Gavin shifted his attention forward again, the movement small but steady, as if he sensed Sora's hesitation. Although, the flush in the other's cheeks was giving him away.
Sora hung a single centimeter over the splintery wooden bench, trying to process the new information. Unfortunately, his mind decided to take an unexpected leave and he could only slump back down, circuits fried.
He instinctively wiped his face and flinched when he felt a wetness. He gave himself a once over and was suddenly much too aware of the snot and tears on his sleeves, his bare feet and flushed face. He didn't even want to think of what Gavin was seeing.
A moment of silence passed before a fragile cough escaped his mouth. He felt like a sick little baby chicken and didn't know whether to laugh or jump into the pond. He sighed. "Nothing to say?" Was that his voice? He sounded like he spent the night howling at the moon. "I look and sound like shit, I'm sure." He cleared his throat.
Gavin chuckled. "I'm also sure you've had better mornings." He leaned forward, sight remaining fixed on the girl who now sat on the grass, fiddling with her kite. "I haven't seen you around here before, isn't this the opposite way from your place?"
Sora blinked silently for about ten seconds. Was he really giving him an out? He decided to play along. "Took a new route for my morning walk." He shrugged weakly. His mind then returned just in time to offer a clip of him running for his life.
He cleared his throat again.
Gavin hummed and nodded. "Well, I come here with my little sister and her friend every Saturday. She couldn't make it today, though. Chicken pox." Gavin gave him a glance and Sora made an 'oh' with his mouth, originally intending to actually make the sound.
A beat of silence passed between them.
"I'm guessing this isn't the website designer, yeah?" Gavin paused, then his shoulders shook with laughter, not expecting to get a joke out of the disheveled boy.
Sora hadn't expected it either. The other's presence was just so warm, like he could say anything that was on his mind. He almost felt like he was playing into some scheme, but didn't even have a drop of strength to care.
Gavin finally calmed down and responded, "I have two older sisters, and a brother that's older than all of us." Remnants of his hearty laugh remained in the smile he easily gave.
"Damn," Sora blurted.
Gavin nodded. "That does remind me though, I'll text you later, to let you know what she said."
"I'm here now." He said that, but the blank look on his face as he played with his fingers said something else.
"I know. I just wanted an excuse to text you." Sora's fingers stopped moving, but his breath quickened ever so slightly. Even he was surprised by the lighthearted laugh that followed. Gavin's smile only widened.
"It's not in your nature to be so forward," a small curve rested on his lips. "Or was I totally wrong about you?" His body had melted into the bench without him noticing. Gavin was like a warm lamp that magically appeared in the dark. Or a fireplace on a cold lonely night. Maybe along the way, he took a few right turns and got lucky enough to meet such a great guy.
"I think your sister fell asleep." Sora pointed out gently and Gavin sprung up.
"Oh my gosh, I swear she's like a cat in human form." He grumbled as he went to retrieve the small girl. Sora smiled at the scene. How the boy's tall frame bent to pick up the small child, and his gentle hold painted in Sora's mind the image of someone carrying a tray of eggs.
Upon returning with her in his arms, Gavin smiled sheepishly. "I guess we'll be heading out. Do you want to.. maybe.. join the car?"
"Oh- uh- opposite direction, remember?" Sora chuckled. "It's okay, I'll find my way."
"Sora, I insist. So if you were trying to be polite just then, you can't say no now." He pouted like a little kid.
"You're a persistent one, do you know?"
"Really? I never noticed." He replied and shrugged his shoulders, starting to walk out of the park.
"Do you just like- drive everywhere?" Sora marched behind him like an obedient ant.
"I guess that's the point of having a car." Sora could hear the smile in his response and quietly rolled his eyes. The walk was silent, save for the crunch of leaves and the pattern of shoes on concrete.
Gavin unlocked the vehicle and placed the girl softly in the backseat, buckling her in the best he could. He then moved to open the passenger side but Sora was already halfway in. He sat and let out a deep deflating breath.
"Comfortable?" Gavin mused from the slightly open window.
"Yeah." His tone was breathless. "The pavement was starting to hurt, think I stepped on something sharp."
"Wait, let me see." He opened the door and held Sora's feet, inspecting his blackened soles. He touched different parts until Sora flinched. "That hurts?" Sora nodded. "Okay, can you come home with me?"
"A bit forward, but—"
Gavin laughed. "I need to clean you up and take a proper look. Is that alright? We can also go to yours if it's more—"
"No!" Sora retrieved his legs and shut the door, closing in on himself as well.
Gavin rested his outstretched hand, eyebrows slightly furrowed. At the very least, that reaction made him wonder whether the thing Sora was running away from was closer than he could handle.
Gavin walked around the back and entered the driver's seat. Sora immediately turned to apologize, but Gavin cut him off. "I'm not offended. We can go to my house. Seatbelt, please." He reminded as he buckled his own into place.
Sora sighed and did as he was told. He simply hoped he hadn't ruined everything with his melodrama.
Gavin was about to drive, after hearing the clack of the other seatbelt, when he paused. "Ah, I didn't mean to assume, that was an apology right?"
Sora could only find the strength to give a mechanical nod, face as blank as a sheet of paper. "Let's just go. Please."