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Falst didn't remember much after he fell onto the table. He remembered hitting the floor and the sounds of someone yelling out his name (they sounded so panicked why would they be so panicked?) After that it was only vague flashes. He thinks he said something about an ambulance but when he next came he didn't hear the sound of sirens (good, can't afford one anyway). He thinks he might have gotten picked up by someone, and even though he was probably getting kidnapped he simply did not have the strength or consciousness to care or fight back. The last thing he really remembers was feeling really warm and soft for some reason, and he thinks he remembers someone's voice speaking to him softly. It almost reminded him of the murmuring his mom did whenever he was just about to go to sleep but the voice was deeper, and Falst knew that there was no way it could have been his mom. He doesn't remember much after that except the sweet embrace of sleep that came after.
Falst woke back up to a very loud and very annoying beeping. He almost thought that he was back at his old house for a sec and was tempted to punch his alarm clock until it stopped. But when he opened his eyes he found himself in an unfamiliar living room. For a moment he was a little confused, then the next he was very confused as he heard a familiar voice swearing and running off quickly to another part of the house. When Falst turned around he saw an unusual sight. Dainix in nothing but a tank top and shorts desperately turning off the heat off a pan in the kitchen. Falst was very confused for a second and took a moment to get a good look at his surroundings. It looked like a very small apartment where there was only a few feet between the living room and the kitchen, and Falst realized that he was now on the couch with what looked like a tan and orange blanket wrapped around him like a burrito. But what caught his attention the most (more than even the stupid beeping that was still blaring), was the smell of food. It had been so long since Falst had a fresh cooked meal that he barely recognized the smell of it. Falst's stomach started to ache again, the hollow feeling he had for the past few... well for a while but especially the past few days came back with a vengeance.
Dainix turned back to look at Falst, probably alerted by the sound of his stomach. Now that Falst got a closer look at him he realized the tank top said "kiss the cook" over the colors of the trans flag, and when he saw Falst he gave a small smile. Falst had never really seen Dainix look so... casual before, usually he was either in uniform or in a big bulky trench coat that hid him but now he was actually in something more loose and casual Falst was hit with a sudden burst of emotions.
"Falst? Are you doing okay?" Dainix asked, as he flipped something over in the pan. Falst was about to answer but the beeping was really starting to get on his nerves and he covered his ears. Dainix noticed and went over to the source of the noise. Turns out it was a fire alarm and after a few seconds of fiddling the infernal beeping finally stopped. "Sorry, damn thing's really sensitive. How do you feel?”
“Tired, hungry, and like I need a shit ton of ibuprofen.” Falst said as he fully sat up on the couch. “So nothing out of the ordinary.”
“That's…” Dainix got that look on his face that he always did whenever Falst talked about anything vaguely concerning his lifestyle. “Well, you slept enough as is and I can help get you the other two things in just a second.”
“Wait what?”
“I’m making breakfast, didn’t you see that?”
“Yeah but I thought that was for you.”
“Falst you passed out at the cafe, probably due to a lack of food.” Dainix crossed his arms and suddenly gained the look of a buff and disapproving mother. “I’m not just gonna let you go hungry, not in my house.”
Falst wasn't sure what to say to that. He was caught between insisting he was fine and that he didn't need handouts, or actually stopping the hunger pains when a free, presumably risk free alternative was right there. Falst always had a small sense of pride about him, never wanting to survive just off of pity and feeling better about a meal that he actually earned versus one that was given to him. But at the same time he wasn't sure if he could hold onto that pride when someone that he knew and considered the closest thing to a friend he had was offering what he needed.
Falst didn't say anything but the look on his face was enough for Dainix to know he won that particular argument. Falst just looked over the couch and hung his arms over the back of it as he watched Dainix cook. It was a simple breakfast, just scrambled eggs and bacon and later even some biscuits, but Falst still liked to watch him anyway. Dainix looked like he knew what he was doing and once he was finished he motioned for Falst to come over and sit down at the little dining table there. Falst didn't bother ditching the blanket, as he just sat down and looked at the food for a second before taking a hesitant bite. Spice ended filling Falst’s taste buds, did Dainix put peppers in the eggs or something? Falst didn't have time to question though as before he could stop himself he started scarfing down the food. He must have been more hungry than he realized as before he knew it all the food was gone and he was already starting to feel a bit better, that small chill he felt was starting to dissipate and his mood was already improving.
When Falst came back to his senses though he started to feel a bit guilty and looked back over to Dainix. The guy had a big dopey grin on his face, like he was a bit proud and a bit relieved that Falst had just eaten him out of house and home.
