so the sun, it can shine on me, and the clouds they can roll away (open to all)

[davin]

Davin missed a lot of things while he was being held in that warehouse, but coffee was up high on the list. By the second day, he was feeling the lack of caffeine and the added headache wasn't doing him any favors. The first few days back, he didn't want to leave his apartment. James or Mira would bring him coffee from Quill, or he'd fire up his little coffeemaker in his kitchen. He was allowed a few days of being lazy, he thought. Or fear disguised as laziness, if he's honest with himself.

But he needs to get back into in the swing of things. He hasn't really seen anyone aside from James, Mira, and Raleigh, and he doesn't really have any idea of what happened while he and Spencer were gone. He just knows that he needs to get back to his real life. He needs to put the kidnapping and the torture and all that behind him, and needs to keep moving forward.

He can start by going to get his own coffee. He takes a shower and puts himself together as much as he can, wrinkling his nose at his reflection in the mirror. His face is still bruised, and he has stitches above one cheekbone and a small line of them at his temple, where he was initially knocked out with the wrench. His right hand is in a cast and he walks stiffly, thanks to his cracked ribs, but he goes outside anyway.

It's a nice day and the sun is shining, and that's something that Davin will never take advantage of again. He went days without seeing the sun, or feeling any sort of warmth, and now he smiles when he feels it on his skin, and feels the soft breeze ruffling his hair. It's a short walk to Quill, but he takes his time. He feels stiff from all his healing injuries and inactivity, and he just wants to enjoy the sun for a little longer.

People are staring at him, whispering to each other as they pass, and Davin knows that word got around town. There are people who will see he and Spencer as victims, and he supposes they are, but they're so much more than that. They're survivors, and they're strong, no matter what. So Davin keeps his chin up, and he keeps walking.

Comments

[davin]

"It's just a joke, man. I don't have t'be your favorite." Davin bites back a sigh and goes over to sit down at the nearest table, feeling a bit drained. He usually has pretty infinite patience, but he's just so tired.

"Sit," Davin tells him, gesturing to the seat across from him. "Tell me how ya have been settlin' in."

[overdrawing]

Oh. Gabe tries to smile but it's a belated effort. "Sorry."

But he takes a seat and stirs sugar into his coffee, finding something reassuring in the way that the liquid funnels like a little, coffee-colored cyclone. "I met him at the church and he took me to the pub for breakfast. Said I could wash the dishes to pay for it and I just kept washing them..."

[davin]

"Well, that's good. I don't know the guy personally, but I'm glad he gave ya a job." Really, he thinks it can only be good for Gabe to work in a pub. He'll get to see people from all walks of life, and hopefully it will help him come out of his shell a bit. "How's stayin' with Mira? She's my best friend, y'know."

[overdrawing]

"I have no idea why she puts up with me, to be honest," he says. "But it's...nice. Her parents are very kind." Kinder than Gabe thinks he must deserve. His own parents have never spent that much time with him alone.

"I try not to be a burden."

[davin]

"They're great people. Better t'me than my own folks ever were," Davin says with a rueful smile. Mira's parents are wonderful, and he loves spending time around them. "I'm sure you're not a burden, Gabe. You're doin' yer part, makin' yer way. Ya need t'let people help ya, an' that's okay."

[overdrawing]

"They keep leaving things for me like..." Gabe flushes, trying not to look too pleased. "I came back and there were cookies on the bed for me." He hadn't had to share them with anyone, which had been strange in itself, but also that they had been just for him. Someone had thought of him and only him.

"They're...so generous." He doesn't want to abuse that generosity.

[davin]

"They are. I know it's a little hard t'get used to. Trust me," Davin says with a soft smile. "Y'know, you're not all that different from how I was when I was a teenager."

It's not exactly true. Davin was never religious himself, so he never thought he personally was damned, or whatever, but his parents did. Davin is gay and a witch. If his parents are to believe, there's already a room in hell with his name on it. But he was emotionally abused, like Gabe. He was confused and stunned by every act of generosity and affection, and it took awhile to get used to it. Years later, he still isn't quite sure how to handle things like that, but he's getting better.

"Just let 'em be nice t'ya, 'cause they wouldn't if ya weren't deservin' of it," Davin assures him. "I know it's hard, but it's okay t'just let yourself be happy."

[overdrawing]

Gabe doesn't shake his head to deny it, but the look on his face makes it clear he's still uncertain of how to do that. He's never lived only for himself, not with eleven brothers and sisters.

"I still wish I could find a way to show them how grateful I am...but I'm not good for much besides singing and washing dishes."

Before Davin can yell at him, Gab flashes a thin smile. "But I should probably be asking if you're doing all right and everything.'

[davin]

"Just say thank you, man. They aren't expectin' anythin' in return," Davin assures him. "But it took me awhile t'realize that as well."

He smiles when Gabe asks how he is, and he waves his cast around a bit and wrinkles his nose. "I'm alright. I just want things t'get back t'normal."

Davin doesn't really want to talk about what he went through, so he gives Gabe a flirty smile and props his chin on his good hand. "You can sing, huh? Ya should let me hear it sometime."

[overdrawing]

Gabe is about to nod, to say that he wishes he could just thank them enough, and then Davin says that. Immediately, his face goes a deep red and he's shaking his head from side to side.

"I-I only know hymns. You probably don't want to hear those. A-Anyway..."