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Jack was staring wistfully out the kitchen window. Before all this, before the horsemen, he’d been aware of the others existence. Everyone except Jack were established magicians. Near the start, he’d been insecure about that fact, but has mostly gotten over it. Life dealt everyone different cards, theres not much you can do about it, but you can make the best of what you’ve got. Most of all, he had been very aware of J. Daniel Atlas. Very aware. So aware that seeing him on that landing made his heart nearly beat out of his chest. It was true, he had seen everything he’d ever done. Daniel would seriously maim anyone who brought up Magicolio, but Jack just found it so sweet.
As the years passed, he became more aware of Daniel as a person. He no longer gets those anxiety ridden butterflies in his stomach. The butterflies are now settled, each and every one smitten with the grumpy, neurotic man.
Jack is standing outside of Daniel’s bedroom. They had all decided to rent a 4-bedroom apartment, and while it felt a bit strange having three grown adult roommates, it made the preparation process for shows much easier. There was also the issue of them all being wanted criminals, they felt safer in the presence of the other Horsemen.
All day he had been planning to invite Daniel to watch a movie with him. He thought he did a good job of hiding his nerves, but Merritt caught on and read him immediately.
“What are you so jumpy for, Jacky?” He slithers up to him.
“No idea what you’re talking about, dude.”
Merritt moves to look Jack in the eyes.
“Hey, don’t do that, I know what you’re trying to do.” Jack shuts his eyes, like that will help.
“Oh real mature. What you’re doing right now is called a ‘tell’, and you’re telling me that…” He stops, clicking his fingers in the air, thinking.
“You’re nervous, nervous about someone.” Jack’s eyes are still closed, he scrunches them even more, and considers blocking his ears. La la la style.
“It’s not me, if you were nervous about me, you wouldn’t be acting like a complete idiot right now. Hmm.”
“It’s not Hen, she makes you anxious, but not like this. She mostly just beats you up. You lose every time and it’s hilarious.” Jack’s eyes snap open to retort but as soon as he does, he regrets it. Merritt’s smug face locks onto his, and he clicks his fingers and points.
“Daniel!” Aw fuck, he’s got him “Daniel, Daniel, Daniel…” Jack shifts. Merritt is muttering the name over and over again, trying to figure out motive.
“Now why would you be nervous about Daniel? I thought that was his job. Ha. Just kidding. But you’re nervous because…” Jack starts shaking his head, dread creeping in.
“Because you like him!” Merritt high fives himself, grinning, and bows to an invisible audience. Jack fidgets. This catches Merritt’s sharp eye.
“Oh… you don’t just like him. You’re in love with him! Oh, ew.” The smug expression is gone now, Merritt is just confused. Jack who still hasn’t said anything, opens his mouth to speak. Merritt shushes him.
“I don’t want to hear it.”
“No, hear me out.”
“No one wants to hear you out about him, Jack. We really have to stop putting you in danger, you’ve been hit in the head too much. I blame myself, honestly.”
“I’m not crazy! And I tried to stop it, I did!”
“Nice one. I would’ve tried harder. Anyways, you should invite him to watch your little movie with you. He’ll say yes.”
“What? How’d you know about that?” Merritt just taps his temple.
“I know everything, I see all.”
“Ugh. Leave me alone man, you creep me out.”
-
All his life, Daniel had been a solo act, so the Horsemen as a concept was hard for him. He knew he was the leader, somewhat, but even then Daniel had only ever been good at leading himself. His childhood was standard. He had a mother and father who were there, he was never hungry or cold, he always had everything he needed. Technically. His father was around, but if given the choice, he’d stay late at the office to avoid his family. He was probably cheating, neither Daniel or his mother cared. His mother was also around, but from the moment he was conceived, she resented him. Much like himself, she was bright and had potential, but she was locked down in marriage with pressure from a traditional upbringing. With a child on the way soon after. She hated herself, her family, and Daniel most of all.
