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The Floor of Social Sciences was always calming one way or another. It was always a tranquil constant in the violent, ever-changing hellhole that the Library could be. From the scent of freshly brewed coffee, to its teasing but warm Patron Librarian; it was always a place where anyone could unwind…
It was no wonder why Netzach spent quite a bit of his free time up there. Who could blame him after everything that went on…after all the guests he had to see die hopelessly in the end. The thought sickened him to his core, leading him to what used to be his one and only savor. Alcohol.
He didn’t binge drink as much as he used to back during his days as a Sephirah. Netzach hadn’t even touched enkephalin in wings’ knew how long. But, every once in a while… he felt himself go back to it. He found himself craving its toxic grasp on his mind and tongue. Going back time after time… This night was terrible in particular, Netzach deciding to drink the strongest drink he can create via his floors’ books.
The intoxication led him into the situation he was in now, drunkenly stumbling around on the staircase down to Chesed’s Floor. Netzach didn’t really know why he felt so drawn to it. He wasn’t much of a coffee drinker no matter how many times Chesed tried to brew him a cup. It always tasted the same.
That same coldly bitter or sickly sweet taste… The taste. The way that the drink slid down his throat after swallowing. It reminded him of what Giovanni went through… With all that Cogito in his system.
It couldn’t have been the coffee he was after. Maybe…understanding? Acknowledgement? Chesed could understand him better than the others possibly. Hell, if Netzach knew. He was more focused on trying to walk properly.
With a hiccup and a skip in his step, Netzach knocked on the wall (which he thought was a door). He was pleasantly surprised that Chesed was still up at this hour.
“Hey..~ Chesed~” Netzach chirps, almost every syllable that came out if his mouth was slurred. He holds back a chuckle, his cheeks a light red hue. “Hey… Do you mind if I- Uh…sit here.” He vaguely gestured towards the small sofa but before he could get a confirmation; he simply flopped onto the cushions.
Chesed raised a brow, placing the coffee mug he had on the counter. Was…Was he drunk? He hadn’t seen him this out of it since their days in Lobotomy Corporation. Poor guy, must’ve had a rough night. Chuckling gently, Chesed made his way towards the drunk man, kneeling a bit as if he were speaking with a toddler.
“Netz~ Netzie. How much have you had to drink?”
“…Eleven…teen-“
…Not a coherent answer. Damn. Chesed scratched the top of his head in confusion. What exactly should he do here? Usually when Gebura was drunk he’d just tease her like usual. Netzach was a different case, since he used to be dependent on alcohol. It was probably best to tone down the teasing in case this was a drunken spiral.
Gently tapping his shoulder, Chesed sat next to Netzach; smiling still. His voice was still soft like silk… He smelled of fresh roasted coffee beans. Netzach disliked everything about coffee except for it’s scent. It was so calming to him… and Chesed smelled like it all of the time.
“Netzach… Do you mind telling me what happened?” He murmurs, his tone not judgmental at all. The last thing he’d do would be get mad at him for this situation occurring. Slip-ups happen, after all.
Hiccuping a tad, Netzach struggled to get the words out. He giggles at seemingly nothing, his messy bun finally giving out and falling undone; the hair tie falling between the sofa cushions. Finally, a bunch of tangled words fell from his lips.
“Swig of courage…then it turned into a whole bottle of courage…”
Netzach slumps over, knocking over a pillow as he laid on his side; his leg kicking a bit. “Just… Didn’t wanna think about anything anymore. Just for a bit…”
Chesed nodded along, sympathizing with Netzach. It wasn’t just physically taxing to do this work. It was extremely emotionally taxing as well. Meeting guest after guest, knowing what their fate is. Thinking about it too hard left a bad taste in his mouth, especially after all the employees he and Netzach lost.
“I understand. Sometimes that bitterness is so prominent that you want to get rid of it via piles of sugar. But, too much sugar is a bad thing. Just like how too much bitterness is as well.” Chesed monologues with a smile, tucking a stray lock of green hair behind Netzach’s ear.
“There we are. I didn’t see your face there.”
Netzach’s face becomes a brighter red, he awkwardly glances away and tries to quip back; attempting to get the last word in.