“I’m sorry!” Falst said in a panic as what had just happened finally set in for him. “I can pay you back, I swear-”
“Falst it's fine.” Dainix said, still with that stupid smile on his face. “You don't have to worry and you don't have to pay me back.”
“But you just took me right to your apartment and fed me, how can I not pay you back for that?”
“I didn't do it because I wanted something from you.” Dainix said, looking him dead in the eye. “I did it because I care about you and want you to be okay.”
This caught Falst off guard. For a while he always just assumed he was a nuisance at the cafe, just a loiterer that they didn't have the heart to kick out. Even after the two of them started hanging out during and after shifts Falst still felt guilty for some reason. He always refused help from Dainix before when he offered to give him free coffee or food but now he was getting a luxury (or at least luxury in comparison to what he had before) treatment for doing nothing. Was it pity, did he feel sorry because Falst had passed out. Falst studied his face again for a second but couldn't find any trace of it in his expression. He was actually being honest.
“...Why?” He finally asked after a second. When Dainix looked at him confused he asked again. “Why are you being nice to me like this? I didn't do anything to deserve this.” Falst’s voice started to crack more at this and Dainix got a panicked look on his face.
“Falst?! Oh- oh fuck, are you okay?” Falst didn't understand why Dainix was panicking so much until he felt something drip onto his hand. Looking at it he saw tears, but they couldn't have come from Dainix so where were they-
Oh.
Falst was crying.
Falst tried to reach up to wipe away the tears only to find more tears taking their place. He was beginning to shake and he wanted to run far away because Dainix was still there and he was seeing just how stupid and pathetic and weak Falst really was-
Before Falst could say anything he felt himself get grabbed and squished into a big hug by Dainix. At first Falst panicked because he thought it was an attack but as he realized what was going on he made feeble attempts to resist. “No- stop it I’m fine I don't need it-” turned into nothing but a muttering sobbing mess as he fully lost his composure and sobbed into Dainix’s chest. All the while Dainix just kept on holding him and even started stroking Falst’s hair as he shushed and murmured reassurances into Falst’s ear. “Shhh… It's okay. I’m right here, you don't have to be alone…”
After a few minutes of this Falst finally started to calm down, letting out all of the tears and feeling wrung out like a wet rag as he looked at Dainix again. His face was probably a mess of tears and red puffy eyes and noses but Dainix didn't seem to care. He grabbed the edge of his tank top and used it to wipe Falst’s face, causing him to giggle a little deliriously.
“Fuck, now I’m just making a mess.” He looked over to the wet spot on Dainix’s shirt where it was clear he had cried all over it. Dainix just chuckled and just fully pulled off the tank top. It wasn't the first time Falst had seen him shirtless but being this close made it a lot more clear just how buff the barista really was and- nope Falst was not going to go down this train of thought he was going to look away respectfully. If Dainix noticed though he didn't make any sign of it as he chucked the tank top into a laundry basket.
“How do you feel?”
“A bit better, still probably need the ibuprofen but better.”
“That’s good to hear.” Dainix didn't seem to address the elephant in the room that Falst had just completely broken down, maybe he just didn't want to make Falst feel even worse about it. “But in any case you don't have to worry. Today’s my day off and if you need anything just ask.”
“Okay, I’ll try to get out of your apartment before nightfall.” Falst said, already instinctively ready to leave at any moment and not be more of a burden.
“Who said anything about you leaving?” Dainix said. Falst was very confused for a second and looked back to Dainix. “I honestly don't mind if you just crash on the couch for a while, you need the rest and some food and I’m not just gonna let you go back on the street.”
“But what about your job? You can't seriously pay for both of us.”
“I’ll work overtime, I don't care. Or I can put in a good word for you and you can start working there too if you want.” Dainix got down on a knee and looked Falst straight in the eye. “I don't care what I have to do, as long as you’re happy and comfortable and safe it doesn't matter.”
Falst felt like he was about to start crying again but managed to hold back the tears. “...I’ve never really had a roommate before, so I’m sorry if I mess up. I can try to get a job, either at the cafe or here, so we can make rent. And I don't know if your landlord is gonna be too happy with another person in here.”
Dainix rolled his eye and groaned. “He’s probably gonna bitch about it but I can handle him. It wouldn't be the first time I’ve pissed him off. But what do you say? Roommates?”
Dainix stood back up again and held out his hand. After a few seconds Falst took it on his own and shook it.
“Roommates.”