Chapter Text
A short sneeze came from beside Naib’s seat. The person wasn’t covering their mouth, which horrifies Naib because he could’ve sworn he saw at least three droplets of saliva going inside someone’s drink. He’s not a very hygienic person himself but he would rather not see someone drink that saliva-infected beer so he shoved it far from everyone’s reach. Irritated, Naib decides to head out of the place bombed with loud music and a dozen of uniform wearing alcoholics.
It was Friday night and he regretted agreeing into this absurd workmate party of some sort. One of his coworker suggested a Friday night party just for the sole purpose of having fun, getting high, drunk and perhaps finding a love interest?
None of that really matters. Naib agreed to join this pointless party because his friend insisted to go together with him. Naib hesitated at first, knowing that it’ll end up exactly like the situation he’s in right now. But the smile his ‘friend’ had on his face while offering him to go together is irresistible, jumbling all his thought into a pile of mush and made him say ‘yes’ instead of declining. It was also a karaoke party which makes it worse. Being the tone deaf person Naib is, he was afraid of being chosen to sing. Thankfully everyone seems to be too drunk to even care about karaoke right now.
He really regrets coming here. He was minding his own business when three of his coworker decided to sit together with him. Two were wasted, their odor is practically cheap perfume mixed with alcoholic smells. This was – for Naib – disgusting.
On his way out he looked around, seeing nothing other than people hooking up, kissing, and drinking like there’s no tomorrow and...
Sleeping?
He saw a familiar figure at the very corner of the room, at least five empty beer cans sitting neatly on the slanted table in front of him. Another person was still drinking greedily in front of the sleeping figure. Naib would recognize that person from miles away; it was his friend, a lousy coworker of his, the one who asked him to go to this karaoke party – Norton Campbell.
Approaching the table, Naib landed a soft punch on his friend’s head. He seemed like he’s deep into sleep or straight up wasted.
“Ay, Campbell,”
No response. The man must’ve been real drunk, judging from the lineup of various empty drink containers piling up in front of him.
“Campbell,” Naib called again, this time nudging against his friend’s (surprisingly) soft cheeks. A low groan heard from the raven haired figure. Finally he’s starting to respond.
“Norton,”
“Mmm, Naib? What happened?”
Naib rolled his eyes, pissed. He really had to deal with a drunken friend now, does he? Norton began squirming, trying to stretch himself in a tight space. He faced Naib’s half-angered face, showing a pretty obvious burn on the side of his face. Naib recalled the last time they talked about that scar of his but Norton decided he wasn’t ready to share yet.
“You’re drunk, that’s what happened.”
“...Oh yeah, right, the party,” Norton said, lifting an empty beer can in front of him. “Is it finished? Did you have fun?”
Flashing a weak smile, Norton glared at Naib. His eyes were unfocused, droopy and he’s probably in need of rest.
“No and no,” Naib replied sternly. “Come on, we’re going to your home. You can’t drink anymore; I’ll have to drag you out of here if you did.”
Norton silently nodded, “Why can’t I drink more? Where did my freedom go, mom?”
Naib really can’t tell if it’s him being sarcastic or actually drunk.
“You’ll die if you drink more.”
“Because of liver failure?” he asked.
“No, because I’d kill you myself if you’re going to trouble me more than this.”
“Pfft, okay mom,”
Naib is now sure he was being sarcastic the entire time. Even when he’s drunk Norton Campbell still has the balls to make sarcastic remarks.
“C’mon, get up. We’re leaving,” Naib stated as he scanned the room again. None of his coworkers would be sober enough to notice them leaving early. Grabbing Norton by the shoulder, he urged Norton to get on his feet to escape the place full of drunkards.
Norton wobbled on his feet, seemingly unable to walk straight. That left no choice for Naib (who was obviously shorter than Norton) than to support him. Norton reeked of alcohol but Naib will have to bear with it until they reach the parking lot.
