turps | Homeless!Sync (Boxes Sequel part 3)

Okay, we have part 3. If the time thing still seems confusing speak up, I won't bite. Same with any mistakes, I'd really rather know. Saying that this is a rough WIP so don't expect anything polished. It's my betas that make me look good ;)

Previous parts behind the cut.

Part 1 is here.
Part 2 is here

“JC, wake up! Come on, there’s something coming.” Shaking JC, Chris carefully pushes him up and over then stands before limping on numb legs to the road. He can hear an engine and sees something approaching far in the distance. Chris squints, watching it come closer, before stepping onto the verge and sticking out his thumb. He uses the other hand to try and make himself look presentable, smoothing down his t-shirt and pushing back his hair from his face. JC is sitting up now, stretching and yawning and Chris looks from him to the approaching vehicle, hoping that this will be the car that stops and takes them nearer home. It’s not. All Chris can do is jump back as the car speeds past, throwing up dust that makes him cough as it clogs his throat. Wiping his eyes he curses in frustration.

“Someone will stop, they have to.” JC stands close and carefully uses the edge of his t-shirt to wipe at Chris’ face. “You had a dirty mark,” he says in explanation, then steps on the road. Holding out his hand he smiles when Chris reaches for it, and they start to walk hand in hand. They don’t speak, they don’t have to. They’re comfortable with one another and don’t need to fill silences with empty words.

Their palms are soon slick with sweat but Chris holds on tight, rubbing his thumb across warm skin and the colourful bands that JC wears tied round his wrist. His feet ache, burning inside his heavy boots but they keep walking as the sun starts to set and shadows are dark black and elongated against the road. It’s a beautiful scene, and Chris knows if they’d been here months before they would have lingered, but now the peace is disrupted by the insistent pull of home. He needs to go back now, and that need gets stronger the closer they get to Joey’s big day.

“We could still make it,” JC says hopefully, sounding as if he’s trying to convince himself, and he picks up the pace, as if they can walk all the way on their own. “It was the twenty-first back at that last town, we still have three days.”

“I guess,” Chris loves JC for trying but he knows the odds of travelling so far in so little time are huge, especially if they can’t get a ride. Guilt churns in his belly and he squeezes JC’s fingers, holding onto him as they walk faster. It’s not that he thinks Joey will blame them, he won’t, and that’s the problem. Joey will be understanding and dismissive of his own needs and Chris hates that he’ll do that, because Joey’s one of the strongest men that he knows, and that needs celebrating, even if they have to walk all the way home to do so.

They keep walking as the sun drops below the horizon and darkness replaces light. Chris is tired, his body aches, his belly grumbles and his mouth feels stuffed with cotton. Licking dry lips he calls on his inner strength to keep moving, when his body screams for rest. At times he doesn’t know who’s keeping who upright as they lean against one another, falling into long established patterns that let them walk in perfect step.

“Do you think we’ll see them again?” JC asks, his words are soft but Chris still tenses as he hears them. It seems the rules have changed, and things that have remained unsaid are going to be aired for the first time in months.

“Maybe,” Thoughts of Lance and Justin fill Chris’ mind. Pinched faces and too thin bodies, but he also remembers their smiles as they went home, safe with their families. He wants to see them again desperately, but at the same time he doesn’t, because Chris still believes the best place for the kids is at home and even the thought of them on the streets again makes him want to gag.

“They could come visit, I told them how to find Joey,” JC suddenly stops, and he looks directly at Chris. “They’ll visit Joey on his special day right? He told them about it, he won’t be alone.”

Chris wishes he could be reassuring, but he can’t. JC knows him too well and will see through lies in an instant, and anything Chris says would have to be a lie, because deep down he knows he’ll never see them again. People move on, it’s a fact of life. Justin and Lance have gone and he doubts they’ll be back.

“They’ll be there,” JC says suddenly and he starts walking again, gently squeezing Chris’ hand. “You have to have faith.”

