Home For Christmas

XIV

They started the drive in silence. The radio was off and they were both just wordlessly sneaking glances at one another.

"So uh..." Newt broke the silence, clearing his throat. "What kind of music are you into?" He asked with a smile. The question came out of genuine curiosity along with the thought that the answer would be the deciding factor in his internal debate upon whether or not to play his music. "Other than like, classical or Frank Sinatra."

"Ha Ha Ha." Hermann fake laughed mockingly but had a real smile on his face. "If you must know." He smiled placing his hand on his chest. "I enjoy jazz."

"Hmm." Newt nodded in consideration. "Most of the music I've got in here doesn't really fit in that category but I think I've got something." They were on a straight road so Newt trusted himself to glance at the pile of cds to pick one out. "This isn't an album it's just a bunch of songs I put together, so kinda like a mixed tape but a cd..." He trailed off as he rifled through the mess. "Got it!" He held it up in victory, pushing it into the slot. "Get ready for the musical stylings of the icon Sade." He smiled.

Diamond life, lover boy
He move in space with minimum waste and maximum joy
City lights and business nights
When you require streetcar desire for higher heights

Newt looked over at Hermann to see his reaction only to find him with his eyes closed, a content smile on his face.

No place for beginners or sensitive hearts
When sentiment is left to chance
No place to be ending but somewhere to start

Hermann kept his eyes closed and Newt drummed along on the steering wheel. He took a breath and got ready to sing the lyrics he'd memorized.

"No need to ask he's a smooth operatoooor! Smoooooth operaaatooooor, smooth operatoooor, smooooooth operatoooor! Coast to coast LA to Chicago, western maaaaaaale! Across the North and South to Key Largo, love for saaaaaale!" He looked over at Hermann again and found he had an amused smile on his face. They listened to the rest of the song accompanied by some of Newt's 'driving-safe' dance moves. As the song came to and end Newt turned to Hermann. "Ok, Herms listen, I'm not sure if you, a jazz connoisseur, would count this as actual jazz," He smiled. "But I, a fool, on the other hand, most definitely do." Just as he finished speaking the beginning notes to careless whisper came through the speakers. He turned to Hermann with a shit eating grin only to find a completely deadpan expression to which he responded by turning it up.

"I feel so unsure." Hermann sang softly. Newt almost snapped his neck, turning to Hermann so fast he got dizzy. "As I take your hand and lead you to the dance floor."

"As the music dies!" Newt replied in tune.

"Something in your eyes~" Hermann sang dramatically in response. They both just just hummed the next part, neither of them knowing the lyrics.

Calls to mind the silver screen And all it's sad good-byes

Then the chorus hit and they turned to each other in unison.

"I'm never gonna dance again! Guilty feet have got no rhythm! Though it's easy to pretend! I know you're not a fooooool!" They sang together. "I shoulda known better than to cheat a friend! And waste the chance that I've been given! So I'm never gonna dance again! The way I danced with yooouu! OH!" They laughed as Newt dramatically belted out the last bit. "So we should probably stop at a hotel at some point, huh?" Newt asked, keeping his eyes on the road.

"At some point, yes." Hermann agreed.

"Because it's like a 5 and a half hour drive from Rothenburg to Berlin, so if we split it halfsies then like 2 hours and 15 minutes would be like a good stopping point. Wait, shit. Is that how math works? Hold on..." Newt trailed off and furrowed his eyebrows. "No, yeah, that's how that works. But I'm not gonna be keeping track of minutes and shit so like when if feels like it's been like 2 hours if there's a hotel or something nearby then we can like pull over or whatever." He turned to Hermann. "Sound like a good plan?"

"It sounds perfectly fine to me." Hermann shrugged.

"Oooooh! But also! If we drive more today we have to drive less tomorrow!" Newt pointed out excitedly.

"That's true." Hermann nodded in agreement.

"Ugh! But also if I choose to drive for a really long time that means I have to drive for a long time." He added in annoyance. Hermann couldn't help but smile. "I'll just do it halfsies... or maybe two-thirdsies." Hermann let out a small laugh at that bit. Newt turned down the music and smiled. "Do you love my incredibly professional and scientific vocabulary?"

"I admire your eloquence immensely. I applaud you to no end." Hermann smiled.

"Do you wanna play road trip games?" Newt asked, tapping his fingers on the steering wheel.

"Road trip games?" Hermann raised an eyebrow.

"Yeah! Like I-Spy!" Newt looked over with a bright smile. "I'll start, I spy with my little eye somethiiiiing... uh white."

"Is it the snow?" Hermann smiled softly.

"Have you been practicing?" Newt laughed.

"You're ridiculous." Hermann scoffed out a laugh and rolled his eyes, failing to hide his genuine smile and fondness from slipping into his tone.

"I spy with my little eye-"

"Isn't it my turn?" Hermann cut him off, smiling.

"Oh please, by all means." Newt motioned for him to continue.

"I spy with my little eye something..." Hermann looked at their quickly changing surroundings. "Something grey?"

"Is iiiiiit the radio?" Newt asked, glancing down.

"No."

"Is it a cd?"

"No."

"Is it... Is it the sky?"

"It is." Hermann confirmed.

"Rad!" Newt celebrated. "Okay now I spy with my little eye something... beautiful." He smiled softly. Hermann turned to him and met his loving gaze before clearing his throat and looking down.

"Is it... me?" He asked softly.

"Nope! It's me! I was looking in the mirror!" He grinned cheekily. He looked over at Hermann's face and busted out laughing. "I was kidding I was kidding, holy shit. You're the most beautiful person I've ever seen I just wanted to fuck with you. Man, the look on your face." He continued laughing, wiping away some tears. He turned to Hermann and saw that his expression was still one of slight shock, but softer now, with pink cheeks. "What?" He asked, confused.

"I'm," Hermann let a small laugh escape his lips. "I'm the most beautiful person you've ever seen?" He asked softly.

"Well," Newt glanced over at him and felt his face go red. "Well, yeah." He scratched at the back of his neck, blushing. "I mean... look at you." Both of them were quiet now.

"Newton..." Hermann shook his head.

"What?" Newt fixed his eyes back on the road, his face still full of color. "It's true." He continued. "Come on you're like straight up gorgeous, Hermann."

"Newton." This one sounded more like a warning. The warning of a person who thinks they've caught you in a lie.

"Dude I'm serious." Newt looked over at him, not a hint of humor on his face.

"Well..." Hermann couldn't figure out how exactly to respond. "Well thank you." He was looking out the window.

"Yeah," Newt swallowed. "No problem."