Work Text:
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JK didn't mean to end up homeless at a random exit off the interstate in a small town in the country. He certainly didn't plan for any kind of contingency for this event. So, he did what he was used to doing: He made do. This interstate exit was a 4+ hour walk from the nearest other civilization, and that's with no stops for water or physical relief. There was a truck stop, a dinky little motel, and a diner. For a traveler, it was all you could need! But JK wasn't a traveler. And he'd ended up here, alone, hungry, bored, helpless. He had to rely on other people just to dream of his next meal, let alone a good night's sleep. But it was fine. He had a few options. Sure they were few and far between, but it was fine. Really.
As the waitress slid a bubbling glass of ice cold sprite his way with a wink, he offered back a grim smile and cracked a flirtatious joke. He'd become friends with every server on the staff, helping them bus the tables when they were busy and calling himself the 'curtain in the corner'. It was apt, honestly. He had the small corner booth, far away from any customers in case he had a smell, and he minded his business. When it was just him and the staff, he cracked jokes, they sat with him and had coffee, giving him the burnt dregs (And sometimes the odd fresh cup!) that would get trashed anyway. Sometimes, he got the "messed up" waffles or the stuff that was left on a plate untouched because someone had to leave in a hurry. He was pretty sure, though, at least half the "mess ups" were intentional.
"Oops! I added chocolate chips when they said plain. Sugar, y'want this? Just gonna go in the trash otherwise"
Of course he nodded, standing immediately to gently take the plate and express thanks, even as his mouth watered. This was a treat, to be sure, and he didn't have the heart to question if they knew he knew what they did for him. They enjoyed each other's company, and he helped when he could. It was mutually beneficial. Hell, he knew the entire menu by heart, and helped translate the 'special' brand orders when a regular would order and a waitress was new.
"I want a double order of hash, scattered well, smothered and chunked with a side of eggs over medium"
The new waitress blinked big eyes, and slowly turned towards JK. He smiled and whispered conspiratorially, "She wants a double order of hashbrowns, crispy, with onion and ham. And then she wants her eggs a little bit runny"
The waitress curtsied a cute little dip, and blushed, looking back at the customer. "Comin' right up!" and mouthing a 'thank you' with a thumbs up at JK as she passed.
She'd get used to it, pretty quickly, in coming weeks.
And when regulars came in, he knew them all by name. Knew their orders, too, and what vehicle they drove. As they would pull in, JK would get up and lean in to the cook with the order they were going to get, so it could get on the griddle and be nearly done by the time they parked.
"Ohp, Johnny's on his way in. He'll be wanting fresh decaf and hashbrowns double covered with buttered toast. Grape jam only."
The cook nodded with a smile, and threw the hashbrowns on the griddle, dropping the toast into the industrial toaster as he did. JK leaned over the counter to the service bar of supplies, grabbed two grape jams, and placed them in Johnny's usual spot. He plopped a fresh napkin, a cup, and the silverware down for him too, pulling out the chair just as the bell jangled.
"Heyyy Johnny how're you doin' tonight?"
"JK! Lookin' bright as usual, uh? J'you eat yet?"
"Ahh I'm not that hungry right now. You're gettin' your usual right?"
When Johnny nodded, JK smirked at the cook, who just shook his head. He knew better than to question JK's order recall at this point. He always knew exactly what was being ordered.
"Well, just the same, how 'bout a couple of burgers on me? Whatever fixin's you want, I insist!"
JK grimaced, but knew better than to turn them down. He gratefully accepted two plain burgers with lettuce and a packet of mayo. He didn't want to waste the money of more expensive ingredients, like tomato and cheese. Not when he wasn't the one paying.
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It was in this manner that JK met YG. Every few nights, there would be the loud crack and rumble of a down-shifting motorcycle pulling in. A Kawasaki, JK pulled a face as he recalled. It wasn't that he didn't like YG, quite the opposite. He was an older man, and funny. Sparkling eyes despite a fairly reserved nature, who made all the right inappropriate jokes to spark a little crush-heat in JK's belly. But as he looked at the servers, the older one that just had a grandbaby, and the younger one with her own belly round with child... He pushed those thoughts away.
