Chapter Text
The ringing in his ears from the night before followed the steady beat of too much alcohol and not enough sleep that made Robby wonder if it was time he started taking care of himself. His entire body sore from too much exhaustion and, maybe, not enough fluids. Definitely too much time on his feet since a full shift and a concert wasn’t the best combination. His mouth was drier than the Sahara and tasted even worse. The last thing he wanted to do was open his eyes and face the early morning light. Which was funny since, if he’d found himself in that position some months ago—back when he was still in New Orleans—it would’ve been just another day.
If not for the warm press of the naked body at his side, he might’ve went back to sleep. Tried it again. But Robby had become painfully aware of the finger stroking up and down the hair around his navel. So much so that he could picture the soft smile on the guy’s face without even looking at him.
Yawning, loud and wide enough to hurt a little, Robby scrubbed a hand through his shaggy hair before turning to face Jesse. And just like he expected, there was that smile—painfully content as his fingers drifts a little lower than before. Low enough that Robby’s dick twitched its own good morning in hopes of getting some attention. Running a hand through Jesse’s curling, bottle blonde locks to cup the back of his head, Robby snorted.
“You’re up early.”
“It’s nearly eleven,” Jesse laughed before pressing a kiss to Robby’s shoulder.
Groaning, Robby turned toward the bright red numbers of his alarm clock and frowned at them for corroborating Jesse’s claims. Clearly he’d been up for some time. Long enough to eat something given the plate on Robby’s nightstand he didn’t think he had left there the night before. Closing his eyes as he rubbed his hands over his face, Robby muttered faintly about ‘kids’ and ‘lack of sleep’. Then he looked at the ‘kid’ in question—laughing at him simply because Jesse had yet to learn how exhausting his thirties would be and found his morning antics ‘amusing’—and huffed.
The vague idea that maybe he should avoid going to concerts on days he worked a twelve hour shift went out the window the moment Jesse pressed his hand flat against his stomach and nuzzled at the bite mark on Robby’s shoulder. It would’ve been the responsible thing to do—along with drinking less and maybe not smoking at all, if he really wanted to commit to a healthy life—but he was pretty sure he could convince himself he liked the challenge (and begging) that went into leaving at seven on the dot. And even if that was all bullshit and he’d be owing favors til the New Year, getting shoved into the bathroom stall of Club Iaga so Jesse could drop to his knees and suck him off without missing anything since ‘Plain White Ts were the fucking worst’ was in fact worth it.
Though, head throbbing as the light hit his eyes entirely wrong, maybe staying up til three am drinking and fucking and watching MASH wasn’t the best follow up to an already exhausting day. Unlike Jesse, he wasn’t twenty-four any more.
Groaning more from exhaustion than interest as Jesse’s teeth caught the gold hoop in his ear and carefully tugged, he tried and failed to bite back another yawn. “You and that fucking earring,” he muttered with more heat than intended.
Letting go, Jesse rested his cheek against Robby’s shoulder and abandoned his hold on Robby’s thigh to gently thumb at his ear. “Did it hurt?”
“No. It’s annoying first thing in the morning though.”
The hand dropped away with a quiet, “Sorry,” that meant nothing. Robby believed Jesse felt apologetic, but not the right kind since he quickly moved away from Robby’s side to sit his perfect ass on Robby’s hips. The full expanse of his pale body on display before him—bruises and bite marks laid across surprisingly hard muscle—was never a sight Robby turned away from. But, the weight on top of him had made his bladder’s existence known in a way he would have to deal with eventually.
For the moment, Robby rested a hand over the finger shaped bruises on Jesse’s hip and turned his head to the side with a sigh. Just enough to tempt Jesse back with the glint of his earring. Which he took, hook line and sinker; adding a kiss to Robby’s stubbled cheek to the mix as he stroked over the hoop like he was inspecting it’s authenticity.
And really, he wasn’t the first person Robby had slept with that liked his earring. But where women found it kind of sexy and maybe rebellious, Jesse’s obsession felt more clinical. He studied it with teeth and tongue, sure, but also gentle touches and questions that hinted at an underlying interest.
Walking his fingers down Jesse’s spine—mentally naming each vertebrae as he did—Robby sighed as another kiss was placed to the hollow of his jaw. “You know, if you want, I’d be happy to take you to get your own earring.”
He felt rather than saw Jesse scrunch of his face at the idea. Planting a hand against Robby’s chest, Jesse sat up straight and looked down at him with his teeth worrying at his bottom lip as he frowned. Shrugging a shoulder, Jesse squinted in displeasure as he said, “I would have to get my ear pierced to, you know, make that work. And I think my mom would kill me if I did that.”
It was an excuse Robby expected, but also progress from his fears that it would hurt or that he might regret it some how. Placing his free hand behind his head, Robby sucked in a deep breath and thought over the issue with a few thoughtful noises. “Well, I’m sure your mom wouldn’t be thrilled with you fucking a thirty-two year old male attending, but that hasn’t stopped you so far.”
Rolling his eyes as he shoved at Robby—fat lot of good it did with him lying down—Jesse shook his head. “That’s different. She’s never gonna see that. Won’t even know I’m, you know, without me telling.”
Choosing not to touch the topic of Jesse being out since Robby had no place to talk—even if Jesse’s sexuality felt pretty obvious to him mere weeks into knowing him—he contented himself stroking along the guy’s thigh instead.