Daniel knew this, and vowed that he wouldn’t let the same thing happen to him. Throughout high school and university, Daniel didn’t date. To be fair, no one was exactly jumping at the chance to be with him, but he turned down maybe two or so girls. It felt like a contagious sickness spreading throughout his peers. It starts with just one date, and soon enough you’re locked into a marriage full of hatred and misery. Even worse, she gets pregnant and now you’re a father to a child you hate and the cycle continues.
When he received that tarot card, Daniel was not surprised. Elated, excited, and anxious? Yes. But not surprised. He had worked his whole life for this, given up everything to make sure he was the best. He was a bit taken aback when he found he wasn’t the only one. He had heard of Merritt, and of course Henley, because Daniel knows everyone worth knowing. Then this rando showed up and picked the lock. Only to find out, he’s some petty thief who uses illusionism as his act to steal. Everything he had worked for, and he’s grouped with these guys?
It’s okay, honestly, he trusts The Eye, just about as much as he trusts anything…
So yeah, working with the Horsemen was a surprise and it took a while for him to get used to it.
Him and Henley had become good friends. Back when they worked together, he was younger, and perhaps crueller. He will admit that now. Jack and Merritt have not been afraid to pull him up on it, and they can be brutal sometimes. Merritt is strange, but overall a decent guy who brings a lot to the table. Ever since they found out he had a twin, a lot of things clicked into place. Daniel has always thought that twins were strange in general. It’s just not right to have a clone of yourself with it’s own thoughts and feelings.
Daniel has become attached to Jack most of all. He’s never had a best friend before, but he’s sure this is what it must be like. No one has ever made him laugh so hard. No one has ever gotten close enough to learn what buttons to push. Jack has taken to showing him a bunch of really weird kids movies, something about Daniel not having a normal childhood. If this is what the guy grew up watching, no wonder he’s like that.
There was only one problem…
They were getting really close, as friends. Now, Daniel has never had any sort of romantic feelings for anyone, but with each passing day, the weird little feeling in his chest, and head, and stomach was getting stronger.
It happens in super mundane scenarios. Like when Jack sits down next to him on the couch, just a little too close. It’s almost like a scared feeling, but he doesn’t want to move away. He wants to get closer. It’s adrenaline, excitement, anticipation to see what happens next.
Maybe he’s just coming down with something, but he’d really like to confirm his suspicions. He needs a plan of action. He can’t talk to Merritt. For some reason him and Jack are super duper friends and tell each other everything. That only leaves Henley. Shouldn’t be too hard right?
That night, after dinner and after everyone had separately retired to their quarters, he knocks on Henley’s door.
“Come in.” He hears from the other side.
He hesitates. What is he doing? This could go so wrong. Daniel turns around to walk away, but the door opens up behind him.
“Daniel? Are you trying to ding dong ditch me?”
“No, I was chickening out from telling you something.”
“Well, thanks for the honesty. Too late now, come on in.” She moves to the side to let him in.
Her room smells amazing, and is very classy. While neat, his room is nothing like this.
“So? What’s up?” She sits down on her bed, and pats the spot next to her. He takes a deep breath, and starts slowly.
“What do you think the reason might be, if I feel nauseous, but like in a good way every time Jack looks at me, or does anything?” He knows how ridiculous the question is, and while he has his own theory, he doesn’t want to cloud Henley’s judgement. This could be a lot for her to take in.
“Jesus Christ, Daniel.” Or not.
“Yeah, I know.”
“So you do know.”
“Yes.”
“So why are you here?”
“Because! I feel like I’m going insane! I’m feeling things I’ve never felt before.”
“Oh my god! I totally forgot about the whole dateless virgin thing you had going on!” She laughs, and grabs his shoulder, shaking him roughly.
“By choice! By choice! You know that!”
“Well it looks like your choice has been taken from you. You’re smitten with Jack.”