At the confident words, Chris pushes aside his doubts. He only has total faith in a few things, but JC’s one of them, and if he thinks they’ll be there Chris is prepared to hope too. “Okay, I will, I do.”

“Good, because I can hear something coming,” JC grins and steps to the side of the road, holding up his hand. They watch as a vehicle approaches, headlights shining through the darkness and as it comes closer Chris digs for his own faith. It has to stop – has to.

~*~*~*~

“I’m sorry,” Justin says, and he hugs Joey, holding him tight for a moment before letting go.

“It’s okay, really. I know they would have been here if they could.” Joey looks at Justin, then down the darkened street again, as if he expects JC and Chris to come walking down it at any moment. Of course there’s nobody there, just the usual abandoned cars and dark buildings and Justin shivers despite his heavy jacket. It’s creepy being in this area at night, and he presses closer to Joey, wishing Lance would hurry up so they could go home.

“You’re going to Lance’s right?” Joey asks, and he pulls his door key from his pocket when they hear the toilet flush.

“Yeah, you don’t have to walk us. We’ll be fine.” Justin feels he has to protest even though he knows it’s futile. Joey will still accompany them; it’s what he does every time. Escorting them across town to wherever they’re going, even if that means a long round walk to both Lance and Justin’s homes.

“I know,” Joey says evenly and he starts to lock his front door when Lance joins them, sliding across dead bolts and padlocks until it’s as secure as it can be. Not that that’s secure at all, the neighbourhood’s rough and break-ins are common but Justin knows Joey loves his home and why shouldn’t he? Anything’s better than a box.

They start to walk, pace fast due to the cold. Justin’s face is freezing already and he’s only been outside for minutes. They’re all wearing heavy coats and knit caps, and he quickly looks around before reaching for Lance’s hand, feeling the warmth of wool covered fingers linking with his. Joey is walking ahead, shoulders hunched and breath clearly visible in the frosty air. There’s a hole at the bottom of his coat, inexpertly mended with white thread and Justin remembers sitting at the shelters, trying to mend the hole with a tiny needle that kept stabbing his fingers as he pushed it through the thick material. Chris had been lying feverish in his jumble of blankets and Justin was going out of his mind, needing to forget his shame, even for a moment, so he’d mended as his hands shook and spilled multiple droplets of blood for every miss matched stitch.

Memories like that make Justin feel shaky and weak, and he squeezes Lance’s fingers and looks away from Joey. He watches the ground instead; head down as they quickly walk along darkened streets. They’re silent, unlike other nights when they’d chatter about Joey’s job, Justin’s school and Lance’s search for work. Then again it’s not like most nights, and he knows that. It was supposed to be special, and they’ve tried all night to pretend that it still is. Now that pretence is gone, and all he can do is keep walking, using Lance as his anchor as Joey mourns alone.

~*~*~*~

“Thanks, you’re a lifesaver,” Chris says, as the old lady waves then into the car. He sits in the passenger seat and JC climbs in the back, throwing his bag on the seat before leaning forward.

“Yeah, thanks, we really need to get home.”

The lady looks from JC to Chris as she starts the engine again. “Call me Rose, dear, and you’re welcome. I like the company, of course my grandson tells me not to pick up hitch hikers, but you look like nice boys. I couldn’t leave you standing at the side of the road, especially when it’s getting dark.”

It’s wonderful to be moving again, and Chris wiggles until he’s comfortable, listening as JC and Rose chatter. He adds a comment of his own sometimes, but is mainly content to listen as they discuss everything from the best kinds of soup to the classic artists. Expecting questions, Chris is surprised when they’re never asked, instead Rose talks about herself and they soon know all about her extended family. JC asks question after question, wanting to know about grand daughters and babies and Rose seems happy to answer, often at length.

