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you stumble down the path toward the lake, the effects of the alcohol still heavy in your system. when you reach the edge of the water, you collapse onto the grass, feeling the cool night air against your skin. the world feels distant, a blur of emotions and sensations, as you try to find some semblance of peace.
suddenly, you hear footsteps approaching. you turn your head and see him walking toward you. "there you are," he says, his voice carrying both relief and frustration.
you try to sit up, but the world tilts and spins, and you almost fall back onto the ground. he rushes over, his strong hands steadying you. "what the hell were you thinking, getting drunk alone by the lake?"
"i wasn't getting drunk here," you mumble, your words slurring together. "i just... walked here."
he raises an eyebrow, clearly not buying your excuse. "that doesn't make it any better. why were you walking here all by yourself, in the middle of the night, drunk out of your mind?"
he shakes his head, looking at you with a mix of concern and annoyance. "you're an idiot, you know that? anything could have happened to you out here. you're lucky i found you."
you try to protest, but the words get tangled in your mouth, and your head feels too heavy to think straight. everything is a foggy mess, and you can't seem to focus on anything but the way his presence grounds you.
he sighs, then reaches out to take your arm, helping you to your feet. "come on, let's get you somewhere safe."
he guides you back up the path, keeping a firm grip on your arm to steady you. the world swims around you in a blur of colors and shapes, and you cling to him like a lifeline, the warmth of his touch the only thing anchoring you.
finally, you reach a small clearing, and he helps you sit down on the soft grass. your head spins, and your stomach churns, so you clutch at the grass beneath you to keep yourself grounded.
he sits down beside you, watching you carefully. you can see the concern etched on his face. "you're a mess," he says, shaking his head. "what am i going to do with you?"
you try to respond, but your tongue feels thick and heavy, and all that comes out is a jumble of incoherent sounds. he sighs again and reaches out to take your hand, his fingers gently intertwining with yours, the touch calming.
he sits there with you in silence for a few moments, his thumb rubbing small circles on the back of your hand. the sensation is soothing, and you find yourself leaning into him a little. "you really scared me, you know that?" he says quietly. "do you have any idea what could have happened if i hadn't found you?"
you shake your head weakly, guilt twisting in your chest. you didn't mean to cause him any worry or stress, but you'd been so lost in your own pain that you hadn't been thinking clearly.
he squeezes your hand gently, his voice softer now. "you can't keep doing things like this. you're going to end up getting hurt. you need to take better care of yourself."
he lets go of your hand and puts an arm around your shoulders, pulling you closer. you lean into him, feeling the warmth of his body against yours. your head rests on his chest, and you can hear his heartbeat. it's steady and strong, a reassuring sound in the dark.
"i don't want anything to happen to you," he says, his voice low, filled with an emotion you can't quite place. "i can't bear the thought of you getting hurt, or worse. i care about you too much for that."
he rubs your arm gently, his fingers tracing small patterns on your skin. the tension in your body starts to loosen, replaced by a strange mixture of contentment and anxiety. "you should have told me where you were," he says eventually, breaking the silence. "i was worried sick."
you nod weakly, shame and guilt swirling within you. you knew he would be worried, but you were too caught up in your own turmoil to reach out.
he shifts slightly, moving his arm from around your shoulders to your waist, pulling you closer. your whole body is pressed against his now, and you can feel his breath on your forehead, warm and steady.
"promise me you'll never do something like this again," he says, his voice low and serious. "promise me you'll always let me know where you are, and that you'll never put yourself in danger like this again. i'll always come for you, no matter what."
