The soft murmur of conversations filled the air as Ocean and Skyler stepped into the restaurant, the clink of silverware and the scent of fresh dishes mingling around them. It was a cozy, elegant place, not too crowded, but the moment they entered, Ocean felt the weight of eyes turning in their direction. People glanced up from their meals, subtle yet unmistakable, as if curious about the pair who had just arrived.
Ocean tensed slightly, his discomfort rising as the gazes lingered. It wasn't like he was unused to people looking at him—he had grown accustomed to passing attention, but this felt different. More intense. More intrusive. He fidgeted with the sleeve of his jacket as they were led to their table near the window.
Skyler, ever perceptive, noticed the shift in Ocean's demeanor immediately. As they took their seats, he shot Ocean a reassuring glance, his eyes soft but steady. His attention, as it had been all day, remained solely on Ocean, not even a flicker toward the curious onlookers.
"You okay?" Skyler asked softly, his voice barely audible over the clatter of plates and chatter around them.
Ocean hesitated, biting his lip before nodding slightly. "Yeah," he murmured, though the slight tremor in his voice betrayed him. "It's just... people are staring."
Skyler's gaze didn't leave his, and there was a subtle but undeniable warmth in his expression. He reached across the table, his fingers brushing lightly against Ocean's hand in a gesture that was gentle yet grounding. "Let them stare," Skyler said quietly, his tone calm, unbothered. "They don't matter. You do."
Ocean's heart skipped a beat at those words, his gaze lowering to where Skyler's hand rested near his. There was something about Skyler's presence that made the world feel smaller, quieter—like everything beyond them faded into the background. He could still feel the eyes on them, but with Skyler's attention so focused on him, they didn't seem as overwhelming.
He allowed himself to breathe, the tension in his shoulders easing ever so slightly. "Thanks," Ocean whispered, a small smile tugging at his lips.
Skyler smiled in return, his eyes softening even more as he leaned back in his chair. "You don't need to thank me, Ocean. I'm just glad you're here with me today."
They ordered their food—a simple meal, nothing too extravagant. Skyler, ever considerate, chose something he knew Ocean would enjoy without making a big fuss. He remembered Ocean's preferences from before, from all those little conversations they had shared in passing over the years. It wasn't hard for him to piece together the things Ocean liked, the things that made him comfortable.
The waiters continued to hover around their table, discreet but clearly intrigued by the pair. It was as if they knew there was something between Ocean and Skyler, though neither of them was making a show of it. There was a natural, quiet connection that spoke louder than any public display could.
Ocean couldn't shake the feeling of being on display, though—like the diners around them were all waiting for something to happen, waiting for them to break their careful composure. But every time he started to feel overwhelmed, he would catch Skyler's eyes, and the rest of the world would blur away.
"How's your food?" Skyler asked casually as he took a bite of his own meal, his tone light and easy.
Ocean glanced down at his plate and nodded, taking a small bite. It was good, but his mind wasn't really on the food. "It's... nice," he replied quietly, lifting his eyes to meet Skyler's once more. "You seem really calm."
Skyler chuckled softly, shaking his head. "I've learned not to care too much about what people think," he admitted, leaning in slightly. "As long as I'm with someone I care about, that's all that matters. The rest is just... background noise."
Ocean blinked, taken aback by the sincerity in Skyler's voice. He hadn't expected such a candid response, but it was exactly what he needed to hear. He let the words sink in, his fingers absentmindedly playing with the edge of the napkin in his lap.
"Background noise," Ocean echoed softly, the corners of his lips lifting into a small, almost shy smile. "That's a nice way to put it."
Skyler's smile widened, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "It's true," he said. "When you're with the right person, everything else just fades away."
Ocean could feel the warmth creeping up his cheeks, the sincerity in Skyler's gaze making his heart flutter in a way he wasn't quite used to. It was disarming—how effortlessly Skyler made him feel seen, cared for, without even trying.
As they continued their meal, the conversation flowed easily between them. It was simple, but there was something comforting about the way they spoke—like two people who had known each other for much longer than they actually had. Skyler asked Ocean about the things he enjoyed, the places he liked to go, the little moments in life that made him happy. And with every answer, Ocean found himself opening up a little more, sharing parts of himself he hadn't realized he'd kept hidden for so long.
When the waiter came by to clear their plates, Ocean realized just how quickly time had passed. The restaurant had grown a little quieter, the once-bustling energy settling into a calm hum. The eyes that had been on them earlier seemed to have lost interest, and for the first time since they had arrived, Ocean felt like they were truly alone in their little corner of the world.
Skyler stretched his arms, glancing out the window at the fading afternoon light. "So," he began, turning his attention back to Ocean, "what do you want to do next?"
Ocean blinked, surprised by the question. He hadn't thought much beyond their lunch—hadn't expected the day to stretch on like this. But now, with the soft glow of the setting sun outside and the warmth of Skyler's gaze on him, he found himself wanting more. More of this day, more of this quiet connection.
"I don't know," Ocean admitted softly, a small smile playing on his lips. "I guess I wasn't really expecting today to turn out like this."
Skyler tilted his head, his expression curious but gentle. "Is that a good thing?"
Ocean glanced down at his hands, his heart fluttering in his chest. "Yeah," he whispered. "It's a good thing."
Skyler's smile was slow, but it lit up his face in a way that made Ocean's breath catch. "Then let's keep going," he said, his voice filled with quiet determination. "We've still got time. Let's make the most of it."
Ocean looked up, meeting Skyler's gaze, and in that moment, he knew. He knew that no matter where they went next—no matter what they did—the rest of the world would fade away. Because in this small bubble of time, it was just the two of them.
And for now, that was enough.
TBC. 🩵
