Chapter Text
He woke up bleary-eyed and with his head pounding. Capochin groaned and felt around on the bedside table for his headache meds, only for his hand to flail around empty space. He rubbed his eyes and sat up.
He was on a couch in an apartment strewn with rolls of fabric and miscellaneous articles of clothing. A TV hung on the wall across from him. He spotted a kitchen, a table that was relatively clear of clutter, and a short hall leading to two bedroom doors. He had slept in his clothes, but a quilted blanket had been draped over him.
Nothing was familiar. Anxiety spiked down his spine, and Capochin put a hand to his head and tried to remember what had happened the night before.
One of the doors opened. He started and toppled off the couch, his tail puffed up.
"Sorry!" a voice whispered. "Didn't mean to scare you."
"Whuh?" Capochin managed to get himself upright again, peering over the back of the couch. "Patience?"
She smiled and waved at him. She was without her wig and makeup, which threw him off for a moment, but he still recognized her. "Try to be quiet," she said, "my roommates are still sleeping."
Just like that, the memories came trickling back. He had gone slinking to a bar located a good distance from Patienc's job, filled with shame at breaking his sober streak. Patience found him anyway, and he vaguely recalled throwing up on the street and stumbling at her side, Patience keeping him upright and holding his hair out of his face.
His head pounded. Capochin grimaced. "Sorry," he mumbled. "Didn't think…"
"Hey, no worries," she said. She moved around the couch to sit down on the other end. "Sorry I couldn't bring you to your place, I don't have your address."
"'s fine." His face burned. Capochin slumped into the couch. "Sorry for… y'know."
"Hey, hey, it's okay!" She shifted closer to him and patted his shoulder. "Did something happen?"
"Nothing happened, I just…" He groaned. "I don't remember anymore. Prob'ly withdrawal got t' me."
Patience frowned. "And you drank that much?"
"Well, yeah. Bartender didn't water down my beer like you do."
"Fair enough, fair enough." She cracked a smile. "I thought you didn't notice that."
He snorted. "You kidding? Impossible not to, all the drinks you brought out tasted like crud."
"You never said anything."
"Well, I…" He looked away. "…appreciated the gesture, I guess."
Back before he tried to quit drinking, Patience was the only one looking out for him. Sure, the beers tasted like dog water, but deep down, Capochin knew any other bartender would have been content to let him drink himself to death.
He ran a hand over his face. "Y' got something for a headache?" he said.
"Oh, sure. Acetaminophen?"
"I'll take anything."
Patience stood up and went to the kitchen. She soon returned with two pills and a glass of water. "Water'll help with the hangover, too," she said with half a smile.
He downed the pills and drank most of the glass before nausea forced him to stop. He looked away. "I really am sorry," he mumbled. "I keep tryin' to quit, but…"
"Capochin, honey!" Patience sat back down next to him and put her arm around his shoulders. "I know quitting not's easy. I'd be a real ass if I didn't support you though this."
"You're not obligated to. 's not like we've been dating that long."
"I'm not dumping you when I know you're trying so hard."
Maybe it was the headache bringing tears to his eyes. Capochin grumbled wordlessly and drank the rest of his water.
A thought occurred to him. He swore under his breath. "I've got to get going," he said. "Hector's prob'ly freaking out after I didn't come home."
"Right, of course." She stood up. "You need anything else before you go?"
He patted his pockets and confirmed he had left his keys and wallet in them. "Nah," he said, "I should be good."
"Not even a kiss?"
"Uh," he said, and processed Patience's words a moment later. His face flushed. Sometimes he felt like a teenager with a crush around her. "I mean, I won't complain if I get one."
Patience laughed and leaned down to kiss him. Just a brief peck on the lips—good, 'cause Capochin wasn't interested in having her find out how the inside of his mouth currently tasted.
He pulled back and managed a smile. "Thanks for takin' care of me," he said. "And… I'll try t' do better."
"I know," said Patience. "Call me when you're home, alright?"
"You got it." His headache was already receding. Capochin hesitated to leave, but if he was out any longer, Hector would start calling for search parties. "Talk t' you then."
They shared another quick kiss and parted. It was still mostly dark outside, the glow of sunrise only barely lighting up the horizon. Capochin stretched and started the trek back home.