At the other end of the leash

NATE

"Accident." Nate repeats, spits, like the idea burns him. "And... and if you didn't... if you were," he swallows hard, unable to say it, to entertain the idea again, "what do I do then?" A shiver runs through Nate, lifting him up, just enough that he can shift a little more completely onto Sunjata. "What did I do? I... I didn't do anything, I... God." He means to think these words, but his head is still full, stuffed with a buzzing numbness from his tears, no room left for thoughts to sit in.

Now his other arm rises, giving up on cleaning up his face to instead wind around Sunjata's shoulders. "I don't know... don't think I could," Nate's hands move, trying to find the words, "come back. Not again." He should stop, stop talking, stop dumping everything on Sunjata.

Another tremble runs through him, panicking Nate. He tries to rise, tries to pull away, though he hits the immediate block of his fiance's arms, and stops, a low whine leaving his throat. "Let me... let me help, let me get you something, I... a drink, just..." He's frozen, back arched up, desperation shaking through him now. Maybe Sunjata doesn't blame him, maybe Sunjata can forgive him, but Nate can't extend that mercy to himself. Not without working for it, without earning it. But he can only move if the other man lets him, if he shifts.

The streets are only empty when I need someone
There's nothing to see here, move along!