Work Text:
It was late in the evening, and Nagisa's head was spinning. He was drunk, beer cans scattered across the table and floor. Across from him sat Karma, who was also drunk, but significantly less so.
It was a Friday night, and Karma had invited Nagisa over to his apartment after work so they could catch up.
Or, more specifically, so Karma could have someone to complain to about work.
“Ugh… why do I get wasted every time you make me come over?” Nagisa whined as he planted his face on the table.
“So I can complain to you and not have to worry about you remembering a thing.” Karma answered shamelessly as he took another sip from his can. “Don't worry, I'll make sure you make it home safe. I always do, don't I?”
“I think my head's going to explode, Karma.” Nagisa complained.
“Your fault for being such a lightweight.” Karma paused. “And a pushover. Took hardly any convincing to get you to keep drinking.”
Nagisa forced his face up off the desk to look at Karma, his head swaying “Can't you just complain to me without getting me wasted?”
Karma took a moment before he spoke back up. “You know I can't do that. Some of this stuff I'm complaining about isn't exactly public knowledge. If word got out, I could get in big trouble, y'know?” He took another sip of his beer.
Karma wasn't lying, but he wasn't telling the whole truth either. He hadn't just been complaining about stuff that was confidential.
No, he was being vulnerable, complaining about what he was struggling with at work. It was something he never let show, much less tell another person.
Unless they were someone he trusted, and who would not be able to remember come morning.
Was Karma being selfish? Maybe, but he convinced himself that he didn't care.
As Karma stared at Nagisa, he couldn't stop the faint fond smile that crept onto his face. He really did enjoy Nagisa's company.
“Ok, ok, we can stop here for the night. You look like you're just about to pass out.” Karma said as he put down his can and stood up. “Let's get you home before you fall over. As entertaining as that would be, it would be a bit embarrassing if I had to carry you home.”
With a drunken and wobbly step, Nagisa slowly stood up also.
“Definitely gonna need a hand getting home…” Nagisa murmured as he held a hand against his face.
“Yeah, yeah, I'm coming.” Karma replied casually, already walking over to his side to help support Nagisa, pulling Nagisa's arm over his shoulder. “Let's get you home.”
Karma carefully led Nagisa towards the apartment door and outside. As they exited the apartment, they were hit with the cold night breeze.
“...Cold…” Nagisa said quietly.
Karma glanced downwards at Nagisa. He was shivering. “It is pretty cold tonight, isn't it? Think you'll be ok?”
Nagisa hadn't come over with a jacket or anything. It was no wonder he was cold.
He let out a quiet laugh."...Probably not..."
“Should've brought a jacket then, idiot.” Karma said as he continued leading the way while supporting Nagisa. Despite his words, there was fondness in his tone.
As they continued to walk through the cold night air, Karma glanced back down at Nagisa. He was still shivering, and Karma felt a pang in his chest. He let out a heavy sigh, let go of Nagisa, and unzipped his jacket.
“Alright, here. Before I change my mind.” Karma said, as he unceremoniously dropped his jacket on top of Nagisa. The fabric was warm on Nagisa’s shoulders. “It's my fault you're heading home when the night is at its coldest. I'd have to be a complete ass if I didn't at least do something about it.”
“Now put it on before I change my mind. I'm cold too, y'know.” Karma said, glancing away and scratching the back of his neck.
As Nagisa fumbled with the jacket, Karma continued to gaze at the night sky. He didn't know why he was still looking away, maybe he just didn't want Nagisa to see his face right now.
Once Karma heard the fumbling stop, he turned his attention back towards Nagisa, looking over at him. For a moment, he felt his heart skip a beat.
The jacket really did look silly on Nagisa, too big, too long, the sleeves swallowing his hands, and the bottom reaching mid thigh on his small frame.
“It's a bit big… but… it's warm, at least.” Nagisa said with a drunken giggle. “It also smells nice too.” He added quietly, lifting his arm and the jacket's sleeve to his face.
Karma closed his eyes, and took a deep, controlled breath. “It's warm, good. That's good.”
“I think I’m gonna fall over again.” Nagisa warned, swaying back and forth.
“Oh! Right, yeah, sorry.” Karma apologised rather quickly, his words lacking his usual edge. His mind was still distracted.
He pulled Nagisa's arm back over and around his shoulder. “We're almost there anyway.”
Despite now being the one without a jacket, Karma didn't feel cold at all. Or rather, he was too distracted to notice.
The entire walk, he could feel his heartbeat thumping in his ears and Nagisa's warmth radiating from beside him. He kept stealing glimpses at Nagisa's flushed expression, caused by the cold air and his drunken state.
Whenever Nagisa let out a drunken giggle, Karma felt his breath catch, and something compelled him to look away.
The sensation was overwhelming, yet Karma didn't want it to end. That contradiction frustrated him.
“Well aren't you clingy?" Karma said sarcastically, trying to regain emotional control of the situation.
“You said you'd help walk me home though…” Nagisa said with a drunken slur, suddenly clinging closer. “And besides, you're warm.”
Karma froze as Nagisa leaned into him.
“Karma?” Nagisa asked, looking up at him with those glassy eyes.
“You're real dangerous, Nagisa, you know that?” Karma said with a sigh. “Let's get you home before you break me.”
“Karma, what are you talking about?” Nagisa replied with a confused drunken giggle.
“I'll let you figure that out yourself. Now, c’mon, I'm getting tired of supporting you.” Karma said, as he picked up his pace, forcing Nagisa to walk faster as well.
For Karma, it felt like an eternity, but it wasn't long before they made it to Nagisa's apartment.
“Ok, we made it. I trust you'll be able to navigate your way to your bed?” Karma asked, as he helped Nagisa unlock the front door.
“Yeah, I should be fine. It's not too far.” Nagisa replied as he pulled open the front door to his apartment and stepped inside. “Thanks for walking me home, Karma.”
“Not a problem. Really, it's the least I could do after getting you plastered.” Karma replied with a smug grin.
As Nagisa went to close the door to his apartment, Karma suddenly remembered something.
“Ah, wait, Nagisa, you haven't given me back my–” Karma started, but the door closed before he could finish. “–jacket yet…”
Karma let out a sigh. “Whatever, I'll just get it off of him the next time I see him, I guess.”
He turned around, and began walking back the way he came. Now that Nagisa was no longer with him, he was suddenly aware of just how cold it was. With a heavy sigh and warm smile, he gazed up at the moon.
“It sure is cold tonight.”