He wasn't a good choice, no one would be interested in him, least of all someone middle-aged and attractive, that had his shit together. That had a motorcycle as clean as he did. That rode in wearing full leathers, chaps and all. And with how Pam and Maria looked at YG? He could see. They liked him. They shamelessly flirted, flinging hands to his shoulders, sliding down his leather-clad arms, tugged at the straps when he'd loosen the jacket to sit down comfortably.
So JK settled for being his friend. He learned his order, same as every other regular. He liked the All Star breakfast, coffee black, 3 sugars please and no creamer. He wanted his food unsalted, didn't add seasoning of any kind, and cleaned the runny yolk off his plate with the unbuttered toast. He sat in the smoking section, he was a Scorpio, and oh! Oh... He had tattoos. On his neck, on his arm, on his back even. He talked of the 700 mile trip he and his buddies had just made, to a motorcycle rally on a beach. He talked of riding the bull, and how long he lasted.
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Most of the day, usually no less than 16 hours, JK was in the diner, seated at his booth, with a deck of cards. That was one thing he could never tire of: Solitaire. Any version of it, didn't matter, even if he finished a game in less than a minute. He just reshuffled, redealt, and played again. He kept clean bathing in the bathroom sink, using spare socks as wash-rags. He'd wash them in the sink too, wringing them out and laying them on the seat of the van he was sleeping in each day, where they'd get some sun to warm them. So he didn't smell. No one really knew he was without a home, except the staff. But they'd become his friends, and just did their best to make sure he had something to eat most days. Some days they mentioned how 'corporate' had been displeased at some of the 'free' things they offered, but he just smiled.
He understood. For corporate, it was about numbers. It only made sense. On one particular day, he thought about how his stomach didn't even feel hungry anymore, he just felt grateful for whatever, whenever. So when he found $5 on the ground outside, he looked around to find its owner and grinned wide... Not a soul in the parking lot. It was free game! He put on clean socks, wrapped his bandana around his head, and waved to the staff. Looking at the horizon, the sun was still high in the sky. And so, he walked. He walked, and he walked, inhaling the country grass and wild onions as he went, smiling at the birds and critters he passed. 5 hours later, he arrived at his destination with a giddy kind of feeling that surpassed the ache and blisters in his feet.
'Man, Converse are so terrible for this walk' he thought, grimacing briefly as he remembered he'd have to walk it all the way back like this.
In front of him, was a massive box-store. The biggest in the country, with the cheapest prices. And stepping through its air-conditioned doors, he bee-lined for the soup aisle. His goal? Ramen. With $5 he grabbed a 5 pack of beef AND a 5 pack of chicken, mouth watering. These would last him the next two weeks at LEAST! On his way out of the store, bag swinging, he shot a hopeful text to his mother, who was possibly back in town. He tried not to think of her fiancé, the whole reason he was stranded at that exit, as he did so.
JK: Hey madre! I'm at the store near your place, are you home? I could swing in and say hi before heading back to the diner.
Madre: Hey Peepie!! You're here? Yeah, I'm home, come on in! I've got food, you want some coffee too? I have Peppermint Mochaaaa!
JK: Sure, I'd love some! Be there in 10.
Madre: 10? Are you walking?
He typed as he walked.
JK: Yeah, sorry. Wish I had a bike lol
Madre: Did you walk there? To the store?
JK: Yeah, but it's fine. It's not that hot
Madre: That's besides the point! That's a long walk! And it's dangerous, there's no sidewalk!!
He scoffed.
JK: Yeah, but I didn't die! Besides it's daylight, they can all see me. Be dark on my way home though, so I'll walk on the far side just in case.
He didn't get a response back, so he picked up his pace a little. The blisters grated in his shoes, yet to fall numb.
As he stepped into the cul de sac, full of nice looking duplex homes, he sighed in relief as his mom's fiancé's car wasn't in the driveway.
'Good. Bastard isn't home.'
He knocked twice and opened the door, knowing his mom would yell if he actually waited at the door for her to answer it. When he got in, she was seated in her spot on the couch, milk-white coffee full of creamer, sitting on one leg with the other crossed over and hanging in the air.
"Hey madre it's meee"
"Hey Peepie! Coffee's in the pot, made enough for you too. Creamer's in the fridge."
And so, that's how he discussed moving his van to her driveway. "You could, I dunno, plug in at night or something? So you can have a little light, something to read by?"
