Chapter Text
“Just confess, dude.” Connie shook his head and huffed. “You’re acting like an unstable hormonal teenager. Jean, you’re already banging, what more evidence do you want?”
Jean wished the floor would just open up and swallow him. It had been almost a week since Marco had said “I love you” and it was playing endlessly in a loop in his head. That wasn’t a bad thing...it was more the guilt that was accompanying it because he hadn’t answered Marco back!
Why?! Why hadn’t he said the three words as soon as Marco had. Because he had been too shocked and then once his brain had realigned itself Marco had fallen asleep. If he had woken Marco up to tell him, it would just be awkward. So Jean had convinced himself to just say it in the morning.
But then the words had gotten stuck in his throat and as soon as he had said “Good Morning” instead of “I love you too” the entire spell was broken. Now Jean felt like he would have to explain why he hadn’t said it before and then Marco would be sad and-
“Jean, seriously man. You’re going to blow a fuse if you think about this any harder.” Connie laid a comforting hand on Jean’s shoulder. “Just do it while you’re giving it to him, I’m sure Marco would be thrilled.”
Jean groaned and buried his face in his hands. “I don’t know why I tell you anything.”
“Because I set you straight. I speak the truth and only the truth.”
Thankfully the phone began to ring and Connie moved to his own desk to answer it. Jean sighed again and tried to get his paperwork started. His stomach grumbled and Jean was reminded of the fact that he had skipped lunch. Even food had become unappealing as Jean’s mind ran in hectic circles.
He had to decide something soon. It made his palms sweaty just thinking about it.
“If you don’t want to be the sunflower I’m not going to make you.”
Jean blinked the sleep out of his eyes. He was draped over the couch with his head on Marco’s lap. It must have been the tenth time he had sighed that hour. It was just- Marco was so sweet and so comfortable, and loving...and he should have a boyfriend who wasn’t afraid to voice their emotions.
He knew Marco would be happy if he said it. But than that added pressure to him and now just the simple act of watching the news together was stressing him out.
“...Um, Jean?” Marco’s voice was timid and he had stopped running his hand through Jean’s hair.
Jean realized he had never answered Marco’s question. “No, that’s not it.”
“What’s wrong? You’ve seemed a little down lately.” Marco’s voice was soft and reassuring. It made Jean feel even more guilty.
“It’s nothing.” Jean knew his answer was clipped but if he said anything else he was afraid his voice was going to crack and he was going to do something stupid.
“If you need anything, you know-”
Jean sat up so fast he almost smacked into Marco’s chin. Marco’s eyes were wide with surprise. “Wha-?”
They stared at each other, both confused but for different reasons.
“That’s not what I-” Jean growled and ruffled his hair in irritation. “I’m tired. I’m going to bed.”
Jean stood up and shuffled into their bedroom. He didn’t give Marco even the chance to kiss him good night. Jean collapsed onto their bed and curled up into a ball after throwing the covers up. Sighing again, Jean wished he could actually say what he meant. His entire body was trying to turn him back so that he could apologize, but Jean refused to listen to it.
“God, I am so emotionally constipated...” Jean groaned softly to himself as he closed his eyes. He had just made everything a billion times worse.
Jean was a coward and pretended to not wake up when Marco got up and dressed for work. He pretended to not feel it when Marco kissed him on the top of the head when he left. When Jean finally dragged himself out of his bed, he wanted to collapse on the floor and have a very long pity party. A sad, emotional party where he could wallow in how pathetic he was- yeah, it was going to be a long day.
Picking Sam up had never been such a painful experience. The whole classroom seemed to be thick with tension and from the look in Sam’s eyes, Jean knew he was in trouble...lots of trouble.
She grabbed his hand and practically dragged him out of the classroom. Jean caught Ray’s eyes and he gave Jean a sympathetic look- he was so screwed. Jean allowed Sam to pull him down the sidewalk only hoping that she would wait to make a scene until after they got home.
Sam did wait, but once the door was closed her frown deepened and she crossed her hands over he chest. Jean stood silently with his head bowed. He was going to hate hearing what she was going to say but he deserved to hear every word of it.
“Mr. Bodt was so sad today.”
Jean felt his chest break in half at the few sadly spoken words. Jean had been a jack ass plenty in his life but he had never felt this low. It was terrible. Jean waited for more but all Sam did was take his hand.
They stood in silence for a moment. Sam squeezed her older brother’s hand reassuringly.
