✿
4: cheek kiss
there are quite a few things he regrets. they pile up like weights at the bottom of his bag, but only ever if he allows himself to think about it. if he just kept his head up, and stuck his thumb out, maybe he'd make it. halfway cross the continent, or to far off lands where all that bothers him doesn't have much of a bite.
he's technically been out of the country for a couple months, now. not that anyone would notice. what few possessions he had had been shoved into a backpack and slung over his shoulder. he'd been saving up years for this trip-- not that he'd known where he was going. just that he was gonna go on the fifth of november and cut loose for awhile.
it's on the walk home, halfway down his street and rounding a bend, that cullen happens upon him.
he's got dirt-smudged glasses perched on the bridge of his nose, hand carding through loose blond hair and backpack shifted up a smidge higher on his shoulder. the cd player is blaring music, though the earbuds are merely dangling beside his ears rather than poked in. it's half a degree too hot, and sweat's begun dotting his brow as he bobs longer, humming along.
cullen spots the darker-haired fellow long before hawke seems to notice him.
❝ hawke! ❞
he's calling out, one hand raised over his head in a perfunctory wave. probably not the first person he'd want to bump into on his first day on home soil, but, well. he jogs across the street, head twisting this way and that in an attempt to spot any coming cars. hawke's got a massive dog on a leash in front of him, and cullen gives it an assessing look before he's circling in, intent uncertain save to himself.
he presses two kisses, one to each cheek, a relaxed smile on his face as he pulled back. the pilgrimage has dotted its way from france's mountainous region down into spain, and it is suddenly evident that he's picked up a thing or two.
❝ sorry, sorry, i know-- nil on the contact, gotta keep your distance from everyone, real hardass, blah blah blah. but hey, long time no see! cute dog, by the way. ❞
and with that cullen is off, walking down the street and throwing a volley of laughter over his shoulder at the other man. he's feeling better and better about returning with each step.
