Chapter Text
The shrill screech of the phone breaks Dwight out of his blank state of mind. He stops scrubbing the floor, leaning the mop against the wall as he picks the receiver up.
"Thank you for calling Pizzawhat, how may I help you today?" He drones in a practiced fake cheerful mantra he had perfected over the years.
What asshole calls twenty minutes before closing. He listens to the voice on the phone, typing out the order with disdain, at least it wasn't a thst much. Just two pizzas and bread sticks.
"I'm sorry sir, but you live outside of our delivery range. Can you-"
"I promise a 100$ tip if you come out."
Dwight pauses, looking over to Quentin who was robotically washing dishes and staring at the wall. It was just one delivery...
"...Ok we can deliver, but I can't guarantee it will happen again." Dwight says, holding back an annoyed sigh as he process the mans credit card and finalizes the order.
Quentin raises his eyebrows as Dwight starts pulling out pans and dough, "You finish cleaning up and close down the store. Clock me out at uh...midnight."
"Sure thing."
Dwight always appreciated Quentin. He was one of the only employees that would stay the closing shift with him without complaint. Although he always looked on the verge of collapse, but don't they all.
It takes 15 minutes for Quentin to finish cleaning the store and for the pizzas to cook. By then Quentin was glancing at the door and him, obviously debating staying longer. Dwight fishes around in his pocket and pulls out his delivery tips for the night. He counts out fifteen and passes it to Quentin.
"Don't stay longer than you have to. And get some sleep its a school night."
Quentin laughs softly and takes the money, "It's summer break, Dwight. I saw that address by the way. It's way out of our zone so don't get mugged."
Dwight rolls his eyes packing the pizzas into the bag and checks the time. Almost one in the morning, fuck these guys. He waves at Quentin as he leaves.
Unceremoniously dumping the pizzas in the passenger seat and typing the address into his GPS. It was a part of town he had never gone, since they don't deliver there. Only 15 minutes away which means he could get there in six if he speed. Since Quentin closed the store he wasn't being tracked.
He yawns and pulls out. He really did regret taking that manager position. It really was code for work a bunch of overtime with no extra pay because you're an idiot on salary. One day he would die in the back of that store and no one would even notice. At least it was a quiet night out. Very little traffic for a Saturday night, he wished he could roll down the window to breath in the fresh air but the pizza came first as always.
A few minutes later Dwight finds himself pulling up to a huge gated mansion. He could make out at least six sports cars parked at the end of the long driveway and double checks the address. Yeah, this was the right place. What kind of rich assholes order cheap pizza?
He pulls up and rolls the window down to ring the buzzer. If it was just a prank the guy already paid so he would just take the pizza home and consider it a waste of gas.
"Reason for being here?" A male voice sounds from the speaker.
"I got a pizza order addressed here." Dwight respondes. After a few moments of silence the gates open, and he pulls up the long ornate driveway. It literally looked like a place from a shitty movie with a circular drive and dumb fancy fountain.
He leaves the car idling and makes his way up the marble stairs the doors, pizzas in hand. The doors had huge brass lion knockers, which he was tempted to use but the small button on the frame seemed less intimidating. Maybe another time. He buzzes the bell and waits patiently for the large doors to open. He expects them to creak, but they crack open silently. Revealing a comically severe looking asian man in a polo and pink shorts.
"Order for Mr. Park?"
The man takes the pizzas, signs the receipt and all but slams the doors in his face.
Figures.
Dwight rolls his eyes, no tip and no free pizza. What a loser. He assumes cameras are watching every angle of this place and remains professional enough not to flip off the brass lion knockers. Instead turning around and trudging back to his car with his hands in his pockets. At least he'd have a funny story for Quentin.
He's just about to open the door when he hears shoes scraping against stone. He looks up to see a man in a green hoodie jogging toward him. He considers getting in and flooring it, but maybe this guy would give him a tip. The man stops on the other side of the car, glancing to the house before looking back to Dwight. He vaguely resembles the guy at the door, stern expression and dark eyes. But his jacket and scarf actually looked lived in and not fresh off the shelf. Not to mention shaggy hair that didn't look like it had been professionaly cut in a while.
"Can I help you?" Dwight asks, still using his customer service voice.
