Then Emil wiped his eyes angrily, and asked, “Do you have anything stronger than beer?”
Makai’s eyes widened and he chuckled. “Yeah, I do, actually. But we’ll have to eat something too. I don’t want to have to explain to your dad why you’re in the hospital for alcohol poisoning.”
Emil rolled his eyes. “Yeah, I’d be offended if that wasn’t true. I haven’t drunk much, ever, but I think for this….”
“Agreed.” Makai drained his beer and carefully stretched his arms as much as he could without tearing the stitches. “Do you feel okay being with me in the kitchen?”
“Oh yeah, and it’s open plan anyway. I won’t go to the corner, though.” Emil winced, and so did Makai.
“Look, I’m really sorry about that,” Makai said. “I should’ve thought—”
“What? That I could snap at any moment?” Emil looked angry, but it didn’t seem to be directed at Makai. That made it somehow worse. When he went to speak, Emil waved his hand agitatedly. “No, I didn’t mean it like that. I know better by now. It’s just a knee-jerk reaction.”
“O-kay….”
“I know I can’t control it and I know I can’t expect anyone to remember to mind my delicate sensi-fucking-bilities all the time, but it’s frustrating as hell to not ever see it coming.”
“Did you… what’s it called?” Makai tried to remember the correct term.
“Dissociate, yeah. I do that when something triggers me. Not all the time, but sometimes. Has been happening a lot around you lately,” Emil said and snorted.
Makai frowned.
“The accident, at some point I blanked out. That’s how it usually goes for me; I just lose focus in a way, then snap out of it at some random point. And I don’t remember anything about the drive to the hospital.”
“Holy shit, that’s an hour,” Makai blurted out.
“Oh yeah. Honestly, part of it could’ve been regular everyday zoning out. I just snapped out of it, and we were there.” Emil wrinkled his nose in a way that made him look cute.
“Okay, well, we need to figure out the food. Can you see if there’s anything you’d like to eat?” Makai gestured to the kitchen.
“Let’s see….” Emil got off the couch and pointedly almost brushed against Makai in passing.
Well, okay, then.
