Antidote [18+]

Veinte Uno.

Seth wasn't registering the emotions anymore, everything was just numb. He had arrived in London and all he wanted was his bed, jet lag was wrecking him. Duncan was waiting for him by the pick-up area, immediately rushing to take his bags from him.

"You made it," Duncan said hauling the bags into the trunk.

"Yeah," Seth smiled weakly.

Duncan gave him a look, he couldn't figure out if it was pity or not but Seth decided not to dwell on it for too long. After putting the bags in, they had settled into a deafening silence.

"I'm taking you to my place," Duncan said breaking the ice.

"You don't need to do that, I just want to go home."

"Seth, I don't know what happened and I don't need to know the details. Whenever you're ready to confide in me, I'll be here but for now you don't need to be in solitude and start wallowing over whatever it is that happened."

Seth simply nodded, he was too exhausted to find a comeback. He let himself drift off to sleep until Duncan had shaken his shoulder lightly announcing their arrival at his house. He was all too familiar with the place, they had made memories here, it was the house that all the boys had grown up in away from home.

Seth made his way to the guest bedroom, stripped off his shirt and shoes and climbed into bed.

"Seth," Duncan knocked lightly on the door before entering.

He made his way to the edge of the bed in the darkness and sat down resting his hand on Seth's back, rubbing soothing circles.

"Do you need anything?"

Seth made an incomprehensible noise before sniffling. Duncan froze because there was no way that Seth  was crying. He listened again and heard the small sniffle despite Seth's face being buried in the pillow. He had never seen Seth cry except that one time when he placed third in a track meet, the guy was never emotional.

The second shock was when Seth had moved and placed his head in Duncan's lap, curling himself into a ball.

"I hate this," he croaked out.

"I hate seeing you like this."

Duncan ran his hands through Seth's curls, hoping it would be of some comfort but all it did was encourage Seth to cry harder. The sight broke Duncan's heart, whatever the fuck that asshole did to Seth, he would go to hell for it and he'd personally drag him there.

}{

Waking up the next morning, Seth felt like shit. Pain shot through his head, he made a mental note to never cry himself to sleep again. He could hear Duncan shuffling around the room.

"What time is it?"

"Nine in the afternoon," Duncan snickered.

"Panic At The Disco, really?" he groaned covering his face.

"You need to hydrate yourself, drink up."

Duncan handed him a glass of water. There was no awkwardness between them, despite Seth being closed off regarding his emotions, he knew Duncan respected it and wouldn't make a big deal out of the sudden change in vulnerability.

Seth drank the water in one go as he reached for his phone.

20 missed calls from Alexander Vargas.