“OK. So maybe just avoid her for a few weeks like it heals.”
From the look Jesse gave him, one would think that Robby had suggested murder. His blue eyes wide and filled with a horror that hardly seemed warranted and the slightly agape mouth Robby was doing his best not to focus on. After all, he was a grown man. He had his own place, even if it was a dump under perpetual fixing up. Even if they lived in the same city, Jesse didn’t have to see his family if he didn’t want to.
Still, speaking at though it should've been obvious, Jesse told him, “I can’t avoid my mom. I mean, even outside Thanksgiving coming up and then Christmas, she’s my mom. I mean… Could you avoid your mom for that long?”
“My grandparents raised me, so I’ve been doing it all my life,” Robby laughed.
And he really had nailed the humor—finding more amusement in Jesse’s claims than anything— but Jesse didn’t find it funny. Instead his look of horror turned to one of mortification over stumbling into a something he couldn’t have known about. The rush of apologies and condolences and questions that Robby hated since he was a kid built up like a bad storm, ready to spill past Jesse’s otherwise perfect lips.
So, instead, he cupped the back of the Jesse’s neck and pulled him into a kiss. A searing kiss that left no space for concern as he took his time working Jesse’s mouth open with teeth and tongue—morning breath be damned. Kept at it until Jesse was clutching at his arm and hair. Soft noises spilling from his lips that became sad little whines when Robby finally pulled away.
Far more satisfied with the annoyed pout on Jesse’s face than the embarrassment, he laid back down and smiled as he watched the guy’s brain try to catch up with him. All flushed cheeks and half hard. It was a damn good look on him.
Placing his hands behind his head, he hummed softly to himself. “But you’re right. If I suddenly disappeared right before the holidays, I’m pretty sure my Babulya would hunt me down. So, either you wait or stand up to your mom.”
The way Jesse seemed to blanche at the thought was its own answer. Leaning back to rest his hands on Robby’s thighs, he settled into one of his erotic little sulks, staring off at the Mardi Gras mask Robby had hanging from his wall. Not that he meant it to be erotic. But leaned back as he was, cock not quite erect as the light cast little shadows over his abs, it was difficult for Robby not to take interest in him.
Propping himself up on his forearm, Robby slid his other hand up Jesse’s thigh to run over the firm planes of his stomach. Selfishly taking in every twitch and hitch of breath until paused to cup the gentle swell of his chest. Circling his thumb around Jesse’s nipple until it stiffened to a mouth watering peak, Robby smiled. “You know, we could always get you a nipple ring. She’ll never see that.”
Leaning into the touch, Jesse looked down at the hand on his chest as he worried at the corner of his lip. His head tilting back and forth as he considered what had been a bit of joke. Although if Jesse was more willing to get his nipple pierced than his ear, well, Robby would happily support that. Fuck, if the guy kept squirming in his lap like he was, he’d pay for it himself.
Well, if he didn’t piss himself first.
Reluctantly shoving Jesse off of him, Robby forced himself out of bed—shivering at the lack of warmth and increased pressure gravity put on his bladder. Looking to where Jesse laid on his stomach, more than a little annoyed, he nodded toward the bathroom door with an apologetic look.
“Seriously, no matter what you want to pierce, I’m here for it.”
Jesse rolled his eyes, though it felt undercut by his smile. “Thanks, but I think I’m going to start with my ear. Eventually.”
“Eventually?”
“Yeah. I mean, I have to find a decent place to get it done. Which means I have to have the money. And you’ve seen my place. That’s kind of a priority, financially speaking.”
Resting his hands on his hips, Robby gave his best disappointed stare. Not that Jesse’s place wasn’t a complete disaster—as one would expect a dirt cheap fixer upper to be—but it was also an excuse. Just like saving up money or finding a parlor were excuses. After all, short of the few weeks of healing, the entire procedure was a ten minute process that even a med student with a steady hand could do.
“OK,” he said, shifting from foot to foot in an effort to alleviate his bladder’s concerns. “We’ll do it at the hospital. It’ll take fifteen minutes tops and I’ll do it myself.”
Laughing at the offer, Jesse shook his head in disbelief. A kind of disbelief that stopped being funny the longer Robby stared at him waiting for an answer because it meant he was serious. Something that had Jesse sobering up as he stared at him with wide eyes and mouth agape. “Wait. Mmm—Uh... That—That’s—”
“What? You’d rather go to Claire’s?” Robby questioned teasingly. Crossing over the bathroom, he gave a final shrug. “Look, it’s something I learned to do during Med school and I got even more practice when I was in New Orleans. I know how what I’m doing and I’ll only charge you food, beer and a night of sex.”
The hollow sound that Jesse let out could hardly be called a laugh as he started to chew at his lip, yet again; brows drawn together in earnest thought. With a little needling, Robby knew he could push him into the idea. But the last thing he wanted Jesse’s decision to be was the result of his meddling. The guy needed to be certain of his own choices.
And frankly Robby’s bladder wasn’t going to allow him much more time to convince the guy.
“Just think it over. Take your time.” Gesturing over his shoulder, Robby offered up wincing smile. “I’m going to piss before I wind up with a UTI.”
“Again?” Jesse said he rolled onto his back.
With a fake smile and his middle finger raised for Jesse to see, Robby rushed into the bathroom and made sure to slam the door behind him.