How To Fix a Mechanic (BoyxBoy)

7

A/N: Still searching for the perfect face for Manny, but in the meantime, here's his back! ;;;;;))))

Joe floundered for a few seconds, desperately wanting to accept the ride but his nerves overriding his ability to speak. Eventually, he managed a nod and Manny immediately began walking in the direction of his car. Joe followed, admiring the way the sleeves struggled against his arms and the just visible traces of his tattoos at the hems. They reached his car and Manny unlocked it, cocking his head in the direction of the passenger seat presumably for Joe.

Joe opened the door as carefully as he could, while Manny waited, already in the front seat. He sat down in the leather seat gingerly, scared he'd break something if he so much as breathed.
"Where do you live?" Manny asked and Joe relayed the address to him. Once he'd closed the door, Manny turned the keys in the ignition and the smooth rumble of the engine filled Joe's ears, he'd never heard anything so sweet come from a machine.

"Damn." He commented, eliciting some sort of short, low chuckle from Manny. "Was it always like this or have you worked on it?" Joe asked, referring to the car.
"Worked on it myself." Manny replied as they neared the gate. Joe nodded in acknowledgement, then racked his brain for something else to say. He would not let this be a silent car journey when he'd been presented with such a spectacular opportunity to get closer to Manny.

"I hope I'm not making you go too far out of your way." Joe commented, his tone nonchalant but the statement was tactical.
"I don't live that far away." Manny answered, eyes still trained on the road ahead. Bingo.
"Whereabouts? If you don't mind me asking obviously." Joe conversed.

Manny paused this time, his body tensing a little.
"An apartment complex a little South." Joe knew the exact complex he was talking about even though he had no idea which way south was. There was only one, particularly old, apartment building within the neighbourhood.
"That's nice, alone?"
"What?"

Joe halted immediately, thinking Manny might be onto his game. He decided to proceed as if he'd said nothing out of the ordinary.
"Do you live alone?" He reiterated.
"Mhm."
"Ah." He sure wasn't making things easy for Joe. "Figures." He muttered out of mild irritation.
"How?" Manny asked, taking Joe by surprise, he'd hoped he hadn't heard.
"Well, you're not much of a talker. You don't really seem like you'd like living with someone." Joe chanced a glance at Manny, his eyebrow was raised and Joe took that as a lack of understanding.

"What I'm trying to say is you're the loner type?" Joe tried. Manny looked over at him, his expression unreadable.
"Not how I'd put it." He said. Joe cocked his head.
"How would you put it then?" He asked, jumping at the chance of a real conversation. A small frown graced Manny's features.
"They say loners have the best company." He answered cryptically.
"Explain?"
"I'm selective with my company." He elaborated, it made a little more sense. Joe had to agree with Manny, there was logic to his statement.

"So I guess you only hang with the best people, right?" Joe confirmed and Manny nodded. Joe felt a bout of confidence. "Would you say I'm worthy of your company?" He watched Manny for any signs of a reaction, but he remained stoic. He let out a small sigh and responded.
"I don't know you." Joe's heart sunk, but didn't let it discourage him.
"But if I wasn't a cool guy you wouldn't bother tutoring me, right?" He pressed.
"I was asked to." Manny said bluntly.
"But no one forced you." Joe countered cheekily.

A short smile flashed across the older of the two's face.
"You got me." He relented, rolling his eyes. "You're an okay kid." Joe couldn't help but grin.
"See, that wasn't so hard." He joked.
"You don't let up." Manny commented dryly. To Joe's dismay, after Manny said that they turned onto his road. The car cruised up the street until it reached Joe's house where Manny ground to a halt. Joe's stomach did a front flip when he spotted his mom's car in the driveway, his sister and mother getting out of it.