Eliot

[0_0_7]

He'd laid out 10k without blinking and the rush was amazing. He'd always enjoyed flashing his money, but this was different. He'd claimed the lad, stolen him from his father, and had set him up in a new life.

And now that he'd had a taste, he wanted more.

"Eliot," Bond said, walking up on him while he was clearly busy. "Do you have a moment?"

Comments

[eliot_thespectacular]

"It is indeed one of the hobbies that I perform in the nude," Eliot said mildly as he sat down as well.

[0_0_7]

"One of them. Alright," he chuckled. "I think I'll turn down the tarts and salts, but thank you."

[eliot_thespectacular]

"I'm afraid I don't have much else to offer," Eliot said, and looked down at the menu. Jesus. These prices. What it must be like to just... have money.

[0_0_7]

"You'll have a chance to impress me when your rotation starts. Don't worry about it until then," Bond assured him.

"Fish or beef?" he asked. He looked at the menu, but he'd already settled on fish.

[eliot_thespectacular]

"Fish," said Eliot. Partly because he figured Bond knew what was good.

If Bond weren't his boss he'd have ordered a drink too, but showed some constraint.

[0_0_7]

The server came and Bond ordered the fish for both, and the chef's choice of wine to pair. She smiled and nodded.

"Of course, Dr. Bond," she said and hurried away.

"She's a lovely young woman. Two children and attending university, as well as working. Difficult times," he said.

[eliot_thespectacular]

"Oh, she seems nice," said Eliot. And then joked, "I don't have any dependents. Not so much as a fish. I even managed to kill a succulent."

[0_0_7]

"No one at all?" Bond asked. "I thought you might at least have someone special."

[eliot_thespectacular]

Eliot couldn't help it; he snorted.

"No."

[0_0_7]

Bond looked at him for a long moment, his gaze unwavering.

"And yet...I doubt very much you're lonely."

[eliot_thespectacular]

"Only emotionally," Eliot said lightly, just as the waitress returned with the wine.

[0_0_7]

"You certainly have the time and desire to excel in medicine. Why did you choose medicine?" he asked, sipping the lovely, cold white.

[eliot_thespectacular]

"Because I like being the smartest person in the room and also making people's lives suck less," Eliot said honestly, and took a drink. Oh, right, good wine actually tasted better.

[0_0_7]

"And are you? The smartest in the room?" he asked before sipping his wine.

[eliot_thespectacular]

"Not always," Eliot chuckled. "Not now, I suppose."

[0_0_7]

"It's good you're a little bit humble," Bond smiled. "What rotation have you enjoyed the most so far?"

[eliot_thespectacular]

"Honestly? Probably pediatrics. But I have absolutely no desire to do that. It was fun for a short time. I just can't handle dealing with kids' trauma on a regular basis."

[0_0_7]

"By the time you begin your rotation, construction will be underway for a specialized paediatrics department in A&E," he said. "A much more acute trauma experience."

[eliot_thespectacular]

"Yeah?" said Eliot, looking conflicted. "I... might be good at that." Though he still honestly wasn't sure he could.

[0_0_7]

"I do hope you don't have a tender heart," he said as their lunch arrived.

"A&E is usually the rotation that lets us all know what you're made of. Try it. The chef is a genius."

[eliot_thespectacular]

"I don't have a tender heart," Eliot said, looking right at him for a moment. "I have the kind of heart that compels me to punch an abusive father in the face a few times."

Then he took a bite of the fish. "Oh, it's very good."

[0_0_7]

"I don't need another Kovac in my department. Keep that under control," he cautioned.

[eliot_thespectacular]

"I am not like him," Eliot said sharply. Then - "Sorry. I mean. Of course. You're right."

[0_0_7]

"So you've met Luka," Bond said. A look of distaste flashed across his face, but then he took a bite and smiled.

[eliot_thespectacular]

Eliot didn't want to be stupid here. For his own sake, and for Leo's. Also, he supposed... to be fair to Luka, he hadn't done anything to him.

"Of course I have," he said mildly. "I've been in A&E."