Nick peered down at the gas gauge as they sped down Interstate 80. It was perilously close to empty. He muttered a curse under his breath and glanced at Tom. “We need to find a gas station, fast,” he said. “Looks like there’s a truck stop up ahead. Oh, and it has food.”
“Good,” Tom said as he adjusted the straps of his sundress. “I’m hungry.”
Nick glanced over at him and licked his lips. “Hey, um, dude… I know we’ve been on the run from the mob for months already, but it’s not too late to back out and think of something else that doesn’t involve you living in drag 24-7.”
Tom shrugged. “It was my idea, remember? I can’t grow a badass beard like you, and with my surfer hair it just made sense. Honestly, it’s not as bad as I thought it’d be.”
Nick raised an eyebrow but said nothing. The sun was setting, casting a warm glow that illuminated Tom’s features—high cheekbones and full lips enhanced subtly by makeup. 
“They’ll kill us if they find us,” Tom said softly, pushing his hair back. “But they’re looking for two dudes, not a dude and his girlfriend.”
Nick tightened his grip on the steering wheel as they pulled off the highway and into the truck stop. “But are you sure you’re okay with this?” he asked as he parked them under a flickering streetlight at a truck stop.
“Sure, whatever we need to do to stay safe.” Tom looked away for a moment, then back at Nick. “You know how I’ve been taking hormones, don’t you? That’s why I have... well, you know.” He gestured to his chest, now sprouting small breasts that were evident under the sundress.
Nick stared. “Hormones? I mean, I figured… Fuck, I don’t know what I figured. But, Jesus, Tom, that’s... that’s serious stuff. Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I’m not sure,” Tom sighed. “But I thought we might need to stay in disguise for a long time. And part of me... I dunno, I kind of like how they make me feel. It’s hard to explain.”
They walked into the truck stop diner together in silence. The bell jingled overhead as they went inside. The place was dimly lit, with the high beams of the big rigs in the parking lot slicing through the windows. They slid into a booth, the cracked vinyl seats squeaking under their weight. Nick’s protective instinct kicking in as he scanned the room for potential threats or overly curious eyes.
“I think we’re okay,” he said. “Do you mind if I order for us? I mean, you look like a… you know… but your voice…”
Tom tucked a strand of hair behind his ear—an action that felt increasingly natural. “Actually, um, I’ve been practicing while you sleep and in the shower. I think I’ve got it down pretty well now.”
“Oh. Wait, really?”
The waitress arrived with menus and looked them over—Nick with his rough exterior and Tom with his delicate features softened by months of estrogen. “New faces. You folks passing through?” 
“Yeah,” Nick replied with a nod. “Just road-tripping across states.”
She shrugged. “Well, welcome to nowhere special. But if you’re smart, you’ll take your girlfriend to California or Florida. Somewhere sunny and far from here.” She turned to Tom. “What can I get you, hon?”
Tom cleared his throat softly, then spoke in a gentle, feminine voice. “I’ll have the garden salad, please. And a cup of tea with honey if you have it.”
The waitress smiled. “Sure thing, sweetheart.” She jotted down the order and looked at Nick. “And for you, handsome?”
“Burger and fries. Coffee, black.” Nick said.
The waitress scribbled down their order and left. Nick looked at Tom, astonished. 
“Holy shit, dude. You… You really nailed that. I mean, if I didn’t know better...” Nick trailed off, shaking his head in disbelief.
Tom grinned. “I’ve been practicing a lot. It’s not just the voice, you know? It’s the mannerisms, the way you carry yourself. I’ve been watching other girls, studying them.”
“What do you mean ‘other’ girls?” Nick’s brow furrowed slightly.
Tom paused. “Oh. I just mean... you know, girls in general. Not that I’m a girl. I mean, I’m not. I’m just pretending to be one. For our safety.” He looked down, fidgeting with the hem of his sundress.
Nick peered at him. “Maybe we should stop all this. Maybe we should go to the feds like we talked about before. Get into witness protection instead of running forever.”
Tom shook his head, his expression almost desperate. “No! Nick, we can’t risk it. The feds might be compromised too, we don’t know who to trust anymore. This way, at least, we have control over our situation. We stay low, keep moving, keep--”
“Dressing as a girl? Taking hormones? Growing boobs?”
Tom bit his lip, his eyes darting around the diner. “We can’t stop running.”
“Why not?”
Tom’s eyes glistened with sudden tears. “Because if we stop running, I... I’ll have to go back to being who I was before.”
Nick felt a pang of something he couldn’t quite identify. “And you don’t want that?”
Tom shook his head, his lovely blonde hair falling into his eyes.
“Okay,” Nick said with a deep sigh. “Okay. We won’t go back. But we’ll find somewhere to lay low for a while. Somewhere safe where you can... where we can both figure things out.”
A huge smile exploded across Tom’s face. “You mean like a little house or something? With a garden and a fence?”
“Yeah, something like that,” Nick said, managing a smile. “I mean, we didn’t steal from the mob for nothing. We’ve got the cash. We just need the right place.”
“Oh, can we get a dog and, like, maybe some chickens?” Tom chirped. “I’ve always wanted to try living like that, even if it’s just for a little while.”
“We’ll see about the chickens,” Nick said, but he couldn’t help the smile. “Let’s focus on finding the place first. We can think about pets later.”
The waitress returned with their food, setting down the plates with a clatter. “Here you go. You know, I don’t say this to everybody, but you two make a cute couple,” she said with a wink before walking off.
Tom sipped his tea and peered over the mug at Nick. “Did you hear what she said? We’re a cute couple.”
Nick grunted, taking a bite of his burger. “You’re the cute one, I’m just the muscle.” He chewed thoughtfully, then swallowed. “But yeah, I guess we do make a pretty good team.”
Tom giggled, the sound soft and almost achingly cute. “The best team. Partners in crime, literally.”
Nick rolled his eyes but couldn’t suppress a grin. “Eat your salad, princess. We’ve got a long drive ahead of us.”
“Yes, sir,” Tom said with a mock salute before digging into his meal.
They ate in comfortable silence, the diner’s neon lights flickering outside.  When they finished, Nick paid the bill and they walked out into the night, the cool air a refreshing change from the stuffy interior.
As they approached the car, Tom slipped his hand into Nick’s, intertwining their fingers. Nick glanced down, surprised, but didn’t pull away.
“Thanks for being so understanding,” Tom said softly. “I know this isn’t what you signed up for when we decided to run.”
Nick squeezed his hand. “Hey, the road is a weird fucking place. Things change out here. They... what’s the word? Permutate.”
Tom wrinkled his nose. “What, like the Ninja Turtles?”
Nick chuckled. “No, like they transform, evolve. You get what I mean.”
Tom leaned his head on Nick’s shoulder. “You’re the best, you know that?”
“I try,” Nick chuckled.
They got into the car, and as Nick started the engine, Tom fiddled with the radio until he found a station playing soft rock. He hummed along, his voice melding with the melody.
Nick pulled out of the parking lot, the open road stretching before them. “So, California or Florida?”
Tom grinned. “Surprise me.”
With a nod, Nick hit the gas, and they sped off into the night.