Inscription

A silver car slowly turned the corner and stopped next to him as the door opened.

Blue eyes and blond hair driver. Darren, He was a young adult. “You are so cute.”

“I am not cute.”

He protested as his voice cracked. Dale refrained from chuckling.

“You’re handsome then.” Dale beamily conceded.

The mortal seemed prickly about his age for some reason. So he was either younger than he looked or he was older than he appeared.

Dale Pine clicked his seat belt securely around him. He was grateful that seatbelt tech had vastly improved cause it was rough at the beginning. The injuries weren’t worth it!

“I was going to meet you somewhere.” Dale professed. “And then a rich idiot in his electric vehicle smashed into my vehicle, and caught fire.” He’d neglect to mention it was his fault.

“That was you?!” Darren exclaimed. Oh, joy, gossip was evergreen, it seemed. Nice to know the rumor mill’'s harvest was never going to go dry.

“Indeed.”

 Dale stated dryly!

His lawyer was taking care of it nicely. Accursed Coastals! Darren drove smoothly into traffic. Dale cursed silently. 

They kept the conversation light as the streets and changing lights swam into one another. Darren’s eyes looked over him embarrassingly.

“Ah. I’m a college student and I can’t.” Darren nervously. Dale hummed and it rumbled in his chest for a moment.

“I’m not superficial, Darren. Do not impoverish yourself attempting to be what you aren’t.”

“I like you just the way you are. That confidence is quite compelling.” Dale beamed.  He clicked open the car door. “You really handsome you know.” Darren flushed delightfully. Dale smiled, as he unclicked his seatbelt and slid out of the silver car.

Dale slid an appreciative finger down the silvery finish. Darren kept his vehicle clean inside and out... Dale had to wonder if it applied to the man himself.

Dale took a deep breath as he looked around. There were no smokers. Dale found he missed that particular odor.

Alas.

“Sammy’s Diner!” Bright bold red letters proudly proclaiming the namesake as it held above the doors. The building was busy as he followed Darren into the building.

Dale felt eyes upon him. The only one that mattered was Darren’s.

Mortals were strange. Mortals were... Weird.

“The foot is good for affordable. Chesseburger! Don’t get cheesecake here though its just sad.”

Dale raised a brow. “How can cheesecake be sad?” He asked.

Darren chuckled. “Order is after the burger. I dare you.” Dale chuckled. “Fine, then.” The cheesecake thing must have broken the ice for Darren visibly relaxed.

He had a cheeseburger with onion rings extra crispy and when the server looked at Dale. “One cheesecake piece please. I prefer dessert first.”

“That’s odd?” Darren asserted Dale smiled simply. “Are you sure about that?” 

“Try it sometime.”

Dale smelled the onion rings and briefly regretted his decision, he squashed the thought at once. They spoke in small talk. The little inconsequential things. The tiny nothings.

More people, Dale swept his eyes around. He noted one whose gaze didn’t blink nor turn away.... Most curious.

“The bathroom is around the corner! I’ll be right back.” Dale nodded sagely. “That’s smart.” Hopefully food would be at the table.

Dale rather enjoyed Darren's departure.

Dale moaned in release as his popped his neck.  Someone sat down but it didn’t feel like Darren. Dale’s eyes dark eyes opened. It was the one who hadn’t blinked. He had assumed the man was a trucker. The more he paid attention, he recognized the farce. Right down the flannel and jeans, complete with shiny belt buckle.

“A pack of troublemakers and a abandoned building burned to the ground. Know anything about that?”  Dale blinked amused.

“Not even a little.” Dale shrugged. “Now, go! I’m seeing someone.” He shooed this thing. This creature.

“My boss isn’t going to like that.” Dale placed a business card. “Well then, Your Boss can talk to me themself. “Now shouldn’t you be looking into whatever took care of an entire pack of wolves?”

“Unless, you want to take this outside. I can be gentle.” Dale smiled beatific. He absolutely would end the one who ruined his date that much he could easily promise.

The man got up and Dale let him slip away. The smell of onion rings hung pleasantly in the air.

As their server came with a platter of their food. Dale looked. “Can I get another order of that?” The server laughed. “Our Onion Rings are great!! We even skin them properly here so the breading doesn’t slide off!”

“Nice! I’m won over.” Their server nodded and responded. “I’ll put it in right away.” As they placed the cheesecake slice in front of him. New York style and unadorned. Not even a small spiral of whipped cream upon that pale cream.

“Timed it nicely! There is something wondrous in having your food at the table by the time you come back.” Darren stated. “You were correct. It looks so... Sad.” Dale remarked as he looked down.

Dale unfurled a spoon as he used it to cut a piece and Darren looked at him expectantly. Dale took a bite.

“It tastes sad. That’s actually impressive.” Dale admitted thoughtfully. He could do better of course. Something to think about...

It was a relief when his onion rings and burger came.

Dale paid in cash with alittle extra. “I could have split it.” Darren complained about the bill. As they walked back to Darren’s car. Dale waited until Darren sat down. Dale shut the passenger door behind him as he followed suit.

“You can pay for the next date if you are so concerned Darren.” Dale stated and Darren’s eyes widened. “N-Next Date?” Darren repeated. His voice in disbelief.

Dale felt the rumble in his chest. A joyful lightness he hadn’t expected. How was it possible that two words made a mortal so joyful? Why did his heart feel so bright?