“Do you not love him now?” Sam’s voice was barely above a whisper and Jean knew Sam had been thinking about it all day. It was the final dagger in Jean’s already weak heart. He fell to his knees and pulled his baby sister into a fierce hug.
Her arms wrapped around him and Jean struggled not to cry. “No, nothing like. In fact, it’s about the farthest from the truth that you can get.”
“Then why was he so sad today?” Sam’s whispered fiercely in Jean’s ear.
Jean bit down on his lower lip. How truthful should he be? Sam was five and not his shrink. Still, she understood them both and although he won’t go into all the details, it seemed like she deserved to know.
“I let myself get stressed about something and I snapped at Marco.” Jean said as he gently rubbed circles on Sam’s back.
Sam pulled away, her eyes wide. “You bit him?”
Jean’s eyes narrowed in confusion. Sam continued to look at him in absolute horror. Finally, Jean let out a huff of a laugh. “No, I mean I got mad at him when it wasn’t his fault. Then I wasn’t smart enough to apologize.”
“You always said apologizing doesn’t make you weak but stronger.” Sam tilted her head to the side and crossed her arms.
“Yeah, I did, didn’t I?” It was hard getting a dose of his own ‘wisdom’ from Sam. It was easy to dole out the advice, but it was certainly harder to follow it. I really have made a huge mess over the smallest thing. Telling Marco he loved him wasn’t ‘small’, but it had become a huge monster that should have never been.
Jean nodded. “Thanks. I needed to hear that.”
“Does that mean you’re going to say ‘sorry’?” Sam eyed him and Jean was reminded of his Mom. He had to press his lips together in an effort not to laugh. Sam was being serious and so Jean needed to treat her with respect. He had learned after working with kids at the Koban that kids sometimes needed it even more than adults. Plus she was being more mature than him at the moment.
“I was going to ask for a snack...but you should go say ‘sorry’ now. That’s more-” Sam’s eyes screwed up and her eyes looked up, grasping for the word.
“Important?” Jean supplied helpfully.
“Yes, that.” With one final hug, Sam took off her backpack and ran into the house. After she turned the corner into the kitchen, her head popped back out. “Bye! Love you!”
“Love you too.” The words came easily and it made Jean’s heart lighter. When he said those few words to a person he really cared for it wasn’t hard to say them at all. Especially when he knew it was a person who really meant what they were saying.
Jean let out a steadying breath before he opened up the door to their apartment. Even though he knew it would all work out, that didn’t mean it made it any easier. Marco was on the floor of the living room papers scattered all around him. His glasses were on the very tip of his nose, and when he snapped his head up to look at Jean, they almost fell off.
“Hey.” There was a hesitant smile on Marco’s face and Jean hated knowing he had been the one to put Marco into such an unsure mood.
“First of all, I’m sorry.” Jean maneuvered his way around the papers and crouched down so that he could give Marco a crushing hug.
Marco made a squeaking noise as Jean hugged him even harder. Pulling away, Jean placed a quick kiss to the side of Marco’s surprised mouth. Jean pressed their foreheads together. “I was a real ass and you did nothing to make me act in such a mean way. And even if you had, that still doesn’t give me an excuse to hurt your feelings or ruin your day.”
Marco’s eyes soften. The hesitant smile turned into a real one. “Thank you.”
Jean knew he could leave it at that. Marco would accept his apology and not ask for more. He trusted Jean and that mattered more to him than anything else. And Marco deserved to know how he felt too.
“The reason is,” Jean took a deep breath. “I love you.”
“Huh?” Marco’s eyebrows bunched together and he looked totally confused.
Jean laughed. “I still managed to fuck it up. I heard you, I should have said something then, and I let it get to me and I was an ass...So, basically, I love you too.”
Marco launched into his arms and a flurry of loose-leaf papers flew up as Jean smacked hard onto the floor. Jean could barely catch his breath as Marco started to kiss him senseless.
Marco was persist with his kisses and they steadily grew deeper; as if he tried to be swallowing Jean whole. Jean, finally regaining his wits, wrapped his legs and arms around his wonderful, loving, forgiving boyfriend. God, what did I do to deserve to be so happy? It was so cheesy and it just made Jean want Marco more.
“You’re wearing too many clothes.” Jean breathed when Marco started to kiss his way down Jean’s jaw.
“I love you.” Marco whispered into Jean’s ear.
Jean’s entire body shivered. They’re frantic movements slowed and they held onto each other, just basking in the presence of the other person. Marco’s lips were soft as the pressed kisses along Jean’s temple and the sensitive spot under his ear.
