Relocation - Part Sixteen

[churbooseanon]

Gasp! It’s finally here!

Yeah, I’m back. I’ve got another chapter for you. It brings a close to the Halloween 2014 celebrations for our trio and some unexpected company. I’m off to write the next part now. Feel free to jump over to Ao3 to comment, send me a message here, or even use the new Tumblr messenger. Or, if you’re feeling really generous and supportive, check out my donation link.

Relocation - Part Sixteen

Routine. Strange how much he had come to value that. Sure his life could be highly unstable schedule wise, just look at his recent trip, but some things remained. Traditions that were routine, expected, mundane. Halloween was one of those things. Costumes and candy and cooking a birthday dinner with his sister and finishing with a cake topped with mini snickers. Just the way life went. Should go. Except life wasn’t big on ‘should’ lately, was it?

Bars were a special sort of clusterfuck on Halloween, or so Alex was beginning to conclude as he was jostled by the third shirtless cowboy costumed man who wasn’t nearly as attractive as the guy wanted to think. With a sigh he looked to his drink. This was what came from broken routine. Not that he could blame his sister at all. It was her birthday too and Connie had asked to join them for dinner. Because she hadn’t wanted to ruin the routine. Alex had seen through it of course and after the cafe party had parted from the ladies. And so it was that at only six at night he was in a bar filled with costumes and people close enough to tipsy that he was growing concerned with the shortness of his hem.

“Stop looking so pathetically glum,” Niner grumbled from behind the counter as she pushed the small plate with a cupcake closer to him. “I know Alexa isn’t as good at baking as you, but she told me to make sure every bite of cupcake made it into your mouth.”

Alex resisted the urge to roll his eyes. He loved his sister enough to know that she didn’t make the cupcake and to forgive her for it. The foresight to see it into Niner’s hands for when he showed up was to be applauded, and the touch of actually getting one custom made at a bakery so the snickers could be on top was to be saluted. But that didn’t mean she was anymore here than she should have been. Perhaps he was being too hard on her, but After the last few days, could he be blamed? Yes, probably quite easily. He had to be rational about that part. Not that he wanted to be, but it was only right.

“Geez, only you could be glum for a confirmation that a guy you like is gay,” Niner grumbled before walking away down the bar. "Not like Shaun stays relationships.”

For a second he wanted to ask how she knew that. Only for a second. If Shaun lived nearby, like Alex suspected, then this would be one of the closest bars in town to him. Prime location to fish for attention. Thus Niner would have had chances to see the man at work, trying to pick up people. Perhaps even her. The very idea brought a mean little smirk to his lips. He knew it was mean because he had seen the same look on his twin’s face. It was a pleasure to be had and just how hard Niner would have shut the man down. As much as he didn’t want to indulge his mean side, it was cathartic to imagine the way she would…

“Here,” the word, accompanied by the clinking of a full, chilled bottle of beer on the counter next to his unfinished one, shocked Alex. Both came seemingly from left field and he stared for a full moment before looking up at the woman.

“Isn’t it your job to see me only reasonably wasted? Not that I’m complaining. You’re just jumping the gun a little,” Alex found himself protesting. Still, he pulled the beer bottle closer, not wanting her to snatch the open container back in a fit of pique.

“True enough Zeus, or whoever you’re supposed to be. But this one isn’t on either of us. You either have a sympathizer morning min but this one isn’t on either of us. You either have a sympathizer or an admirer. Either way, good fucking luck.”

With that she pointed a man further down the bar and walked off to deal with another customer. It seemed she was finally out of patience for him. Which was okay considering the new person occupying his attention. Well, new was a relative term. This was neither a young man nor stranger, not either by a longshot. Curiosity, and drink and enhanced imagination caught, Alex collected his beers and moved to sit on the stool next to his benefactor.

"Didn’t see you at the party earlier Sarge,” he greeted the man more carefully then he honestly felt. “That desperate to avoid Grif?”

