Seeking Sunshine

Michael has an adorable manner of eating that most people aren't privy to see. Like all honest aspects of himself, he struggles to trust anyone but Ivy with them. Sure, the friends he's been making because of her are slowly gaining his trust, and with it, his openness. Food has always been such a tender wound for Michael, and he doesn't like to eat around anyone but his closest friends, but he doesn't do it with much enthusiasm even then. What makes Ivy different is that he’s found it’s hard not to love life a little around her.

Though he usually safeguards his strongest reactions - carefully policing the way he moves, how much he smiles, how loud he speaks - all in hopes to avoid the cruel notice of others, he is in fact a warm and wonderstruck person. Ivy reflects on this as she watches him gesture emphatically as he talks, in one of his delicate hands a half eaten chocolate strawberry which he waves around as he gives an impassioned explanation on his new favorite film, Swiss Army Man. When he pauses, taking another careful bite of the gift she gave him as to not shatter the chocolate into shards and ruin the experience, she finds herself flushing a little as she watches the beautiful corners of his full lipped mouth curl up in a pleased manner at the satisfaction of good food.

Everything about him - the soft roundness of his cheeks, the thoughtful twitch of his nose as the tang of the fruit hits him, the way his lower eyelids quirk up into a more pronounced smile when his gaze meet hers - it makes Ivy want to cup his face, and kiss him.