Happy Happy Birthday!
Who: Adam (
adam_balister) & Gideon (
gideon_thrace)
When: January 18, 1999 - Gideon's 18th Birthday
Where: The Espresso Pump
"You going running tonight?" Adam asked Gideon as he stepped into the dorm room the two shared. He'd just came from the shower so all he wore was a white towel around his waist and another smaller one draped over his shoulder.
Gideon had his cell phone out and reflexively shoved it into his pocket as soon as the door opened. "Already did?" He shrugged. It wasn't even close to running, since he was being careful, but it worked . . . sorta. "Why? Don't you have to go in a bit?"
Adam was too wrapped up in toweling off his hair to notice how strange Gideon was acting. He shook his head, sending a few drops of water flying towards Gideon as he replied. "Nope. I have the night off actually. I thought maybe you'd like to get out. Go do something." He paused and pushed his hair from his forehead, smirking, "And I promise, no bad 80s movies"
"What did you have in mind?" Gideon curiously asked, wondering if at some point he had slipped what that particular day meant.
Shrugging, Adam replied, "Playing some pool? Going for a drive? Anything really."
"Right," Gideon muttered and caught his dreary mood quickly. He swung his legs around and stood. "Sure, why not."
"Well?" Adam perked a brow, "Pick what you want to do" He turned to his closet and rummaged through it for his clothes. "That way I know what to wear" a light chuckle followed the words.
"And here I thought it was your turn," Gideon said, shoving his hand into his pocket to pull out his cell phone and drop it onto the floor. "That and I've ran out of places to wander."
Adam turned at the sound of the phone hitting the floor and bent down to pick it up. He handed it to Gideon, giving that devilish smirk to the boy. "Let's just get something to eat first, then we'll see what comes next, okay?"
"Yea," Gideon replied, softer than usual. He took the cell phone and tossed it on the bed. "I hear the diner's out for a while."
"Yeah, I did too. Something about a drive by shooting or something?" Adam began to dress. "I saw something about it on the news a few nights ago while I was at work."
Gideon nodded, "Something like that. I guess roots are the least of our problems. How about coffee that isn't four dollars for something that has been out for at least two hours? There's this place I went to with Eliza a few weeks back. They have cake, too."
"Okay, sounds good to me" Adam was completely dressed and he gathered up his wallet and keys, opening the door for Gideon.
Gideon led the way to the Espresso Pump, once again redirecting as soon as they were near the vehicle to walk. Really, with the size of the town, he didn't see the point to have it, but it was nice if those longer trips ever came around again. "So," he said a little out from the building. "It's official."
"What's official?" Adam asked, pulling a cigarette from his inside jacket pocket and placing it to his lips.
"That thing I said would happen in January," Gideon said, trying to not sigh at the fact. "My birthday. I thought she'd call by now." With that fact, though, he did take in a deep breath and brought his hands behind his back to twist his fingers about. "It might just be time to get a new phone number."
Adam was in mid lighting of his cigarette when he pulled the lighter away and blinked over at Gideon. "Wait...today, is your birthday?" A sudden twinge of guilt built up in his gut at the fact that he may have forgotten such an important date.
"It doesn't matter," Gideon said quickly. "Besides the whole calling home or unexpectedly walking through that door, and even that . . ." his voice trailed at that thought, deciding that it was becoming less important to bring up.
"Your mom didn't call did she?" Adam asked quietly, grabbing Gideon by the shoulder and gently pulling the boy closer.
"My sister," Gideon corrected. "We're eight minutes apart. She and Eliza were friends, yet even they aren't keeping contact." He paused, wondering if he should ask, but anything to keep from that conversation would be best, "Do you have any family back, y'know, in New York?"
Adam sighed, holding Gideon against him as they walked on. "All my family...is dead" he said quietly. "That's one of the cons to being a vamp"
Gideon frowned, "Sorry, I didn't think . . ." he lowered his head a little.
With a shrug, the vampire said. "It's not a big deal. It's something I've...grown use to" Adam placed a finger under Gideon's chin and lifted his face so he could see him. He gave the boy a warm smile to show he really wasn't bothered at all.
If only it was that note that caused the gesture. Gideon didn't quite look straight at Adam then. His gaze seemed to move over his shoulder, beyond it, and not at anything in particular, as if his mind was elsewhere again. How he did this while walking was unknown, but he was starting to obvoiusly not seem entirely there. "Sometimes," he finally said. "I wish that I could cut off all connections with them. Just hide under a rock until everything boils over, I'm officially documented as dead or something, and live without having to think about them ever again." It almost sounded peaceful.
