Chapter Text
The weather was crazy humid today, thankfully you were used to high temperatures growing up in the middle of the ocean with no real plant life in sight. So the soothing sound of the tree leaves brushing with the wind left a refreshing imprint on the back of your neck as a chilly current hugged your body.
Ah. My neck. Yeah. That’s a funny subject actually- No. No. Wait.
You’re not doing that here Mr. Strider. You will behave nicely and leave the narration to the colorless font. You’re still pretty new to omnipotent storytelling powers and you need to study them a bit more before you start rolling the wheels within wheels of your plan. So you’ll need to stay in line.
Dirk Strider was a man who was extremely hard to read. But his blank demeanor and poker face hid a bunch of unresolved issues, a gigantic ego and a neurodivergent view of the world. He was a very normal guy really, even if he was no longer human. He still had to fool his friends into thinking he was just a regular dude.
And with a comedic timing on the subject of fools: Jake’s camo Jeep Wrangler just parked on the front driveway of the Casa English. A huge three-story Santorini-style residence surrounded by bigger trees and exotic greenery.
You loved coming back to this specific place because you loved to feel surrounded by actual vegetation and not fake alien plants that commonly existed around Earth C.
And also because Dirk was always here lately.
You let him use the warehouse on the back of the estate and he turned it into a functional workshop for his welding projects over the years.
You always kept an eye out for your best bro in any way you could to help him out.
Time had passed since you two reunited back at the End of The Game when you were but young teens in silly godtier outfits.
Since then you slowly rebuilt the friendship you both shared blossoming into a beautiful bromance.
… Or so you hoped that was the case, but we’re talking about Dirk Strider here. Let 's be real. That’s not how it went and your relationship was so tangled up in miscommunication that neither of you knew exactly where you stood. Your friendship felt more like a minefield.
You were thinking about all this while opening the trunk and unloading your luggage. This was your last try. Just this once and you were ready to call it quits with the whole running after Dirk shenanigans.
Roxy made you promise you wouldn't falter.
Feeling empowered, you closed the trunk with your free hand and-
“JEEPERS FUCK!!!” You hollered abruptly as you jumped in place, letting go of your backpack that fell straight onto the gravel road.
“Oh my god, Dirk couldn't you make your presence known before scaring the noumenon out of me? I just got here.” You whinged at the blonde and fixed your glasses, cleaning a bit of sweat off your forehead.
You bent down to pick up your backpack.
There was a silence, then you heard a faint chuckle for a second, you quickly rose up and faced him with a frown, but his poker face was back on.
You sighed with frustration. ‘Oh, this is going to be fun.’ you thought.
You gave him a side glance as you walked past him towards the entrance and he followed suit.
Dirk was wearing washed-off low waist jeans and that dumb “Punch me if I’m doing a terrific job” t-shirt that was definitely too tight for and not his size. Karkat got him that shirt last Christmas and you thought he would understand it was supposed to be a jab at his antics. Still he insisted he had to wear it for ironic purposes.
His sleek and scarred arms were muscular enough to show off his many years of katana training and his blonde hair was gleaming with the white lights from the garden lights, his pointy shades doing the opposite work reflecting the orange of the dying sun.
You both stopped in front of the white marble entrance doors adorned by succulent plants as you checked in your pocket for the key.
“The garden door is open by the way.” He exclaimed and you gave him a raised eyebrow look. You didn't remember giving Dirk keys to the main house but whatever, you thought he was going to get in one way or another. He always did this literally or figuratively.
Before marching towards the back garden he poked you on the rib with the bottle in his hand trying to get your attention.
You faced him again, tired from the long trip. You were a bit taller than Dirk and could probably win if a fisticuff match was about to go down.
“I got you juice.” he exclaimed and handed you the bottle of iced tea with a blank expression.
Well you wouldn't hurt him if you had to fight him. What's wrong with an ol’ tumbling session with your best hermano?
“Thank you pal.” you smiled at him with your buckteeth signature smile, tired but genuinely. “It was a long drive up here.”
You opened the bottle and drank it whole in two gulps. Damn, you didn't even notice how thirsty you were, the weather was definitely hotter out here.
“Roxy and Jane wanted to come by” you told Dirk who was behind you “but I feel like the gals would appreciate a better place to vacation at, less….”you thought on the right word and gestured with both hands, trying to explain the current vibe of Casa English while walking towards the back garden through a narrow rock path to the side of the house with Dirk on your tail.
“Homo-brotherly.” You eloquently said with an exaggerated accent.
You meant to say homosexual but you felt like Dirk would have so much to say about that remark and you were too tired to start a debate.
You both accessed the garden patio, walked through the fancy kitchen and into a long corridor that connected to the main loft, a white living room space with full wall windows, avant garde furniture and exotic potted plants.
“Do you need help with the bags?” the blonde inquired. His deep voice echoing on the tall marble walls with adorned pictures.
“No it's dandy pal, thank you. Just these four carrybags and my trusty tactical backpack is all I need.” You answered amicably ”The camping equipment and whatnot is all in the warehouse. So whenever I feel like going out into the wilds I'll pay you a visit back at the metal shanty”
You took a seat on the big rattan sofa, putting all your luggage to the side and exhaled trying to relax.
“Actually I was thinking…” You said. “Maybe we could spend some quality time together, huh? You and me. Like in the old times..” You asked a bit shyly, looking up at your friend embarrassed.
Dirk Strider stood in silence, contemplating the offer with crossed arms for a second.
It had been some time since you've last seen Jake, yes that much was true. But you were okay with that. You weren't obsessed with the man anymore…
Well you did check daily on the app you made him install years prior that you specifically said was only if ‘he lost his phone’ type of deal. But you knew exactly where he was in the last 26 months, 14 days and 29 hours.
But. It was just in case he disappeared and you had to look for him in the middle of the Earth-C’s Amazon Rainforest of course.
He would be eaten alive by the wild life otherwise.
Jake had an athletic body of his own and a strong complexion, his tan and roughed up arms could easily snap yours. His hands hardened from pistol usage were plumper in comparison to your calloused long lanky hands.
You remember how they feel when they touch you-
“Yeah. We can do that. I have some spare time in the evenings.” You replied, after getting out of the dangerous train of thought.
Jake's face illuminated with happiness and you started to feel a bit dizzy from his direct eye contact.
Oh this man came back to wreck your shit again didn't he. You bit your cheek a little from the inside with anxiety.
“Well then that seals the deal.” He got up on his feet cheerfully and clapped once, walked to you and touched your arm with his hand lightly in a friendly manner.
“Don’t worry chum. We will have a great time.” His touch was very warm on your skin and a sudden chill on the back of your neck made you briefly alert.
He didn't understand what he was doing to you coming back here, did he? You moved yourself to the side and walked back into the corridor towards the garden exit, leaving him in the loft.
“Yeah whatever you say, English.” You said in the same monotone affliction you always had. “Just knock on the door if you need anything.”
An invitation with more than one goal.
“Oh, okay.” He replied back louder, the echo traveling through the foyer. “I might have to go in there for my duvet.”
You raised your hand to the side and nodded.
Your steps moved you all the way to the back exit and out the backyard garden.
Whenever you were certain that Jake was away enough and you were no longer in his sight, you took a deep breath standing in the garden dirt path that connected to your workshop and looked up towards the dark starry sky.
You tried to alleviate the anxiety pooling in your chest. Seeing Jake English after a long time did have an effect on you, even if you tried your best to hide it to him.
Why of all days he had to come back when you were so close to finishing a new project?
You were almost certain this was going to fuck with your schedule and mental health. Jake English was back and it meant trouble.