[C] The Last Table

Dario leaned back in his chair, smiling a little.

He'd been shopping for some new thongs for work since his older pairs were getting a little... worn from use with Doc around.

After picking up a few new thongs and then a few fun things because he couldn't resist the urge and had a little money lining his pockets, he'd found himself in a nice little coffee shop near the beach.

The lace was busy. He'd been lucky enough to grab the last table, though that table was large. Easily built for six.

Not that he minded. That just meant he could have a large space to himself for a while.

Hayden had snuck out of the house since the old woman he had been living with went out to visit one of her friends for the day, it was one of the rare times he actually took on his human form and went wondering around town.

His eyes were bright as he took in the world around him, enjoying the sights and smells of town.

A soft purr rumbled in his chest as he passed a coffee shop, the rich aroma of coffee and pastries filling his nose, he found himself drooling slightly and simply couldn't resist.

He made his way inside, placed his order before looking around the store, slightly taken back by how busy it was inside.

Hayden pursed his lips slightly before smiling at he noticed a large table with enough space for him, even though it was occupied by a rather large man.

"Excuse me? Can I sit here?"

He asked, pointing to the abundant space opposite the man.

Dario's hazel eyes flickered up from the tabletop to rest on Hayden.

"Sure."

He motioned for the boy to take a seat with a friendly smile.

Despite his rather large size that usually lead to people thinking he was intimidating, he was a friendly person.

"I'm Dario."

"Thank you."

He chirped happily before placing himself down in a way which would seem casual to most people though he had a natural grace in the way he moved, even if he wasn't conscious of it.

"I'm Hayden."

The boy replied with a smile, his bright bronze eyes turning up to the woman who placed a drink and plate in front of him, he thanked her politely before blowing gently on his drink, bringing the cup to his mouth and taking a tentative sip.

A soft purr sounded from him as he licked a small amount of foam from his lips, clearly enjoying the subtle favours of cinnamon, sugar and ginger of his chai latte.

"Hayden," he repeated in a murmur.

He liked that name.

He brushed his hair out of his face, turning his gaze out of the window. He could see the beach from here. It was a lovely day.

Dario didn't start conversation. He was too awkward for that.

If he wasn't wearing a thong in a dimly lit room that smelt of sex and alcohol, he didn't know how to start conversation.

He was sure Hayden wouldn't appreciate: 'wanna go round back for an hour?'

He sat contently drinking for a moment before picking up one of the assorted danishes off of his plate.

Hayden definitely had a soft spot for sweets, especially pastries, though today it seemed his eyes had gotten a little greedy.

The boy chuckled softly to himself, he could only imagine what Nanna would say if she saw him with all of these.

"Would you like one?"

He offered, nudging the plate toward the man as he took a generous bite from the one he was currently clutching to.

His eyes flickered back to the boy when he spoke again before flickering down to the plate that had been nudged towards him.

"Thank you," he murmured softly, picking up one of the pastries.

His hand dwarfed the sweet, as it usually did with things.

He was a large person, everything down to his fingers were larger than usual. Little things like mugs and pastries looked tiny in his hands.

He bit into it with an appreciative murmur.

That tasted damned good.

"You're welcome."

He muttered between mouthfuls, munching happily as his gaze drifted out to the ocean.

It was indeed a beautiful day, he was glad he decided to venture out instead of sprawling out on the porch and sleeping.

Another soft chuckle sounded as he picked up a second one, Hayden was the exact opposite, the pastries looked far larger in his small, dainty hands, as if a single one would be more than enough to sustain him for weeks.

He kicked his legs gently, a soft hum sounding as he chewed.
"Good thing I can't get fat."
He muttered as he nibbled on the pastry, there was no way he would hold himself back from eating them until he felt unwell, if his metabolism was any slower he would be the size of a house.

Dario licked the sugar off his lips with a soft purr.

It was rare he got to eat sweets like this. Usually he just picked up whatever ready meals were the cheapest at the time in the supermarket.

The man's lips quirked upwards in an amused smile.

"What some wouldn't give for that, eh?"

There were many people that would kill to be able to eat all they wanted without getting fat.

The boy laughed softly as he nudged the plate toward the larger man again, he would happily give up some of his sweets for the company of another.

"I wouldn't mind giving it up to someone else, maybe if I gained a little weight I might grow a bit more."

Hayden was short and very slim, a fact he normally enjoyed except in situations where he wanted to be treated like an adult and everyone thought he was in his teenage years still.

"Twenty years old and I still can't go on half the rides at amusement parks."

He joked with a cheeky grin.

The man chuckled softly, happily accepting a second pastry.

"I'm too tall for some rides. I guess we'll just have to sit them out together." He'd been an amazing height of six foot nine since he was sixteen. He often found himself too tall for a lot of rides back when he actually went to amusement parks.

Now, though, it was rare he even went out to the cinema for a night of fun, let alone to a huge amusement park.

He licked a little powdered sugar off his thumb.

Hayden had to hold in a giggle as he looked up at the man, he was so large and imposing but he was very friendly, though the look he gave off was kind of ruined when he had taken a bite from the pastry and managed to get sugar on the end of his nose.

