Chapter Text
After everything that happened in Los Angeles, Driver felt the need to get away. So he did what he knew best, he drove.
He didn't want to complicate himself any further, especially as some of the people he held closest were either dead or he was forced to cut them off entirely. He thought about Irene and Benicio. If they were safe, if they were living a normal life, if they were happy. He knew that being around them would just put them in danger again, so he had to leave.
Driver couldn't have that life, not because he didn't want it. No. just due to unfortunate circumstance after unfortunate circumstance. He had been in enough fights, sustained enough injuries and forced in enough life or death situations to know he couldn’t just let go of his violent instincts. Despite how desperately he wished he never had to be violent to anyone at all ever again. Even if he managed to get away from it all, he wasn't sure he'd be able to integrate back into society smoothly. What were the chances of even finding a community that would welcome an antisocial, quiet man with no questions as to his past?
The road before him stretched for miles, he did nothing but clutch at his wound and drive for days. Only taking breaks to fill up the tank or fuss over his lower side bleeding through the limited dressings he put on it. It wasn't great, he barely slept, only occasionally napping in the car on the road side. But it got him away from LA and the driving helped calm him down as he wondered what he should do next. Driver had no particular destination, he just let the roads take him wherever felt right. Apparently the roads decided Wisconsin of all places, suppose it made sense with how far out from LA it was.
It was dusk and a sludgy snow coated the uneven roads. Driver held a steady gloved grip on his wheel, looking out for the nearest gas station to fill up again, only finding a sign about 3 miles back about some town he could drive through. It didn't seem like a big place, more so like one of those towns that would have their population written on the welcome sign in some movie. Seemed like a very picturesque rural town based on the lit up streets he could see from a distance. Driver only hoped a place like this still had an open gas station.
But that thought got cut short. He drove up the road, just on the outskirts of said town, he saw two headlights up ahead. As he got closer he realised it was a car, pointed his direction and half swerved into a ditch on the roadside. Driver slowed down his speed so he could cruise up to the car and see what was up with the thing.
It was a dark blue car, almost a mat grey but it was still hard to tell with the fading light of the sun. The snow by the ditch rose up by the tires, clearly it had skidded into it from the icy road. On top of that the hood was propped open. Steam came up out of it from the still warm engine and what seemed to be a faint trail of smoke with it.
He knew he shouldn’t stop, not while still injured and out in the middle of nowhere. Of course Driver still felt weary and on edge, anyone would be only days after multiple threats on your life. But he pulled over only 2 car lengths before the seemingly broken down vehicle anyways. He stayed in his car for a little longer, observing through the windscreen and assessing the situation once more.
There was a man lightly pacing by the hood of the car. He’d stop, stand and stare into the engine compartment, likely stressed with how harshly he’d blink and fidget with his hands. Before taking a step back, pacing a few steps again and then returning to stare at the engine once more. A very disarming behaviour, but it didn’t ease Driver’s paranoia much. After all the man seemed tall, not by much but still a little taller than Driver no less. Not to mention he looked bulky, of course it could be the coat layers that added to his stature but there’s only so many layers a person would wear even in this weather.
Driver was considering leaving, any other day he would have definitely got out and helped. But the past week has been really rough on him and he wasn’t sure if he had any spare energy to expend. He took a glance through the windscreen once again only to see the other man look up to his car before doing a double take as if he didn’t expect it to be there. Perhaps not even noticing Driver’s car driving up to him in the first place. He sat in the car a little longer, looking through the window as the other man did a full body turn to face him, hands still fidgeting, now backlit by his own headlights. The man just stood there anxiously but didn’t approach Driver’s car despite the dire situation he was in.
Next thing he knew, Driver was reaching for his door handle and clicking off his belt. Helping out a stranger wouldn’t hurt right? He’s far from LA, there shouldn’t be anyone out this far looking for him… and working on a car is just the thing Driver needed to ease his nerves. So he took a slow step out of his vehicle, the snowy sludge squishing under his shoes. He pushed his hands into his jacket pocket, looking down at his feet and at all the dried up blood stains, turned black and dark brown covering him. He stood by his open door for a moment before slowly looking back up to see the man still stood where he was but now looking at him expectantly. Driver took out a toothpick and put it in his mouth before pushing his car door closed and slowly started walking over to the other.
He just nodded a little hello before walking up to the hood, the man beside him didn’t say anything at first. No greeting, just took a step aside for Driver to have a look as he continued to anxiously fidget in his mittens. There was silence for a moment before that was cut short by a soft and quiet voice.
“Thank you… for stopping to help. It’s quite cold out” the other man spoke. Driver glanced back at him, noticing how he avoided eye contact and blinked sharply. He wouldn't have expected such a timid voice coming from a big guy like him.
