fallen from high places -- darrius

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When September came around Ajax had found it strange to not return to Hogwarts castle. While he could do magic and was starting on a career he hardly had felt like an adult. October had brought along some more surprises that should have made him feel all the more grown up but if anything they just made him feel even less prepared for adulthood. Ajax had grown up with a silver spoon in his mouth. He had the privilege many did not and yet he threw it in his parents face in the end for love. Perhaps he had been a little rash in throwing his girlfriend at his family, but love could make even the wisest of men fools; and Ajax was far from wise.

The initial terror of his fiancee's pregnancy had mostly worn off. Though he still found himself at a loss for how the handle it in the long run, for now he could manage getting by with out fearing that her father would come bursting through the door looking to murder him. Subconsciously the fear was still there though. Ajax found himself thankful for the long shifts at the hospital, it gave him time to not think about how his life had gone from zero to sixty in such a short period of time.

Of course, with long hours came extended interaction with fellow interns and healers. Ajax hadn't known most the people but there was one who stuck out to him. Darrius Zabini. Years ago Ajax had called Darrius his friend, of course so much time around the Zabini boy had shown they hardly saw eye to eye on matters of life. It seemed a stretch to call Zabini his enemy but friend was not a term Ajax felt fit him either.

It was actually a surprise to find Darrius working in the field of healing. Ajax had always been under the impression that Darrius would follow his parents and work in the ministry, at least there he wouldn't have to worry about interacting with too many people 'unworthy' of his attention. It was one of the strangest sites Ajax had seen in his life. Darrius Zabini helping people. Most of the time Ajax kept his distance and barely acknowledged Darrius, after all he wanted to keep things civil between himself and the eldest Zabini, Ajax knew enough to know he never truly wanted to cross the other lad. Of course avoidance only works for so long.

Ajax laid upon one of the benches in what could only be described as a locker room. Wizards and witches changed from their every day robes into their lime green healer robes. While a fan of green Ajax hardly cared for the green of healer robes. Staring at the ceiling Ajax was hoping to maybe catch a nap before the next shift started. Long days, long nights; this was really what he wanted to do? A bench hardly made for a comfortable bed though. Just as he was contemplating leaving to find some empty bed on one of the many floors of the hospital someone else entered the locker room.

Ajax had just begun to sit up that he was able to catch sight of Darrius Zabini. Well maybe it had been a bit much to expect they would work side by side for years to come and some how manage to never have to talk to each other again. Maybe he could have kept quite and walked out to go find a bed like he had been planning, but was putting this off going to do any good? Most likely not. So, against his judgement, Ajax greeted the other young man, "Darrius." It was hardly formal or even welcoming. But since when had any of the slytherin boys been known for warm and fuzzy greetings? Never, at least not that Ajax could ever recalled. Well except those times when some of them had a bit too much to drink, but that had never been himself and Darrius. It wasn't that Ajax hated Darrius, no he just didn't know how to get along with him anymore and hadn't for years now.


words: 695
tag: @darrius