Chapter Text
A letter fell on the map of the house Benny and Rumi shared. Not because they were lovers, no way. Just because rent was hell.
It looked official.
Rumi - wearing shorts, mis matched socks and a sweater he stole from Benny - picks up the letter and rips it open.
There's a letter, rusty keys and a polaroid of the sea.
Rumi pads over to Benny, who's on the floor in front of their old red couch, drawing something again. Probably Rumi again. Rumi throws the letter at Benny with a crooked smirk, who yelps. Benny grumbles something, then reads the letter aloud;
''Dear Bennett,
Gods I always hated that name.
If this letter finds you - keys included - means that I've went somewhere the tide can't reach me. Not meant poetically.
Warm hugs to you and Dennis,
Auntie Elisa Sea.''
Benny reads the letter three times over again.
Elisa Sea was a sapphic poet, one to randomly decide she was a pirate. she lived in a house by the see since she was 16, drove a shitty Mercedes and spend nights making mix tapes and voice recordings.
''P.S., I left a box of mixtapes for you both in the trunk.''
Benny chuckles to themselves. ''She's dead.'' they mutter. ''She left me... or well, us, her house, her shitty car and mixtapes.''
Rumi scoffs, pouring honey in his coffee. (don't judge him, i will come and find you) ''And? are you going to go? Didn't she live like - what? across the country?''
Benny rolls their eyes. ''She wants me to take someone, Dennis.'' They tease Rumi with their deadname.
Rumi rolls his eyes in response, too. ''Then take me, Bennett.''
--
A while later, they stand in front of an old church, Rumi in the same clothes but now with doc Martens and Benny in a hoodie, bell bottom jeans and brown converse. They're picking up the car.
A guy called Gary comes out of the church, staring at them like they're aliens. ''Car?'' is the only thing he says, pointing at the old, rusty Mercedes.
''Car.'' Rumi said. Benny just nodded.
--
Benny drives. Rumi is asleep, amber curls sticking to his face, sunglasses resting on his nose.
A tape starts playing. Rumi nor Benny didn't touch anything.
It hisses, crackles and out comes Elisa Sea's voice.
''Benny, you always used to bite the inside of your lip when you were nervous. Still do?''
Rumi shifts, slowly waking up. ''Wha... is that-''
''She's in the car.'' Benny says, still looking at the road. The tape had ended by now. not that it had been that long of a tape, anyway.
''Cool beans,'' Rumi mutters, wiping his eyes under his sunglasses. ''Where?''
''Fuck do i know. Backseat?'' Benny scoffs.
''Cool beans. I guess we will know where she is when she starts giving directions or something.''
Benny actually laughs at that.
Rumi is secretly proud for making them laugh again, because this might be the first time in weeks they were remotely happy.
Rumi gives Benny a lopsided smirk. ''Anyway, i saw on that weird ass map that there's a gas station nearby. wanna gas and buy some smokes?''
''Mhm.'' Benny nods, grinning back at Rumi, and Rumi just falls in love with him all over again.