Work Text:
"Gris, you got me what?"
"Yes."
"You're crazy."
"I'm in love," Gris sighs dramatically. He laughs as Jin throws her underwear at him with extreme force. The love of his life is currently getting ready for a night at the bar. For what? Gris has no idea because she won't tell him, but he's sure it's a big deal if she wants to keep it a secret. Doesn't matter because, at the moment, Gris is focused on two things: one, how incredibly radiant she looks in her black jewel-encrusted bralette and matching low-rise slit skirt; and two, the brand-new anklet he may or may not have purchased on a whim for her.
"You got me a fucking Cuban anklet? I already have an anklet; you didn't need to spend that money," Jin frowns, but Gris can see the hints of red that dust her ears from where he's sitting on the bed. He tilts his head innocently, dangling the Cuban link as if it were a carrot.
"Anything for my princess. Besides, are you sure you don't want something of mine?"
"I have half your clothes in my closet."
"Enjin."
"Fine!" Jin pouts and waddles over to Gris's welcoming lap, taking her rightful place on his left thigh. Gris smiles at the way she tries to keep her tough outer shell from cracking, but Gris knows better now. He knows that Jin is a lot softer than she lets on to strangers. He knows that she likes her pancakes extra buttery, with crusts around the edges, because it reminds her of home. He knows that she sleeps better when he stays the night, because she's plagued by a past that he doesn't know about, but that's ok. What he does know is that she deserves the best. Jin deserves nice things. Gris plants a warm kiss on her cheek and snorts at the way she looks away, pout deepening. How is that even possible?
"Don't be mad at me, love me instead," Gris nuzzles her, planting a slightly lustier kiss on her neck, relishing in the way she shivers. He grabs her waist with a firm but gentle hold, gently massaging her muscles. She sighs and deflates a little.
"I do love you, but you just spend so much money on me, and what do I do?" Gris notices the way she bites at her bottom lip and folds her arms, itching at her skin. He had no idea how much this was troubling her. Jin has been one of the best things to happen to him in a long time. She opened him up to a world of wondrous opportunities, a world where he can have family, delicious food, and, more importantly, love. Jin has done so much for him; it's baffling that she doesn't see that.
"Come on, Jin—"
"Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know," she huffs, focusing her attention on Gris's hand around her waist. He likes the way she starts fiddling with them; it's a way to signify that she hasn't completely checked out of the conversation. She still isn't looking at him, though, and well, that just won't do. A light chuckle escapes him.
"You know, you honestly do a lot. You won't even let me touch the stove when you stay over. You're like a stay-at-home wife." He enjoys the way she snorts at the idea.
"I would prefer that. I fucking hate my job." What.
"What," he responds intelligently. How Jin can say that with such a deadpan expression is truly beyond him.
"I said what I said. I just have a kid, so there's no quitting for me."
"That's not the— ok, we're tabling that for later. Just please look at me." Gris playfully bites at her shoulder. Jin grunts at this and rolls her eyes at his antics, and finally looks at him. There's always something a little sad about her eyes, Gris has noticed. That there's more than just the skeletons of past lovers that hold her captive. That's ok, because he's here now, and he's not going anywhere. "I love you, you know that?" Her eyes widen as if it's the first time she's ever heard those words.
"Of course…" she glances away briefly and then rolls her eyes so far up her head that Gris is almost afraid that they'll get stuck there. She groans and then points a heatless glare over at him, and he smirks. Jackpot. "Show me the fucking anklet again," she grumbles, holding her palm out. Gris happily plops the precious item into her hand, and oh, the way her eyes nearly pop out of her skull is laughable. "Am I looking at your initials right now?" Gris can't help but feel pride swell in his chest.
"Of course." He plants a kiss on her temple, just because. Jin shoots him an amused look and smirks.
"You think you own me, Rubion?"
"I'm yours, and you're mine."
"Says who?" She jests, and Gris can't help but match her attitude.
"Says you the other night." Gris's smirk softens into a smile at the way Jin barks out a laugh that reverberates against the walls. He can feel himself breathe easier as a glow appears in her eyes. There she is.
