New Beginnings (Zombie and Exellda) [18+]

[Exellda]

Daniel smiled at the comment Jonathan made, "Alright, that sounds good to me. Surprise me. Call me sometime this week, probably any time." He chuckled, " I'll make sure to bring you that ticket. I mean, it's no problem at all, at least I know I'll be playing for someone who will appreciate my skills." He joked lightly and happily. It was true. Not even his father appreciated the piano... It actually really pissed his father off when he played piano, claiming that it was a waste of time, money, and a jumble of notes, which he cared for none of.

 

This was why Daniel was happy to be living alone, he was happy that he didn't have to listen to his father nor live with him. Daniel was a grown man and he didn't have to deal with his father anymore. He didn't know where the old man was anymore, nor did he care. Moving on with his life, not looking back, that's all Daniel wanted to do... And what better way than to make a new friend? One that would actually show up and support him. "I'll see you around Jonathan." Daniel said casually. "Have a nice day." Then he pulled out his keys from his pocket, feeling each key until he found the one he wanted. At last, when he selected a key he then could unlock his door. As soon of his door was open, Daniel hummed in approval. "Goodbye."

 

Daniel of course didn't wave goodbye before he went into his home. He didn't even turn on the light, what was even the point? Finally, he shut the door behind him and released a breath of air he hadn't realized he was holding. What a wonderful conversation he just had... with a total stranger... It was so weird, almost as though he hadn't talked that long in forever... It was a relief...

 

Perhaps he could gain friendship from this..?

[Zombie_In_A_Box]

Jonathan, this time, couldn't help a quiet chuckle at the joke. "You too, Daniel." He said with a smile, stepping backwards. He didn't leave until he was sure the other was safely inside, doors locked and all. The man turned around, feeling a small bit of hope, excitement even. It didn't seem to last long, as about half way back home, the dark thoughts returned at full force. The fear settled in - once Daniel found out what was wrong with him, he was bound to be left all alone. He would be abandoned again. The brunet had to stop for a short bit, his shoulders trembling when he realized how bad this new friendship could really go. He was so goddamn scared, he didn't know what would be better - trying to ignore the fact that he had a new acquaintance or letting him find everything out.

 

Through the next couple meetings, Jonathan discussed his "problem" with the one leading the meetings. He was advised to just try and see what comes out of it. He was still terrified of leaving a bad impression, but, after being told several times it would be best for him, he forced himself out of his comfort zone. That evening, at home, he stared at his phone, taking deep breaths before finding Daniel's name in the contact list. He pressed the name, slowly bringing the phone to his ear. "Hey... Daniel? Say... Are you free tonight?" He asked as the other picked up, biting down on his lip nervously.

[Exellda]

Once inside the comfort of his own home, Daniel tossed his broken cane into the trash. There was no need to keep it. He hated the thing and it was shitty anyway. Daniel stood there for a moment wondering what he should do now... He didn't really have any company. The interior of his house was pretty plain, and he didn't have many things to entertain himself other than his piano, some books, and whatever else he could find. The nice thing about his plain, simple, hardly decorated home was that Daniel could easily navigate through it. No cane needed because he had gone the extra mile to memorize where everything was. Thus, this was also the reason he didn't redecorate.

 

After the first day, Daniel had almost expected a reply. Though he didn't know why he was so eager... Maybe it was because it actually gave him something to do, besides laying on the couch and being lazy. Sure he had gone out earlier, but without any guidance or clue to where he wanted to go, he didn't think it was worth it. So when a couple more days passed, Daniel was beginning to think that Jonathan wasn't going to call. That was a little upsetting, but Daniel wouldn't hold a grudge against Jonathan. After all, they only had just met and they were only acquaintances.

 

However, after a couple days had passed, Daniel found himself practicing on the piano. He thought that perhaps maybe he should practice, considering that the concert was a couple days away. It was right when he was in the middle of reading the Braille when his phone went off, legitimately startling him.

 

Nevertheless Daniel put his sheets of music down and pulled out his phone. "H-Hello?" He listened to the voice on the other side and instantly recognized it, "Jonathan?" Daniel felt a smile make its way onto his face, he let out a hum, "And here I thought you had disappeared... And wasn't going to call me." He said, seemingly joking, "Yeah..." Daniel found himself nodding, "I'm free."

 

Daniel ran a hand through his hair as he made his way into the living room and then plopping onto his leather sofa. "When do you want to meet, oh and, you're swinging by to pick me up right?" The underline meaning was that Daniel didn't mind walking, especially with someone else. In fact, he really appreciated it. "Just tell me when, and I'll be ready."

[Zombie_In_A_Box]

Jonathan actually felt guilty when Daniel mentioned thinking he wouldn't get a call at all. He tried to think of a excuse, but what was he supposed to say? That he was too scared to call? That was just stupid, and cowardly... Although he was a coward. It was best if others didn't learn that, though. The longer he could keep his flaws to himself, the better.

 

"I can be at your house in thirty minutes. I just don't want to leave the oven on while I'm gone, so you'd have to wait a bit until it's ready... Is that okay?" He asked a bit nervously, feeling as if he was about to have his first date. Even though it wasn't a date. Gods, he was just so damn nervous, his heart was beating too fast to be normal. He'd gone through the way to Daniel's house at least five times, his anxiety getting the better of him. He really was messed up, it was merely a matter of time until all of his unnaturalness was out. Sometimes he wondered how there was so much wrong with him.

 

Jonathan looked up at the clock, then at the oven, where the meat and potatoes were already placed inside. On the table, there was a bowl of salad and he had a water of sparkling water on the table, along with two glasses. He also had a pre-made cake in the fridge - a cheesecake, his favorite, with strawberries on it. He felt like he was pretty prepared for the evening... If it really didn't work out, he could just eat it all himself. In a few days, at least.

