[attr="class","beck"]"it pulses psychic energy to search for its prey."

a hand reaches under the tank for a bit of bait. he holds it over the tank, slowly lowering it in to not cause too much of a ripple before dropping it. he watches it drift down and the moment it nears, bruxish springs out, engulfing it whole.

at cillian's words, he only offers a gentle rebuttal.

"feebas already are incredible."

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

His brows arch; he's impressed by the Bruxish's display.

At Theo's rebuttal, Gavin hums softly in his throat.

"Of course. A different sort of beauty."

The book had focused at length on the beautiful, prismatic quality of Milotic's scales. Little attention had been paid to the ugly, underwhelming appearance of Feebas — that, Gavin thought, was part of what made Feebas interesting.

[attr="class","beck"]he nods, agreeing, and after a moment of silence, he decides to pursue something that's been on his mind.

"chu-e came by the other day."

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

Gavin blinks, cants his head, processing.

Theo didn't often air words without meaning.

"Oh?"

[attr="class","beck"]"he told me about the person he's dating."

he offers words with veiled intentions.

"has he told you?"

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

Gossip, then. He relaxes as he realizes this isn't about work.

"Vercetti, yes. One of few who can keep up with Chu-e, I've heard."

His smile is fond, genuine, utterly unaware.

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

he gives nothing away.

"he also thinks you're in love with me."

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

Really, he should be accustomed to the blindsiding by now.

He isn't.

It shows in his expression; there's a flicker of shock before he manages to regain composure. But though he schools his features, there's nothing he can do about the flush that heats his skin. Were no conversations sacred?

There's something guilty in the way he averts his gaze.

What was he supposed to say?

"Ah." His voice tight with anxiety. "Were you looking for confirmation?"

His gaze returns. Or do you already know?

[attr="class","beck"]not confirmation, no.

his head tilts over, meeting cillian's gaze.

"do you?"

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

Theo's gaze pins as effectively as it ever has, but now it's a different sort of fear that governs the pounding of his heart.

Gavin swallows, running his tongue over dry lips.

What does he want me to say?

He wills the strength into his voice and settles on truth.

"Yeah."

[attr="class","beck"]it's an answer he expects.

and though he's had plenty of time to entertain his thoughts, his possible reactions, he chooses the one that hurts him less.

unfortunately, cillian isn't spared the same.

silence befalls them, suffocating only one of them.

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

He'd braced himself for the inevitable silence, yet still it wedges like a knife behind his ribs. His jaw clenches, painful, but there's no bitterness in his tone.

"Why bring it up?"

[attr="class","beck"]"i was hoping for a different answer."

because it'd make things so much easier.

this, whatever this is, is unfamiliar, painful, and dangerous.

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