"You're so nasty," she giggles as she playfully swats at his chest. He watches her peer deeper at the initials. She cocks her head to the side, mouth ajar, and then her eyes widen again. Gris braces for impact. "Gris."
"Yes."
"Are those diamonds?"
"…Yes."
"I'm gonna kill you."
"Please don't."
Jin starts to chew on her lip again, and Gris notices the way her eyebrows scrunch up in worry. He smooths them over with his thumb and plants a kiss on the corner of her mouth. "It's a nice 3-month anniversary gift. Please accept it." What he really wants is for her to accept his love without objection. To accept his love and not worry about giving him anything in return, because her presence is more than enough. Gris needs to feel needed, to feel of use. He just wants to be good for her. Gris doesn't need to say that, because Jin caught on to every unspoken word by the way he looks at her as if she's the reason the sun rises. She's the gift that keeps giving, as a small smile seemingly sneaks up on her.
"It's gorgeous, big guy. Thank you." Jin kisses him sweetly on the cheek, and he beams at the gesture. "Put this on for me?" She requests as she dangles the anklet in front of his face. He is more than happy to do just that as he takes the jewelry from her. He allows her to loosely wrap her arms around his neck for stability once he removes his other hand from her waist, gently lifting her right ankle. He fastens the anklet and is hypnotized by his own initials that adorn her skin. He can't believe that it's been 3 months already. This all still feels so new and scary, but they're trying, trying to figure out what makes each other tick while also finding ways soothe the aches and pains of everyday life. Gris has never felt so blessed to have someone to take care of. He would hate for this to end. He would hate for Jin to escape from his grasp again. "Gris, look at me."
He flinches, not realizing how intently he was staring at the Cuban link. He looks up at Jin's worried face. Shit, that's not the look he wanted. He feels his chest tighten. Did he do something wrong? Was he being too much? Maybe this was all too much. Perhaps he really should return this gift and try again next month. Maybe—
"I love it."
"What?"
"I love it. You're just a huge bundle of nerves, so your anxiety is giving me anxiety. Take a breath, this is a great gift," Jin beams, and just like that, she somehow manages to breathe life back into him. He takes a deep breath and shares her light expression. This makes her even happier as she puckers her lips and leans forward. "Gimme kiss," Jin coos. Gris playfully rolls his eyes and leans in, and, as always, once they lock lips, he never fails to melt into her, wrapping both arms around her waist and pulling her in as their kiss deepens. Suddenly, he hears the click of a camera, abruptly putting their kiss to a standstill. They turn to see Riyo standing there, camera in hand, with a sickly sweet smile.
"I'm definitely printing this out and framing it. You guys are so gross, by the way," she giggles, and Gris is very fond of her despite how red his face may be from embarrassment. Jin joins in with a laugh of her own… before grabbing her pillow and throwing it at Riyo with impressive aim, nailing her straight in the face with a loud THWACK. A muffled yelp is heard as the force of the throw almost knocks her down.
"Learn to knock, brat," Jin chastises, humor laced in her stern tone. Gris notices a contemplative look creep onto Riyo's face. She glances at the pillow, then back up at Jin. Gris can feel the sinister energy a mile away. He figures that maybe he should step in before he has to stop an all-out pillow fight. Again.
"Riyo, don't even think about it," he warns, holding out his hand. Riyo sighs in defeat as she walks over to the pair, handing the pillow to Gris with an unintelligible grumble. He places it somewhere behind him.
Jin, ever the adult, sticks her tongue out, which Riyo quickly returns. Is it crazy to see that these interactions make him feel like he's floating on cloud 9? He's so deeply fond of this family, and, amazingly, he has the privilege of being a part of it. His mind quickly flits through 3 months' worth of dance parties, pillow forts, and precious family dinners. He leans his head gently against Jin's as he listens to the pair banter back and forth.
"Shouldn't you guys be on the way to the bar anyway? It's like, almost 11:00 pm," she questions, putting a pause on whatever petty back-and-forth her and Jin were engaged in. Jin scoffs and shoos her away.