Adam bit his lip, almost nervously. Technically, he could make Gideon's wish come true. "There's a way that can happen" he said quietly, running hand through his hair.
"Yea, but then there would be questions with the people here, and one hell of a complicated explanation," Gideon noted with a shrug.
"You really think anyone here would care?" Adam asked. "I was told once that there are people around this town that already know what I am. And the fact that I'm still alive means I don't pose a threat, whatever that means."
"But then there are people that haven't a single clue," Gideon countered. Like Eliza even though she wasn't in contact with Katja. "Like me until well, y'know. Though I've almost entirely forgotten what it's like to be on a normal sleeping schedule because of you." He tried to smirk then and failed. Even his sarcasm wasn't as witty.
The vampire shrugged, unsure if he should take offense or not. "It was just a suggestion." he muttered.
They had reached the cafe finally, and Adam pulled the door open for Gideon, following in after the kid.
"Yea," Gideon returned. "I'll remember that." He ordered a water, which in the case of coffee shops actually cost something since apparently lemons were expensive or something like that, and shifted his hands to the front idly. "I dunno. It's just that . . ." he shrugged, abandoning that notion.
Adam actually ordered himself a black coffee. He took an idle sip from it, staring at Gideon. "It's just what?" he asked plainly.
Gideon waited until they sat in a quiet corner. Not that he minded being out. It was just talking about this that bothered him the more he thought about it. "Ever blank out a spot in your life, just push it away because it's the only way to move forward?"
Nodding, Adam took a seat from Gideon. He knew all too well what the kid was talking about. There were many times in his life that he'd done just that whether it was a conscious or unconscious effort. "Yeah? What's the point?" he hoped he didn't sound too cynical.
Gideon sighed, leaning forward so that his elbows sit on the table, his hands around the plastic cup. "I have a gap. Went to the hospital and everything for it. It stayed like that until a few months ago. Since it's been . . . filtering through." He thought it was just a nightmare and took a sip of the water. "Proably just the stress with the cell phone thing."
Adam's jaw dropped slightly and he stared dumbfounded at Gideon. This bit of information he certainly did not know about. "What cell phone thing? What are you talking about?"
"Were you not listening?" Gideon frowned. "I hadn't even thought about the fact that the contract isn't in this name," he muttered, taking another sip of his water and probably being why he didn't drink alchohol. He'd probably consume half a bottle just by sitting there with the nerves. "Though I probably could've just said that I mugged the guy and took the phone, but I'm pretty certain that wouldn't have gone well."
"What guy?" Adam asked, his face a grimace of confusion.
Gideon rolled his eyes, "Erm, Al, duh." If only it were that simple.
Adam set his cup down and let out a slow breath through puckered lips so he didn't lose his cool. He was confused and Gideon was either doing it on purpose or he was just really not paying attention when he should be. "What are you talking about? What contract? What cell phone?"
Gideon lowered his head, not meaning to upset Adam by his choice of words. He just had about a dozen things on his mind. "From what I can tell, the guys I met, the the ones I introduced you to, know who I am. My only guess is because my cell phone's number is a Pittsburgh area code, but I didn't really think it'd matter all that much. I mean, there have got to be at least a dozen out-of-towners that haven't gotten around to changing their numbers yet." He took a deep breath, considering that.
It all suddenly made weird sense. Adam nodded and sat back in his chair, "Ahh." There was still one thing. Something that Adam had always been curious about but never asked Gideon about. "Tell me then, why is it such a bad thing these guys know who you are and why you're really hiding out here in Sunnydale"
"Paranoia, I guess," Gideon said with a shrug. "Just the idea that someone out there might know my family . . . it'd be over, and I really doubt that under that circumstance I'd be able to just up and come back here."
"But why are you running Gideon?" Adam leaned int, grabbing the boy's hand in his, mostly so he couldn't run off. "The total truth"
"Does it matter?" Gideon questioned rather quickly and looked up. His voice had shifted, turning more defensive than before, much like how he sounded after the the first night or so whenever a question came up.
