Young Writers Society

A/N: Just wondering how people feel about Crothers' motivation. Like, he is enjoying winding Patrick up, but do I need more than that? Maybe he could have Patrick's old job now and be on edge about the thought of Patrick coming back and taking it away?

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"Aurora!" Patrick shouted, "Hi, Aurora, how are you?"

After a slight hesitation, Aurora lumbered over to Patrick and stared glassily at a spot halfway up his forehead.

He crouched down in front of her. "Hi, girl. Just stay calm, alright. Mr. Crothers here is going to have a look over you to make sure you're doing okay."

Aurora stayed mostly still, just swaying a little. None of Treego's fury at being talked to like a pet dog, none of Dexi's arrogant attempts to slip as much past Crothers' notice as she could. She didn't even have Chip's forlorn frown that the poor thing could never quite rid his brow of. She was as much a panda as the day he'd met her.

As soon as Patrick stood up, Crothers dropped to eye level with Aurora and shoved her mouth open. He stuck a papery strip in her mouth, though in the dark Patrick couldn't see what colour it turned. Aurora stayed perfectly still as he switched the strip for a thermometer, as he stuck something in her ear, strapped something around her arm. Patrick had to put his arms behind his back in a desperate effort not to wrap her up in a big proud hug.

Eventually, Crothers was done. He sprang to his feet surprisingly spryly, and tore off a pair of rubber gloves, which he then shoved in a metal equipment case.

"Well, everything seems to be in order with this one, McAfferty," he said. He raised an eyebrow with a knowing smirk and said, "You're becoming quite the zookeeper."

Patrick held back a sigh. It had taken him longer than usual to start tonight. "I try to explore fields when I am given the opportunity, sir."

"Plenty of fields out here," Crothers observed with a sage nod. "I'll bet it's nice for you to get all this time outside in them. Good for the skin they say. Boy, I'm sure that'll be why so many retired folks spend lots of time outside."

Patrick winced; he knew what was coming. Last visit, Crothers had figured out that Patrick hoped to make it back to his old work at Neuromax, working with drugs aimed at treating behavioural disorders in children. It had been a few small steps from there to Patrick's age, to the rapidly decreasing window in which this could still occur.

“You know, McAfferty-” Crothers made a big show of rubbing his chin- “I think you might enjoy retirement. You’ve done lovely work with the gardens here - ever thought of developing a bit of a green thumb?”

Last time Crothers had gone off like this, Patrick’s had had wanted to punch him right in the nose, despite his brain’s reminder that he had never punched anyone in his life. This time though, Patrick took a deep breath, feeling the cool breeze as it caused his collar to flap softly against his skin. If he was going to get worked up over every snide thing Crothers said to him he’d be a very tired man.

But a quiet, menacing rumble jolted him out of his peaceful headspace.

“What’s with you?” Crothers muttered.

“Nothing, sir.” Patrick shrugged, realising he must have gasped or something. “Just had an idea for a topiary innovation. So, do you think we’re done here?”

Patrick forced his eyes to stay away from Aurora. He was certain that growl had come from her. Never mind the fact that she was the only animal in the place, there was a seething fury in her screwed up eyes. She looked like they were about to shoot lasers at the back of Crothers’ head.

But Crothers, as unwilling as he was to look in the animals’ eyes, seemed to have no idea.

“Alright, McAfferty, no need to get testy. I’ll see myself out.” Crothers packed up his equipment and marched past Patrick out of the enclosure.

Patrick looked back and forth between his rapidly receding figure and Aurora’s tensed shoulders. Patrick certainly hadn’t intended to kick Crothers out of the enclosure - perhaps he was just that desperate to be gone.

“That’s some loyalty you have here,” MacLean said.

Patrick’s head jerked to the left. “Oh, hi. Sorry, forgot you were there. Um, you maybe better go catch him before he leaves you behind.”

MacLean snorted. “I wish.”

Patrick smiled. “You like it here then?”

MacLean nodded, and moved a little towards Aurora. “I love it. Living here must be wonderful. So many friends, of all different shapes and sizes.”

She stared right into Aurora’s eyes, and smiled a little, then up at Patrick.

Patrick took a deep breath. “Look, please don’t tell him.”

MacLean shook her head. “Of course. Like I said, you clearly have a loyal friend here, in Aurora. She looked like her head was going to explode on your behalf when Crothers was winding you up. I respect the hell out of anyone who wishes Crothers would piss off… Er, I mean, I can sympathise there. Just, Aurora?”

She crouched down so she was eye level with Aurora.

Aurora cleared her throat, but was still a bit terse from her growl when she replied, “Yes, miss?”

“I think you did really well there,” MacLean said, “But just be careful Crothers doesn’t realise you know what he’s saying. Otherwise, amongst other things, he’ll start telling you how he doesn’t trust technology and everything was better when kids used to ride their bikes in the street. Oh, and don’t ever get him started on immigration.”

Aurora chuckled. “You think he’d try to send me back to China?”

MacLean shrugged. “I wouldn’t put it past him, even though you were born in Edinburgh.”

Patrick cleared his throat. “Guys, I love that you two are friends and, MacLean, for the love of God hurry up and get promoted so you come here instead of Crothers, but I think even he might be starting to wonder what’s keeping you.”

“Oh, right, yes.” MacLean shot to her feet, stumbling over her shoelaces. She gave a quick, curt nod to Aurora, then was off.

“Should you go with them?” Aurora asked.

Patrick sighed. “Yeah, I guess. See you tomorrow. And hey, you really did do good, until that last part. Thank you for being so annoyed in the first place.”

Aurora shot him some finger guns. “Any time, boss.”