Work Text:
There are countless forms of exhaustion - a tiredness that sinks into your bones, the quiet satisfaction of a project now finished, the shuddering disquieting emptiness so often paired with grief. At present Zeal lacked the wherewithal to even categorise which his own fell into, yet still stood in better straits than his three closest friends currently scattered about the empty live house - due in part to being the only one actually standing. For as much joy as running this enterprise together had brought them, no one could have predicted just how popular the live house would become in the months since it’d opened, or the strain it would leave, with this latest week of consecutive nightly events proving the breaking point.
Bachelorette parties… Never again…
Zeal forced himself back to lucidity with a few shuddering blinks and took another fortifying breath from behind the bar, refusing to acknowledge the several dozen glasses stacked haphazardly around him and instead opting to catalogue the state his friends were in. The open layout of the lounge provided a clear view of Kealix and Seible, with the bouncer half lying on top of the promoter from where they’d collapsed onto one of the sofas a few minutes earlier and quickly fallen asleep. Both had been run particularly ragged after so many hours spent on their feet and putting out (mostly metaphorical) fires, compounded by the most hectic week any of them had faced since the live house’s opening. At this point Zeal wanted little more than to join the two, but the bartender knew instinctively that he wouldn’t be able to rest until everyone was properly accounted for.
Slowly he made his way out from behind the bar, taking care to quiet his steps as he made his way across the lounge to Freo’s booth tucked next to the stage. The designer’s form was a comforting constant, visible even from Zeal’s usual vantage point, but the day’s strain demanded a clearer view before he could allow himself to rest. Those last dregs of worry finally calmed as Zeal saw Freo sat inside, resting his head atop his arms whilst slumped over one of the few surfaces not covered in electronics - conscientious even in the throes exhaustion.
“...Zeal?” Freo’s murmur was so soft as to almost be inaudible, the designer turning his head to address the other’s presence.
“Just checking in,” The bartender whispered in return, his smile soft. “Get some rest Freo, we’ll handle clean up in the morning.”
Freo gave a small nod, eyes already fluttering shut.
With what awareness he had left Zeal made his way to a relatively clean table and collapsed into a chair, feeling the pull of sleep grow ever stronger.
Made it through… Just have glasses to wash... Counter's a mess... How many wine bottles did-?
Shoving aside thoughts of the morning’s workload Zeal focussed instead on the faint sounds of his friends’ breaths and snores, another smile rising unbidden to his lips as warmth filled his chest.
I’m so lucky to have them…
In the shelter of the home they'd built together, respite is found.