“Hey man,” Markus said, barely audible above the pitter patter of the autumn rain that bounced off his umbrella, “I’m sorry it’s been a while. Life’s been, well, life. Busy.”
He pulled a flask from his jacket and poured some of its amber liquid onto the grass in front of him before tilting his head back and taking a gulp. He coughed violently, pausing to catch his breath before continuing the conversation.
“Damn, I can’t believe you like whiskey straight. Stuff ‘s paint stripper. Oh, well no scratch that. You like it three kinds of straight mixed together. Fuck man, you always were a little wild sometimes.”
Grimacing while he chuckled, he took another swig before putting the flask away and pulling out a cigarette.
“Oh, I’m down to a pack a week if you can believe it. If I run out, I’m not gonna pick more up. Which I said to you before and it was technically true, until I did. Thought you’d appreciate hearing that. Not the second part, the first. Speaking of appreciation...” he continued on for a while, dancing from topic to topic as smoke likewise danced between rain drops.
He talked about the woman, girl really from her behavior, he’d been dating last. The plans of his to go meet with his long lost cousin. How much he wanted to come back sometime with some other buddies of theirs and have a small celebration for his birthday coming up in a few months. Anything and everything he could think of, carried to the afterlife by the wisps drifting through air.
Soon, far more than he wanted, the sun peaked through the clouds and Markus’ phone buzzed. He put the final embers of his personal incense out by shaking water from his umbrella onto it and stuck the butt in his pocket. He didn’t care too much about littering from others, but grave littering was a step lower than any kind.
“Well,” he started, “that’s my signal to go. I...sorry for not coming sooner. And for not staying longer.”
He leaned forward and put his hand on the tombstone, closing his eyes for a moment and letting the flood they held out just a smidgeon.
“I love you man. I miss you. And I hope that you found that peace you wanted, you bastard.”
------------------------
The bus station was loud and movement through hectic as ever, with Markus riding through the crowds and making his way to his ride. He looked back and forth between the ticket in hand and the numbers on the departure gates. When he spotted his, and sped up, a force slammed and squeaked into his legs and he pitched forward. Caught by surprise, he only had time to twist backwards before gravity had its way with him intimately and knocked the air out of him as he met hard floor with the pack on his back.
“What th-” Markus began when he could breathe again, but bit off what he was saying as he took in the culprit of his tumble.
“ANDREW DOUGLAS DONALD, WHAT DID I SAY ABOUT RUNNING!”
Andrew, the child who lay sprawled from ricocheting off Markus, flinched as a man’s voice cut through the general hubbub and he picked himself off the floor hurriedly. A young man with a worried frown ran over and grabbed the child’s hand.
“Are you okay?” The man asked Andrew and, after a chastised and pink faced nod in response, turned to face an awkwardly sat up Markus.
“I’m sorry about that. Drew’s a bit excited,” Apologetically, the man offered his hand to Markus, “You okay?”
Taking the proffered hand and aide from the man, Markus stood up and leaned over, brushing himself off while assuring the man.
“I’m fine, the backpack took the worst of it,” he said, wiry smile flashing up between pats on his pants, “and I should've been watching what was in front of me too. You sure you’re okay kid?”
The last was directed towards Andrew, whose gaze was focused on his left hand with some slight consternation. Rather than answer he turned towards the man beside him and showed the hand, revealing scraped off skin that bled slightly. Upon closer inspection he also sported a smaller scrape on his chin.
A quick and quite curse escaped from the presumed father as he looked his son over. He turned back to Markus.
“Sorry again sir, I warn him about paying attention all the time but…”
“Kids are kids.” Markus was more than happy to let the matter go, no real harm done. Even if it had, he was serious about kids just being kids. Looking at the aforementioned child reminded him of something though.
“Oh hold on, I have something for this.”
Stripping off his backpack, he rustled around before finding his intended object much to the dad’s surprise. He held out a couple of basic band aids to Andrew. Instead of taking them, he scurried behind his dad and hid while keeping one eye peaked out and over. Laughing at both the antics and the father’s apologetic face, Markus handed him the band aids instead.
“They aren’t anything with a cool imprint, but they do have antibiotic cream in them to keep the cuts free of infection.”
The man, who seemed to be around the same age as Markus, eyed them for a second before smiling and extending a hand.
“Thank you very much,” he paused and gestured with the extended hand.
“Markus,” came the reply as he took the proffered hand.
