|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Sat Jan 02, 2021 11:19 am
“She may… for the prestige, but… I feel like there comes a point you’ll just be going back to law books, I think you’d have to!’ Holden murmured as he ate a bite of pizza, plucking off a sliver of green pepper to nibble on as he considered.
“So…she might find that giving you the cases at the firm will be a good start. I don’t even think you’re really allowed to go for super crazy ones till you get a certain level of experience, but I admit I am assuming about that,” he added. “I will be cheering you on regardless,” Holden assured. “And I will make sure you are the best-dressed lawyer at your firm to boot. Also… just my opinion but… if she wants you to do well. She’s going to have to let you choose your own cases eventually. Then you’ll be able to pick ones YOU excel at, not just ones she thinks you should. The fact you’re smart enough to DO this is really… well it’s amazing.” He offered a part of the Pepper to Jace, at least it was a ‘not sweet’ offering. “And… we can treat our meetings like this, as like, little parties! For your milestones!”
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Jan 02, 2021 12:03 pm
Jace leaned over and plucked the pepper from between Holden's fingers without much thought, chewing and then swallowing before answering.
"She'd know more about what I'm 'allowed' to take on." Not that 'allowed' meant anything; if she wanted him to work on a case, she'd have him at her side while she did it herself, or just had him do the work so she could check over it.
...He didn't want any big cases right off the bat. He wanted to start small. He wanted to learn the ropes. He didn't mind doing what he did for his parents already, shadowing them, helping.
He was comfortable there. It had been months since he made his last real mistake.
"When she thinks I'm ready, I'm sure she'll let me choose. For now, she knows best. She wouldn't give me something I couldn't handle."
Not for his sake, but for her own.
She didn't give praise well, that's why he worked so hard to earn it. He didn't want to just avoid failure, didn't want to just meet expectations. He wanted to excel.
...And here was Holden, praising him. Cheering for him. Celebrating with him.
He rested his chin on Holden's shoulder. "I'm pretty lucky to have you, aren't I?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Jan 02, 2021 7:37 pm
“Oh yes, absolutely. I know you dress well on your own, but with me, you have a distinct advantage! Clothes make the man after all!” He quipped. He knew that wasn’t quite what Jace meant, but sometimes silly was better than not. He turned a little to rest his head against Jace’s and let himself be more serious then. “But… in all seriousness. I am lucky to have you too. We’re a good … pair.” he said cautiously. He reached up and gently touched Jace’s face. “Unless you mean it’s lucky you know someone with such good taste in pizza, who’s willing to save you from marshmallows. Dangerously sticky things. Because I’ll save you any time from those. “ Hell, he’d save him even when they were just ghosts of marshmallows.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Jan 02, 2021 8:19 pm
"Mm."
The gentle touch on his face was what sent him into his next flurry of emotions, because he'd just gotten used to one gentle touch and now there was another, and he wondered if anyone had ever touched his face like that.
A teacher, in third grade? When he'd fallen down and skinned his chin? When she lifted his face up while he was biting back tears, trying not to look so weak?
No, that wasn't the same. She'd been afraid.
Holden was...
What was Holden doing?
...Did it matter if he liked how it felt?
In the absence of knowing how, exactly, to answer, and distracted with the tickle of Holden's perfect fingertips, all he could manage was a contented, "Yes."
He narrowly resisted the urge to close his eyes and lean into the touch.
Maybe one day.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Jan 02, 2021 8:30 pm
A soft smile, a thumb rubbing over his cheek bone even without the leaning into his touch… because Jace needed it, he was somehow sure of it. “Well… we can work with Yes,” Holden murmured. “As long as it's any of those things with you.”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Jan 03, 2021 5:22 am
Jace had heard, at least partly, what Holden said. His mind was swimming in warmth, in a strange haze he didn't recognize but supposed it might be some euphoria. He wondered how much he might have agreed to if Holden knew how what those touches did to him.
"I trust you," he said, and didn't know why he said it, because he'd already said yes to something, and all his walls were down. He wasn't making sour faces, or grumbling, or protesting.
It was a fragile peace, and it was temporary. It was a softness that existed between states, in the absence of commands and expectations.
It was private, and personal, and right now, it was Holden's.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Jan 04, 2021 11:18 am
“I’m glad… I am a person of many wicked thoughts you know… but it is good to be trusted. Even by someone as honorable and wonderful as yourself.” He wanted to ask for a kiss… he wanted it desperately. ‘I wish so terribly for you to be happy, truly happy.” He sighed. Which was right when the music surged and made him jump. Not that he had any terrible objection to squeaking and pressing his face into Jace’s neck.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Jan 04, 2021 5:01 pm
Jace wanted to say that he couldn't imagine Holden with wicked thoughts--Holden, and his stuffed animals, and cute clothes, and bubble, friendly personality, but he had a way, a wicked way, of making Jace forget how to speak. Jace was not used to compliments; when he got them from others, they were expected.
They didn't know better. His mother intimidated them as he intimidated them. He worked hard, and the competition he'd had rarely made it difficult for him to prove he was superior to his peers. He exceled.
