So yeah, don't expect this to be a normal thing. I finally sat down and wrote a chapter that flowed out of me and I didn't have to fight it, which was fantastic seeing as how I've been struggling with this fic. It will be a bit before I update this fic again. I need to write another chapter for a work I'm posting just on AO3 called From Heaven. I have a pretty good idea of how I'm going to close this out. It looks like I'm going to have to be one normal chapter and then a little short one, that is if everything goes accordingly. It probably won't and I'll sob.
The circus always had a sort of party after a long week of shows and performances. Usually it was the night before they finished packing up and left, and it was something everyone looked forward too. They closed down the circus mid-way through the day, tearing down and packing what they could before the sun went down and it all started. Everyone gathered near the train with mix-matched seats and boxes. Lights where hung all around, but they still made a small fires for people to huddle around and talk. Alcohol floated around, and there was always more than enough food being made, even some of the vendors did some cooking. Sutton broke out his gramophone and collection of records, however always playing some record he bought new from the area first. It was all around a party. Everyone danced, ate, and drank into the early hours of morning, all with smiles on their faces.
It was never something Wes saw him really getting into, but he found himself falling right into them. Kendall usually dragged him onto the make shift dance floor and attempted to teach him how to properly swing dance. It was not exactly an easy thing to do seeing as how they all had a little too much alcohol in their system, but it took Rozzelle's and Dakota's help for him to actually do it correctly. Despite every one's two cents about what Wes should do. Now, Wes was a descent dancer.
He let out a breathless laugh as a song came to a close. Kendall smiled at him but let him return to his seat when a younger hand came to dance with her. Wes plopped down on an empty bench, taking the tin cup Clyde gave him with smile. He didn't really care what was in, figuring it was something alcoholic. Wes was already a little drunk, there weren't a lot of people who weren't, a little more alcohol wasn't going to kill him. He kicked the drink back, cringing a bit at the burn and ignore the sound of laughter from another hand's mouth.
The song shifted to another upbeat swing song, and Wes watched the members on the dance floor laugh and smile as they flung each other around. He swayed to the music a bit, before he heard Travis chuckle behind him, and turned to see the illusionist stumble into the cluster of chairs beside him. The darker man took a seat on a low, wooden folding chair.
"Wes, man, finally I found you." Travis said with a wide grin. Wes could tell he was already a bit drunk from the man's posture.
"I wasn't aware you were looking for me." Wes replied back with a slightly raised eyebrow, as he sipped at the liquid in the tin cup.
"What is that?" Travis said perking up in his seat and leaning forward a bit. Wes shrugged, because he honestly didn't know what it was and he didn't really didn't care too much at that point. Travis reached out for the cup, snatching it out of Wes' hand. He sniffed the cup before he too kicked the drink back, shaking his head a bit of the burn. "I don't know what that is either." He said with a laugh as he handed Wes the cup back.
"Was that necessary?" Wes asked looking down at his now empty cup.
"Yes, I was thirsty." Travis said grinning. "You wouldn't let your roommate die of thirst would you."
"You'd probably die of other things before you died of thirst." Wes replied nudging at Travis' leg with his foot. "I wouldn't have to raise a finger to help you if any of them happened to you." He giggled at the look Travis gave him. "So I aside from stealing my drink, why were you looking for me?"
"A guy can't look for his roommate," Travis said. "You know I really don't remember seeing you at these things."
"Usually because you're off pitching woo or something like that." Wes snapped back.
Travis let out a loud crack of laugher at the comment. "Nah, man, I wanted to know if you'd want to dance with me." Wes raised an eye at the statement. "Not a lot of people want to dance with me anymore—"
"I wonder why?"
"Shut up." Travis chuckled pushing back at Wes' foot "You're the only person I haven't danced with at some point in your time here, and trust me, that should be a crime." Wes made an amused sound. "So what do you say?"
"Next song." Wes agreed, watching the grin spread across Travis' lips.
After a couple minutes the song that was playing came to end. Travis practically sprang to his feet and pulled Wes off the bench. Wes was actually surprised and how serious the man was actually being and dancing with him. He dragged Wes out onto the dance floor.