“It’s okay. I work with cars” he replied, already looking back into the engine compartment to figure out what was wrong. He hoped it would be a quick fix, since it was in fact quite cold out. That and he still didn’t feel comfortable interacting with anyone for longer than he needed to, the sense of impending danger still lingered and made him even more antisocial.
“Oh… that’s good..” the other simply replied in return before shortly after talking again “your not from here”
It didn’t sound rude, more curious than anything. Driver slowly nodded in reply, confirming he wasn’t a local, if that wasn’t obvious enough with how underdressed he was. The other man just rubbed his hands together before bringing them up to huff warm air into them, seemingly still cold even with the mittens on or perhaps out of instinct or reflex to the cold. He would be lying to admit that he wasn't quietly observing the other man while looking into the engine compartment. Partly because he was very spatially aware at all times, but also to assess his risk level with this seemingly harmless man.
“Where are you from?” he asked politely as Driver observed the car’s condition.
It was in a rough state, the whole of it really. This car was very used but not very loved. It didn't look half bad on the outside but under the hood? Terrible. The sides were rusted, and didn't look like it had been looked at in a while. Then of course was the source of the problem, the cracked engine block and a coolant leak.
“Quite far from here” He replied a little cagey before reaching into the engine compartment with a gloved hand and checking how bad it is. The man just quietly watched, shuffling only slightly closer to peak in and see what he was doing.
“Can you fix it? I need to get home” He spoke softly, almost concerned “my brother and sister in law will be worried about me”
Driver took a moment to glance up at him as he pulled his hand back. He didn't know why but this man oddly reminded him of Irene in some ways. Maybe it was that quiet voice, the type that makes the person seem smaller than they really are, or maybe it's the familial concern for not getting home on time. He stayed quiet for a moment as he stood up straight and put his hands in his pockets as the other man looked at him hopefully.
“Your engine block needs replacing” He shook his head slowly in reply before slowly looking back over to the engine compartment “If I had sealant I could fix the small cracks but the problem would just return”
It was no surprise really, considering the weather here in Wisconsin. The engine block cracking is common in cold places like this, not to mention how neglected this car seemed. Sealing up the cracks would just be a temporary fix, it would just break down and leak again. It’s too bad he can't help. At least it would be if it weren't for the core of Driver’s heart never wanting to leave a car in need of some fixing.
“Okay…” the other man said in a more stressed tone, blinking sharply while looking at the floor “I don't have a phone… could I borrow yours?”
“I don't have one,” Driver replied, taking a step back from the vehicle. He got rid of his phone when he last contacted Irene and he didn't have the time nor money to get himself a new one. Not like he'd need one anyways. “Where do you live?”
The other man looked up and stayed quiet for a moment. He looked up and down the road before bringing a hand up and pointing in the direction Driver had come from.
“It’s a big house on the right side of the road. That's where we live” The man replied with a little smile, seemingly happy to talk about it “Karin had a baby, she’s almost 1 now”
Driver just returned a slow but polite nod to that random bit of information. It was a little endearing hearing someone talk about their relatives in such a caring manner. All his previous worries of this man potentially being dangerous in any way were scrapped, he couldn't pick up a single ill-willing bone in his body. It took a while but he returned a little smile.
“I’ll give you a ride” he finally said as he adjusted his gloves and slowly started walking back to his car.
He didn't even give the man a chance to follow before he got into his own car and started it up. He put it in drive and carefully made a U-turn so that his car was facing down the road before reversing back a bit to get closer to the other car. So much for finding a gas station, now he's offered a stranded stranger a ride home.
Driver got out of his car, leaving his driverside door open this time. He made his way around his car and opened up the trunk to see if he had any chains he could use to tow the man's car back with them. He didn't have many belongings with him, not that he had many to begin with. All that was in his car was most important to him, which mostly consisted of tools and a backpack of some clothes. He found what he was looking for and took a step back to get the car hooked up.
“Thats very nice of you” The man replied quietly, almost a little shy “thank you”
Driver simply looked over at him, slowly blinked and smiled slightly before returning to anchoring the car to the back of his. He missed doing things like this, it felt like a breath of fresh air after all the chaos he had dealt with. The other man just stood around a little awkwardly as he watched Driver set it up until realizing he should shut off his car for this. The road was slippery and the car looked pretty stuck in the ditch but he had no doubts so he could pull it out and tow it back effectively. Crouching down to get the chains on made him wince, reminding him of his relatively fresh wound. It was a little surprising that the stains on him weren't brought up and questioned, but he supposed the other man would have no suspicion that they were blood stains.
After being done he finally stands up and brushes off the snow off his gloves. He made sure to shut the hood and then the boot of his own car properly before walking around to get into his car. The other man followed albeit a little awkwardly before hesitantly getting into the passenger seat. Driver noticed how the man rather roughly rubbed his palms down his the top of his legs in his lap, glancing around and through the windows after he had settled
“Lars Lindstrom” the other man spoke up after a while, probably coming to the conclusion that they should share names as this interaction lasted longer than expected. He didn’t look in Driver’s direction as he spoke, opting to look out the window before politely asking “And your name is?”
