Chapter Text
Sand watched Ray sleep on the passenger seat with fondness rising up in his heart. The sky above them was starting to change its colour, getting lighter by the second, but he still hesitated to wake him up.
Ever since Ray had started his rehab and therapy, nightly driving sessions had become their routine. At first, Ray had wanted to go alone, scared to keep Sand from his much-needed sleep after his long days, but Sand didn’t mind spending more time with him. On the contrary, he loved sharing those hours with Ray, no matter how tired he might be. These hours between night and day seemed not to belong to the world surrounding them but to something bigger, yet invisible. They were full of potential, just like the new day that hadn’t decided yet on how it wanted to be, still testing out its taste and colours, while most people were asleep.
Ray loved being driven around by him. Sand knew this for certain. Sometimes he would put on a playlist and sing along in the most off-key way possible, to elicit a reaction from Sand that was a mix between a growl and a laugh. On other nights, he would just stare out of the windows, or open the car’s roof to feel the wind in his hair and catch a glimpse of the stars above them.
On some nights, though, Ray needed to be the one to drive, to keep his mind occupied and the spiralling thoughts at bay. Sand had learned the tells for his harder nights over time, and to his relief they had clearly decreased in the span of the last 6 months. Ray’s grip on the wheel was lighter now, he took the curves more gently, and often started to hum the melodies of his favourite songs, even though there was no music playing.
Usually, they would drive around aimlessly, sometimes for hours, until Ray’s mind was finally calm enough to sleep. There weren’t many roofs or parking lots that they hadn’t visited at least once, by now. They would sit there and listen to the silent sounds of the night, each other's heartbeat, or talk about any thought that came to their minds. Sometimes Ray would even climb to the driver's seat and sit on Sand’s lap to get some cuddles and kisses under the stars.
It was those nights that brought them closer together and really forged their bond. Whatever happened during the days, their happy moments, cozy dates, small arguments, and everyday things - it was the raw honesty of these nights, even in silence, that nurtured their love and understanding the most.
Sand never thought that he would feel this connected to another person. The things Ray made him feel surpassed every other relationship in his life. There was a space in his heart and soul that was solely dedicated to Ray, and he filled the long-forgotten corners and empty nooks with an ease that fascinated Sand. He remembered having once called Ray his 25th hour. And maybe those nightly hours were the culmination of it, their 25th hour. A time, stolen away from the world, that just belonged to them, and was not shared with anyone else.
Sand notices the shift in Ray’s breathing before he sees him stir just in time to see the sunrise. He watches him stretch and rub his eyes before he looks around and realises where they are. In front of them lies part of a beach, still deserted at this hour of the day, but there are some fishing boats out on the water, where people move around busily, while the sun slowly follows its never-changing path. He hadn’t planned to drive that far, but when Ray fell asleep to another Micro song playing, he had just kept driving until they reached the sea.
They’ve been here before. Not exactly on that beach, but close by, for a small music festival where Sand’s band had played a gig. Ray had been there in the front row, supporting him with the loudest cheers and claps, telling everyone who listened, and even those who didn’t, that the gorgeous-looking guitarist with the amazing voice was his boyfriend. Ray’s joy over this hasn’t dimmed even a bit ever since they made it official, and it fills Sand with swarms of butterflies whenever he hears it.
Boyfriends. The word seemed too small for everything that grew between their hearts, for everything Sand felt and wanted to shout into the world, but knew it was still too early. If he could, he would connect their soul somehow, until they formed an endless knot and could never be separated again. But since it wasn’t feasible, he would make do with putting a ring on Ray’s finger. A visible sign for the world of what he knew almost from the start, even though it took him a while to admit it: They belonged together, and no one would ever get between them again.