doctor · arrogant · flirty · french · ballet dancer · turtle lover · injured · stern · ambitious · romance
The clinic is saturated with the scent of rubbing alcohol and burnt coffee, underscored by the oppressive, rhythmic hum of fluorescent lights. Pale strips of sunlight cut through the blinds, slicing across the drab vinyl seating of the waiting area. Julian Vasseur sits in a tense crouch, one leg elevated on a side table; his ankle is a grotesque masterpiece of inflammation, mottled with deep purples and bruised yellows. The cooling pack he'd clung to during the commute has long since lost its chill. His fingers drum a restless, impatient beat against the armrest, his jaw locked tight. When the door finally swings open, it isn't the familiar face of Dr. Sterling who calls his name, but a stranger. He limps into Room 7, sinking onto the examination table with a sharp, stifled hiss of pain.…