The boy reached over, fearless in his innocence and brushed a gentle hand over the man's nose, cleaning it of the sugar with a little smile.

He gave a soft little tut as he shook his head.
"You're worse than I am."
He accused as he sat back in his chair.

His nose crinkled up a little when Hayden brushed the sugar off of it.

"I'm not the cleanest of eaters," he admitted with a sheepish grin as he pushed his hair back out of his face once again.

Usually that didn't matter. He very rarely ate in front of others.

Being messy had never been something he worried about.

"Perhaps I should brush up on my table manners for next time we bump into each other and share pastries?"

"I'd rather you didn't"
He replied with a smile, dabbing one of his sugary fingers onto his own nose so he was in the same situation that Dario had been in only moments before.

"That way when I do the same thing I don't feel so foolish."

Hayden smiled brightly and wiggled his powdery, freckled nose.

He didn't normally come out much, a fact he was starting to regret, he missed being able to walk around and talk to different people.

Dario laughed softly as the boy dusted his own nose in sugar.

It was nice talking to someone that had this innocence about them.

He was so used to talking to strippers and prostitutes and druggies and loansharks that he had almost forgotten how innocent and sweet some people could be.

"Then I'll hold off on brushing up on my manners so we can be foolish together."

"That better be a promise."

He replied boldly as he looked up at the man, his stern facade fading as he gave a gentle smile and wiped his face of his sleeve.

Hayden took another sip of his drink, washing down all the sweet pastries with a contented purr as he licked his lips.

"I like it here."

He decided idly as he looked out the window and to the ocean, today was so calm and lovely.

"It's a nice place," he agreed.

Bustling but not packed so much that he'd get a headache from everyone chattering too loudly all at once.

With the beach down the way a bit and nice clear weather today, it was turning out to be a really lovely day.

It put Dario in a good mood.

"Though I find places are much nicer when you have good company."

He added with a little grin as he looked out the window. Hayden was happy here, out with lots of people, able to go where ever he wanted.

Immediately he decided to sneak out more when Nanna was asleep or out shopping, he wanted to be able to experience more days like this where he could sit around in a cafe lazily or go for a walk down at the beach.

"Good company is the best part of a good day."

He allowed a crooked smile to curl his lips as his gaze turned to Hayden.

He had good company today. For someone that he had felt awkward talking to not long before, he was actually beginning to like Hayden. He was sweet and easy to get along with.

Dario was definitely liking the company.

"I agree."

He chirped back as his eyes lingered on the beach before flicking back to Dario, his bright bronze gaze veiled by his soft copper hair.

After his last sip of chai was gone the boy got up out of his chair and dusted his hands on his jeans, brimming with excitement as he took a step toward the door before wheeling around.

"I'm going for a walk on the beach, wanna come?"

He asked, tilting his head slightly.

His lips parted to say goodbye to the boy when he stood, but no sound came out as Hayden invited him along with him.

He sat for a moment, a little shocked at being invited to join the boy.

"Sure," he decided, pushing himself to his feet and bending to pick up his bag.

When he stepped out from behind the table, it was evident that he towered over a lot of people. He was just glad that the coffee shop was high-rise. There were a lot of places that he went to that he had to stay constantly hunched forwards.

He smiled down at Hayden as he stopped next to him. He towered over the boy by nearly a foot and a half.

"Lead the way."

Hayden's eyes widened a little as he had to crane his neck to look Dario in the eyes.

"No wonder they wont let you on some amusement rides."

He replied with a chuckle as he took the man's hand, giving it a small tug as he led him out of the crowded cafe.

"I can just imagine you getting off a roller coaster with a concussion."

All too clearly he could just see the man hitting his head on one of the low rails.

"It's not so bad sometimes, I'm all legs."

A lot of his height was down to the length of his legs. With some rides he could get away with going on them. But there were the few that deemed him too tall.

It didn't bother him. He hadn't been to an amusement park since he was eighteen.

A brow quirked when the boy grasped his hand. He hadn't expected that. Friends held hands. Hayden had only just met him less than a half hour ago.

But he didn't fight it. The boy's hand felt so small and breakable in his own.

Hayden's hand was mostly covered by the sleeve of his jumper but his small fingers curled gently around Dario's palm, far too small to fully wrap around his hand.

He was a kind boy and jumped at the opportunity to spend time with someone so friendly, he liked company too much to let their interaction end so soon but at the same time, he didn't want to spend all day cooped up in the coffee store, giving himself a stomach ache with too many sweets.

"At least you wouldn't get as lost as I do, I bet you can see heaps from up there."

He replied with a small smirk as he looked up at the man.

Dario arched a brow at the boy's smirk.

"How about you come here and find out," he chuckled, dipping forwards to wrap his hands firmly around Hayden's hips, dragging him up and holding him so their faces were at the same level.

The poor boy's feet dangled as Dario held him up.

"I guess I can see heaps. What do you think?"

His hazel eyes twinkled as his gaze turned to Hayden.