With barely a moment of hesitation, Dae was following Evan before he could even think about stopping himself. As he caught up to the redhead, Dae could feel himself smiling like an idiot. And Evan seemed to notice too, casting glances at him with a cocked eyebrow. Dae cleared his throat before attempting some lighthearted banter, "Just so we're clear, I'll accompany you in case those dickheads circle back around, okay?"
Evan's lips quirked up into the slightest smile before he shook his head. "And here I thought you just liked my company."
That small comeback was enough to let Dae relax his shoulders and just enjoy the walk. It meant that there wasn't as much hostility between them; and that allowed him a chance to breathe.
A soft silence settled between them as they walked slowly toward the diner together; a silence that didn't make Dae nervous or anxious. He was content to be in the moment and just be around Evan; which was only broken when the redhead cleared his throat suddenly.
Dae's attention shifted to Evan whose eyes were as surprisingly serious as his face; any playfulness that was usually hinted at was gone. And to make matters even more intense, Evan was making direct eye contact with him--a brief sad smile on his face, "Dae...? You...you can ask if you want to..."
Dae tensed, knowing exactly what Evan was referring to. And despite wanting to know about the redhead's mysterious past, Dae just smiled in return, "Nah."
"Nah?" Evan looked a little taken aback, but the smile on his face grew faintly. Less sadness was evident as it grew. "That's it? That's what you want?"
Hearing the smallest amount of amusement in Evan's voice, Dae knew he had chosen wisely. He beamed even wider, "It's not exactly that cut and dry, but yeah. Of course, I want to know more about you...but it seems like these particular memories from your past aren't good ones."
"Okay, that was cute...but also a cop-out, and you know it." Evan shook his head, the remaining sorrow finally draining from his body, "Everyone has some shit in their past they don't wanna relive."
"I know that, thanks, but I just prefer to think that everyone has their secrets. And I'll learn yours in time, or I won't. Either way doesn't change that they exist, Mr. Pessimist." Dae laughed, "But my point is that I'll be ready to listen to any particular secrets when you're ready to share them, got it? I'd like to know the details when we're in a place where you don't regret letting me get closer. But, honestly no rush; I plan on being here for a while. I'm really into...this adventure so far."
A look of sincere vulnerability slipped onto Evan's features and Dae's heart skipped a beat--he liked the idea that he got to see that side of Evan. However, the rawness in his face was replaced by the redhead's usual lopsided smirk after just a moment. "How is it, Dae, that someone reckless enough to punch first and ask questions after also respects boundaries like such a gentleman?"
Against his own will, Dae felt a sting of hurt at Evan's playfulness. He hated that Evan had seen him in that rage state; he's always hated when anyone saw him like that. But this was worse...this time it was Evan and--
But before his mind was able to spiral, Dae was brought back to the present moment with a hand on his shoulder, gentle yet firm enough that he knew it was real. When his eyes focused, Dae saw that Evan had stepped closer and was now holding onto him, a sweet smile replacing the smirk from moments before.
"Perish the thought..." Evan spoke so softly that Dae felt like the words were only for him to hear, "I don't mind a man with secrets of his own. You know, since everyone had them."
A small wink from Evan and the throwback to his own words partnered with the diner approaching in the distance activated something within Dae. He exhaled, steeling himself for a conversation he didn't want to have with Evan yet, before placing a hand over Evan's.
The feeling was electric when their skin makes contact, and he knew Evan felt it too from the small, sharp inhale the redhead had made. But neither one of them moved their hand.
Dae looked away from Evan for a moment before finding a new resolve. "When we first met--the day of that screaming match with my Pops you saw--I was coming home from a few months in a rehab center...I've had some issues in the past with drugs. Partnered with my shitty home life and already existent anger issues, I'm a real Lifetime Original antagonist...I'm not gonna dump my whole sob story on you--because you don't deserve that--just know that I'm a huge mess...But I'm trying to get better. I'm really trying to..."
A small silence fell between them as they resumed their trek towards Evan's workplace. But even with the info dump, and the fact that they've started moving again, Dae realized that the redhead's hand was still on his shoulder. And each of them walked slowly to avoid the position becoming awkward.
Dae felt a small squeeze of his shoulder a couple of minutes later, right before Evan slid his hand out from underneath Dae's. And Dae couldn't help but instantly miss the feeling of Evan's hand on him. Dae exhaled and risked a glance at Evan, who was looking at him with a kindness that Dae wasn't used to. Finally, Evan spoke and any fear Dae had about opening up to him was gone when the redhead's words held a sweet softness in them, "Did you wanna stick around? It's not too long of a shift so...maybe we could hang out? After?"
Dae nodded without a second thought--nor a single moment of hesitation. "I'd love that." He said, knowing that he truly would love to spend more time with Evan.