Chris starts to zone out as the third great grandchild is described; he’s tired and families hold no interest to him, so he shifts until he’s lying propped between the chair back and side window. Through half shut eyes he watches buildings flash by, covering distances that would have taken them hours on foot. With every second they’re closer to home, and he begins to hope at last, JC has faith and he has to believe too. He falls asleep thinking about Joey, and his expression when they finally get there.

~*~*~*~

“Honey, wake up.”

Heart racing, Chris sits up straight. He grabs at the hand that’s on his arm then lets go when he realises it’s only Rose. “Sorry, it’s just…”

“No need to say sorry, dear,” Rose says calmly, and she pats Chris on his arm. “I should have known better than to surprise you like that. But I have to turn off here, I’m going out of your way from now on.”

The sun is almost blinding when Chris looks out the window, seeing they’ve stopped next to a bus station. The sun’s rising hot and bright and he winces before shading his eyes with his hand. “You’ve been driving all night, you shouldn’t have let me sleep so long.” Feeling guilty Chris looks at Rose then twists a little so he can see the back seat. JC’s curled on his side, head resting on his sunflower bag, one of his hands is under his cheek and his hair is splayed across the seat in damp clumps.

“He’s a handsome young man,” Rose says, and Chris can’t help smiling at the compliment, because JC is handsome, beautiful even and Chris wants everyone to see that.

“Yeah he is,” Chris agrees softly, then he turns to look at Rose, losing the smile as her words sink in. “I mean…”

“Dear, I’ve got eyes,” Rose teases and Chris can’t help flushing a little, then laughs at himself for being embarrassed by a lady old enough to be his grandmother. “You still should have woke me.”

“Oh tosh. Your young man and I had a grand old talk. He’s got some interesting ideas, he’s passionate, I like that in a person.” Rose stops talking, and starts tapping on the steering wheel with her painted pink fingernails. “Look, Chris. JC and I talked a lot last night, about everything. He told me about you all and where you’re going.”

Tensing at her words, Chris starts to turn to wake JC. He knows how it goes, they’ll be thrown from the car now, it’s better to go quietly than kick up a fuss, he learnt that the hard way. “Well, thanks for the ride, I’ll just…”

“Chris, shush,” Rose reaches for Chris’ arm again, but this time she holds on, her lined hand pale against the brown of his skin. “I’m not upset, if anything I want to keep on driving and take you all the way home, but Kelsey’s four today and I need to go to her birthday party. I know what you’re going to say but I want to give you this.”

Chris remains still as Rose reaches between the seats then gasps when she opens a wallet, counting out a handful of bills.

“I want you to take this. There’s a bus station over the road, get two tickets so you can get home.”

“No. I’m sorry I can’t,” Chris says, but he can’t take his eyes from the money. It looks like there’s enough to get home as well as get something to eat and he desperate to accept. He won’t though, he can’t.

“I knew you’d say that,” Rose sighs and looks at the money. “I’m an old lady, Chris. My husband died years ago and now I spend all my time visiting all my children. I’ve got a house but I don’t use it often. I don’t want to be in a place that’s nothing but memories. I loved Bill with all my heart and when he died I was left a rich woman, but rich in a way I’d change in an instant. I’ve all this money but my heart is half dead without him. I’ve more money than I could ever use, and believe me helping you two would make me happy. Don’t throw this back at me.”

“You don’t fight fair,” Chris says softly, then holds out his hand. It’s more money than he’s seen for months and he carefully folds the bills, holding them tight in his hand.

“Like I said, I’m old, I do things my own way,” Rose looks happy, and she suddenly leans forward, kissing Chris on his cheek. “Sorry about that dear, it’s not often I have two handsome young men in my car, I had to take advantage.”

“Do I get one?” Chris bites back a smile when he realises JC has woken up and is presenting his cheek to Rose. His hair is wildly tangled and she pushes back a curl before kissing him.

“Of course you do. I’ve always thought one handsome man is good, two is better,” she winks at Chris then looks at her watch. “I have to go boys.”

