"I'm fine," Nelson muttered, adjusting his tie and pointedly not looking at Eddie. The color in his face didn't go down immediately; he huffed a little, fidgeting, before he looked over at Gil now with about as much -- if not more -- surprise as Eddie.

His jaw clenched with very mild distress as he realized his mistake; perhaps he had gone overboard in thinking Gilbert reminded him of himself (while much younger), but the way he'd talked about his friend from home was certainly enough to leave an impression. Thank goodness he hadn't ever pushed the subject that far.

"I was never registered as a date," he said a little quickly, still flustered. He patted Gil's shoulder in a way he hoped was reassuring. "It's just a meal. Between friends, as the case may be, I certainly -- the Deputy Mayor is just having some fun at our expense, Gilbert, it's nothing to get so upset about. Of course you aren't."