An Unexpected Visit

by Haste_V

Summary:

It's only been a few weeks since The Admin's defeat, but as all stories go, there will always be unresolved problems that need fixing. As long as Jesse remains, something or other will pop up, right? So, to give themself some space, Jesse seeks solace along the outskirts of Beacontown. That is...until a special someone decides to drop by.

Notes:

Hello! I hope you guys have a good time reading this. I think these two are adorable together. For context, this is post-Season 2, where The Admin was saved. It's only been about 2-3 weeks in the aftermath during this scene. I imagined green-suspenders Jesse during this scene, but feel free to imagine whichever Jesse you like the best. NB!Jesse is the best!

Edit: 3/11 - Fixed minor spelling and punctuation errors.

Chapter 1: Part One

It was slowly becoming a pretty breezy evening. The Moon gradually reared its head upward like a pendulum, towering the world below it. The landscape morphed into a dull hue of green as the sun quietly tucked away beyond the edges of the world. It was past dusk by now. A fog was beginning to decorate the shrubs scattered around the meadow. The birds figured it was time to rest, and the only sound remaining was the gentle streams of water below the wooden bridge leading into Beacontown.

There, resting along the railing of the bridge was Jesse, Beacontown’s Hero-In-Residence, drilling their eyes into the endless sky that splayed above them like a film. A chill swam through them as the wind brushed past their body, causing them to shiver. Although alone and vulnerable, Jesse seemed apathetic to their surroundings, shrugging off the increasingly nipping temperature.

Deep in thought, the hero shut their eyes, growing tired of their ongoing headaches. Jesse had always appreciated the times of peace and quiet, especially after the chaotics of their previous ‘adventure’. Jesse scoffed at the thought. It was more like an epiphany for them.

The Admin, Romeo. He held the powers of creating a better world, one far better than the current one. Instead of using those powers for good, The Admin instead used them for impulsive power trips and control. Jesse would never admit it, but the idea of having those powers was… attractive. They could only imagine how much they could accomplish if those powers were in their hands. The problems they faced now would be solved in a snap, with no second guessing necessary.

As always, however, the fear of those powers gripped the hearts of the world. It could never have someone with that much power belong ever again, not after what it's been forced to witness. Even if these powers were in the most trusting of hands, the fear of corruption was always persistent, everlasting.

Especially for Jesse. The thought of losing trust, or losing friendship was enough to persuade Jesse that, even with such powers like Romeo, it would never be truly worth it. Jesse opened their eyes again, fixated on the water stream below them. With a subtle glance to the side, to where Beacontown stood, Jesse noticed a figure out of the corner of their eye seemingly approaching them. Jesse felt far too fatigued to divert their full attention, deciding to shrug it off as another mob in the distance for the moment.

Jesse dropped their weight against the railing, their eyes getting heavier as the night drew closer. Deciding to stay in Beacontown after The Admin’s defeat has only been job after job for the Order. Rebuilding what was lost during the battles, and recycling buildings after they were piled with mobs from the lack of defenses (The townspeople dubbed it the Beautification Project). Jesse gulped at the thought of having to rebuild another house, just to hear it's become far too damaged to be fully restored.

At least Jesse had Radar, Lukas, Nurm, and Jack to help out. Even the New Ocelots were bringing it upon themselves to help around town, mostly with defenses. Jesse was eternally grateful for their friend’s assistance, even appreciating Stella when she offered to help out with a few builds, too. Harper and Ivor chimed in here and there, mostly working across the Portal Network to ask around for volunteers, whilst helping Axel and Olivia with Boom Town and Redstonia. Jesse was the one to suggest that.

Though, to say Radar’s been great would be an understatement. He’s definitely matured a lot since The Admin’s downfall, still bubbly and eccentric, but much more confident. Jesse’s noticed how Radar’s chin rises higher now when he talks, and the way his slouch has been reclining. They suspected that with a little more time and refining, Radar would prove to be a fantastic leader to Beacontown, if anything were to happen to them.

And let’s not forget about Jack and Nurm. Those two have been nothing but supportive. Nurm has upheld the appointed duty of Beacontown designated cartographer and even offers feedback with the Beautification Project, with Jack’s translation, of course. And Jack himself has been risking the outskirts of Beacontown for resources, coming back with duffel bags full of loot and foodstuffs. It was pretty amazing, Jesse had to admit.

And of course there was Lukas accompanied with the New Ocelots. It wasn’t surprising that Lukas gained such a following during Romeo’s dictatorship. He’s smart, already popular due to his publishings, and always was a fantastic leader. Sometimes Jesse wonders why Lukas insisted on 'settling down'. Why would someone as capable and charming as him want to retire? In fact, if Radar wasn’t here, Jesse would’ve asked Lukas to be their sidekick during Beacontown’s future affairs. Jesse blinked at the thought of their blonde friend, narrowing their eyes. There were far too many words to describe Lukas. Funny, but cynical. Realistic, but gentle. Timid at times, yet always so damn handsome.

Before Jesse could string in another thought, a noise crept into their ears. It was like a stomping that pounded at the earth, echoing throughout the wilderness. Jesse whipped their head towards the sound, realizing that it was coming from where they saw something moments before. Squinting their eyes to adjust to the darkness, Jesse could barely make out the meadow surrounding them and the shaggy dirt path leading up to the bridge, where they almost expected another one of those famous Admin-induced Iron Golems to come marching down towards them. The thought of those things shook Jesse to the core, causing them to take a defensive step backward.

