Cyberpunk AU start: Max

[drfeelbad]

House didn't visit Input on a regular basis exactly, but often enough that his face was known there. The men and women he'd spent time with he'd seen more than once, and when he arrived tonight and sat down at the bar, the bartender pushed him a Jack Daniels without him having to ask, and mentioned that they were quite busy tonight but he'd seen Isaac recently if he'd like to have a drink with him. "Yes, please tell him I'm here," House had said before taking a sip.

Though before he'd even managed to take a second drink, he heard someone shouting for a doctor.

He almost ignored it. Almost. But instead, he said to the bartender, "I'll be right back," and then slid off the stool, grabbed his cane, and headed in the direction of the shouts.

Comments

[drfeelbad]

"... that was a joke," House said. "But thanks, I guess."

[511v3r_h4mm3r]

"It's a loaded joke," Max replied, though he didn't seem upset. "Don't know you well enough to joke about your appearance, which means I can be rude or honest."

[drfeelbad]

House drained the rest of his cup and put it in the sink. "Got it. Okay, you need anything else while you wait for the delivery? I'm going to just be downstairs working. You can hang out wherever you like."

[511v3r_h4mm3r]

Max got the feeling he'd said the wrong thing, but didn't know what that thing was, to be honest.

"I'll just hang out in the waiting room," he assured him. "I'll let you know when the package arrives."

[drfeelbad]

"Help yourself to any food you find while you're waiting for your shirt to dry," House said, gesturing at the kitchen. "Though I should warn you, I mostly eat takeaway."

And then he headed downstairs. He didn't have any particular reason to trust (or distrust) Max, but frankly, there wasn't a lot in his home that was worth stealing or anything.

[511v3r_h4mm3r]

Max found a can of pop and a slice of bread, deciding that was enough and taking them down to the waiting area. By the time his guy called his shirt was dry and he was starting to get restless, but then he was just there, port in hand and taking his credits.

It was beautiful, slim and sleek, nothing like the clunky old one. Though as he held it, he couldn't help but feel a bit nervous.

Eventually he headed off to find House. He found the man in what looked to be his office, and he tapped on the open door before speaking.

"It's here."

[drfeelbad]

House glanced at the time and said, "No more appointments, I'll close up and we can get started. Assuming you're still game?"

[511v3r_h4mm3r]

Max looked at the device, then nodded.

"I am. ...I think this will be good for me."

[drfeelbad]

House held out his hand for it. "I did some research," he said. "It shouldn't be a terribly complicated procedure. Assuming no one busts in to arrest us."

[511v3r_h4mm3r]

Letting him take it, Max leaned against the doorframe.

"No one's gonna bust us," he promised with a soft laugh and a hint of a smile.

[drfeelbad]

House turned it over in his hands, examining it. "All right then," he said. And was actually kind of excited to just work with a new tech. He pointed to the room they'd been in last night. "There's a stack of hospital gowns in the corner there."

[511v3r_h4mm3r]

Max nodded and wandered off to change, pulling on the paper gown and trying to ignore the slight flutter in his chest. He wasn't scared, just... Well, anxious, maybe.

[drfeelbad]

House waited a few minutes, and then walked in after him. "I can knock you out entirely, or just use a local anesthetic," said House. "Preference?"

[511v3r_h4mm3r]

"Oh, I don't know- What do you think is best? I guess being out would be easier for me..." Max said quietly.

[drfeelbad]

"Either is fine," House reassured him. "I assume you haven't had adverse reactions to anesthesia in the past?"

[511v3r_h4mm3r]

"No," Max replied, shaking his head. "I never had an issue in the past, and that was all with back alley ripper docs. Not professional like you, you know?"

He fidgeted a little, then said something he rarely said to anyone.

"I'll do whatever you reckon is best. I trust you," he decided.

[drfeelbad]

"Oh. Well, um... it's probably more pleasant to not be awake." He went over to get an anesthesia set. "You'll be fine. I'll wake you up when the pain would be over. Okay?"

[511v3r_h4mm3r]

"Okay," Max agreed, offering another rare smile.

After that he just did as House asked, getting on the table and settling in. It should have been frightening, he supposed, but Max wasn't afraid of the dark that came from going under for a little while. In a lot of ways it was freeing.

[drfeelbad]

A moment later, House came over to him and... actually looked down at him to offer a reassuring smile. "Count backwards from one hundred," he said, just before slapping a patch onto his arm.

[511v3r_h4mm3r]

Max nodded, holding House's gaze as long as he could as he counted backwards... He barely made it to 90. The world slipped away quickly, and soon he was out cold.

[drfeelbad]

House went to work, not wanting him under any longer than he needed to. The procedure went just fine, though House wasn't completely sure how much to trust the tech - so he was very relieved when the indicator light came on and it seemed to be working properly. And he managed to put it in nearly exactly he same spot, so there wouldn't even be a noticeable scar, and there were only a few stitches needed.

He was sitting by the bed when he heard the beeps of the monitor indicating that Max was waking up. He stood, and looked down at him.

[511v3r_h4mm3r]

The world came back slowly, like waking up after sleeping off a bad cold after taking some cough syrup. Hazy, foggy... Slow.

He smiled at the sight of House, a groggy little dopy curl of his lips.

"Hi," he said.

[drfeelbad]

"Hi," said House, and actually smiled at him.

"You did great," he said. "Well. I mean, I don't know if it works of course, but it booted up."

[511v3r_h4mm3r]

"Oh, right, I don't have anything to test it with yet..." Max admitted, slowly sitting up. "I feel the connection though. That's always a good sign... Can I have the old one? I've already sold it. ...It's how I bought this one."

[drfeelbad]

"Uh, yeah sure, it's yours," House said, and fished it off the counter and handed it to him.

"What do you need to test it? You should make sure it doesn't crash your system."