Rooftops At Sunrise

17

"So... we're just going to trust him?" Damian is surprised to find Aoi still hasn't changed her mind in regards to Lucas's plan, six hours after he initially announced it.

Amid the very depths of the van, the young woman shifts against her pillow. She sighs, then shrugs. "Honestly, I'd usually say no to these types of plans, but he hasn't questioned why I need so many bathroom breaks. He seems... nice. Plus—" Aoi turns to face Damian.

The young man thinks her eyes are filled with more life than they initially were, when the trio first embarked on this trip. "Isn't it kind of exciting?" She grins. The red light from the crosswalk they've currently stopped at reflects against her pale skin. "The mystery of not knowing when and where you'll wake up tomorrow?"

Warmth rises to Damian's face. He leans in to ruffle her hair. His gaze is gentle, as he observes her slender features. "As long as we find a rooftop every morning for you—er, I mean," Damian pulls away to cough into his palm, "for me." He clears his throat. His cheeks are still flushed. "Then," the young man scratches the back of his head. "I guess it should be fine."

"What's that about rooftops?" Lucas calls, from the front of the van, as he lowers the volume of the corny pop music he'd been blasting for the past couple hours or so.

They drive away from the crosswalk.

Aoi's face returns to its original state—without much emotion or care to show for the world—whilst Damian's remains a darker red. "I like watching the sun rise from them," Damian tells Lucas. "So much, in fact, that I just can't get enough of it."

"Yes," Aoi adds, as she pretends to let out an over exaggerated, exasperated sigh. "It's gotten so bad, that he needs to do it every day without fail."

Damian cannot help the laughter that escapes him. "Screw you," he mutters, under his breath, as he throws Aoi a rather annoyed glance, yet, still plays along anyway. "She is right, though!" The young man huffs. "Would it be possible for me to request you add a Rooftops At Sunrise activity in our schedule, oh, wondrous tour guide?"

Lucas rolls his eyes. He turns on the van's front lights then takes a turn to his left. They're basically in the middle of the desert now. And although the road is mostly a straight line from here on out, Lucas can feel himself tiring; he considers finding a spot to park for the night soon. "Sure, whatever," he finally tells Damian. "If it makes you happy, I'll see what I can do."

Damian punches the air and lets out a victorious cry. "Yes, awesome! Thanks, Lucas, you're seriously the best!"

This time, it is Lucas's turn to blush. His head recoils into his shoulders. He cringes. "Please, stop. You're embarrassing me."

"Aw," Damian falls back down to his knees, against the van's built-in bench. "Come on, you can't handle a little praise?"

"I'll take the Rooftops off the list," Lucas warns, which—somehow—does work, and gets Damian to go quiet.

The low humming of the van's engine fills the silent space between them, until it is overtaken by Lucas's music, that comes to make itself known once more when he turns up the volume again.

Aoi shuts her eyes. She takes a deep breath, wonders if her parents have found her note. They have not texted her yet—not that she checks often. But she would have likely heard the notification, if it had come through.

And now, she is suddenly stricken by the urge to verify her claims. She reaches into her backpack, blindly shuffles through the bag, then finally takes out her cell phone, once her palm collides with its cool, metallic surface.