"No," Cavan cut across him firmly. "Most people suffer unbelievable trauma from one gunshot wound. You took three and kept fighting. You're on a whole other level of amazing."
Lucas pressed his lips together and let Cavan hold him for a few moments. However, he began to touch upon his OCD, and he wriggled out of the embrace a little to indicate for the brat to stop. "You're kind, Cavan," was all he managed to say.
Cavan’s shoulders slumped. "Shit. I'm sorry. I knew it was too personal to ask. I should've kept my mouth shut."
"I like that you don't," Lucas insisted. "Most people skirt around difficult subjects. I admire that you don't."
Cavan frowned before exhaling heavily. "Lighter topic?"
Lucas smirked, "Yeah. Lighter topic."
~0~
They talked for another hour to the point that their food got cold and they tried to wolf as much as it down in one-go so that they didn't come off as snobby to the waitress. Lucas insisted on paying and then they bundled up in their coats and went outside. The sky was already darkening as they made their way down the street, hands in their pockets.
There didn't really seem to be any planned destination, but Lucas was more than happy to walk under the bright lights. They finally paused alongside the Thames. Somehow, they'd found their way back to the ribbon of shimmery black water. They leaned against the railing, Cavan actually having to stoop lower to rest against.
Their breath rose before them in the crisp air.
"This is so surreal," Cavan finally said in a loud exhale.
Lucas nodded in agreement.
"I mean, just two months ago I had no idea who you were. Just that I was mortified in texting a wrong number all Christmas day."
Lucas huffed a small smile, the memories washing through his head. It had been a pleasant surprise that day. Even more pleasant considering that Cavan had text him again to rekindle their intriguing discussions.
"So …" the kid hedged. He was rather adorable when he was nervous. "Where exactly do we go from here?"
"Well I'd imagine your parents will expect you home at some point," Lucas deadpanned.
Cavan looked up at him but when he saw the teasing smirk on the older man's lips, he smiled too. "I'm also twenty. I have my own key."
"Such a grown-up."
"Lucaaaaaaaaas-!"
"Dear God don't do that," he wrinkled his nose. "You really do sound like Eleanor sometimes. It's unnerving."
"Sorry." Cavan flushed and ducked his head, his mess of brown hair falling into his eyes. Lucas's fingers twitched to stroke the hair away, but he refrained. "I more meant –like –Am I still allowed to text you?"
"Of course," Lucas shrugged. "It's a free country."
"But would you like me to text you?"
"You need to be more articulate, kid."
Yes, he was being an arsehole. He'd never claimed to be perfect, and baiting Cavan so shamelessly was one of the things Bonnie had warned him not to do but –he couldn't resist. The brat was just too adorable. He had the most expressive face and clear, green eyes that it came together in one effortlessly beautiful picture and just stole Lucas's breath away.
His teasing was a way to ground himself.
"Fine!" Cavan straightened up to his full height. He grasped Lucas by the shoulders and turned him so that they were face-to-face. Lucas sort of hated that he had to look up at the taller man, but he sort of liked it too. "Lucas, I would love to keep texting you. I don't want that to change."
The witty comment was on the tip of his tongue. He swallowed it down.
Instead, he smirked up at Cavan and placed his hands over the brunettes. "Then text me, kid. I don't want it to change either," he added as an afterthought.
It would have been so easy to kiss him in that moment. Lucas was suddenly filled with a weightlessness he couldn't remember having felt before. The only thing pinning him to earth were Cavan’s hands on his shoulders. Those wide, green eyes were vibrant, almost dancing with anticipation.
Lucas's ringtone blared through the quiet, shattering the moment.
"Fuck!" he hissed, digging the offending object out of his back pocket and answering the call. "What the hell do you want?" he snapped.
Cavan’s eyes went comically wide as he tried to suppress his laughter.
"Fine. There's a spare key on top of the frame." Lucas clenched his phone tighter. "Yeah, bye."
Cavan finally let his laughter out. "Oh wow! You were not kidding about being a dick to your friends!"
"When they do dumb shit like interrupting me on days like this, they deserve every ounce of abuse I dole out."
"Clearly," Cavan grinned. "I hope I never piss you off that much."
Lucas pocketed his phone and sighed. His rhythm had been jolted and it unsettled him. It shouldn't, but it was one of those ripple effects from the army. He'd calm down eventually.
