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Alastor took another sip from his glass, looking down at the bar table as his partner chattered on beside him. He could feel the alcohol running through his system, making his head warm.
“You okay, Al?” Vincent suddenly stopped his latest storytelling, “You look kinda…uh…”
“…Peachy.” Alastor rested his head on the table. He had to admit, he might have overestimated his whiskey tolerance. His head was buzzing and he couldn’t see two feet in front of him.
“I…think you should go home.” Vincent pried the whiskey glass from Alastor’s red tipped fingers, watching them clench around nothing but air. “You don’t usually drink this much.”
“Nnnnonsense, dear Vincent! I am in just ripe condition…” He attempted to stand, his hooves feeling like they landed on a flock of balloons. He had to brace himself against the counter.
“Really, Al, you need to go home. We both should.” Vincent looked at the place they’d been sitting, seeing his own stack of glasses look tiny compared to how much Alastor had drunk.
“I could…take you back to mine?”
Alastor’s ears perked, scoffing in Vincent’s vague direction. “Already said…’m not bein’ one’a your bedfellows…”
Vincent’s screen glowed teal, and he flailed his hands in front of him, “No! no, not…like that! I just mean like, we could listen to music or something, sleep off the alcohol. Just cause it’s closer…”
Alastor silently stared at the bar wall like it was a particularly interesting piece of gallery art, and Vincent knew he couldn’t let him go off alone. He could obviously handle himself, but the knowledge of Alastor’s power didn’t make him worry less.
“…C-cmon, I’ll take you…” Waiting for him to nod, Vincent gently took Alastor’s shoulders, guiding him toward the bar exit.
Both walked through the streets of Pentagram city, VIncent catching Alastor whenever he tripped over his own hooves or tried to take a nap on the ground. Multiple times Alastor nearly took them both down, Vincent’s own tipsy gait unsteady. A small beep sounded from his speakers, an alert popping up on his screen to tell him that his battery was low.
Eventually, they reached Vincent’s residence, he fumbled with his key to get it through the keyhole and pushed open the door. He took Alastor’s shoulders again and led him down the hallway, letting him fall onto one of the couches once they reached the living room. Alastor immediately curled in the blankets, starting to snore.
Vincent sighed and plopped himself down at the other end, retrieving his charging cord left in the side drawer. He plugged it into the wall socket and took his vest off. He was halfway done undoing his shirt buttons when he looked back over at Alastor, still spread out like a sleeping animal. He didn’t know if he should take his shirt completely off around him, debating if he should take it to another room until the alert sounded again telling him he was at critical battery. He settled for just a few undone buttons to free his charging ports and plugged himself in. He rested his screen on the back of the couch and closed his eyes, hearing the fans inside him start whirring.
He could feel his body temperature rise, typical when he’s charging. He spread out over his spot on the couch, the room silent besides the soft whirring of fans and Alastor’s snoring.
Vincent opened one eye to a slit as he felt a weight press against him. He opened both wider as he felt Alastor’s antlers brush against his screen, the deer pressing his weight into Vincent’s side. He saw Alastor’s lashes flutter, rising one of his legs over Vincent’s. Vincent held his breath, not moving a muscle out of fear of making just the wrong move. Like when an adopted cat finally decides it likes its new owner.
“Mnn…warm…” Alastor mumbled, hiccupping as his antlers bonked into Vincent’s screen again.
“Yeah? You…like that I’m warm? It happens when I charge…” Vincent shakily raised his hand, taking his chance and running his fingers through the fur on Alastor’s ears. He froze as he heard a soft…purring?
Alastor was purring?
Because he was warm and being pet?
While basically cuddling?
This was possibly the best night of Vincent’s life. He fumbled with his settings, his screen making a small *click* as he took a picture. Alastor’s sleepy face as he rested on Vincent’s warming body. He tried to stay as still as possible, dreading the thought of Alastor darting away. He continued gently petting his ears, trying to even out his breathing.
Moonlight drifted through the window, illuminating the two tangled together.
Alastor groaned as he leaned over the toilet, Vincent holding his bob back as he retched again.
“mmrgh…remind me not to drink so much next time…”
“I do every time, Al. You never listen.”
“I know…”
Vincent slightly turned away as Alastor leaned forward again. He wanted to ask about last night, to see if Alastor even remembered it. He was pretty wasted. But while Alastor was upchucking what felt like gallons of alcohol didn’t feel like the most opportune moment.
He gave Alastor a few cups of water, and laid him back on the couch. He’d plug himself back into charging if it woukdnt mean overheating. Once Alastor closed his eyes and started snoring, Vincent pulled the photo back up on his screen.