“Don’t say that.”
“You are, I knew it before you even told me. Merritt too.”
“What? Does Jack know?”
“Nah, he’s way too caught up with… his own stuff.”
“Okay. Okay. So what do I do now?”
“It’s really up to you. I think he’d be good for you though.” That rung true. It was uncomfortable at first, but Daniel is really starting to like this person that Jack is turning him into.
“He already is.”
-
The movie night went well. Jack had knocked on the door, waking up a grumpy Daniel. Jack was relieved because it meant he hadn’t heard anything Merritt said. He also didn’t dare mention the fact that Daniel was asleep at four in the afternoon.
“Hey dude! Ah, want to watch a movie?”
“With you?”
“No, I came here and woke you up to suggest you watch something on your own.”
“You didn’t wake me up.” Daniel says defensively. Jack just fixes him with an unimpressed stare.
“So? Movie night? Hen’s visiting her parents, and Merritt is… ah, I don’t know, he might show up, but I’m thinking he won’t.” Jack is rambling. He didn’t plan this far to be honest, and he’s really hoping Merritt won’t try and join them.
“What movie?” Daniel asks slowly, looking suspicious. He’s always been more of a book guy and Jack knows this, but you can’t exactly read a book together. It takes too much focus and Jack is just trying to hang out with the guy.
“It’s a surprise.” It comes out kind of defensively because he hasn’t decided on anything past Diary of a Wimpy Kid. Daniel squints his eyes.
“It’s not going to be Diary of a Wimpy Kid again, is it?” Fuck.
“What? No! What? Are you kidding?”
“Oh my days, you were totally going to make me sit through that again!” Daniel points his finger accusingly.
“No I wasn’t! Also theres three movies, so you wouldn’t even be rewatching it!”
“Stop defending that rubbish.”
“You are such a Greg, Daniel.”
“I’m nothing like that little freak.”
“Yes, you are. You’re a Frank sun, a Rowley moon, and a Greg rising.”
“Whatever that means. You’re not winning yourself any favours.”
“It means, that at your core, you’re Frank. He’s a control freak, the fun police if you will, but he also cares deeply for his family and will defend them at any cost. On the inside, your need, you are Rowley. Everyone treats him like a child, when in reality he’s ready for more. When given the chance, he shines brighter than anyone. Finally, your outer mask, Greg. He’s egotistic, unlikeable, annoying. This is the first impression he gives most, but if you were to look a little deeper, you’d find he’s insecure about his place in the world. He will do whatever it takes to climb the ranks, but he must be careful that he doesn’t lose himself in the process.”
Now Jack’s gone and done it. He’s being weird again. Daniel is never going to watch a movie with him now.
“You think people treat me like a child?”
“I think people tip toe around you, you’re unsusceptible to criticism most times. I think if you let yourself be open to outside forces, you’d soar.”
Daniel is quiet for a moment. Jack doesn’t regret saying that, but he’s unsure of how the man will take it.
“Yeah, I’ll watch your dumb movie with you. I might fall asleep though, don’t be offended.” He thinks for a second. “Or do, I don’t care.” Jack nearly jumps in the air.
“Awesome! Dude, you won’t regret this.”
“What are your sun, moon, and risings?” A pause. Jack isn’t really sure. Personality wise, he doesn’t know a whole lot about himself.
“I never thought about it.” He says honestly.
“Okay, well I’ll have to decide for you.” With that he goes to close the door. “I’ll go get dressed, you get the movie up.” The door shuts completely. Jack is left on the other side, now out of eyesight he grins broadly and punches the air. It could have gone better, but now he has a movie not-date lined up with the most beautiful man.
-
Since that day, Merritt has been sending shit-eating glances to Jack whenever Daniel does remotely anything. Not to mention he immediately told Henley. Although, everyone in this household tells Henley everything.
“Jack, you know I’ve always said, you’re a handsome guy. Charming guy.”