"Naw, ain’t like that. Just ain’t big on them damn get-togethers the lady boss likes throwin. Specially holidays. She don’t even set anything on fire for it.”

Alex let himself smirk at that, please to see an answering one from the other man. Of course he would want more fire. There was just something about the man that meant he didn’t fit in with the other employees there. No, as Alexa had put it one time, sword with her kind of man. Given her recent selection of male to associate with in this Nathaniel, Alex thought he was beginning to see a pattern. Men that, with the right motivation, could set out to break almost as much as her. Sarge had old, well, Sergeant written all over him. Mix that with Alexa’s attitude and Nate’s apparent marine training and you’d have an explosive trio.

Especially if you questioned Sarge’s ability as a manager, as Alexa once had.

Unlike pretty much everyone else in the bar, Sarge was not visibly dressed for the day. Granted the old army fatigue jacket and pants might make one assume that the man with the red bandanna around his brow was dressing up as a soldier on leave, but Alex knew better. More than once he’d seen the man arrive at a variety of café events in that very coat. It’s seem just right on him as workout clothes did on Alexa. Natural to him, like the plumage of a bird. A bird that it covered itself in a variety of patches at least.The man had them to show off everything from a local mechanic shop to service back in his youth. The effect was an interesting one, and Alex yearned for his camera. The interplay of color and styles, wear and pristine condition, advertisement and honor, it was beautiful in its own way.

"Got to admit, you make one mean bratwurst,” Alex mild, raising his new beer to the older man at his side. "Mind if I ask why the beer?”

That you’re a shrug from the man. "Look like you needed it, not much more than that.”

A more than sufficient answer in his mood. Niner had agreed too, given she hadn’t denied him to drink. Of course she knew what was going on. Sarge didn’t.

“‘Sides, no man should have to buy their own drinks on their birthday. No,” Sarge stop the question with the raised hand before Alex could ask it, “it ain’t hard to tell with how you and your beast-woman sister are in the days leading up to Halloween. Plus, Connie’s got it on her calendar in the back and all. Whole girlfriend thing.”

They are they got to the root of it. Things always took a while to get to the heart of with Sarge. The man must have read too many mystery novels in his life for how complexly he built things up. In the time they had known each other, though only in passing, Sergeant only ever been straightforward about his dislike of the Blue shift. Ask him the color of the ocean or why he disliked the blues, though… That took longer.

"The frankly why that David kid is off no doubt boning Shaun rather than here greasing your wheels, that one I don’t know.”

Let it not be said that Sarge lack a sense of dramatic timing. With a bottle to his lips Sarge spoke, what else could happen with what Sarge said? Luckily for Alex, Niner wasn’t standing on the other side of the bar, so the spray of beer went only over the counter and bottles behind it. Down the bar he could hear Niner cursing his name, and he frantically snatched at napkins to dry off the counter before even his face. And Sarge? The damn asshole at his side was laughing like he had never seen a funnier sight. Somehow Alex doubted that given where the older man worked, not to mention who he worked with.

"Glad you’re so amused,” Alex grumbled as he work to clean his mess.

“Don’t get your toga in a twist, Blondie. Didn’t mean for it to happen. I’m just confused by the attention Grumpsmagurt draws.”

"Who?” Alex answered, and playing Cory was stupid. He knew it but the words were already out there.

“Into much of a little dance around Washington since he got here,” Sarge continued, ignoring Alex’s futile ploy. “Still, gotta sting to lose that battle to someone like Shaun and all that. Pull the rug right out from under your feet he did. So I feel bad. So the drinks are on me tonight, okay?”

A kindness from Sarge? Alex was love staring for a long moment, watching is the older man took a swig of his beer. How do you really look that pathetic at the bar? He must have. Part of him wanted to go home and that realization. The rest of him, done cleaning the counter, put aside damp napkins and pulled his thankfully untouched cupcake and the plastic knife toward him. The process of cutting through the Snickers bar was a difficult one, but once he was through to the soft give of the cupcake itself the whole process went a lot faster. His last remaining napkin became a makeshift plate for half of his dessert so he could push it to Sarge.

