Chapter Text
"Oh, come on," Flop groaned.
Being stuck in a traffic stop on his way home was a rarity, considering that Flop would still uphold the law in his off-duty time. Sadly it didn't prevent him from being stopped by petty idiots like Jaden. The useless interrogation turned into a 20-minute wait. It was driving him mad. Thankfully the radio helped ease some of that frustration.
Music has been a reprieve from the confusing circumstances Flop faced. He felt disparaged, acknowledging that some parts of his life were foreign and unknown. A family. A dog. A husband. All like lost fragments of a shattered mirror. He could see his reflection, but there were blank spots that could be complete only with his imagination. It was a cold, isolating sensation that Flop tried to avoid, despite knowing its true meaning of it:
He was incomplete.
Flop shook his head and flipped through the stations until a familiar tune came on the radio. (Spotify Link) (Youtube Link)
The Tide by Pale Waves wasn't one of his favorites, not by a long shot, but it has stuck with him recently. It was an upbeat and a little cheesy tune, knowing who Ziggy meant to be to him. Incidentally, this song made him think of the handsome ranger. It was one of the small joys of getting lost in the music. It helped him imagine what these missing fragments could be.
He crossed his arms over the wheel and rested his head on them. He closed his eyes and pictured Ziggy with his baggy jeans and silky hair, looking at him with a grin plastered on his face. He envisioned the two of them being at a beach party, where only the ranger was in clear view, and people around them were mostly silhouettes. He thought of Rhodes and Dark and decided they would be somewhere in the crowd to flesh out the background.
The whole image still looked distant to him, as if he was further away from the rest, floating in midair. It was a common occurrence in his imagination. He found it difficult to put himself in any make-believe moment. Still, he hoped that music would help him unlock that ability.
Would singing do the trick, he thought and smiled lightly. The same image flashed before him, now with himself singing the song to a grinning Ziggy.
"Yeah, that'd only happen if I'm very drunk," Flop thought aloud.
"Oh, is that admittance? Great, now we'll need a substance test."
The image crumpled in an instant. Flop jerked his head up and looked out of his open window at a smug-faced Jaden, rudely interrupting his daydreaming.
"What? What for?" Flop argued.
"I've asked if you're accepting your charges, but your reply, coupled with your driving..." he tapped his clipboard, feinting to be in thought, "Definitely gives me enough to push for a test, " he replied.
"Jaden, it's just one mile over the limit. It's hardly speeding."
The officer frowned, "That's what they all say. It all starts with one and builds up over time. You'll get lost in it."
"Lost?" He paused. The phrasing brought back some unwanted thoughts. "What, in speeding?"
"Yes, you'll go ahead of yourself and end up seeing your life pass you by just before some other accident occurs."
"Jaden, you're really not helping..."
"Oh, so giving a bit of friendly advice isn't helpful?" he huffed, "Then excuse me while I go and get a breathalyzer."
The charade didn't last for much longer, and soon Flop was on his way home again. He hummed the beginning of the song again, instantly recalling his fantasy. In it, the beautiful smile Ziggy would give him was infectious, and Flop couldn't help but smile himself. It was bittersweet knowing it was just an image, but he didn't let himself dwell on it. He was content.
Maybe losing myself in it isn't so bad after all.