[Exellda]

Daniel nodded to himself, "I understand. Finish cooking first." He hummed, knowing that leaving food cooking while being gone was a good way to start a fire... Being blind, he knew that fact all too well. After waiting a couple days for Jonathan to contact him, Daniel had been thinking about him, wondering if he could befriend him. Friends were convenient to have and friends were also people Daniel lacked as of now. During the time it took Jonathan to call him, Daniel had thought of a clever plan...

 

"Thirty minutes, hm?" Daniel the idea rolling through his mind. Though he wasn't sure if Jonathan would agree to it. However, being the mischievous guy that he was, Daniel couldn't help it, he couldn't pass up the opportunity. "If you take longer than thirty minutes, I want ice cream. Though, I suppose if you make it on time, or even early, it will be my treat. Not today of course, I was thinking some other time?" He offered. "How does that sound?"

 

As he waited for Jonathan's reply, Daniel got up and made his way to his room. He made it to his dresser and moved his hand across the top of it, feeling for his tickets that he had placed there. Ah, there they were. Daniel selected one. "I have your ticket in my hand right now. I'll be waiting. And I am timing you." Daniel teased after Jonathan gave him his reply, "I'll see you in a bit. Bye-bye." And with that, Daniel smiled and hung up.

[Zombie_In_A_Box]

Jonathan blinked, letting out a quiet sigh. "No, you misunderstood. I was going to pick you up and continue cooking with you in my house..." He explained, his brain screaming at him, pointing out his mistake as something he would regret for the rest of his life, no way to escape. "I... Sure, that sounds good." The man breathed out, closing his eyes tightly as he pulled one leg to himself, trying to convince himself this could actually go out well and not end up in an absolute disaster.

 

"Alright... Yeah, see you." Jonathan managed a chuckle, pulling the phone away from his ear as his mind chanted over and over 'this is a mistake'. He had to force himself to get off the couch and take his jacket, feeling like the world itself was trying to stop him, slow him down. He wanted to give up, but he also wanted a friend... But what if it didn't work out? The man's mind jumped from good to bad in a matter of seconds during the trip to Daniel's house. When he reached it, Jonathan felt mentally exhausted, although it didn't show outside, except for his eyes... For the first time, he was glad the other was blind.

 

Jonathan raised his hand and pressed the doorbell, beginning to feel his anxiety taking over him bit by bit. He just hoped seeing Daniel would make it somewhat better. There were times when seeing others helped him tame his anxiety, perhaps it was the need to hide it... "Daniel? It's me." He called out after a few seconds of waiting, taking in a deep breath to calm himself down. This was real, and he had to do the best he could possibly do.

[Exellda]

Ah yes, Daniel had misinterpreted what Jonathan meant, but no worries. The deal would still hold. Daniel was actually happy that Jonathan didn't turn him down. Though he wouldn't have been surprised if he had. Sadly, Daniel considered himself to be a burden to many people. Jonathan was included. No, pretty much everyone was... Perhaps this was a side effect of his fathers abuse, reminding how worthless he really was...

 

Daniel didn't have much to do other than wait. He was withing for his timer to go off and while he did so, he decided to brush his hair back to it was soft and smooth. With the ticket in hand yawned, set it down for a moment while he pulled on some socks and shoes then picked it up again. That was when he heard a knock at the door, Jonathan's voice echoing on the other side. The noise slightly startled him. Daniel jumped up, ready to go but hesitated before answering the door. He had to pull down his sleeves down. Jonathan didn't need to see those scars... Daniel wasn't sure if he could answer his questions if he asked... Plus, being the aloof guy he was sometimes, Daniel often forgot he had scars... They were only on his arms and abdominal area... But that was an accident, or so he kept telling himself. His scars were the reason he wore long sleeved almost all the time. Though he was a little careless when he went to sleep...

 

Scars aside, that's not what today was about. Today was about potential. Potential to move on, start anew, and perhaps gain a new friend. Being blind made Daniel feel more alone, so sometimes he could be clingy, physically. It seemed that Jonathan didn't mind that he would hang onto him. Although, between the days that they had last seen each other, Daniel had a chance to reflect on whether it was that having someone to escort him or whether it was having actual company that made him happy... He had come to the conclusion that both made him happy, however, one more than the other. Daniel liked Jonathan's company... Well, almost anyone's company was good enough for Daniel.

 

He opened the door, "H-hello, I hope I didn't take too long to answer the door..." He huffed, "You're here sooner that I expected, I guess I'll be buying ice cream next time." A smile made its way onto his face. He didn't mind that he would have to buy Jonathan ice cream. It was an excuse to have company in his life. Simply, Daniel didn't believe that anyone would actually want to accompany him unless they were benefiting from it. "Shall we go?" Daniel asked, holding out the ticket for Jonathan.

[Zombie_In_A_Box]

Jonathan stared at the door, his heart beginning to raise. Was Daniel not home? Or did he just not want to show himself to him anymore? The man began gnawing on his bottom lip, the uncertainty and hesitation rising in his body again. He felt like the ground was slipping from under his feet, all the possibilities flashing through his mind. He'd bitten through his lip by the time Daniel finally opened the door, and he only realized it when he tried to smile and it hurt. Licking his lip, the man forced his hands to stop shaking as he took in a deep breath.

 

"No, not at all." Jonathan spoke, reaching for the ticket. He put it into his inner pocket, looking around to see if Daniel had a different cane, but there didn't seem to be one. "Do you want me to lead you again?" He asked politely, gently brushing his fingers against the other's arm so he could grab on if he felt needed. He looked into Daniel's eyes, letting out a quiet exhale. He would be fine. Or, at least he hoped for it.

[Exellda]

It was honestly a relief to know that Jonathan had indeed came to see him again, even if it was a dinner 'date'. Daniel's heart fluttered with excitement as he was happy to be getting out of the house. Heck, he was happy to go anywhere. What better way than to be escorted? He felt Jonathan's hand on his arm, it seemed the other male was a step ahead of Daniel and he hadn't even said anything yet. A soft smile went onto his face as he nodded, he closed the door behind him. "If it isn't any trouble... I would like that, thank you." More than anything, besides being happy, he liked holding onto Jonathan's arm... For more than one reason.