“…I am so drunk. Too drunk to deal with your figurative coffee language…”
Chesed laughed aloud, his laughter like warm, sweet honey. Everything about him was just so warm… Why was he so drawn to a cold, not even that artistic Netzach? At least Social Sciences fit Chesed like a glove. Still, Netzach found himself flustered in his presence; he wanted so badly to keel over and pass out but he just didn’t.
He limply laid there out on the sofa, his limbs sprawled out like he was a chalk outline. With another hiccup, he couldn’t stop the words from escaping from his mouth.
“Hey… If I said something along the lines of… ‘I’m in love with you’… What would you do?”
This caught ever so mellow Chesed off guard. Where was this coming from?? He was drunk. These were just some drunken words! Chesed dealt with the tipsy and the blackout drunk, this is just some of the nonsensical rambling part of them did, right?
Right?
Netzach eyed him with a serious gaze, lying there on that sofa in the same goofy position; finally fixing his posture a tad to at least make this confession easy to take seriously. Now sitting up, his back against the sofa’s armrest; he continued to spill out this confession. His heart pounded with every word. No matter how drunk he was, every last bit of it was true.
“Every single day that goes by… I find myself thinking about you more. Hell, I think you might have inspired some of the paintings on my floor”
“…Damn… With how art history is, your face would be the poster boy for beauty in every time period”
Usually, it was Chesed’s words that left people speechless. But, this was a fun, welcome change. The back of his mind was telling him that Netzach was just intoxicated and didn’t know or understand what he was saying. Yet, his heart wanted to play into this; even if it was just a fantasy…
He couldn’t deny it either. His fondness for Netzach had grown quite a bit. Even when they crossed paths as Daniel and Giovanni, he swore that the connection was there from the start.
Nodding along, he raised a brow; smiling mischievously. “Oh? Do you really think so?” He rested his face on his hand, letting out a faint “hmm~” while he pretended to be deep in thought. “You know, I could see myself in one of those fancy noble family portraits the rich used to get. I never got one myself in my first life… At least. I do not remember-“
Netzach snickers himself at the response, swaying as if he were on a ship despite lounging on a sofa. “Mark my words. You’d get the most good looking portrait ever”
“Perhaps- Maybe- Ah! Oh my-“ Before he could finish that thought, Chesed was interrupted by Netzach falling into his lap; feeling his heartbeat racing. Out of concern, he poked Netzach’s cheek with his index finger.
“Earth to Netzie~ It seems you’ve fallen out of orbit.”
“Nah… I’m fine-“
He couldn’t help himself any longer. His hand gently rubbing and scratching Netzach’s back; the touch so gentle and affectionate. It was as if he had been saving it just for him for a whole eternity. He seemed to enjoy it too, his head nestled right by Chesed’s hip.
“C’mere, you…” Chesed spoke with a chuckle, pulling him up close to his chest just to cuddle him. Netzach simply laid there in his arms, the alcohol slowly easing it’s way out of his system. The hangover he’s gonna have in an hour or two was gonna be awful.
“Ugh.. I already feel my head aching… What did I just do-“ His eyes drooped close as he scratched at his scalp; his chin now resting on his shoulder. Chesed loosened his grip a bit in case he was already hungover, but, suddenly, Netzach impulsively grabbed hold of his hand.
“…Can- Can you not let go of me yet?- I kind of…like this-“
“Oh, like how you like me?”
“Yeah, like how I-…”
The silence filling the room made Chesed howl with laughter, he would’ve slapped his knee if it weren’t for Netzach in his lap. This time, Netzach’s entire face was a bright tomato red. Shit, how the hell could he be so careless and admit something like that?! But, Chesed was taking this very well. He simply smiled and continued his usual teasing, finding an excuse every time to pull him closer.
“You can quit laughing now.” Netzach groans, looking at the floor in absolute shame.
“I know it’s stupid and i’m sorry and-“
“Hey~ My turn to interrupt you now” Chesed chuckled, giving him a rather large bear hug; humming in amusement whenever Netzach squeaked like a mouse due to it.
“I think it’s wonderful, Netz. Truly, I do.”
And thus, he ended the conversation then and there with a peck on the forehead; leaving the Floor of Art’s Patron Librarian a blushing mess in his lap. He knew that not all moments in the Library were this relaxing and loving; but, going through all of it to reach this was worth it.
It’ll continue to be worth it… For Chesed had Netzach and Netzach had Chesed.