"What’s this then?”

"It’s wrong to hog the whole cake on your birthday. And you shouldn’t drink on an empty stomach either. Consider this two birds with one stone. Eat up or birthday boy is going to be too offended to have any more drinks. What do you say to that?”

Sarge Graceton with the rare smile as he picked up his half of the cupcake. "Bon appétit.”

* * * * * *

Shaun’s apartment was going to be quite the familiar place these days. Sure there was the obvious amount of time he spent in the other man’s arms, not to mention his bed, but mainly the place had grown to be comfortable for him. There was nothing here to actively remind him of Ethan, no memories of calls or harassment, no books that belonged to him, no furniture they prompted memories. The only shadows in Shaun’s home with the ones David brought with him, and the one that caught his boyfriend’s  attention whenever he looked in the mirror. This apartment, with his friend Daniel upstairs and the already growing protective form of Nathaniel with him, was a safe haven. Shaun’s side was a place of comfort, his couch a place to relax, his kitchen somewhere with laughter and counterpoint to how serious David could be in his own.

The only specters tonight we’re the ones in David’s heart and mind, and his fear. All of it wrapped in a Spock costume and Shaun’s warm arms. Arms that had hands that were ghosting up his arms, no doubt eager to work David’s costume off and pull him into the shower as those talented lips working at his ear insisted they were only going to clean the makeup off. Another night he would love the idea, laugh and play along and be the one to break first and put his lover to the shower and do wonderful things with him. This wasn’t another night and there was a lot to be said for that.

Those lips ghosted away from his year, the arms around him to send and he found himself only growing stiffer. He had done something wrong, given too much away to his boyfriend.

"You know, just because Spock is a gorgeous wall who keeps his emotions locked up most of the time doesn’t mean that’s what I’m looking for and lover. Kirk get up or not,” Shaun whispered, Boyce soft and soothing in the way somehow always managed.

“Sorry,” David let himself sigh. “I’m just, in my head I guess.”

"As gorgeous as your head is, I’d rather you be out here with me,” Shaun chuckled, and his fingers moved it last to work through David’s hair. The touch did more to sooth David and he cared to admit, and it almost drove the truth from his lips. No, though, he couldn’t allow that, never would. Some things couldn’t be said, even with how open he had been in the past.

“I’m fine,” David struggle to assure him, but the words came out a lie even to his own ears. Really, he wasn’t surprised when does arm shifted around him to instead hold him close, hold him tight to Shaun for comfort.

“Relationships have talking,” Shaun noted. “Remember? Communication? Talk to me. I promise nothing bad will come of it. We’ll just have a nice little talk, I’ll reheat some of that stew for you, and everything will be okay.”

No, it wouldn’t, because as soon as he opened his mouth everything would be wrong. Ruined. All because he was no better than Ethan. Should he have expected anything else, really? All those years, of course some of that taint would rub off on him. He wouldn’t touch Shaun with that though. The man was too good.

"Tell me,” Shaun repeated, his voice soft and familiar. No plea edged his voice, just a calm acceptance.

“I can’t sound like Ethan,” David protested, the words of tiny whisper. “I won’t just…”

"You’re a good man who would never…” Shaun didn’t finish the sentence, just trailed off and let his fingers follow the hidden line of scar tissue David’s ex-boyfriend had left in his wake. “You wouldn’t. You’re a good man.”

"Then why am I so jealous?” David whimpered. With the first of it out he curled himself further into his boyfriend, squeezing his eyes closed. “You weren’t even doing anything wrong. Just looking.”

"Fuck,” Shaun cursed, his arms tighter around David in that instant. “This is about Alex. I’m sorry, love. I promise it won’t happen again. You’re my man, my love, and I’m sorry. So sorry.”