“Don’t ever feel like you can’t talk to me. I want you to feel comfortable telling me whatever you want- whether it be good or bad. I hate not knowing what your thinking.” Marco shifted so that he laid at Jean’s right side.
Jean turned his head and kissed Marco’s nose. “I can’t say that I won’t but I can promise that I’ll try my hardest not to act like an emotionally stunted teenager ever again.”
Marco laughed. “That works too. And I promise not to feel like I can’t tell you how I honestly feel too.”
“Good.” Jean knew his eyes were glossy as he looked into Marco’s own shining eyes. “So what’s the plan for dinner?”
“Let’s just order something. I’m too drained to bother with cooking. And I don’t want you as far away as the kitchen.” Marco latched onto Jean’s side a little tighter. “I’m feeling exceptionally needy today.”
“I couldn’t agree more.”
They laid like that for a while longer. Just hearing Marco breathing, the feel of his chest as it expanded with air, basking in the glow of being their together made the stress from the last few days melt away. Eventually, Jean’s stomach started to growl.
“Pepperoni?” Jean’s voice was thick from nearly falling asleep.
“Ham and Pineapple.”
“Our own pizzas and a side of cheese sticks?”
“Perfect.”
“Now where are we ordering from?” Marco asked.
Jean shrugged his shoulders. “Don’t care. Just so long as you do it. I can’t face even the pizza guy right now.”
Marco giggled. “I understand.”
For the next few days, Jean was ridiculously happy. He couldn’t believe how happy Marco made him. Everyday was an explosion of rainbows and kittens. Okay, maybe not that far but he was pretty sure it was disgusting for anyone else to watch the hearts that would grow in his eyes anytime he thought of Marco. Jean found that he would just start humming at the most random times at work and it was always the cheesiest of love songs.
Connie just shook his head and sighed in mock exasperation. “All right. I get it. You’re happy to the point that it’s disgusting. Can you stop walking around with that stupid smile on your face now? Every time I see it, I’m forced to remember the fact I’m single.”
Jean smiled wider. “It is disgusting, isn’t it? I haven’t been this happy since...” Jean paused for a moment and thought about when he had really been this happy. “I suppose since I found out Marco liked me back.”
Connie snorted. “Really, dude? Don’t you dare start writing poetry or composing love songs. Why don’t you just marry him?”
Jean knew Connie was only joking but it struck a cord with him. “Marry him?”
Cocking up an eyebrow, Connie asked, “Don’t tell me you’ve never thought of it?”
Jean licked his lips and looked up at the ceiling. “I don’t know. I mean, we haven’t even been dating for a year...”
“So? When you know, you know. I can’t imagine you being anymore happy with another person.” Connie shrugged. “Then again the longest relationship I have had is with my right hand.”
Jean tried to squish that mental image. Still, Connie did have a point in his ramblings. “I have to wait until Sam isn’t in his class...”
Connie cocked his head to the side. “And that’s over when? Like a few months? You’re getting ready for the Spring play already. You do remember that the school year is over in May, right?”
Jean stayed silent.
Connie’s face took on a serious note and he patted Jean’s shoulder. “I’m not saying you have to marry him or anything like that...I suppose- Look, I just don’t want you to get all confused again, all right? You’re a good guy and I’m sure Marco is even better. I’m just saying, don’t let something stupid ruin that.”
Jean looked down at the papers on his desk. His hand came up and placed a quick squeeze over the hand on his shoulder. “Thanks.”
Connie took his hand away and cleared his throat. “Well, I can be pretty smart when it comes to this sort of thing.”
“Is that why you’re single?”
“Shut up.”
And with that the seed had been planted and for the rest of the day all Jean could think about was how handsome Marco would look in a tuxedo. And how thrilling it would be to have a ring on his finger and for the matching one to be on Marco’s left hand. To know that they would belong to each other for the rest of their lives made Jean’s chest constrict in the best way possible.
“Shit.” Jean whispered to himself. He really did want to get married. Boy, was he in trouble.
“You have got to be kidding me?” Jean stood in the middle of their apartment dressed green overalls. He had a green turtleneck on and even green gloves. That wasn’t the part that was embarrassing- No, that was the wide sunflower petals surrounding his face.
Marco bit at his lower lip trying to keep in his giggles. “You look beautiful. Like a blossoming flower.”
Unable to stop himself, Marco hugged his stomach and burst into a fit of laughter. Jean rolled his eyes and tried to remember why the hell he had ever promised to help Marco was his school play.
