voice slightly shaky, but pretty strong and determined.
Dustin looks at her and then smiles, “Even when I do stupid shit?” He asks, grinning.