Kith's body ached, heavy with fatigue, and the dizziness still lingered. Slowly, he opened his eyes, realizing he wasn't in his own room. He didn't question it; memories from the previous night flooded back into his consciousness.
He had been drowning his disappointment in alcohol, allowing strangers to touch him seductively, while Theron sat at the counter, watching him dance, whiskey in hand.
He enjoyed the night, but the disappointment and pain still clung to him. Theron must have brought him to his place. The room was familiar, a place where he had spent much of his time when he and Theron were still close as best friends.
He missed those moments, missed Theron. Despite their reunion on the wrong path, it felt like something was missing – their friendship. It had been his choice, and he missed Kiddo terribly.
Kith missed the Theron who had protected him. Smiling to himself, he looked up at the ceiling, thinking about how far they had come, how much had changed.
Kith groaned and hugged himself tightly beneath the sheets. He was only in his briefs, his bare body exposed. He ran his fingers along his chest, over the faint trails of hair leading to his navel. His thoughts drifted down to his lower body, where he couldn't help but react to his own reflection.
He blushed and turned onto his side, trying to suppress the reaction. It was strange to be so affected while watching Theron sleep. As he continued to stare at Theron's face, he couldn't help but want to kiss those lips.
But he fought against his desires, trying to control himself. He didn't want to be ashamed of his own thoughts.
Just as he was feeling more in control, Theron whispered, "Don't pretend to be asleep." Kith didn't open his eyes but allowed Theron to look at him.
Theron's warm hand rested on his shoulder, and he didn't push it away. He had so many questions but decided not to ask any. Kith was content just lying there, held close by Theron.
In that moment, nothing else mattered. Kith could feel Theron's heartbeat, the warmth of his body, and he didn't want to let go.
Theron pulled Kith even closer, and Kith wrapped his arms around Theron. They didn't need words; their bodies spoke for them. In that warm embrace, Kith found the comfort he had been seeking.
It was a hug he had always longed for, free of hate and anger. He could feel the love in Theron's embrace, and it was a love he had missed for so long.
"Why did you allow yourself to become so inebriated? Do you have any recollection of your actions from last night? Were you even attentive?" Theron inquired with a deep, resonant voice.
It was a puzzling turn of events; the usually aloof Amherst appeared to genuinely care about his old friend, Kith, and his concern was a stark contrast to the Theron Kith had known.
The question of why Theron was suddenly so interested in someone as vulnerable as Kith perplexed him. Answers eluded Kith as he struggled to find words in response to Theron's queries. He yearned for Theron's embrace to linger a bit longer.
"Errors must be rectified. Past mistakes, once committed, are immutable by time. You must chart a new course, move forward, and gain wisdom from those missteps," Theron advised, his words softly persuasive, as though inviting Kith to make a change.
 It was a complicated situation; Kith wanted to make changes, but he also wished to be close to Theron.
"Ther," Kith softly whispered Theron's name, tears welling in his closed eyes as they trailed down his cheeks. The knowledge that he could never fully have Theron tore at Kith's heart, just as it had the night Theron revealed his relationship with Syd.
"I'm hugging you," was Theron's succinct response.
Kith remained silent, overwhelmed by sobs, cherishing every second of Theron's embrace as he released his pain. Tears flowed freely down his face, mingling with his heartache. He wished for Theron's warmth to remain wrapped around him for as long as possible.
Theron eventually released Kith from his hug, helping him to his feet with surprising gentleness. Overwhelmed with embarrassment, Kith bowed his head, reluctant to meet Theron's gaze.
However, Theron defied his expectations by wiping the tears from his cheeks and gently cradling Kith's face in his hands. Theron urged him to meet his eyes, as if imploring Kith to search for hidden emotions within them.
It was evident that Theron wanted Kith to explore the depths of his gaze, to discover the emotions concealed beneath the surface. Kith returned Theron's intense gaze.
"We can't return to the friendship we once had, and that is the most agonizing part of our story," Theron spoke with sorrow threading through his voice, a melancholic sigh escaping him.
Kith acknowledged that Theron was correct; they could not resurrect their past friendship, even though they could embark on a new one. Kith understood why Theron had said this and sympathized with the pain he felt, knowing how deeply Theron cherished their friendship.
"I know, I know," Kith sobbed.
Theron's eyes remained locked on Kith's face, his hands still cradling Kith's cheeks. "I'm angry—with you, and with myself," he said, his voice shaking as though he were choking on unspoken words.
"Forgive me," Kith pleaded, his tears still flowing.