Work Text:
Reserve all judgments, unless it’s Gatsby. Then assume he has it all, including desire for you.
Long Island, 1922
I sat on the porch of my newly purchased cottage on Long Island, I had one thought only, how I was getting to work the next morning. I had no car and I refused to walk through the dreaded Valley of Ashes. I considered it, but a few days earlier there had been some tension with Tom and Myrtle so I deduced that was not a good plan. Daisy was a terrible driver according to Tom so that was also out of the question. And I didn’t want Tom to drive me either since I was afraid he would drop me off at some scandalous party again filled with the scent of infidelity and domestic violence.
As I pondered my means of transport, a yellow Rolls Royce sped into my yard. “Old Sport, you’re late for work!” The man yelled out. “I know, Jay. I don’t have a ride.” “Ride with me, Nick. We’ll stop at the speakeasy.”
“You know I don’t drink, Jay.”
Gatsby rolled his eyes and pulled me into the passenger’s seat and pulled out of my yard.
***
It had been a week and Gatsby regularly drove me to work, over that time we bonded and had fun. We never did stop for a drink, but that only disappointed Gatsby.
I was sitting on my couch, when a shrill metallic sound rang throughout the room, I ignored it, but then after a few minutes it rang again. I sat up with a grunt and reached over to the table with the red nuisance. I could not reach it though, so I stood up and walked a few steps over to the table. “Nick Carraway, how may I help you…?”
“This is Julian Schwartz.”
“Who?’
“Julian Schwartz. One of Gatsby’s servants. He has asked to be connected with you. Are you available?”
I smiled. “Yes, put him on.”
“Old sport?” “Hello, Jay! How has your day been?” My smile grew, I don’t know why, but it grew. “I have been well, is your schedule full? Are you free?” Gatsby inquired. In the background, I could hear the click of Gatsby's expensive dress shoes as he paced back and forth on his marble floors. I loved that sound.
“Yes, in fact I am.” I wasn’t, but something inside me compelled me to trade a day of work for a day of Gatsby.
“Perfect, uhm… I was wondering… Would you, I.. Uhm…”
“Articulate…”
“Be quiet, Nick. Let me speak.”
“Let you stutter?” I chuckled.
“Nick, come over. Please.”
Come over? Gatsby wanting me to come over? My heart skipped two beats. I couldn’t be seen at one of Gatby’s parties after skipping work though, after all, today was a big day for the market. “I can’t…” I sucked air through my teeth. “Nick, please…” I couldn’t refuse his plea. “My house? You could come over to my house…” I mumbled, still affected by his adorable stuttering over whether I wanted to-
Wait.
I have realized something, Gatsby has been eyeing me like a puppy dog at the table, like I am the food. And he’s been clingy for a week… Is he trying to gain my affection?
Well, he was successful. Now I really want him to come over.
“Gatsby? Hello?”
He had hung up, fuck.
***
I stood by the fireplace, which was next to the window, reading my newest volume about bonds. I then heard a car engine pull up, and the clicking of dress shoes. I walked over to the window and peered out from the curtains. It was Gatsby dressed in one of his nicest suits, and he had a box of something and I froze as he began walking up my pathway.
I went up to the peephole and looked through it. At the same time I was startled by Gatsby loudly rapping the door and calling out my name. I stumbled over myself and fell backwards into a table beside the door with a vase of nasturtiums.
As I laid on the floor on a pile of shards, water, and crushed flowers, I heard Gatsby call for me again. “Nick, are you okay?” Suddenly, the door opened, and Gatsby walked in. “Old Sport? Oh my…” I looked up from the floor, embarrassed and wet, and then stood up. “Hello, Jay. I’m sorry about the mess.”
“It’s quite alright. I’ve brought raspberry cakes.”
I hate raspberries, with a passion.
“Thank you, Jay! Come on in…”
***
Hours later, I promised I’d never drink again after that party in Sugarhill, but here I was 4 glasses deep in whiskey unloading my problems to Jay Gatsby himself.
“After the war, I decided to move here… I wanted to be a writer, but I gave up on that… Now I sell bonds.” I hiccuped and placed a hand on Gatsby’s thigh for support.
“I’m so sorry, Nick.”
‘I have nothing to write about,” I mumbled, “So I don’t pity myself.”
“I miss Daisy.”
Daisy, my cousin…?
“My cousin, Jay?”
‘Yes, Daisy Fay. Or Buchanan… But I love someone else now.”
“I see… Who is the lucky lady?”
“I…”
“Jay?”
“Nick, I’m.. I… I don’t…”
‘Hmm?” I leaned in closely, maybe a bit too close, because I- Oh shit.
Gatsby put his hand in my hair and leaned in, he was but an inch away from my lips. “Oh shit” was all that went through my mind, until Gatsby broke my mental panic attack with his lips on mine. It all happened so fast, I only processed what happened fully when he pulled away.
“I’m so sorry for that, Nick… I’ll be heading out…” I stood up fast and grabbed his arm tightly. He can’t just leave after that.
“Jay, please…”
“No, that was highly inappropriate of me…”
“I didn’t mind it…” I really did, and even if I were sober I would have still enjoyed it.
“Nick, don’t lie to me please…”
I showed him I was being very truthful with a passionate kiss on the lips. He put his hand back in my hair and one hand on my waist, holding me close.
It all went so fast, and suddenly he was on top of me… Everything was going so fast and I loved it. “My god… Don’t kiss me there, it makes me feel strange.”
“Good.” Gatsby continued, and what felt like hours of making out later, we both had less clothing on than we should have. The room was filled with whimpers and gasps, and he completely undid me that night.
God, I think I’ll never forget that night. Gatsby was so good to me. That night, we told each other many secrets, and he knew me, outside and inside… God, that was terrible. I would have done it even if I were sober.
***
That morning, I awoke with a pounding headache and my slacks around my ankles. Gatsby was laying on my legs hugging my waist, he had nothing on except for his garters. Our missing garments were strewn about the living room near the couch we were laying on. I remembered everything at once and felt embarrassed yet relieved from the weeks of tension that had built up.
“Jay, wake up love…”
‘Ungh… 5 more minutes.”
‘Jay, please… I need to pee…”
Gatsby sat up and rubbed his eyes as I stood up to go to the bathroom. As I returned I saw Gatsby pouring himself tea in the kitchen. He was back in his suit but his hair was still messy and his neck was adorned with hickeys. I walked up to him and put my arms around his waist and nuzzled my face into his neck. “Jay, About last night…”
“It’s fine if you didn’t like it…”
“Quite the opposite. I loved it. Again sometime?” I mumbled into his neck.
“Sure, sweetheart.” Gatsby replied while blushing and holding away a smirk.
“I have work, Jay. Can you drive me?”
“Of course Nick, I’ll start the car.”
A few minutes later, As I hopped into the passenger’s seat, I couldn't help but notice the parallel. Just last week we were too afraid to be ourselves, but alcohol lowered our inhibitions and we revealed the truth. I also realized something else. I have now been drunk 3 times in my life thanks to Gatsby.
“Jay, I think I like you a lot.” I looked at him, the sun was in Gatsby’s eyes and it made me smile, Gatsby made me smile a lot.
“Likewise, old sport…” He glanced over at me for a moment before returning his gaze to the road.
“After work can you come back to my house, please?”
“Of course, Nick.”
“Only tea, okay?” I lied through my teeth, I wanted so much more than tea with Gatsby. He does unexplainable things to my heart and ego.
“Sure, Nick…” Gatsby chuckled and then grinned. He knew that I was full of bullshit.
“Only tea.”