"Oh, please, they aren't expecting my ass until 11:35. Now be a saint and close the door on your way out," Jin bats her eyelashes, and Riyo can only manage a dramatic sigh with a smile not even she can hide. Gris knows how happy she is that he and Jin finally got their shit together after what felt like ages of pining. He grins as Riyo throws a wink Gris's way as she makes her way out of the room, and he can't help but return the favor.
After the door shuts, Gris turns his attention back to his lover, pressing her tightly into his body as if to mold them into one. Jin grins, squeezing him just as tight. "So," he begins, "do you wanna tell me what this special event is. You don't usually perform on Saturdays." Jin snickers, and Gris can't tell whether or not he should be worried or excited.
"This is still true, I'm just making a little announcement." This doesn't soothe Gris's nerves in the slightest, and Jin takes note, her sharp features melting into something gentle. She kisses his forehead and moves a stray strand of hair out of his face. "Don't worry, handsome, it'll be so worth it. Just trust me." Gris leans into the touch and allows her warmth to melt away all his worries.
"As long as you're not planning on killing me," he jokes. Jin takes one look at Gris and slightly narrows her eyes. Uh oh.
"Speaking of that. How much did you pay for the anklet?"
Gris slowly turns away and looks at… literally anything else but her. He'd actually rather watch paint dry than face her searing gaze. He glances at the clock and notices the time. "We really should get going."
"Gris."
"…Don't worry about it."
"I'm gonna kill you."
𝜗𝜚 ࣪˖ ִ𐙚
"What's this about a special announcement?" Semiu questions, her arm wrapped securely around Mildretta's waist. Gris sighs and takes a swig of his drink, looking over at the way Jin is chatting it up with some of the other queens from across the bar. She seems excited, but for what? Gris is utterly clueless.
"Couldn't tell you, no matter how many times I ask, she just giggles and changes the subject." Gris tries to allow the light buzz of alcohol to calm him down, hoping that it will override the programming in his brain that tells him to overthink everything. It has to be something good if she's so excited. There's a chance that she got a huge opportunity, something that could elevate her career. Gris shakes his head at the thought; Jin seems comfortable with where she is in drag. She's always mentioned how she's built a sturdy community and wouldn't dream of leaving them behind.
"Damn, that Miss Jin & Juice is smoking hot!" An irritating, grating voice abruptly interrupts his initial train of thought. He glances over to some random man talking to his group of buddies, all looking unpolished and sleazy. He grips his glass as anger and frustration surge through his veins.
"Hey man, remember, it's Miss Jin if you're nasty. Haven't seen her take anyone for a ride lately, I usually see her sweet-talking to multiple people at once, wonder if she's become a prude after all this time," quips another guy. There it is, an issue that occasionally keeps Gris up at night. Sure, they've been official to close friends and family, but to everyone else, Miss Jin is a free agent. Doing as she pleases and Gris is… not ok with that. They already had a conversation about slowly easing their relationship into the public eye for their comfort, because, really, it's nobody's business. Gris can't help but want to have that sense of ownership that other couples have. Sure, they're always hugging, kissing, and all-around feeling up each other, but that doesn't stop the lingering stares of other suitors waiting to pounce. More importantly, he doesn't appreciate the disgusting and disrespectful comments that are passed back and forth between dickheads. Before he can even make a comment, Semiu and Mildretta are already on the move.
"Hey, limp dicks, don't y'all know better than to make crude comments about a lady?" Semiu calls out, staring at them from over the rim of her glasses. One of the men scoffs, rolling his eyes and spitting on the floor.
"Oh come on, it's not like she's actually a—"
"Watch it," Mildretta warns, stepping forward, her usual stoic facial expression hardening.
"Tch, and what are you ladies gonna do about it?" The man smirks, putting his drink down on some random table. Gris then makes his way over to the group. A threatening smile dawns on his face as he looms over everyone.
"They can do a lot to you, and I can do even more if you keep talking about Jin like that, ok?"
