//------------------------------// // Ch. 22 - Falling // Story: Bad Company // by Symphony //------------------------------// A week had passed after Jay had received the news from the princesses that he had no way of returning home. On that evening Strawberry had stayed with him and comforted him into the late hours of the night and walked him home. After finishing her work for the day much later than she liked, Strawberry was walking toward the path leading to his house. Her ears lowered when she remembered the state he was in the days after the revelation. He had at first not slept for a long time, then sleeping a lot more and barely had any appetite. Hell, If she hadn't nearly force-fed him she's sure he wouldn't have eaten at all this week... She tapped the code to the gate and hurried past it, the saddlebags she was carrying containing some papers from work along with some groceries rustled and she quickly used her magic to right them from falling off her. She levitated a plant pot on the porch to the side and grabbed the key lying there and unlocked the door. Once finished she put it back beneath the pot and walked inside. “Jay?” She called out but no answer was heard. She walked further inside and passed the kitchen. Stopping momentarily, she noticed that there was some shattered glass on the floor that she quickly gathered with her magic and put in the trash. She levitated the saddlebags off her and put them on the counter. Some rustling was heard in the next room and she hurried over. She gasped at the sight. Jay was sitting on the floor, leaning back to the couch with a distant look in his eyes. The small table that was usually arranged in the middle of the room was flipped over. Around him laid several bottles and cans littered about. In his right hand was an opened bottle containing a dark amber liquid. He released a breath, then hefted the bottle to his mouth and chugged, closing his eyes. Some of the alcohol spilled down his chin, settling in the stubble that had grown on his face. Then some it ran down to his shirt that looked filthy. The bottle disconnected from his mouth with a pop, now barely half-full. He grimaced and lowered his hand, the bottle clinking to the floor beside him. “Jay!” Strawberry hurried over, careful not to step on the bottles. “What are you doing?!” He jumped slightly at the sound and turned slowly to her, his head unsteady. “I'm... havin' a drink...” He lifted the bottle again but this time Strawberry stopped him with her magic and took it away from him, levitating it to the trash bin in the kitchen. He frowned. “Hey... Gimme that back...” “You've had enough, Jay!” She walked over to him, placing her forelegs on his shoulders and slightly shaking him. “Look around you, this isn't healthy at all!” He looked around, his eyes widening a little when he saw the sheer number of bottles littering the floor. “I.. didn't think I had this much...” He shook his head. “What's the point of not drinkin' anyway?” He slurred. “My future's fffucked.” His head shook forward with the last word. “I ain't got ssshit here... My family's gone, I lost everything I had because I'm an f-fuckin' idiot...” Strawberry's lower lip quivered and tears welled in her eyes, but eventually, she frowned and... Slapped him. Right on his left cheek. Not hard enough to hurt, just to make a statement. “Stop that, Jay!” Jay rubbed his cheek, opening his mouth to reply but Strawberry's hoof on his mouth silenced him. “I know it's difficult for you right now but...” She shook her head. “How can you say that?!” She raised her voice at him. “You do have friends here!” She glared at him. “You do have a home here! I can't help you with going back to your world but it will be a cold day in Tartarus before I let you sit here and waste away!” Her eyes softened and she rubbed the hand he had on his cheek. “Please, Jay... Don't spend too much time thinking about the future when we're right here, right now...” She put her forehead to his. “I promised you that I will help you and I will... But I need you to want my help. Do you want it?” Light emerald eyes met his hazel. They both stared at each other in silence before Jay sighed and wrapped his arms around the mare. “Goddammit... I dunno how you do it...” He separated from the hug and kissed her. Her nose scrunched slightly from the taste of alcohol and the smell of his breath. “Alright then... Help me up and we'll start cleanin' up this crap...” Strawberry placed herself on his side for support, a small blush on her face. She used her magic to give him a small push on his back to help him stand up. He wobbled back and forth, barely able to stand still. “First of all, let's go get you some water...” She had her magic focused just in case she had to catch him from falling over. Jay's feet dragged on the floor as they rounded the corner and into the kitchen. She led him to a chair and he obediently sat down, resting his arms on the table. Once she was sure he wouldn't fall over, she opened a cupboard with her magic