they’re alone. it’s not going to be forever, but a day is a long time for them to be on their own. it’s the first time for them since all this started, just a month ago. henslan doesn’t like the way the house feels without manny in it, so bobo being there, instead of hiding out up above the pawnshop, is a much needed change. he feels a little more at ease the moment he hears the door open and bobo steps over the threashold. things are getting worse around midnight, and henslan is starting to feel it, under his skin and behind his eye, and along his spine, it’s all over him, but he keeps his mouth shut.
they had to focus. manny was looking for answers. henslan would give him the space to find them.
“did you find the place okay?” henslan jokes, meeting him at the door. there’s an awkwardness to their rhythm that hasn’t quite faded yet. without manny there at the center, sometimes, henslan feels as though he’s intruding. he doesn’t quite hesitate, but he doesn’t dive in head first either. he takes bobo’s coat and hangs it for him. there’s a beer on the counter waiting. henslan nudges a kiss against bobo’s temple and ushers him through.
“i know,” he says, looking closely at bobo’s face, “i wanted to go with him too. but he’s a big boy, he can handle himself.”
but then again, this alone time wasn’t about worrying for manny. part of this, was very much because they needed to learn to be with each other. it was still new, and for bobo, even more unfamiliar. he came leaping out of the closet and into a pile of dirty laundry.
“we’ll just have to find a way to keep ourselves occupied,” and this is delivered in an almost playful way, a smile curling up at one corner of his lips. he was sure they’d find a way. distraction and... maybe just a little bit of bonding.
@bcrnfighter gets a starter they did not ask for lol
