Ryan stood outside Cal's apartment door, knocking with growing impatience. He tapped his foot as he waited, the excitement from his walk over turning into nervous energy. He called out playfully, hoping to get a response.
"Come on, man, I could really use a cup of that terrible coffee of yours right now!"
Silence. No answer. Ryan frowned, his mind racing with possibilities. Cal never ignored his calls unless something was seriously wrong. He hesitated, then reached down, lifting the welcome mat to reveal the spare key. Chuckling to himself, he shook his head.
"Predictable as ever, man," he muttered, unlocking the door and stepping inside.
The apartment was eerily quiet, a stillness that immediately put him on edge. He wandered into the living room, glancing around, but there was no sign of his friend. Just as he was about to call out again, the bathroom door creaked open.
Amber stepped out, wrapped in a towel, her hair wet and clinging to her shoulders. They locked eyes, both frozen in shock for a moment before, almost simultaneously, they screamed.
Amber's scream was startled, high-pitched, while Ryan's was an octave higher than he would've liked, his hands flying up to cover his eyes as he spun around.
"Oh my God, I'm so sorry!" he yelped, his voice tinged with panic. "I didn't know there'd be anyone here, let alone some hot chick! I didn't think Cal knew any— I mean, not like that, I mean—" His words tumbled out in a frantic rush, his face turning bright red.
Amber clutched her towel tighter, her eyes wide. "You must be Ryan!" she managed to say quickly before darting back into the bathroom. "I'll, um, give you guys some privacy!" she called through the door, her voice muffled but still audible.
Ryan stood there, frozen, his heart pounding. He barely registered the sound of heavy footsteps approaching until Cal stumbled out of his bedroom, looking like he'd been through hell. His face was pale, his body covered in bandages, and his left hand was just a stump, slowly regrowing.
"What the hell are you doing here?" Cal asked, his voice a mix of confusion and concern.
Ryan turned, still facing the wall, his hands still covering his eyes. "I called, and you didn't answer, so I thought— Wait, what happened to you?" He turned around, his eyes widening as he took in Cal's state. "Why do you look like you fought a bear and lost?"
Cal rubbed his face with his good hand, wincing as he tried to clear his thoughts. "I don't know what you're talking about. And what are you doing using my spare key?"
"Hey, you're the one who left it under the mat like some old lady!" Ryan shot back, the concern in his voice giving way to a familiar playful frustration.
Amber's voice came from behind the bathroom door. "Is everything okay out there?"
Cal glanced at the closed door, then back at Ryan, his expression a mix of annoyance and resignation. "Yeah, everything's fine. Just… give us a minute."
Ryan's eyes were wide as he gestured toward the bathroom. "Is that a girl in your bathroom?"
Cal rolled his eyes. "Yes, that's Amber."
"Amber?" Ryan repeated, raising an eyebrow. "Who the hell is Amber?"
"She's… a friend," Cal said, clearly not in the mood to explain everything. He sighed, running his fingers through his hair. "Look, it's a long story, alright?"
Ryan's expression softened as he glanced over Cal's injuries. "You've got a lot of those lately, don't you?"
"Friends? No. Long stories though?" Cal let out a humorless laugh.
Just then, Amber emerged from the bathroom, fully dressed now, her hair still slightly damp. "I think I've done my part in nursing you back to health," she said with a teasing smile. "You're a terrible patient, by the way." She shot a playful glance at Ryan. "Good luck with him."
Ryan grinned, his nervousness fading slightly. "I've been dealing with him for years. I've got it covered."
Amber smirked, grabbing her bag. "Well, I'll leave you boys to it. Take care, Cal."
Cal gave her a nod, his expression softening. "Thanks, Amber."
She lingered for a moment, then turned and left, the door clicking shut behind her. Ryan turned to Cal, his eyebrows raised.
"So, who is she, really?"
Cal shook his head, moving slowly into the kitchen. "She's just someone who helped me out. That's all."
"Yeah, I bet she helped you out." Ryan waggled his eyebrows suggestively.
Cal rolled his eyes but couldn't hide the small smile tugging at his lips. He moved to the kitchen counter, where a unique, glass siphon coffee maker sat. With practiced ease, he set up the siphon, his one good hand carefully pouring water into the lower chamber before setting it over the heat source.
"You don't have to do that," Ryan said, watching with a mix of curiosity and concern. "I was just kidding earlier."
"About wanting some or it being terrible?", Cal shook his head stubbornly. "I can manage."
Ryan watched as Cal ground the coffee beans by hand, his movements slower than usual but precise. He poured the freshly ground coffee into the upper chamber and waited as the water began to rise, mixing with the grounds in a controlled swirl. It was almost mesmerizing to watch, the process delicate and intentional.
"You're really going to insist on making coffee like this, aren't you?" Ryan asked, a small smile tugging at his lips.
"Yeah," Cal muttered, his focus on the task at hand. "Just… shut up and let me do this."
Ryan shook his head, leaning against the counter. "You're something else, you know that, and it's not a barista."
The coffee finally finished brewing, and Cal carefully separated the chambers, the rich aroma filling the room as the coffee drained back into the lower pot. He poured two cups, sliding one across the table to Ryan.
Ryan sat across from him, his expression turning serious. "So, you find the man at the top?"
Cal nodded, the exhaustion clear in his eyes. "Yeah. I found him."
Ryan leaned forward, his excitement building. "That's great! But… you're not going after him alone, right? You don't have to do this by yourself, Cal."
Cal shook his head, his voice tired. "It's already been taken care of. And I'm not putting you in danger again, Ryan."
Ryan's frustration bubbled over. He had been waiting for this moment, to show Cal that he wasn't helpless, that he could help. An idea sparked in his mind, and he got up, striding over to the kitchen counter. He grabbed a knife from the block.
"What are you doing?" Cal asked, his voice alarmed. "Put the knife down."
Ryan held the knife in front of him, a mischievous grin on his face. "If I can't help you, Cal, then what's the point of my life, huh?" He winked, his expression light-hearted as he pressed the blade to his chest.
"Ryan, don't—" Cal started, but it was too late.
Ryan drove the knife into his chest. The blade snapped cleanly against his skin, the handle clattering to the floor. They both stared at the broken knife for a long moment, the silence stretching between them.
Ryan looked up sheepishly. "Uh, sorry about your knife, man."
Cal blinked, still processing what he'd just seen. "How…? When did this happen?"
Ryan shrugged, his grin turning into a laugh. "Guess I got tired of being the fragile guy. I'm invulnerable now, Cal. Well, mostly."
Cal's mind was reeling, torn between relief, confusion, and the faintest hint of pride. "You… you could've just told me, you know."
Ryan smirked. "Yeah, but that wouldn't have been as dramatic, right?"
Cal shook his head, a small smile tugging at his lips despite everything. "You're insane."
"Maybe," Ryan said, dropping back into his chair. "But I'm not going to let you fight alone anymore. We're in this together, whether you like it or not."
Cal looked at his friend, a thousand thoughts running through his mind. He had been so sure that keeping Ryan out of this was the right thing to do, but now, seeing the determination in his eyes, he wasn't so sure.
"Fine," he said finally, his voice softening. "But you listen to me, okay? We do this smart, no unnecessary risks."
Ryan nodded, his grin widening. "Deal. Now, how about we drink some of that dirt coffee you made?"
Cal chuckled softly, the tension in his shoulders easing slightly. "Yeah, alright. But stop complaining about it or I'll cut you off."
Ryan laughed, the sound filling the small apartment with a warmth that had been absent for too long. For the first time in weeks, things felt almost normal.