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Ricky leaned forward in the front seat of the shitmobile glaring out the passenger side window at the front door of Julian's trailer as he wiped at his eyes. This was all so stupid, he should have never thought Julian would actually go for more than just friends with the benedicts.
It had been a few days since Bubbles had barged into the trailer and Julian had forced Ricky to hideout until Bubbles had left. Now Julian just kept ignoring him, even sneaking off and going to bed before Bubbles left the trailer, always coming up with some bullshit excuse before Ricky could really talk to him or get him alone...
Frustrated, Ricky wanted to bust down the trailer door and ask Julian what the fuck his problem was, but he was more afraid of what the answer would be. "Did you really think I'd actually want to go out with someone as stupid as you?" so he had resorted to sitting in the shitmobile trying not to cry.
He didn't realize until it was too late Bubbles coming over to the driver's side window. "Hey Ricky, jeez, you're up early, what are ya doing?" Bubbles said, smiling at him.
Ricky quickly wiped at his eyes."Er nothing Bubs, just uh sitting here and shit."
Bubbles raised an eyebrow noticing the distraught look on Ricky's face. "You okay, Ricky?" he asked voice full of concern.
"Yeah yeah,” Ricky shrugged him off. “I'm fine, why?"
Bubbles squinted. "You seem a little glum."
"No, just- well, maybe a little." Ricky frowned, shoulders slumping.
Bubbles frowned. "What's going on?"
"I'm tired of people being 'shameds of me." Ricky mumbled, hanging his head low and looking away, he shifted uncomfortably picking at a loose thread on his blue flamed button up.
"What? Ricky, who's ashamed of you? What're you talking about?" Bubbles scratched at his head trying to figure out what Ricky meant.
"Nobody ever wants to be with me, y'know? I know I'm pretty dumb, Bubs, but I can still be goods in a relationship and shit, right?" Ricky asked, rubbing the back of his neck self consciously.
"Of course you can Rick, where is this coming from?"
“It’s nothing, Bubs, just my brain compartments and departments are getting me all fucked up, I think I just need to go get high or something.”
“Why don’t you do something to cheer yourself up, me, you and Julian could get high and watch a movie later." Bubbles suggested trying to get Ricky's spirits up.
Ricky's face fell at the mention of Julian. “I don’t think so, Bubs.”
Bubbles frowned. “Did you guys get in a fight or something?”
“What makes ya say that?”
“You guys have been weird with each other ever since you came back from that deal, did they rip ya off or what?”
“No," Ricky shook his head. "Darren would never rip me off, as much as Julian thought he did, he triple counted the money. I tolds him Darren was trustworthy but he didn’t believe me. He gets really mad about him too.”
Bubbles raised an eyebrow. “What do you mean he gets mad?”
“I don't know, it seems like every time I bring Darren up Julian just gets pissed, I wanted to do another deal but Julian was all up in arms about it. I don’t get it, Darren’s a nice guy, he even invited me to go cruise arounds in his cars," Ricky slapped his palms together. “That's it Bubbles, I’ll call Darren and see if he’s still offering a tour of his garage, fuck Julian and all his bullshit."
“Alright Ricky, that sounds like fun, maybe when you get back we can smoke that joint and watch a movie or something?”
“Yeah, Bubs, that would be great, I'll come find ya after.” Ricky waved him off while digging around in his car for a piece of cigarette packaging he could use as scrap paper, Darren had mentioned his phone number but did it end in 7786 or 8876...
Julian was sitting at his kitchen table, fingers wrapped around the cold glass nursing his usual rum and coke. He was going over in his head how to bring up to Ricky that he didn't want to be friends with the benedicts anymore. "Hey, Rick, um about the benedicts situation…" "Ricky, I'd like to be your partner, I mean I know we're already partners, but like partner partners." He sighed heavily as every thing he thought of was utter garbage.
He looked up as Bubbles entered the trailer. “Hey Bubs.” he gave a nod toward him.
“Julian, what’s going on between you and Ricky?” Bubbles asked as he moved to lean against the cupboard counter.
Julian choked on his drink "er Nothing, why?”
