... The conversation soon shifted to lighter banter, with Noah keeping things casual and easy. Avery chimed in with a few jokes, and Liam added his usual sarcastic commentary, making it hard for Gemini to stay focused on the heavier thoughts lingering in his mind. But as they talked, Gemini couldn't help but notice the subtle shifts between him and Fourth—an unspoken understanding building in the background.
"Noah, are you seriously telling me you like pineapple on pizza?" Liam raised an eyebrow, half-amused, half-disbelieving.
"Yup, best combo ever," Noah said, leaning back with a grin. "You're just mad because you're missing out on the best food ever."
Avery snorted. "Noah, you're the only one who thinks that. Liam, back me up here."
Liam sighed dramatically. "I swear, it's like a crime against food. Pineapple doesn't belong on pizza. Ever."
Maya, who had been quietly observing the group, gave them both a teasing eye-roll. "You two could argue about this forever, couldn't you?" she said, her voice dripping with amusement.
Avery smirked. "Of course. It's about the principle of not ruining pizza."
"I'm with you on that one," Liam said with a satisfied nod.
Noah laughed, shaking his head. "You guys are missing out, I swear."
Gemini found himself tuning out their chatter. Noah and Liam's back-and-forth was a familiar comfort to the group, and Avery and Maya's sarcastic remarks kept the mood light, but Gemini couldn't shake the unease creeping up inside him. The words Fourth had said earlier echoed in his mind: Deflect. Afraid of letting anyone see what's underneath. The accusations weren't new—he'd heard similar things from people in his life before—but it was different coming from Fourth. There was no judgment, no malice in the observation. Just a quiet truth that Gemini wasn't ready to face.
Noah laughed at something Liam said, and Maya, who had been quietly observing the group, gave them both a teasing eye-roll. But through it all, Gemini couldn't shake the subtle unease Fourth's words had stirred.
As the group made their way outside the café, the rain had all but stopped, leaving behind only the lingering scent of wet pavement and the rhythmic dripping of water from rooftops. Gemini pulled his jacket closer against the cool air, glancing at Fourth as they started walking down the street together.
"Did you mean what you said back there?" Gemini asked after a long silence, his voice carefully casual.
Fourth turned his head slightly, his amber eyes catching the dim light of a streetlamp. "About what?"
"About me deflecting," Gemini said, his gaze fixed straight ahead. "You seemed pretty sure of yourself."
Fourth shrugged, his tone light but honest. "It's just an observation. I could be wrong."
"You don't seem like the type to say something unless you're sure of it," Gemini countered, his hazel eyes narrowing slightly.
A small smile played on Fourth's lips. "Fair enough. But I think everyone has their reasons for keeping people at arm's length. I'm no exception."
Gemini stopped walking, his curiosity piqued. "Oh, really? And what's your reason?"
Fourth paused a few steps ahead, glancing back at Gemini with a wry smile. "Maybe I'll tell you someday. When you're ready to answer the same question."
The challenge hung in the air between them, unspoken but understood. Gemini didn't press further. Instead, he fell back into step beside Fourth, their silence filled with the muted sounds of the city around them.
As the group continued to walk, Avery playfully nudged Maya, who grinned, making some lighthearted comment about Gemini's obvious discomfort. Noah followed close behind, adding to the friendly chaos, while Liam and Avery continued their banter. But Gemini and Fourth remained a quiet island amidst it all.
They turned a corner, and the street opened up into a small park, its benches and pathways glistening with leftover rain. Without saying a word, Fourth walked over to a bench beneath a tree and sat down.
Gemini hesitated, unsure whether to follow or keep walking. But something about the way Fourth sat there—calm, unbothered—made him take a seat.
For a while, neither of them spoke. The quiet was different now, less heavy, more contemplative.
"You don't have to tell me anything," Fourth said eventually, his voice quiet but firm. "But sometimes it helps to let someone in. Even just a little."
Gemini tilted his head back, staring up at the dark branches overhead. "You make it sound easy."
"It's not," Fourth admitted. "But it's worth it."