Adam thought of saying 'yeah it does', but as he thought about it...really thought about it, to hi, it really didn't matter. Hell, there were a lot of his past that Gideon didn't know after all. And those things, he certainly didn't want anyone to know about. So, he simply shrugged and smiled warmly. "No. It really doesn't"
"Right, then lets not bring it up again, k, and I'll just try to let it be." Gideon paused. "It's probably nothing, just as I said." Nothing, he repeated. Just his own head playing tricks. Not a big deal. Nothing.
"You're probably right" Adam let go of Gideon's hand and took a sip of his coffee that he'd been neglecting. "So, birthday boy, seeing as I didn't know in time enough to get you a present, you get to pick what we do tonight. Anything you want"
"That is not a present," Gideon muttered, shaking his head. Now that the option of choice was within his grasp, he had realized that he wasn't all that great at it. "So go ahead, you can pick. Surprise me."
"Nope" retorted the vampire, shaking his head and pressing his lips together. "It's all on you kiddo"
"There's no option of regifting, huh? Cause I hear I missed Eliza for Christmas," Gideon smiled. "Fine. Then I choose to . . ." he considered for a moment and the smile turned to a smirk. "just sit here." It was, after all, to him just any other day.
Probably the hardest and largest of the vampire's eye rolls came in that moment. He shook his head, looking to Gideon very disappointed yet still smirking crookedly. "Such a cop out, you little brat" he muttered under his breath before winking.
"Hey, I don't mind sitting here with good company for several hours, thinking up whatever it is that you think about, but if you have something else in mind, be my guest. I won't argue as long as it's not a bunch of people in uniforms singing happy birthday. Then," he noted. "we might have problems."
Adam lifted a finger and scooted out his chair. "Excuse me a moment" The smirk on his face would've made the Devil himself proud as he sauntered off towards the front of the cafe.
After just a few moments, he returned, his smirk even wider, a new found air of cockiness about him. "Then sit here, we will." He lifted a brow and took a drink of his plain black coffee.
Gideon watched, and when Adam returned he frowned, "I hope that was for a packet of sugar because you just realized how utterly disgusting that coffee is."
Adam glanced off to one side, thinking on it then returned his eyes back to Gideon. "Yeah...that's what it was." Then, out of nowhere, a rhythmic clapping sounded followed by the sight of five of the cafe's employees heading straight for their table.
"Happy Happy Birthday" they began to sing, and Adam just sat back in his chair, chucking wickedly.
Gideon's hand came up, obviously not amused. "I think," he said, getting up. "You have the wrong person." He didn't even let the crew finish or return something in exchange as he headed out the door.
The group stopped singing. Adam laughed light heartedly, figuring it was just Gideon being a kid hating the attention. Depositing a tip on the table, Adam chased after Gideon, catching up with him outside. "Hey, they weren't finished" he said with a light laugh to his voice as he grabbed the boy's arm and turned him around.
Really, there wasn't much thought to it as Gideon turned, his arm pulling back with a rough jerk. He took two steps back. "Didn't I just say . . ." not that it mattered, anyway. He muttered something about that he shouldn't have even bothered to mention the date and continued, taking no hint towards what direction he was walking.
Adam's jaw dropped and he just stared at the back of Gideon's head as he walked off. He really didn't think the boy would take it that badly. It was just for fun after all. He thought about running after Gideon to see how mad he really was. And, he thought about just turning the other direction, like he did so many times in moments of confrontation. The entire blame was on him. But it was just a harmless prank.
Before Gideon got too far away, Adam chose the former, jogging to catch up with his boyfriend again. "Hey, don't be mad. It was just for fun." the older man stated, looking at Gideon with apologetic eyes.
Gideon stopped at hearing that. "You just don't get it," he said, closing his eyes and shaking his head. "Either that or it dosn't matter to you, and I hope it's not that. It doesn't not matter if it was for fun - it shouldn't have happened." He wasn't in the mood to hear a response to that, and there wasn't a point to arguing in the middle of the street, so he continued again.
Grabbing Gideon quickly as he walked off again, Adam frowned. "It does matter to me...but apparently, I don't get it" Adam stared into Gideon's eyes, a slight desperate panic beginning to fill his own.
There hadn't been quite a look like what was on Gideon's face before - a cold, almost detached feeling to not become so suddenly angered that he'd probably be screaming. "Let go," he muttered, brushing Adam off with a shrug. "And just let it be."
