an unknown voice calls out.
simon's caught off guard, glass of whiskey stopping just before his lips as his head snaps to find the source instinctively from his place by the bar.
"hmm?" he raises an eyebrow in curiosity when he's met by you stumbling towards him.
your hair is slightly disheveled, your makeup is smeared and your eyes are puffy. he figures you've been crying.
just observing the situation as he's used to. not ogling you.
the question strikes him out of nowhere. so casual. so crass.
his eyes widen for a moment, before a frown takes over his face as he scans you from head to toe, checking if you're alright.
your words came out slurred and you were stumbling clumsily, barely making it to him. and now you're struggling to even stand on your feet.
you're absolutely shitfaced!
"wha' the fuck?" simon mumbles to himself.
"you okay?" he asks, louder this time.
"hm?" your eyes widen slightly as if you've just been shaken out of a trance.
simon narrows his eyes, trying to figure out what the hell your deal is.
maybe he's gonna let it play out to see what happens.
"not interested." he finally answers before going back to his glass.
"fine. whatever." you mumble, face dropping in slight disappointment. he seemed like a man who could make you forget everything.
you stumble away, calling out to the next man you reach and repeating the question like before, so casually as if it's nothing.
simon turns to you once again, watching as you keep asking different men the same question.
are you out of your fucking mind?!
his frown deepens as he assesses the situation.
until he sees one of the men taking your hand with the nastiest smile on his face. ugliest mug he's ever seen. the man is the creepiest one among the sea of creeps filling the bar too. gritting his teeth, simon nearly hurls at the way he's looking at you.
you're clearly not in the right headspace at the moment and one of these creeps is going to take advantage of you.
and one is, by the looks of it.
the moment simon notices the creep trying to walk you out of there, he's on his feet and stomping towards you.
simon reaches for your arm, turning you towards him and releasing you from the man's grip in the process.
his voice is deep and stern as he drags you outside.
"heyyy," you whine, nearly stumbling over your own feet. "changed your mind?"
if he is not taking you away, another man will. and god knows what will happen.
simon takes you to his car, carefully guiding you to sit and placing a hand on your head so you don't hit it on the doorframe.
he gets in beside you, shutting his eyes for a moment and letting out a long sigh.
"what the fuck is wrong with you?"
he nearly shouts, his tone a mix of anger and worry.
he's clearly fuming at your stupidity, eyes burning into your soul as he awaits an answer to this whole idiotic situation.
you gaze at your lap, not daring to look him in the eye.
he turns away when no answer comes, a big huff leaving his lips as he shakes his head, still furious.
a long moment passes as he looks into the distance, trying to calm down.
"address?" he finally asks, much calmer this time. only to be met by no answer again.
he turns to you, mouth opening to ask again but the words don't come out as he notices you're passed out, head tilted to the side in a painful position, lips slightly parted and lightly snoring already.
so there's no way for him but to take you to his place.
you're probably gonna freak out when you wake up at a stranger's house, but it's certainly better than to let those freaks do whatever the hell was on their sick minds.
when you arrive, simon carries you inside, gently placing you on the bed and covering you with the blanket while you're still unconscious.
then he stops to think what the hell to do next.
he just has to wait until you wake up. maybe finally explain what you were doing.
he places a bottle of painkillers and a glass of water on the nightstand before leaving the room to take the couch.
he's just now realized how exhausted he is.
as much as he tries, sleep doesn't come to him. but he's used to it by now. so he just lies there, eyes shut but mind racing.
till he hears a sound coming from the room, muffled but he can still make it out to be a sob.
immediately, he's on his feet and making his way to the room.
slowly opening the door so he doesn't startle you, simon finds you still in bed, clutching the blanket and crying your heart out.
"hey..." he calls out, even surprising himself by how soft he sounds. but he can't help it. the sight of you makes his heart ache. so small and helpless. as if you're begging for something to cling onto.
you finally turn to him, looking at him with big glossy eyes, endless tears running down your face as you keep sniffling and your pouty lips wobble.
simon can't keep himself from striding over to you and taking you in his arms.
his big strong arms carefully wrap around you, his warmth surrounding you as he pulls you in and cradles your head on his chest, softly cooing "it's alright, love. let it out."
you cling onto his shirt, knuckles turning white as you hold onto him like dear life. like it's exactly what you've been waiting for. to be seen. to be cared for. even briefly and by a stranger.
simon holds you as you weep, dampening his shirt by your unending tears. but he doesn't care. and he keeps holding you, not minding for how long.
your loud sorrowful cries are the only sound filling the room. he doesn't mind. he's heard far worse.
"my life is shit," you let the words out through broken sobs, "and i have no one."
his arms tighten around you. as if to say i'm here. you have me. but he can't quite give voice to that. not yet.
it's kind. comforting. it soothes your broken heart like you've never felt before.
you slide your arms around him, hands clinging to his back as your sobs go on.
you don't know how long passes. minutes. hours.
gradually, your weeping dies down. and you find yourself still in his arms.
"my head hurts so bad." you announce, voice slightly muffled as your cheek is squished against his chest.
you slowly pull away, already missing his warmth.
simon hands you the pills and the glass of water, waiting as you take it.
he sits on the edge of the bed, slowly reaching over to you as if he's afraid to scare you away. but you allow him to brush away the strands of hair stuck to your damp face.
"you remember last night?" he asks, soft yet firm.
"bits and pieces... i know the stupid stuff i did." you reply, throat growing tight as you remember the events, how you tried to drink yourself into oblivion and get fucked by a random man to forget about your life, putting yourself in that situation where horrible things could happen if he wasn't there to save you.
"right. bloody fuckin' stupid."
simon runs a hand across his face, a frustrated sigh leaving him.
his eyes find you again, softening at your sad and tired state.
"wanna get some rest?" he asks, voice dropping to that soft tone again.
you hum in response, shuffling closer to him. shyly at first. but slowly, you grow bolder as you get closer. finally, you get on his lap and cling onto him like a koala. his arms wrap around you as if it's second nature, chuckling lightly before he places a kiss on top of your head.
you don't know how to say you feel safe with him. maybe later.
simon lies on the bed with you still stuck to him and pulls the blanket over you both.
you sprawl yourself like a starfish on top of him, humming contently as he continues to hold you with such tenderness and warmth it nearly makes you cry again.
you start to speak but your voice comes out weak, throat sore from all the sobbing. but it's alright. he hears you. you pour it all out. almost tell your whole life story. and he listens. he gives deadpan replies here and there that make you chuckle while his large hands expand across your back, gently caressing in a soothing way as you speak.
you feel safe. cared for. maybe for the first time in your life.
you feel him giving you strength so you can pick up the pieces.
slowly, you feel sleep taking over you.