Through bleary eyes, Aster could make out the figure of the man checking his pulse. The coolness of the touch brought him a brief moment of clarity. He lolled his head back and gave a small smile reflexively. "Howdy," he managed to mutter, the consonances slurring together. " 'm I dead yet? You a angel?"

Dreamily, Aster realized that the blood from his head wound was dripping on the fingers that pressed into his neck. He absentmindedly tried to brush it off the man with his good hand. " 'scuse me for making a mess. Sorry 'bout that." Aster tried to right himself to better get a grasp of the situation, but the moment he put weight on his right arm he winced and sucked in a sharp breath.

"Fucking 'ell."

"Aye aye captain, I'll try to be bright-eyed and bushy-tailed." He made a lazy mock salute towards his helper. "Name's Aster Rousseau, ranger extraordinaire. I was hiking on Route 121 when I saw a li'l poochyena being chased off a cliff by some bully wingulls. He started to fall and I went after 'im to cushion the fall, but... well I'm sure it was a long way down. Pretty stupid, right?" Aster started to chuckle but abruptly cut off with a wince. "My head is pounding, and I must've broke my arm."

Now more sure that he was not on death's door, Aster was able to shake some grogginess and take in the man before him. "Ah not an angel, a handsome doctor. Talk to me doc, it'll help me stay awake. Probably."

Aster listened to the man's low voice as he checked him over. It grounded him enough to take his focus from his nausea. "Thank ya, kindly," he said softly, goosebumps still raised where his fingers had run along Aster's arm.

He leaned into the hand propping his head and shifted his weight to better face the doctor. He was the pretty sort, the kind of pretty that reminded him of rapids in the dark. A smirk spread across his pallid face as Dr. Maher's tacked on "boyfriend" to his emergency contact question. Curse his Libra instinct for flirtation. "Very sly, doc, you trying to give me butterflies or what?" Aster basked in the tease for a moment and then his eyes fluttered closed, his smirk shifted into a tight smile, "But no, there's no one to call."

Aster hummed low, and thoughtfully, as if he had to think on it, and kept his eyes shut even as the gentle touch turned his brain to fuzz (or was that the head injury?). All he knew was that he wished his arm wasn't out of commission at the moment solely because he really, really, wanted to return the gesture. "I'd say you're rather successful. There's a good amount of butterfrees flitting around in there." He opened one eye to look meet his gaze. "Take responsibility, won't you? Or, perhaps you'd like some butterfrees of your own."

Though their position is awkward, Aster finds the strength to clumsily lift his uninjured arm. He runs his knuckles along the doctor's jawline and then tugs at a lock of hair just behind his ear. "How's that?" he whispers, both eyes searching his face, "Two can play at this game, and I'm a pretty sore loser." Just as he says that, his arm drops from the strain in effort. Aster chuckles dryly. "Too bad, I guess that'll have to wait."

A shiver ran down Aster's spine as Dr. Maher pressed on his lip. He was simultaneously grateful that the stretcher had at last arrived and disgruntled that the intimate moment had been interrupted. Unconsciously, his tongue flicked across his lower lip, stilling buzzing with desire. He always got a bit shy once his flirtations were reciprocated, but damn, he was not about to chicken out now.

Once situated on the stretcher, Aster stuck a hand out to tug at his savior's shirt. "Hey doc, tell me your first name. I really wanna know." He looked at the man with his best puppy dog eyes, but he wasn't able to squash down the tiny smirk that made it's way to his face. "Tell me. I'll find a way to thank you properly."

Aster swallows thickly at the man's response, his ear tingling where his breath had brushed it. He nodded obediently and understood that in that moment, he was determined to do whatever it took to learn his name. "I'll earn it good and proper then," he replied hoarsely.

The minute they reach the clinic, Aster can't help but to be awed with the shift in the doctor. His professionalism only made him hotter. He hated to part but he was feeling exhausted now and allowed himself to be pushed along, managing a small wave towards the man who had saved him.