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Tutting under his breath Scott pulled to a slow stop behind the car in front. He should have expected traffic trying to head into the city in the early morning with the commuters. A few horns honked, vague frustrations of angry businessmen, before the road stilled to a quiet acceptance. Glancing over to the passenger seat Scott made sure Adam was still sleeping. Curled up, his boots kicked off into the footwell, Scott’s hoodie under his head, he looked calm for the first time tonight. The familiar lick of anger burned through Scott at the thought of how recked he’d looked earlier. Adam sighed gently, burrowing his face into the hoodie, the turn of his head showing off the choppy cut of his hair. Scott had done it in his bathroom a month ago after Adam had come out to him. They’d been a little high, Adam hadn’t said anything Scott hadn’t been suspecting, but they both cried anyway at the relief of it all. The haircut had seemed like such a good idea, Adam’s parents would never have taken him to a salon to cut it that short, and Scott would have swum an ocean to relieve Adam of any of it, even a little bit. They’d stepped back from the mirror, glassy eyed and impressed with their handiwork. Adam had called Scott later, under his bedsheets, his voice shaky and wet. His parents hadn’t been so impressed.
They’d reacted similarly last night when Adam had finally told them. Sure, Scott had known they’d be upset, mad even, but he hadn’t considered the reality. He’d opened the front door to Adam, sopping wet, holding one bag. The decision after that had been easy. He’d packed while Adam was showering, called a friend in the city while Adam changed, and loaded the car on his own. By the time Adam had reappeared in the living room the plan had been made. How many nights had they talked about escaping to the city as kids, getting out of this small town forever.
Reaching out, Scott smoothed down the back of Adam’s hair, keeping the palm of his hand on the back of his neck. It would be better in the city. Adam could start again, as himself. He could find a job taking photos, Scott could play music. They’d live off ramen noodles and be late for rent payments. Nothing like the cushy, plastic wrapped childhood of his home, nothing like his parents at all. Something that wasn’t anger was also settling in Scott’s chest, it burned across his shoulders and down his arms till the finger tips in Adam’s hair twitched. The car in front of them pulled forward, and Scott had to tear himself away to follow suit, breaking a little too hard.
Awaking with a groan, Adam blinked. For a moment it looked like he thought they had arrived, before taking in the scene around them.
“Good morning Sleeping Beauty.”
Adam groaned again, sitting up stiffly, one hand rubbing the back of his neck. Maybe they should have stopped somewhere for the night, let Adam sleep on a mattress, seeing him grimace at the ache made Scotts stomach flip. It wasn’t fair. Bad things shouldn’t happen to beautiful people.
“Good morning Prince Charming. How early is it?”
Scott gestured to the time on the dash. 4:15am.
“You’ve been driving all night Scotty, you should have woken me.”
Scoffing lightly, he waved his hand, trying to shake the concern from Adam’s tone.
“And risk putting you behind the wheel, fat chance.”
He wouldn’t have woken him if Adam was the safest driver in the world. Glancing over, he cracked Adam a broken smile, unable to hold back the real one when Adam smiled back. Scotts hand slid off the gear stick, resting in the space between them. Reaching his arms up to stretch out his back, Adam let out a quiet noise of discomfort before settling back into a slouched position, his hand finding Scott’s with a gentle squeeze. Holding his gaze for as long as he could, Scott coughed lightly and looked out at the cars.
“My buddy called, says the place still has no heating but it does have water so we should be fine for tonight. He’s left the keys in a flower pot so we can let ourselves in.”
He risked a glance over at Adam, his breath catching in his throat. Adam was still looking at him, his hair tousled from sleep, the band tee he’d borrowed from Scott slipping off his shoulder just enough that Scott could see the just of collar bone, the band of the sports bra he insisted on wearing despite the pain. He was looking at Scott unwavering, barely blinking. With a swallow Scott couldn’t shake the feeling of devotion, Adam was looking at Scott the way Scott had always dreamed he’d be looked at, like he was the only person in the world. His palm twitched under Adam’s hand, and he squeezed it tight to fight the urge to pull away. Adam needed him tonight. He needed him to be brave. To have a plan. To sort it out. The car in front pulled forward and Scott turned away to look at the road. Adam needed him to keep driving.
“Go back to sleep Aurora, I’ll wake you when we’re there.”
Adam scoffed at the nickname, letting Scott take his hand back before curling away from him.
“Careful, or I might start expecting you to wake me with a kiss.”
If it had been a joke it hadn’t landed, Adam’s tone shaky, serious. Scott could feel the ice cracking beneath them.
“As if you wouldn’t punch me in the face.”
Scott could feel the eye roll despite not being able to see Adam’s face, finally pulling off the highway.
“Good night Scott.”