Where Will I Go

26||Fool's Holiday

I know I've been a real bad guy,
my name's made the list more than a few times
You could light up a candle for every mistake that I've made
and I'd follow them home with you
on a pity parade
~~~~~~~~~~

Alex had fallen back asleep after he had cried everything out of his system. His head lay back in Ran's lap, and his breathing was now much more even. Ran was mindlessly playing with a few strands of the shorter boy's hair with one hand, while the other remained on the steering wheel.

Ran was still feeling slightly on edge after hearing all of Alex's concerns. He never wanted Alex to feel like he had to compete for Ran's affection. The blond hadn't even realized that he gave off an uninviting vibe. In fact, he had only ever tried to show the exact opposite. Then again, he was aware that Alex had low self-esteem and terrible self-worth. It was possible that the brunet was just convincing himself that Ran didn't want him.

But even as Ran weighed and considered that possibility, he still knew that he had to be careful with Alex's feelings. The elder had never been particularly great with dealing with even his own emotions. Never the less another person's feelings. Although he did try as best as he could, each time that Alex would accept his comforting words felt like a great achievement. Almost as if he deserved a nobel peace prize. Unless, there was a nobel prize for comfort and empathy. In that case, he definitely felt like he deserved that.

Perhaps that was what made him... Uncomfortable to be around. Maybe Alex could sense that Ran was having a hard time dealing with his emotions. If that was the case, then really it would have been nobody's fault. Of course, that didn't mean there wouldn't be an impact on either of the boys.

Ran sighed as he turned into one of the spots of a gas station. He was making one of his hourly junk food runs. He was never a healthy eater during long car trips or on road trips. And this one was no exception. However, he also needed a reason to stop so he could give Alex his Christmas gift. He wasn't able to do it the day before as both of them were spending the day with their families. The closest thing they had gotten to contact were through text messages.

He shook the boy's shoulders gently, silently urging him to wake up. Unlike last time, Alex didn't bang his head on the steering wheel when he woke up. He groaned irritably, and his eyes fluttered open.

"Where are we?" He yawned.

"At a gas station. I'm just filling up the car and getting food." Ran informed, and then laughed half-heartedly. "You need to get off me."

The brunet groaned disobediently. "No, I'm comfy." He countered.

"Please?" The elder begged. "I have a surprise for you."

"In the gas station?"

Ran rolled his eyes. "No, silly. In the trunk with the rest of our luggage."

And yeah,

That convinced Alex to get up.

The brunet waited patiently in the car as Ran filled up the tank, and as well  when he went into the store. He sought for the small sketchpad he had brought with him for the long car ride. He smiled victoriously as he found it in the crack in between the seat cushions. He flipped through the spontaneous sketches half consciously. He was only partially admiring his own works as he was waiting for Ran to return.