It was one thing to have Marco laughing at him, it was another to know that the entire student body and all of their parents were going to have a chance to laugh at him a week from now. His one solace was knowing that Marco was going to dress up as a rabbit. Jean had yet to see the costume but Sam had reassured him that it was a thing to behold. However, Jean was sure he would just look stupidly adorable with his freckles, glasses and a pair of rabbit ears.
They were having dress rehearsal in a few days and Jean hoped to get all of his laughter out at Marco then...and most of his mortification. The one bright side was already being in a relationship so he didn’t have to worry about trying to look ‘cool’ for anyone. For christ’s sakes, it was his boyfriend making him do it to him in the first place.
“Maybe you could use it as a Halloween custom when we take Sam out trick-or-treating.” Marco managed to say through the last of his laughter.
“Ha-ha. You crack me up.” Jean shrugged. “If anything, I could be Luigi.” That thought made Jean smile evilly. “I suppose that means you would have to be Princess Peach.”
Marco’s laughter stopped and he shook his head. “There are two things wrong with that sentence. Number one- Luigi dated Princess Daisy not Peach. Number two- I would be Mario.”
Jean snorted. “I suppose ‘Marco’ and ‘Mario’ are enough alike. Except that would just be incest. How about you be Yoshi?”
“What, bestiality sounds better to you?”
Jean laughed and the petals around his face shook. “That- I have no idea what to say to that...I think I’ve been a bad influence on you!”
“Maybe.” Marco smiled wickedly. “I must admit I do like speaking my mind more than before. I feel like I can be more open.”
They shared a knowing look. They both knew what it was like to be in a relationship where they were constantly walking on egg shells.
Jean took the flower petals off. “Thank god I won’t ever have to do this again.”
“Believe it or not the more you do it the less you care. I remember my first year...” Marco turned a nice shade of red. “I was Anpanman. It was terrible.”
Through his laughter, Jean gasped out. “I bet you were adorable.”
Marco frowned. “I was fresh out of college and single. Do you think I wanted to be adorable? After that I knew I was going to be single forever.”
“Aww, don’t say that.” Jean let his laughter pitter off. “You shouldn’t be so hard on yourself.”
“Sorry. I don’t mean to be.” Marco put his chin on his hands and his eyes clouded over with memories. “I was just too soft spoken...not confident enough or whatever to get dates.”
“That’s not a bad thing. You just had to find someone someone loud enough,” Jean walked over and kissed Marco on the top of his head. “Loud enough or stubborn enough to embarrass himself for you.” He sat down and wrapped an arm around Marco’s waist. Marco let out a small sigh and placed his head on Jean’s shoulder.
“I know.” Except Marco didn’t sound like he believed it at all.
Jean snorted. “Wow, you’re so convincing.”
Marco moved his head in closer and snuggled up against Jean’s chest. “I’m happy I have you. It’s just that- I suppose everyone feels like that sometimes but when you do its like you’ll never feel any different.”
Jean fought with the urge to either laugh it off or play it down. He hoped Marco won’t hear his heart beating like a jackhammer in his chest. Jean’s throat was tight as he went for just stating the truth. “I feel the same way.”
The play was only two weeks away and Jean had barely spoken a few words to Marco in the last few days. They were both running around in circles, collapsing into bed at the end of the day with barely a word between them.
Marco was super busy finishing everything for the ending of the school year and the final touches of the play. There had been some problems with graffiti and vandalism in the area, and so Jean and the other police officers in his Koban were in the middle of conducting extra surveillance.
Jean blinked the sleep out of his eyes as the first rays of sunlight filtered in. Marco groaned and buried himself deeper under the covers. It was a Saturday and they both had a little time to sleep in. And they were trying to do just that- sleep. But their bodies’ internal alarm clocks weren’t allowing them too.
“What time is it?” Marco’s voice was muffled as he spoke mostly into his pillow.
“Too early.” Through squinted eyes, Jean looked at the clock on the night table. “It’s 7. This is ungodly.”
Marco agreed as he curled even closer next to Jean. “I just want to hibernate for the next hundred years.”
Jean didn’t hear that. All he could pay attention to was the erection pressing against his thigh. Suddenly, Jean’s body decided to remind him that the most he and Marco had done in the last week was to have a few intense make-out sessions before falling asleep mid-kiss.
With a happy hum, Jean turned to his side and sought out Marco’s mouth. Marco’s morning breath was tart but Jean found he didn’t care as Marco’s sleep warmed skin curled around him as their limbs began to tangle together.
