Yuki managed to give the staff member a small smile in response to their comment before they turned to face the doctor as they spoke to them. They listened to all of their comments before nodding in response as they walked into Ethan's room. They didn't know how long he would remain unconscious, but they were determined to stay with him for as long as they could. If they could still be by his side as he woke up, that would be perfect. For the first time in who knows how long, he would have someone there for him.
After a moment, they sat down in a chair close to the bed, and then they grabbed their phone. They had already texted their parents about everything, as they needed to talk to someone about it, and they let them know that they wouldn't be able to spend more time with them. They originally planned to, but everything with Ethan was more important. They would pass the time by watching stuff on their phone, but they would always check on Ethan every few minutes.
It took about two more days for Ethan to wake up. He groans softly, his eyes fluttering open. He slowly looked around the room, frowning. “Where the fuck-“ His voice was hoarse and raspy. He glances at Yuki and flinches, confused. It seemed like even for just a second, his gaze seemed to soften. He tries to sit up quickly, hissing at the pain and discomfort. “Wh-what the hell-“
He looks at the IV in his arm and snarls, starting to rip it out along with taking the oxygen mask and heart monitor off. His softened gaze immediately hardened as he looks around for his pocket knife. “Where the hells my knife?!” He had a mix of panic and anger in his voice.
During those two days, Yuki stayed with Ethan as much as they could, as they wanted to be there when he woke up. While it was only for a second, they saw his gaze soften when he saw them in the room, waiting for him to wake up. It was likely strange to see the same stranger who saved him visit despite having no connection at all, but they weren't going to leave him alone. They had to make sure that he woke up and let him know that he was no longer alone.
"It's strange, huh? However, I couldn't abandon you after everything. I had to at least make sure that you regained consciousness and all that. It's nice to see that you're awake." They managed to give him a soft smile despite the hostility in his tone. "If you don't remember what happened, I helped you after the fight. I stopped the bleeding to the best of my abilities and ensured that help would get to you. As for your knife, I'm unsure of where it is. Also, please try to relax a bit. I know that you're uncomfortable, but you can't take your IV out…"
Ethan snarls, standing and searching for his clothes. The panic in his eyes only seemed to grow as he started to remember all that happened. He sees his clothes in a chair and quickly grabs them. His heart rate and brearthing started to quicken as he started to rush out the room. “Fuck this. I’m not going back..” He muttered to himself.
Yuki quickly tilted their head in confusion to Ethan's statement, as they didn't know what he meant. All that they did know was that he was certainly scared of something as they ran after him. They were certainly worried about him, as both his physical and mental state weren't good, but they had to get back to him first.
"Hey, wait!" they called after him. After a moment, they managed to catch up to him. "What do you mean? Look, you shouldn't just deny treatment like this, especially after you almost died. What's going on? We may not know each other, but I want to help."
He glares at them, “Stay away from me. I told you to let me die! Are you stupid?! And do you even know how much this is gonna cost me?! I don’t have that kinda money!” He storms off to the bathroom to get changed and also to attempt to get away from Yuki. He was almost immediately stopped by staff and it looked like his panic only grew more severe.
Despite the yelling and everything said to them, Yuki remained determined to figure out what was going on. They had no context for the outburst, but if they could get answers, they would do just that. They didn't know what happened in the past to cause such a reaction, but they were hoping to figure things out.
"What is going on…?" they murmured, a bit lost in thought at the moment. "Something happened to him in the past, that much is certain…"
After that, they only stood there as they saw Ethan get stopped by a staff member. It was only after a moment that they approached the other as they hoped to gather some answers.
"I'm aware of what you told me, but I could not allow you to die like that," they explained. "As for money, we'll find a way to work this out. You shouldn't deny treatment, and your behavior is concerning. I don't need to know everything, but I would like to know how to help."
Ethan growls, “I don’t need help! And I can’t AFFORD help! So let me go, goddamnit!” He pushes past the staff, only to be grabbed and restrained. Ethan didn’t seem to respond well to this. He fought back, still being weakened by his physical state. It was obvious that his stitches would start to slip and break lose from how much he was moving around, which they did. Blood started to stain his bandages and he hisses softly from the pain. He breaks away from the staff and stumbles into a wall.
As Yuki listened to Ethan's comments, they truly felt bad for him. Whoever hurt him in the past left a lasting effect on him as he continued to refuse help, even as he began bleeding again. However, this didn't end their desire to help him, as they couldn't stand to see someone suffer like that. If they could help, then they were going to. They had come too far to turn back and abandon him. Why would they, even? Unless they truly couldn't do anything, they were going to try to help.
"Your wounds… You're reopening your wounds…" they stated after a moment. They were calm, but there was a hint of concern in their tone now. "Look, I can cover the cost of all of this, and I don't mind doing so. Just, listen, alright? I'm not going to abandon you, so you may as well know my name. I'm Yuki Amami, and I'm here to help you, alright?"
