Kaye mumbled a thanks as he took the napkin, pressing it against his lip before he listened to Simon's next question. He was too tipsy to actually realize that the other man seemed to be worried for him. How are you getting home anyway?
"I walk," Kaye answered, the words leaving his mouth before he thought through it. Tomorrow morning he would most likely regret being so impulsive, though he had always been like this anyway.
Simon nodded slowly, quickly moving Kaye’s glass far out of reach. “How far?” He knew firsthand how risky it could be to walk down a street while drunk, when it was almost dark out, too. Am I going to have to walk him home? There was no way he could Sing again, not with his already throbbing headache.
"It's not too far," Kaye said with a loose shrug as he ran a hand through his messy hair, already feeling a bit drowsy from the alcohol. At this point, all he felt like doing was sleeping. "Maybe a ten…fifteen minute walk from here?" The apartment complex he lived at wasn't too far, and the street to get there was rather lit up…well most of it anyway.
Making his decision, Simon exhaled wearily and stood up. “Come on, sleepyhead, I’m walking you home.” He came around the table, moving to help Kaye up. “Alright?”
"You don't have to help me, y'know?" Kaye assured the other boy as he stumbled out of his chair with a frown, though it looked like more of a pout. He felt a little bad that he was putting Simon through all this trouble, though part of him still wanted to spend more time with them. It was a weird feeling.
Simon shrugged, carefully supporting Kaye and attempting to lead him towards the door. “It’s fine, don’t worry about it,” he told him, steering him away from a group of particularly drunk customers. “Which way is your place?”
"This way," Kaye answered, motioning down the street towards their right, where a few of the lamps were flickering. He leaned against Simon lightly, careful not to put his full weight on them even if they were a lot smaller than the other.
Simon’s eyes darted around nervously, his fists already clenched, but no one came jumping out of the shadows. He did his best to follow Kaye’s drunken instructions, praying that they were headed in the right direction. “Are we close?”
Kaye had been humming some old, random song as he walked alongside Simon, his frame loose compared to the other man's tense one. "Mhm, only a few more minutes," he mumbled, glancing around the streets in search of something.
By now, Simon was fully supporting Kaye, his arm looped around the other boy’s shoulders. His stomach twisted at their closeness— he hates this much physical contact, but he said nothing on the matter. “What are you looking for? Are we lost?”
"No, no," Kaye muttered, waving Simon off as he brushed a few strands of dark hair out of his gaze. "I'm just looking for Ba-" he started, though quickly cut himself off as he continued down the darkening street with Simon. There was always this odd…spirit following him around, and he didn't want the other boy to know about them. That would reveal almost everything.
Dismissing his hurried thoughts, Kaye instead focused on the street and trying not to lean on Simon too much. He didn't mind physical contact all that much, though he didn't want to make the other uncomfortable. After a few more minutes of walking, the pair reached a tall building where Kaye abruptly stopped.
Simon was still confused about who Kaye has been looking for, but he didn’t want to take advantage of his drunken state and get him to say something he’d rather not. “Is this it?”
(Maybe drunk Kaye decides its a good idea to offer for Simon to stay over?)
(yeah, that would be great for plot. I wonder how simon will react lol)
Kaye nodded and started to move towards the door of the apartment building where he almost tripped over the small, decorative steps. After a few moments of staring at the keypad, he managed to get the right combination in and the door swung open, where he then stepped inside with Simon. The building was obviously old, with old, faded wooden floors and a musty smell that seemed to linger everywhere.
(Lol. Simon would probably be completely and utterly baffled, plus extremely hesitant, but would be equally hesitant to walk back home this late on his own, and to leave drunk Kaye alone)
Simon lingered by the stairs, glancing around at his surroundings. He stepped forward to support Kaye, but quickly withdrew, not knowing whether or not the gesture would be appreciated. “Do you need help getting to your room?”
After a few minutes of thinking, Kaye finally nodded, deciding that he would most likely fall if he went up the staircase alone. He started to take a step forward steadily, though there was still wobbling and lilting in his walking.
Simon gingerly wrapped his arm around Kaye, helping him up each step one at a time. His whole body was withdrawn, tense, preparing him to run— but there was nothing to run from. It was just him and Kaye. Alone.
After a few minutes of walking and Kaye leaning against Simon, the two finally made it to the third level where his apartment was located. These were the moments he wished that this old building had an elevator. Even if it was as old and rickety as the place itself, Kaye would still be thankful for it.
"There it is," Kaye mumbled with a sigh as he began to lead Simon towards the second door to their left. After a few moments of fishing through his pockets, he managed to find the keys, though struggled to put it through the keyhole without missing it completely.
Simon carefully guided Kaye's hand so that the key slid into the lock, turning it for him and pushing the door open. He removed the keys and handed them to the other man, hesitating on the threshold between the hallway and the apartment. It wouldn't be right to enter, this was Kaye's place, he wouldn't want him to come in.
"You're coming in, right? You can't be out there alone," Kaye asked, a small frown crossing his features when he noticed that Simon paused. It was much too dark, and he didn't want the other boy to run into the men from earlier. Plus, part of him wanted Simon to stay for some reason that he couldn't quite pin point.
Simon blinked, eyes widening for a moment before a mask of composure came crashing back down over his face. "Are you sure?" he asked, brows drawing together. "I'm not sure that sober you would want me in your house at night.."
"Oh please," Kaye started, waving Simon off as if he were dismissing their comment. "Sober me and drunk me are practically the same," he explained, a faint joking tone in his voice as he turned around, motioning for Simon to follow after him. Sure, when he was drunk he was as joking as he was sober, though there were still many differences.
Simon hesitated, slowly clenching and unclenching his fists. After a moment of battling with his common sense, he stepped into the apartment, and closed the door behind him. He winced slightly as he did so, already imagining Kaye's anger at himself the next day when he realized that a stranger had stayed the night.
Kaye started to walk towards the main room in his apartment, a soft yawn escaping him as he sat down on the couch. Upon first glance, there were few decorations in the room; a few framed posters of random bands, a radio on a shelf and books scattered here and there. He tended to move around quite a bit anyway, so he liked to keep his personal belongings to only a few.
"Do you want anything to drink or eat?" Kaye asked, rubbing his eyes tiredly as he looked up towards Simon. Though the question was a little slow and slurred, at least he was sober enough to care about the company in his apartment.
Simon was, in fact, starving, but he politely shook his head, not wanting to overstep. This was Kaye's house, after all… "No, thank you," he declined respectfully, glancing around the home. It was simple, but relatively homey, not unpleasant but not tastefully decorated either. Overall, not a bad apartment.
Kaye nodded, deciding not to press Simon on the question. Instead, he moved over on the couch a bit, patting the spot to let Simon know that he could sit down as well. A few beats of silence passed between the two, and Kaye began to think of something to say, biting down on his bottom lip in thought before he caught himself. There should be some stitching supplies in the cupboard, Kaye thought to himself in case they used it later.
"Do you live far from here?" Kaye asked after a couple moments, deciding on an easier topic.