and retrieved a large glass before filling it up with water. She placed it in front of him and he glanced down at it, then grabbed it with his right hand and gulped all of it down quickly. He set the glass back down on the table and started rubbing his thumbs around the rim slowly, staring down at it. “I'm sorry for what I said back there...” His eyes focused on his dirty shirt and with a swift pull, he deposited it on the floor. “I'm just...” He closed his eyes and rubbed the eyelids with both hands. “Scared of what's going to happen.” Strawberry walked to him, folding his shirt and setting it on the counter before turning his head to her with a hoof. “Don't think about it too much now, we'll take it step by step, okay?” His hazy eyes focused on her and he nodded, giving her a small smile. Silence reigned as they just stared at each other. A small blush started growing on Strawberry's cheeks and a small, nervous smile appeared on her face. Eventually, it was ended when Jay spoke. “Sorry for destroying the moment, but...” His face paled. “I think I'm gonna hurl...” Hours passed and Jay had sobered up slightly to the point that he could walk on his own. They had a light dinner from the groceries she had brought. She insisted that it was nothing special, that it was just some pasta with cheese and garlic. Jay, however, had been eating as if his life depended on it. When they were done, Jay had insisted on doing the dishes no matter how much she scolded him to take it easy. “I think I'm gonna head to the shower.” He grimaced, rubbing a hand to his chin. “I gotta shave and scrub the alcohol stink off me...” Strawberry nodded in agreement. “Please do.” Jay turned to her in surprise, not expecting a comeback from the soft-spoken mare. She giggled at his expression. “What, am I not allowed to do that as well?” Jay grinned, rubbing her back. “You're definitely allowed to! Man, I'll make you a proper shit talker in no time!” Jay left the room with that, walking up the stairs to the bathroom and fetching fresh clothes. Strawberry stared at where she saw him last, rubbing a forehoof to the other as her gaze fell to the floor. That dumb human... “I-I love you...” She whispered, making sure he couldn't hear her. She then covered her face with her forelegs, hiding her beet red face from the world. Meanwhile, inside the bathroom, Jay stared at his own reflection staring back at him with bloodshot eyes, greasy hair and a shaggy unshaved face. His eyes narrowed so he was effectively glaring at himself. “Shit... I think I love her...” He sighed and went to work with cleaning himself up. Once he was finished, he carefully shaved and made sure not to cut himself. On the list of things, his father taught him that always stuck with him, shaving with a straight blade was on the top of it. When his face was clear, he got dressed in a pair of sweatpants and a baggy t-shirt. It was rather late, after all. He exited the bathroom, feeling refreshed and his head was much clearer. He walked downstairs and glanced at the clock, reading that it was closing up on eleven at night. 'Time flies when you're having fun, I guess...' He shrugged and walked to the living room, intending to clean up the mess he had caused. He walked inside and his jaw slackened a little. There was no mess to be found, the table had been righted and all the containers on the floor had been cleared. His eyes wandered over to the couch where he found Strawberry lying fast asleep. 'She's been working all day and still came here to help me out...' He walked to the front door, making sure that it was locked before walking back to the living room. Jay walked closer to the sleeping pony. 'She must be exhausted... Good thing it's a Saturday tomorrow.' With the greatest care not to disturb her sleep, he scooped her up in his arms slowly. In her sleep, she gently nuzzled to his chest and smiled. He turned around and walked slowly up the stairs to the master bedroom. The door was already open so he turned his upper body slightly so her head wouldn't bump the frame. With some dexterity, he moved the cover away from one side of the bed and put her down. She whimpered when her body left his. Jay gently laid the cover back on her. Taking off his shirt, he walked to the other side of the bed and threw it over a chair. He settled down on the bed, turning so he was facing her. “Fuck...” He breathed out, closing his eyes and spoke quietly as to not disturb her sleep. “I know it hasn't been long between us and that we'd take it slow but... Shit, I think I love you...” Her ear flicked but she didn't move. He rolled over so his back faced her. “You just came over and just... fixed everything somehow...” It didn't take long until he also fell asleep and quiet snores filled the room. If he had looked harder or been soberer, he would have noticed her eyes being open. Tears brimmed in her emerald eyes and she turned around, gently resting her head on his broad shoulders. “I love you too...” She mumbled, pressing her face against his back.