Ethan glares at them. “No one just randomly helps someone. Nothing is free in this world.” He tries to move, only to stumble and slide down the wall. He hisses from the pain filling his nerves. In all reality, he didn’t want to be locked up again. And why would he trust a random stranger? Why should he trust anyone? Everyone was probably out to hurt him.
Ethan started blacking out, swaying slightly. The staff members managed to get him back onto the hospital bed, even if he still tried to fight them off. He tried grabbing for his pocket knife, only to drop it by the bed. He finally collapses, loosing all consciousness. The doctors and staff help lay him down and get him hooked back up to the equipment.
Ethans doctor looks to Yuki. “Thank you…you really are a treasure…” He sighs. “Well…since you care so much…I’m assuming you would want to hear about what’s going on, and what we need to do once he gets out of here.”
Yuki watched as Ethan tried to move, and while he kept rejecting their attempts at helping him, they had yet to back down. They were concerned about him, and after learning that he had no one in his life, they considered it rude to abandon him completely. They spent so much time trying to make sure that he survived, and they felt the need to keep making sure that he was alright. Even if it was only one-sided at the moment, they cared about Ethan, and they truly wanted the best for him.
When they were asked if they wanted to know what was going on, they nodded in response. If they wanted to help, they would need to know a bit more about what was going on. They hoped that they could find a solution and help the other no matter what was going on. He was stubborn when it came to denying help, but they were so determined to help him that nothing could make them back down. Especially after seeing that brief expression of relief, they knew that they were making the right decisions. Ethan just needed to warm up to them.
"Yes, I would like to know what's going on," they responded. "If there's any information that I need to know, please, tell me."
(DISCLAIMER AND TRIGGER WARNING! There are mentions of self harm, suicidal tendencies and attempts, alcohol abuse and more from this point out! If you’re uncomfortable please don’t read!)
The doctor nods, then goes on to explain Ethans mental health and conditions. “He seems to be suffering from immense amounts of trauma and ptsd. He also suffers from a few personality disorders that make it hard to trust people and make him extremely paranoid. We assume this is caused by his trauma.”
The doctor sighs, then goes on to explain how Ethan has a history of self harm and suicidal thoughts and behaviors and has been admitted in a mental hospital several times in his life. The doctor went on to say how when Ethan is let out of the hospital, he would either have to stay with someone, or be admitted again.
He shakes his head. “Ethan has a tendency to not take care of himself at all…he’s extremely malnourished and dehydrated…which proves our case.”
Yuki nodded in response to all of the information that they were given. They knew that he had to have had some form of trauma from his behavior, and they weren't too surprised by the self harm, either. With how accepting he was of death, they had been wondering if he was suicidal from the moment he told them to leave him there. It saddened them to think that someone could go through so much, but their desire to help him remained. Even if he had personality disorders that caused him to have difficulty trusting others and to be paranoid, they would try their best to help.
"Well, he's more than welcome to stay with me," they responded without hesitation. "From what I overheard, he doesn't want to be admitted again, so as long as he agrees, he has a place to stay and a person to stay with. I'll be sure to help him slowly focus on taking care of himself, and while it will be a process, I didn't give up on him when he asked me to let him die. There's no way I'd give up on him now. He needs someone, and if I can, I will be that someone."
The doctor smiles. “How did someone like you be created.” He chuckles and shakes his head. “Thank you. I’ll give you his forms so you know everything. He…needs a stable environment.” He sighs. “I’ll tell you when he’s finished being…restitched.” He smiles and walks into the room.
After a few hours, the doctor walks back out and nods for Yuki to follow him. He leads them in the room.
Ethan was half awake, a sour look in his eyes as he weakly pushes at a nurse trying to replace his IV bag with a new one. “Get out…just get out…” He growls at the nurse as they keep doing their thing.
Yuki only nodded in response to the comments again, but they returned the doctor's smile when he smiled at them. He seemed to be glad that they were so willing to help Ethan, and they were happy to help. Even if it was for someone who they didn't know, they wanted to help him to the best of their abilities.
When they were led back to Ethan's room, they noticed that he was half awake and annoyed with the nurse trying to help him. That all made sense to them, but they were sure that things were going to get better. Surely he would warm up to them at some point in time. They were set on helping him, but they were quiet upon entering the room. They would wait for him to be fully awake before they told him that he was allowed to stay with them.
It took Ethan a few hours to wake up. He kept falling asleep, zoning out and even just fainting. When he woke, he still felt groggy. Turns out that the doctor prescribed a medication to help keep him calm. Or at least attempt to. He looks around the room, then to Yuki. “The fuck are you still doing here?” He grumbles.
