The room was still dark... only the faint grey light of pre-dawn slipping through the curtains.
Noel sat on the edge of the mattress, legs dangling, nightshirt loose and open at the collar. His dark hair was messy, strands falling into his eyes. He looked at Bennett with wide hazel eyes, waiting.
Bennett stood in front of him still damp from the rain outside. He stared at Noel for a long second after the question.
"Are you gay?"
Then Bennett laughed, surprised and almost disbelieving.
He shook his head slowly.
"No," he said. "I'm not gay."
Noel blinked.
"Then... how were you so good with your hands that night?" he asked, voice low but curious.
Bennett folded his arms across his chest, a small, proud smile tugging at his mouth.
"I helped a friend once," he said. "A close friend. He... had feelings for me and confessed them openly. I told him I wasn't interested in men. Never had been."
He paused, looking down at the floor for a moment.