“Merritt, you know I just don’t have feelings for you like that.” Jack is sick of them trying to talk him out of it. As if he has any control over his feelings.
“Seriously though. Him?”
“We’ve been through this! I can’t help it! Also, Daniel is not as bad as you make him out to be.”
“What do you even see in him?”
“I think he’s charming, and handsome. He makes me laugh. He’s really funny.”
“I don’t believe Daniel has ever consciously made anyone laugh a day in his life.” Henley is on the couch, she stands up and walks around to be included in the conversation. Delight.
“Handsome? Even after the haircut?”
“Hey. I’m not above mourning the curls, but yeah, even after the cut. He looks manly.”
“He looks like a peanut.”
“A very cute peanut.”
“I think I’ll book in that optometrist appointment for you.”
“You’re allergic to peanuts.” Henley adds.
“A walnut then.” Jack sighs wistfully.
The apartment door unlocks, opens and closes.
“Speak of the walnut.”
Daniel is standing in the doorway, looking miserable as usual, but this time he has reason.
“Looks like someone got caught in the rain.”
“You smell like wet dog.”
“Great to see the support runs deep guys. I’m feeling real loved right now.” His shoes squeak on the floor as his takes off his jacket and hangs it up.
“Oh I bet you are.” Henley murmurs, and then yelps as Jack steps on her foot. She shoves him back and he slips with his socks on the tile floor. In retaliation, Jack shoves her, and she topples over the back of the couch onto the pillows.
“Oh you little-“ Henley steps up onto the hard edge of said couch, before jumping off and aiming for Jack in a WWE style takedown. Jack looks up just in time for Henley’s attack, as she lands on him, and now they’re both tussling on the floor.
Daniel just stands and watches. He’s had the worst day, and perhaps if he were any more cynical than he was, this would make it worse. However, his time with the Horsemen has taught him to enjoy this instead.
“Hey, hey, break it up.” Merritt always ruins everything.
“No let them go, Jack needs his enrichment time.”
“By beating up a woman?”
“Henley is obviously winning.”
Henley has a fistful of Jack’s short hair, and he tries to tap out.
“Ow, ow, ow, ow.” Jack’s voice is hilariously high pitched.
“Okay Henley, he’s had enough, learnt his lesson, or something.” Daniel is stepping in now.
“Figures you’d take his side, you walnut.”
“Why does everyone keep calling me that.”
“Correction. A cute walnut.” With Merritt’s words, Jack is mortified, and looks like he’s about to lunge at him as well. Merritt puts his hands up in surrender immediately.
“Because you’re cute Daniel and I think we could be happy together. I’m sick of you always brushing me off.” There Merritt goes again.
“Not my type, Merritt.”
“Oh yeah? And what is your type Danny boy?”
Daniel pointedly looks up to Merritt’s shiny head and grimaces.
“Someone with hair.”
At this, Henley excitedly starts whacking Jack’s arm with the back of her hand and waggling her eyebrows up and down. Jack starts shaking his head back at her. She points to her head, and then Jacks head. He just shakes his head more, face twisting into concern. Instead, she goes to grab his hair, and he hits her hand away. It devolves into some childish slap fight. Both fail to notice the silence in this room, until they do, and their heads turn at the same time to face Daniel and Merritt, who are watching them in judgement.
“All done?” Daniel speaks up.
“Yeah, ah, yeah.” Jack smoothes out his clothes in shame.
“What’s with you two lately? I feel like I’m being left out of something.”
“Hmm interesting, very intuitive of you Danny.” Merritt says pointing his finger in the air. “That’d be because you are.”
Daniel’s slight smile falls immediately, he was mostly joking but Merritt just confirmed that small part of him that knew he truly didn’t fit in.
“Oh.” He’s definitely hurt. Maybe on any other day, he’d brush it off, but today he really didn’t need this. Jack starts back-pedalling, throwing a nasty look at Merritt.
