Star Fruit #30, Molasses #25, Garlic #13 - Haunted
Author: askingxalice
Title: Haunted
Summary: The anniversary of Jakob’s death is always the same.
Story: Phase
Timeline: March 2012 - Oz is 26.
Challenge: Star Fruit #30 (he would have wanted this), Molasses #25 (self destruct), Garlic #13 (My Treat - He hates this day every year.)
Word Count: 273
Rating: PG-13
It wasn’t all of March that set him off. For a few years afterwards, it was. Eventually, it got down to where just the week of was the worst. Now, nearly ten years after, it was the just the day. The day before and after, Oz would be fine; his usual sarcastic and mostly cheerful self. But never today.
He did what he always did. He rented a hotel room, he told his few work contacts not to call him for any reason, he explained to Andy and everyone else that he’d be back tomorrow. They let him go, but he could tell Andy worried. Oz wished that he could comfort him, somehow, but he didn’t have the emotions to spare. Not on this day.
When he got to the hotel room, it was almost always the same routine. He drank. He drank a lot. He cried, he screamed, he broke things. Sometimes, in that twenty four hour period, he slept after he had worked himself into exhaustion. Rarely, he remembered the good days. He fantasized about what it would be like to still have him, if he could have them both. Even more rarely, that would lead to masturbation, and afterward was always the same. He’d feel disgusted and ashamed, because he could only imagine what Jakob would think of him now.
Before he left, he’d shower, to wash away the smell of whiskey and shame and despair. He’d pay for the room, and whatever he’d damaged, and make sure to leave an insanely high tip for whoever wanted it. He’d go back home, normal again - at least until next March.
Title: Haunted
Summary: The anniversary of Jakob’s death is always the same.
Story: Phase
Timeline: March 2012 - Oz is 26.
Challenge: Star Fruit #30 (he would have wanted this), Molasses #25 (self destruct), Garlic #13 (My Treat - He hates this day every year.)
Word Count: 273
Rating: PG-13
It wasn’t all of March that set him off. For a few years afterwards, it was. Eventually, it got down to where just the week of was the worst. Now, nearly ten years after, it was the just the day. The day before and after, Oz would be fine; his usual sarcastic and mostly cheerful self. But never today.
He did what he always did. He rented a hotel room, he told his few work contacts not to call him for any reason, he explained to Andy and everyone else that he’d be back tomorrow. They let him go, but he could tell Andy worried. Oz wished that he could comfort him, somehow, but he didn’t have the emotions to spare. Not on this day.
When he got to the hotel room, it was almost always the same routine. He drank. He drank a lot. He cried, he screamed, he broke things. Sometimes, in that twenty four hour period, he slept after he had worked himself into exhaustion. Rarely, he remembered the good days. He fantasized about what it would be like to still have him, if he could have them both. Even more rarely, that would lead to masturbation, and afterward was always the same. He’d feel disgusted and ashamed, because he could only imagine what Jakob would think of him now.
Before he left, he’d shower, to wash away the smell of whiskey and shame and despair. He’d pay for the room, and whatever he’d damaged, and make sure to leave an insanely high tip for whoever wanted it. He’d go back home, normal again - at least until next March.