After taking care of his business in the bathroom, Nathan couldn't support himself anymore and had to have Griffin carry him out into the main room. After being settled on Griffin's armchair, he couldn't help but sigh.
"What's wrong, boy?" Griffin suddenly asked. Nathan looked up at him, startled. "Don't give me that look. You've been sighing all morning. And you've only been up for half an hour."
[You have been sighing a lot,] Axel whispered.
Nathan couldn't hold his gaze and dropped his eyes to stare at his hands in his lap. "Sorry. I just hate that you have to do so much for me. I'm so fucking useless."
"No!" Griffin dropped to his knees in front of the boy while forcing Nathan's gaze back up. "You're learning, and I'm more than happy to help. Don't ever say that you're useless, ever."
Nathan could feel tears welling up in his eyes as he was forced to hold Griffin's gaze. "Why?" He whispered. "Why are you so nice to me? Before yesterday you didn't even know I was a shifter." He sniffed, trying to hold back the tears.
Griffin gave him a soft, caring look. "Doesn't matter. Everyone deserves kindness." He caressed Nathan's cheek before standing. "Now, how about some breakfast?"
As Griffin crossed over to the kitchen, Nathan couldn't help but watch his exposed back, the muscles tensing and relaxing as he moved with an easy grace for such a large man.
[You're staring. Again,] Axel commented.
Nathan forced his eyes away from the man, turning to look out the window. "I don't know what you're talking about, Axel."
[Mm-hmm.]
Nathan chose to ignore Axel's judging as he wondered what they'd be doing that day.
"Griffin?" He called out.
"Yes, Nate?" Griffin answered from where he was whisking eggs.
"What are we going to do today? Do you need to go hunting at all?"
Griffin didn't answer as he poured the egg mixture into a pan before moving towards the fire. He continued to concentrate on their breakfast as he answered, "I was thinking we could work on your mobility. Once you're able to walk around on your own we can go to the nearby village and get you some real clothes that fit."
Nathan glanced down at his borrowed shirt, "Oh! Oh, yeah, I guess you'll be wanting your shirt back."
Griffin finally glanced up at him, scanning Nathan from head to toe. "I'm not in a huge rush." He turned his attention back to the cooking eggs.
Nathan felt his face grow hot. "?!?!? What does he mean by that?!"
Axel couldn't stop laughing at his flustered partner, [It means he likes you, you goofball.]
Nathan's face grew even redder. "Likes- Likes me?! What?! In what way?!"
[Only one way to find out. Ask him.]
Heart racing, Nathan couldn't tear his eyes away from the man cooking a few feet away from him. "No way!"
Seemingly unaware of the chaos he caused, Griffin brought the pan back to the kitchen before splitting the eggs between two plates and adding seasonings and cheese. He brought a plate and glass of water over to Nathan, "Here you go. I hope you like it," he said, smiling.
"Thank you." As Nathan took the plate he couldn't stop his hands from shaking slightly as thoughts of Griffin potentially liking him kept running through his mind.