~SkepHalo Oneshots~

Road Trip

Requested by DEATH_FANG_SPIRIT

Premise: Bucket list soulmates -- two people who have the same things on their bucket list, for different reasons.

Zak let out a tired hum as he sipped at his coffee. It was bitter and somewhat burnt, but it was keeping him awake. Besides, it was his only option; the 24-hour McDonald's he was currently sitting inside was the only coffee place open at this hour for miles. He probably should have planned things out a little bit more before going on his road trip.

He yawned and rubbed his eyes. He hadn't been going through his bucket list for very long, but he couldn't help but be upset that he hadn't found his soulmate yet.

The McDonald's door opened, and Zak couldn't help but smile at the warmth that immediately filled him. The air conditioning must have been cooler than he thought.

"Hello, I'd like one coffee, please," the newest customer could be heard requesting.

Zak jumped as his heart fluttered. That warmth wasn't from the outside weather, was it?

He looked up, staring at the person currently ordering. They seemed to have had the same realization, given their sudden obvious impatience. The moment the cashier stepped away from the register, they turned around, finding Zak's eyes in moments.

Zak let out a shaky exhale. His soulmate had the most gorgeous eyes he'd ever seen.

The man across the room gave him a nervous smile before going over to his table, sitting next to him. "Hi," he said.

"Hi," Zak responded. "I'm Zak."

"Darryl," the other responded. The two sat there for a moment, smiling awkwardly at each other, until the cashier called out that Darryl's coffee was ready. Darryl fetched it before sitting back down. "So... I'm guessing you're also on a road trip?"

Zak nodded, cupping his coffee in his hands. He still couldn't get over the fact that he was sitting next to his soulmate. "Yeah. My parents didn't live near each other, so they would go on road trips in order to visit each other. So I wanted to meet my soulmate on a road trip."

Darryl beamed. "Well, here I am!"

Zak's cheeks lit up, and he let out a breathless laugh. "Yeah- yeah- here you are." He smiled back at Darryl, obviously shy. "So what about you? How come it's on your bucket list?"

"Oh- my friend loved driving, so he'd go on long trips fairly regularly," Darryl explained. "He'd always tell me about them afterward. I'm pretty sure he's actually thinking about writing a song about it..." he mused. "Anyway, I always liked hearing about them, so I wanted to go on one myself someday."

Zak was smiling the entire time Darryl spoke. "That makes sense," he said. He yawned. "Sorry- I'm really sleepy, I didn't make plans for overnight..."

"I'm heading to a motel not far from here," Darryl said. "If you want, you could come with me, and we could stay together?"

Zak blushed for what felt like the fifth time. "Y-yeah-! Yeah, that sounds good.." he said.

Darryl beamed and wrapped his arms around Zak, hugging him close. Zak tucked his face into Darryl's shoulder. Darryl was so warm and comfortable; if it weren't for the coffee, Zak would fall asleep right there and then.

"Hey- how about we exchange phone numbers, and I'll text you the address?" Darryl suggested, pulling away.

"Yeah! Yeah, sure!" Zak took out his phone and opened up a new contact before handing Darryl the device.

Darryl typed in his number and added a heart to the end of his name, which of course made Zak's heart flutter. "There you go," Darryl said as he returned the phone. "Text me so I have yours."

Zak nodded and texted him a "hi," Darryl soon responding with the motel address.

"Well- I'll see you there," Darryl said. He stood up, coffee in hand, and ruffled Zak's hair on his way out.

Zak sat there for a few more minutes with a lovesick smile on his face. This day had gone wonderfully.