David glanced at his reflection. Yes. Yes it was crooked. He sighed, out of frustration and quite possibly fatigue. Being able to tie a bowtie from scratch was a rare skill nowadays but after all these years of practice, David still couldn’t get it right the first time.
He tensed up as the back of Saito’s hand caressed under his jawline, foreign hands straightening it out for him.
“Thanks.”
David seemed surprised as Saito’s finger tilted his chin back gently, forcing the boy to meet the man’s unusually softened gaze.
“It’s okay if it’s crooked.”
David smiles.
Not what I asked for David wasn’t irresponsible, but that seemed questionable right now with David clinging on to Saito as they stumbled their way into Saito’s residence.
He was a reasonably quiet drunk. A little giggly but not rowdy, not violent. It made putting him to bed a lot easier, despite the groans and protests.
Saito offered him juice in the morning.
“I am so sorry. You… didn’t have to stay with me.”
“It’s my house. And I stayed because you asked me to, when you called me ‘dad’ last night.”