With that, his right foot planted, opposite of what he usually took, which made it seem even more so off, but he started to run anyway, distancing himself as well as he could, knowing full well that Adam could just as easily catch up, but honestly hoping he wouldn't try. There were just some things that could be said, things he could explain, but he wasn't about to. He couldn't.
A low growl tricked from the vampire. he was getting really tired of this chasing game. And he thought he was a stubborn prick when it came to matters of emotions. Taking off, Adam ran after Gideon, easily catching up to him and stopping him by grabbing him from behind to shove him into a tree, not too roughly though. He wasn't even panting from the run as he barked at the boy. "What the hell Gideon. You're acting like you're twelve years old."
Gideon didn't hear that and reacted with raising his right foot. Normally, in this type of action, he would use his left, and it didn't matter to him who at the time, just that he knew his ankle probably wouldn't react well to bringing force to his foot.
It was swift, expectedly so, and he wasn't wearing his running shoe, going for the front of Adam's lower leg to get some distance. He didn't expect that his left hand had balled into a fist and followed shortly after.
Two blows hit the vampire, one in the leg, the other square on the right side of his jaw. The impact was fierce and stronger than they should've been coming from Gideon, or that's at least what Adam thought. Though it didn't knock him to the ground, it did shock him and cause him to stumble backwards, losing his footing slightly.
After regaining his balance, Adam flexed his jaw, the joint on the right side popping and throbbing already along with the dull ache in his leg growing rapidly. He glared back at Gideon, saying nothing for the moment he stood there. Then, his eyes averted off to nothing, his own hands balling into tight fists at his sides. In any other situation, Adam would've retaliated immediately. But he held enough in his heart of Gideon that he was able to stop himself. However, it was his turn to walk off before he did anything he would regret later. A stable temper was not one of Adam's good points and his boyfriend had been lucky to not have experienced it yet.
It was about then that Gideon regained control again - too late as always. For a moment there, he hadn't even realized what had just happened, but he quickly recalled, and in that, grumbled to himself, muttering something that ended with a sigh and finally just looking onward. He didn't know which hurt more - thinking about what was going on through his head or the actions that just resulted in trying to push all of it away.
Either way, he was positively certain that there wasn't anything he could do or say right that very moment - really, who would just listen to him after that?
adam_balister) & Gideon (
gideon_thrace)
When: January 18, 1999 - Gideon's 18th Birthday
Where: The Espresso Pump
"You going running tonight?" Adam asked Gideon as he stepped into the dorm room the two shared. He'd just came from the shower so all he wore was a white towel around his waist and another smaller one draped over his shoulder.
Gideon had his cell phone out and reflexively shoved it into his pocket as soon as the door opened. "Already did?" He shrugged. It wasn't even close to running, since he was being careful, but it worked . . . sorta. "Why? Don't you have to go in a bit?"
Adam was too wrapped up in toweling off his hair to notice how strange Gideon was acting. He shook his head, sending a few drops of water flying towards Gideon as he replied. "Nope. I have the night off actually. I thought maybe you'd like to get out. Go do something." He paused and pushed his hair from his forehead, smirking, "And I promise, no bad 80s movies"
"What did you have in mind?" Gideon curiously asked, wondering if at some point he had slipped what that particular day meant.
Shrugging, Adam replied, "Playing some pool? Going for a drive? Anything really."
"Right," Gideon muttered and caught his dreary mood quickly. He swung his legs around and stood. "Sure, why not."
"Well?" Adam perked a brow, "Pick what you want to do" He turned to his closet and rummaged through it for his clothes. "That way I know what to wear" a light chuckle followed the words.
"And here I thought it was your turn," Gideon said, shoving his hand into his pocket to pull out his cell phone and drop it onto the floor. "That and I've ran out of places to wander."
Adam turned at the sound of the phone hitting the floor and bent down to pick it up. He handed it to Gideon, giving that devilish smirk to the boy. "Let's just get something to eat first, then we'll see what comes next, okay?"
"Yea," Gideon replied, softer than usual. He took the cell phone and tossed it on the bed. "I hear the diner's out for a while."
"Yeah, I did too. Something about a drive by shooting or something?" Adam began to dress. "I saw something about it on the news a few nights ago while I was at work."
Gideon nodded, "Something like that. I guess roots are the least of our problems. How about coffee that isn't four dollars for something that has been out for at least two hours? There's this place I went to with Eliza a few weeks back. They have cake, too."
