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Surprise, surprise, the shoes were still expensive as fuck. However, being on one's feet all day meant you wore through soles fairly quickly, and shopping for a nice, quality pair of sneakers was essential for the blond's job. Having been through a twelve-hour shift starting at five yesterday morning, he'd come to the sad realization that he was in need of new shoes already. His current pair had lasted him for a good handful of months, but it was still a somewhat annoying problem that never went away, like a fly that kept buzzing around and never seemed to die. It certainly wasn't the bane of his existence, and he knew there were much greater things in life to concern oneself with, but he'd much rather be spending his day reading a good book than shopping for the same old apparel.
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Fortunately for Warren his typical schedule consisted of working every other day, which meant he didn't have to worry about heading back in until tomorrow. Well, unless he was called in, but he'd found that in a city as large as Seattle, there were others who usually took the bait first before he'd even known about it being on the line. He didn't mind. He enjoyed the stability of things, and even if it was a bit repetitive (and boring), it kept the stress away. It meant he could wander around without having to constantly check his phone or worry about being late somewhere, and he was alright with a life as calm as his currently was. Perhaps it was how different it was from how it'd been back in Kentucky that had him so content. Whatever the reason, there were definitely no complaints being voiced.
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There was, however, a small sound of surprise breaking free. Having just stepped out of the shoe-store, Warren had been briefly caught up in looking at his belongings, making sure the receipt was in the bag with the box, and his wallet was back in his pocket where it belonged with everything in its rightful place, and, ah, he just... hadn't fully been aware of his surroundings. It was his fault, really, that they'd accidentally crashed into each other. With the tug of gravity, the plastic bag crinkled and made a loud thump as it landed on the sidewalk. Rather than still caring for his new purchases, Warren had instead opted to reach out, grabbing hold of the small figure he'd collided with. At least he hadn't made him fall over.
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"Shoot, I'm sorry," he said immediately, quickly skimming a look over the other's frame to make sure nothing was amiss before meeting eyes. To say he was taken off-guard by what he saw would be an understatement. Not only did this young man have quite the interesting prosthetic limb, but his eyes, his eyes. Warren had never seen a color like them before. They were astonishingly beautiful, and for a second it felt as if he were being drawn in by their warm, unique depths. Another second and he mentally shook himself free, however reluctantly. Now was not the time to be entranced. Later on he would probably look through books he'd kept from years of studying, and google "rose-colored eyes," but for now there were more pressing matters.
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Smiling slightly, though his brow was still scrunched with concern, he asked, "Are you okay?" He noticed with some chagrin that he was still holding onto the smaller's upper arms and he let go, taking a step back so he could retrieve his bag from the ground. "I wasn't looking where I was headed. I didn't mean to run into you like that." The faint smell of smoke clung to the man and he subtly wrinkled his nose, having never really been a fan of the scent of tobacco since he was a young child. He especially didn't care for it now, being in the health occupation and whatnot, but it really wasn't his business to interfere with. They were, after all, just strangers who'd happened to cross paths.

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Something about this guy was strangely familiar and Warren just couldn't put his finger on it. Was it the notable height difference, his pretty sunset eyes, those scars that lined his rather charming features? Warren could feel his cheeks beginning to warm already, and it'd only been a matter of moments since they'd literally crashed into each other's lives. What on earth was it? Perhaps he'd seen him at the hospital once or twice, or simply on the side of the street while walking the city. Admittedly he was ashamed of himself for not being able to remember a time and place of meeting this man before, if he really had. He was too eye-catching, in various ways, to be even remotely forgettable.
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He nodded a few times, finally freeing his leather-clad arm so he could grab his belongings. "Yes, yes, I'm... more than alright, honestly," he said, trailing off a bit as he straightened back up and met the stranger's eyes again, apparently caught in their magnetic field. They truly were hypnotizing. Realizing he was staring again, the blond shook his head a bit, then repeated the motion in a stronger act of reassurance. "No. Luckily these shoes are made for just about anything. They have to be, when you're on them all day." He smiled and sniffled a bit, the breeze that brushed past them taking with it the smell of smoke that clung to the other. As it died away, the scent returned, but with it something else that was oddly warming to the soul. He found he didn't mind it, not one bit.
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Taking note of the color climbing up into the smaller's pale cheeks, Warren couldn't help but lift a brow, an expecant look on his face. Had he missed something? Oh, well that wasn't what he'd been anticipating. He wasn't the only one who felt they knew the other. "You think so too?" he said, the words escaping his mouth before he could put a stop to them. The blush that'd faded from his own face returned and he cleared his throat, looking down at the bag in his hands before lifting his gaze back up. "No, I... I think you're right. I feel the same way. I..." His voice faded, the stare he was now casting upon the man no longer filled with admiration, but deep contemplation. There was no way...
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Suddenly laughing, he had to lift a hand to his mouth to stop himself from making a complete and utter fool of himself (or, perhaps, making the other feel bad). "You didn't happen to be in Denver a few years back, with a concussion, and a little, uh..." He chuckled again and glanced off to the side, a grin lighting up his face. "'Under the influence' at the time, did you? With sunglasses on?" Focusing on him again, he knew he was right in his suspicions. This was definitely the same person. "I don't think your friend was much better off." Despite the amusement with which he spoke, there was no judgement in his voice. Even if it had been near four in the morning, there was nothing wrong with having a little fun with your buddies. That's what being young was all about.

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Bingo. Warren fought hard not to laugh some more, nodding in confirmation. Yep, he did indeed remember that rather interesting night. Between this man and--who must've been Everett, going off of what he said--his evening's companion, the ER had been filled with some of the best action he'd seen in a month's time. Of course they always got crazy patients, those who got their feet stuck in doors and... other things stuck in other places that he'd rather not reflect upon, but it was rare to get a pair as utterly hilarious as those two were together. With the alcohol, their friendship, and that night's events all piled together, it was the perfect recipe for a shift filled with humor on the nurse's end.
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"Practice makes perfect. I wouldn't doubt y'all have gotten at least a little better with time." He smiled warmly, the Southern drawl of his accent still buttery smooth even after all these years, but his amusement remained plain as day across his face. It seemed that he and his friend must've been pretty close if they were still holding drinks to each other. What a funny coincidence that they'd all ended up in the same city. Lowering his eyes to the hand slowly extending out his way, Warren blinked widely, just now noticing how rude he'd been. Admittedly he'd been caught up in quite a few things since they'd bumped into each other, but still, that was no excuse for not properly introducing himself.
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Shaking his head, the blond took his hand in his own, giving it a gentle shake. The metallic glint of Zero's other limb caught his eye, but now that things were coming back to him--slowly, yet surely--he remembered that little fact about him as well. This individual had been an eye-catcher for a number of reasons. "No. Not that I remember, at least. All I can say about that night is you both gave me a good laugh. Nothing to complain about there." He nodded out of habit, but the name he gave him hardly came as a surprise. That, too, had been caught in his memory. It was simply too unique, and when combined with such an experience there was no chance of truly forgetting it.
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"I do recall putting your name in the system. I've never had another 'Zero,' before." With a touch of pink in his cheeks, he pulled his hand back. Chagrin filled his features for various causes. "I'm Warren. It's nice to... formally meet you this time around." Clearing his throat, he looked down at the bag in his grip, then back up. "Say, would you like to grab a coffee with me? I could use the caffeine, and some good company would be welcome." He was quick to put up a hand. "Don't feel like you have to, though. I understand I kind of just tumbled into your day's routine, I don't mean to be throwing you off even more than I already have."

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