People talking without speaking, People hearing without listening

[jedi_librettist]

Ben fidgeted with the hem of his shirt. He was meant to meet Dr. Matthias in the hospital lobby. He didn't want any more treatments. They weren't helping. Ben was pretty sure they were actually making everything worse. But the doctors wouldn't listen to him and he wouldn't see his family again for months.

His head hurt. It had been hurting for almost a week now. His parents sent him to the Academy to learn to control his abilities. He'd never felt less in control. He hadn't learned to block people out. Instead, it felt like everyone was getting louder. It had started making it hard to sleep. Sometimes, he couldn't tell the difference between what someone said and what they just thought. He wanted to go home.

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[topofhisclass]

Simon sighed as he came out into the lobby. He wasn't looking where he was going, sadly. He'd been in a rush. And suddenly, he was rushing right into Ben. His eyes widened as he slammed into the young man, blinking up at him.

"I'm so sorry." He smiled, taking a step back. Oh, well wasn't he a good looking guy, Simon thought to himself. "I wasn't looking. I... Sorry. I didn't hurt you?" Not that he could. The other man was easily taller than him, broader too.

[jedi_librettist]

Ben yelped quietly as he lost his balance. His head throbbed as he landed on his ass. He lifted a hand to his brow. He blinked up at the stranger, blushing slightly when he realized that the man in a doctor's coat was much closer to his age than he expected.

"No, I'm... I'm fine. I... Sorry..."

[topofhisclass]

Simon reached out and offered his hand to Ben. "I'm so sorry, I was just running and..." He smiled and looked down at Ben. "Hey, I'm Simon. Let me help you up, hmm?"

[jedi_librettist]

Ben took the doctor's hand and let him help him back to his feet. "It's okay. I, umm... My balance isn't always that great right now."

[topofhisclass]

Simon smiled. "You're waiting for Doctor M, hmm? He's a good guy. He can help you." Simon helped the man up, but wasn't so quick to let go of his hand. "I didn't help matters. I plowed right into you. Sorry. One track mind lately."

He eyed Ben up and down. "What did you say your name was?"

[jedi_librettist]

Ben shrugged. He wasn't at all sure about Doctor Matthias being a good guy. But he wasn't supposed to talk about that. "Doctor Matthias? Yeah. He's supposed to be here soon."

He took a deep breath. "I'm Ben."

[topofhisclass]

"Hello Ben." Simon smiled and sat down across from Ben. "Have you been here long? I don't remember seeing you around." Simon nodded his head. He would have remembered Ben. "I'm studying to be a doctor. It... It's what my parents want me to do."

[jedi_librettist]

Ben shrugged. "I've been working with Dr. Matthias for almost a year."

He stole a closer look at the man. "Aren't you a little young for medical school?"

[topofhisclass]

Simon blinked. "Hey now, I'm a brilliant student. I'm almost done graduating and I'm in the top three percent of my class." He grinned at Ben and leaned in closer. "I could probably give you a look over, if you want a break from Dr. Matthias. I don't bite hard." He laughed and pulled back. "I've always been educated and learning. My parents sent me here because I was getting too much smarter than them."

"How old do you think I am?"

[jedi_librettist]

Ben fidgeted with his shirt, looking at the floor. "Oh, umm, no, thanks. I don't think Dr. Matthias would like that. It's still experimental. I'm not really supposed to talk about it."

He bit his lip and shrugged. "Around twenty? So how are you done college already?"

[topofhisclass]

Simon beamed. "I graduated early. I was moved up a lot when I was younger due to my intelligence." Sometimes he did sound more like bragging when he was being honest.

"Sounds like the Dr. He does that stuff. Just... Be careful?" He tilted his head to the side. "You seem like a nice guy. You want to go for a drink later? A bunch of us will be heading over to the fountain."

[jedi_librettist]

"A lot." Ben smiled. "I guess that's one way to put it."

He hesitated. "I... I'm not really old enough to drink. I'm only working with Dr. Matthias because Mom thought it might help. But, umm, maybe lunch some time?"

[topofhisclass]

"Lunch then." He stood up and moved over to Ben, pulling the man's hand out. Grabbing a pen from his pocket, he wrote a number on Ben's wrist. "That is my ident code. You can reach me on the network there. Call me. It will be my treat." Simon winked at him.

[jedi_librettist]

Ben jumped slightly when the almost-doctor reached for his wrist. He pulled it back and read the number.

"I hope I can call soon." He smiled shyly. "Maybe if the procedure goes well..."

[topofhisclass]

Simon sat down next to him. "I am sure that it will be fine. The doctor is a very good man, very trusted. He's been practicing a long time." Simon took Ben's hand in his, giving it a gentle squeeze. "I'm sure that whatever you are getting, you'll be fine. And then you will go out with me."

[jedi_librettist]

Ben bit his lip. He tried not to think too much about how things had been changing for the worse lately. "I hope so. I would like to feel better." He met Simon's eyes briefly. "And go out with you."

[topofhisclass]

"Good. I really want to go out with you too." He smiled at Ben. "Hey, do you want me to stay here till you get out? Or at least keep you company till the doctor calls you in? I don't mind." Simon knew how scary these places could be for some people. He hated to think of Ben being nervous. "If you want."

[jedi_librettist]

"If... if you want? Just 'til the doctor calls for me."

Ben smiled briefly, hand going back to his head. He really hoped that maybe the headaches would get better after the surgery.

[topofhisclass]

"Good." Simon leaned back in the seat, looking at Ben, not letting go of his hand. "So, I have a mom, a dad, and a younger sister. I've always wanted to do medicine. Or, my parents did. Kind of a blurry line there. My sister, she's smart. Annoyingly so."

He looked at Ben and gave his hand a squeeze. "I work so hard at my studies, I've never found time to find someone to keep me company. You know?"

[jedi_librettist]

"It's just me and my parents most of the time," Ben said quietly. "I have an uncle who comes by sometimes. He's the one who found Dr. Matthias to work with me. I'd rather just be a pilot like my father."

He looked at the floor, squeezing the man's hand back. "What's it like having a sister? Do you like school?"

[topofhisclass]

"Flying. I have a friend who does that in one of his dad's shuttles. I've only been with him once, but it was a lot of fun," he said softly. "So, your dad flies?"

"School is hard, but I do love it. My sister... She's a brat." He laughed, looking over at her. "You'll have to meet her. She's smarter than me by a mile. And constantly would correct me growing up. I both loved and hated it." He turned Ben's hand in his, letting his thumb brush against the man's palm.

"I thought... I don't know what I thought but med school is really hard. I love it. I love the idea of being able to help people, I just... Sometimes I want to just run off and have a drink and just be a person, not a student. You know?"

[jedi_librettist]

"Yeah, he has his own ship." Ben smiled. "The Millennium Falcon. Dad says she's the fastest ship in the 'verse."

He blushed slightly, sensing the mildly romantic sentiment behind the motion. It was... different, new to have it directed at him. "Wow, she sounds pretty amazing. And fun. You're lucky."

He glanced up at the doctor curiously. "But don't you have breaks? In school, I mean. That you could go out with some friends? So you wouldn't have to run off for that?"

[topofhisclass]

"I've heard of that ship. My friends were talking about it. Something about the Kessel Run." He looked up at Kylo, clearly enjoying the blush on his cheeks. Mostly because he was the one making him do it. "That's impressive," he murmured.

"She's fun enough. She can also be a brat," he teased. "They're okay. Sometimes I get tired of my friends."

He inched a little closer to Kylo. "Maybe I need to find someone new to hang out with?"