Shaun was apologizing to him? Calling him his love? No, that wasn’t how this was supposed to go. It was David that had done something wrong, being upset like this. Ethan was always wrong about people drawing David’s attention, had hurt him for it, and David… Had been right? Somehow that hurt more deeply than he could ever explain. Hurt more than hearing the L word could even begin to soothe him. Already Shaun was turning away from him. For not being enough? Worst was that he was doing it over a guy David himself had more than merely appreciated.

"I… I should be the sorry one,” David insisted, pushing the dark thoughts aside.

“Jealousy is fine sometimes,” Shaun noted, “if you don’t let it control you that is. Are you going to let it control you?”

"Ethan always did.”

The words he gave were whisper, a dirty secret only alluded to finally drawn forth. Somethings are better unsaid. This was one.

"You aren’t him,” Shaun’s voice answered immediately. Fingers curled around his chin and twisted his head to the side. Like this their eyes could meet. Like this he could see the softest there. “You will never be that man. You are my kind, sweet David, who was understandably jealous when I was scoping the ass of a Greek god. Which won’t be happening again. You have my word. I swear.”

Was it wrong to be comforted by that? Wrong to look upon Shaun with hope that he really could be okay? That everything would be alright?

"Come on,” Shaun said is he finally shifted David out of his arms. “We should get cleaned up, and get you fed.”

When Shaun stood it was to offer a comforting hand. A gesture David took without hesitation. The fingers were always so deft, so it was a shock to find how tightly they could grip Shaun hold him to his feet.

"I’m not feeling… Frisky as it were. I know I promised you a show in these outfits, but…” David said softly and found the man smiling gently at him.

“Don’t worry,“ Shaun said with that smile that made David warm inside. "I have other plans for tonight.”

Other plans, David discovered as soon as they cleaned up after dinner, we’re no less amazing for being unexpected. With soft hands and on silent feet Shaun guided him toward the bedroom. The lights were dimmed through the whole apartment, and Shaun didn’t offer a single word as they moved. Together the pair walked, David focusing on the sensations. On the roughness of the carpet beneath his feet. On the lingering smell of the beef barley stew, prepared for them days ago by Daniel. On the soft, fuzzy outlines of everything around them, the sounds in the air just as muffled as their edges.

Darkness seem to flow after them, putting everything apart from them as Shaun sat him down on the edge of the bed. Sure fingers sought not for his shirt but slid down the line of his legs. The touch was firm enough to not tickle, soft enough not to arouse in the possessiveness. Strange how he could find that so arousing from Shaun and repulsive in others. Stranger still to have those hands moved to his socked feet. Then warm fingers were pressing into that exact spot in the arch of his foot that held all the tension after a long day on his feet.

"What are you…?” David groaned in pleasure at the touch, only to be cut off by nimble fingers rubbing at his ankles.

“Hush,” Shaun returned immediately, voice soft. “Let me work.”

Work he did. David found himself left silent as those hands massaged up his thighs. Each press of fingers sought out points in his muscles, leaving David moaning once again. This was so different, so amazing. His eyes closed as he lowered himself to lie down. Ever upward those fingers quested, warm and skillful in ways they had never shown David before. His body arched up as Shaun’s fingers found his hips and slowly his pants were tugged down. Yet still those fingers quested upward, beyond where David found he suddenly wanted them. Despite the way the touch made him relax, David forced his eyes open. Those fingers sought over the blue of his costume shirt, still on, and his eyes followed the length of the yellow sleeves to the gold pips, the tan column of his boyfriend’s neck, and into those beautiful eyes.

Adoring eyes.

Loving eyes. The word from earlier came back and the warm pleasure of his body burst into flames. Shaun must’ve known that, with the absolutely hungry look in his eyes. Yet the way the man controlled himself… It was amazing. How could a man say that word and stay so composed?

"I love you too.”

