Lucas’s soft steps were quickly drowned out by the familiar sounds of pots and pans, the kitchen worker’s half waving to him as they went about their regular duties. It was relieving that they didn’t ask questions. People ‘Aww’ing’ as they hugged them while saying they’d miss him would be awkward for the both of them. Maybe his look of determination…Or what he hoped was determination, kept them at bay.<br/>After a few minutes of bumbling along, trying to find John as he simultaneously made a fool of himself, he managed to spot him in a corner. Counting stocks with a pen dangling from his mouth.<br/><br/>“Ahh, Lucas! What do you need?”<br/>John turned to face him, his trademark smile on his face.<br/>“Hey could we…Go somewhere private?”<br/>John was probably able to read his expression, or the atmosphere around him, enough that he instantly moved them to a private room.<br/>“What did y-“<br/>“I’m leaving.”<br/>“What?”<br/><br/>And so Lucas went into a rambling explanation, tripping up over his words every time he made eye contact. Of course his eyes were tearing up, at least he managed to make it farther than John did. The man already sniffling and wiping his eyes. Face beet red.<br/>When Lucas finished, John was scrubbing away a few fat tears that rolled down his cheeks. Lucas had expected him to feel a little bit sad…But not to this degree. So he certainty didn’t expect to be wrapped up in a giant hug moments later. A large man reduced to a sniffling, shaking mess.<br/>For a few seconds Lucas froze, body shaking with every tremble from Johns, before hugging back. Tears of his own escaping his tightly closed eyes.<br/><br/>They stayed in that position for a while, gripping each other tightly. Each letting out a tears that desperately needed to fall. It was a private, emotional moment that Lucas would cherish deeply.<br/>It ended far too soon. Lucas finding himself standing outside the kitchen, a light pink dusting his cheeks from having to walk past the staff. John had decided to stay inside the room, taking a moment to compose himself. Lucas couldn’t blame him.