"You know how to dance the girl part?" Travis said grinning, causing Dr. Ryan and Sutton to laugh loudly beside them.
"Travis, I hardly knew how do dance the Swing to being with, what makes you think I know the girl part." Wes snapped back in reply. "More importantly, why do I have to dance the girl part?"
"Because I said so." Travis grinned out just as the sound of the new song started to play.
He didn't give room for Wes to argue the point, quickly moving them into the steps of the dance. Wes couldn't figure out how to step and argue at the same time. It wasn't all too difficult for Wes to figure out what he needed to do, however. He mostly tried to keep his toes out of the way of Travis' feet. It didn't always work, the two still stumbled and tripped over each other, usually when Wes tried to argue that simply because Travis said so was not a good enough reason for him to dance a part he didn't know, but they laughed through it all. Travis didn't let him escape so easily when the other song finished up, holding him tight and flinging Wes into another song.
The music stopped suddenly, in the middle of the forth song they were dancing too. Wes stumbled as everyone came to a halt to turn and see what was the problem, Travis catching him just in time. Someone gave shot in protest at someone who clearly stopped the music. Everyone shifted to see who it was, people rose from their seats.
Someone cleared their throat. "I apologize for breaking up your little…party," a voice said. It was proper and familiar to Wes' ears, be he couldn't place it immediately. "However, I'm looking for someone and I can't do that very well this this racket you call music." A few members of the circus called the person a tin-ear, for the comment, cutting them off sharply.
Wes, however, finally recognized the voice and he felt his blood run cold, as well as, his grip tighten on Travis' shirt. Travis seemed to notice his sudden distress. "Wes?" He breathing out silently so only Wes could here. "Everything okay?"
"No," Wes replied before he pulled himself from Travis' hold and worked his way through the crowd. "No, it's not anymore."
Wes worked his way to just behind the front of the crowed that was forming a circle around the men. Wes instantly recognized his father, dressed in a tailored suit, looking like there were ten better places for him to be then there at that moment. The man had aged a bit, Wes could see his hair was thinning, but he was still the intimating man Wes remembered him to be. There were three other men with him, most likely muscle to make sure nothing happened to him. Though from what Wes could see two of them were dressed in police uniforms.
Sutton worked his way out of the crowd, signaling everyone to hush, and Wes felt Travis ease up behind him. "What's going on Wes?" Travis whispered to him as Sutton started to make a peaceful conversation with his father.
"It looked like my father found me." Wes whispered back, half turning to look at Travis.
"That's your father!" Dakota said a bit loudly beside them, causing everyone to turn and look at the sudden outburst. Wes shot her sharp glare as some of the people parted so his father could see him. She quickly covered he mouth and uttered a small "Sorry, Wes."
"Wesley, finally this is all over." His father said with a grin. Wes can't help swallow at the feeling of being under his father's watchful eyes. "Let's get you home." Wes couldn't produce words, and simply shook his head in protest. "Wesley Andrew Mitchell, stop being childish, you're coming home with me this instant!" His father raged slightly.
"I'm 25, I can make my own choices, and it would be a bit hard for me to go home with you when I'm already at home here." Wes shouted suddenly, watching the rage build on his father's face.
His father seemed to start storming towards him and immediately the people who had parted quickly flattened back into place and hid Wes again. A hand suddenly grabbed his own; he turned to find Travis grinned at him at bit. He quickly pulled Wes away as his father's voice just seemed to rise with others of the circus.
"I can't believe, I'm hiding from my father in the exact car I stowed away in to begin with." Wes muttered as he collapsed on a large bag of feed.
Travis turned to look at him funny, pulling his attention from the lantern he was examining by the large side door. "The exact one?" Travis asked with a chuckle, turning back to the lantern.
"Okay, maybe not the exact one," Wes admitted looking around and the dark space, the only light was leaking through a small opening they had left in the door. Travis made a sound, causing Wes to turn his attention back to him. The runaway watched as the man rose and fished for something in his pockets. "It's similar to it."
