The Hospital Room-Meeting Jobie part 2 (short story- canon)

⚠️disclaimer⚠️
This short story has a slight amount of insensitive language including- lunatic, mad man, and so on.
Mental health was not well understood by the public in the 70s, especially mental hospital patients which were heavily stigmatized.

This is written from Ace's POV, someone who was incredibly ignorant to mental hospital patients prier to meeting Jobie.

Furthermore, this short story gently touches on BPD behaviors.

I wish not to censor my audience from the flaws of my characters.
⚠️End of disclaimer ⚠️


   Jobie Jenkins was identified at the hospital, a twenty three year old male from Whiskey Hills;California, who had been placed in the Heavy-side Institution for temporary monitoring. Temporary turned to permanent after a caretaker neglected to step forward once his time was due. So, in further negligence, the institution allowed for Jobie to remain at the asylum for far longer than he was admitted for. He was a lost soul to the system, the claw of convenience having tossed him into the mental zoo.
With a lack of paperwork for him, and a lack of communication from the asylum, it was a slight thrill to be in the same room with him when he awoke. A thrill perhaps, or a terror if you were Ace.
   A half nude man had leapt in front of their car and stood like a deer in headlights, allowing himself to be hit. He was already proven to be unstable in decision making, and unpredictable if you're being kind. There truly was no reason for them to have stayed here for as long as they had, no reason to await for the lunatic to leap up and start screaming. He could feel the weight of his body pressing him against the wall he leaned upon, stubbornly keeping his burning eye lids open as though expecting to catch Jobie in the act of something.
   Two hours ago, they could have been home. He could picture the three of them if this had gone his way. They would be curled up in bed together, Genes strong- yet incredibly comforting- arms wrapped around him. He could practically feel them. Feel the weight of the warm skin pressed around him.
   Rory would be nestled into Ace’s chest, his soft bangs tickling his skin. Ace Sighed deep through his nose, wishing desperately to feel the hot breathing of his sleeping lover’s on his chest and neck. To listen to their lungs fill and release with air.
   They could have tossed this lonesome lunatic into the care of the doctors and been on their way. They may have hit him, but it honestly was his fault for having jumped in front of the car! He was no longer their responsibility! They didn't need to be here. If they had simply shoved the lad into the care of the hospital and been on their way- minded their business- then they’d be home and Ace’s predictable world could have kept turning.
   But no, Gene simply had to ensure that Jobie would awaken. That he would be okay. Well, then what? They see he is indeed a raving mad man and then they go on their way? Surely,
   Gene didn't mean to keep him like a pet.
Ace spared a spiteful yet nervous glance to Gene, the hefty male standing at the door with his arms crossed over his broad chest, chatting with a nurse.
   What were they talking about? What could be so important that Gene stood patiently listening?
   Ace knew the feeling swelling in his chest, he knew it unfortunately well. It was that terrible swirling that encircled his heart, a worrisome spiral slowly going down and down as he allowed himself theoretical situations. Situations to ruffle his feathers and upset him beyond reason.
   He looked to Rory, the scruffed lad seated just beside the bed. He was leaned forward ever so slightly, curiously gazing through his bangs at the smaller male in the hospital bed as though expecting him to jump up at any moment now.
   Ace felt as though Rory was a foolish loyal dog. Sitting there like that with his tail wagging, waiting for his new favorite person to awaken so he could make him his new best friend. It only made Ace’s heart ache with the desire to leave more, the spiral twisting further down.
   “Well,” Gene started in his low tone, sauntering over tiredly to Ace. If not for the hospital rules, he’d have a cig between his lips. “He hasn't been gettin shocked. He can't be too much trouble.”
   “How would we know that?” Ace challenged gently, his voice hushed as though wishing to keep this conversation as private as possible.
   “They’d shave his head down if they were shockin em.”
   “That doesn't mean he isn't dangerous. We could have left an hour ago.”
   “Yea, we could've.” Gene shrugged, causing a twinge in Ace’s chest.
   “There's no reason for us to stay here. Why do you think we need to stay here?”
   Gene glanced up to Ace. Ace hated when Gene gave him that look, when he gazed up at him with softer eyes. He was saying, ‘are you getting in that bad place again?’
   “What are we even going to do when he wakes up?” Ace continued.
   “I hit him with my car. I don't want him wakin up all alone in a white room.”
   “I’m sure he's already used to it…” Ace muttered, leaning against the wall again.
   “Ace.” Gene scolded.
   “What? Why are you acting like I'm being… I don't know, like I'm being unreasonable? I'm the only one being reasonable.”
   Gene let out a sigh through his nose, slow and deep. He wasn't listening anymore, Ace could see it in his blank eyes, looking away as though dismissing him.
   Truthfully, Gene was fully aware what headspace Ace was falling into. When Ace was spiraling like this, Gene found it best not to enable it. Rather, he'd talk about it when Ace was himself, for this was more of Ace’s mother leaking through. Ace appreciated it once he was out of his spiral, though, in the moments of a spiral, Ace despised it.
   “You don't have to save every broken person you meet.” Ace coldly accused, keeping his hushed tone. “Can’t you be happy with the two lunatics you already own?”

   Gene kept his gaze forward. Ace wished he could see a change in the man, that what he had said perhaps affected him. Instead he received nothing from him, an unresponsive wall. He didn't care if the response was negative; he was looking for any kind of response, testing if his own personal anxious suspicions were true. Yet, he received nothing.
Regret. Why did he have to say that?
   Ace looked away, down to the speckled flooring of the cold hospital room. All he could hear now was the gentle humming of the vent above, the steady rhythm of Jobie’s heartbeat on the monitor, and the slow heavy breathing from Gene’s nose. He always had to say such horrid things.
   “Oh- Hey little man.” Rory’s raspy voice greeted with a chuckle.
The heart beat raised just slightly on the monitor, Jobie had awoken and was already getting harassed by the scruffed hippie. Ace looked up, his own heart raising its beat almost defensively.
   How odd to see the boy with his eyes open and sitting. Ace hadn't even considered that the lifeless body would become animated in front of him. That Jobie would be looking around at the three men. That the boy would appear scared.
   Jobie was indeed very tense, all of the muscles in his body seeming alert. His eyes darted past Ace and to the window that was beside him, then back to Rory. His eyes were asking questions, but Jobie remained silent.
Was he scheming something? What if he suddenly leapt up and tried to escape through the window?
   “Hey it's alright man- don't wig out heh. We hit you hard. You went flyin man!” Rory exclaimed, gesturing to Jobie the flight he took with his hand.
   Jobie’s brows furrowed in a confused glare.
   Gene took in a deep breath as he stepped forward to introduce himself alongside Rory, who was taking lead in conversation at the moment.
   Ace stayed by his wall despite the unease that swirled in his stomach. He deeply disliked being the only one by the wall being left all lonesome whilst they chatted with the stranger. He personally had absolutely no intention to greet him.