 

Daniel willingly let Jonathan hook their arms together. The arm that was seemingly calm the other day felt different today... "Are you nervous..?" Daniel asked softly, as he thought he could feel the tremors coming from Jonathan. Being blind allowed Daniel the benefit of being sensitive to touch, though there sometimes were downfalls to this trait. So they were both nervous..? "Don't be... It's okay, I assure you." He said, trying to comfort the taller male. There was no need to get nervous over eating dinner together, he told himself. Certainly there was no need for Jonathan to get nervous over him... Why did Jonathan seem so nervous anyway?

 

The whole time he was oblivious to the fact that Jonathan's lip was bleeding...

 

"What did you make for me?" Daniel asked somewhat cheerfully, seemingly trying to keep the innocent conversation going. "Or is that a surprise for when we get there?" He gently nudged the other male, hoping that they could continue their friendly conversation since last time.

[Zombie_In_A_Box]

Jonathan let out a quiet exhale, watching how Daniel linked their arms again. He truly couldn't help but be tense, and it seemed like the other felt it too, as a question about him being nervous soon reached his ears. "I'm, uh..." He muttered weakly, unsure of what to say. He didn't want to admit it, that he wasn't normal, so he just muttered something in response to the reassurance that it was okay. It wasn't really, but maybe if he pretended it was, it would be easier to deal with the situation. With his other hand, Jonathan reached up and lightly wiped at his lip, glancing at his bloodied hand. Damn, he really bit through it.

 

"I made a whole meal." Jonathan said, letting out a quiet chuckle, trying to get himself to relax, as Daniel was trying to hard to keep the atmosphere light. "Steak, potatoes, salad, and dessert... I hope you like cheesecake." He said with a lighter tone, trying to find something to grab on, something to keep himself away from bad thoughts. "I mean... You're not a vegetarian, right?" The man asked, realizing that he'd never made sure. What if Daniel was? Crap, he should've prepared something more that wasn't meat.

 

"Anyway... What do you eat when you're by yourself?" Jonathan asked, leading the other with a firm, yet gentle hand. He'd managed to memorize the way back home by now, so it really wasn't hard to keep a conversation without having to check the phone each ten seconds to see if he was going in the right direction. His gaze swept past Daniel's hair, another question rising, although he kept it for himself for the time being. It was probably unfair to ask a blind person about their appearance, maybe impolite even.

[Exellda]

One thing was for sure, Daniel could tell that Jonathan was nervous, regardless of him trying to convey that he was okay. Daniel could only fathom why the other male was worried about much less why he was worried to begin with. A dark thought came to his mind, one that explained why Jonathan was nervous. Perhaps he was uncomfortable with his blindness... That was his ultimate insecurity and it felt wrong to even assume that about Jonathan... However, Daniel wouldn't be surprised if his blindness was off putting and made the other male uncomfortable. One part of his mind worried about his blindness, his memories of his father came to mind... while the other part of his mind tried to concentrate on the possibility that Jonathan actually didn't mind that he was blind. He could never see Jonathan's face... So Jonathan could easily lie and Daniel would never know.

 

Relying on the honesty of others was hard to do...

 

Although Daniel was surprised and actually happy to hear that Jonathan made a full on meal for him. He found himself amused at everything Jonathan made for him. A laugh escaped him when Jonathan asked him if he was a vegetarian. He squeezed Jonathan's arm lightly, a small smile on his face, "Relax Jonathan," He chuckled, "I am not a vegetarian, nor will I ever be. I love meat too much to give it up. And cheesecake sounds yummy, I haven't had that in a while."

 

Food was at least a distraction for a moment. Even a short topic like this was enough to distract Daniel. "I'm glad you made such a hefty meal. I'll be honest with you... I don't think I ate anything today. I was so distracted practicing and playing the piano I forgot... Things like that happen to me where I eat hardly anything, probably why I am so thin. However, I do have days where I like to pig out." He said bashfully, but it was true. Daniel brushed a hand though his hair, sighing softly, still with a small smile on his face. "You know, I like to try new foods. So I guess you could say I am open minded. Since I can't see, I reply on smell and taste a lot more. Flavor means a lot to me as well as texture. If it smells good, then I usually like it. I'm sure I'd try anything once, even exotic food I would try."

 

Now that he thought about it, Daniel couldn't cook half of the things he tried. Often he would mix up directions, ingredients, or mess up cooking time. It was easy for him to burn things, "As for cooking things, having blindness for a handicap puts a damper on it, sure... I mean, I can cook a lot of basic things... As long as it is easy and has a low margin for error without seeing it. For example, I burned a bag of pop corn once... Almost set the house on fire. Usually every bag goes into the microwave for about three minutes, right? Well we got a new microwave and I kind of forgot and left the bag in there for almost nine minutes..." He trailed off getting more quieter at the end. "To say the least I was embarrassed and we had to get a new microwave." Daniel chuckled softly. Laughing it off was the best way for him to avoid the seriousness of the situation. That, and for the fact that his father was so pissed afterwards... He also didn't mention who 'we' was.

 

"To say the least, I've had my adventures with cooking." Daniel smiled softly, he was better at hiding his inner turmoil, or so he thought. He was blind, so he really didn't know. "I'll assume you like cooking? Since you made so much?" Daniel inquired curiously, wanting to know some about Jonathan as well.

[Zombie_In_A_Box]

Jonathan had to be honest - he breathed a sigh of relief when Daniel assured him he wasn't a vegetarian. "Alright, that's good to hear... But is there anything you're allergic to, or just don't like?" He asked, a smile on his face at the last words. He was glad he made cheesecake. The man lifted his hand again, wiping off the blood from his lip. It seemed to be bleeding less, but he'd still have to wash it off at home. He hoped Daniel wouldn't notice it...