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“Michael. And you already met little Andrew here.”
“My shins certainly did.”
“Andrew, say sorry to the man and thank him for both being nice and the band aides.”
Andrew mumbled out an apology as Michael got down and put the band aides on him.
“Hey now, loud and proud kiddo. If the apology doesn’t reach their ears, no one cares.” Michael said, his finger raised up as if giving a lesson in front of a class.
“I’m sorry for running into you, mister.”
“It’s okay, just be careful and listen to your dad when you’re in a crowded place. Sound good?”
The nod was all he got in return. Checking his phone, he cursed.
“Sorry, I have to catch my bus. It was a pleasure.” He said hurriedly, grabbing his bag once more and taking off towards his departure gate. Getting there right as they made the announcement to begin boarding, he sighed in relief and handed his bags off to the person in charge of tossing them into the undercarriage of the bus. Another minute waiting and he was on the bus for greener pastures. Politely smiling at anyone he made eye contact with, Markus managed to snag a three seat spot near the back of it all to his lonesome. Just enough people to fill the bus but not enough to stuff it. Feeling pretty good about the circumstance, he put in his earphones, closed his eyes, and started some music as he waited for departure.
A bump next to him alerted him to the presence of another and opening his eyes revealed the same man and son combo staring at him once more with apology in their eyes.
“Well, hello again,” the man said sheepishly, “I swear, not meaning to bother you all day today. Is there any chance we could sit with you? You’re the only one who has two side by side seats.”
“Ha sure and no worries. Crazy coincidence though. Heading to Mazeberry too?” Markus scooted over to make sure there was room for them and caught himself staring at the man as he grinned brilliantly. He had a very nice smile.
“Yes sir, me and Drew here have an adventure planned for the amusement park there! Ain’t that right buddy?” The man had an accent that was between here and there, difficult to place the specifics of.
“You don’t have to call me that, Markus is good. And oh wow, exciting huh?” the last was directed at Drew, who’s shyness was very briefly overcome by the excitement in his eyes and he started nearly bouncing out of his seat. He nodded and smiled to himself.
“Sorry, habit. You can call me Mike, most people do. How about you? Amusement park kind of person?”
“Not terribly but I did love them growing up. No, meeting someone who lives out there. My cousin.”
After that, they settled into a comfortable mix of silence and occasional conversation for the next couple of hours. Markus found himself at ease with the friendly man, noting that he seemed to be actively checking the bus and other passengers out regularly.
“Military or marshal?” Markus finally whisper three hours in and noting the behavior once more.
“What?” Mike said, though he’d clearly understood from the way he suddenly stiffened and made a wall of himself between Markus and Drew, who was sleeping soundly next to him.
“No worries, I meant nothing by it besides you seem like one of the two. You keep checking our surroundings.”
He cursed lightly and looked around again before dropping into a whisper too.
“Ex, actually. Military police. Good guess though, I’ve heard worse and I’ve worked with marshals on joint before. You…?”
“Uncle was a marshal and my father, the dick, was a marine.”
At the wince from Mike, he continued.
“Oh I didn’t grow up with either. The guy just left. But I studied to do something, anything, similar back when I was in high school. Mostly just to get the chance to sock him and help people. Two birds.”
The shocked laugh that escaped Mike was snuffed quickly but brought a smile to Markus.
“You just admitted to wanting to knockout a federal employee to an ex employee in good standing and you look like you give zero.”
“Well, he shouldn’t have been a dick. Plus the guy is my father. Would you tell a justly wronged kid that he couldn’t reconnect with his old man?”
“That grin tells me your reconnection isn’t gonna be pretty.”
“It’ll just be the once. Besides, I always wanted to save my first knockout punch for him before he got to old to handle it.”
Mike stared at him incredulously before breaking down into a giggling fit.
“Are you serious? You’re saving your first knockout punch for the guy? Holy crap I think I just made a new friend for life. So wait, you haven’t fought before?”
“No, I have. Just ended them differently. Had to at least try to keep my promise.”
As Mike was set off in a fit of giggles again, Markus’ smile widened and he opened his mouth to offer the man more of his semi joking plans for the amusement of it when the lights on the bus went out. The sky outside was in the final traces of dusk and they’d only snapped on fifteen or so minutes before. Everyone seemed to freeze and a strange feeling he could only call stretchy passed over him before someone screamed and the world, sounds, colors, and even air seemed to shatter around everyone. Then, nothing. The world was gone.