Exiting the place, Naib felt like he’s just inhaled fresh air the first time in forever. The walk to the parking lot was extremely slow though, since Naib had another body to carry. Norton didn’t even try moving his feet; Naib was literally dragging Norton, his upper body supported by Naib’s smaller frame.
Upon sight was Naib’s Cadillac that he used to drive both him and Norton to the karaoke. He struggled opening the doors with one hand, but managed to open the passenger seat and gently pushed Norton inside before slamming the door shut.
It’s unusual to see Norton so obedient, but then again he is drunk.
Now, all he’s got to do is drive Norton home because clearly he’s the only one sober enough to drive. Starting the car engine, they finally exited the old-looking karaoke building and drove away.
“Naib, where are we going?” Norton asked with his hoarse voice. His fingers travelled, reaching about his surroundings, perhaps to get a good grip on where they are right now.
“Home, you’re drunk,”
“And you aren’t,” Norton said, in which Naib replied with a simple nod. His hands were on the steering wheel, eyes focusing on the road ahead. It wasn’t late; 9.00p.m should’ve been the time people are busy bustling out, wearing their most flashy dresses and suit, partying, clubbing, or whatever thing a person might do on a Friday night. Much to his dismay, the road was clear. There were really few vehicles that passed them, which was rather odd considering the time. But Naib decided to not put that much thought into it and drove straight to Norton’s flat.
Not long after they arrived at Norton’s rather dreary looking flat.
“Here we are,” Naib said as he opened the car door for the drunken Norton who’s still wobbling on his feet. “Where’s your room?” he said, pulling Norton out the car gently.
“21st, here’s the key,” Norton tossed a key tagged with a golden ‘21’ embossed on the front. The card is pretty flashy for such a dull looking flat. Well it’d be better to judge the inside, as they say ‘don’t judge the book by its cover’.
“Alright, room 21 it is,”
The two walked down the hallway, Norton still needing support. Their steps echoed in each and every step, little to no sound of the flat’s resident heard as they wandered the marbled hallway. Naib has to admit the inside is pretty classy for – again – a dull looking flat. There are polished wooden doors lining up, each with their own golden number plate on them.
Room number 21 should be on the second floor.
He knew it’d be a pain dragging his drunken friend here to the second floor manually, so he decided to take the elevator instead like every sane person would probably do given the situation.
Stepping inside the elevator, Naib pressed the second floor button and stepped back, letting Norton lay against the wall.
“You look better up close, Naib,” Norton suddenly said out of the blue.
“Mhm, you'd look better out of my sight.”
Norton silently pouted and leaned onto Naib's broad shoulder, resting his forehead on them. As much as Naib would like to move away, he really couldn't bring himself to do it. That's his best friend and he's just... drunk. Right, he’s drunk. He nodded to himself, reassuring himself that it's all going to be okay once they got home. Correction, once he gets Norton home.
Suddenly, Norton closes his distance with Naib – as if they weren’t close enough before – and ran his fingers through Naib’s tied hair very, very gently.
“...What shampoo do you use?”
Norton whispered awfully close to Naib's ear, sending shivers down his spine.
“None of your business dimwit,” he replied as he planted his knuckles on Norton’s head.
“You smell nice,” Norton said again, followed by a hiccup.
“And you smell like alcohol,”
Yeah no, it's the alcohol talking. No need to hype over. Those words echoed like hell on Naib's mind, and he couldn't stop his heart from beating obnoxiously, rushing all the blood to his face. He avoided staring at the elevator’s mirrored walls, he’s sure he’d catch his own face all red and tomato like.
There’s only the two of them in an enclosed place.
They’re alone, out of sight.
The trip to second floor – which takes perhaps only thirty seconds felt like forever for Naib. With Norton spitting nonsense and clinging on him, he felt like time is moving painfully slow.
When the elevator finally opened, making a ‘ding’ sound, they walked down another hallway in search of room 21. It was oddly placed on the end of the hallway, but anything works really, as long as Naib can finally leave.
It’d be extremely bad to stay longer than this.