David’s words for whisper pulled from the too full heart. Words he never thought he could utter again. An emotion that should’ve died that day in the hospital, in the apartment, in all those years he let himself be hurt. They stopped Shaun for only half a moment. Then the smile returned, as gold as his shirt, his skin, his heart. As gold and bright and radiant as the dawn of a new day.

Still those hands massaged, never letting up for a second. And David, with a sigh that was as much contentment as pleasure, let himself lie back with his eyes closed and just be there. Pampered by his newest and truest love.

"Strange to think I would hear those words from you, especially from you,” Shaun admitted, his voice a bit strained. But a good kind of straight, like the sweet emotional kind. Even as those fingers worked, Shaun’s face rose further into David’s view. “Sorry, dear, got to get that shirt off you.”

there was a giddiness building in David’s got that he could only call a playful sort of happiness. It demanded to be let out, but nothing wanted to interrupt those fingers rising to the shoulders. So he spoke, because it was what was left to him.

"Of course… Captain.”

That brought a new curved to Shaun’s smile. "Oh? Feeling spirited today, my number one? I think I can find a way out of your mischievous mood. You know, in the name of helping you keep your cool.

David barely had time to laugh before he found those soothing hands suddenly on his hips and firmly so. He had an idea of what was wanted of him, so he rolled onto his stomach. Those fingers found his shoulders once more, this time from the back, and at once they found knots to work out. How could shown be so good at this? No, better not to ask. Instead he just wanted to enjoy.

"Damn this is a bad one,” Shaun sighed, and with that there was a new weight not only on the bed, but straddling David’s back. Which, of course, made the pressure on those tight muscles all the more amazing.

Still, he couldn’t help with smart over his boyfriend’s antics.

“This was all so much more romantic when you weren’t talking,” David tease softly.

The words and giddiness seemed less important as those hand slipped below his shirt to work at tired muscles. They were kind enough not to linger overlong upon scars, and soon those magic digits found the rhythm that made him melt once more. Again the pleasurable silence overtook them, letting David just rest there, feeling. Had he ever felt so good before? Had a night ever been this perfect? Never with Ethan, not like this. Had he ever been so pampered? So loved without anything being asked of him in return but his own pleasure?

No. He wouldn’t let himself be taken away from this perfection. Not from the man he loved, who he loved to be with. The warmth of the massage itself warred with the warmth in his chest, neither quite winning until long after his clothes were shed and a warm, bare body held his own closely. Lying like this, and Shaun’s arms, assured him that it was the warmth in his heart that was the greater one, stoked within him even surrounded by those arms.

“Feels weird, going to sleep before midnight on Halloween,” David murmured as he rested in those arms.

“No one said you have to sleep,” Shaun mumbles and response. “I mean tomorrow is Saturday. We don’t have to go anywhere in the morning if we don’t want to. We can have a lazy morning together.”

"I have to work,” David groaned in protest.

“Call off sick,” Shaun suggested, nuzzling at his ear.

“No thanks. You’ve already healed me up in ways you can’t understand.”

"Maybe I can,” Shaun countered. “I’ll sure as hell try.”

* * * * * *

Laughter, Alex mused, was a strange thing. Mostly it was because there were so many varieties of it. Laughter of joy, laughter of hysteria, laughter over terrible jokes and for being tickled, and to underlined awkward situations. Then there were all the different ways a voice could create laughter. Deep rumbles and high barks. Shrill cackles and bubbly giggles. Sweet things half swallowed and bitter edges almost choked out.

"It’s like chocolate,” he observed out loud to himself as he unwrapped mini Mr. Goodbar.

“What’s like chocolate?”

Alex tilted his head back on the arm of the couch, and almost painful contortion made worthwhile because he didn’t want to move much. The position gave him a rather unique angle on Sarge that made the stubble on his jaw glint in the lights of the apartment. It was nice, the way it moved as Sarge frowned at him. Alex just smiled as Sarge put down the still heaping bowl of candy on the seat of the coat chair and resumed his own perch on the arm of it. As Alex was a good host he had offered to sit up and give Sarge some space on the couch, which the older man had denied. So Alex just stretched out instead, content with the space.

