The air felt tense. "Alex, are you calling me a pervert?" Lucas laughed nervously. He told Alex what happened that night, talking quickly. Then, a funny idea popped into his head. He said, "And when I put you on the bed, you pulled me closer, like you wanted to." Lucas watched Alex, smiling a little, even though it wasn't completely true.
Alex's face turned red. His eyes got big. He looked shocked and confused. "Did... did we...?" he asked quietly.
Lucas saw that Alex believed him. He smiled a little and nodded slowly.
Alex felt very embarrassed. He froze and thought fast. Lucas, wearing a robe, moved closer and whispered in Alex's ear, "You should take responsibility, don't you think?"
Alex felt like he'd been splashed with cold water. He grabbed his clothes and got dressed quickly. He didn't say anything. He ran to work, feeling bad about what happened and leaving Lucas alone at home.Alex stumbled through his workday, the memory of Lucas's whispered words and his own panicked escape replaying in his mind like a broken record. "Take responsibility," the phrase echoed, a constant, nagging reminder of his bizarre behavior. He kept replaying the bar scene, the stranger, Lucas's sudden protectiveness, and then… nothing. Just waking up in a strange bed with his clothes changed and Lucas standing there in a robe.
His initial shock and embarrassment had morphed into a confusing mix of guilt and a strange sort of… gratitude? Lucas had helped him, even if the aftermath was utterly mortifying. He couldn't shake the image of Lucas's guarded expression at the gaming club, now overlaid with the unexpected protectiveness at the bar. Who was this guy?
By the time his shift ended, Alex knew he couldn't just ignore what had happened. He needed to talk to Lucas, to apologize for his ridiculous accusation and maybe, just maybe, understand what had actually occurred.
He found himself walking towards Lucas's address, a knot of anxiety tightening in his stomach. He didn't even know if Lucas would want to see him. What if he was furious? What if he'd called the police, thinking Alex was some drunken menace?
He hesitated outside the door, his hand hovering over the buzzer. Taking a deep breath, he pressed it.
The door opened a few moments later, and there stood Lucas. He looked surprised to see Alex, his usual cool demeanor slightly softened by what looked like… tiredness?
"Alex," Lucas said, his voice neutral.
"Hey," Alex mumbled, shuffling his feet. "Look, I… I'm really sorry about this morning. Calling you a pervert… it was completely out of line. I was just… freaked out. I didn't remember anything after the bar."
Lucas leaned against the doorframe, his dark eyes studying Alex. "So, you don't remember me carrying your drunk self back here?"
Alex shook his head, his cheeks flushing with shame. "No. Just… waking up."
A sigh escaped Lucas's lips. "Some thanks I get for saving you from that creep at the bar."
"Wait," Alex said, his brow furrowing. "What creep?"
Lucas recounted the incident at the bar, the stranger's unwanted advances, and how he'd intervened. As Lucas spoke, pieces of the hazy night began to click into place in Alex's memory. He remembered a hand reaching out, a sudden shove, and then… darkness.
Relief washed over Alex, quickly followed by a fresh wave of embarrassment. "Oh, man," he groaned, running a hand through his hair. "Lucas, I… thank you. Seriously. And I'm even more sorry for what I said this morning. I was a complete idiot."
Lucas's expression softened slightly. "You were drunk and confused. It happens."
"Still," Alex insisted. "I should have… I don't know… thought for a second. You helped me. And I reacted like a jerk."
A small, almost imperceptible smile touched Lucas's lips. "Apology accepted. Now, do you want to come in? I was just about to make some coffee. You look like you could use some."
Alex hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "Yeah. Coffee sounds great ."