“Driver” he replied after a moment of silence while he buckled himself in and started up the car. He wasn't going to give up his real name, he was tentative about sharing it anyways. Luckily Lars didn't question him on it, which he appreciated. Most would make some small comment or joke if he gave them that name.
“Okay” Lars nodded a little, anxiously licking his lips and looking down at his lap.
Driver simply pulled out the side, over-extending his turn to pull Lars’ car from the ditch. His car skidded but it was more a controlled maneuver to overcompensate for the drag behind him to even both cars out on the road. Masterfully executed and he didn't even jostle his passenger about. He just got them started as they went down the road, slowly and carefully.
“So what do you do?” Lars’ quiet voice spoke out, feeling it was the polite and right thing to try to have small talk. By the tone in his voice it didn't seem to come all that naturally to him.
“I drive” He replied, keeping his eyes fixated on the road and chewing on his toothpick a little. That seemed to be a good enough response because Lars didn't ask any of the follow up questions people normally asked. But then again, the usual answers to those questions didn't really apply to his life anymore, he didn't exactly work anywhere anymore.
“I work an office job” Lars piped up, with a harsh blink and brief but strong smile.
Driver just blinked slowly and softly smiled in return, giving a little nod and replying quietly
“okay”
They drove in silence for some time before Lars lifted a hand up to point to the house. Funnily enough, Driver drove past it earlier and thought how nice it must be living so far in the middle of nowhere. He slowly pulls in next to another car, noting how all the lights in the house were off aside from a room upstairs on the opposite side to the driveway.
Lars suddenly pats his lap and then his sides, picking through his pockets.
“I don't have any money, I don't know how I can repay you for this” He stated sounding a little worried.
“Just point me to the nearest gas station and motel,” Driver replied in a hushed tone, offering Lars a little smile. He shifted to unbuckle himself and get ready to go get the chains off the other man’s car.
“The closest station would be back in town, but they’ll be closed by the time you get there. No one really drives around past these hours,” Lars said, adding little tidbits of context as he lightly fidgeted with his hands “And we don't have a motel.. Or a hotel.. Or an inn. We don't really have anything like that here”
Driver paused his motion of reaching for the door handle. So he was practically stranded. He didn't really have enough gas to get into town even if he made it on time, and with nowhere to book-in a room he'd be forced to sleep in his car out here on a cold night. But almost like a saving grace, Lars spoke up once more.
“But you can stay here” he suggested “I use to live in the garage before I moved into the house with Gus and Karin, you could stay there”
Lars fumbled in his pockets and took out his keys. He supposed this must be a way Lars was trying to repay him for the help. Offering a place to stay to a total stranger was both very kind and very unsafe. He would normally deny such an offer but he wasn't in a place to do so.
“Okay” he replied again as he wondered if this was really okay for him to do.
The two of them got out of the car, Driver briefly split to get his backpack from the trunk before joining Lars at the doorstep of the garage. Lars clumsily fumbled with his keys through his mittens before finding the correct one. He opened up the door and walked in first, flicking the lights on. Driver followed behind him quietly.
It was a small room for the most part, like an extension to the garage. The first thing he saw when he walked in was the bed in the furthest corner. Next to it a wooden wardrobe and a bookshelf at the foot of it. A small table with two chairs by the window to his left and a door on the left wall presumably leading into the garage. He took a step further in as Lars fussed over neatening up the bedsheets. He realised the small wall in front of the door hid a small kitchenette and behind that another door, likely for the bathroom. It was small, simple but seemed cosy enough. Honestly wasn't far off from what he was used to with his place back in LA.
“You can stay however long you need to” Lars spoke quietly as he stood in the middle of the room. He fidgeted with the keys in his hands before realizing something and awkwardly took a key of his keychain, struggling with the big mittens. “You can use anything left in the bathroom and kitchen”
Driver watched Lars blink harshly as he smiled and held the key out for him. He blinked slowly and smiled slowly, glancing at the floor for a moment before back at the key in Lar’s hand.
“Okay” He replied, equally as soft as Lar’s suggestion. Driver reached his hand out and slowly took the key, their gloved hands touching for a brief moment before he looked down at the key in his own hands. “Thank you”
“Okay” Lars gave a sharp nod in reply as he shuffled past Driver to leave “Goodnight”
Driver didn't even have a chance to say it back before the door closed and he was left by himself. He stood there for a moment before glancing through the window and watched as Lars went up to the house and let himself in. He watched as the lights turned on and off as he made it through the house until the last light in an upstairs room shut off for the night. He took a step back from the window slightly, pulling the curtains shut and then turned back to the room.
He just stood there for a moment, looking at the room left for him before softly smiling to himself.