Naib opened the room door carefully, a slight creak coming from the door hinges. Norton’s room was well, rather disorganized. Just when both of them stepped inside the room their eyes were met with a messy coffee table with paper stacks, half finished beverage mug, some snack wrappings and other trash on it. He seemed to have left his house in a hurry this morning; it’s clear seeing the messy room and the dirty plates soaking in the sink.
“Where’s your room?” Naib asked, struggling to open his laced sneakers. Odd as it might be, Naib does wear sneakers to work. ‘It’s comfortable’ is what he’d tell you if you question him about his sneakers.
Norton seemed to take a few seconds to process Naib’s question, ended up scanning his surrounding while pointing on a certain room, “There, second door,”
And so Naib dragged the wasted Norton into the bedroom like he’s been doing the past thirty minutes or so.
“Right, go get some rest. I’m leaving,” Naib said with an exhausted sigh, switching off the lights.
“No wait,”
Just when Naib prepared to take his leave, Norton called his name like a lost puppy. His eyes were wide open. He looked like he’d just seen a ghost.
"Naib, don't turn off the light," Norton whined. His palms were covering his ears as if he's hearing stuff when the night's awfully quiet. Shaking, he closed his eyes and curled himself up, hugging himself.
He really was terrified of something. He’s terrified of the dark.
His best friend, lying on the bed looked miserable and Naib was trying his best not to hug him, shower him in kisses and tell him it's all going to be alright – because it wasn't what he was supposed to do!
He was only there to drive Norton home, no more or less.
Naib turned on the night lamp standing beside Norton's bed instead of turning the room light on again.
"Is that better?" he asked, sitting on the side of Norton's comfy bed. Gosh, he'd really like to sleep beside him but it'd just violate Norton's privacy, or straight up taking advantage of a drunken person so he quickly swatted that idea off his mind. None of that, he made a remark to himself.
He wasn’t even going to lie, sleeping right there seemed really tempting; one, because he was really tired and two, Norton.
"...Naib, don't leave," Norton mumbled instead of answering Naib's question. His face was dimly lit, a clear sense of fear spreading on his face. He was afraid of something, or he's afraid of the dark. That, is a new side of Norton that Naib had just seen. Norton never told him he was scared of the dark. And oh god – those puppy eyes weren't helping either. Something inside of Naib screamed when Norton reached for his arm gently, placing it on his own hand, grabbing it tightly.
"Please?"
“...”
He was contemplating. Thoughts were running on his head like crazy. Part of him was telling him to get his shit right and leave, but the other was, well,
“Just a few minutes... okay?”
Norton didn’t answer and watched the brunette sit down on the side of his bed.
“Naib, come closer please,”
Tempting, that’s what Norton’s offer is. Though unsure if he really should be doing this, he inches closer, lying beside Norton’s taller figure.
Once again, Norton gently held Naib’s hand and brought it to his face.
“Naib, you’re so pretty,”
Norton smelled like beer but holy shit, his head couldn’t focus at anything. The type of man that usually talks crap about you in front of your face, tease you relentlessly can actually say sweet things? That Norton called him pretty? He is drunk, but still, unbelievable. Slowly, Norton shifted their hands, now placed on his hips.
Gently, he wrapped his arms around Norton, feeling his warmth. He can feel Norton hugging him back, his bigger frame clinging on Naib. He's like a big baby. Naib was too thrilled about the physical contact, and instead of getting some shut eye or leaving the flat like he was supposed to do, he ran his fingers across Norton's fluffy hair.
"I love you," he whispered subconsciously as he continued petting Norton’s head lovingly.
What he didn't expect was a reply from the half asleep man.
"I love Naib too," he said, his voice trailing almost like a whisper.
Warm. It was suddenly extremely warm, Naib's heart beating louder and faster than it's supposed to in reaction to the sweet words that fell out of the now asleep man.
Oh god.
Naib was just hoping that every word Norton said, he meant them all.
Please let it be true.
It's too good for it to be the alcohol talking.