Chasing Empty Spaces

Chapter 2

"Gear failure happens cos of a transmission error," Louis explained.

Harry gestured for him to continue, "Which means..."

"The gears aren't turning smoothly," Louis rolled his fingers through the air, "So, I'm replacing 'em."

Harry nodded in understanding as Louis went back underneath the car. He looked around the shop to see five other men working between the other cars, all slicked with grease and sweat. None of them seemed to mind the mess and Harry figured that they were probably immune to it by that point. Aside from dropping off his truck once for dent repair, Harry had never been inside a garage before. It was like stepping into a different world compared to Harry's, one filled with threatening looking appliances and lack of general hygiene.

"Hey, Stud," Louis called from under the car. His hand was blindly reaching towards a metal toolbox, "Grab me a slip-joint, will ya?"

Harry looked at the box and gaped at the different tools that were piled inside. He turned back towards Louis' expectantly upraised palm and couldn't help the sharp cackle that came out of his mouth.

Before he could think better of it, Harry sputtered out, "What the fuck is a slip-joint?"

A surprised laugh tumbled from beneath the car's body and Louis was quickly rolling the dolly back. His eyes were full of amusement as he looked back at Harry with raised eyebrows.

"Look who has got a mouth on 'im after all," Louis shook his head and climbed off the dolly. He rifled through the box and help up a pair of pliers, "These, you un-educated boy, are slip-joint pliers."

"I'll have you know, I'm plenty educated," Harry defended himself.

Louis gave him a once over before snorting, "Educated in things that don't really matter."

Harry gaped at Louis, "That was rude."

"That," Louis emphasized by knocking the pliers against Harry's calf, "Was honesty."

"Was not," Harry snuffed. He pointedly looked at the car, "Don't you have gears to be fixin'?"

Louis grinned at him and nodded, "I do."

Harry watched Louis slide back under the car and managed to wait about one minute before asking, "How'd you even learn about all this, anyways?"

"My cousin worked on cars before he was drafted," Louis told him. There was a huffy grunt and a ping of metal before he continued, "Spent a lot of time with 'im at his shop. Just picked it up, I guess."

"Was your father a mechanic?"

"Don't have one."

That caused Harry to let out an incredulous laugh.

"What?" He shook his head even though Louis couldn't see him, "Everyone has a father, Louis."

"Yeah, well," Louis puffed and pushed himself out from under the car, "I don't."

Harry frowned at that, but he swallowed back a retort as Louis unzipped his coveralls and let them pool at his feet. His eyes widened and he swiftly looked around the shop to see that the other mechanics were completely unaffected. Apparently, near nudity in public was normal for them. Harry flushed and stared at his shoes as he waited for Louis to change.

"Ready?"

He looked up to see Louis tugging a knit page-boy cap over his hair. Instead of the coveralls, he wore tan trousers that were held up by black suspenders. Louis' chest was covered by a well-worn Henley, the material stained with dirt and grease. He was expectantly staring at Harry as he cuffed the material up to his elbow.