“No no no no, you’re not Daniel. Don’t listen to him. He’s making stuff up, trying to get in your head.”
“But I can see it all the time! You three,” he has an accusing finger pointed and frantically gestures to all of them “are communicating with your eyes. You’re making fun of me!”
They all glance at each-other. Henley shrugs, Merritt raises his eyebrows. Jack throws more furious looks their way.
“You just did it then!” All eyes snap back to Daniel. He’s right, they did just do it then. It’s silent until Jack speaks up. He shouldn’t say this. He really shouldn’t. If he cared maybe a little bit less, he’d let Daniel think everyone was ganging up on him. It wouldn’t be the first time it’s happened. But that sad, hurt look on his face, that he’s trying so desperately to hide is killing Jack. It’s stabbing him in the heart. He takes a deep breath and speaks dejectedly.
“They’re not making fun of you, they’re making fun of me.” There it was. Daniel was going to find out about his feelings. He will be disgusted. He’ll leave the Horsemen. Without him they’ll all fall apart. The only family Jack’s ever known will be ripped from him and it’ll be all his fault.
“What?” The hurt look is still there, but it’s mostly covered by confusion. “Why?” There it is, Jack will have to spill everything.
“It doesn’t matter does it? There’s plenty of things to make fun of!” Jack is desperately trying to avoid saying why.
“It matters because you are purposefully leaving me out. And now, you won’t tell me why.”
“Daniel, just leave it alone-“
“Jack’s got a crush on someone.” Merritt speaks up. Everything stops, even Henley looks shocked.
Daniel feels like a bomb has gone off in his chest. It starts at his heart, and rips through his stomach, intestines, liver, kidneys. The hurt explodes and shatters his ribs, flinging shards haphazardly across the room at all angles. It shoots up into his brain, consternation rippling throughout his very being. He’s choking. Every nerve in his body is alive with fear, the pure terror of losing everything. His everything.
He watches helplessly and frozen as Jack’s agitation becomes suffocating.
“Merritt, so help me, I’m going to kill you. I’m really going to do it this time.” Jack is still. Rage simmers below the surface for just a moment, and then he lunges. Or he tries to, someone is holding him back.
Daniel is behind him with his hands on each shoulder, although touching him feels illegal in this moment. Like Jack is no longer his. Merritt uses the distraction to scuttle backwards out of range of Jack’s wrath. It takes all that he is to speak up.
“No need to kill him, at least he told me what’s been going on. Were you seriously just never going to tell me? I thought we were friends.”
“It’s not like that.”
“I’m going to take this as my cue to leave.” Henley thankfully speaks up, and drags Merritt along with her.
“Hen, Hen- Don’t leave me.” She simply mock salutes in Jack’s direction and closes the apartment door behind her.
If Daniel is understanding correctly, which he really if hoping he’s not, Jack has found someone. Someone he likes, or even worse. He also hasn’t said anything to him. That’s hurtful on multiple levels, because it means his feelings are unrequited both romantically and platonically. This really is the worst day ever.
Right now, Daniel just wants to confess everything. Tell Jack to stop focussing on whoever has caught his attention. Convince him they’ll never be good enough. That he can do anything they do, but better.
“What was that all about?” Exasperation in his voice, hopefully his heartbreak isn’t showing.
“I don’t know, Merritt was lying, also nothing is going on. You’re imagining things?” Jack is panicked.
“Are you asking me if I’m imagining you confiding in Henley, and ugh, Merritt, but not me?”
“Yes?”
“Stop that. Tell me what’s going on. Just talk to me Jack. I’ve been calling you my best friend in my head, but I can see now that it’s one-sided.” Oh, if only he knew how one-sided it was.
“No! We are best friends! It’s just that if I told you, you’d hate me. It could break up the Horsemen. You have to understand that I finally have a family, Daniel.”
