Work Text:
‘Your wristband is beeping again, Chief.’
‘Oh, uh, yeah. It does that sometimes.’
‘It says your heartrate is abnormally high.’
‘Yeah… but it’s fine, Nightingale. Don’t worry.’
‘Should I inform medical that you’ll be arriving soon for a checkup?’
‘What? No, no. Definitely not.’
‘Your health monitor has given you multiple alerts, Chief. It’s important that we get you checked.’
‘It’s really not that big of a deal. I just need to…’
‘Why are you moving to the coffee machine?’
‘F-for some coffee?’
‘After all the heartrate alerts you’ve been getting this week?’
‘Hey, I was using that mug!’
‘No caffeine for you, Chief. Not until medical says you’re safe to have any.’
‘Y-you’re too close…’
‘Look, another alert.’
‘It’s nothing.’
‘Don’t head back to your desk. We’re going to medical. Right now.’
‘No, we aren’t. I get weekly checkups with them already.’
‘Your next scheduled appointment there isn’t till Friday, which is still three days away. I’m not risking—’
‘There’s nothing wrong with me. See? The alert’s gone now, and it says my heartrate has calmed down.’
‘It’s strange that it keeps spiking so high. Have you noticed a pattern with when it happens? Any recurring symptoms at all?’
‘N-not really. I have lots of paperwork, so I’m just gonna—’
‘Chief, your health is more important than paperwork.’
‘You don’t have to stand so close. W-what are you—’
‘It’s beeping again. I had my suspicions.’
‘Can you, like, not invade my personal space?’
‘I dismissed the alert, but it’s still showing an abnormally high heartrate.’
‘I-it’ll calm down soon.’
‘Really? Even if I do this?’
‘W-why are you leaning closer!’
‘You’re cute when you’re flustered, but you should really take care of that heart of yours. It’s beeping again.’
‘N-Nightingale…’
‘I’ll back off before your heart explodes, but I guess this means you like me?’
‘I—yeah. I mean, it’s not because I’m scared of you. You’re really pretty and—I, uh, I don’t know what’s wrong with me today. I’m not myself. This is… yeah.’
‘So you think I’m pretty.’
‘Yeah, and…’
‘And?’
‘N-nevermind.’
‘Does medical know about this? What have you been telling them during the last couple of visits?’
‘I said it was just anxiety.’
‘So they think it’s panic attacks or something?’
‘I mean, it’s not entirely inaccurate…’
‘Chief, panic attacks are very different to what some might call gay panic.’
‘Medical doesn’t have to know.’
‘And here I thought you’d correct me on the term.’
‘What, why?’
‘The gay panic defense.’
‘The legal defense?’
‘Yes, do you know about it?’
‘Yeah, it’s where someone who’s committed violence against a gay or queer person claims they reacted that way because said gay or queer person tried to make sexual advances on them, right?’
‘I’m surprised you know, Chief. Not many people do nowadays.’
‘There’s also the trans panic defense where they claim they didn’t know someone was transgender.’
‘Yes, they’re often used as legal strategies in an attempt to protect those who had committed murder or violence against such minorities. How ridiculous. As if it makes any sense whatsoever to assault or kill someone. To use it as legal reasoning… One would think the law was being played by children, though I suppose that’s literally the case sometimes.’
‘Um… Nightingale. If it bothers you, I won’t use the term gay panic anymore. Sorry for being insensitive.’
‘No, that’s not why I brought it up. I just sometimes wonder if people know about how dangerous it can be for some individuals in this world.’
‘Okay. But yeah, I guess it’s something to think about. How it can be used lightly as a term you throw around on the internet or with your friends, but then there’s also another side to it. One that’s much more serious. Still, I think most people just don’t know about it. I don’t think everyone who uses the term intends to be ignorant, malicious, or anything.’
‘I know, Chief. It was just something that occurred to me in the moment. Apologies for bothering you about it.’
‘No, no. Actually… hm… I wonder if I should educate some of the Sinners about it since I know schools aren’t going to cover such things in their curriculum, and not everyone gets to go to school either. Learning more is always good.’
‘That’s up to you, Chief. But if you need my help, just let me know.’
‘I will, Nightingale. Thanks. I’ll get back to wor—’
‘Go to medical first.’
‘Oh, come on.’
‘Having an inaccurate health profile doesn’t do anyone any favours. If you don’t go, I’ll inform them of what happened.’
‘Please, please, don’t tell them. It’s so embarrassing… They gave me a two-hour long lecture for not telling them I reopened a wound once. But it was a tiny thing!’
‘Chief, you should have learnt back then not to lie about your health.’
‘My reputation is finished. It’s gone. It’s dropped into the deepest depths of hell. They’re going to laugh at me.’
‘It’s not that bad, Chief.’
‘Telling MBCC medical staff that you lied about your anxiety—your panic attacks—isn’t that bad?’
‘Owning up to your lies and—’
‘Telling them that my little gay heart was freaking out every single time they saw my heartrate go nuts on the charts isn’t that bad?’
‘Okay, you have a point.’
‘So… you’ll keep this a promise, then?’
‘I never said that. If you don’t update medical, I will be forced to do it in your stead as your adjutant. Wouldn’t it be more embarrassing for you if they hear it from me? They’d interrogate me on how I found out, and I’d be inclined to tell them the truth.’
‘Okay, Okay… I’ll tell them.’
‘Good, maybe when you’re back, I can test how high that heartrate of yours can go.’
‘Wait, what?’
‘Hm?’
‘What did you just say?’
‘Nothing, Chief.’
‘Huh?’
‘What’s wrong?’
‘You just said…’
‘What did I say?’
‘You said that… um…’
‘Are you all right, Chief? You’re bright red.’
‘I don’t know if your smirk annoys me more or—you know what? I’m going to medical. Immediately. My heart needs a break.’
‘Good, I’ll see you later, my dear Chief.’