 

The man frowned as Daniel mentioned not eating anything. "It's not good to live like that, you know?" He scolded lightly, pulling the other to a stop before crossing the street. Jonathan hummed softly in understanding, finding himself liking the other's attitude towards food. "I'm glad to hear that. I haven't really been experimenting much with what I prepare, though... I think it could be fun." He thought out loud. He used to make various different meals for his... Family. When he still had one. How come his thoughts always ended up with them? God, he really missed his daughters.

 

Jonathan scrunched up his nose slightly as Daniel told the story about ruining a new microwave. "Oh, wow, that's really bad..." He muttered, unsure of what else to say. Being blind definitely seemed to be hard. Well, that was obvious, but he never really thought about in which areas it would be hard. Making food really did seem like a near-impossible task without being able to see.

 

"I used to cook all the time for..." Jonathan began, but found himself choked up. Swallowing down, the man stared right in front of him before continuing. "For my... Wife and kids." He finally said, and before Daniel could ask, he said, "We're divorced now." He said it in such a tone that made it clear no further questions should be asked. "But... I do like cooking, anyway." He forced himself to continue so there wouldn't be any awkward silence. "I find that home made food is cheaper, and better than something ordered. Although cafe food is nice, when you can make your own, it's always better. I can make however much I want, with whatever spices or sides." He spoke while trying to get his family out of his head.

 

He was told a while ago, that if he proved to have made progress and stopped drinking, he would be allowed to see his children again. He was really trying, and this month would be his evaluation... He was nervous for it, definitely, and he wasn't sure he was ready, but he wanted it so bad.

[Exellda]

"Nope, not that I am aware of..." Daniel said softly, thinking and not really paying attention to where they were going. He was trusting that Jonathan wouldn't get him hurt. "I am not allergic to anything that I've tried so far... So I guess you have nothing to worry about." Daniel said before squeezing the other male's arm gently. "I haven't found anything that I don't like... I find that if something is made correctly, I'll like it. For example, one could make casserole a certain way, however someone else could make the same casserole a totally different way. I could like one way that it was prepared instead of the other." He tried to justify. "Does that make sense?"

 

After that Daniel found himself being lightly scolded by Jonathan for not eating properly... It was actually appreciated to an extent. "Yeah I know..." He said softly. But with his difficulties with cooking and his passion for piano, sometimes food got pushed aside. That, and also if he lost money, Daniel would rather sacrifice his food for a day then to sacrifice his piano or perhaps paying for the roof over his head. Jonathan had worried over his eating habit even though they just met. A few time Daniel had told other people the same thing and he would usually get snarky replies while others thought he was joking.

 

As they walked, Daniel listened carefully to Jonathan's tone of voice which seemed to be very unsteady once the mention of his ex wife and kids were brought up... So he was married before? The thought crossed Daniels' mind. Oh. This information actually surprised Daniel, though he hand'd really asked too much about Jonathan's life in terms of his family. And with the way Jonathan spoke, he probably wasn't over being divorced either. It made Daniel wonder what had happened... However he kept his mouth shut about the topic. His family situation was no better. Much like Jonathan's family, his was torn apart too... With the exception that he himself was the cause...

 

Regardless of the fact that Jonathan was divorced, that didn't seem to bother Daniel too much. Rather, he just wanted to know why or how it happened... because Daniel still felt that this stranger he met the other day was still nice... Still very nice and gentle, so far... No, Daniel wouldn't judge Jonathan for something like that... Though, it did look like he needed some space when it came to the topic. "I am glad you like cooking Jonathan..." Daniel said softly, squeezing his arm lightly. "I'll have to agree that home cooked meals are better, though for obvious reasons, I don't have it too often."

 

The more he learn snippets from Jonathan, the more Daniel found himself a little curious. Nevertheless he was still wary about the position he was in and for the simple fact that he didn't know Jonathan too well. Yet somehow on some level, he felt like he could relate to Jonathan... And with that thought he blurted, "So we're both alone..." He said that without even thinking about it but once he realized he said it, he felt like he should justify what he meant. "In a sense... I mean, it seems we've both had some hardships to overcome... And..." Daniel's free hand reached up and patted Jonathan's arm in attempt the comfort the other male. "I'd say I'm a pretty good listener if you ever need someone to talk to."

 

At first he wasn't sure why he said that, but then he remembered how kind Jonathan seemed to be so far... Daniel paused for a moment, hoping Jonathan wouldn't take that the wrong way. He only wanted to provide someone for Jonathan to vent to if he needed. Perhaps when he was comfortable enough, he would open up to Jonathan about his own past as well. Then again, he wouldn't be surprised if Jonathan denied him. After all, what could a blind guy do? Daniel wasn't sure himself what he could offer for Jonathan... He didn't have much to give him... Other than a hand of friendship.

 

Here they were, walking together, two men, two strangers... Daniel decided to move the topic forward. "Hey, are we almost to your home now?" He asked softly, "I can't wait to have what you made. I bet you're a good cook. I haven't had a home cooked meal in a while, so I might eat a lot, I hope that's okay."

[Zombie_In_A_Box]

Jonathan smiled in relief when Daniel said he had no allergies. It would make everything a whole lot easier. People with food allergies were usually hard to make food for. He always had to look out for traces of that food so he wouldn't cause an allergic reaction. He himself had no allergies as well, which he was damn thankful for. "That does make sense. That's why I like home made meals more than cafe, mainly because they're made differently." Jonathan said with a smile, looking ahead of him. They were close.

 

The man was glad Daniel didn't push him to talk more about his ex family. He wasn't ready yet. Jonathan appreciated the squeeze, though, a smile on his face. As time went by, he would probably open up more as well. He glanced at the other in surprise at the comment about both of them being alone. "Yeah... I guess we are both alone." He agreed with a quiet chuckle, his heart clenching slightly as he felt the hand patting his shoulder. "Thank you." The man muttered, taking in a deep breath. "I'm here for you, too." He added after a short while, feeling like it would be unfair to ask for someone to listen and not even suggest doing the same. After all, he wasn't the only one in the world who had problems.

