"First times can be fun," Derek assures him, thinking deliberately about waffles and nothing else. They emerge into the park and Derek slides his hand down Thomas' back again, steering him in the right direction.

The streets are alive in a way that they weren't at the start of their run, full of morning people chattering away, and sleepy humans dragging themselves to work with big cups of coffee. Derek leads them to the diner and opens the door, gesturing Thomas inside and then lifting a hand as the hostess greets them and leads them to a booth near the window.

"You can get whatever you want," Derek tells him, immediately flipping over his coffee cup as he takes a seat and picks up the menu, "but I do highly recommend the waffle."