Chapter Text
Smiling, Marcus let his gaze wander over the landscape, which passed them by. The next moment he focused on the street again. Deserted, it weaved its way through seemingly endless, yellow fields of corn. Marcus preferred to look to the left, if the road didn't needed his full attention. There he could see cornflowers and poppies, which stood out like bright splashes of color from the yellow of the corn.
The view on the right was less enjoyable. Because there sat Tomas and stared at the street with angry eyes. Marcus couldn't help but giggle when his eyes flickered to his friend.
"What's so funny?", Tomas wanted to know and snorted annoyed when his partner shook his head.
"If you keep staring at the street with such a fiery, devastating look, I'm scared it'll melt."
Tomas snorted again and crossed his arms over his chest.
"Stop looking so angry. Enjoy this beautiful day", said Marcus, smiling at Tomas.
"A beautiful day, indeed", he replied. "A beautiful day to get hopelessly lost! And only because a certain Mister didn't want to be helped when it came to reading the map. "
"It's not that bad."
There was guilt in Marcus's voice and suddenly he didn't look so happy anymore. Tomas sighed and shook his head. His friend was right. It wasn't really bad. They had no specific destination, so they couldn't get lost, right? Still, it made him angry. The last three nights they had spent in the car, thanks to their last case. The police didn't like it when you tie children to a bed, even if it is to protect and help them. A neighbor had called them. Thank God Tomas and Marcus were, at least, able to end the exorcism. After that they had no time to lose. The police were sitting on their necks until last night.
Today was the first day they could breathe easier. There was no blue light, no sirens to hear. That's why Tomas was annoyed. The last few nights they both had slept, if at all, only briefly. Otherwise, they took turns driving. But sleep was out of the question, even when he wasn't driving. The fear of being caught by the police was just too deep.
"I was looking forward to a soft bed and decent food, that's all", he mumbled. "I'm sorry."
Marcus' hand was placed on his neck and for a brief moment Tomas allowed himself to just enjoy that feeling. The warmth of his touch.
"We're coming to a city where you can sleep and eat as much as you want", Marcus's soft voice sounded. "And if I have to drive all night."
Tomas laughed and turned on the radio. But out here they couldn't receive a channel. So he decided to put in one of Marcus' many CD's without any label and immediately, 'The sound of silence' echoed through the car.
"I don't understand how you can listen to that."
"I don't understand how you can't like this cover version."
They both laugh. After that they fell silent and listened to the music. From time to time Tomas could hear Marcus singing softly. Each time he hoped his friend would sing louder. Marcus's voice was made to sing and Tomas loved to listen. But just when he was really carried away by a song, it suddenly cracked and the car started to skid.
"Mierda!", Tomas cursed, holding on to the door.
"Shit!"
With more effort than he had thought, Marcus finally managed to stop the truck on the edge of a field. For a moment it was death quiet, then both of them released the held air at the same time. They got out to see what was going on. Cursing, they saw that the left rear tire had burst.
"So much for a bed tonight," grumbled Tomas, kicking the tire.
"Maybe God wanted us to stay here," Marcus laughed and pulled their bags from the back seat. "Tomorrow morning I change the tire, the light isn't enough to do it now."
"No, let God out of the game. He has nothing to do with this...Wait! Where are you going?"
Marcus already headed towards the field to their right and waved to Tomas to follow. He rolled his eyes and ran after him. At last he saw where Marcus wanted to go.
In front of them, in the middle of the field, was an old tower. He looked quite stable, for a ruin. He also had something mystical about it, as it stood there, dark infront of the beginning sunset.
It took a few minutes for them to get to the tower. Marcus smiled and ran his fingertips over the weathered stones at the entrance.
"Come on, let's hurry," he said, running up the stairs at the entrance.
"I don't like this idea", grumbled Tomas.
Nonetheless, he followed Marcus and caught Up with him halfway.
"You'll love it, believe me."
Moments later, they stood on top of the tower and Tomas understood what Marcus meant. He was captivated by the view. The sunset dipped the yellow cornfields into a beautiful, soft red. The night was already creeping over the sky above the big fireball, revealing the first stars. A spectacle that Tomas admired far too seldom.
"Say again God has nothing to do with it," Marcus whispered awestruck.
He had sat down on the ground and let his legs hang over the edge of the tower. Tomas sat down beside him, close enough that their shoulders touched. Another touch that was forbidden to them, but at that moment, they really couldn't care less. They leaned against each other and enjoyed the last rays of sunshine.
"Sometimes you have to get lost to find something beautiful," Marcus whispered, smiling at Tomas, who watched the sunset spellbound. Marcus wasn't sure if he himself meant the sunset or the man next to him.