 

"We're here, actually." Jonathan laughed, leading Daniel towards the door. "Careful, there's a few steps." He warned the other as he led him up the stairs, then got to his door to unlock it. "So... I'm not sure what you'd want to do until I finish the food." He admitted nervously, closing the door behind him. He still held Daniel's arm, knowing that there were more than enough things in his house that the other could've gotten hurt by. The man exhaled slowly, now realizing that there really was no way to escape this situation. He'd have to go through it all, no matter how it went.

 

"As for how much you'll eat... Don't worry about it. I made plenty, so just... I hope it's good." Jonathan chuckled nervously, looking around as he tried to think of what he could offer Daniel to do. Listen to music? To the TV? He didn't want to leave the oven alone, so he couldn't really offer a tour around the house, either.

[Exellda]

Daniel kept that in mind. Jonathan would listen to him if he so needed it, which, he supposed that would be nice. He didn't really have too many people who would support him like that... Daniel usually kept things to himself, including things about his past... But it's been years and maybe it was about time he talked about his past... Eventually... Maybe once he knew Jonathan better. Jonathan seemed to have his own past that he wasn't comfortable with talking about yet and Daniel, because of his own past, could relate. Daniel could offer an open mind whenever Jonathan decided he wanted to talk and hoped Jonathan would do the same if he ever needed someone to talk to.

 

The blind male was happy to hear that they were finally at Jonathan's house even though it was a relatively short walk. Truth be told, Daniel hadn't been over at anyone's house in a long time. A soft chuckles escaped him as he walked up the stairs with Jonathan. Once they were inside and he heard the door close behind him, Daniel bounced slightly out of excitement as reality hit him. "Thank you Jonathan. You have no idea... I haven't been over at someone else's place in... Maybe a year? People tend to rather visit me at my place rather than go to theirs... It's either that or meet somewhere outside of the house. Ah-" Daniel cleared his throat, a light blush lit his cheeks, "Sorry, I was a little too excited." he admitted in embarrassment. He didn't get out much... His pale skin was a sure sign that he wasn't outside for too long despite liking the outside.

 

"What I want to do?" Daniel sounded surprised that someone would even ask him what he would consider to do. Well, he wasn't exactly sure. However he did squeeze Jonathan's arm slightly, smiling mischievously. "If it's okay with you, do you mind if I take a look around while you cook? I'll stay in the living room if you want me to." Daniel suggested. Being blind meant that he had to look around a different way. Through feeling... A tactic Daniel did to learn his surroundings. He would be able to mentally map what Jonathan's home looked like through feeling and touch. "Also, I want you to know... That even though I am blind-" Yes, he was talking about his major insecurity, "Talk to me as though I am someone who can see... And treat me as if I not blind, with the exception of escorting me of course. I don't mean to be a hemorrhage or to cramp your style. I understand that you need to watch your food, don't let me interrupt you." Daniel said lightly, unhooking his arm from Jonathan's.

 

Daniel took a moment to take off his shoes and even his socks so his feet could touch the bare floor. "I'll follow you to the kitchen if you'd like, instead?" He said, giving Jonathan the option.

[Zombie_In_A_Box]

Jonathan smiled lightly as Daniel began talking. It was actually rather relaxing, and nice, to hear the other talk so much. It was nice to hear other people get so excited about something... Especially if he could help with it. He liked helping people feel good, although making himself feel good was a bit trickier. "You really shouldn't worry about being excited." He said simply, slipping off his shoes without using his hands, as he didn't want to let go of the other before he was sure it would be okay.

 

"Oh, I... I mean, you can feel free to do it, but there's a lot of... Just be careful." Jonathan ended with a soft sigh, watching as Daniel unhooked their arms. It was weird to let go. The man blinked a few times and let out a quiet breath, running a hand through his hair. "Sorry, I'll try to do that from now on." He promised, taking a few steps towards the kitchen. "No, you should do what you want. I'll call you when I get the food done." The man promised before moving into the kitchen. "Oh, in case you need... You can get to the bathroom if you go straight ahead from there, to the very end of the hallway." He explained, feeling like this was something he needed to address.

 

After all that was taken care of, Jonathan turned on the oven and put everything in it, noting down the time to make sure he cooked the meat for just the right amount of time. He hated overcooking meals. The man let out a quiet sigh, running his hands over his hair as he looked around. He supposed he should get everything ready. The plates, the cutlery, the rice, everything had to be taken care of until Daniel came back to eat. Like that, nearly half an hour later, Jonathan was done. "Okay, food's ready." He called out, walking out of the room in case Daniel needed assistance getting to the kitchen.

[Exellda]

Great, so Daniel was going to get the opportunity to look around Jonathan's home. It didn't bother him that Jonathan was busy with the food. This allowed Daniel to explore with his own will. He heard Jonathan leave him, heading in a different direction, to the kitchen if he had to guess. Now that Jonathan wasn't by his side Daniel felt kind of awkward, he didn't have that nice arm to hold onto but that was okay. Daniel liked to learn the different formats of buildings he went to, Jonathan's home would now be included. The blind male reached out to the side of him, feeling for the nearest wall. He came in contact with a wall that was on his right and decided to follow it until he bumped into something. This was all a part of his learning process. He would take slow steps, wary that he might step on something or bump his feet into something. Being cautious was all he could do.

 

The first thing his hand came in contact with was a wooden structure... Bulky... Square... Daniel slid his hand along the surface of the wooden object, his fingers absorbing each detail and texture, until his hand bumped into something else. Ah- So that's what it was. A television stand. The TV was a flat screen, probably of nice quality though Daniel could never be too sure. He never really watched TV... For obvious reasons. Once he was done investigating the stand he turned around, deciding that he would take the risk to walk across the room. Normally people didn't have things in the middle of the room, the only thing Daniel anticipated was perhaps a coffee table. Maybe he should have asked what was even in the living room before he let Jonathan leave him... Oh well...

