Private Finished Everyone needs a friend

As Aluin suspected, Remiel didn't want to eat the food. Aluin could guess that saying he had just eaten was an excuse, or he had done it on purpose so he wouldn't need to eat here. Aluin glanced at papa, took a piece of bread and munched on it timidly. Soon after Remiel asked his question and Aluin glanced up at him, as usual avoiding eye contact.

"W-well...I u-usually like to l-listen to n-nature sounds a-and...I t-think it's called m-meditating? Sit alone a-and just b-be with my t-thoughts, c-center myself. P-papa also p-promised to help me to s-start a small g-garden, I'd l-like to t-try it. A-and I like k-knitting, I'm n-not good at it y-yet, but...i-it's c-calming."
Aluin explained quietly, not really used to sharing such information. He knew his hobbies were very different from what children his age usually did, but Aluin didn't have enough courage to play video games, or do sports, or go out to town with friends. He preferred quiet, calm activities. They kept him centered.

While Aluin was explaining his hobbies though he pulled out his phone and typed something, showing the phone discreetly to Remiel because he didn't want papa to hear the words.
"I appreciate you coming here for me, but if you would rather not be here I won't be sad. I can make an excuse if you want, papa is nice and will understand"
Aluin gave Remiel a small, sad smile, still careful not to look into his eyes for too long.

Despite Remiel assuring in the text he wrote that he wanted to be here Aluin still had his doubts. Of course he had, he was anxious about most everything. But those doubts were alleviated when he glanced up and saw the genuine smile on Remiel's face. Aluin could tell it was genuine, he just had a knack with being able to read people, and the smile made him feel safer and bit warm. He returned the smile, though his was much smaller and more timid. It was scary to feel reassured by someone who wasn't papa, it very rarely happened...

Aluin nodded a bit, and fidgeted as he looked down at his hands.
"T-then...what do y-you like to d-do?"
Aluin asked in turn, the question came easier than normal because it had been asked from him earlier so he was in a way returning the gesture. That, and he was in fact interested in hearing what Remiel liked to do. Hopefully he didn't like anything too scary, Aluin wouldn't know what to say to that...

Birdhouses. When they had met near the lake Remiel had mentioned birdhouses too. Aluin had even said he might try making one. In hindsight that might be a tall order, Aluin was way too scared to use nails or a hammer, or handle wood that might give him splinters. But...
"I r-remember that..."
Aluin said quietly, with a tiny smile.
"M-maybe...I can h-help s-sometime?"
The question was bit hard to get out, but Aluin felt like he could help if Remiel was with him. Despite his timid demeanour Aluin glanced up at Remiel with a hopeful look in his eyes.

Aluin felt strangely happy that they shared a common interest, it was scary, but once Aluin would learn more about gardening maybe he and Remiel could try that together as well. And otherwise too Remiel's hobbies didn't sound scary. Music could be very scary if it was loud but there was gentle music too that wasn't as scary, like flute and piano music. Though when Remiel mentioned games Aluin swallowed slowly, anxiety rising. It was hard to tell what kinds of games Remiel meant, hopefully he didn't mean video games...
"W-what...kind of g-games?"
Aluin asked hesitantly, fidgeting with the hem of his hoodie.

Aluin was a bit relieved when it turned out Remiel was talking about more classic games rather than digital ones. They were still a bit scary, but not nearly as much as video games. Though there was one problem...
"I d-don't...r-really know how to p-play t-those."
Aluin admitted, his head drooping a bit. When Aluin had been a small child the playing cards had scared him too much, and he had never gotten the chance to even see a Chess or Checkers board up close. But those games sounded calm to Aluin, at least now, and it might be pleasant to play them with Remiel. But Aluin didn't dare ask Remiel to teach him. Remiel had already done a lot for Aluin and even called him a friend, the last thing Aluin wanted was to be too big of a burden to bother with.

Remiel thankfully offered to teach Aluin on his own, and though Aluin hesitated for a bit he eventually slowly nodded, glancing up at Remiel.
"T-thank you...that w-would be n-n-nice."
Aluin said quietly, his small smile hidden by his lowered head.

Aluin immediately tensed when hide and seek was mentioned. A lot of memories flashed through his mind, of his old bullies making him play it and then "forgetting" him to he'd have to sit alone for hours, then of Aluin forcing himself to stop crying and stay quiet as he hid from yet another monster that wanted to eat him. Aluin bit his lip and forcefully pushed those memories aside, glancing at Remiel once again. Remiel wasn't mean enough to leave him alone for hours, and Remiel wasn't a monster. So, though it was hard, Aluin slowly nodded.
"Y-y-yes, I h-have..."