He didn't point out that she was offering space in her driveway for him to sleep in, essentially, and not even a space on the couch... or even floor, as massive as the living room itself was. He didn't need to. She knew, and he knew, and she probably knew he did. It wasn't her, it was her fiancé.
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The alcoholic fiancé with control issues, and a self-serving mentality like he was some 'top dog', when he couldn't even beat 16 year old JK in a wrestling match. The fiancé that was the root of all his current problems. The fiancé that flew to stay with JK and his biological dad in a 1 bedroom apartment to "look for work" so he could fly JK's mom and youngest sibling back home, from where they were stuck with shitty family members. Family members who, despite being his mother's full blooded sister, her husband, and their two kids... starved her. He could see her cheekbones as they sunk in, could count the bones in her shoulders, could damn near see the bones in her ears.
And what was he doing instead? Bumming cigarettes from JK's dad, watching porn, and donating just enough plasma to buy booze. Never helped with groceries, never helped with bills, just demanded time on the ONE computer and drank.
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When, a couple of years later, JK was staying with them, he was locked to a singular room, not allowed to venture into the house his own mother and sibling lived in, unless it was nighttime or the fiance was at work. And when he did? His mother looked worried all day. Like he'd leave some kind of evidence that he existed. Even then, he was just grateful. He slept on a bent army cot, but it was under a roof! He ate mostly cold leftovers that no one else wanted, but it was a whole meal! He listened as his mom got yelled at for a particular set of leftovers being missing, once. Because he wanted them after work, and now he had NONE. She offered to make fresh, and JK winced as the fridge door was slammed closed, and the garage door opened.
He was already drunk.
In that same house, JK's dad needed a place to crash on weekends for a month, when he was in town from long-haul trucking. There had been an issue with work payroll, and he wouldn't get paid for a couple of weeks, so he had no motel money. The Drunk graciously offered a hand-me-down leather sofa he'd gotten off the curb when the neighbor threw it out from being chewed by dogs, that he kept in the cold garage.
JK's dad accepted it, kicked his 6'4" frame over the arms, and draped his own leather jacket over his arms as a blanket. And he said nothing but thank you.
The Drunk got drunk, got mad, and stomped into the garage one day. Took an axe he had, for whatever reason, and decided to take out his anger (at probably nothing) on the little love-seat sized sofa. He split the wood frame, sliced the worn leather cushions, smashed the whole thing. It was completely unusable. Was that enough? Clearly not.
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Because a few months later, after a nice July celebration full of surprisingly pleasant if obnoxious drunken antics, The Drunk got a text from a buddy in his home state. Someone he went to school with died in a car accident. Was he close to him? No. Did he talk to him often? Nope. Did that matter? Not at all.
He barreled on a violent spree the rest of the night. Smashed his fists into every mirror in the house, glass flying, blood splattered on the walls, trailed down the stairs. He kicked the metal front door open so hard it bent on the hinges and wouldn't close. He threw JK's television to the ground, that he'd leant to the man as a favour for letting him continue to stay with them (Though, at least JK was able to work at this point, as they lived right in town, and he contributed to groceries and bills). The Drunk threw a massive speaker out the upstairs window, leaving the front lawn of the apartment littered with splintered wood, shattered glass, and mangled wires. He tried to peel out of the parking lot in the car, nearly running over JK's mom as she tried to stop him. He already was on a suspended license for drinking and driving, and he was so drunk he was driving in reverse with a door open, and didn't notice or care that his fiance was right there.
She dodged, of course and eventually coaxed him into coming back to the house. Which is when the rampage started, of course.
JK, for his part, stood anxiously to the side. His two young siblings were in the house. 15 and 11, they were too young for this shit. But how could he get them from their upstairs bedroom, out of the house? The stairs were a mess, the front door was blocked...
It was when The Drunk started shoving JK's mom, that he made the executive choice. He prayed his 3 cats were somewhere safe, and that they wouldn't leave the open door, and bolted up the stairs to his siblings.
"Come on, put on shoes and a coat, we're gonna go for a walk."
The 11 year old was bawling, wide eyed, unaccustomed to this level of violence. The 15 year old quivered, but acted quickly. They, unfortunately, were very used to this from their own biological father. Always a nervous thing, quick to act, always quiet. "Well-behaved" you would have called them. JK learned it was more accurately called "Surviving". As he bundled his siblings, he gave up finding his cell phone, had a non-verbal conversation with his mother with their eyes, and took two small hands in his own.