 

Walking legitimately blindly across the room, Daniel kept at least one hand in front of him. However he almost tripped when he bumped into something. Luckily he managed to save himself just in time. His leg had bumped into it and Daniel was automatically assuming that it was a coffee table of sorts. He leaned down slightly until his hand collided with the table. Yes, he was right! This time, the material was a little different... It didn't feel like wood and he couldn't think of the name on the top of his head... But thank goodness the edges were rounded out. Daniel could cut himself on accident if they were squared off.

 

After getting bored with the coffee table, Daniel wandered about the room some more, eventually coming into contact with a plush couch. He was more a fan of leather... But Jonathan's couch was soft and seemingly comfortable... So Daniel felt the couch, making sure that there was nothing on it before tossing himself onto the couch. He made himself at home by laying on it. This couch was sure comfortable. He could fall asleep on it, that's how comfortable it was. Daniel picked up one of the pillows, giving it a small test toss into the air. He soon found himself repeatedly tossing the pillow for fun. He then shifted on the couch, getting comfortable and smiling softly to himself. Why was this pillow so entertaining? He had no clue. It had successfully stopped him from furthering his exploration of Jonathan's home. He continued these antic for who knows how long... Until Jonathan came out...

 

When Jonathan came out, he came out to a peculiar sight. One that Daniel found himself in an awkward position laying on his back on Jonathan's sofa. His feet were above him in the air, a pillow resting on his feet as if Daniel was performing some circus act as he tried to balance the pillow on his feet. His shirt was slightly lifted from his waist revealing a part of a scar that covered a part of his lower stomach and abdominal area. Daniel had been idly tossing the pillow up and balancing it on his feet because he found some source of entertainment out of it. Upon Jonathan's arrival, he froze, "Oh? The food is ready?" And with one swift movement he shifted, letting the pillow fall onto the couch as he sat up straight, his shirt naturally falling back into place, completely unnoticed by the blind male.

 

"Great I'm starving." Daniel said, smiling softly as he stood up. Smelling food all this time had his stomach talking to him, threatening to eat itself if he didn't eat anything soon. A yawn escaped him as he stretched his arms above his head. Daniel started to walk in the direction of Jonathan's voice, he remembered the coffee table and nearly avoided it just in time. When he was sure he was close enough, he held out his hand... "Uh- Sorry, I need a little guidance, please." He had hesitated, about three feet from Jonathan.

[Zombie_In_A_Box]

The first thing Jonathan noticed was Daniel's pose. He smiled to himself, glad the other was happy, at least. He had no idea what to offer him to do, so it was, in a way, sad that the other had to occupy himself with such a thing. Yet he looked happy... Maybe it didn't take much for Daniel to be happy? That would make everything a whole lot easier, he had to admit.

 

The next thing he noticed were the scars. Fear turned into horror, mixed with confusion. This seemed to be just a part of the whole scar, too, so it was really big... He felt the responsibility to ask how it had happened, but perhaps after they ate. After all, scars were sometimes a difficult subject to talk about.

 

"Sure." Jonathan muttered, taking Daniel's hand to carefully navigate him to the kitchen. He led him to the chair, placing the other's hand on it. "Here, sit down. The fork's on the left, the knife's on the right, if you need anything else just say it." He said, letting Daniel sit down before turning to take the pot and put food into the plates. A big piece of meat, potatoes, and salad from the bowl on the table. "Enjoy." He added with a light tone, filling his plate with food as well. The man sat down in front of the other, cutting a piece of his meat. "If you need more spices, say it." He chuckled quietly, knowing some people preferred a lot more spices that he did - all that he used was salt, peppers and some marinade.

 

"If you'd like, I could show you around the house after we eat." Jonathan suggested, cautiously observing Daniel. Did he even like being here? He didn't want to appear too pushy, or worse, dangerous. If he showed too much interest in the other staying at his place, it could be seen as suspicious... He really didn't want that. He had absolutely no ill intentions when it came to someone else. He didn't hate people, it was like he was unable to feel such emotion.

[Exellda]

After Jonathan took his hand, Daniel found himself being lead into the kitchen. Now that he was no longer distracted by the pillow he had been tossing up he found himself starved with hunger. His own stomach growled lowly as he inhaled the smell of Jonathan's cooking. He could tell that he was in for a treat and that Jonathan's cooking would probably taste really good.

 

Once Jonathan lead him to a chair, Daniel took it from there and allowed himself to sit on it. He noted what Jonathan said, reaching onto the table, sliding his hands to find the silverware. "I'll tell you what I want, Jonathan, your food in my stomach." Daniel declared jokingly as picked up the knife and fork. "I haven't even taken a bite and I have a feeling that I'll like your cooking." The blind male sat there, eagerly awaiting the for the food to be placed in front of him. He wouldn't admit it, but he was actually a bit nervous. New company was always a learning experience for him. He had to pay extra attention to the way Jonathan spoke, wanting to be aware of everything like Jonathan was. This also applied to anyone who wasn't blind in general. Daniel appreciated Jonathan's kindness towards him.

 

When Jonathan offered to show him around afterwards, Daniel let out a hum, "A grand tour?" Daniel tilted his head slightly amusement. "Sure, if that's alright with you, that would be nice. Thank you." He said politely. He was totally oblivious to any turmoil that Jonathan was having. He didn't even think anything of Jonathan's offer other than he was trying to be nice. Probably was a bad thing that Daniel was too trusting to Jonathan... However he really didn't feel as though Jonathan would harm him... Hopefully. "Do you have any secret rooms I should know about?" He teased jokingly as well as suggestively.

