While still in California, he wasn’t home. San Francisco wasn’t a small town but a big city. It carried the promise of a fresh start, specially now that the timer was getting closer and closer to zero.
Peter was walking around the city and he had two purposes for this. One, he could learn his neighborhood and the shops in the area and, two, he could burn out some energy as he was so close to meet them but a bit anxious about it. Did he deserved it? Probably not but he wanted the chance to try at least plus nobody he knew was in this city. He would be fine, he could start a new, be a new person.
He passed a few local restaurants, the smell of the food was delicious and the place smelled clean so he made a mental note to come here later for dinner, maybe bring his soulmate with. It would be a nice place for a date. At the distance now he could see a flower shop, he could maybe buy flowers here for them. He glanced at his wrist and noticed how close it was now but so was he of the shop. Maybe he’ll meet them there. Flower gift thrown to the trash then, that would be awkward. The local food place was still a good option though. Maybe some chocolate? He saw a small market not too far away.
He looked at his wrist as the time was running out, he was at the entrance of the shop when it finally did and he looked up. There he was. He wasn’t a costumer but a staff member. Older, medicine smell, well-groomed though, and gorgeous. The medicines was probably normal, he must be in his fifties now. He could find an alpha to get him the bite, make him live longer. Who knew. But that was the future. For now… “Hi. I’m Peter Hale.” He greeted him.
he’d noticed his time was running out, which would be a blessing to almost everybody on the planet, but to him… it was different. he’d found love, lost love - regained love in the many years he spent in san fransisco, but one thing he knew for sure, love was an illusion. it was the only thing he yearned for, yet it was a cruel joke & half the time he looked at his wrist, he expected his soulmate to be another cruel joke. probably a woman. it would complete the disaster his love life has come to be. he was hiv positive, so that would surely cause another ruckus, he never understood why his timer ran longer than most people’s. everybody else had already found their significant others, yet here he was - in his fifties & nobody to share his bed with at night.
he’d decided not to search for it, had spent the day as he normally would. a few hours at the gym before his shift, he met shawna & jake, then showered for work. it was just another ordinary day. even when the timer jumped, he felt calm - a little nervous, sure, but mostly calm. can’t get hurt if you don’t expect anything, right? michael wore flannel on top of his shirt, paired with an apron with plant parenthood’s logo above his chest. it was never really all that busy at the shop, he usually had enough time to tend to everybody without a long wait, so he was focused on exactly that when the timer ran out. unbeknownst to him. the only reason he stopped in his tracks to look, was the fact a stranger stared at him - he could feel the man’s eyes on him & then it dawned on him. fuck me, seriously?
“michael. hi.” this had to be a joke. no fuckin’ way. he held up his arm, showing off the rundown countdown & expected (hoping) to see the same reciprocated, but something told him that he didn’t have to worry about it. something about this felt right.