“You guys just seem standoffish towards each other lately, did you get in a fight or?” Bubbles asked crossing his arms over his chest.
“No, nothing like that Bubs, no fight, we’re fine.” Julian shook his head.
Bubbles squinted, he knew Julian was lying. Alright, if Julian was going to play hardball then Bubbles would have to do the same. “Okay, just checking, I wanted us all to watch a movie and hangout later but Ricky’s busy, going out with someone or something."
Julian turned clutching at his glass, raising an eyebrow. “Who?” he asked, trying but failing at being nonchalant.
Bubbles scratched his chin pretending to play innocent. “Oh, I think he said something about a guy who had a bunch of cars and shit, Derek, uh Darryl?”
“Darren?” Julian spit out shoulders stiffening.
“Yeah, that's the guy!”
“When did he say he was going?”
“Hmm, I'm not sure, I think soon though. He seemed really excited.”
“Did he say what they're going to do?” Julian asked inwardly panicking.
“What’s the big deal, Julian, Ricky said Darren was an all around good guy, you worried or something?” Bubbles pushed.
“No!” Julian heaved out, eyes going wide.
Bubbles' brows furrowed as he made the connections one by one. A crying Ricky, Julian being mad about this Darren guy, the constant er loud sneaking off the two had been doing, “I can be good in relationships too, right?" , how they had been ignoring each other for the past couple days.
Bubbles shook his head with realization. God those two were dumb, really dumb.
"Y'know, why don't you just tell him how you actually feel, Julian." Bubbles said softly uncrossing his arms and leaning back against the counter.
"W-what are you talking about, Bubs?" Julian questioned hand tight on his glass, did Bubbles know or?
"Julian, Ricky's outside upset, you haven't snuck off together in days like you usually do, and now he's making plans with some other guy and you're in here beside yourself. It's not rocket science."
Blush creeped over Julian's face “What are you saying Bubbles?”
“I'm saying if you let Ricky go see this Darren guy it's gonna eat you alive, fuck it's already eating you alive now. Is that what you want? Or do you actually want to be with Ricky instead of just banging him?"
“What! How did you know?” Julian asked, surprised at how much Bubbles had caught on.
“Julian, you’re my best friend, so is Ricky, I’m not fucking stupid and honestly you guys haven't exactly been that um 'quiet,'" Bubbles motioned around with his hands. "When you've been doing your sneak away banging."
Julian turned a beet red. "Bubs!" He cried out throwing his arms in the air.
"Well I'm sorry, Julian, but ya haven't exactly been discrete!"
Julian pinched the bridge between his nose. "D-Do you think Ricky would actually take a chance on a shitty alcoholic criminal?"
"Are you really going to wait around and see if he's going to take a chance with this other guy ?" Bubbles retorted, waving an arm in the air.
Julian stood up from the table “Is he really going to go out with Darren?”
Bubbles thought it over for a moment, if a lie pushed Julian in the right direction then so be it. “Yes.”
A pained look was on Julian's face as he walked up to the Shitmobile window, he was a little nervous but determined.
“Hey, Ricky," he said as he leaned against the car. "C’mon, I gotta go meet up with a potential buyer." He motioned with his head towards his own car.
Pissed off about being ignored, Ricky crossed his arms over his chest.”Okay, go meet up with him then.” he grunted, turning his face away from Julian.
“You’re coming with me.” Julian said matter of factly.
“Actually, I already have plans.” Ricky lied through his teeth, who cares if it wasn’t true, Julian didn’t have to know.
“Well, too bad, cancel them. I need you to come with me.”
“You can’t just demand and cancel my plans Julian, that isn’t fair! Now fuck off, I’m not going with ya.”
Julian crossed his arms over his chest “You are coming with me! Now come on, get out of the shitmobile and get into my car, Rick!”
“No!”
“Ricky!”
"No! Since when do you get to boss me around!" Ricky huffed, crossing his arms over his chest.
"Ricky, I swear to fuck, just get in the car man."
"Fine! Mr. Boss pants, Jesus christ I’ll come with ya to meet the fucking buyer.” Ricky mumbled under his breath as he moved across the seat of the shitmbobile to get out.
