Not long after, Ash felt the need to go home—to gather his thoughts. Lucian didn't ask many questions; by now, he had a certain understanding of Ash's unstable nature. So, with a lingering kiss, he walked him to the door.

Maybe Ash needed a little solitude. The cold, fresh air helped him relax, and as he walked home at an unhurried pace, he could almost feel his foggy mind starting to clear.

The night was eerily quiet as Ash approached his apartment building. Not a single soul lingered nearby, the streets emptied by the late hour. He paused for a moment, inhaling deeply, letting the crisp air settle in his lungs before finally stepping inside.

The dimly lit hallway greeted him with its familiar sight—dull gray walls, their surfaces marred by patches of crumbling plaster. The building itself had long since lost its charm, worn down by time and neglect. But his own apartment was different. Within those four walls, there was no room for disorder. He had always made sure of that.

As he climbed the long, winding staircase, Ash's thoughts raced. What the hell was he supposed to do now? He couldn't quite grasp how things had unfolded the way they did with the detective. It had all happened so fast, so unexpectedly.

But there was one thing he knew for certain—no matter how much he tried to convince himself otherwise, he didn't regret it. Not one bit.

As he reached his apartment door, a strange feeling crept over him. He couldn't quite explain it, but he had learned to trust his instincts—and right now, they were screaming at him.

The moment he stepped inside, he knew he had been right. His apartment was dark inside, but he could see Damien sitting there, arms crossed, eyes dark as he watched Ash carefully.

He doesn't have to ask how Damien got in. He's done it before. 

– Good evening, Ash. Or should I say... a better one? – Damien's voice was low, controlled, but Ash knew him too well. He was furious. – Do you remember what i said about the detective, right? 

Ash sighed, rubbing a hand over his face. He's too tired for this.

– Not now, Damien.

Damien's  jaw clenched.  

– Not now? You really think you can just brush this off? After everything? 

– It's none of your business. – Ash exhaled sharply. 

– None of my—? Damien lets out a hollow laugh. – You really don't get it, do you? - His voice cracked, but he kept going. – I know you, Ash. I know what this is.  But he's a goddamn cop. You can't trust him.

– And I can trust you? - Ash snapped before he could stop himself.

Damien flinched. 

– I was always on your side. – Damien said, voice quieter now, but full of something raw. – Even after that night. Even after you kissed me and pretended it never happened.

Ash swallowed hard.  

– Damien...

– You used me. –Damien's breath was unsteady. – You let me think, for just one second, that I had a chance. And now, you're in bed with him? 

Ash wanted to argue, wanted to say it wasn't like that, but he doesn't. Because maybe, on some level, Damien was right.

– I loved you, Ash, – Damien murmurs. – Still do.

Ash froze for a moment at Damien's words. Not this. Anything but this. His mind reeled back to that night—the one mistake he wished he could take back. The night he had been stupid enough to kiss Damien, even though he had known, deep down, that he felt nothing for him.

Swallowing the lump in his throat, Ash took a cautious step toward his friend.

– Look...– he started, his voice was quieter now, steady but firm. – I know it wasn't fair. But I told you even then—I don't feel anything for you. 

His gaze drifted away, fixing on a random spot in the apartment, anywhere but Damien's face. It was easier that way. Easier than seeing the hurt in his eyes.

Damien's face faltered for a moment, a flicker of pain crossed his features before it was quickly masked by a tight, forced smile.

– What makes him different from me, Ash? –Damien asked, pushing himself up from where he had been sitting.

He took a step closer.

Ash clenched his jaw, still refusing to meet Damien's eyes. He didn't want to answer that. Maybe because he didn't even know the answer himself. Or maybe because saying it out loud would make it real.

– I... I don't know. But he's different. – Ash blurted out, his words rushed, almost frantic. His teeth worried at his bottom lip, a nervous habit he couldn't seem to shake.

Damien let out a bitter laugh, shaking his head. – Different. – he echoed, his tone dripping with disbelief.  –That's all you've got?

– What do you want me to say? – Ash snapped, his frustration boiling over.  – That when I'm with him, it feels like I'm on top of the damn world? That his kiss makes my head spin? 

Damien's expression twisted. 

– Don't. – he muttered, his voice was tight. – That's enough..

– Then why are you here if you don't want to hear the truth? – Ash demanded, his voice steady as he finally locked eyes with Damien.

Something in Damien's expression snapped. In the next second, he moved—fast, almost instinctive—grabbing Ash by the collar and shoving him back against the wall. The impact sent a sharp jolt through Ash's spine, but he didn't flinch.

Damien's face was inches from his, his breath ragged, his eyes burning with something raw and desperate.

– If you don't understand, then I'll show you. –Damien hissed, his voice low and dangerous as he closed the remaining distance between them.

Ash tensed, his hands instinctively gripping Damien's arms, not pulling him closer but not pushing him away either. Maybe it was the intensity of the moment, maybe it was the lingering guilt, or maybe it was just easier to give in for a few seconds, at least.

Damien kissed him like he was trying to rewrite the past, to make Ash feel something he didn't. His hands moved to Ash's waist, fingers digging in just enough to keep him there. And for a moment, Ash let it happen. He let Damien pour everything into the kiss. His pain, his longing, his love.

But the more Damien pressed, the more Ash felt the wrongness of it all. His skin burned, but not in the way it did with Lucian. There was no fire, no rush, just the weight of a mistake repeating itself.

Just as Damien deepened the kiss, Ash's teeth sank into his bottom lip, hard.

Damien let out a sharp hiss of pain, jerking back as blood welled at the spot. His hand shot up to his mouth, fingers brushing against the fresh wound. He stared at Ash, breathless, stunned.

Ash, now free from his grip, wiped the back of his hand over his mouth and glared.  

– I told you. – he said, voice cold.  – This won't change anything.

Damien stood there in silence for a few more minutes. The only sound in the room was the slow, rhythmic dripping of his blood onto the floor.

Ash didn't move. He didn't say anything. He just watched as Damien processed what had just happened—what it meant.

Finally, Damien let out a low, bitter laugh, wiping the blood from his lip with the back of his hand. His eyes flickered back to Ash.

– I really was just a fool to you, wasn't I? – he muttered.

 – You were my friend. – Ash said calmly, despite the weight of the moment. – I don't want to destroy that.

Damien let out a sharp breath. His jaw clenched, as if he was fighting against the words he really wanted to say.

– Destroy? – he repeated, a bitter edge creeping into his tone. He took a slow step back, shaking his head. – Ash, you already did that.

– I'm sorry... – Ash whispered, the words heavy on his tongue, more out of necessity than any real hope they'd fix anything. He felt the weight of his actions, his choices pressing down on him. He had no answers for Damien, nothing that could make this right.

Damien's eyes hardened. – Sorry? A damn apology, Ash? 

Ash swallowed, but the words felt hollow. He didn't know what else to say.

– You never meant it, but you still did it. – said Damien, each word was like a punch to Ash's gut. – And that's the problem, isn't it?

The room felt smaller, suffocating, as if every word Damien spoke was closing in on Ash. He wanted to explain, wanted to say something that would make Damien understand, make him see how messed up everything had gotten. But he didn't know how to fix this. Not anymore.

–I'm sorry...– he whispered again, this time, the weight of it hitting him harder than before.

– I can't keep doing this. – Damien said after a long time passed. He turned away from Ash without another word, walking towards the door. The sound of his footsteps echoed in the quiet apartment, but before he reached the door, he paused for a moment, not looking back at Ash. – Guess we'll see each other at work. – he said, his voice flat, almost indifferent.  

And then he stepped out leaving  Ash in the stillness of the apartment.