"Are you sure you're okay with it?"

Al nods his head, but remains silent. You tilt your head, unsure, frown on your lips.

"We really don't have to go if you—"

"No!"

Your eyes widen, slightly startled.

"I-I mean, its alright. I w-want... want to go. with y-you..."

Even if he wasn't one for the beach, the sun, for going out in general, he couldn't possibly pass up this opportunity.

Especially not when he was powerless against that cute pout on your lips aimed towards him. He couldn't have someone like you fret over someone like him, no, it just wasn't right.

—

Al tries to tug the hood of his jacket on further over his head, feeling the sun beaming down on his back already.

He's hot, half regretting coming out here in the first place as he trudges through the sand, cringing at the way the granules already seep into his sneakers, but then he glances to the side and sees the excitement in your eyes as you take in the view of the ocean, and his mind stops complaining.

He's pulled from his daze as he hears your voice.

"Al, why don't we go over there?"

He simply nods, following your lead as you make your way to an area with a flatter pile of sand, right beside some natural shade.

You quickly lay out the towel as al sets up the umbrella, wanting to make up the spot as fast as possible so he could relax in the shade.

You take a seat on your beach towel, rummaging through the bag you brought for the sunblock. Pulling it out, you pop off the lid, beginning to apply it over your exposed skin.

Al watches from under his bangs, entranced at the sight. It's a rare occasion where he can see you out of your office clothes and so up close like this, and he can hardly believe it himself.

Midway, you suddenly turn towards him, shaking the bottle in your hand as you pose a question.

"Do you want some, Al?"

"I-I.. no, no. I don't n-need it..."

"Are you sure?"

There goes that cute pout again, the worry in your eyes.

You really didn't know what you did to him, how dangerous that was.

"I'm fine."

Truth be told, al also didn't like the sun very much because he was the type that burned rather than tanned. Despite this, he still doesn't feel the need to use sunblock, with his hair a good enough shield for his face, his hoodie shielding his torso and arms, and the umbrella shielding any exposed part of his legs.

—

Try as you might, you were not going to get al anywhere remotely close to the water.

Though, at one point, he feared he might let himself give in.