Both of them were only wearing boxers and Jean was never so happy that there was little clothing that he had to deal with. Even the thought of taking off clothes seemed like too much work. They continued just to kiss each other, Jean barely rubbing his body against Marco’s.
Marco draped his leg over Jean and wrapped his arm around his back to draw him closer. Marco mumbled something but the words just washed over him as the sleep still made Jean’s brain fuzzy.
The friction was deliciously slow and they just continued to nib and bump against each other, slowly building up until Marco’s hand pushed down Jean’s boxers and Jean did the same. Jean moaned deep in his throat as he felt the pressure in his lower belly starting to build.
Jean’s legs tightened and he knew he was reaching the point of no return. Thankfully, Marco could read his body better than he could and had already dipped down to wrap his pink lips around his cock. As soon as moist lips touched him, Jean came. Even his orgasm seemed slow and hard as it made his skin tingle. Marco took an extra moment to lick around his softening cock before pulling away.
Marco made a low whining noise and Jean’s hand moved of its own accord. Jean’s fist was loose and Marco thrust up into it, gently rubbing the tip of his cock on Jean’s thigh as he did so. They pushed and pulled into their kisses. Lips and tongue clashing together as Marco’s own orgasm began to make his cock even harder.
Moving faster than he thought he could, Jean wrapped his lips around the tip of Marco’s erection right as he came. Marco called his name as Jean took the entirety of his length into his mouth as warm come coated the roof of his mouth.
Like Marco, Jean took another moment to just feel Marco in his mouth before releasing him. Jean placed a quick kiss to one freckle before wiggling up the bed to press a kiss to Marco’s mouth. Jean exhaled from his nose and Marco giggled as it ticked his nose.
Finally Jean pulled away from the kiss, “Sleep?”
“Yes, please.” Marco’s eyes were already half closed and voice slurred when he answered.
“Good.” Jean turned around so that he could snuggle up against Marco’s warm front. They were both still sticky and Jean could feel it against his ass as he rubbed up against Marco but he would that he couldn’t care as Marco’s arms enveloped him and pulled him closer. It could definitely wait.
“WHAT?!” Sam shrieked when Jean told her that he was thinking of asking Marco to marry him. He wanted to see what Sam thought of him before going any farther with it. His Mom had seemed over the moon with the information and Sam, once she had gotten over her shock, was dancing around the kitchen.
“Really? You are?! Can I call him ‘Marco’ now? Can I wear a pretty dress to the wedding? Can I be in the wedding?! I want to throw flowers! Does that mean you’ll always be together? Hurrah! This is the best day ever!” Sam finished her dance and leaped into Jean’s arms.
Jean figured Sam would be happy but he hadn’t been expecting this level of excitement. Holding his sister tight, Jean smiled. “So I guess that’s a ‘yes’ then?”
“Duh! Of course I want you to marry him! Mr. Bodt is the best ever. He’s such a nice teacher and he’s just the best!” Sam explained.
“I know what you mean.”
“Do you have the ring yet?” Sam’s eyes sparkled. “Does it have a huge diamond?”
Jean laughed and kissed Sam’s forehead. “No, just a simple silver band probably. But if Marco does happen to want a diamond, I’ll buy him the biggest one ever.”
“You better.” Sam’s eyes grew serious. She gripped the sides of Jean’s face and looked him straight in the eyes. “You better be super nice to him. Pinky promise?”
Sam help up her hand. Jean raised his hand and hooked their pinkies together. “I promise.”
It had finally come. Jean both loathed and welcomed it.
It meant the end to early morning and late nights...but it also meant- Jean fumbled at the ring in his pocket. Maybe he should have said something, maybe he should have discussed it with Marco before...It was an impulse buy and yet it wasn’t. He had gotten a huge amount of money for working overtime and the only thing Jean had wanted to do with it was go out and go to the mall.
At first Jean had looked half-heartedly at some clothes. Then he had wandered over to the sporting goods store, all in an effort to see if it would get rid of the nagging need Jean had to go look at rings.
It didn’t work and after an ice cream, Jean finally admitted to himself that he better just go look at the damn rings already. He had looked over the necklaces and earrings...eventually reaching the rings. They all looked to flashy or gaudy and it barely took Jean five minutes to leave the store.
But this was the mall and there was more than one jewelry store. And three stores later, Jean had found the perfect ring. The shop assistant had asked if Jean wanted it sized, but Jean had no idea what it was (which made him feel flustered and insecure) as she had just wrapped it up and ringed it up.