And then, pulled them out of the house, looking anxiously over his shoulder. The sound of crashing and slurred yelling was loud in his ears even as he crossed the parking lot. He arrived at his friend's house, knocked, and waited. No one answered.
"Fuck. Okay, you two stay here a minute okay? I'm gonna check the window out front"
When he returned, he chewed his lip. Time was of the essence. He clicked his tongue and took the two smaller hands again, pulling them with him. He couldn't leave them alone, even if it was a friend's house. So he'd have to take them along. The three of them padded in pajamas, JK with bare feet having had no time for shoes, looking for signs of anyone being home and awake at this time of night. They tried one house, and the door was shut on them. Then another, no answer. The third finally opened, suspiciously, and leered at them all as JK begged for use of a phone.
"I just need to call the police, please! You can dial, you can hold the phone, honest I just really need to call the police!"
They finally handed over a cell phone, the husband and wife both standing two feet away, ready to chase if he ran with it. He stepped closer, detailed to the police the situation, and thanked the couple profusely. Then, he returned his siblings to the friend's house, and stood halfway between them and their hell-home. He could see both at the same time, and craned his neck back and forth to keep an eye on both. His siblings huddled on the patio, jackets pulled to their chins at the chilly night-time July air. Sirens screamed, police cars split into the parking lot, and JK watched as they yanked The Drunk to the ground and cuffed him. His heart leapt, hoping they could finally get justice for him...
Until the police sirens turned off. The Drunk was let go. And then the police left.
After a while, JK carefully brought his siblings back to the house when all was completely silent, and they started packing. Obviously, they were evicted effective immediately.
The family packed all their things into the Camaro, and the next day they drove to The Drunk's home state... 14 hours away... And JK? Well, at least they were gracious enough to let him out with his meager pack of belongings and a $15 mesh container holding his 3 cats, at an exit off the interstate. JK's dad had called ahead and made arrangements for him to get a motel room for a week there, bc the owner owned him a favour.
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Fast forward, and here he was. He'd had to quit his job, because he couldn't very well walk for 5 hours to get to town, work a full shift, and then walk back, every single day. It just wasn't feasible. Taxis didn't run here, Uber wasn't a thing yet, and buses didn't route this way. Any so-called friends he had lived in another town, several hours away, and he hadn't made any in this town. But it was fine. Things would work out as they were meant to.
While at that motel, JK did make friends. There were two ladies on staff that worked the front desk at night, Gloria and Sheila, who were absolutely amazing. JK would pad quietly down in the middle of the night to shoot the shit with them, and help set up breakfast service. They even exchanged socials and made plans for hangouts in the future. Even when the motel owner kicked him out, bc they needed to renovate and his room was the last to get done, they stayed friends.
By this time, JK's dad had found a cheap camper van that he could use. So he parked in the Waffle House parking lot, living there for a couple of months. Until corporate said it had to move or be towed. That's when he wound up parking in his mother's driveway. Which, for what it was worth, was a good set up. He got to see his beloved mother and youngest sibling every single day. He got meals that were hot, he helped with chores, he got to play with the family dog. He even got some spare cat food that his mother snuck to him while her fiance was at work. That didn't last long either though. The landlord complained of "permanent vehicles" being parked and gave a week to move it. Which is when JK panicked.
Thankfully, his dad was in town, and offered to bring him back up to the diner for a while, saying his friends all missed him. He immediately accepted, and ran into the small toilet under the stairs. He hurriedly washed up with the sink water and motel soap he'd taken, cleaning all parts that could stink. Then, he threw on his cookie monster pajama pants, the nicest pants he had even as they were filled with holes, and the matching cookie monster shirt his sibling bought him for Christmas with allowance money. Knock-off grey converse, his usual rings, a healthy dose of tooth-brushing and he was off.
Which is where he saw YG again.
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JK was seated at a middle table where the AC was the strongest, his dad on the far side in the smoking section, and Johnny was sitting at the bar near JK's dad. They were having a vague conversation that JK paid no mind to. JK's table had a fizzing sprite, a $1 cheeseburger on a plate with a single bite missing, and his deck of cards splayed out as he played Solitaire. An unfamiliar vehicle showed up, and JK squinted. They parked like a regular, zooming and swerving right into a spot. In the dark night with only a (very cliché) flickering light to illuminate it, he couldn't tell who the shadowy figure was. Until they walked right up to the window, opened the door, and the bell rang.
