The movie was relaxing. Reminded him of the very first of their dates they’d had without the awkwardness looming between them. There was a bit of a jarring disconnect though, realizing that this was going to be minimal at best for years to come with Red relocating with his retirement. But Red deserved it. Of all the people in the world who deserved a peaceful place to relax after all that they’d done, Red was at the top of the list. He’d kept everyone so safe for so long and maybe he was selfish for not wanting him to go, but he knew he deserved it. Time to himself without worrying about what dangers were looming ahead tomorrow. The demon had taught him well and it was a passing of the torch so to speak and Raleigh was glad to take over for him. When the lights came back on he stretched too, popping up and following him outside into the cool night air. “Mmm, yeah, ‘m starved. Could go to the buffet. Or the carnival to load up on some greasy fair food. Or the diner.” Anywhere would be good enough for him tonight, as long as he got to go home and curl up to his man one last night before he was off for another chapter of his life.
Red couldn’t remember a time he was so calm, yet in such utter turmoil at the same time. He was with the love of his life, out to dinner and a movie, but looming like a dark cloud in his mind was the knowledge that they’d be apart for months that he just couldn’t shake. Usually when he dwelled on such negative thoughts for more than ten minutes, he’d knock himself out of it, tell himself there was nothing he could do to change it. And while the deposit was down on the cabin, all his belongings were waiting in a U-Haul in the bureau bay, there was nothing he could do to stop his wondering at what those months would be like. Would he revert back to his bachelor lifestyle, living in a pigsty and doing whatever he wanted? Well....probably not. But going from 70 years of being single, to five years with a boyfriend, to a long distances relationship for god knew how long---that was something he wasn’t really prepared for. “Diner it is” he hummed, walking down the city sidewalk with his boyfriend.