‘Easier to get up and fetch more beers and give the kitties chocolate for you this way,’ Sarge had said an hour ago when he had stretched Alex out on the couch and proceeded to gather beers, candy, and chocolates just for Alex.

"Chocolate,” Alex answered playfully before the Goodbar was popped into his mouth. It was really terrible that he could only find the things at Halloween and Christmas.

“It’s right there in the name,” Sarge observed blandly as he reached for his beer. They were down to some of Alexa’s favorites, pilfered by Alex of course. He could apologize later.

“Have I thanked you yet?” Alex asked as he reached for his own drink. It was only his second since they got here, and it was strangely wonderful with the taste of chocolate already on his lips.

“For handing out candy? It’s nothing. A pleasure really. No one ever comes by my place,” Sarge pointed out. His voice didn’t even slur. How was that fair at all? Alex was certain the other man had managed to down way more than he had himself.

“You live above your nephew’s mechanic shop,” Alex laughed. He thought it was a sweet laugh so he decided it was milk chocolate over marshmallow.

“A detail you didn’t know until after so still no thank yous.”

"No, genius, for getting me home safely,” Alex said with a sigh and a roll of his eyes.

“Well, woulda been easier for you to get home if I had stopped buying drinks.”

Another laugh wanted to bubble up from Alex at that. Warm and bubbly… Hot chocolate? Good enough. He let himself smile at that decision. Hot chocolate couldn’t be a Sarge thing, but it felt right. A good decision. Just like his next swig of beer. That was a great decision.

"In fact, was pretty sure your bartender friend, the lady with the insane hair, would have killed me if another round got bought.”

Good thing they had booze here. Alex smiled at that and sat up a bit more. He could remember the way they had stumbled into his apartment. Their voices raised and bouncing through the halls. There had been less kids then, but whenever he saw some, Alex had insisted that they stay silent and steady until the children passed them. That hadn’t been easy to say the least with how off-balance they had both been. Alex was still there, glad for the couch, his head busy spinning still. Not so much as in the past, but still there nonetheless.

"Niner can be like that,” Alex smiled. “More intimidating than she really is. Seems that is. She’s more intimidating than she is. Not more dangerous, but more intimidating. Picked up pointers from my sister. They dated in college.” It all came out as a mess but Alex thought Sarge got the point.

“Yeah, they seem the type,” Sarge agreed immediately. “Tough ladies attract tough ladies sometimes. Connie is pretty tough too.”

"Not tough. Secretly soft,” Alex chuckled lightly. “Call me is like a… Kitten. Sweet and soft and when you make her mad…”

“Out come the claws,” Sarge finished for him with his own, deeper laugh. "Seems to describe a lot of ladies I know.”

Quick knocking layered with giggles coming from the door through Sarge to his feet. Quickly he grabbed the bowl of candy and moved to the door to answer it. Alex watched intently, impressed by how sure the other man’s steps were, how straight his back, how his arm muscles flexed in the T-shirt he wore now that the coat was discarded. It was the thought of a moment but left Alex stunned and frowning to himself. How desperate did he need to be to appreciate Sarge like that?

Quite.

"There we go,” Sarge  announced as he shut the door and turned to regard Alex. “Yanno… You never did tell me what gets everyone worked up about the grumpus.”

No, he hadn’t, and for good reason. How did one explain David and the way the man made him feel? Part of it was that part of him that wanted to protect people. It was an asshole-ish reason to want to be by someone. But there was more than that to it. He wasn’t motivated by that alone. There was the softness of his smile, and the warmth in how David treated people around him when he was in a good mood. There was the smile on his face when he cooked and the laughter in his voice when they drink together. There was the trust when Alex had bleached his friend’s hair…

"Doesn’t have to make sense?” Alex asked after a long time of thinking.