YG. No leathers, just navy blue work pants and a plain t-shirt that clung to him. He walked in, peered around the diner, and walked towards the smoking section.
Now, there's a rule, among this particular diner's regulars. If you see a regular, you sit with a regular. It's a courteous social agreement, since not only do most regulars know each other pretty well, but it cuts down on table waste in case of "real" customers coming in.
So, YG stepping in meant he had 3 choices.
- JK's dad, who he didn't know WAS his dad, who a week before he'd been in a verbal spat with about fuel injection in racing and called a 'Fucking idiot' before storming out on;
- Johnny, the eccentric border-line creep who had tried to flirt with his 13 year old daughter last summer;
- Or JK, the young man in bright blue cookie monster PJs whose name he knew but hadn't spoken directly with very much.
With a confident stride, YG takes the gap in 3 steps and says "I'm gonna sit here" before promptly plopping down in the seat opposite JK.
JK quickly scoops his cards up to make way for YG's meal. He knows he's getting the All Star platter, and his food is more important than JK's cards. Maria, the elder waitress, came over and tried to flirt immediately. As she vacated the seat beside YG, Pam came over and did the same, showing sonogram pictures, rubbing shoulders with him, laughing at everything he said. And JK joined, because he wasn't jealous. He knew better. YG was older, and if he did want someone younger...
It'd be Pam. Silky black hair, a young-Elvis look with beautiful lips, and a big round belly that screamed I'm fertile. JK was... not even in the same fight.
And yet, neither waitress retained YG's attention. He stayed at JK's table even after Johnny cleared out. They talked, and they talked. YG was moving, had just bought a house. YG made 2 grand a week, a number that made JK's brain go fuzzy at the edges trying to imagine. His last job gave him $135 in that time. YG was a military veteran, had been married 3 times, and had 2 kids. He had a pretty calico cat, who was in the car right now actually, so YG went out to give her water and check on her every so often. Pam coo'd and raced out to pet the cat, sulking when she came back as the cat had hissed and refused her attention.
YG just laughed, "Yeah, she's a little spitfire. Barely likes me I think."
YG and JK talked about music... YG didn't like Jazz, despised Opera, but was open to most other things. He liked plain food, a meat and potatoes kinda guy, and didn't see himself marrying again. "Just a piece of paper at the end of the day, and only causes more problems."
They talked about log cabins, and stone cottages, and life events that should have traumatized them but didn't. They talked about their childhoods too, with YG explaining how he used to be a little shithead, skate-boarding and moto-crossing all the time. JK talked about growing up in the desert, learning healing plants, learning what flowers and plants were edible. They talked about sand in places you couldn't imagine, they talked about YG's military service. YG showed off his tattoos, lifting his shirt up to show his shoulder blades, and pulling his shirt down to show his neck, and biceps. Talked of when he got them, and that time he went to a strip club with his buddy Jay and ended up twirling on the pole with them.
They talked and talked, until they realized the morning regulars were arriving and, shit, is that the sun?
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Without any agreement, they both showed up the next night, at the same time. And the next, and the next. After about a week of that, JK figured YG would be busy for the weekend and he stayed home. Saved his dad the gas cost.
What he got was a text from Pam, saying YG was asking about him.
Pam: Hey, YG is here... He's asking about you...
JK: Ah, really? He's there? Fuck...
Pam: Yeah, sitting in your booth.
JK: Fuck alright, uh, can you give him my number?
Pam: You want me to give him your number? Through me?
JK sensed a weird hostility, or maybe hesitance? But pushed it away.
JK: Yeah, please? I wanna say hi and I know you're on the clock. Plus maybe I could coordinate being there next time with him so we can all chat again.
Pam: Ah. Yeah, okay.
She didn't text again, but JK did get a new message.
[Click to view attachment]
He sat up in his van and tapped to load the image. When it failed to load, he sighed and tip-toed into the house, connecting the phone to his mother's laptop. He dragged the file over and let it load there. It was a selfie, from YG, taken from down low like he was discreetly smiling into his lap. He was clearly in /their/ booth, given the advertisement poster clinging to the window.
YG: Came all this way to see you, and you aren't even here.
