no subject

[Dave almost jumps out of his skin when Ashley speaks up. He clutches to Hutch, eyes wide behind his shades and cheeks grubby and wet, and then he ducks to hide his face. He has neither the time nor the presence of mind to school it, doesn't want her to know he's crying anyway. His shoulders shake and he rubs the back of his hand over his eyes, knocking his sunglasses askew, miserable.]

Hi. H-hey. 'Sup.

[His voice is quivering too much, his breath hitching, to even pretend to be cool. Hutch, settling down from his surprise, recognizes Ashley as Not a Threat even to his shrunken trainer and goes back gently to nuzzling Dave's hair.]