"Don't, I hate holding hands in public."
It had fallen out of his mouth before he had the time to gulp it back. Only now when Gilbert stared into André's puzzled turquoise eyes did he realise how hurtful and defensive that must've sounded. André's rejected hand hung, waiting for an answer. He gritted his teeth. Fuck.
"Of course, it's not that anything is wrong with you, it's just I don't like people erhm," he cleared his throat, "excuse me, people looking at us being so… open." He just made this worse, didn't he?
"Is this your 'hating being vulnerable in public' habit?"
"Yes."
"Alright then." André retracted his hand and continued to walk. "But we can cuddle once we get back home, right?"
Gilbert bit his bottom lip and nodded. Well at least André accepted what a sap he was at heart. "Sure."