"Yeah I-" The man shifts, noticeably tense, "This is really weird but can you drive me into town? I'll explain later. "
That was probably the last thing he had expected. Dwight glances at the house, then back to the man fidgeting in front of him. It must be imperative for him to leave if he was asking the pizza man to drive him away. Dwight grabs the Pizzawhat topper off his roof and tosses it into the backseat along either the pizza bag. What's the worst that could happen?
"Alright, hop in."
The man visibly relaxes and slides into the passenger seat. Dwight follows suit, buckling his seat belt and turning around down the long driveway past the sport cars. To his relief the gates open automatically and he escapes the mansion. He glances over to the man in the passenger seat and notes that up close he was really cute.
"Buckle up." Dwight says as he takes off his hat, adding it to the pile of pizza based shame in the back and rolling down his window to let the cool night air into the awkwardly silent car.
The man buckles his seatbelt obediently, "Thank you. I really appreciate this."
Dwight shrugs, feeling a little embarrassed at the sincerity in his voice, "It's fine. Shift was already over."
Silence descends as the man shuffles around. Dwight glances over to see him pull out his wallet and a few bills.
"Let me guess, he promised a big tip then told you to fuck off?"
Dwight snorts, waving away the money he was offered, "Yeah. Don't worry about it happens all the time."
The man makes a face and looks ahead, shoving the wallet into his jacket pocked, "I'm Jake by the way."
"Dwight."
"Yeah it was...on your hat."
"And my shirt," Dwight looks over and smiles at Jake, "Do you just want to go into town? I can take you home. If you'recomfortable with that."
A thoughtful look crosses over Jake's face before he shakes his head, "No I live pretty far out I don't want to make you drive there after work."
Dwight frowns, oh now he wasn't going to just drop this guy off at a random place in town knowing he was far from home, "Hey it's fine. The stores already closed and I'm not doing anything tomorrow. Let me drive you home, or at least call you an uber."
Jake seems to think about that for a moment before sighing, "Alright...but it's gonna be a long drive."
"Just type it into the GPS."
Jake pulls a glove off and starts fiddling with the GPS. Dwight leans back in his seat, enjoying the cool air as they drive through the richer side of Weeks. When he looks at the GPS he realizes Jake wasn't kidding. He lived an hour outside of town in the middle of the woods. Close to the MacMillian Estate and the wreckyard.
"Man you do live out there. What were you doing here?" Dwight notes the way Jake stiffens and back tracks, "Y-you don't have to tell me! I was just wondering!"
"It's fine...that was...my dad. He uh," Jake trails off. Dwight looks over to see him staring out the open window thoughtfully. The moonlight cut across his face in a way that made Dwight feel breathless.
"He kinda trapped me there. Got my brother to drive me over so I would be forced to sit through some family bullshit." Jake shrugs and Dwight returns his focus on the road.
"That's really shitty. Is he going to be mad at you?"
Jake snorts, Dwight can hear the sarcasm in his voice, "Probably, but I'd like to see him drive out and bitch at me. God knows he will cry if his Ferrari gets muddy "
Dwight nods, and turns on the radio to fill the quiet. The soft hum of his Savage Garden CD plays and he enjoys the comfortable silence between himself and a near stranger. He looks over to the man every few minutes, admiring the way his hair flowed in the wind and the slight smile on his face as he stares out thr window
The small town of Weeks fades away winding roads through trees. Every so often the entranceto a long driveway flits by. No doubt leading to a cozy house tucked away into the trees. To right the earth climes in a large hill and too his left was low lying ditches. Jake leans forward and stops the GPS.
"My house is pretty hidden. The GPS won't lead you there exactly but I can point it out."
Dwight nods, and slows down a bit so he doesn't miss any turns. He feels sad to know he would be making the drive back alone.
"Are you cold?" Dwight asks, deciding that he should try and get to know Jake a bit more. Although he can already see the One That Got Away story forming in his head.
Jake looks down at his outfit and shrugs, "I guess."
Dwight raises his eyebrows, it was midsummer, very rarely did it get truly cold. But to each his own.
"There's a road coming up to the left. Easy to miss."
Dwight slows down, squinting at the line of trees and brush until he spots a tiny break in the trees and the form of a mailbox.
"That it?"
"Yeah."
Dwight turns down the dirt path, his car shudders heavily, obviously not designed for anything that wasn't a paved road. He winces slightly as the car bounces powerfully on a hole. He glances at the steep hill to the left and prays he doesn't lose control.
"Jesus Christ." Dwight mutters, slowing down to a crawl.
"Sorry." Jake offers, amusement in his voice.