"Okay, sounds good to me" Adam was completely dressed and he gathered up his wallet and keys, opening the door for Gideon.
Gideon led the way to the Espresso Pump, once again redirecting as soon as they were near the vehicle to walk. Really, with the size of the town, he didn't see the point to have it, but it was nice if those longer trips ever came around again. "So," he said a little out from the building. "It's official."
"What's official?" Adam asked, pulling a cigarette from his inside jacket pocket and placing it to his lips.
"That thing I said would happen in January," Gideon said, trying to not sigh at the fact. "My birthday. I thought she'd call by now." With that fact, though, he did take in a deep breath and brought his hands behind his back to twist his fingers about. "It might just be time to get a new phone number."
Adam was in mid lighting of his cigarette when he pulled the lighter away and blinked over at Gideon. "Wait...today, is your birthday?" A sudden twinge of guilt built up in his gut at the fact that he may have forgotten such an important date.
"It doesn't matter," Gideon said quickly. "Besides the whole calling home or unexpectedly walking through that door, and even that . . ." his voice trailed at that thought, deciding that it was becoming less important to bring up.
"Your mom didn't call did she?" Adam asked quietly, grabbing Gideon by the shoulder and gently pulling the boy closer.
"My sister," Gideon corrected. "We're eight minutes apart. She and Eliza were friends, yet even they aren't keeping contact." He paused, wondering if he should ask, but anything to keep from that conversation would be best, "Do you have any family back, y'know, in New York?"
Adam sighed, holding Gideon against him as they walked on. "All my family...is dead" he said quietly. "That's one of the cons to being a vamp"
Gideon frowned, "Sorry, I didn't think . . ." he lowered his head a little.
With a shrug, the vampire said. "It's not a big deal. It's something I've...grown use to" Adam placed a finger under Gideon's chin and lifted his face so he could see him. He gave the boy a warm smile to show he really wasn't bothered at all.
If only it was that note that caused the gesture. Gideon didn't quite look straight at Adam then. His gaze seemed to move over his shoulder, beyond it, and not at anything in particular, as if his mind was elsewhere again. How he did this while walking was unknown, but he was starting to obvoiusly not seem entirely there. "Sometimes," he finally said. "I wish that I could cut off all connections with them. Just hide under a rock until everything boils over, I'm officially documented as dead or something, and live without having to think about them ever again." It almost sounded peaceful.
Adam bit his lip, almost nervously. Technically, he could make Gideon's wish come true. "There's a way that can happen" he said quietly, running hand through his hair.
"Yea, but then there would be questions with the people here, and one hell of a complicated explanation," Gideon noted with a shrug.
"You really think anyone here would care?" Adam asked. "I was told once that there are people around this town that already know what I am. And the fact that I'm still alive means I don't pose a threat, whatever that means."
"But then there are people that haven't a single clue," Gideon countered. Like Eliza even though she wasn't in contact with Katja. "Like me until well, y'know. Though I've almost entirely forgotten what it's like to be on a normal sleeping schedule because of you." He tried to smirk then and failed. Even his sarcasm wasn't as witty.
The vampire shrugged, unsure if he should take offense or not. "It was just a suggestion." he muttered.
They had reached the cafe finally, and Adam pulled the door open for Gideon, following in after the kid.
"Yea," Gideon returned. "I'll remember that." He ordered a water, which in the case of coffee shops actually cost something since apparently lemons were expensive or something like that, and shifted his hands to the front idly. "I dunno. It's just that . . ." he shrugged, abandoning that notion.
Adam actually ordered himself a black coffee. He took an idle sip from it, staring at Gideon. "It's just what?" he asked plainly.
Gideon waited until they sat in a quiet corner. Not that he minded being out. It was just talking about this that bothered him the more he thought about it. "Ever blank out a spot in your life, just push it away because it's the only way to move forward?"
Nodding, Adam took a seat from Gideon. He knew all too well what the kid was talking about. There were many times in his life that he'd done just that whether it was a conscious or unconscious effort. "Yeah? What's the point?" he hoped he didn't sound too cynical.
Gideon sighed, leaning forward so that his elbows sit on the table, his hands around the plastic cup. "I have a gap. Went to the hospital and everything for it. It stayed like that until a few months ago. Since it's been . . . filtering through." He thought it was just a nightmare and took a sip of the water. "Proably just the stress with the cell phone thing."