“Naw, rarely does,” Sarge agreed as he sat again. “Can’t say it’s ever sensical. See a lot of people come into the cafe, see lots of relationships come and go. Only thing I’ve learned is that shit happens. Simple as that.”

Nothing could ever be that simple, but Alex let it go. Summing David up like that felt unfair. Not that Alex would say that.

“So… getting late,” Sarge observed, his attention on the clock by the television. “Should be getting out of here.”

“You’re not good to drive,” Alex countered. ‘You can spend the night on this couch.”

“Naw, can get a cab,” Sarge insisted, pushing back up to his feet and grabbing his coat. “Happy birthday, Blondie.”

He was leaving already? Alex struggled to his own feet, stumbling after Sarge to the door.

“Thanks,” he spoke when they reached the door. “Sort of salvaged my night if you can believe it.”

“Given your only company of note was that busy bartender with all the cuddly potential of an angry porcupine. Who knew?”

Alex let out a bark of laughter at that, and it put him off balance. Off balance enough to stumble, and of course Sarge was there, holding him up. The man was more than capable of it, even drunk, and Alex was quite amused by that. Sarge, just being there, was supporting him so easily that it was enough to make him smile. The question was why he was so amused? No doubt the answer came down to the alcohol in his gut, and the sheer amounts of it. “Oh man, I really need to lay down, you know?”

“I could help with that,” Sarge offered immediately.

“Someone has to lock the door,” Alex countered. “Go on, get out of here.”

Was it something he did, something he had said during the night? Alex’s mind could provide no answers to the sudden hand around his neck pulling him of balance. Nothing to explain the warm press of chapped lips or how it left his mind reeling. That hand at his neck almost literally made him fall over. The lips made his head spin and his brain couldn’t figure out how to focus on anything but those lips or his neck and no matter how much he wanted to move away from them to find answers he kept spinning back to them just like his whole body was spinning from the drink. Then, when Sarge pulled away at last, Alex found himself almost stumbling. The only thing that kept him standing was Sarge, once again, this time with a hand pressed firmly against his chest.

“What… just happened?” Alex whispered nervously.

“You needed it,” Sarge answered just as simply, turning for the door.

“Wait. What?”

No, he couldn’t just do something like that and then walk away. Not without answers. Not without a lot of answers. That was the way the world worked, right? When someone kissed you without warning they were obliged to give you some sort of answer, even if it was shyly running away. Which Sarge wasn’t doing, right? But he was going for the door. Was that the answer that Alex so desperately needed right now?

“Wait,” Alex repeated, grabbing Sarge’s arm. “What just happened?”

“It’s called a kiss, Blondie,” Sarge chuckled. Rough and deep. Chocolate covered pretzels sprinkled with extra salt. One of Alex’s favorite treats that one. “You needed it more than anything.”

“I… did?”

Sarge nodded. “Consider all that happened. Thing is, kid, you’re a good man, A good man who got a bit of a bad break with everything that happened while you were gone or whatever. You deserve a good break. A better break than you’ve had lately. Sure, I know I can’t be the one to give you that. But I can respect you and what you need. You need something to go your way, and I hope it does. So, like I said, looked like you needed it, especially right now. Being alone and all of that on your birthday.”

No kidding. It wasn’t supposed to be like this. Alone wasn’t… It just wasn’t something Alex did well, by any stretch of the imagination. And Sarge had given him company. For the life of him Alex didn’t understand why other than the sort of excuse that Sarge had thrown out there, almost like he was trying to see if it would stick. But he was thankful for the attention anyway. Deeply so. Not that he quite knew how to deal with it.

“Gotta go,” Sarge informed him, and then he was through the door, leaving Alex behind with only a closed door and a head full of unexplainable thoughts. Unreasonable thoughts. Thoughts he didn’t think he was sober enough to deal with.

And underneath it all, the silence of the apartment almost haunted him.