JK's heart fluttered. 'To see ME?'
JK: Here I am! Don't miss me too much.
YG: I already do... Why didn't you come?
JK: Didn't know I was supposed to.
YG: You didn't, I just hoped to see you. Talk to you. I like talking to you.
JK: We're talking now, right?
YG: Yeah, I guess we are. So what are you doing?
He ran back to his camper, not wanting his shrieks of joy to wake the family, and kicked his feet in the silence. Rushing around to find a light source, he took a selfie as best he could and sent it back. JK felt the questions getting more loaded as they texted, but refused to believe YG was interested in him that way.
But by the end of the conversation, JK knew a few things.
1. YG was driving an hour EACH WAY to come to the diner each night to see him.
2. YG made JK's heart race in ways he hadn't felt in years.
3. JK felt like the man 17 years his senior... was actually not so out of reach.
Especially not when YG texted or called on every break at work the next day. Or when he texted the entire time his friend Jay dragged him to a strip club. Or the way they set up to meet at the diner on a specific day. It was really solidified that YG was flirting, when they did meet up. Only 2 weeks after first meeting, YG was trying to get JK to "come see the new house" and "Watch a movie on the new flat screen".
JK finally agreed, let his dad know since he was his ride, and off they went. JK sat, stiff as board, in the passenger seat, worried about taking too much space in this man's life. After voicing fears of being on the interstate due to a prior car accident, JK was shocked that YG just nodded...
And then drove an extra 45 minutes out of the way to take only back country roads that were half the speed. When they got to his house, it was spartan, YG having just moved in. But YG turned around, turned on lights, and gestured to each room.
In the would-be dining room, with ugly blue carpet and a dangling lamp that was waiting to decapitate them both, YG turned and smiled at JK.
"Hey"
"Hey..."
"Wanted to ask, can I see your rings??
"OH!" JK jerked his hands forward, presenting his fingers, and blushed "Of course, yeah."
"Pretty" YG said, grasping JK's hands in his own, rough thumbs stroking. He didn't even glance at the rings, eyes locked on JK's face.
And then JK was being gently pulled. Tugged forward by his fingers, into a kiss. His hoodie was suddenly much too hot, suffocating even, and he tugged a finger to release heat at the collar.
YG chuckled, hands sliding down to lift. "May I?"
JK nodded in the dim lighting, breathless. "Y-yeah..."
And so his hoodie was removed, thrown onto a chair. They both removed their shoes, kissing in between. As JK darted his tongue into YG's mouth, he gasped, the taste of coffee and cigarettes fresh on his lips. YG slowly, so slowly, stepped backwards, removing his own shirt. JK followed without realizing, chasing the kiss that was being interrupted, yearning for the rough hands on his body again. The next thing JK knew, they were in the dark bedroom, no clue how he got there. There was a black futon mattress in the middle of the floor, and YG was kicking his belt open, tossing it towards the wall. JK gently kneeled to the bed, turning to face YG, and leaned back. YG smiled, crawling forward, and slid JK's pants off, kissing the skin as it revealed itself. They whispered of teasing conversations they had through texts, heating the coals in JK's belly. YG just knew what to say, and it was so hot. Especially when he called out JK's desires.
"You're the kinda person... That if you turn on their mind, you can own their body..."
"H-how'd you know that?"
Kisses peppered JK's neck and jaw, hot and wet, air blowing across as YG chuckled. "'Cause I know you better than you think babe"
Even though YG worked the next morning... Even though YG had to drive over an hour and a half to take JK home the next day before work... Even though they woke up many times through the night to make love again...
YG spoke nothing but praise. Said only how he'd miss JK, how he wishes he could stay home from work (He couldn't). They spent Halloween together the next weekend, forgetting to turn off the porch light, watching movies. So the candy JK had bought after asking YG what his favourite was, ended up getting tossed into two little kids' buckets. And they talked some more.
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It had been 2 weeks, roughly, since they met. But they were ready to date. They talked about relationship limits, expectations, histories, and so on. Made an educated choice for the both of them, based on practicality and how well they worked together. About a month after meeting, is when JK's mom's landlord demanded his van be moved. YG had called, asking him to come over again, and JK said he couldn't. Had to find a new place to park, and only had 2 days to do it. YG offered his spare room to JK, saying he could park the van in storage. Just for a week, he said, until JK could find someplace better. JK tried to get his mom to watch his cats for the week, but she refused.
