The incline grew steeper, gravel crunching sharply beneath their boots.
Luca's initial bounce had faded, replaced by determined rhythm, though sweat had already beaded at his temples.
He lifted the hem of his shirt to wipe his forehead, flashing a strip of sun-warmed skin.
"Put that down before you trip," Noel muttered, his hand darting out automatically. His fingers brushed the sensitive skin of Luca's elbow, steadying him as they navigated an uneven patch of loose stones.
"I wasn't gonna fall," Luca insisted, but his protest was light, the edge worn away by the unspoken truth that he welcomed the contact.
"You were leaning like a tree in a storm," Noel replied, his grip firm until the ground leveled out.
He didn't let go immediately, his touch a lingering anchor before he finally withdrew.
They walked in comfortable silence, the only sounds wind rustling through tall, dry grass and the distant cry of a bird circling high above.