The sound of a match being lit was Wes' reply, and a suddenly light burst illuminated the corner of the car. Wes watched Travis as the light dulled a bit, only to grow again as he waved the match around. The darker man turned around holding up the lit gas lantern, he placed it on the floor by Wes' feet before walking over to the door. "You can't just say that if it's not true." Travis heaved as he closed the door completely shut. Travis grinned at him when he turned around, before strolling over and easing himself down next to Wes.
"What are you a fact checker?"
"No, I'm illusionist who's a little bit buzzed." Travis replied as he pulled out his cigarette container, putting one to his lips, before offering Wes one. "I need some entertainment to pass the time while we're in here."
"You're a real ass," Wes replied taking a cigarette, and snatching the matches form Travis' other hand. He ignored the look Travis gave him, and lit his own, before offering the lit match to Travis. "You know you didn't have to pull me away, or hide out with me."
Travis took a long drag of his cigarette as he nodded. "Yeah, your right, but you have this really annoying away of growing of people." He said blowing his smoke out in Wes' face and grinning. "Besides, who would I teach card tricks too."
"I'm pretty sure you would find someone." Wes said with a chuckle as he nudged at Travis with his shoulder.
"Nah, I could never find someone who sucks as much as you." Travis shot back, laughing as Wes shoved at him.
A silence came to rest, and Wes could make out the distant noise of everyone outside. He was thankful it didn't sound like an all-out brawl, but it still didn't sound good. Travis distracted him with card games after a few minutes, filling the air with random conversation as they waited for someone to give the all clear.
They had burned through three cigarettes and hours of mindless talk till Sutton heaved open the car door and found them asleep next to each other. The older man grinned to himself and slide the door shut, figuring he would wake them in the morning.
Sutton woke them up at around eight, yelling a very loud call of "Good Morning" that Wes was quiet certain he managed to dig up from his old army days and banging on the side of the train car. Wes groaned at the sound, his head pounding from the alcohol from the night before, not to mention he was too warm and comfortable to get up. Wes could feel something was resting lightly around him; he just wasn't sure what until it pulled him in closer. He opened his eyes and found himself inches from Travis' face. He swallowed uncomfortable, and found himself instantly awake.
"Travis," Wes whispered as he tried to wiggle out of the illusionists hold. That didn't seem to be working well, because Travis just seemed to tighten his hold and groan. "Travis." Wes whispered a bit louder. "Travis!"
"What?" Travis groaned out, bit not once opening his eyes.
"Wake up." Wes snapped back as he started to feel his ears heat up. He had never been this close to Travis, close but not inches, if not an inch, from Travis' face. Travis was a good looking make from afar, up close was no different. Not to mention the scent of smoke and everything Travis was clouding his senses.
"Why?" Travis muttered. "It's so nice and warm right now. Can't we stay like this for a little bit longer baby."
Wes' ears just kept getting hotter. "Travis, open your eyes!" Wes snapped.
He watched as the darker eyelids pulled back to reveal the bright blue of Travis' eyes. Wes watched as they lazy looked at him to widening in shock. Travis arms released him, and they rolled away from each other.
"Come on boys, wake up!" Sutton called again banging again on the side.
Wes jumped a bit, and Travis coughed as he sprang to his feet and straightened his clothes. Wes found himself doing the same, glancing at Travis briefly before both swallowed and looked away. "Coming Cap," Travis called as he picked up the lantern and put it back where he found it the night before. Wes walked to the huge door and heaved it open, blinking at the morning light, and finding Sutton smiling up at them.
"Morning boys, sleep well." Wes looked at anything but Sutton or Travis, and Travis grumbled he hopped out of the car. "I'll take that as a yes." Sutton said grinning as Wes hopped down as well. "Marks go help with tear down, I'd like to talk with Mitchell here for a few moments." Travis waved with look and hurried off towards the crew of people tearing stuff down. Sutton placed a hand on Wes' shoulder and shoved him alone away from everyone. "Looks like you found the reason the universe here." Sutton smiled out.
"Excuse me?" Wes asked.
Sutton made a sound, laughed and then changed the subject.
So yeah, some stuff hit the fan. Wes' father found him and there was so drama. Next chapter makes me a bit said, but it's all good I suppose. Also I love when I manged to wiggle in some flirting without really realizing it.