First Meet 🥛| 25/10/24
Finally gathering enough names at the wedding he'd been asked to cover for the Star article. He wouldn't be the one writing the article mind you, he may not even have the job until Friday or next week.
This was just a brief stroke of luck, and Tim didn't have anything else to do so he didn't mind.
After buying a half-pint of milk at the drugstore he went to sit amidst the late lunchers and sun-bathers on one of the benches. He could hear the noise across the stretch of verdant grass.
Quickly enough he started inscribing the names from the little pad, that was half sweaty from his own palm, into more neat papers.
His blue jacket lay on the back of the bench to dry out a little.
His mind was more occupied by the future and what would become of him. He'd been here since June inscribing the names from the little pad, that was half sweaty from his own palm, into more neat papers.
His blue jacket lay on the back of the bench to dry out a little.
His mind was more occupied by the future and what would become of him. He'd been here since June and there wasn't any advancement in his career, save for his summer rewrites at the Star's city desk there's practically nothing. And after graduation from Fordham he'd hoped to work at Capitol Hill, but now...now he's living in an illegal apartment which he would soon not even be able to pay its very cheap rent.
Hawk needed to get out of the office; he had been buried in paperwork and it began to crowd his mind. As he left the office, he left clear notes for his secretary and stepped outside. The sun was shining, providing him with a warm feeling; although it was a bit too much, it didn't bother him significantly.
He walked in search of a place to spend his lunch and find some peace. As he approached a bench, he noticed a young man sitting there. He tilted his head in recognition, recalling their previous encounter. He wasn't sure if the young man would still remember him, but their interaction had left a lasting impression.
Hawk moved closer to the young man, who was focused on something in front of him. He also noticed a milk bottle beside him, which brought a smile—more of a smirk—to his lips.
"Do you often spend your lunches here? May I?" He pointed next to him, asking if he could join him on the bench.
Busy with transcribing all the names of the guests in the wedding, he'd been asked to cover for the paper, from his notebook to a more neat file.
Munching on his sandwich every now and then and the milk sat beside him on the bench as well as a few papers he'd just filled out. He noticed a shadow falling on the bench and realized it had to be someone who wanted to sit down. With a haste "sorry" Tim started collecting his belongings to clear up the bench side before he even lifted his gaze to meet the man standing above him. His brown orbs grew a little wider, of course he recognized him, all too well perhaps, the incredibly handsome man from the party on election night. The little conversation at the bar, his evident and immediate crush over this man it all came down his mind in a nervous mortifying rush.
“I, do. Sometimes, yes.
You?”
Only to realize how absurd his question was and possibly intrusive he quickly covered it.
“I had no time to go to the office right now, so...better catch on lunch and do the paperwork here. Not that /I/ have any office whatsoever. My work isn't that big.”
Maybe it was the way he looked at him, but he noticed the same expression as when they had met at the bar. This meant he had left the same impression on him as he had felt. Hawkins didn't answer immediately; he took a moment to let the young man's words settle. Then he looked behind him and realized they were not alone, gesturing for him to pack his belongings.
"Walk with me for a bit. The park is beautiful this time of year, and we can talk openly," Hawkins said, his eyes scanning the area as he noticed the policemen next to their bench watching them.
"But to answer your question, yes, I am often here. It helps me clear my mind when necessary."
He stood up from the bench and gestured toward a part of the park that was stunning with flowers in bloom. He loved to admire such beauty, especially with the right company, and he thought the young man might appreciate it too; it felt different with someone else.
"Perhaps you could tell me about your job at the moment? I'm curious, especially since you mentioned you don't have an office right now. Why is that?" Even as Hawkins engaged in this small talk, he felt something deeper lurking beneath the surface; the boy had captured his interest from the very first moment, and he wanted him. Maybe more than he had ever wanted someone, but he felt that giving in could result in significant risks. Still, a small obsession was developing within him regarding the young man.
"We still have some time before we have to be back at the office, so let’s not waste it," he urged, waiting for the young man to gather his things and follow him. He also wanted to know his name.
Tim didn't know why the man wanted to take a stroll, and despite the fact that he still had a few more papers to transcribe, he started immediately, clumsily, gathering the many start papers, putting them into file, without even asking anything.
The haste in his movements betrayed his eagerness to spend any amount of time with the older handsome man. Even if it's for a brief stroll through a very hot afternoon park filled with sweaty sunbathers.
He finished his milk quickly, chugged it all down then threw the cartoon into one of the bins. “I'm Timothy Laughlin by the way.” offering a handshake while he held all the files under his left armpit.
Starting to stroll now with the other man, of course Timmy knew his name, he'd looked it up in the Biographical Register after the election night. Hawkins Fuller, the name stuck in his mind ever since.
“I interned for three months at the Star, mostly in the mail room.
I thought it'd land me a job in Washington. But no real luck.
I have a degree in political science and history, I think I should aim a little higher, don't you?”
He took the offered hand and gave it a soft squeeze, almost tender, but you could feel that Hawkins Fuller had a strong personality. "It's nice to meet you, Mr. Laughlin." Then he withdrew his hand after looking deeply into his eyes with a weak smile on his lips.
He watched as the other tried to follow his steps, and when both were out of sight of the man he knew was a policeman, he gave Tim some breathing room to stroll more slowly with him through the park. As they walked, the older man with dark hair, always looking neat and tidy in a perfectly fitted suit, listened to what the other had to share with him.
He noticed from the small amount of information that the other had come here to find a job that would also bring some more money, and that it didn't seem to align with what he had originally learned. Being at Star wasn't really something that fit Tim, Hawk thought to himself.
"A degree in political science and history. So you can tell me your opinion on how the current political situation is and who should win? What motivated you the most to pursue this degree? Did you want to change something?
And I always believe there is a way to get a little bit more. The question is, how badly do you want it and how much are you willing to fight for it if the chance to have it is offered to you. " He wanted to know, but he was also thinking about how he could use the fact that the boy had this background and how useful he could become, especially in times like these. But he kept those thoughts to himself. For now, he wanted to hear his opinion, and then he would decide on the next steps.
The meeting here in the park was already coincidental, and he didn't know what was still to come; he didn't want any surprises.
His gaze rested on him, and while Hawk tried to keep himself professional, his other side emerged, and he couldn't help but let his eyes wander over Tim, the shy man who managed to be special from the very first moment. He was wondering what else he might have to share.