What does that even mean? What type of person could Jack choose that could potentially break up the group? It can’t be Hen or Merritt, because they obviously know who it is. It could potentially be someone he doesn’t know, but how is that a deep dark secret? They’re all allowed to date, god knows Henley does. He’s wracking his brain trying to think who could cause such havoc on his relatively peaceful life.
“I could never hate you, Jack. You have to understand that. I’d help you hide and bury a body. Multiple bodies. Nothing you could tell me would ever break the Horsemen up.” This seems to stop Jack in his tracks like it’s unexpected.
“You don’t know what you’re saying.” He tries, carefully.
“Don’t belittle me, I know exactly what I’m saying.”
“You’re impossible.”
“I know.”
A beat. A moment of silence as both men wait for something, anything to happen. The perfect words to resolve this. Jack truly doesn’t know where to go from here. He would confess everything, blow it all up, if it’d make Daniel feel better.
“You know that I used to be your biggest fan, right?”
“Used to? Not anymore?”
Yeah, I guess not. Behind my back, it got bigger than that. It wasn’t supposed to. I was just grateful to be your friend.”
“Best friend.” Daniel corrects.
“Yeah, and then that happened. I suddenly had a best friend. You have to understand that I can’t lose you, right?”
Back to that again! Daniel is listing through everyone they’ve ever met when it hits him like a truck. Damnit. Shit. Fuck. God, how could he have missed this.
“You’re in love with Dylan Rhodes.” Tear spring to his eyes.
Absolute silence. Even the rain stops. Nothing interrupts the moment.
Dylan Rhodes, their fearless leader, smart, handsome, relentless. No wonder Jack’s fallen for him. Daniel had never looked at Dylan like that, but he can see it. Jack seems to be stunned into silence, probably shocked at his amazing deduction skills, and intermediate mentalism. Daniel continues to speak instead.
“Okay, okay. This is okay. You know he’s way too old for you Jack. You’re both in different stages of life. He starting to go grey.” He’s pacing now, head tilted down with his hand on his chin.
“He’s also basically our boss, and we don’t have any sort of HR so I’d be careful if I were you.”
Jack has snapped out of his stupor now.
“Daniel-“ he tries.
“Isn’t he with that French Interpol officer? I heard him on the phone to her the other day. She’d great by the way, great for him. Not that you wouldn’t be, you’re great Jack, truly. I just don’t think he’s right for you!”
“Dan-“
“You’re not a home-wrecker though, you wouldn’t. Jack, you cannot waste your life waiting around for him, you’re meant for so much more. You hear me?”
“Daniel!” Jack finally grabs Daniel by both his shoulders, reflecting their earlier predicament. The action stops him from pacing, and forces him to look up into Jack’s eyes. “Stop pacing, for god’s sake!”
“I just don’t know where this came from. How I didn’t spot it.” Daniel is reluctantly looking back.
“You didn’t spot shit, idiot. Dylan? Really?”
“What?” Jack is still holding him by the shoulders, quite tightly, as if he’s going to start pacing again. The contact is contributing to the buffering going on in his brain right now.
“I am not in love with Dylan Rhodes. How on earth?”
“You were worried about breaking up the Horsemen! He’s our boss!”
“No, I was scared of the Horsemen breaking up because,” Jack takes a deep breath. “Because, I am in love with you, completely. Our leader. The heart of everything. If you left because of me, we wouldn’t survive. I wouldn’t survive. So please, don’t let this hurt us. Please.”
“Me?”
“Yes, you idiot.” Jack says harshly, but dejected. Whatever happens next is going to change his life, probably for the worst. “Dylan Rhodes, my ass.” He adds on, muttering.
“Me.” Daniel’s hands creep up to where Jack’s are still, now tentatively, resting on his shoulders. Gently, he rests them on the other mans. This is the first time they’ve ever held hands.
Jack is quite literally, shitting himself. He’s unable to tell what the other man is thinking at all. He’s also starting to realise just how low Daniel’s self esteem is. He never even considered himself as an option, it makes him quite sad. And now, his hands are resting on Jack’s.