Now the small metal ring was a heavy weight that both lightened his heart and made his palms sweat. Not only that, but it was the night of the Spring school play. Now they were at Sam’s house and his Mom was curling Sam’s hair. He wanted to propose tonight, he didn’t want to propose tonight.
Jean had the sudden thought of pulling off the petals on his outfit to call out ‘I should propose, I shouldn’t propose’ it made him giggle and some of just how ridiculous he was being made Jean’s shoulders relax.
He and Marco had a fantastic relationship. A nearly fucking perfect relationship. Jean knew he couldn’t ask for more and even if he could have it, he won’t want it unless it was Marco giving it to him. Jean had never figured himself a ‘marrying man’ but with Marco, Jean found that it finally made sense to him.
Jean paced through the living room, out into the kitchen and then around again. It was almost comedic- him in green overalls and pacing around when he knew (really he knew) that no matter what, it would work out. That was why he loved Marco like he had never loved another person before. Marco would understand and they would work through it and that security was important to Jean.
“Jean! Look at my curls!” Sam ran out of the bathroom with her hair in tight ringlets. Jean plastered a smile on his face before he turned around. Except it was only fake until he actually caught sight of his little sister.
She was beaming at him. She had on an oversized bathrobe that had her dress underneath it. Jean bent down and extended his arms forward. Sam catapulted herself into Jean’s open arms. She giggled and Jean sneezed as he inhaled a lungful of hairspray.
“Aren’t you going to put your make up on?”
As if the costume hadn’t been embarrassing enough, they had decided that everyone should wear eye shadow and some of the others had face pain. It had taken all of Jean’s willpower not to throw himself down on stage and have a hissy fit of epic proportions.
Remember this isn’t for you. This is for Sam. This is for memories and all that fluffy happy crap. Keep it in. He really wasn’t that angry, it was hard to not just be sarcastic. Sam would be hurt and not understand. “Yeah, I’ll have Mom do it now.”
Their Mom had walked out of the bathroom and was looking down at them indulgently. “You two make quite the picture. I’ll have you know I require photos before we leave.”
Sam cried out “Hurrah!” and Jean buried his face into Sam’s shoulder. His Mom would only laugh if she caught the expression on his face.
The auditorium was packed and Jean was surprised to feel excitement building in his chest. He had always enjoyed acting in plays when he was in school and it was easy to go back to that time...except now he was almost four feet taller and twenty years than most of the other people in the play.
Marco bit back a giggle when he caught sight of Jean. They stole a kiss behind the curtains. “You look like Madonna.”
“Like a virgin?” Jean wiggled his eyebrow.
Marco rolled his eyes. “Okay, maybe more like a-” Realizing he had no real comeback, Marco just sighed through his nose in defeat.
Jean clicked his tongue. “Touché.”
Suddenly, there was a shift between them and Marco’s eyes grew wide. “Jean, I have no idea what I’m doing.” Marco’s voice was low and he clung to Jean’s sleeve. “There’s so many people...what happens if it all goes wrong? This always happens. I get so nervous-”
Jean bent down to steal another kiss. “Don’t expect perfection. Just have fun!”
Marco nodded but he didn’t quite looked convinced. “Yeah, I know. Urg, I’m just- Well, you know.”
“Mr. Bodt!! I can’t find my wand!”
Marco’s head whipped around. “I’ll be right there, Sasha!”
“I have to go.” The way Marco whispered the few words, Jean would have thought they were in a war zone being separated forever. There was pure desperation in it.
“I’ll never forget you.” Jean whispered dramatically.
Marco’s eyes flashed with a cross between playfulness and exasperation before he ran off towards the voice. After that, Jean did what he could to help the other children. Thankfully he knew most of them by name from both Sam and Marco, and he was able to be of some help.
“You look better than me.”
Jean looked down to see Ray. The small boy was dressed as a bee and looked even less pleased than Jean had been earlier. Ray’s face had yellow face paint all over it and he looked ridiculous. Of course, Jean knew better than to say that.
“No, I don’t.” Jean gave him his best look of compassion.
“Liar.”
“But just think how happy your parents will be and Mr. Bodt too.” Jean was trying his best to remember that as well.
“He’s not my boyfriend.” Ray grumbled.
Jean felt his entire face light up. “Wha-?”
Ray looked up at him. His entire face said ‘What? Do I look like an idiot?’ “Sam told me. Although it was pretty obvious anyway.”
“Um, you-” Jean tried to sputter out.