"You –don't need to get home, do you?" Cavan hedged, shifting awkwardly on the spot.
Shaking his head, Lucas leaned against the railing again. "No. Bonnie just locked herself out."
"What about her boyfriend? What was his name?"
"Fletcher," Lucas said. "He's working late."
"Are you okay? You seem a little rattled."
"I'll be okay, kid," he insisted. A frigid wind rushed over the Thames, making ice pool in the pit of his stomach. He flexed his fingers. "Maybe we should be heading back. It wouldn't do to get ill now."
"I suppose not," Cavan hummed in agreement, though his voice was tinged with sadness. Lucas tried not to read too much into it. It had been a good day. There was no need to focus on the negatives. "There's a train station just ten minutes this way," Cavan pointed. "It should get us back to Charing Cross."
"Lead the way, kid."
They walked in silence, their arms bumping against one another as they walked. Lucas delighted in the warmth whenever he touched against Cavan or vice versa. It was nice. Charing Cross was teeming with people which was never a surprise. Scanning the boards, Lucas saw that he had a fifteen minute wait for his train. Following Cavan through the crowd, they came to a stop a few meters away from the barriers that led to the platform.
Drawing in a deep breath Lucas turned to the younger man.
"Cavan –" Wow even the name sounded strange out loud from his own voice. "I had a wonderful time today."
Green eyes lit up. "Really? Are you sure?"
"Yes, one hundred percent," Lucas smirked. "It's easy considering how adorable you are when you're nervous."
Cavan’s cheeks flushed pink as he dropped his gaze away and mumbled something incohCavant.
"What was that?" Lucas probed.
"I said you're pretty incredible yourself."
Lucas felt his body flush but tried to keep his face neutral. He wanted to 'correct' Cavan’s perception however he felt that –for once –he could just accept the compliment. For Cavan.
"So I'm still allowed to text you right?" Cavan asked, his hands in his pockets. Lucas watched the fabric twitch. He probably had a fidget-spinner in his pocket.
"I hope that you would," Lucas stated.
"Good."
"Good."
Cavan bit his lip. "Fuck, why is it so awkward to talk to you? I've just spent the whole day with you?"
"Maybe because we're out in public?" the older man suggested. "We can only do so much that is publicly appropriate."
Cavan’s cheeks blushed bright pink. Lucas finally caught the implication of his own words and wanted to smack himself. Cavan chuckled and his eyes sparkled. "Maybe next time we go out it can end somewhere a little more … private?"
Lucas cocked a sleek, black eyebrow. "Brave now, are we, kid?"
"You bring out my brave side, clearly."
"Or you're just too damn cocky for your own good."
The taller man smirked mischievously. Lucas was about to chew him out for being filthy-minded, but his eyes caught the large digital clock overhead.
"Shit," he sighed. "Looks like my
train leaves soon."
"You'd best get going."
"Yeah." He paused for a moment before ignoring the pressure in his chest and pressing a chaste kiss to Cavan’s cheek. "See you soon, brat."
On the other side of the barrier he glanced over his shoulder and watched just as Cavan’s hand fell away from his cheek, a stupidly broad grin breaking out over his face. Lucas jogged the last few feet to the train, climbed in and tried to keep his breathing under control as he found a vacant seat and settled down. His heart summersaulted in his chest and his mind was spinning. Within moments, the train was pulling out of the station.
~0~
Opening his front door, he was greeted with bright lights and the sound of the TV in the living room.
'Oh right,' he thought bitterly. 'Bonnie’s here.'
Taking his shoes off at the door, he folded his coat into the cupboard and padded through to the lounge. Bundled up on one side of the sofa under a thick blanket and with a bowl of popcorn in her lap was Bonnie. When she saw Lucas, she grinned and patted the seat beside her. He glowered at her but draped the blanket over his lap regardless.
She turned the TV down a little.
"So?" she prodded his arm. "How was the date?"
"It wasn't a date."
"Okay so how was your non-date?"
He threw a glare at her but there was no heat behind it. "It was good. We had a few awkward moments but on the whole, it was a good day."
"Only good?"
"Well how good are first meetings anyway? We're still getting to know one another."
"So … You're taking it slow?" she hedged, popcorn halfway to her mouth.
