Every fear, insecurity, and suppressed panic rammed to the surface all at once.

Cale didn't actually get drunk. Which meant that he didn't wake up in strange places with no memory how he got there. He actually had an uncomfortably good memory.

Fear. Where was he? How did he get here? Was he in danger? Had something terrible happened. Could he make it home? Where was he? What would happen to him? Who is that man? Why? Why? Why? How. Please. Safety. Please.

Insecurity. Wow. That's probably the most attractive person I've ever seen and he's looking down at me with affectionate concern and I can still feel the alley grime dripping down my spine and the bruises decorating my face from earlier and I look terrible and I feel like a gross cockroach that crawled into someone's home and I'd rather die than be right here right now. Help. Hide. Help.

Panic. Fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuckfuckfuckfuckfuckfuckfuck–

In simpler terms, Cale's mind was in a state of ever fluctuating chaos with no sign of reprieve.

The very naked man was approaching with a look of growing fearful concern, paying no mind to his state of undress as he did so. Chestnut skin framed by neat brunette locks and those deep brown eyes and his physique–Cale flinched away from the gentle hand that reached out towards him as the man crouched in front of him.

"Cale...? What happened to you?" That same gentle hand caressed his cheek and Cale flinched again, feeling the bruise. "How did this... who...?"

At least they were both deeply confused over the circumstances. Cale swallowed thickly.

"Fuck–put on some fucking pants!" He snapped, averting his heating cheeks and wandering eyes while he edged away from him. "Who the fuck are you!? Why are you acting so familiar with me?! I've never met you before in my life! Just leave me alone! Do you know who I am?!" He attempted a haughty voice but it wavered as the chaos that was his mind collided with itself all over again.

The following silence unnerved Cale. He hadn't really thought further than to argue, bite, and fight like a terrified dog and not receiving any argument in return wasn't giving him a lot of kindling. He peeked over and saw the man frowning thoughtfully at him, pulling back his hand slowly.

"Okay." He said, standing up in as non-threatening a way possible and grabbing a pair of pants that had apparently been discarded near the bed. Cale didn't really want to think about why. After he'd complied with Cale's request he turned that same thoughtful frown back to Cale and it made him feel uncomfortably seen.

Like this man was really looking at him. Not just a surface glance like most people risked.

"Cale, you're hurt. Will you come with me to get cleaned up?"

Cale wanted to fight back, argue, throw something, anything to ease the chaos inside of him through catharsis.

But he really did feel gross and the bruises hurt and nothing about this situation was going to get worse if he allowed for just a moment of self care. Cale nodded slowly, making his way to his feet, unbalanced on top of a twisted ankle, and kept a cautious distance from this stranger.

If the man minded, he didn't show it outwardly. "This way to the bathroom." He said and Cale took the moment to take in the surroundings.

They were... different. He'd never actually seen a room like this before. It was definitely a bedroom but subtle differences in the decor and architecture were bothering him.

They just felt so strangely foriegn.

The bathroom looked strange too. Cale could tell what everything was, more or less, but there were so many strange little differences that made Cale wonder if he was somehow in a foriegn kingdom or even on a different continent.

The stranger gestured for him to sit near the bathtub and Cale did so obediently, wincing at his reflection as he caught sight of it.

He really was a sorry sight. Bruises along his face, the bastard who choked him had left dark purple bruises around his neck the shape of his hands, other yellowing and blue bruises could be peaked at from beneath his ripped shirt. His hair was damp with sweat, grime, and the actual piss someone had taken on him.

He remembered exactly why he'd been feeling so wretched before getting dragged here against his will.

The stranger had bustled in a cupboard until coming out with a box and frowning at Cale again. "...we should probably get you clean first." He said thoughtfully. "Would you like me to leave while you wash?"

Cale scowled at him. "What the fuck do you think? Why would I bathe in front of a stranger?!"

This time he saw hurt flicker across the kind face and Cale started to feel regret nag at his still chaotic thoughts.

Instead of getting angry or emotional though, the man carefully schooled his expression before kneeling in front of Cale with a gentle smile. "My name's Alberu." He paused meaningfully, as though wanting to say more before deciding against it. "I promise that I would never do anything to hurt you, Cale."

Cale snorted but it had less bite than before. "Says the dirtbag who probably kidnapped me." What other explanation was there for the current situation?

Again there was hurt but Alberu again let it go. "I'll be just outside if you need anything." He promised, standing up and leaving Cale to get cleaned up.

Cale, despite how gross and stinky he felt, didn't immediately relish the opportunity. He investigated the box, finding it was definitely some sort of foriegn first-aid kit, and a few of the cupboards.

There were a lot of things here that didn't make any sense to him at all.

It took him a while to work out how to work the bath as well. He wasn't going to ask 'Alberu' or whoever the fuck he was for help though. He needed time to gather his thoughts. For the first soak he didn't even strip, just soaked in his clothes and stared into the ripples the water created.

What the hell was going on with his life now...?

Rationally speaking, Alberu had to be a kidnapper, right? Otherwise this had to be some sort of illusion or magic or...? Cale didn't know. He knew he wanted to go home. He longed to see his family more than ever, even if he couldn't be a family with them, he loved them and they were home and here was just so bone-chillingly terrifying.

It scared him that he didn't sense the slightest malice from Alberu. He was genuinely concerned for Cale and his behavior up until now did paint him as just as surprised as Cale.

...as though he'd been expecting to wake up next to a Cale who wasn't in this sort of state.

Which meant he was either delusional or something else was going on.

Cale was thinking a bit clearer when he did his second soak, draining the water and discovering the miraculous invention known as a shower.