He followed Julian over to his car and got in, Julian following behind him getting in the Driver's side, turning the engine over and taking off. Now to come up with a way to explain to Ricky how he actually felt...
"We've driven down this street three times already, Julian, just admit it, we're lost." Ricky complained looking around.
"We're not fucking lost Ricky, I know where we're going." Julian grunted.
Ricky technically was wrong, in Julian's anxiousness to work up the nerve to tell Ricky how he felt he just kept driving around in circles. They weren't particularly lost, there just wasn't an actual destination.
"Clearly we're fucking lost Julian! We've driven by that fucking stupid looking statue five times now!" Ricky pointed out the window.
"Ricky, we're not lost." Julian ground out taking a sip from his drink.
"Lost lost lost, you just don't want to admit it to yourself." Ricky singsonged.
Julian’s hand tightened on the wheel as he pulled into an empty parking lot stopping the car, he turned to look over at Ricky.
"Now we're gonna be late to meet the buyer! They probably already left!" Ricky complained.
"Ricky, there isn't a buyer-" Julian started to say.
"-I know because you got us lost! They definitely left by now!"
Julian gritted his teeth. "No Ricky! For fucks sake there was never a buyer!"
"Probably not cuz you'd just get the weed losts too." Ricky muttered under his breath.
"Ricky! Would you shut the fuck up about getting lost already!" Julian hollered slamming his fist against the steering wheel.
Ricky scowled, whipping open the door and getting out of the car, he slammed the door shut before leaning back into the car window.
"You don't gotta holler at me, Julian, just because you got fuckin lost, not my fault, fuck you, I'll walks back to the park."
Julian ran a palm down over his face as he watched the back of the familiar blue flamed shirt walk away from his car. He drove by Ricky slowly, leaning over and opening the passenger door slighty.
"Ricky, please get back in the car."
Ricky kept walking, eyes forward, ignoring Julian.
"Please, Ricky, I'm sorry for yelling, just get back in the car, please ."
Ricky huffed before getting back in, crossing his arms over his chest looking out the passenger window.
Julian stopped the car, finding it slightly easier to speak because Ricky wasn't looking at him. He tapped his fingers against the steering wheel nervously before he spoke. "There was no buyer, Rick, I made it all up."
Ricky turned back to look at Julian, confusion on his face. "What? For what? That's stupid, Julian."
"I didn't want you to go see that guy."
"See who? Darren?"
Julian's hand tightened around the steering wheel "Yes, Darren."
"So you made up a fake deal and then got us lost so I wouldn't go hang out with Darren?"
Julian's eye twitched at the lost comment but he decided to let it slide. "Yeah, Ricky, I did."
"Why?"
"Because I didn't want you near him."
"What? Julian, I don't know why you don't like him, he's nice and funny and..." Ricky turned, catching the look on Julian's face. "What's going on here, Jules, are ya jealous or something?"
"No! Er I just, I don't like the way he was looking at you."
"How was he looking at me?"
"Like he wanted to bang you." Julian scowled.
"Oh, so I can't go bang other people even if you stop banging me!?"
"Yes!" Julian shouted out.
"That's not fair Julian, a man has needs!"
"Ricky! I'm trying to tell you I don't want you banging anyone else but me!"
"Why?"
"Because! I just I don't I-"
"Holy shit, Julian. Are you actually jealous?"
Julian's face turned pink. "What er no I-"
"Holy fuck! You are jealous!" Ricky gave Julian's shoulder a playful shove.
"Stop it, Rick!"
"Why?"
"What?"
Ricky looked down at his lap twiddling his thumbs "Why are you jealous?"
"Because the only person I want touching you is me!" Julian growled out.
Ricky sucked in a breath, he wasn't gonna lie, possessive Julian was kind of hot.
"And seeing you with this Darren guy, it made me realize, Ricky, I don't want to see you banging anyone else. I want you with me."
"Okay, then why did I have to hide from Bubs?"
Julian chewed at his lip. "I realized it that morning and I didn't know what you wanted, Ricky, if you wanted me at all, I panicked."
"Why wouldn't I want ya?"