Mortals were such strange creatures. “Yes, I quite enjoy your company.” Dale affirmed it was obvious but perhaps mortals were incredibly unobservant. Probably why they fell?

“Why?” Darren asked softly. “Why Not?” Dale responded. “I find you charming. Unless I am too ugly for you?” Dale teased softly. 

“I thought you were going to cancel on me.” Darren stated softly his voice trembled as though he didn’t believe it. 

“As the leading expert on myself, I can assure you. It never crossed my mind Darren.” Dale assured him. “I feel like I’m dreaming.” He muttered in disbelief. Dale bopped him on the nose. “No, you’re very much awake Darren.”

“Y-You bopped me?” Darren touched his nose as his cheeks flushed. “I think I will let you decide Darren.”

“Decide?”Darren’s breathless voice cracked. “I have made my intentions clear Darren. But its not all up to me Darren you have choice. You are an adult, as am I. You are welcome at my place. I don’t wish to rush this.”

“It is a school night.” Darren reluctantly admitted. “Well then take me home and then drive safe Darren.”

Next Date.

Two simple words that rattled around in his head. The promise of another date. The tease of something more.

The street became a distant hum interrupted soely by red lights. To give him the option, choice it seemed too good to be true but it was. Darren felt overwhelmed and inundated. Make a choice, a decision. Indecisiveness was weakness at this moment and Darren felt a crushing weight.

Curio and despair. Curiousity mixed with rancous doubt. Oil and water, emotions warred and for a moment he knew not which would win. Yet, Dale had only ever prove sincere.

The choice became clear, A desicion had to be made, the center could not hold

He pulled into a parking spot and turned off his car. “May I enter your apartment?” Darren stated and he felt his cheeks flush. That’s what Dale wanted. For him to choose. For him to make a choice.

Darren was horrified, he was scared. That it was alll a lie, some horrid, detailed cruel joke but... it didn’t feel like it.

If this was a dream, Darren didn’t want to wake up. He made his choice. Did choices matter, or was it merely because a choice had to be made?

Dale’s face lit up with a glowing smile. Darren could feel his heart thunder in his chest, a deafening roar. He felt faint, he felt alive as his nerves tingle. 

“Okay” 

Dale beamed and got out. Darren took a deep breath to steel his roaring heart. Darren felt like he was going insane. Was he really going to go into Dale’s apartment? A part of him wanted to reconsider and to flee from what...

No...

No. He would be brave for to abandon Dale now, but it would be something he’d regret forever. That smile was something he couldn’t miss. Not when it was so genuine.

He followed Dale and he heard the lock click. Dale looked over his shoulder. Those dark eyes glinted mischievously.

Dale bowed after he opened the door. Oh so this is what a functional adult residence looks like. The smell of bleach and other cleaning products hung in the air.

Not one thing out of place. Dale happily showed him around. Not one speck of dust.

Inadequate did not begin to cover how his dorm. He rubbed his neck. “Bathroom?”

Dale pointed. “Thanks.” He closed the door behind himself. Comparison was truly the thief of joy. Darren felt terrible. Its spotless nature made him feel completely enshrouded by sterility like a hospital.

Darren did his business as he washed his hands and miserably, he opened the door.

“Did you want anything? Water? Whisky?” Dale joked as he leaned. A concerned frown grew on his face.

“I feel overwhelmed.” 

“And that’s okay. New things can seem scary sometimes. It is the nature of such things the new and the ability to deal with it.” Darren shivered. “You aren’t going to hold it against me?” He whispered low.

“Not at all. You are quite brave. I’ll walk you to your car.” Dale bade with a sincere smile. That easy understanding.

It was another level, another magnitude and spectrum of intimidation, and yet. He felt his heart thrumming. Not the panicked rampaging. A generous pace as he drowned in that eerie all-encompassing compassion.

He felt impossibly seen, known in ways even he didn’t understand and yet. Darren let himself be escorted to his car.

“Please don’t rush yourself. You are worth the wait.” Like a dagger to the heart. A part of him had always wanted to hear those words. To be given permission to set the pace.

“Yeah, Okay.” Darren. “Drive safe, Remember you’re paying next time ... Darren.” His name rumbled through his head.

Cutting through the noise and distraction like a warm knife through butter. 

Darren pulled away and drove. That... That was a man. A man who had his shit together.

Not a boy, not a fuckboy by any means. 

A man.

It felt like a dream as he made it safely home. He texted Dale to let him know he got back safely. That sincere warmth that expected nothing...

You are worth the wait.

Darren still felt his name being called by Dale’s rumbling voice. Deep as the sea and silky as chocolate. The rumbling storm!

Dale Pine was dangerous in a way that no other man could be. 

That was a man who wouldn’t be forgotten. The one who would be stuck in his memory evergreen forever. The metric by which all others would be measured against... And all others would be found wanting.

A man’s man.

Darren sat down on his messy bed. Darren had past lovers and he wasn’t a virgin by any means. None of them came to mind.

... None of them compared. This would not be a one night stand or trembling learning. Darren felt faint at the thought of this. This would be mature, this would be adult. Not a race but a pace.

Darren had felt puppy love before. This was something else. He could feel it. Something else entirely.

Darren could walk away and pretend it never happened. Yet always wonder just what he missed. Could he live like that? A regret that never went away. Darren slapped himself for considering it.

He felt like he was on a cliff edge. A precipice before the abyss.

“Fuck.” Darren whispered as the realization hit him hard. 

Darren tumbled.

He could see himself smitten...