 

"Smells delicious." Daniel complemented after Jonathan place his plate in front of him, he smelled the dish. He could easily tell the distinct scents apart from one one anther... Besides the salad, it hardly smelled like anything to Daniel. The smell of the potatoes, some kind of meat -perhaps steak?- and even the salad had Daniel's mouth watering. He then decided that he was done teasing his stomach. Maneuvering his hands slowly, Daniel use his fork to find the meat on the plate, "How do you like your steak? Rare? Medium? Hm? I personally don't mind. Steak is usually good no matter what, in my opinion." he said as he moved his knife over to his fork. The silver seemed to become an extension of Daniel's hands as he used them to find the perfect edge to start cutting it.

 

Finally, Daniel managed to cut himself a piece and bring it to his lips, sniffing it softly before eating the small hunk. "Mmn.~" Daniel hummed as he chewed. Yeah, Jonathan's steak was just as good as it smelled. Once he swallowed, he cleared his throat. "Yeah, not bad, Jonathan. I like it the way it is. Tastes really good, you know?" With that being said, he went ahead and cut himself another hunk.

[Zombie_In_A_Box]

Jonathan breathed a quiet sigh of relief when Daniel agreed to the tour without showing any worries. Thank god, he didn't come off as pushy. At the question, a small laugh parted his lips as he relaxed against his chair. "No, although I've always found them fun. You know, the ones that are hidden behind bookshelves and all?" He smiled to himself while thinking about it. They were always so interesting, especially when he knew he could actually get one himself. Perhaps it would be a fun addition to his house... He wanted to refurbish his apartment, anyway, maybe even move out.

 

Jonathan looked up as the younger asked about the meat, having begun cutting his own. "I like mine well-done, rare is just... No good for me." He let out a soft sigh, watching quietly as Daniel tasted the meat. He was so satisfied to hear he liked the food, for a moment letting himself just be happy about the food. "I'm glad to hear that." He chuckled, beginning to eat from his own plate as well. It was nice to have someone to eat with, that way he could actually ease his hunger. When he ate alone he often got distracted by something, and that resulted in the food just kind of going down, barely any taste or effect.

 

Once he was done, the man tossed a glance at Daniel, running a hand over his hair. "Would you like some more or do we eat the cake?" He asked, feeling rather full by now. He would've loved to take a nap after this, or maybe drink some tea and read a book... Just like old times. Daniel created a certain sense of comfort for him, he really appreciated it. As he stood up, either to collect the plates or get the dessert, Jonathan wondered for a moment if he should bring up the scars at all. Maybe he shouldn't... But what if these were recent? Or maybe there were more? He couldn't let Daniel get hurt any further. Still, he kept his questions until after they'd eaten dessert. It was probably the best choice.

[Exellda]

Daniel smiled softly, enjoying the conversation he was having with Jonathan. He appreciated the fact that Jonathan humored him with his imagination, appealing to him as he wondered what exactly hidden rooms looked like. He would assume it would feel the same way a normal room did, but would it feel different? Perhaps special, even? "I've heard of the bookshelf entrance to hidden rooms before, never had the chance to see one for myself though. I think it would be cool to put it on my bucket list or something." With everything he learned about Jonathan, Daniel would make a small note of it. He never knew if his small knowledge would come in handy or not, but in general it was nice to start learning things about the other male.

 

It really didn't take Daniel all that long to finish his food and by the sound of it, Jonathan was done too. Taking a moment to contemplate to himself, Daniel put his hand on his stomach, humming softly, "You know, I think I will have some cheesecake, please. I thought I would be hungry enough to have seconds... But-" Daniel sat as he pat his stomach, "I want to make sure I have room to enjoy your cheesecake too. So I suppose, if you don't mind I'll just take home some leftovers." He suggested as he brought both hands back onto the table, scooping up his plate and slowly standing up. Feeling his way around the table with one hand while the other held onto the plate, Daniel made his way around to where he thought he heard Jonathan, a couple feet away. "Here." He said offering his plate before quickly asking, "Is it cut already, or do you still have to cut it? Would it be okay if I cut it, if it's not?"

 

Yes, the blind man was asking to cut the cheesecake. Daniel liked to be independent as well as try new things. Cutting a cheesecake so happened to not be checked off yet. Simple tasks were fulfilling to Daniel, but to anyone else it wouldn't be. Unlike most people, small things made him feel accomplished and grateful. A good reminder that living wasn't all that bad... Sometimes. "I mean, if that's cool with you. I'll warn you in advanced that the pieces might not be equally sized... Although it will be fun, you can laugh at my expertise." Daniel said with a smile on his face and a casual hand on his hip, still holding out the plate for Jonathan.

[Zombie_In_A_Box]

Jonathan smiled, walking closer to pick up the plate, but, seeing Daniel stand up himself, he waited. "I'll gladly give you leftovers. I'm happy you liked the food, it really means a lot." As the man spoke, he really did sound happy. He supposed the other could find out most about him from his voice, so he did put some effort into conveying his emotions through it. He took the plate, putting it on top of his own before bringing them to the sink. The question made him freeze for a moment, mainly because he really wasn't expecting that to be asked.

 

"Erm... It hasn't been cut yet, so you could try... But let me help you a bit, okay?" Jonathan asked softly, walking to the fridge to take out the cheesecake. Along with that, he took the cake cutter, and set the cake on the table. Standing behind Daniel, he placed the cutter into his right hand, placing his own hand on top of it. "Is it okay if I do this?" He asked, quietly, gently leading the other's hand to the side of the cake so he could feel where it was and where it would have to be cut. "You have to find about the middle of it, and then just cut through the whole cake. Then turn the cake a bit and repeat, until you come back to the first cut." Jonathan muttered the explanation, keeping a bit of a distance from the other's body to make sure he wasn't being, well, creepy.

 

"If you'd like, I can also pack some of this for you to go... If you like it, I mean." Jonathan said with a smile, slowly leading Daniel's hand with the cutter to where he would have to start. He tried to not butt in too much, especially since this wasn't something the other could cut himself with, but he still wanted to be careful. He really cared for others, even ones that were still pretty much strangers.