“Are you sure?”
This guy is going to be the absolute death of him. What does he mean?
“No, I just decided to ruin literally everything. Everything, Daniel.” Jack is still crazy nervous, but now he also needs to convince the other that he’s sure? “Of course, I’m sure. Are you doing this on purpose? Are you making fun of me?”
“No! I’m not, I just didn’t expect this…”
“Well, I didn’t either. I would never do anything to put us in jeopardy.”
For a moment, nothing happens, apart from uncomfortably long eye contact initiated by Daniel. As much as he wants to, Jack can’t look away. For just a moment more, they stand there. Until, Daniel slowly bring his hands down and takes Jack’s with them.
“You didn’t put anything in jeopardy.”
With that, Daniel moves closer and cups Jack’s face with his hands. He uses this leverage to bring their mouths together. It’s very clumsy, he’s mostly moving off of instinct, because god knows he hasn’t done this before. In theory, he’s thinking Jack will hopefully kiss back, considering everything that just happened, but unabated nervousness burns within him. Apart from a very sharp intake of breath, Jack isn’t doing anything. This lasts maybe 3 seconds, but it drags on like hours. Dread starts to build in his stomach.
Finally. Finally. Jack’s eyes close and he tentatively brings his hands to the other’s waist. Disquieted, he fears the other will vanish like a mirage. The heels of his palms move against the midriff, and then he’s firmly taking hold. He guides Daniel closer, and after what feels like eons, kisses back. He tilts he head for a better angle, and Daniel wraps his arms around Jack’s neck. They couldn’t be any closer if they tried, and boy are they trying.
It felt like a hot shower after being out in the cold. It felt like coming up for air after swimming too deep, wondering if you’ll make it to the surface this time. It felt like Nurofen kicking in, the ache melting away after that painful thirty minute wait. Like cicadas singing after the lingering winter subsides. Like driving through the empty streets at 3 am to the airport.
It felt like everything was right, like everything could be right, if only just for that point in time. Jack swore to himself, then and there that he would do whatever it took to protect this. Them.
The need for oxygen forces them to part. Arms still sit heavily around Jack’s neck, a comforting weight.
Neither talk for a long time, perhaps anything they say will cause it all to disappear. How will things change? Will everything crash and burn?
“You’re thinking too hard.” Daniel starts. He reaches a hand to smooth out the crease that’s formed between Jack’s eyebrows. “Everything’s going to be okay now. I feel like I finally understand, and I’m not going to let anything happen to us.” His hand slides down to cup Jack’s cheek more gently than before.
“I was just thinking the same thing.” Jack replies, tilting his head into that motion.
“That’s a good start then. Just don’t leave me for Dylan.” He says it jokingly, but the monkey part of his brain hasn’t let go of that brief moment where he thought he’d lost Jack to Dylan.
“Should I be worried? You seem to be thinking about him an awful lot.”
“Nah, he smells.” Daniel wrinkles his nose.
Jack just shakes his head in disbelief, at the sentence, at the whole situation. He clicks his tongue.
“Come watch a movie with me.” He declares.
“Can I choose this time?”
“No, there’s still the third instalment of Diary of a Wimpy Kid we need to get through. I’m like Holly Hills, and you’re Greg.”
“No way, I’m Rowley and you’re Greg. Like when they did that magic show together.” Jack remembers how much Daniel laughed at that scene.
“Dude, you have no idea what you’re on about.”
“Don’t call me dude on our first date.”
“That’s my love language, and now it’s your problem.” Jack says grinning, as he leads Daniel to the couch.
For a second there, it had felt like everything was going to change, but he can see it has instead transformed. They were still best friends, only more honest now. As he starts the film, Daniel settles in beside him and the invisible barrier from before is gone. This time, they sit as close as they want, hands intertwined.