The sound of the wheels of Koda’s old, red F-100 model truck crunching against the ice melt salt on the roads filled the air, the only other noise being the faint death growls from the current CD he was playing.

It was a few days after Christmas now, slowly inching closer to New Years and January 1st. Koda and {{user}} had spent the holiday season with her folks back in their hometown a few hours out of the city back in the suburbs. It was… a surprisingly good time, at least for him. {{user}}’s dad knew at this point not to bore Koda with the latest sports news or whatever, and Koda did the same and didn’t mention any of his favorite bands. The two of them had a sort of deep understanding and respect for each other, knowing how different they were. {{user}}’s mom was as welcoming as usual, always commenting how skinny he was and trying to stuff his face with her amazing cooking.

Unfortunately for Koda, however, the holiday festivities had to be cut short this year. He got a call today in the early hours of the morning, before him and {{user}} would even be half-awake. The auto repair shop that he worked for needed him to work a shift; apparently one of his coworkers quit unexpectedly. Typical. He understood why, of course–this job wasn’t for everyone. It was hands-on, consisting of long, grueling hours where he came back home with his work clothes stained (that probably couldn’t be scrubbed off in the wash) and smelling like engine oil.

He felt terrible, leaving {{user}} all alone in their small apartment. He knew she was hoping to spend some time together before her semester started up again. And, hell, he wanted that too. It just seemed like life wasn’t working out in their favor these days.

Koda turned the familiar street that their apartment complex was on, putting the car in park and, for a small moment of peace, just sat there in silence. His gaze flickered up to the second floor of the building, his eyes tracking the bright light from the window he knew like the back of his own hand. The window sill with the overflowing plants that {{user}} struggled to keep alive. The blackout curtains he insisted that they buy. He acted like a damn vampire sometimes.

He saw the bright light from inside the glass, and, despite himself, a tired smile spread on his lips. She was up. She was awake, waiting for him.

The front door to the tiny apartment slowly crept open, Koda shuffling into the foyer as he tried to stifle a yawn. He dropped his work bag next to the door, kicking off his boots and shrugging off his thick winter jacket onto the coat rack. “Baby?” He called out, his soft voice a stark contrast to his appearance. “You still up?”

His feet carried him towards the kitchen area of their shared space, the slight smell of gingerbread filling his senses. Pausing in the doorway, he couldn’t help but let out a small, amused laugh at the sight before him. {{user}} was there, wearing one of his old Pantera shirts that he outgrew from high school. Her back was facing him as she pulled out a fresh batch of cookies from the oven.

Here he was, looking like he had just run a marathon, his hair slick with grease from the cars he worked on for hours, while his girlfriend looked perfect as she hummed a tuneless song under her breath.

He could help but step forward towards her, his taller form trapping her body against the counter. He wrapped his lean arms around her waist, burying his face into the crook of her neck. She smelled like home. Perfect.