"It's fine! If it breaks down you might have to drive me home." Dwight jokes, hoping to god his car can make it down the road and back out. He slowly rounds a curve and his headlights light up a big tree branch in the middle of the road. Dwight hits the breaks, slowing to a stop and putting the car into park before sharing a look with Jake.
"Give me a hand?" Jake asks, nodding towards the tree.
"I better not get myself killed." Dwight grumbles with a slight smile, opening his door.
"I can't promise Jason isn't out here, but he's left me alone so far." Jake shoots back, following Dwight over to look at the freshly fallen limb.
"If he is out here, don't let me die in my uniform."
Jake laughs at that, covering his mouth and clearing his throat. It was very lovely, a real shame he cut it short.
"I think if we both grab this part we can pull it to the side of the road." Jake says pointing to the thickest part of branch, "It's dead and dried out. Shouldn't be too heavy."
Dwight nodes, climbing over the branch and grabbing the coars wood. Jake joins his side and with a small count down the two heave the branch over to the side of the road. The branchis lighter than expected, but he still strains to pull it. As they near the ditch Dwight feels a rock under him loosen and fall aaay. His foot slides out from under him and he loses his balance. He instinctively releases the tree to catch his fall, but gravity is already pulling him down the steep incline. Despite scrabbling for a hold he slides back for a few horrifying seconds before slamming into a tree, leaves and rocks continuing their decent past him.
"Oh fuck me." Dwight groans, pushing himself to his knees. He brings a hand up to his face and sighs in relief when he feels his glasses.
"Dwight? Are you ok?" Jake calls. Dwight looks up at the voice, grateful to see Jake's silhouette against the headlights at the top of the hill.
"I am! Is the branch out of the way?"
"Yeah, do you need help?"
Dwight looks down the hill, it was incredibly dark despite the full moon due to foliage of the trees. He could hear the slight trickle of water and figures a small stream had collected at the bottom. He looks up and bites his lip in thought. He could probably make it up the incline as long as he was careful. No use dragging Jake down with him.
"I can make it!" Dwight calls back. With resolution he digs his fingers into the sparse grass and starts carefully crawling up the hill. Cursing as he feels tree branches and burrs scratch his hands and arms. He's gratefull for his gloves, saving the palms of his hands from the sharp rocks and sticks.
He glances up after a minute of careful climbing to see Jake crouching to hold out his hand. Dwight smiles and reaches forward, taking Jake's hand in his and letting Jake pull him forward and back to the safety of a flat road.
"Thanks." Dwight pants, brushing burrs and leaves off his dirt stained shirt and pants. He feels another pair of hands run through his hair, and stiffens.
Jake brushes a few more leaves off Dwight's head and shoulders before checking him up and down. Dwight's face grows warm and he looks away. Taking his glasses off and wiping the dust away on a clean part of his shirt.
"You look cute covered in mud." Jake says absently as Dwight puts his glasses on. He almost stabs himself in the eye with the leg of his glasses in surprise at the complement.
"Oh uh I..uh" Dwight mumbles before giving up and retreating to the car. He can hear Jake following behind as he gets in the driver's seat. He buckles in, and takes a calming breath before Jake opens the door and sits in the passenger seat.
"Th-thanks." Dwight finally spits out, too shy to look at Jake. It was probably more of an insult anyway.
He puts the car into drive and continues forward on the now cleared road, "How much further is your house?" He asks trying to slip back into conversation, but most likely coming off as annoyed.
"About a mile a head. There's a clearing where you can turn the car around."
"Oh good!" Dwight notices his fingers are bleeding rather badly from a few and he stealthy wipes it on his red shirt, "What do you do out here anyway?"
Jake shrugs, "I tinker with a few things. Take walks, take photos. Y'know, live off the land."
Dwight really doesn't now, but nods in interest. He was more of tiwn person and had never really been out in the woods. He figures it would get boring pretty fast, and with his history he had little reason to go out in the forest anyway.
"I keep myself entertained." Jake adds as if reading Dwight's mind.
"Oh I figured! Nature is uh...really nice?" Dwight offers, "Looks....good!"
He was really starting to feel like a moron. Thankfully his headlights wash over a break on the trees and Dwight pulls up to a small cabin tucked into a clearing. The moon shone down and along with his car he could make out a jeep parked under a wooden outdoor canopy along with a half dismantled dirt bike. The cottage was very quaint.