The people he wanted praise from were on pedestals, unreachable, untouchable.
Xander complimented him. Xander also insulted him, constantly, but they were brothers. They never let each other get too high, and they never let each other get too low.
Honorable, and wonderful. And he'd said so many other nice things today. There was a lump in his throat that felt like it was swelling, like there was something he was supposed to say, something he was supposed to do. He felt like he was light, otherworldly. Like if Holden wasn't there he might have just floated right off the bed.
And then, Holden jumped, and Jace's arms wrapped tighter around him.
And then he laughed. It wasn't a cruel laugh, but it was just so typical.
"You haven't even been paying attention to the show! How can you be afraid of it!"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Jan 04, 2021 5:18 pm
“Because they did that thing with the MUSIC!” Protested Holden. “They NEVER make that sort of rise in music unless the monster is -right there- or it’s about to be!! Plus it’s based on an eastern comic so you never know if they are going to follow -those- rules where they let the music die out and then they GET you!’ He protested -all-of this from hiding in Jace’s neck, finally darling to peer out and squint at the show as though it had already personally offended. “Oh… oh that’s absolutely coming back to haunt someone. Why did I want to almost watch this again?!” He wasn’t quitting though, he was absolutely not quitting, and this absolutely counted as watching.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Jan 04, 2021 5:22 pm
Jace laughed again and reached to move to pizza box in case Holden's legs escaped him and he tried to make a run for it. His arms were around him, safe, and firm.
"It's all imaginary, Holden, you know monsters aren't real. Not like that."
The CG wasn't so convincing that he he could imagine seeing anything like that in real life. The show had been on for a few moments. There was blood pouring on the screen but it looked like syrup. He wasn't convinced, wasn't afraid in the slightest.
"And I told you I'd protect you. How are we supposed to marathon something when you're not even facing the--" he sighed dramatically and reached for the remote. "We're only four minutes, Holden. Do you need me to turn this off? Before something really scary happens?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Jan 04, 2021 5:32 pm
“They might! there are so many stories around this city about monsters and vigilantes you never know!” He protested. “And absolutely not! I want to see how this goes!… even if it's peering out from behind my hands! See! I’m looking! And I’m safe with you! It’s just … look, the only proper way to watch something like this is with someone either to protect or someone you trust to protect you! Therefore, I am in exactly the perfect place to watch this! If I don’t do this for you how could I bear to! I know you’ll say my brother but he’ll just turn it off! So you are not allowed to!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Jan 04, 2021 6:16 pm
Jace sighed, long and weary, like this was truly an exasperating task. "All right," he relented, allowing himself a moment of secret delight to be forced to stay in such a comfortable position. "Well. Tell me if you get uncomfortable or if you can't stand it anymore. I'm not going to be responsible for your nightmares. And, anyway. I'd like to read where you're picking up these stories about monsters and vigilantes. They're probably just click bait and exaggerations."
Probably.
They were curiosities, at least, but Jace didn't put too much faith in things that didn't make sense, especially if he hadn't seen them with his own two eyes.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Jan 04, 2021 7:06 pm
“They might be, I just think it’s interesting that there is SUCH a concentration in this city. I do love to read odd stories after all.” He admitted. “Also if I have nightmares I will hug my pillow and pretend it's you…and if they are -especially bad- I will text you a horrified emoji at around three in the morning.” He leaned back enough to stick out his tongue and tried to make himself settle back into place. “B…besides, I also need to be brave enough to eat my pizza.”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Jan 04, 2021 7:35 pm
"Just...Just don't get so scared you throw up on me," Jace said, and while he was teasing, he drew the blankets up around Holden a bit better to make sure he was snug.
The truth was, he was interested in the strange rumors of Destiny City, too.
It just seemed counter productive to tell him monsters weren't real and then say, but what if...
"It's okay if you're not brave, you know. I'll be brave for the both of us. And if you're ever scared, just call me over. I'll come chase away monsters in your closet. I mean, if you're too embarrassed to tell your brother." And if he wasn't in the middle of cramming. "...You know you can call me whenever, Holden."
That, at least, he meant.
"...I mean, for important things. Don't call me every time you see another bird, you chicken."
And yet, for some reason, he couldn't help but draw Holden close and kiss atop his head like he needed to personally assure his brain that it was not an insult before the thought could creep in and poison this moment.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Jan 04, 2021 9:14 pm
“If it is an especially PRETTY bird, I will send you a picture.” He said firmly. With Holden, even pigeons could earn a snapshot and a send for ‘fine plumage’. “Also I am NOT going to throw up on you!” He added blushing hard. “Though I very much appreciate you being brave for both of us, say something ever happened and I had to…I don’t know... drag you to safety! It… could happen. I’m getting better at keeping up with …the basic work out that my brother made.” He protested. Which meant he was actually -doing- part of it because he really did love his brother and how much he looked out for him. “If there are real monsters… I think you and he would be…the best protection I could ever dream of. but if you DO go vigilante I really want to design your costume.” “Oh… gosh… how do they make fake blood look so…awful!” He shuddered.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
