` ` Chester has a Weird Dream ` `

The night here feels colder.

Granted, it is always colder at night in contrast to the scorching days since the suns were tucked away, but Chester has always felt like this particular air, the place of Valley Haven - or, New Valley Haven? - managed to feel colder than in places like Dunce Dump or May. It was probably something to do with the hidden nature of this place, the fact it was tucked away, enclosed by rocks and cliffs. Chester hasn't really been here often enough to take a closer look at said cliffs yet, really, he should probably do that soon... It is a shame he has not yet. Maybe tomorrow? No need to delay-

A shiver runs through him. Ah right, the weather. Stay focused.

Whatever the reasoning was, it was airish, and Chester's hands are getting all stiff and useless again. Why is she even outside this late? He doesn't remember the reasoning.

"Wearing sleeves might help." A soft voice breaks the air.

Chester glances over to her side, eyes catching onto a streak of blond with a soft frown.

Ah. She didn't expect to see Gabriel this late.

"Eh, you know I don' like that kinda thing," Chester grumbles back, starting to rub his arms to get some heat into them. He does not take the blond's comment as an insult, since she knows that he had just been offering it to be helpful, not a smartass.

Gabriel glances away anyways. "I apologize, I am... just trying to help."

Chester sighs. Now she feels bad. She sends the man a quick smile, tacking on, "I know, I know. Yer good, Gabe."

Gabriel shifts in his place beside her, decently covered in contrast to Chester: her eyes trace over his baggy shirt and pants, some night-outfit she has only caught a glimpse of a few times. It looks enviously warm, but the minute Chester tries to imagine that fabric over his own shoulders, he has to suppress a shiver of disgust. Eugh, yeah, not happening.

Regardless of that small jealousy, Chester is glad someone else is out here. Aloneness is never fun, particularly at this time of night. He prefers having people to yap at.

She sighs a bit and leans back, eyes playing a game of hopscotch between the blond beside him and the starry sky. They blur pleasantly in her vision, making a nice watercolor of gold, white, and black: that's a nice color palette. The colors make her smile in recognition.

Then Gabriel shifts again.

Figuring out his body language had been a bit more difficult than Achilles. Not impossible, but it had taken some practice: despite Achilles'... everything, he tended to wear everything on his sleeve; he was not great at hiding his feelings. Gabriel, on the other hand, kept things closer, he tends to be more reserved. But, Chester is nothing if not insistent.

So... She recognizes the motion for what it is.

"Speak up, I can't read yer mind." Chester offers, a natural smile tugging at his lips. It is fun, watching how Gabriel perks up a bit, a tad embarrassed at his signs of wanting to speak having been noticeable. "You should know by now I don't care much fer silence, anyhow."

"Yes, of course." Gabriel clears his throat, a fist coming to his chest on instinct. It always reminded Chester of some kind of professor. "Right. So..."

He spends another moment staring at the dark around them, his fist lightly pressing against his throat as he thought, like that could spark some of the vocabulary he has obviously planned beforehand. Chester gives him the moment to collect himself: Gabriel was always good about being exact, upfront, he just needed a minute most of the time.

"Chester, I..." A pause. He swallows- then rips off the bandage. "I wanted to apologize."

...She cocks an eyebrow at that. Quickly, his brain does a mental sweep, digging through sand and stone for whatever slight Gabriel seems convinced he needs to 'officially' apologize for. He was not the type to say sorry for everything, so it must have been something decently important- something Chester has already swept under the rug-?-

"Fer what?" He shakes some of the sand out his ears before scooching a bit closer, brows lifting curiously. Gabriel just looks more uncomfortable, more thoughtful.

"I have done something to upset you."

...That has Chester's smile finally dropping.

He's quiet. Focused. "I... know you dislike me for it."

What?

"I don't hate you." It comes out fast, her tongue tripping a bit on the words that escape him faster than his brain can quite process. Because he is Chester, and Chester does not hate anyone.

"That was not the word I used."

"I don' dislike you neither." He quickly corrected himself. "Now, what's this about?"

Gabriel sighs, then-

"I am aware of your resentment of me." It comes out in a rush, one that has Gabriel cringing, but he does not back down from it once the words are out. It has been on his mind for too long. "I know I cannot heal what caused it, but... but I..."

He wanted to at least acknowledge it. To apologize, even if it was not accepted.

They were friends, before. It was the least he could do.

Chester lets her mind settle over that. Those words, the things he knows Gabriel is trying to say. She breathes around it, letting the words click into place, their meaning pressing a lovely ache over something far deeper inside her muscle, some tiny shard of glass wedged inside.

Ah.

It is his turn to be uncomfortable then as he gathers his own words.