Saix pulled his coat closer as he found the door to his apartment unlocked. He knew exactly what was behind that door, and it was not a demon he was ready to face. His heart raced. His palms became damp. You're an Alworth. Nothing can break you. Taking a deep breath, he pushed into his dark home.
Just as he expected, he found Axel hunched over on his couch. His hair was limp, barely tied back, lying over his face in disarray. The air was thick of cigarette smoke and evidence of Axel's filthy habit lie in a makeshift ashtray that now lay littered on his coffee table. Saix put down his briefcase and flicked on the light.
"Maybe I didn't make myself clear before. You're not welcome here."
Axel looked up. He fiddled with the old apartment key in his hand. He knew he had heard those words before. This time they weren't accompanied by books and other objects aimed at his head.
"I don't know what you expect me to do. I don't have anywhere else to go." Axel had to admit, even for him that was a selfish thing to say, but he was desperate. The apartment that they had shared for the last two years was all he had left.
Saix felt his blood boil, his neck became hot under his collar. Taking a deep breath, he straightened his tie.
"I don't think you'll have any trouble find another bed to sleep in. You certainly haven't."
Axel quickly found himself on his feet. He didn't exactly have a way to defend himself. Maybe he was acting out of embarrassment. Saix didn't owe him anything and he didn't expect it.
"Saix…" Axel started, bringing his eyes to meet Saix's. There was no love left for him in those eyes. Axel's heart stopped.
"I don't care what you have to say, Axel." Saix began taking off his jacket and hanging it up out of habit. Nothing his body was doing now was in his control. He moved over to the kitchen as he began to make coffee. "It's funny. I knew moving here was a chance to broaden your horizons. This isn't exactly what I had in mind." He lost count of the scoops he had put in the grinder.
"Don't tell me you haven't been sucking any to get ahead. All those "extra hours" you've put in. Don't think I haven't noticed." Axel sneered.
Saix slammed the spoon down on the counter, frozen. He could feel Axel's eyes burning holes in his back.
"I'm right, aren't I?" The silence was all Axel needed to hear.
"Get out." Saix spoke with clenched teeth. He gripped the heated spoon between his fists. Infuriated, he could not find the words to tell the man before him there was nothing further from the truth. Maybe, he thought, if he were to let him believe that, it could be easier for the both of them to move on.
"Oh my god…" Axel began to move around frantically. Between fidgeting with the key in his hand and picking up his coat and his bag to leave, he tripped over the coffee table and stumbled onto the floor. Saix didn't even flinch.
"GET OUT." Saix yelled coarsely . Without turning around, he heard a scurry and the door slam shut.
The apartment remained a deafening silence. Saix had completely forgotten about the coffee he was making and was now sitting on the couch, cleaning the ash and remains of Axel's mess into a waste bin. Saix checked his watch. Quarter to eleven. Digging into his pocket, he pulled out his phone. This could all be fixed so easily. All it would take would be one phone call. He thumbed the familiar buttons, taking a deep breath and waited for the dial tone.
The line picked up.
"Hello. Yes, this is Saix."
The voice sounded willing.
"I would like to take you up on your," he flattened his shirt nervously ,"offer of advancement, Sir."
All too willing.
"I can be there within the hour. I look forward to…"
The other end disconnected.