Mirrors and Diesel Fuel

Have you seen my truck?

[truckingworldwide]

Peterbilt custom 359 Extra long hood

[notabutcher]

Travis grinned and took the tool, setting to work with it as soon as it was in his hand.  “Yeah.  She’s my baby.”  Back into the engine Travis dove, not even minding the heat.  This was comforting and normal, something he didn’t get very often.

[deviloutofhell]

Stone leaned back against the fuel island, shielding his face with an oil-slick hand. “Ain’t that surprising. Truck like that, she musta—” He shrugged. "Rigs I see around here—ten years old. Look thirty, easy. Damn shame."

[notabutcher]

"What are you talking about?"  Travis glanced up from his work and squinted at his companion before getting back to work.  "I keep her in good condition.  She's not the newest thing, but she's always been reliable as long as I take care of her."

[notabutcher]

Travis pulled his arms out of Alex’s grip as carefully as he could.  Alex was still freaking out and Travis didn’t want to hurt him.  That would only scare him more.

"Shhhh…. its okay.  If you’re comfortable with that… I guess I don’t mind."  Travis tried to sooth him with a smile.  "Its all okay now… you just need sleep."

[shouldhavebeentheone-blog]

Alex nodded, waiting for Travis to lead him to the bedroom. Once there, he crawled into bed and shifted as far to the side as he could. The bed was still warm from his own body heat, and he could only imagine the heat Travis would give off.

[notabutcher]

Travis stared at the bed awkwardly for a moment before joining Alex.  It had been years since he had been this close to anyone, and while he was fairly certain Alex wasn't a threat, it was a little unnerving nonetheless.  Still, he climbed into bed and settled down, giving Alex as much room as he could.

[notabutcher]

Don't bother with the Shepherd boy. You know what they say about lost causes.

He's not a lost cause!  He's lost, yeah, but he's not a bad kid. 

[vimoradi-deactivated20180806]

silent hill + name meanings

[notabutcher]

Travis shook his head and gave Alex a supportive smile. 

"Hey… it was a nightmare.  That’s okay.  We all have em.  And you’ve probably been through a lot in the last few days."  Gently, Travis put a hand on Alex’s shoulder.  "It’s okay now…"

[shouldhavebeentheone-blog]

Alex grabbed Travis’ wrists and shivered. “Please don’t leave me alone…” He sighed. “I just.. I don’t want to sleep alone.” He pushed himself off the couch to his feet. “I don’t move around too much, I won’t take up a lot of space… please?”

[notabutcher]

Travis pulled his arms out of Alex's grip as carefully as he could.  Alex was still freaking out and Travis didn't want to hurt him.  That would only scare him more. "Shhhh.... its okay.  If you're comfortable with that... I guess I don't mind."  Travis tried to sooth him with a smile.  "Its all okay now... you just need sleep."

[notabutcher]

Sure, but it’s empty.  *walks around to the back of the truck to open it*

[demonontheinside]

[ He has a look, checking out the entire trailer before returning to Travis’ side. ]

If you see that man, let me know.

[ He puts a business card in Travis’ hand. ]

[notabutcher]

*Looks over business card*

Sure, officer.  If I see him I'll let ya know.

[notabutcher]

Yeah… you’re telling me.  You wouldn’t happen to know the way out, would you?

[stuckin302-deactivated20150224]

Still looking. I’d be long gone by now.

[notabutcher]

How'd you get here?

[notabutcher]

*studies the photograph carefully and shrugs*

Sorry, officer.  Never seen him. 

[demonontheinside]

[ He sighed. ] Do you mind if I check your trailer?

[notabutcher]

Sure, but it's empty.  *walks around to the back of the truck to open it*

[notabutcher]

Once they were inside, Travis dropped Alex on the couch gently, unable to make it completely to the bedroom.  Kneeling, he used the base of his shirt to mop up some of Alex’s tears. 

"Hey… hey it’s okay…"  He said softly as he could manage.  "What happened?"  He knew it was probably insensitive to ask, but he couldn’t help make it better if he didn’t know. 

[shouldhavebeentheone-blog]

Alex took a slow breath, his legs trembling as they found a comfortable place against Travis’ sides. He held onto the end of Travis’ shirt like a security blanket.

"I… I thought I saw my little brother…" He shook his head. "I’m sorry. I didn’t— I didn’t mean to scare you."

[notabutcher]

Travis shook his head and gave Alex a supportive smile.  "Hey... it was a nightmare.  That's okay.  We all have em.  And you've probably been through a lot in the last few days."  Gently, Travis put a hand on Alex's shoulder.  "It's okay now..."

[notabutcher]

"Damn… looks like she needs a tune up."  Travis leaned over the engine of the truck and scrutinized it carefully.  "Nothing too big, but sorta a pain in the ass…"  He looked up and smiled.  "Pass me that wrench there?"

[deviloutofhell]

"Sure thing." Stone brushed pebbles of sweat from his brow. The sun had boiled the acrid smells of the truck stop into his jacket; he squinted through the afternoon haze. "Hell of a rig you got here."

[notabutcher]

Travis grinned and took the tool, setting to work with it as soon as it was in his hand.  "Yeah.  She's my baby."  Back into the engine Travis dove, not even minding the heat.  This was comforting and normal, something he didn't get very often.

[notabutcher]

*This is odd.  Normally he opens the doors for officers… but if this guy wants him out… Opens door and steps out of truck obediently.*

Can I help you officer?

[demonontheinside]

Sorry to pull you over like this, sir, but I’m stopping all cargo trucks. I’m looking for a man. Have you seen this man?

[ He reachs into his pocket and pulls out a photograph. ]

[notabutcher]

*studies the photograph carefully and shrugs*

Sorry, officer.  Never seen him. 

[stuckin302-deactivated20150224]

…Are you a ghost?

[notabutcher]

No….  I’m just lost.  The name’s Travis… you?

[stuckin302-deactivated20150224]

Henry.

Hell of a place to be lost.

[notabutcher]

Yeah... you're telling me.  You wouldn't happen to know the way out, would you?

[notabutcher]

Travis wrapped his arms around Alex and rocked him gently.  He wasn’t quite sure what had happened here, but Alex was in shambles and needed care.  After a few minutes, Travis eased to his feet and hefted Alex into his arms, making his way slowly back to the apartment.  The kid wasn’t light, but Travis knew he could manage.  He couldn’t leave the poor boy sitting out in the parking lot crying all night.  Maybe once they were inside Alex would calm down and tell him what happened.

[shouldhavebeentheone-blog]

Alex held tightly like a scared child, his face pressed into the man’s neck. The soft scratch of his stubble on his forehead felt nice. Felt comforting… The sobs started to die down, and he was calming slowly.

"… I’m— I’m sorry, I—"

Travis smelled like… warm autumn mornings. Lukewarm coffee. A hint of stale cigarette smoke… His fingers gripped at the soft shirt on his friend’s body. So warm… so comforting…

[notabutcher]

Once they were inside, Travis dropped Alex on the couch gently, unable to make it completely to the bedroom.  Kneeling, he used the base of his shirt to mop up some of Alex's tears.  "Hey... hey it's okay..."  He said softly as he could manage.  "What happened?"  He knew it was probably insensitive to ask, but he couldn't help make it better if he didn't know. 

[stuckin302-deactivated20150224]

…Are you a ghost?

[notabutcher]

No....  I'm just lost.  The name's Travis... you?

[mishasscollins]

[capstellations]