Paul accepts the eggplant as he twists up to a cross-legged seat, gripping the unwieldy vegetable in both hands. He lets his knee bump against Midoriya's side, then draws it back, uncertain of how much space he wants between them.
"I knew it was you," he offers, apprehension coloring his voice, "I thought..."
What did he think? There had seemed to be an understanding between Midoriya and Kaworu, for one thing, when Kaworu asked if he wanted to be kissed. They had shared the couch, and then this bed. They're comfortable around each other, but perhaps not so much as Paul understood them to be.
Or it's something else. Paul's never done any of this before. He's never navigated these complexities, and certainly never expected to do so without the structures he's used to. He thinks of how it might have felt, to go off to do something generous and coming back to his friends frivolously preoccupied with one another.
"Did you..." Now he's embarrassed, dropping his eyes to the ponderous purple plant he holds. "Did you expect anything else? I'm not sure what the rules are, for things like this. Not here."
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"I knew it was you," he offers, apprehension coloring his voice, "I thought..."
What did he think? There had seemed to be an understanding between Midoriya and Kaworu, for one thing, when Kaworu asked if he wanted to be kissed. They had shared the couch, and then this bed. They're comfortable around each other, but perhaps not so much as Paul understood them to be.
Or it's something else. Paul's never done any of this before. He's never navigated these complexities, and certainly never expected to do so without the structures he's used to. He thinks of how it might have felt, to go off to do something generous and coming back to his friends frivolously preoccupied with one another.
"Did you..." Now he's embarrassed, dropping his eyes to the ponderous purple plant he holds. "Did you expect anything else? I'm not sure what the rules are, for things like this. Not here."