[attr="class","beck"]"good."

his grip tightens over merlino's shoulder.

"then i trust you."

[attr="class","noodles"]Cillian Quinn

Should you?

But the thought goes unspoken; Gavin will not challenge him again, not with the weight of the hand on his shoulder sending his anxiety into overdrive. Theo's grip tightens around the tense muscles of a scarred shoulder.

"Okay," he relents, soft.

[attr="class","beck"]his grip laxes and his hand falls, retracting into a pocket for a cigarette. he pulls two out, hands one over to merlino and lights it if he accepts. he lights his, takes a drag, then continues walking.

"anything else on your mind?"

[attr="class","noodles"]Cillian Quinn

Theo lets him go, and breath returns in a dizzying rush.

Fresh air in his lungs is compromised by the offer of a cigarette, but Gavin takes it all the same. He takes a bigger drag than he should, coughs to clear his throat before he takes a few quick strides to catch up to Theo.

He doesn't answer immediately. Then,

"Who was he? The other one?"

[attr="class","beck"]"the kid?"

he shrugs.

"no idea. didn't matter then, doesn't matter now."

[attr="class","noodles"]Cillian Quinn

It matters to me.

But like always, Gavin is quick to back down.

"Then there's nothing else, sir."

Nothing he feels safe enough to share, at any rate.