Ethan didn’t even bother taking off the IV again, too groggy to notice. In fact, he seemed to not notice any of the equipment he was hooked up to.
It truly didn't surprise Yuki when Ethan asked them what they were still doing there. They noticed that he was groggy, but they would have to explain what was going on sooner or later, and from how things were looking, he likely wasn't going to become much more alert, at least for the time being. Since he asked, they decided that they should explain why they were still there.
"I'm still here because I don't want to abandon you. Besides, I need to tell you something," they told him after a moment. "I want you to know that the doctors said that you'll need to stay with someone once you're released. We may not know each other, but I wanted to let you know that I'm willing to have you stay with me. I want to help you, really."
Ethan goes pale. “WHAT?!” He growls and sits up. “Hell no! I’m not staying with anyone!” He looks around. “Where the fuck is he?!” He started panicking again, his breathing quickening. “I’m not staying with anyone!!” He keeps repeating himself, calling for the doctor.
Eventually, Ethan’s doctor walks in. “I’m sorry…but it’s for your own safety-“
Ethan snarls, “SCREW MY SAFETY! I’M NEVER SAFE! WHY THE HELL DO YOU WASTE YOUR RESOURCES ON ME ANYWAYS YOU STUPID MOTHER FUCKER!!”
The doctor remains calm. “We’re not-“
Ethan cuts him off again, “NO! No! Shut the hell up!”
The doctor sighs. “I’m sorry but you have no say in the matter.”
Ethan snarls. “Oh yes I do! I don’t give a shit if you decide to arrest me either! You can arrest me now if ya want! I don’t care!”
Yuki was certainly surprised by the extent of Ethan's outburst, and they felt bad about prompting it with their comment, but it was true that he had to stay with someone for his own safety. That much wasn't an option, so he would have to learn to accept it at some point. They just hoped that he would calm down after a little while since the yelling was a bit overwhelming for them. They appeared to be a bit uncomfortable, but they stayed in the room.
"You don't mean that…" they said after a moment. "As for what's going on, you have no choice. They'd have to admit you if you refuse, and I know that you don't want that. I get that we're strangers, but you're truly welcome to stay with me. I want to give you someone to rely on and trust, no matter how much time that takes."
Ethan snarls, “I don’t need to rely on anyone! And I don’t trust anyone! And I’ll kick their damn asses if they try to admit me! Hell I’ll fucking kill them if I have to!” He had a flash of regret at his words, but it very quickly disappeared. His anger clouding his vision.
The doctor sighs. “Ethan…”
Ethan glares at him. “SHUT UP!”
Yuki promised themself that they weren't going to back down no matter what happened, although the yelling was beginning to bother them. Either way, they had to help Ethan, and they knew that he regretted his last statement, so hope was not yet lost.
"You…you regret that, don't you?" they asked, now a bit hesitant to speak. "Surely you didn't mean it… I know it's difficult to accept, but you do have a place to go… You'll be safe…"
Ethan snarls, “Shut up. I’m not going anywhere. I’m going home. No one is taking me anywhere.”
The doctor sighs. “Ethan…”
Ethan glared at him.
The doctor sighs. “I know you have free will…but this is for your own good.”
Ethan growls. “If I have free will…you’ll let me die.”
Yuki was certainly surprised as Ethan stopped yelling, even if he did continue arguing. He kept refusing everything, yet he almost seemed to consider the fact that his yelling was beginning to overwhelm them. They couldn't say for certain, but it was a possibility. They still wanted to help him, too.
"You asked me to let you die when I found you, but there's something that makes that difficult," they responded. "Most people wouldn't leave someone to die when they need help. It's your doctor's job to help you, even if you can deny treatment. You may not realize it, but we both want the best for you."
Ethan huffs. “They only take care of you just enough to make you come back and they steal all your money by overcharging you for ‘necessary’ treatment. When you’re hurt. They force you to go to the hospital…then take all your money for ‘helping’.”
The doctor stares at Ethan, somewhat shocked from his view on the instance.
Ethan glanced at the doctor and snarls. “And they call you insane or some shit because you know the truth. Then they send you away to a mental hospital, saying you’re not safe to be alone.”
Yuki wasn't entirely sure of how to respond to Ethan's comments. They were aware that healthcare was overpriced, but they believed that it was necessary at times. They wished that people didn't have to pay so much for it, but there wasn't much that they could do about it at the time. Either way, they wanted the best for Ethan, and they were going to try to help him to the best of their abilities.
"Um…I admit that healthcare is expensive, but some doctors actually care about their patients… If I'm right, yours cares a lot about you," they responded, "and so do I… I've already told you that I'll cover the cost of everything. My parents are willing to cover this for you. Please, I do have your best interest in mind when I do anything in this situation, even if you can't see that yet."