[Exellda]

It made Daniel happy that Jonathan would let him do something simple as cutting the cheesecake. For a second there he thought the other male would deny him, that would have been okay too he supposed... It was a little irrational to let a blind man cut something... However Daniel took pleasure in simple tasks and he was glad Jonathan was allowing him to do this. "Thank you." He smiled softly, letting Jonathan take his plate and stood, listening and waiting for Jonathan to get the cheesecake ready.

 

Personally Daniel thought this was nice. He was having a decently good time hanging out with Jonathan. He allowed him to guide him to the cheesecake and even allowed Jonathan to rest his hand on his own. The difference between there hands surprised Daniel because while his hands were cold, Jonathan's hand were very nice and warm. "No problem at all." The blind man didn't mind in the slightest that the other male helped him find the cheesecake. This was basically the norm for him to be helped. Daniel liked doing things on his own but every once in a while he didn't mind the extra hand. "Say, you won't get mad if I make the pieces unequal, will you?" Daniel asked curiously after he heard what Jonathan said. He hummed softly as he felt his way around, aligning himself to cut the pie.

 

Finally, as Daniel started to slice the pie he responded to Jonathan's last comment, "I would like that very much, thanks." He said as he cut the first piece very carefully with some minor assistance from Jonathan. This small moment was enough to make Daniel happy. Small gestures meant a lot to him, mostly due to his lack of sight. "Here..." Daniel said suddenly as he stopped what he was doing. A mischievous smirk found its way onto his face as his other hand came up, lightly grabbed onto Jonathan's hand and place the cutter into Jonathan's hand. He suddenly hesitated, unknowing if Jonathan would be weirded out if he tried to do something like this. "Um... Would you be willing to try cutting the pie my way?" He offered. "But you have to do everything I say. I promise I won't hurt you or anything."

[Zombie_In_A_Box]

Jonathan let out a light laugh, shaking his head. "No, I definitely won't get mad. The cheesecake is still the same, it doesn't matter if the slice is bigger or smaller." He said calmly, his voice soft. He didn't care that much about the size of the cake slices - why should he? That was a thing that was so small, so unimportant. There were better things to focus on. For example, how good it felt to have bodily contact with another person. The man found himself leaning in a bit closer, keeping his hand on Daniel's in a careful manner. If they were closer, he probably would've stood right behind him, perhaps put an arm around his waist. He adored cooking with other people, he found it was an incredibly fun thing to do.

 

"H-Huh?" Jonathan seemed surprised when the cutter was placed into his hand, looking at the blind male in confusion. "Oh, um... Yeah, I can try." He huffed softly, deciding he would try and make the other happy as much as he could. "What do you want me to do?.. Should we switch?" He asked a bit nervously, although he also felt excited. Truth be told, though, he hated the darkness. He still had some fear of it. He couldn't bear to be blind, it would drive him crazy. Even if he had to go to the bathroom at night, he would end up turning on half of the lights at the house just to make sure he could see everything and that there was nothing waiting for me. Call it stupid, but he genuinely believed in monsters, although thieves were also a big concern for him. He didn't feel like he was strong, he wouldn't be able to defend himself. He may have been big, but he was really soft. Personality wise.

[Exellda]

"Alright..." Daniel said slowly, slightly surprised that Jonathan would accept his offer and play along. The blind male felt warmth pool inside him, happy that the other male was willing to try what he had planned out, not to mention he felt warmth from the man himself. It was a wonder how the other got so close to him but knowing this, Daniel only shrugged softly. Like it really mattered anyway... Jonathan reminded Daniel of someone... Or something... He just couldn't put his finger on it... He hummed, "Mmn, no, I think you're tall enough and your arms are long enough as they are..." Daniel commented, not really answering the question. "But close your eyes, okay?"

 

Daniel smiled as his fingers brushed over Jonathan's hands, feeling them. He found the contact to actually be very pleasant. It felt like a new experience to be in contact with someone, so it seemed. He couldn't lie, though he wouldn't say it out loud, but he rather enjoyed Jonathan being this close to him- for comfort. He was so warm and tall and... Jonathan reminded Daniel of a giant teddy bear. Yes! That was it. That's what Jonathan reminded Daniel of, a silly teddy bear. The thought of Jonathan being a teddy bear amused the blind male, a smirk forming onto his face as he let out a small giggle. Except teddy bears were not warm, have a heard beat, nor toned... and so on. He could just lean back into the teddy bear behind him, but the bear wasn't actually a bear, it was Jonathan. And that would have totally been a creeper move, he was sure. "You're not peaking, are you?" He teased.

 

But of course even though Daniel had told Jonathan to close his eyes, it didn't necessarily mean he had to. This was obviously a trust matter, one that Daniel wouldn't be surprised if Jonathan disagreed to. However, he was always curious as to what if felt like when you couldn't see- when normally you can. Was it scary? Sometimes Daniel thought it was... And often it was lonely too. But he pushed all of that into the back of his mind as he used one hand to feel where he should cut next, while the other lightly grabbed onto Jonathan's hand guiding him to the next cutting location. With ease Daniel seemed to do this just fine, however he knew how hard it actually was to perfect this. It didn't take long before he was cutting with the cutter, pressing against Jonathan's hand with his own, hard enough to make sure that the piece had been cut all the way though.

 

Then Daniel shifted, turning the cheesecake, feeling where to cut the next slice and then promptly cutting it. "See, nothing to worry about... I am not hurting you, am I?" Daniel asked carefully as he proceeded to cut another piece of cheesecake. Before long and in no time at all, Daniel had successfully cut the cheesecake into eight pieces. He managed to make the pieces almost in all equal size, as if he were never truly blind. "So... how does it look?" He asked, implying that Jonathan could look again. "I hope it's not too bad." Commented Daniel, his thumb absentmindedly brushing Jonathan's hand because he hadn't let go- one of his nervous habits.