Chapter Text
Collie did a sharp inhale as he took in the cold autumn air. It was barely past 6 and he'd gone off for a walk on one of the nearby bike paths. He took in the trees in little linear lines, running parallel to the path he was following. Every few days he'd come out early, before most of the morning set came out, letting himself take in the air and the flora. It was pretty, yes , he'd always liked nature, but he couldn't help but think it didn't come close to what he left behind. But for now, it scratched the itch well enough and the cool air was always a good wake up.
As he walked, he took in the familiar path he watched turn yellow and auburn in the past few months, fallen leaves crunching under his feet. He began picking up his pace, knowing there was a park bench coming past the curve of the trail. He wanted to rest for a bit. It's only when he drew closer that he heard rustling from just ahead of the bend.
He peered over the few trees to find a focused Barkovitch, knees in the grass, quietly adjusting his camera. He was pointed towards something above him, and when following his gaze, he noticed a small bird sitting in a tree. He stilled his movements, not wanting to startle the picture's subject and used the opportunity to take in the photographer. Collie had never seen Gary in his element like this. His hair framed his face, some of the length being trapped behind the leather camera strap around his neck. His eyebrows furrowed in concentration as his eyes flit across his camera display. He looked so soft, almost peaceful, something he had never seen on the man's face. It did his features well. A faint breeze had blown some of his blonde hair onto his bottom lip, but he seemed too focused to pull it back. Collie wishes he were closer so he could. It was only when Barkovitch was satisfied that he withdrew, staring down at his camera with a small smile on his face. Collie decided it was time to make his presence known.
"You usually out here this early?"
He watched Gary startle, looking up at him from his place in the grass. "Fuck are you doing here?"
How could he still have a tone this early in the morning? "Should be asking you that, never seen you out here this early."
Gary gave a small glare as he got up, dusting the grass off his washed-out jeans. "Was stuffy as fuck inside, just decided to come out. That a problem?"
"Didn't say that." Collie purposefully kept his tone sharp, expression flat. He was still pissed at Gary for his little outburst the day before, and his current behaviour wasn't helping. Seemed like his tone was picked up on, because his attitude shifted soon thereafter. Gary was now looking away from him as he made it back on the road. Collie watched him itch at his wrists as they naturally began walking side by side. Fuck the bench, I guess.
"Hey,"
Collie glanced over to the man on his left. Gary was still looking off to the side.
"I uh, didn't mean to—yknow, fuck up everything yesterday."
"Uh huh."
"I just start saying shit and I never want to hu—I didn't mean—"
Collie put him out of his misery. "Alright." He could feel the shake in the boy's voice, and this is the most of an apology he's gotten out of him since they met.
"Yeah. Alright."
Collie started again as they continued down the path. "You come out here a lot? Haven't seen you before."
"Nah, not really. I mean, I was here like, an afternoon to do some shit for one of my classes," Oh yeah. What do you do in a photography program anyway? He's got to ask about that one of these days. "Always wanted to come out here early, though. Figured I'd get some pictures out of it. Place is real pretty."
Collie nodded in agreement. "Maine is fine enough. Nothing like home, though."
"Prettier, you think?"
"Much Prettier. Couldn't compare with a fucking thing here." His heart swelled as he spoke, fondness laced within his words. Parker thought he'd drive himself mad with homesickness one of these days.
Gary was finally looking at him again. "We had green shit back home, but it was like, different, I guess. Fuck ton of grass where I was."
"Sounds boring." Gary gave a small shrug. "Kinda was. Got some good ass shots outta that grass though. Can always find a good subject in something."
"Got any good ones out here? How'd the bird turn out?"
Gary's eyes widened, guess he hadn't realised how long Collie had been watching him. "Oh, yeah! Pretty good actually, was kinda rushing cuz birds are the fucking worst to catch. Swear they hate me, half of em fly away. Mean fuckers."
"Maybe they don't like you cuz you call them mean fuckers."
Gary laughed, corners of his eyes crinkling a bit. "Nah, gotta be bird senses or some shit. Can't be cuz I'm a dick to them, there's plenty of bird watchers who are pricks. I know like five."
Collie gave him a small chuckle, seeing in his peripheral how Gary's eyes lit up at his approval. It was sweet, flattering even. The pair lulled into a comfortable silence as they walked, and Parker let his hands find his pockets as he lulled his head back. Eventually, Gary got to fiddling with his camera again, so he slowed whenever he heard him stop to take a photo. He let his gaze fall on Gary then, the peace overtaking his features again before he quickly stepped up to keep pace. When they reached the end point, they turned back, wanting to get off the trail before too many people showed up. The sun was properly out now, and Collie let his eyes fall shut as he felt the warmth on his face.
He then heard the click of the camera shutter and opened one eye to peer at the source of the noise. Barkovitch quickly pulled his camera down, focusing too intently on the display. He clearly wasn't meant to notice the photo. They remained quiet for a moment before Collie decided to break the silence.
"Can I see it?"
"See what?"
"The picture you took."
Gary's cheeks dusted with a light flush. "Oh. I guess," He quickly pulled it up on his camera, letting the display face Collie. He bent down a bit, bringing his face closer to the small screen as he took the photo in. It was good, really good. He told him as such. "Thats actually pretty good."
"Yeah?"
"Yeah." Gary was beaming, nails tapping on the plastic of his camera. It was all so damn sweet he almost forgot it was fucking Barkovitch he was looking at.
That was a really good picture. "Where'd you find a subject in me, huh?"
He could see the exact moment Gary went stiff. "What?"
"What you said before, about finding subjects in anything. What caught your eye like that?"
He was genuinely curious, but Gary suddenly couldn't keep his gaze again and Parker could see the panic in his eyes. He might've pushed him a bit too far. "Just—the sun and shit—Jesus its not that fucking serious," He was scratching at his camera strap, hands twitching towards the meat of his arm. " Don't make it weird."
Sigh. "Alright man, fuck."
The pair walked silently the rest of the way back. Collie tried to pick up the conversation, but decided to spare him the trouble. He could practically feel the nerves radiating off his pale skin.
When they finally made it back, Gary all but ran towards his residence building with nothing but a small muttered "Bye." leaving Collie standing there, watching, He grew smaller the farther he went, and Parker winced at the slap he saw Barkovitch hammer into himself before entering the building.
He really had to train that habit out of him.