"You're bleeding."
Dwight looks down at his arms to notice that a few of the scratches were deeper than he had originally thought. They didn't really hurt but blood had started to drip.
"Oh it's fine I-"
"Come inside with me." Jake orders and Dwight nods, showing he really had no backbone. He turns the car off and follows Jake to the front porchbusing the light of his cars beams. Catcging a glimps of a fenced in garden on the other side of the house bursting with life in the moonlight.
Jake digs in his pocket and pulls out a key for the padlock on his front door. He opens it and holds the door aside for Dwight to step in. Its pitch black except for broken moon light from the window. He can barely make out a couch and chair near the possibility of a fireplace. Jake closes the door behind him and Dwight can hear him fiddling around until a bright yellow light washes over him. He squints and watches Jake dim the light on an ancient looking gas lantern.
Jake motions for him to follow and leads Dwight over to the couch. He sets the lantern onto a rough hewn wooden table, and Dwight takes a seat. The couch is surprisingly plush and very comfortable. Dwight looks around the room, now illuminated with the lantern. It wasn't exactly large, he could see more of the garden through the window to his left. To his right was a sparse kitchen with a wood burning stove and a rustic looking basin for a sink. Clean dishes were stacked neatly on the counter and to his surprise a small fridge was humming away in the corner. He sees Jake's form disappear down a dark hallway and the creak of a door being opened. Moments later he returns holding a red box with a big cross on it along with a wet cloth.
"Nice place!" Dwight says as Jake joins him on the couch. Close enough for their legs to touch. He tries to ignore the feeling.
"Thank you." Jake says as he takes Dwight's hand, cleaning the mud and dirt from the scraps on his fingers before working his way up the arm.
Jake's hands, well gloves, are warm and the leather was soft from use. Dwight felt himself relaxing under Jake's gentle administrations, eyes wandering towards the kitchen window as Jake began cleaning the wounds on his other arm. He watches the shadows shift outside and wonders what it was like to be alone up here. The thought makes his stomach twist in anxiety, and he tries to think about something other than the long ride home.
He's yelps in shock when Jake presses an alcohol pad against a particularly deep cut. Biting his lip at the sting, "You could have warned me."
Jake glances up, looking particularly handsome in the flickering yellow light of the lantern. Especially with that smirk on his face.
"Sorry."
Dwight rolls his eyes, unable to stop his lips from twitching into a smile, "Liar."
Jake presses the pad onto another cut and Dwight hisses, clenching his teeth. The stinging of the alcohol pad on his raw skin doesn't hurt any less as Jake works his way over both arms. Finally Jake presses a bandaid onto the more serious cuts after they're all disinfected and Dwight looks down.
"Hello kitty?"
"There a problem?"
Dwight shakes his head, admiring the pink bandaid, "No, no! They're fine!"
Jake sits up straight, not quite pulling away but obviously done with his healing touch. Dwight watches the man tug at his scarf and look around the room before meeting his eyes.
"Thank you, for...driving me home." Jake finally says, speaking as if Dwight had saved his life.
"Thank you for the band aids!"
They fall silent then. Exchanging glances in the low light. Dwight was unsure if he should just...leave. He should of course, but he didn't want to. It would be weird if he stayed however. They had really just met and he didn't want to push himself onto Jake. He had already been such a burden on the nan he was trying to help. No need to make it worse by saying he was afraid of the woods.
A clock rings from somewhere in the house, chiming three times. It was late, and he really had to get home before he became too tired.
At the same time they both stand. Awkwardly bumping into each other.
"Sorry!" Dwight says first, interrupting Jake's apology. He smiles, and takes a step back to put some distance between them, "It's late and I...gotta go."
"Yeah..."
Dwight shuffles to the door, Jake follows politely to open it for him. The cool night air washes over Dwight and he shivers. Cicadas and crickrts scream into the night air.
"S-see you again! Sometime! Maybe" Dwight says as he steps out onto the porch. Jake smiles and nods.
"Check in your glovebox." Is Jake's only reply before closing the door.
Dwight frowns, but shrugs it off. Quickly making his way to the safety of his car as the light inside the cabin is snuffed out. He hopes Jake has a good night's sleep
He drives it all the way to town before remembering the comment about his glove box. Resting on his registration and proof of insurance was a small stack of bills. He grabs them, and in the light of the street lamp sees that they're all hundred dollar bills.
"No number, huh." Dwight mutters to himself.