Old Fashioned

Chapter 7

The following week didn't even feel real.

On the morning after that first night, Alex awoke nearly an hour earlier than Tai, and just stared at the ceiling for those sixty minutes, processing. As exhausted as he was, it was like he couldn't let his guard down with Tai right next to him, emotions ranging from giddy to absolutely terrified (of getting sucker punched again). But mostly, he just felt confused. This guy went from wanting to be left alone to wanting to sleep in the same bed in the span of a week. He couldn't help but wonder what was going through his mind. But alas, Tai never made any comments about it.

The days were a blur of monotony; Tai woke up, took his medicine, ate a light meal, then passed back out. Alex was right there the entire time, only leaving the apartment to get necessary supplies and maybe a few snacks to satiate his peckish moods.

He found that it was becoming easier and easier to sleep next to Tai as time progressed. His nerves surrounding the arrangement had all but dissipated by the end of the week, and he'd grown quite fond of having someone to share a bed with. Part of him was dreading the day he'd have to go back to sleeping alone.

Tai started off as far on the other side of the bed as he could possibly manage, but as the nights went on, he ended up moving closer and closer in his sleep, though only Alex noticed this.

But, it all had to end eventually, and so now - two and a half weeks later - Tai's meds were finally up.

Dinnertime had long since come and gone, the sun having disappeared behind the city skyline hours ago, when Tai finally emerged from his bedroom for the first time in what felt like a century to him.

Alex was in the living room, left to his own devices as per usual, when he heard the sound of Tai's tentative footsteps on the stairs.

Looking up, he saw Tai at the top, who was keeping a close eye on the ground underneath his feet. While he'd certainly gotten stronger as his body healed, he'd yet to go up or down the stairs since returning from the hospital, so he was being surprisingly cautious.

"Do you want my help?" Alex asked, ready to support Tai in whatever way he needed it, whether that be physically, mentally, or emotionally.

"I got it," Tai answered, but not in the indignant and prideful way he did in the beginning. This one was genuine, determined - he needed to do this on his own.

By the time Tai had taken two or three steps, he looked pleased with the functionality of his legs, and just started moving at a normal pace. He made it to the bottom without issue - not wincing even once - and let out a quiet sigh once his feet touched the wood floor.

"I, uh...finished the last of those meds," Tai said quietly, walking into the living room and gesturing to the empty bottles in his hands before making his way to the kitchen and dumping them in the trash.

Alex was well aware what this meant, and he couldn't help but feel a bit morose at the thought of this coming to an end. They'd probably go back to being casual acquaintances that wave to each other on the street, but nothing more. Tai would probably forget about this after a few days, simply glad to have his peace and quiet back.

"Guess I should get out of your hair then," he said, not wanting to make Tai have to be the first one to say it.

Tai rubbed at the back of his neck, keeping his eyes on the floor.

"Yeah...I guess..." he muttered, then cleared his throat. "Well, uh, I think I at least owe you a drink or somethin. Kinda lost my job at the Glass, so you can't really go there for one."

"Lucky for you, I prefer drinks in the comfort of a home rather than a crowded bar anyway," Alex said, his mood picking back up at the prospect of more time with him.