𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: kam saelim &. salem hwang 𝐥𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: oscar wilde bar - flat iron district
there hasn't ever really been a time where salem found himself overcome with uncertainty while at work. bartending has been his schtick since he turned eighteen, giving him a long while to gain the confidence and skills required to earn himself a handsome income — which he does. getting a read on the customer's and tuning his personality to mold into what will get him the best tip has almost become like a fun game to help pass the time through his shifts. what's changed is that now kam is his coworker. which — nothing is inherently wrong with that considering salem was the one who offered to put in a good word for the other. what salem hadn't anticipated were the ... complications to arise as they had with their kiss. not that salem even considered it much of a kiss — more so a brief press of lips before kam pulled away. regardless, it was a moment salem wanted to obliterate from his memory seeing as each time it managed to come to the forefront of his mind, his thoughts would travel to ezra and his heart would clench. fucking feelings sucked. it's not even like he could vent to anyone without being judged but in his defense, it seemed like the only viable action to not only get kam to be quiet, but also to spare the single hanging thread of salem's sanity from breaking off and falling into the darkened void of his ignored feelings. definitely not a mindset he wanted to slip in while with the other and still determining just ... whatever the hell he felt for ezra. for as much as salem wanted to live in denial, he understood enough that the fluttering in his stomach from each interaction with the younger breached platonic friendship. quite thankfully, up until now, salem managed to evade any shared shifts with kam. for a brief time it was a blessing in disguise before the anxiety of being in a shared space with kam eventually happening settled in and oh, look — there they were now. in a shared space sharing a shift. though, to be fair, they were on opposite sides of the marble bar considering how long it was and they hadn't spoken since salem's shift started and he saw kam at the other. business picked up as it always did, leaving salem little time to focus on worries as time continued on and he moved diligently behind the bar. he manages to catch a glimpse of a tired looking kam retreating toward the break room at some point and not thinking much of it, at least not until his own shift ended and his stiff legs walked him in the same direction. pushing disheveled pink strands out of his eyes and letting out a yawn, he stills at the sight of kam passed out on the couch. hand still latched in his hair, salem spares a glance toward the wall clock and feels guilt stir in his chest at leaving kam asleep on the couch. the two haven't really spoken since The Incident and salem was content with continuing on that trajectory. moments pass before a sigh emits from his lips, hand dropping from his hair to his side unceremoniously before walking toward the couch. ❝ hey, kam. you up ?? ❞ salem stands there looking down at the other in what seems like a peaceful sleep and bites down on his lip. if he gets bitched at then this is the last nice thing he's doing ever. with another sigh, salem squats down so he'll be at eye level with kam when he wakes up and places a hand on the other's shoulder to lightly stir him. ❝ kam. kam — hey. it's getting late and i don't think you want this shit couch to fuck up your back. ❞ salem pauses as his mind debates his next point and chocolate hues blink owlishly. ❝ are you good to make it home or i could walk you home ?? maybe call you an uber ?? ❞ @inkamtatum