On the way

   Roman rolled his toothpick along his teeth before stilling it and attending to the radio in Node’s car. He rarely had a problem inviting himself to everything Node offered up to him, even if it wasn’t spoken on. He found a radio station that was more suitable than advertisements, and even hummed along with it before leaning back and eyeing his date.

“You got a nice voice,” Node said, though it sounded more like a pitying compliment. Roman laughed for it.

Node looked over at Roman, assessing, before grinning slowly as he turned back to watch the road. He definitely needed to keep an eye out, going as fast as he was. “I’m serious. I didn’t know you could hold a tune.”

“Can you?”

“Probably not,” Node started, his fingers tightening on the wheel as he took a sharp corner. “Don’t really listen to music enough to try.”

Roman nodded as if Node was watching him. “I had the feeling that was gonna be your excuse.”

“So? It’s a good excuse.”

Roman’s arm crept up from Node’s thigh to curl around a jacketed arm, until he leaned over to rest his head along Node’s shoulder, face pressed into the cloth. He had to admit he was a bit drunk. Node must’ve known, though, since he was allowing Roman to tease and run him all over. Not that their relationship was militant by any means, but normally Node was a bit more insistent on the business aspect of their relationship.

“You could sing if you wanted to,” Roman mumbled out around Node’s jacket, huffing the smell of winter- frigid air and snowfall- cigarettes, and a bit of Node’s actual cologne. The toothpick he had must've dropped from his lips at some point, which was a good enough reason to let it be and take another fulfilling huff, then exhaling with dramatic intent.
“Hey-- you smell so good. I just wanna… I wanna live in this.”

“You’re fucking sloshed,” Node said with a chuckle. He didn’t let go of the wheel once, which Roman was okay with.