Highway of Hope {LevYaku} {One-Shot}

希望

Lev drove down the nearly deserted highway. It was late at night, at least 11, he hadn't been checking. The flickering streetlights made the drive the slightly more unsettling. Lev yawned, sleep threatening to take over his body. He reached over to the cup holder to take a sip of his energy drink. He jolted back to awareness and sped up a bit, disregarding the limit signs all around him.
He saw him. A shorter man with light brown hair, standing under a streetlamp, his arm out and his thumb up. Lev pulled over and rolled down his window. The man's stern looking face softened as he realized that Lev was stopping for him. He politely smiled and walked towards the window. Lev noticed the slight limp, the dark circles around his eyes, and his cut lip. Lev grinned.
"Need a ride?" Lev asked. The man nodded. Lev unlocked the door and the man got in, quietly fastening his seat belt.
"My name is Yaku, by the way. I just need to get to the next gas station or something, I can call a taxi from there. Sorry for troubling you" Yaku's voice was what Lev imagined an angel to sound like. It wasn't incredibly soft or smooth, but it was perfect in it's own way. Lev chuckled and shook his head.
"I needed to stop for gas and energy drinks anyway, but I can drive you wherever you need to go. I really don't mind, I pulled over for a reason" Lev grabbed as energy drink and chugged the rest, tossing the empty can into the back seat. Yaku smiled and nodded.
"Why are you out so late? I was standing there for about an hour and only saw about 3 other cars". Lev looked over at Yaku from the corner of his eye. Yaku sat at an angle so he could see Lev, but also still see out of the front windshield. Lev smiled and shrugged, and that was the end of their conversation.

スキップ

"Lev! You're falling asleep!" Yaku shouted and grabbed the wheel, narrowly avoiding swerving into the other lane. Lev snapped back to awareness and tightened his grip on the wheel. Yaku fell back into his own seat and gripped the fabric of his shirt that sat over his heart. Lev pulled over and collapsed against the wheel, which made the horn go off. He scrambled upright.
"Sorry, Yaku-san" Lev said after a few moments of silence. Yaku just slowly nodded and stared ahead. Lev started driving again, noticing how Yaku kept a watchful eye on him. Lev turned on the radio, just to hear one of those songs no one knows the name of but know all the words to. Lev smiled to himself as he hummed along. He looked over at Yaku, who was still watching Lev carefully. Yaku was mouthing the words to the song with a small smile on his face. Lev grinned from ear to ear when he saw a small gas station up ahead.
"Praise the Lord! I can get something to eat! Lev sped up again and Yaku laughed, before wincing and placing a finger over the cut on his lip. Lev frowned as he pulled into the parking lot.
"What happened? To your lip, I mean. And you were limping earlier. Are you okay?" Lev parked the car and got out before rushing around to the other side so he could open Yaku's.
"Thank you, and I'm fine. Just fell earlier today. Twisted my ankle" Yaku and Lev walked inside. Yaku started to head for the payphone, but Lev shook his head. Yaku rolled his eyes as Lev dragged him to the candy aisle.

スキップ

"I just need to get to Exit 14, I live right by the highway so I can walk from the start of the exit to my place. And thank you for the cookies" Yaku hopped back into the car and Lev did the same.
"Yaku-san, I can just drive you right to your place. You said you hurt your ankle so you should really rest that. And no problem, are they good?" Lev opened another energy drink and took a big drink before hitting the road again. Yaku bit another cookie before replying.
"It's fine, Lev. I don't want to burden you. And yes, they're delicious." Yaku shivered a bit and Lev immediately turned the heat up. Lev saw the sign that said Exit 14 was merely 30 kilometers ahead. Lev kept cracking dumb jokes, which Yaku kept rolling his eyes at, but he also laughed at a few. Before they knew it, they had reached Exit 14, and Lev was turning into it. Yaku pointed to the street his house was on.
"Number 3. Thank you, Lev. I really appreciate it. How much do you want?" Yaku reached into his pocket and pulled out his wallet.
"Nothing. I don't want anything, Yaku-san. I liked talking to you! So that's enough for me" Lev smiled and finished another energy drink. Yaku got out and started walking up the steps. Lev was waiting to make sure he got safely inside. Yaku suddenly turned on his heel and ran back to the rolled down window. He leaned in a bit.
"You shouldn't drive so long without stopping. At least stay here for a few hours? Have an actual meal, get some sleep" Yaku gave a small smile and Lev thought for a moment. He grinned and nodded, as he undid his seat belt and Yaku ran up the stairs to unlock the door.

Both men were thinking the same thing, but they didn't know it.

Perhaps I have hope, perhaps I have a friend.