The kid looked like the type to enjoy a light and sweet drink. He didn't come off as an AMF kind of guy to him. AJ initially estimated that the boy was about 18 from his size, fragile face, and large drinking eyes.

But once he got a closer look, the boy looked so damn tired. The slumped posture, weary face, and clouded eyes were that of someone that’s been through some shit. AJ doubted that simply entering the bar would age someone 10 years.

He's probably over 21. 

Probably.

“Drink,” AJ coaxed him, with the nicest voice that he could muster after an exhausting day of being the most cheerful man in town.

Ash widened his eyes at the drink, causing AJ to sigh and rub his forehead. “You fucking saw me make it. I didn’t spike it. It’ll help with the pain. Stir it up first; the blue part is really sweet,” he paused for a few seconds to give Ash time to process the information.

“It’s called a Blue Hawaiian if you were wondering. Malibu, Captain’s, blue curaçao, and pineapple juice.” 

Finally, the boy stirred his drink, swirling the blue with the yellow until it became a lively shade of aqua.

Ash’s face, though tired, was delicate with a gentle glow, a strangely comforting sight for AJ. It was not the manufactured light from the room. The glow was tender and alive, like the 12 candles on the birthday cake that his grandmother had baked for him a lifetime ago. 

He would have wished for something other than a new pair of shoes if he knew then what he knew now. 

After a few sips, Ash finally smiled. AJ grinned; people were always so easy to read. He raised his eyebrows and motioned for him to finish the cocktail quickly with a wave of his hand.

“So, you said something about dishes?”

“Oh, um, yeah, I just finished my shift at Saffron’s. It’s, um, just down—”

“I know where it’s at. The restaurant closed over an hour ago. What were you doing between that time and now?”

The kid explained that he hurt himself while dishwashing at work and had to stay to catch up and finish all of his closing duties.

AJ frowned.

What kind of sick manager forces their dishie to work with an injury like this—

Ash’s smile dropped at the hollow slurping noises from the pink straw and the rattling of the ice cubes. He started to fold on himself as he mumbled, “Thanks, but I don’t have any money on me, sir. I’ll come—“

“No, don’t come back. I don’t need your money.” AJ returned to cleaning and wrapping the gauze around the injured hand. “And stop moving.” His movements were quick and precise, a sign that he has done this many times in the past.

“This ain’t my first rodeo,” said AJ when he noticed the curious expression as he secured the gauze around the dishie’s small, rough hand. So small that his own hands completely enveloped them.

All done.

"You're good to go, kid."

He sighed and let down his hair; having it tied up all day always gave him a headache.

It's been a really long day—

A squeak of the stool. 

The kid had his eyes closed and wobbled in his seat. 

Shit.

Swiftly, AJ wrapped his arm around the unconscious boy’s shoulders before he fell off the stool. It only took one arm to save the scrawny kid from a concussion.

“Tch, so thin,” AJ shook his head in disapproval as he slid his other arm under the boy’s legs and picked him up. He rested the dishie’s head on his chest.

“Mmm…please…don’t.” A look of distress swept over Ash’s face as he murmured into AJ’s bare chest. 

What the hell is wrong with this kid now??

In hopes of comforting him, AJ held him tightly and slowly rocked him back and forth; he wasn’t sure what to do in this situation. Having only dealt with customers from across the bar, he never had to hold one like this before.

The unconscious boy mumbled some more. Frustrated, AJ breathed in deeply—

…Did he really just come from work? 

There was a slight smell of a busy kitchen, but underneath that was a fresh scent that brought back memories of AJ’s first kiss, under the cover of a willow tree, on a rainy day in spring. 

He pressed his lips against Ash’s hair and filled his senses; the nothingness inside him subsided, and he stayed still to enjoy the moment. The summer heat that radiated Ash’s intoxicated body made its way down to AJ’s hips. He pulled back, shocked at his reaction; he didn’t imagine it. 

“I...don’t want to stay…it’s so dark, don’t….” Ash continued to whisper painfully, a bit quieter this time. 

AJ felt bad. 

“I’m sorry, I can’t do anything for you—“ he paused, confused at the sincerity of his feelings. The fear on Ash’s face and his words reminded him of his own past.

He bit the inside of his cheek. He felt really bad.

“Haaaah… This is why I don’t let anyone in after closing time.” He looked up to the ceiling before shutting his eyes. 

I need a cigarette.