Adam's jaw dropped slightly and he stared dumbfounded at Gideon. This bit of information he certainly did not know about. "What cell phone thing? What are you talking about?"
"Were you not listening?" Gideon frowned. "I hadn't even thought about the fact that the contract isn't in this name," he muttered, taking another sip of his water and probably being why he didn't drink alchohol. He'd probably consume half a bottle just by sitting there with the nerves. "Though I probably could've just said that I mugged the guy and took the phone, but I'm pretty certain that wouldn't have gone well."
"What guy?" Adam asked, his face a grimace of confusion.
Gideon rolled his eyes, "Erm, Al, duh." If only it were that simple.
Adam set his cup down and let out a slow breath through puckered lips so he didn't lose his cool. He was confused and Gideon was either doing it on purpose or he was just really not paying attention when he should be. "What are you talking about? What contract? What cell phone?"
Gideon lowered his head, not meaning to upset Adam by his choice of words. He just had about a dozen things on his mind. "From what I can tell, the guys I met, the the ones I introduced you to, know who I am. My only guess is because my cell phone's number is a Pittsburgh area code, but I didn't really think it'd matter all that much. I mean, there have got to be at least a dozen out-of-towners that haven't gotten around to changing their numbers yet." He took a deep breath, considering that.
It all suddenly made weird sense. Adam nodded and sat back in his chair, "Ahh." There was still one thing. Something that Adam had always been curious about but never asked Gideon about. "Tell me then, why is it such a bad thing these guys know who you are and why you're really hiding out here in Sunnydale"
"Paranoia, I guess," Gideon said with a shrug. "Just the idea that someone out there might know my family . . . it'd be over, and I really doubt that under that circumstance I'd be able to just up and come back here."
"But why are you running Gideon?" Adam leaned int, grabbing the boy's hand in his, mostly so he couldn't run off. "The total truth"
"Does it matter?" Gideon questioned rather quickly and looked up. His voice had shifted, turning more defensive than before, much like how he sounded after the the first night or so whenever a question came up.
Adam thought of saying 'yeah it does', but as he thought about it...really thought about it, to hi, it really didn't matter. Hell, there were a lot of his past that Gideon didn't know after all. And those things, he certainly didn't want anyone to know about. So, he simply shrugged and smiled warmly. "No. It really doesn't"
"Right, then lets not bring it up again, k, and I'll just try to let it be." Gideon paused. "It's probably nothing, just as I said." Nothing, he repeated. Just his own head playing tricks. Not a big deal. Nothing.
"You're probably right" Adam let go of Gideon's hand and took a sip of his coffee that he'd been neglecting. "So, birthday boy, seeing as I didn't know in time enough to get you a present, you get to pick what we do tonight. Anything you want"
"That is not a present," Gideon muttered, shaking his head. Now that the option of choice was within his grasp, he had realized that he wasn't all that great at it. "So go ahead, you can pick. Surprise me."
"Nope" retorted the vampire, shaking his head and pressing his lips together. "It's all on you kiddo"
"There's no option of regifting, huh? Cause I hear I missed Eliza for Christmas," Gideon smiled. "Fine. Then I choose to . . ." he considered for a moment and the smile turned to a smirk. "just sit here." It was, after all, to him just any other day.
Probably the hardest and largest of the vampire's eye rolls came in that moment. He shook his head, looking to Gideon very disappointed yet still smirking crookedly. "Such a cop out, you little brat" he muttered under his breath before winking.
"Hey, I don't mind sitting here with good company for several hours, thinking up whatever it is that you think about, but if you have something else in mind, be my guest. I won't argue as long as it's not a bunch of people in uniforms singing happy birthday. Then," he noted. "we might have problems."
Adam lifted a finger and scooted out his chair. "Excuse me a moment" The smirk on his face would've made the Devil himself proud as he sauntered off towards the front of the cafe.
After just a few moments, he returned, his smirk even wider, a new found air of cockiness about him. "Then sit here, we will." He lifted a brow and took a drink of his plain black coffee.
Gideon watched, and when Adam returned he frowned, "I hope that was for a packet of sugar because you just realized how utterly disgusting that coffee is."
Adam glanced off to one side, thinking on it then returned his eyes back to Gideon. "Yeah...that's what it was." Then, out of nowhere, a rhythmic clapping sounded followed by the sight of five of the cafe's employees heading straight for their table.