“You’re going to marry him, right? Weddings are dumb but Sam likes them.” Ray stated.
Jean stood flabbergasted. Shaking his head, Jean tried to rearrange his thoughts. “Did you say anything to Mr. Bodt?”
Ray frowned. “I’m not stupid.”
Jean blinked in surprise. “That’s not what I meant. Just-”
“No, I didn’t day anything to Mr. Bodt. I only told Eren and Auruo.” Ray cut him off.
Jean’s eyes widened. “You did what?”
“Well, Sam only said not to tell Mr. Bodt.” Ray explained.
“Oh god. Kill me now.”
That was when he noticed it. Some other kids pointing to him and whispering. He had seen it before but he had just assumed it was about his custom. Now he saw a group of twenty kids who were all barely out of diapers laughing about his dating life. Jean could do nothing to hide the blush that made his cheeks flare red.
“Dude, it’s totally cool.” Ray nodded. “Grown ups like to do weird stuff like kiss and get married. But why do you have to be married to kiss?”
Jean chose to ignore the lack of logic behind Ray’s words. He had enough of a problem on his hands than trying to explain the finer points of affection to Sam’s friend. “Are you sure he doesn’t know?”
Ray looked up Jean in the most condescending way possible.
Jean raised his hands up in defense. “All right, yeah. That was a stupid question.”
“Five minutes to curtain!” The assistant principal called out.
“I have to go find Sam.” Ray towards the small group of bees gathering around the right side of the stage.
Jean suddenly felt exposed and slightly naked. It was easy to have fun when he was surrounded with the others- now he was just standing alone and felt slightly foolish. Jean looked behind him to catch a glimpse of the pink dress Sam was wearing. His Mom had gotten a million photos and Jean knew there would be a full memory chip in the recorder after the play.
Against his better judgement, he would have to ask for a copy. Maybe he could just block himself out somehow. Jean caught sight of a pair of brown rabbit ears and his eyes trailed after Marco. Unfortunately, it seemed as if Marco got even cuter the more times Jean saw him in the outfit. The white fluffy tail was almost too much. He looked like a huge stuffed animal and Jean wanted to snuggle all the stuffing out of him.
“Two minutes! Places everyone!”
Jean made sure all of his petals were in place as the curtain rose. He stood his place perfectly and got all the dance moves right. The audience clapped along and watching his sister laugh with her classmates as the flirted along the stage made Jean’s heart swell with happiness.
Marco led the ‘Bunny Blues’ song it was a huge hit. Ray buzzed along the stage with his fellow hive and the fairy princess helped them find the land of legendary honey. No matter how many times he tried to think about the plot of the play it really made no sense at all. However that seemed to matter little as the parents clapped and cheered with every goofy dance number.
By the end, Jean actually felt winded from all the dancing. The yellow paint on Ray’s face was smudged all over and mostly on his costume. Sam’s curls were loose and she smiled wide as her named was called when the princesses all bowed. Even though he had tried to argue his way out of it, Marco still demanded he bow with all the other volunteer adults- all two of them.
Still high on the performance, Jean swept Sam up into a huge hug as they made their way backstage. “You did fantastic! You should be so proud of yourself!”
Sam laughed as Jean peppered kisses on her face. “Ew! Stop! You’re all sweaty!”
Jean took that as a challenge to only kiss her more. Finally, only when Ray came to her rescue did Jean let Sam get away. The two friends hugged and Jean ruffled Ray’s hair affectionately. “You did a great job, kid.”
Ray looked up with a wide smile. “Thanks!”
It was getting really difficult to be harsh around Ray. The brat was really growing on him. I really am turning into a big softy.
Jean knew that Marco would be busy greeting all the parents, so he took a moment to run to the bathroom and wash the glitter and eye shadow off of his face. The flushed, happy face caught Jean by surprise. It wasn’t that he had ever been sad, more that he had never known he could look like that. It really was amazing what a year could do.
Jean’s hand fished his pocket to make sure the small box was still there. Well, of course it was still there, more he needed to feel the smooth contain under his fingers and remind himself that he could do this. And somehow not fuck it up. He really could.
*******
One random Saturday morning
“I’m going to kick your a-butt so bad.” Jean barely stopped himself before he cussed in front of Ray and Sam. If his sister came back his and Marco’s place with any new ‘vocabulary’ words he would never hear the ending of it.
Marco laughed at Jean’s near slip as he was setting up their Super Nintendo. Sure, they had an Xbox360 and a PS3 at the apartment but sometimes the old ones were the best ones. Besides, in Jean’s opinion there was no better racing game than the original Mario Kart.