"I suppose," he shrugged. "There's not much to tell. At the very least I didn't waste my time today, which is the top three things I'm glad about."
"So what does he look like?" Bonnie asked.
Lucas was about to describe Cavan when he realised, he didn't really need to. Out of his back pocket, he drew out one of the magnets from the aquarium. It was small, but under the bright lights it was clear enough. He passed it to Bonnie in exchange for the bowl of popcorn.
"Oh wow!" Bonnie exclaimed. "He's cute!"
"Yes, he's very cute."
"And tall!"
"Half-giant, yes. I just about reach his shoulders."
"That may very well be the perfect height," she snickered.
"Hey now," he warned. "I let you into my house and make popcorn of all things. Do not make me kick you out."
"Okay, okay!" she giggled. "I promise I'll behave."
"Good. Now, what trash are you watching on my Netflix?"
Later that night, after Fletcher came home and Bonnie bade him goodnight, Lucas was lying in bed and reading when his phone buzzed. It was from Cavan.
(23:12) I still can't believe I got to meet you today. It's so maddening! Can't believe I had to wait nine weeks to meet you.
(23:19) Would totally go through it all again. I'm enjoying getting to know you … x
Lucas allowed himself to smile at the little 'x' at the end. Damn, he really was becoming smitten. He stroked his thumb over the screen just as another message popped through. It was a photo-message. As soon as Lucas opened it up his heart soared.
It was their souvenir from the aquarium.
It didn't sink in until a minute later that Cavan had probably walked around his house for the brightest light in order to take a decent photo of their souvenir. Warmth bubbled inside him. He smiled as he tapped out a reply, his eyelids already growing heavy.
(23:27) Thanks for the photo, brat. At least now I have a photo of you.
(23:34) Your death-glare is adorable. I want to frame it!
(23:40) Go to sleep, brat.
(23:43) Sweet Dreams Lucas!
(23:49) P.S. I'm so glad I met you! :D
(23:52) I'm glad I met you too.
Chapter 10
Wednesday AM
(10:50) I’m awake early on a Wednesday. I have nothing to do until 3PM. I can’t stop thinking about seeing you yesterday.
(10:58) It’s almost precious that this is ‘early’ for you.
(11:02) I’ve literally gotten up, gone for a jog, popped over to see Eleanor for brunch and gone food shopping.
(11:05) Urgh I’m exhausted just reading that.
(11:07) Lazy shit.
(11:10) I don’t think I could survive being your roommate.
(11:16) Oh really? Why is that?
(11:21) You wake up too early! I’d probably never sleep-in again.
(11:24) Maybe it’d help you start the day.
(11:27) Or you could make me breakfast :D
(11:32) I’m not your skivvy, kid. Besides, for waking up so late you’d be on breakfast duty.
(11:36) Wow. You’re the worst roommate ever.
(11:45) Looks like I’ve just shot myself in the foot for you coming over.
(11:48) You don’t have to sound SO gleeful.
(11:54) Go on brat. Get up, wash, dress, start your day.
(11:59) I’m going out for the day with Bonnie and Fletcher.
(12:06) Oh. Where are you off to?
(12:09) Jealous?
(12:15) We’re just going for a picnic, apparently.
(12:17) Picnic? You?
(12:23) Don’t. Just don’t.
(12:28) You really do let your friends bully you into shit, don’t you?
(12:36) They say it’s the only way I’d see sunlight. Or you know … overcast clouds.
(12:38) You know, other than my job.
(12:40) Okay well try and have fun being outside and sociable.
(12:42) No.
(12:43) Please?
(12:44) No.
(12:45) PRETTY please?
(12:46) Urgh … No.
(12:48) Grumpy git.
Wednesday PM
(15:17) Okay so I know you probably won’t get this seeing as none of my other messages didn’t go through, but I hope you’re enjoying that feeble ray of sunshine.
(15:20) Seriously how can you go outside and have a picnic in this sort of weather. It’s cold and grey outside.
(15:26) It’s more like a hike in the woods. Yes, I hike. Only when forced to.
(15:30) Well you do jog.
(15:37) Totally diffCavant. I do that to curb my insomnia.
(15:41) This is meant to be for ‘fun’.
(15:47) Almost certain I felt the earth quake from here.
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