"Happy Happy Birthday" they began to sing, and Adam just sat back in his chair, chucking wickedly.
Gideon's hand came up, obviously not amused. "I think," he said, getting up. "You have the wrong person." He didn't even let the crew finish or return something in exchange as he headed out the door.
The group stopped singing. Adam laughed light heartedly, figuring it was just Gideon being a kid hating the attention. Depositing a tip on the table, Adam chased after Gideon, catching up with him outside. "Hey, they weren't finished" he said with a light laugh to his voice as he grabbed the boy's arm and turned him around.
Really, there wasn't much thought to it as Gideon turned, his arm pulling back with a rough jerk. He took two steps back. "Didn't I just say . . ." not that it mattered, anyway. He muttered something about that he shouldn't have even bothered to mention the date and continued, taking no hint towards what direction he was walking.
Adam's jaw dropped and he just stared at the back of Gideon's head as he walked off. He really didn't think the boy would take it that badly. It was just for fun after all. He thought about running after Gideon to see how mad he really was. And, he thought about just turning the other direction, like he did so many times in moments of confrontation. The entire blame was on him. But it was just a harmless prank.
Before Gideon got too far away, Adam chose the former, jogging to catch up with his boyfriend again. "Hey, don't be mad. It was just for fun." the older man stated, looking at Gideon with apologetic eyes.
Gideon stopped at hearing that. "You just don't get it," he said, closing his eyes and shaking his head. "Either that or it dosn't matter to you, and I hope it's not that. It doesn't not matter if it was for fun - it shouldn't have happened." He wasn't in the mood to hear a response to that, and there wasn't a point to arguing in the middle of the street, so he continued again.
Grabbing Gideon quickly as he walked off again, Adam frowned. "It does matter to me...but apparently, I don't get it" Adam stared into Gideon's eyes, a slight desperate panic beginning to fill his own.
There hadn't been quite a look like what was on Gideon's face before - a cold, almost detached feeling to not become so suddenly angered that he'd probably be screaming. "Let go," he muttered, brushing Adam off with a shrug. "And just let it be."
With that, his right foot planted, opposite of what he usually took, which made it seem even more so off, but he started to run anyway, distancing himself as well as he could, knowing full well that Adam could just as easily catch up, but honestly hoping he wouldn't try. There were just some things that could be said, things he could explain, but he wasn't about to. He couldn't.
A low growl tricked from the vampire. he was getting really tired of this chasing game. And he thought he was a stubborn prick when it came to matters of emotions. Taking off, Adam ran after Gideon, easily catching up to him and stopping him by grabbing him from behind to shove him into a tree, not too roughly though. He wasn't even panting from the run as he barked at the boy. "What the hell Gideon. You're acting like you're twelve years old."
Gideon didn't hear that and reacted with raising his right foot. Normally, in this type of action, he would use his left, and it didn't matter to him who at the time, just that he knew his ankle probably wouldn't react well to bringing force to his foot.
It was swift, expectedly so, and he wasn't wearing his running shoe, going for the front of Adam's lower leg to get some distance. He didn't expect that his left hand had balled into a fist and followed shortly after.
Two blows hit the vampire, one in the leg, the other square on the right side of his jaw. The impact was fierce and stronger than they should've been coming from Gideon, or that's at least what Adam thought. Though it didn't knock him to the ground, it did shock him and cause him to stumble backwards, losing his footing slightly.
After regaining his balance, Adam flexed his jaw, the joint on the right side popping and throbbing already along with the dull ache in his leg growing rapidly. He glared back at Gideon, saying nothing for the moment he stood there. Then, his eyes averted off to nothing, his own hands balling into tight fists at his sides. In any other situation, Adam would've retaliated immediately. But he held enough in his heart of Gideon that he was able to stop himself. However, it was his turn to walk off before he did anything he would regret later. A stable temper was not one of Adam's good points and his boyfriend had been lucky to not have experienced it yet.
It was about then that Gideon regained control again - too late as always. For a moment there, he hadn't even realized what had just happened, but he quickly recalled, and in that, grumbled to himself, muttering something that ended with a sigh and finally just looking onward. He didn't know which hurt more - thinking about what was going on through his head or the actions that just resulted in trying to push all of it away.
Either way, he was positively certain that there wasn't anything he could do or say right that very moment - really, who would just listen to him after that?