"Why would anybody want a shitty alcoholic criminal?"
"Hey, Jules, that's not fairs to say about yourself, you're a great guy, and you're a big ol' softie, ya clearly care enough to get rip roaring jealous." Ricky teased, smiling at him.
Julian's face burned red, he turned to look out the window. "I wasn't that jealous." He mumbled.
"Julian, I know a jealous fuck, and the other night was all over hands a jealous fuck."
Julian blushed deeply, scratching the back of his neck before taking a deep breath, "So, Rick, now you know I don't want to be friends with the benedicts anymore."
Ricky's face faltered, confused at what Julian was trying to say.
Julian gently grabbed Ricky's hand, intertwining their fingers together. "I'd like to be something more, I- I know this whole thing started as drunk shenanigans but I really uhm I'd like to be together."
Ricky looked down at their intertwined hands for a moment. "Like together-together?"
Julian looked over at him. "Well, yeah."
Ricky looked up with slight tears in his eyes. "Wait, really?"
"Yeah, Ricky, of course"
Ricky wiped at his eyes.
"Hey," Julian squeezed Ricky's palm lightly. "What are you crying for?"
"'M' not crying."
"Ricky..."
"I didn't think you'd wants me like that Jules, I mean you're saying who wants to be with an alcoholic criminal, but who would wanna be with a dumb stupid criminal."
"You're not dumb, Ricky, you're smart, believe me, and I wouldn't have you any other way,"
Ricky gave him a lopsided grin.
"And I'm sorry for making you hide from Bubbles, it was a dick move."
Ricky nodded. "It was."
"Forgive me?"
"I don't know," Ricky shrugged, "I might still have plans with Darren later."
"Ricky!"
"What, I wanted to see his cars! Why do you not like him so much?"
"Because he was handsy with you even when I was standing right there!"
"He was?"
"Yes! How could you not notice!!"
"Well, makes sense after that one community service day out in the backwoods a couple weeks ago..." Ricky trailed off.
An intense look crossed over Julian's face as his mind wandered, grip on Ricky's hand tightening.
"Jules, I'm kidding, I'm kidding. Holy shit, you do get jealous!" Ricky leaned in closer brushing some hair from Julian's forehead. "Not gonna lie, Jules, it's kinda hot."
Julian turned scarlet, untangling his fingers, reaching for the key and turning over the car, "C'mon let's go back to the park." He muttered embarrassed.
"Okay." Ricky smiled.
Julian glanced over at Ricky from the corner of his eye.
"Ricky, you do know what I'm asking you right?"
"Yeah, to be boyfriend and boyfriend instead of fuck buddies."
"And you're okay with that?"
"I'm more than okay with it, I wanted it for a whiles, Jules, you just took too long to realize, good thing for Darren, maybe I will call him later."
"Ricky!"
"Just kidding, Jules! Jesus."
Epilogue
Ricky opened his eyes as he rolled over in bed, he looked over at Julian for a moment before closing the space between them, wrapping an arm over Julian's chest, snuggling in closer.
"Mornin' Big guy." Ricky cooed warm smile spread across his face.
Julian blushed "Mornin'," He looked around as if checking to see if anyone was looking before running a hand through Ricky's hair.
"Do you feel like pancakes for breakfast?" He asked Ricky softly, pressing his lips against Ricky's temple.
"Only if you make them with those chocolate chipper things."
"Of course, Ricky, anything you want."
"Fuck yeah, I want pancakes then."
Julian stretched his arms out, he looked down at Ricky half laying on top of him.
"Ricky, if you want me to make pancakes you're gonna have to let me get up."
Ricky snuggled himself deeper into Julian's chest. "Nah, fuck the pancakes then, let's just stay heres for a while, I wanna 'preciates it."
Julian relaxed back down into the sheets, wrapping an arm around Ricky, pulling him closer into his chest. He ruffled his fingers through Ricky's hair again smiling as Ricky softened underneath his touch. He couldn't believe they could have been doing this every morning. Ricky was right, they should stay in bed and appreciate it.
"Yeah," He agreed, smiling. "Fuck the pancakes."
~FIN~