“I’ll be the one doing the butt kicking!” Sam cried in retaliation. It was true that he and his sister had spent a few lazy weekends playing video games but it had usually been her watching him play and asking a bazillion questions about everything. It made Jean cringe at the mere memory of her asking about things that made absolutely no sense.
“Why do we have to play on that brick? It’s like a thousand years old.” Ray had been excited about the prospect of gaming until be had seen the old system. Then the smile had faltered and he had rolled his eyes.
“One cannot best greatness. Have you even played on one?” Jean raised an eyebrow.
Ray huffed. “Sorry, my Grandpa doesn’t shop at flea markets.”
“All right you two.” Marco interjected before it could get even more heated. “How about you put your money where your mouth is.” Marco said as he handed a controller to Jean.
“Why would you put money in your mouth?” Sam asked sounding slightly exasperated.
“Because he’s going to ‘eat it’.” Marco wiggled his eyebrow. Jean groaned.
“Oh my god- Marco.” The bastard knew his sister was going to question him for hours about the weird double meaning phrases. Sometimes English was an annoying language. Or more his sister’s need for literal answers could be too much- either way, Marco was going to pay dearly. Probably a tickle attack would make him think twice.
Jean didn’t try to over think that ‘threat’ too much. He really was a man’s man- or something of that sort. I think I managed to confuse myself even more somehow. Jean cursed to himself.
Marco turned on the game system and the happy home screen music started to play. Almost instantly Jean was transported to another lifetime- sitting in the living room at his Mom’s house and playing for hours on end before Sam had even been born. He could still remember how excited he had been to get the Super Nintendo. Although Duck Hunt had made him want to throw the damn thing out the window after the first night. Well, until he figured out he could just stand right next to the screen and pull the trigger. That had been quite the triumph.
“I get to be mushroom!” Sam wailed. Jean knew it was better to just ask Ray kindly to chose another character. But before he could, Ray did it on his own.
“His name is Toadstool but I don’t mind being Luigi either.” Ray said lightly.
Jean had to admit he admired the little bastard at times.
“I want to be Princess Peach!” Marco quickly picked the princess before anyone could argue...not that anyone was planning too.
“I suppose that makes Jean-” Ray wiggled an eyebrow at Jean.
Jean laughter had no real mirth to it. It was followed with a playful punch to Ray’s arm. “Watch it, kid.”
Ray smiled wickedly at the threat he knew Jean had no real power to follow through with. Marco picked the easiest race track before the others had a chance to argue over it too.
As the timer counted down, three of them exchanged threats and taunts. Marco just smiled and pushed his glasses up his nose.
Three laps later and there was a winner. Jean tried not to kiss or punch Marco because the unassuming man had taken first place. Instead he turned to him with a questioning (and definitely not irritated) look.
“Beginners luck?” Marco offered sounding uncertain.
Jean narrowed his eyes. “Try again.”
Marco gulped. “Maybe I used to play...”
“How often?” Jean asked lightly but there was an undertone of threat to it.
Marco made a few noises that sounded like words. “Often.”
“You little-!” Jean smiled. He had to admit he liked Marco’s sneaky side. If Sam and Ray hadn’t been there he would have kissed his stupid adorable face silly. And then fuck him senseless. Jean was surprised to discover he had a thing for boyfriend’s who were unexpected talented at video games.
“I thought I would be rustier than that.” Marco looked like he was biting his tongue to keep something back. “Or that you could be better.” It was barely spoken above a whisper and he clamped his mouth shut so tight after, his lips looked like they were superglued together.
“You are going to eat those words.” Jean took them back to the select screen and picked Rainbow Road.
Sam moaned. “I hate this one! I always fall off.”
“Just one race between Marco and me.”
Sam rolled her eyes. “Just one.”
A few heated minutes later, Marco was once again the winner. Jean’s mouth was agape and Marco smiled meekly. While it was true that Jean wasn’t the best at Mario Kart, he had at least been sure he would be better than Marco. So much for that theory. Jean was suddenly overtaken with a need to know even more about Marco Bodt- what other mysteries were there?
“All right! Four players again!” Marco went back to the select screen.
While Sam and Ray were picking their drivers, Jean stole a quick peck to Marco’s cheek. “You are full of surprises.”
Marco blushed and then in a low, rough voice said, “Just wait till you see my Legend of Zelda save file.”
Jean covertly placed a pillow over his lap and willed his boner to go away.