“Thanks,” it’s all Chris says as he steps out of the car but he knows Rose understands what her gesture means to him. Stepping back he waits as JC says his goodbyes then waves as the car pulls away.

“What did you tell her?” Chris asks. He’s curious what story JC had told, but all JC does is stretch and yawn. “JC.”

“I told her about us, that’s all,” he smiles at Chris, looking around before kissing him quickly on the lips. “Lets go home.”

About to ask for more details, Chris stops then shrugs, he doesn’t need to know. He’s got money in his hand and the man he loves grinning at him from the other side of the road, that’s enough for now.

~*~*~*~

“Fuck!” Justin exclaims, and he kicks at an abandoned can with frustration. It clatters loudly in the still air and Joey whips around.

“Damn. You nearly gave me a heart attack,” He looks from Justin to Lance. “What’s up?”

Lance shrugs but Justin goes to kick again before changing his mind at Joey’s warning look. “I’ve left my history book at yours. I need it for tomorrow.”

Joey audibly sighs, and Justin can see the tiredness in his face, but all he does is turn and start to walk back the way they came. “Come on then, if we hurry I might get to bed before one.”

Justin feels awful but he needs that book, so he follows Joey, ignoring the way Lance looks at him.

“Couldn’t you have waited?” Lance hisses at last, “He’s exhausted.”

“I need it,” Justin replies, and he does. There’s a test he needs to study for in the morning. If he gets another low grade his mom threatened to ground him and that can’t happen. Lance looks disapproving, but he keeps holding Justin’s hand, that is until Joey suddenly shouts and runs up the street.

Heart pounding, Justin clutches at Lance, thought of Elroy and bloody bandages filling his mind. He feels sick and imagines he can taste cotton candy as he sees Joey run toward two shadowy figures who’re standing next to his door.

“Justin! Justin, come on, snap out of it,” Lance yells, and Justin makes a gigantic effort to relax his grip. “Come on, we have to go help Joey.”

His whole body shaking, Justin finally breaks his hold. “Go on.” Lance looks at him in concern, but Justin pushes at him and he finally runs up the street. All Justin can do is stagger to the nearest wall, where he bends, gasping for breath. He wants to follow them but knows if he moves he’s going to throw up everything he ate at Joeys, and he can’t do that, it’s wasting food.

Trembling he listens for shouts, but he hears nothing and when he looks up all he can see is a dark blur in the distance. The thought of getting closer almost brings him to his knees, but as the seconds tick by he knows he can’t wait any longer and starts to slowly run up the street.

He’s not sure when he realises things are fine, he does know when he realises it’s Chris and JC, because his legs finally give way and he ends up sitting on his ass on the freezing ground. Not that he registers the cold at the time; all he can look at is his friends who’re standing looking at one another with disbelief. JC and Chris look tanned but thin, they both have longer hair and their clothes are dirty and wrinkled but to Justin they look fantastic.

Finally the spell seems to break and Joey opens his eyes and dives forward, ending in a three way hug with his two oldest friends. None of them speak but Justin can see the way Joey’s hands move against their backs and the way his body shakes as if he’s overcome with silent tears. Lance is standing back, obviously unsure what to do when suddenly the hug breaks apart and JC reaches for him, pulling him into the group embrace.

More lonely than he’s felt for years, Justin bites at his lip. He desperately wants to join them but feels shy and unsure, and all he does is sit still as the cold seeps through his pants.

“Damn it kid, get your ass up here,” Chris has turned away from the others and relaxes his hold on JC. Holding out a hand he smiles as Justin scrambles to his feet, reaching for him as soon as he’s close.

Justin soon has Chris pressed against him on one side and JC on the other. His hands rest on Lance and Joey and he can feel their touch on his back. It’s feels perfect, it feels right and Justin vows never to let this phoenix leave again, whatever it takes.