Crow's Nest [✓]

Chapter 4

Thomas arrived home later that night, feeling exhausted. His apartment was nestled in a slightly run-down but still vibrant neighbourhood of New York City. It was located on the forth floor of a four-story apartment block, and each window provided a view of the street below. The exterior of the building was a mixture of old brick and painted-over concrete, and the sidewalk outside was lined with a mix of street vendors and traffic. The apartment itself was small and compact, with just enough space for a living room, kitchen, 2 bedrooms, and bathroom. The walls were painted a plain white, and the furnishings were simple but comfortable. It was about 10 minutes away from his work but he still refused to walk to work.
"I never know till how late I'll be working." Thomas always said.

As Thomas closed his apartment door, the first stop was the kitchen. The kitchen was small and cramped, with just enough space for a refrigerator and some basic counter space. He opened the fridge to search for something quick and easy to satisfy his hunger. After some digging, he found some leftover pizza from the previous day and grabbed a soda from the fridge. He carried the food to the small, beat-up wooden table in the living room and settled down onto the worn couch with a weary sigh. He had finished his work and William's.

This wasn't the first time he covered for him, and he knew it wasn't going to be the last. William was taking advantage of him seeing that he's still young. But there's no way that William will he leading this drug investigation. Thomas wouldn't allow it. Thomas drank angrily from his soda can, staring blankly at the turned off TV.

He then thought about Harry. For a Norwegian he looked a lot like a German, or maybe that was just Thomas' thinking. He hasn't seen many Europeans, let alone Scandinavians. Harry also looked older with his light blue eyes and blonde hair cut so short it touched his scalp. He was definitely more experienced than Thomas, Thomas knew that. But even so, Thomas had worked his ass off for this case and no one was taking it away from him. His boss, Chief Detective Devin Gibson, had told him that he could have the case if he proved himself useful.

Thomas sighed, standing up to put away the empty plate and threw away the empty soda can. He stood by the window for a few minutes, just staring out into the noisy city. He grew up in a quiet neighbourhood with his older brother and was anxious when he first moved in here, worried that the city noise might keep him up at night. The sound of cars honking and the rumble of traffic could be heard even from inside the apartment, and the distant sound of blaring music and laughter from the bars and clubs on the streets below could be heard as well. The occasional distant wail of a police siren added a touch of urgency to the mix. But when he laid in bed, the sounds blended together into a constant background hum that he had grown so used to, he could almost find comfort in it.

Thomas headed towards the bathroom to freshen up. The bathroom was small and cramped, with the shower stall taking up most of the space. As he turned on the hot water and stepped into the shower, the sounds of the city outside seemed to fade away. The steaming hot water relaxed his muscles and washed away the fatigue of the day, and he let out a sigh of satisfaction as the stress melted away.

He never could understand how people decided to sleep in just underwear or completely naked. What if something happened during the night that forced you to wake up quickly and run out like a fire? Or maybe someone breaking into your apartment and when you confront them, all they'll see is the slight bulge of your penis in your underwear. The thought alone made Thomas embarrassed, causing him to frown.

As Thomas stepped out of the shower, the cool air of the bathroom contrasted with the warmth of the water, making him shiver slightly. He wrapped himself in a fluffy towel and walked back into the bedroom, the steam from the shower trailing behind him. The room was dark and quiet, with just the faint glow of the city lights coming in through the window. He got dressed in a vest and some shorts before he crawled into bed, pulling the blankets up over his shoulders and lying back against the pillow. As he closed his eyes, the exhaustion of the day washed over him, and he drifted off into a deep, dreamless sleep.