Of moonshine and memories | BoyXBoy

Chapter six

The next morning came slowly, the first light of dawn filtering through the blinds.

I woke to the quiet sound of Lucian shifting on the couch. He looked more rested but still worn. His breathing was more regular, though he was still clearly exhausted.

I decided to head to the office to grab some important documents, knowing I could work from home for the rest of the day. I didn’t want to leave Lucian alone for too long, but it was necessary to get what I needed.

I left a note for him, letting him know where I’d be and that I’d be back as soon as possible.

The office was a blur of hurried motions and minimal interaction. I grabbed the documents I needed and made my way back home, eager to check on Lucian.
As I entered the apartment, I noticed steam seeping from the bathroom.

I headed toward the kitchen, but curiosity made me pause at the bathroom door. I cracked it open, just enough to see inside.

Lucian was under the shower, the water cascading over his body. The sight was jarring. His pale skin, marked by bruises and scars, some from past drug use and others that looked more recent.

Despite his gaunt appearance and the mess he was in, there was something undeniably captivating about him.

I tried to pull my gaze away, but it lingered for a moment longer than I intended. The water droplets made his skin glisten.

I cleared my throat, forcing myself to speak. "I didn’t mean to barge in. Just came back to-"

Lucian’s eyes snapped open, and he immediately grabbed a towel, wrapping it around himself in a hurried but barely concealing fashion.

His face was a mix of annoyance and embarrassment. "Fucking hell, Vincent! Are you serious right now?"

I averted my eyes quickly, heat rising in my cheeks. "Sorry. I’ll just set up in the living room."

"Yeah, whatever." Lucian grumbled, his tone rough but resigned. "At least fucking knock next time."

I left the bathroom, my mind racing. I set up my workspace in the living room, trying to focus on work but finding it nearly impossible to shake the image from the bathroom.

When Lucian finally emerged from the bathroom, he was dressed in a simple shirt instead of his black button-down. His short hair was still damp, and he looked worn out but more composed.

He sank onto the couch with a groan.
I continued working, the quiet of the apartment punctuated only by the occasional shuffle from Lucian. Eventually, he broke the silence.

"So, what’s the deal with you coming back to the bar like that?" Lucian asked, his tone more curious than confrontational. "Seems a bit out of the blue."

I glanced up, considering and pondering over my response.
"It… wasn’t planned. I was in the area and couldn't just walk past the place. Something about it didn’t sit right with me."

Lucian raised an eyebrow. "Is that so? Well, I'm not sure what’s worse, my situation or your sudden bout of heroism."

I gave a wry smile. "Call it a hunch. Anyway, what about you? You’ve been through some shit. Why’d you cut your hair?"

Lucian’s face darkened. "It wasn’t my choice. My partner…dealer, whatever you want to call him, didn’t like blondes. It was either that or..."

He trailed off, lifting the edge of his shirt slightly to reveal a patch of scarred skin, cigarette burns clearly visible.
"My reward for disobeying one too many times."