It's almost amusing how quickly those faux attitudes drop as the group of men scramble to apologize for their ill-advised words. They should've dropped the hypermasculine facade the minute Semiu spoke to them, in Gris's opinion.
"Hey man, it's all love here, you feel me—?"
Tap tap tap
"Hello? Hellooo? Is this thing on?" Calls Jin from the stage. The conversation comes to a halt as all eyes focus on Miss Jin. She has a Tequila Sunrise in one hand, a mic in the other, and her hair is slightly out of place, with a few hair strands falling over her face. She blows them out of her face and gingerly sits down on the stool as if she might fall. Gris quirks his eyebrow, and Semiu snorts.
"Oh, she's drunk as hell." Semiu sighs as she takes a swig of her drink. A fond smile replaces his previous expression as he watches her fiddle with the mic, looking effervescent under the light. Just catching a glimpse of her calms him down.
"She's gonna hate herself in the morning," Gris chuckles. Mildretta and Semiu join, forgetting the idiots they had been arguing with. The music dies down, and all eyes are on her.
"I have called you all here to make an announcement, and I don't usually do that. I just show up and pop a little punany, and you guys give me your money." The crowd laughs, and she giggles in response. "Seriously, though, this is the most important thing I will ever do here, so be prepared." She takes a deep breath, and Gris feels himself copying her. The anticipation is killing him. " I am spoken for." The crowd gasps, Semiu bursts into laughter, Mildretta lets out a small "Oh," and Gris chokes on his spit. This is not what he expected. Jin lets out a loud and boisterous laugh into the mic. "Yeah, I know y'all gagging. Read it and weep, you whores!" Jin extends her right leg upwards and reveals the golden anklet with the "GR" charm. The diamonds dance under the bar lighting. The crowd bursts into various sounds ranging from cheers to the disappointed grumbles of those who wanted a taste of Miss Jin. Gris's jaw is agape as he feels his body start to heat up. Mildretta slaps him on the back and hums with approval.
"That's a nice gift you got her, I'm impressed," Mildretta muses. Semiu calms her laughter down and looks at Gris inquisitively.
"Gris, how much did that cost?"
Gris downs the rest of his drink and gasps for air. "Don't worry about it.
Jin stands up from her stool and peers into the crowd, her eyes squinting as she looks around the room. Once she lays her eyes on Gris, everything about her lights up, and Gris feels like he's floating. "There's my man over there! He's so fine, isn't he? Hiiii, Grissy Poo!" Jin waves flirtatiously at him. Gris, as shy as ever, waves back. All eyes are on Gris, and he feels the sudden urge to crawl into a hole. Then the crowd erupts into a series of oohs, aahs, and whistles.
"Girl, your man looks good!" A random voice calls out, and Jin giggles.
"I know, right? I just needed my bar family to know that I'm taken. This is honestly a pretty big deal, you know? I stepped onto the scene at 20, and let anyone have their way with me. I was in… a rough spot for a couple of years." Jin's eyes grow far away, yet her smile still reaches her eyes. The expression tugs at Gris's heartstrings. "But with the help of friends, family, and Gris, I've grown into a better person. I've learned that through everything, I always deserved love, and I didn't know that then, but I do now." Jin lifts her glass. "Happy 3-month anniversary, Gris." Gris grows misty-eyed as he raises his glass with a warm smile.
"Happy 3-month anniversary, Jin."
𝜗𝜚 ࣪˖ ִ𐙚
"Jin?"
"Mm."
"What have we learned?"
"Ugh."
Gris huffs in amusement at the blonde who is currently starfishing on her bed. Her hair is… questionable at this point. Most of it is covering her face; some is in her mouth. Her lipstick is smudged, which may or may not be Gris's fault, and he is currently holding her heels in his hand. After Jin's heartfelt speech, she took it upon herself to start an all-out party. It was honestly amazing. They were attached at the hip most of the night, making out for half the time and dancing with their friends. It was a celebration of their love, and that meant the world to Gris. Though Gris could have gone without having to keep Jin from trying to climb up to the rafters of the bar, claiming to have a "super cool trick." Gris put a stop to that immediately. After the poor decision of Jin going shot-for-shot with Tamsy, Gris suggested they call it a night before she gets alcohol poisoning. He watches as Jin makes a serious attempt at getting up from the bed… only to fall back with a soft oof.
