Chapter Text
What's that Oscar Wilde quote- ‘We are all in the gutter but some of us are looking at the stars’? That feels like it should be applicable now. Except Jack can't see any stars, the clouds have covered up the sky. Not that he could have anyway, the sickly yellow street lights that flicker quietly add to the light pollution already blocking out the stars.
It's kind of a shame really, it would have been nice to see them once more. As a kid he had loved the stars, running out of his house when it was dark to lie quietly and watch them appear in the night sky.
Logically he knew it was freezing cold. It was meant to snow tomorrow. He supposed he'd be missing that as well now. Strange how the mind will wander off even in the most dire of situations.
So Jack lay there. Gazing upwards to where the stars should be, watching the clouds roll in.
Somewhere, distantly he felt he should call someone. Let them know. His mother would just be upset, and the likelihood of his dad picking up was next to nothing. Api. He could call Api.
The dial has gone off three times when Api picks up.
"You know I love you right?"
"Jack-"
"You mean so fucking much to me and I'm dying so I gotta get this all out quickly. Api I love you so much and I'm gonna miss ya."
"Jack plea-"
"And uh. I know - about the thing. It's cool by me, not that that matters. The liking guys thing? Cause you're my best mate and I'll love you no matter what." He can hear him on the other end of the phone; torn between confusion, worry and being completely blindsided.
Jack can feel the tears running sideways down his face. Huh. He hadn't realised he started crying. It's gonna be okay. The cold doesn't feel as biting anymore. His hat slips off his head as he loses energy.
"Hello? Hello I'm sorry but I've just found this lad passed out in the street?"
"Shit shit shit. I'm his - his best friend. Where are you? I'll call the hospital?" Api's voice is shaking as he tries not to yell at the woman down the phone.
"You know Hawkins Road? Right there love. I'll stay with him when the ambulance gets here. I'm gonna take down your number so I can call you okay?"
"Yes yes th-" his breathing hitches as he chokes out a sob "thank you so much."
---
It's nearly 4 when Jack wakes up. He's in a bare room, beside him is a monitor beeping gently in the pre-dawn light. Oh. Right. On the chair next to the bed is Api, his face and arms resting on Jack 's upper thighs. As carefully as he can Jack reaches to the side of the bed and presses the 'call nurse' button.