"And it's a pleasure to meet you."

He smiled in return, letting her fingers trace over his skin. Part of him fought to pull away for fear of her touching the scars along his hand and wrist.

Lost in thought, who knows how long he sat reminiscing until he heard someone else inside with him. This was the last place he had thought he would see anyone.

"Hello?"

Black dust covered his fingertips and there were a few smudges on his cheek. After a few minutes, he smiles, pulling the pencil out of his mouth before turning the charcoal drawing around to show her.

"What do you think?"

"Does it hurt?" he asked curiously. "The sun⸻ does it hurt your eyes?"

That was until the shiny pink apple fell from his hand and onto the ground, alerting anyone to his presence.

He stood blending in with the shadow as he contemplated approaching the hokora to leave his own offering with respect. He froze upon seeing the other man, waiting for a moment before approaching.

+