Running in Circles

Damian's head was a mess. He knew it the moment he left the bar, the moment the cold night air hit his skin, but especially the moment Alex fell into step beside him like he always did. Like nothing had changed.

Except it had.

Everything had.

The streets were quieter now, late enough that most people had stumbled home, but the city never truly slept. Neon signs flickered overhead, their glow painting streaks of color on the wet pavement. Their footsteps echoed, unhurried, as if neither of them wanted to be the one to break the silence first.

Alex finally did. "You alright?"

Damian huffed out a dry laugh. "You keep asking me that."

"Well, you keep looking like you're about to self-destruct."

Damian shoved his hands deeper into his jacket pockets, jaw tightening. "I'm fine."

Alex made a noise—somewhere between amused and unconvinced—but didn't push. He never did. That was the problem. Alex never demanded answers, never forced anything. He just waited. Let Damian spiral at his own pace, let him figure shit out even when he didn't want to.

Damian hated that. Hated that Alex knew him so well. Hated that he didn't know himself at all.

"You coming over?" Alex asked casually, like it was nothing. Like it wasn't the exact question Damian had been trying to avoid.

He should say no. He should go home, be alone, give himself time to breathe. But the thought of walking into his empty apartment, of being alone with his thoughts—

"Yeah," Damian muttered, already regretting it.

Alex grinned like he'd known the answer before he even asked. He nudged Damian's shoulder with his own, light, teasing. "You're so predictable."

Damian shot him a glare. "Shut up."

They walked the rest of the way in silence, the city stretching around them in all its buzzing, restless energy. Damian had spent his whole life feeling out of place in it—like no matter where he went, he didn't belong. But next to Alex, it felt different. Like maybe he wasn't lost, just… waiting to figure out where he was supposed to be.

By the time they reached Alex's place, Damian's head was still spinning, but he told himself it was the alcohol, not the way Alex glanced back at him before unlocking the door. Not the way his pulse jumped when Alex stepped inside first, leaving the door open like an unspoken invitation.

Damian hesitated only for a second before following.

Inside, the air was warm, carrying the familiar scent of cheap cologne and whatever candle Alex had been obsessed with that week. Damian kicked off his shoes, watching as Alex moved around the apartment with practiced ease—dropping his keys on the counter, shrugging off his jacket, stretching like he owned the space around him.

He always made things seem so easy.

Damian envied that.

"You want water or something?" Alex asked, already heading for the kitchen.

"No," Damian said, voice quieter than he meant it to be.

Alex glanced back at him, something unreadable flickering behind his eyes. "You sure?"

Damian nodded, forcing himself to stay still. To not move toward him. To not fuck this up more than he already had.

Alex didn't push. He just grabbed a bottle for himself, leaning against the counter as he twisted the cap off. He took a sip, watching Damian like he was trying to figure out what was going on inside his head.

Damian wished him luck. He didn't even know himself.

"Wanna talk about it?" Alex asked after a beat.

"No."

Another long pause. Then Alex sighed, setting his water down. "Alright."

That was it. No questions, no demands. Just… alright.

Damian exhaled, tension draining from his shoulders in a slow, reluctant wave. He ran a hand through his hair, suddenly exhausted. "I'm crashing on your couch."

Alex smirked, pushing off the counter. "Duh. You think I'd let you leave looking like that?"

Damian rolled his eyes but didn't argue. Instead, he moved toward the couch, collapsing onto it like his body had been waiting for an excuse to stop fighting him. He stretched out, closing his eyes, feeling the weight of the night settle over him.

A moment later, he heard Alex move closer, felt the warmth of his presence just a little too near.

"You're an idiot," Alex murmured, softer now.

Damian cracked one eye open, meeting his gaze. "Yeah."

Alex shook his head, but there was a small, knowing smile playing on his lips. "Get some sleep, dumbass."

Damian huffed out a quiet laugh, closing his eyes again. He listened as Alex walked away, the soft rustling of blankets, the creak of the floorboards. The familiar sounds of a night spent in a place that felt more like home than anywhere else ever had.

And for the first time in a long time, Damian let himself breathe.

Let himself stop running.

At least for tonight.