4.
Everyone had a place, a destiny they were born into, like the bottom of a pinball machine. Every flip of that little paddle was a punch at destiny, one that destiny allowed. They'd use those paddles as much as they wanted but eventually, they'd miss, and down destiny's way they'd go. Where fate waited to gobble them up. Being a doctor was destiny, a purpose, a state of being, but fate… that was a consequence. Destiny couldn't change, no matter what, fate was a consequence of fighting destiny, so fate could change. It was a final picture, not a path.
The good doctor had swung his little 'paddle'. He'd put up a fight against his destiny under her. If she'd been pregnant, or had a STD, it would've made sense. But an injured foot? That was when he'd take a shot?
It made Naya's brows furrow.
"Tetsu, you were there."
"Yes?"
"What did you think of the doctor?"
"I'm not sure what you mean."
"Did he seem, rude, over eager?"
There was silence. Naya took the moment to stare at her foot. It was heavily bandaged, so much so she'd bought another pair of black and red puma's one size too big but matching her fresh jeans. Who'd notice, besides her. That was her superpower, painkillers, or not.
"Maybe?" He said testing Naya's waters, dipping a toe.
Naya could only wonder what he felt. Was she too cold? Too hot? She'd have to help him along, a little give, even though it would taint her test results.
"Well, it was supposed to be discreet, but look at these bandages. They're thick, I thought his stiches were pretty good, but so much protection?"
She stared at him through the front mirror. He was too focused, he needed more.
"His chest was pretty puffed up too. More than normal."
"He could be proud of his work?"
Naya's brow raised, interesting. Tetsu was also trying her. Maybe it was her.
"And the crutches? That felt like a statement to me."
Tetsu straightened, his jaw clenching in righteous fury. That got him. Someone was messing with his charge. Maybe somewhere, bouncing around in his head the words: "His little girl"
She kept going. "He always mentions his oldest boy. But he didn't today. It means the boy's got a better prospect, better than me. A better girl, a better family. It's him shooting at the moon, teasing for a better fate. And I really wanted to reward him, instead of punishing his boy, or the girl. But that's fate for you."
She caught the look the driver gave.
"Yes Tetsu, fate. His destiny is to be my doctor. His fate lies in the either the reward, or punishment. But if he fights destiny then, in time, his fate will feel unfair because when I'm done. When his son suddenly can't even get a university interview in Tokyo, Osaka, Miyagi, Kyoto because of sudden accusations and rumours. He'll be a disloyal, abandoned man with a useless degree, all because he didn't know his place. That's fate."
She shut up, pressing her face to the glass, mooshing it in, it let a chill flow throughout her reactor.
"Tetsu," she began, after a long silence, "You know you're different right?" She said finally. "Everyone has something they do, you just being, saves me."
She closed her eyes, drifting in and out of sleep.
"You're not the exception to the rule, you're the person the rules were made to protect." She sighed, the battle fatigue knifing her spirit.
Before she could succumb to her wounds, the car slowed. It was time to engage in the most dangerous battle of all, family.
Tetsu got out holding decoy groceries. It was laughable, coming home was a military operation.
Naya trudged in, pressed against the wall, away from servants and cameras.
She made it. Socks and pants on, she sunk into her blankets and immediately fell asleep.