"I'm never drinking again," she groans, and Gris stifles a laugh.
"You said that last time."
Jin groans and lifts her hands. "Grissy, I need heeelp," she slurs, and who would Gris be to deny her anything? Gris walks over to her and gingerly lifts her into his arms, and she instinctively wraps her legs around his waist. They make their way to her bathroom. Gris carefully lowers Jin back to the ground; luckily, Jin doesn't completely fall over but leans against Gris for support as she turns to face the mirror. "Do I still look pretty?" She asks, her eyes barely open. Gris chuckles.
"You always look pretty."
"Yeah, I know, I just wanted to hear you say it," Jin smirks as she lazily begins to take off her lashes. "Shower with me?" Gris smiles as he gently removes her wig and rubs her undercut; he swears he can hear Enjin purr at the touch. He's like a cat. It's cute.
"Of course, princess."
They take their time stripping, Gris making sure to take extra care of Enjin so he doesn't get tangled up in his top. He sets the water to a temperature that he knows will relax Enjin's aching muscles, and once they hop in, both let out an exhale of pure bliss as the water rains down on them. Gris puts a couple of pumps of shampoo into his hand, lathers, and washes the gel out of Enjin's hair. He washes the day away, paying extra attention to Enjin's scalp just the way he likes it. Enjin hums a tune that he frequently sings when he's cooking on Saturday mornings, with him occasionally singing a lyric or two, followed by "What was the next word? Oh, right." Gris rinses the remaining shampoo from Enjin's hair and lathers body wash in a washcloth, exploring every inch of him, being delicate over the sensitive parts.
Once they finish cleaning up, Gris grabs a towel to dry himself off and ties it around his waist. He watches as Enjin blindly searches around the bathroom and retrieves the fluffy bathrobe Riyo got him for his birthday with a pleased hum. He's not good for Gris's heart. "You can take off your makeup without me, right?" Gris inquires, earning a scoff from Enjin.
"I may be drunk off my ass, but I'm not blackout. Plus, you're not ready to double cleanse this shit off yet." Enjin murmurs in jest, nudging Gris out of the way so he can plant himself in front of the sink. Gris wraps his arms around his waist, leaning his head on Enjin's shoulder as he slowly goes through his routine.
"You never took off your anklet."
"I'm never taking it off. It's yours." Enjin mumbles as he finally washes the rest of his makeup off. Gris can't help it if tears start to well up, a watery smile breaking across his face as he nuzzles into Enjin's shoulder. He feels a soft pat on his head and lets out a soft chuckle. "You're such a softy, Grissy," Enjin giggles. Gris tightens his hold as if Enjin is the only thing keeping him tethered to this earth. He knows Enjin can do without the fancy gifts; his presence is more than enough, but the idea of contributing to the reason Jin shines bright under the stage lights brings him great pleasure. The thought of everyone knowing that Enjin has someone to call his makes Gris feel wanted. Knowing Enjin makes Gris feel like he's uncovering the mysteries of the universe, constantly flipping through the pages of his heart and finding out what makes it swell. Knowing Enjin makes Gris soft. He's always soft for Enjin. He softly kisses Enjin's nape. Enjin hums. "Gris, you're staying the night, right? I don't like being by myself." He sounds so vulnerable that it stings Gris's very soul.
"Of course, Enjin, I'm not going anywhere," Gris assures. Enjin turns his head, a soft smile branding that beautiful face. They share a chaste kiss and gaze into each other's eyes as if they were the only two people worth acknowledging in this world. Enjin grabs two toothbrushes, handing one to Gris, and grabs a tube of toothpaste before pausing and looking into Gris's eyes through the mirror.
"You sure you don't wanna tell me how much that fine piece of jewelry costs?"
Gris stops breathing for a second and then promptly snatches the toothpaste from Enjin, ignoring his protests.
"Don't worry about it."
"Gris."