The soap here was strange too. Cale didn't hate it but he hated how everything was just off but close enough for him to determine what it was.

It made his skin crawl.

After his third scrub down he finally felt human again but the glaring bruises all over his body felt all the worse. He cracked open the first aid box again, having absolutely no intention to ask Alberu for help, when a gentle knock interrupted him.

"Are you done? I brought a change of clothes."

Cale glared down at the gross pile of his wet and ruined clothes, knowing he had no choice but to accept. He'd found the towels but he didn't intend to wear just that.

"...you can come in." Cale said begrudgingly, making sure his towel was secure as he continued searching through first aid. He hated this. He could tell what it was but the objects were just foriegn enough that he wasn't sure how to apply them and it was frustrating.

The door opened and a fully dressed Alberu entered, placing the promised change of clothes on the toilet and frowning at Cale's pathetic state. Cale glared at him, he didn't need the pity.

"Sit down." Alberu ordered gently, shooing him away from the box and taking out the disinfectant.

There weren't a lot of scratches. Cale had mostly avoided the knife and most of the bruises didn't puncture skin. But Alberu calmly and patiently bandaged each one before applying ointment to the bruises and bandaging them as well.

It was probably excessive but Cale didn't have the strength to fight him so that he'd then have to fight the damn box again and he needed answers.

When Alberu was done, he headed for the door again. "When you're dressed, let's have a talk, okay?"

He really was doing everything he could to avoid pushing or pressuring Cale. It was a consideration he wasn't used to being on the receiving end of so Cale just nodded mutely, sitting in silence for quite some time after Alberu left.

Once he was sure he could handle the world again and his eyes had dried up, Cale got dressed in–again–frustratingly foreign clothes that took too long to figure out.

They fit him perfectly though. And they were very comfortable. Even as Cale looked at them he couldn't help but feel that they were geared towards his tastes–or as close to his tastes as this foriegn garb could get.

It made him feel like Alberu wasn't lying or delusional–a particularly scary thought that had already crossed his mind a few times.

Alberu was patiently waiting outside when he got out and Cale followed him to another room with more foriegn objects. A couch and a black box and some other weird looking furniture. He just took a seat on one end as far as he could from where Alberu might sit.

There was something bothering him about this room too.

There were pictures on the walls, here and there, and he was in them. A near perfect likeness that was frequently positioned next to Alberu.

Either this man was really obsessed or something beyond his imagination was happening and Cale didn't know what was scarier.

Alberu, sensing Cale's discomfort being near him, sat on the opposite end of the couch and clasped his hands, looking down at them as though they might give him answers.

Cale realized with a slight shock that his hands were trembling.

Alberu was scared too.

It offered him a slight sense of comradery so he opened the conversation. "So?! You wanted to talk?" He asked, glaring holes into Alberu's skull.

The man let out a deep sigh and Cale wondered about the photos again.

Alberu looked like a different man in them. Right now he looked heavy and exhausted. He looked happy in those pictures.

Cale looked happy too. That scared him. He didn't know he could look that happy.

"How much do you remember?" Alberu asked finally, starting by establishing a simple baseline.

Cale recoiled from the question. He wanted to be the one asking questions. Demanding answers.

He didn't even realize how strongly he felt about it until the question had been asked.

"You still haven't answered my questions." Cale shot back defensively. "What am I doing here? Who the fuck are you?! What's going on?"

Regret again shot through him. Alberu looked up at him slowly, gentle brown eyes looking just a touch sorrowful. "You're right. I'm sorry." He let out a shaky breath. "Please don't freak out, Cale."

Cale scoffed. "I don't think I could get more freaked out."

Alberu chuckled softly. "You're right. This must be scary for you." He twisted his hands nervously in his lap. "You're here because you live here. As I said before, my name is Alberu Crossman. I'm your fiance. I... I really don't know what's going on either."

Cale blinked owlishly.

Ah, Alberu had been right to try and assuage his freak out. Too bad for him that Cale didn't take requests.

He stood up, backing as far away from Alberu as possible and knocking some items down from a counter just to be an asshole as he entered his default state of trash. "What kind of delusional bastard are you?! Since when am I your fucking–how long have you been planning this?! You sicko–and–"

Cale's thoughts careened to a stop.

Alberu Crossman. The name rang a bell in his brain that only just resounded in his head and he let out a laughing sneer.

"And what the hell are you doing using the crown prince's name for your crazy charade?! You don't even look like him–you're completely delusional!" Cale's back hit a wall and he winced as one of his bruises was disturbed.

He also knocked over a photo.

His own smiling face stared up from shattered glass on the ground, Alberu's arms around him affectionately.

Cale's lip trembled and his legs felt weak.

"...what's... going on...?" His voice was breaking and through the clouded vision of unshed tears he hadn't seen Alberu's approach.

He wasn't expecting the hug but he didn't have the strength to fight it. Like every other thing Alberu had shown him since his arrival it was soft, kind, and comforting. And utterly terrifying.

"I'm sorry, Cale." He whispered softly, holding him close and grounding him to the moment. "It's okay. It'll be okay. We'll figure this out. Whatever you need, we'll figure it out."

Gentle. Loving. Compassionate. It made a raw sob build up in Cale's throat and escape despite all his best efforts.

And then when the first one came the next one followed. His body shuddered as all the fear, insecurity, and panic finally found the release they had been searching for.

Alberu didn't say much, gently assuring him and hugging him as though he'd done it a million times before.

It hurt.

But Cale found himself clinging to the comfort despite his every reservation, broken sobs rattling his body as he clung to the stranger who claimed to be his fiance.