ｇｅｔ ｉｔ ｏｕｔ // ｍｉｓｃ

ｉ ｅｘｉｓｔ ˣ₃

Ian looked beside him and saw Joji resting his head on a pillow that was squeezed between him and the car window. His mouth was parted slightly and soft snores escaped every once in a while, hands laying in his lap.

The cassette Joji had put in before drifting off to sleep had stopped playing the melodic tunes that he so adored. Ian didn't mind, though. The quiet atmosphere in the car made it much easier for Ian to hear his boyfriend. Occasionally, Joji would shift a tad and mutter something about him. The taller would look over and see the corners of his mouth twitch up barely in his sleepy state.

Ian could hear his own heart speed up and beat in time with his turn signal. Listening to how lively their bodies were even without putting conscious effort into it made everything feel real. Reality had seemed so distant for a while, everything had been too perfect.

The light turned green and Ian turned into a small town to take a small detour. He loved seeing little places and thinking about the significance they had to others. Every little thing in this world had meaning and he adored that. He drove through suburban cities to prolong the car rides and avoid rough roads, not wanting to wake his sleeping beauty.

He took a deep breath and inhaled the heartwarming smell of worn out leather seats and mixing colognes that reminded him of home. But the car wasn't home to him.

Home to Ian was the man who had fallen asleep beside him hours ago and the way he laughed at his own shitty jokes. The way he preached about the things he loved and their importance. How passionate he was, his enthusiasm over the smallest things, and how loyal he was to those he cared about. His shaggy black hair that hadn't seen a barbers shop in months, his deep brown eyes and the hope and happiness residing within them, his lips and how bright his smile was and how freely the most powerful words could fall from them.

Ian looked over at Joji and smiled softly, tears welling up in his eyes because, dammit, they're in love and Ian hasn't been happier than he is when he's with Joji.

Together, they're home.