#x. lena

"No." The word left his lips without hesitation. The closeness he shared with her meant everything to him and the last few months he had almost become dependent on that intimacy, even if it was innocent in nature. "Walking you home that night is one of the best decisions I've made in my life and going back the next night to walk you home again was an even better one..." The words were a little laboured due to the alcohol but for once he was thinking clearly when it came to her, the usual anxiety and shyness gone. Blue eyes were locked on dark brown and his long fingers played with the soft skin of her hand - a habit of his when he was near her, a constant pull to be close to her. "I don't know if I'd like it --" he paused and sighed. "You know, like how we are? ... If I lost that, I'd hate it." The last admission came out in a stutter, this time not because of the alcohol but because he hated showing vulnerability. Caoimhín trusted her, though and he hoped she believed him and didn't think it was the beer talking. He truly meant every word.

location: le comptoir bar​

A late night visit to Le Comptoir had become a regular occurrence for Caoimhín, pretending he came for the beer but really coming to see Lena, someone who he come close to recently. Their first meeting had been typical of him. Stuttering and blushing, unable to keep direct eye contact. The memory made him cringe with embarrassment and she only reminded him every so often, so it wasn’t like he had to relive it over and over again thanks to her. 

Now he would pester her until she joined him for a drink and in exchange he would stick around until she was done and take her home. Sure she lived in a completely different suburb of the city but he didn’t mind, as long as she got home safe, then he’d ride the several metros it took for him to get back to Belleville. 

"Yep," Caoimhín mumbled with a mischievous grin. He was more drunk than normal and his large frame wobbled a little as he looked at her. "You, Leniana." The man threw his long arms around her, his face now inches from hers as they hugged, their closeness steadying him somewhat. Glassy eyes danced across her features, lingering a little too long on the beauty marks by her lips, something stirring inside him. "I'd say you're very special to me." A wide smile lit up his features and he leaned in to kiss her forehead, needing to show her the affection he felt in a way that wouldn't ruin the friendship they shared. He may have been very drunk, but even he knew there were lines friends didn't cross.