#comfortfics

Price's brow arches as your drink order tumbles out of your lips nervously. A single shot of alcohol that is far too strong for you to handle. His face shifts to pensive before he leans over, arm resting on the back of your stool.

In one slick motion, he's throwing back the shot, preventing you from even tasting a drop of the poison. He sets the empty glass on the other side of him, out of your reach.

"That's not my usual, Doll."

"That was for me." Your eyes narrow on him.

"It wasn't." He says coolly, pressing his lips to your temple. " I haven't seen you drink before. I ain't letting you start unless you've got a good reason to."

Your heart feels the weight of your 'sin' bearing down on it, the echoing words of your parents as you try to explain precisely what has been digging under your skin for most of your life. Your teeth grind against each other, your eyes close tightly as you will that crushing feeling away.

"When I went home to see my family," You start, pushing harder at the swelling of sadness. "I didn't want to be forced to do what I normally do for them - bite my tongue, be polite, be who they think i am."

You don't have to glance at him to see his facial expression - blue eyes filled with understanding with a touch of contempt. He might even be clenching his teeth with his chin tucked down.

"Ghost said you had a look in your eye when he met you at the airport." He grumbles before chuckling a little. "I did think it was odd you wanted to go to a bar for our night."

That makes you feel worse from the way he says it, like he's accusing you of using your date night as an excuse to get drunk safely. And that isn't exactly incorrect.

You finally glance at him when his stool creaks, and he puts down enough to cover the shot, giving you a knowing look.