The sincerity in Fourth's tone caught Gemini off guard. He shifted uncomfortably, feeling the weight of his own silence pressing down on him. Against his better judgment, he decided to speak.
"There's a reason I keep people at arm's length," Gemini said, his voice low. "It's easier that way. Less messy."
Fourth didn't interrupt, didn't push for more. He just waited, his amber eyes steady and patient.
"My parents split when I was a kid," Gemini continued, his gaze fixed on the wet ground. "It wasn't a big deal at first. They said it would be better for everyone. But the way they just... drifted apart—it was like watching two people stop caring. About each other, about us, about everything. I think I learned pretty early that letting people in only gives them the chance to leave."
The words hung in the air, raw and unpolished, but they were out there now, and Gemini couldn't take them back.
Fourth nodded slowly, his expression thoughtful. "That sounds... hard."
"It was what it was," Gemini said with a shrug, forcing a nonchalance he didn't feel. "It's not like I'm the only one with a sob story."
"Maybe not," Fourth said. "But that doesn't make it any less real."
Gemini glanced at him, caught off guard by the simple kindness in his voice. There was no pity, no condescension—just understanding.
For the first time in a long time, Gemini felt the tiniest crack in the walls he'd built around himself.
"Well," he said, his tone shifting back to its usual lightness, "now you know my tragic backstory. Your turn."
Fourth smirked, but there was a flicker of something guarded in his eyes. "Nice try. I said someday, remember?"
Gemini rolled his eyes, but he couldn't help the small smile that tugged at his lips. "Fine. Keep your secrets."
As they left the park and started walking again, Gemini realized that something had shifted between them. It wasn't just the teasing or the flirtation anymore. There was an understanding now, a thread of trust that hadn't been there before.
As the group slowly gathered nearby, Noah threw a joking comment in their direction, Liam snickered, and Avery shot Gemini a knowing look, but he couldn't help but stay focused on the quiet connection he had just shared with Fourth.
And as much as it scared him, he couldn't help but wonder where it might lead.
They walked side by side, the night air cool and damp, their steps falling into an easy rhythm. Fourth didn't press for more, didn't prod at the vulnerability Gemini had just shared. Instead, he let the silence stretch between them, giving it space to breathe.
"You know," Fourth said after a moment, his voice casual but tinged with curiosity, "for someone who doesn't like letting people in, you're pretty good at it when you want to be."
Gemini glanced at him, a faint smirk pulling at his lips. "Don't get used to it..
Fourth laughed softly, the sound warm and genuine. "Noted. But for what it's worth, I'm glad you did."
Gemini didn't respond right away. His gaze flickered to Fourth, catching the way the dim streetlights cast a soft glow across his features. There was something about Fourth's presence that was disarming, a quiet confidence that made Gemini feel both safe and completely off-balance at the same time.
"Yeah, well," Gemini said finally, his voice dropping into a murmur, "don't make me regret it."
Fourth's lips curved into a faint smile, his amber eyes meeting Gemini's with a quiet promise. "I won't."
The simplicity of his words hit harder than Gemini expected. They weren't grand or overly sentimental, but they held a sincerity that felt impossible to question. For the first time in a long time, Gemini felt the stirrings of something unfamiliar—a cautious hope that maybe, just maybe, letting someone in wasn't such a bad idea after all.
As they reached the edge of the park, their paths diverging once more, Gemini hesitated. "Next time we meet," he said, his voice teasing but softer now, "maybe you'll share something about yourself."
Fourth's smile widened, a spark of playfulness in his gaze. "Maybe. If you're lucky."
Gemini shook his head, a chuckle escaping his lips as he turned to walk away. "We'll see about that."
As he disappeared down the street, Fourth remained where he was, watching until Gemini was out of sight. The faint smile lingered on his face, but his thoughts were far from light.
For all of Gemini's deflections and guardedness, there was something in him that drew Fourth in—something vulnerable and raw, hidden beneath layers of carefully constructed armor.
And Fourth couldn't help but feel that he wanted to see more.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
❥ the end of chapter 3 ❦