He didn't take it personally, he knew her choices weren't hers. It wasn't her saying no, it was her fiance. He's the one that hated cats, after all.
JK dejectedly told YG that was a no-go.
JK: My cats... I can't find anyone to watch them for me to go to your place. I'm sorry :(
YG: Bring 'em! I love cats!
JK: Are you sure? There's three?
YG: Ahh, that's nothing. Yes I'm sure. Are you free now? Need me to come out and pick you up?
JK: Oh! It's so late, I can wait, I don't want to impose
YG: I wouldn't ask if I thought you were imposing. I'm offering.
JK: Um... Sure, yeah, that'd be great.
YG: Already out the door. See you soon babe.
JK flushed at the pet name, and ran inside to tell his mom the good news.
"So that guy? I've been talking to? He's coming here... now... To pick me up."
"OH, your sugar daddy? Alright, you sure it's safe?"
"My-what??"
"I'm not judging Peepie, I was young once. Do what you want, just be safe!"
"I- He's not- We're- NO. He's not... a sugar daddy..."
"I'm just saying it's okay! You know IFFF he is!"
"He's not!" JK flushed hot pink, knowing his mom really thought YG was his sugar daddy, just because he was older.
When she met him, though, she made him a plate of food, made him sit down and eat it like a mother (Even though he was only 5 years younger than her), and hugged him tightly saying "We're keeping you" after she found out he'd called JK's dad a fucking idiot.
"About time someone told him that to his face"
JK's parents never had a bad relationship. They always lived near each other, for JK's sake. So the teasing was all friendly, and in good nature. But his dad's ego did get the best of him sometimes, so JK could feel the seriousness behind her mirth, and chuckled. Never married each other, actually didn't even date more than a few months while JK was busy being born, but always prioritized each other. And had marital bickering down.
🟨🖤☕️🖤🟨
And so, YG slid right into the family. Even though he was older than JK's drunkard of a step-father. Even though he was closer in age to JK's mother; And JK was closer in age to YG's kids. They took to JK quickly, though. YG's daughter flew out of her room one day, while YG was at work and JK was cooking lunch for the two of them, face alight with fresh tears. She gripped at JK's waist, sobbing.
"Please, please whatever happens between you and dad... please don't leave me"
She was only 14, and JK's heart broke hearing her plead with someone her father had only been dating for less than a year.
"Never, kiddo. No matter what, I'll always be here for you okay?" he said, swiping thumbs across her cheeks to rid them of the wetness.
He taught her to crochet (Her ADHD didn't like that one bit, the hook becoming cemented in a ball of knotting that JK couldn't fathom)
He taught her to cook, and especially how to 'make do' with what you have, like making flavoured creamer for coffee so you don't have to buy overpriced pre-made. He taught her to grow herbs, vegetables, and anything she might want. Laughed as she pretended a large zucchini was a dick on her tiny frame. He chased her up a tree, laughed as her summer-kissed freckles grew louder, bare feet in the grass. He pulled grass out of her hair, held her as she cried about boys, and baked her a rainbow cake for her birthday.
And so, it was no surprise that he became her other parent. Even with their ages, when her first serious boyfriend was introduced, she said "These are my parents, YG and JK"
There was no room for 'step' in the equation. She was his daughter, he was her parent, full stop. JK was able to 'mother' her with years worth of love and lessons in just a couple of years, and to this day still runs to answer her every phone call.
He gets mentions on holidays, not her birth-mother. She's never mentioned, at all.
🟨🖤☕️🖤🟨
And YG ultimately ended up proposing, despite saying he would never get married again. JK thought he was joking.
"You don't have to joke just for their sake" He said, nodding at their friends.
"I wouldn't ask if I didn't mean it"
"You know what I want"
"I do"
"Kids. Can you give me that?"
"Yes."
JK, without hesitation, answered, "Then there's your answer."
No ring, hardly any romance, but just like how they started their relationship... Circumstance, comfort, and honestly a whole lot of compatibility tied them together. They weren't each other's ideal type... They wouldn't be called soul-mates in any universe.
But they worked. They orbited around each other so well, silently accepted things and worked on things that worked better with the other, no words needed.
If anyone were to name their relationship dynamic, it'd be "A comfortable silence"
And that's just fine for them.