To Jesse’s surprise, though, the blob that was a shadow moments before became more obvious. Thanks to the moonlight, Jesse could just barely make out the form. The hulking figure shifted from two separate points in its shape, with the lower half parting four legs in a hasty gallop. The top half was humanoid, pulling the reins of its wild counterpart.

It was a rider and their horse, someone that Jesse happened to immediately recognize. There, upon horseback, was a rider with a very familiar hairstyle, making his way down the path, as if on cue.

“Heeeey Lukas!” Jesse sprung up, relieved that the idea of fighting a mob had fizzled down.

“Hey Jesse!” Lukas pulled at the reins of his horse, slowing it down and trotting over to where Jesse was standing. He swiped his hand up and pushed back his goggles, raising them above his eyes. From where Jesse stood, it was entertaining to see how the blonde’s hair bounced on horseback. It was adorable.

Lukas blinked several times while swiping his hand over his forehead, making sure none of the dirt from the ride had landed in his eyes. He tugged at the reins, deterring the horse and caused it to stop just before the bridge.

“What’re you doing out here?” Jesse pondered, cocking their head to the side.

Lukas raised his body, twirling to whip his boot around within the stirrup. He leaped to the side and landed on the dirt path, causing a wave of dust and grime to kick up all around him. He swept his hand up to stroke the horse for a moment.

“I could ask you the same thing!” Lukas pivoted away from the horse’s side to face Jesse, chuckling, “Well, I was in Beacontown… asked Radar where you were. He said you’d be out here.”

Jesse felt a slight pang of irritation arise from their chest, having to quickly shrug it off. They were cherishing a moment to themself, after all…

“Sorry, I wasn’t interrupting anything was I…?” Lukas advanced towards Jesse, raising an arm to scratch the back of his head. It was almost as if Lukas had somehow read their mind.

“No. No it’s cool…!” A slightly assertive tone peeped out from Jesse, and although unintentional, Lukas picked up on it immediately.

“Are you sure? Hey, if you need peace and quiet, I can go…!” Lukas raised his eyebrow, taking a step forward and stopping.

Jesse couldn’t help but feel bad. It wasn’t right to just let him leave, especially because he’s been so helpful during the rebuilding of Beacontown. And to be honest, Jesse didn’t want him to leave.

“I can take a hint, Jesse. I’ll see you some other time, okay?”

“N-No! I mean--” Jesse stammered, their volume higher than intended. It caught both Jesse and Lukas by surprise, with the latter anchoring his eyebrows lower.

“I mean… sorry.” Jesse crossed their arms, allowing another sigh shutter through them. “I don’t want you to leave. I’m just… kind of iffy right now. I was thinking about stuff.” Jesse lowered their gaze, trying to avoid further eye contact.

It took a few moments before Lukas moved again, this time with a steadier and slower pace.

“Hey, it’s alright. I totally get that.” Lukas’ voice reassured Jesse. He continued, “Do you… wanna talk about it? Or is it, like, not my business…?” 

A pathetic little laugh bubbled from Lukas, attempting to ease Jesse’s nervousness. Jesse peered up at him, receiving his slight smile and weakly smiling back.

“Um… well. It was… stuff about The Admin. Y’know, it kind of made me…” Jesse trailed off, trying to think of a word or phrase that would help conclude their thought.

“...Paranoid? Existential?” Lukas chimed in, stopping in his tracks in front of Jesse and putting a hand on his hips.

“Yeah… exactly.” Jesse raised their eyebrow, both confused and impressed by Lukas’ suggestion.

Lukas dropped his head, lowering his eyelids as if in deep thought. The smile he had moments before had suddenly vanished, and his appearance somehow managed to look more dreary and tired.

“You know Jesse, I think about all of that. Like, a lot. More than I probably should.” Lukas held back his words, darting his gaze up again.

“I don’t wanna admit it, but… sometimes, when I look at you. I can’t help but feel like…” Lukas stopped again to think, probably choosing his next few words carefully. His lips twirled up, continuing, “I can’t help but feel a little on edge. Because of… y’know.”

Jesse felt an influx of emotions rush to their heart, their hands balling up in response. Lukas must’ve noticed, as he took another step forward, defensively throwing up his hands.

“I-It wasn’t right for him to do that. Nobody can be you, you know that.” Lukas gave Jesse a nod, “I-I mean, it’s not like I’ll be on edge forever, don’t worry.” Another smile perked up on his face, although this one seemed very forced.

Jesse sat in silence, uncertain on what to say. They predicted Lukas would say something like that. Lukas never did like sparking up an argument.

Lukas’ face tightened, his forced smile dropping and his eyelids drooped. He seemed pretty bothered by the subject. He opened his mouth again.

“Actually, Jesse, I’ve been meaning to have this talk with you. I uh…wanted to um…” The blonde’s words dwindled, struggling to piece themselves together. “I wanted to say that I’m sorry. I’m really, really sorry.”

Jesse’s eyes widened.

“I’m sorry for… y’know. Not recognizing you. As the real Jesse.” Lukas looked back up, meeting eyes with the silent hero. His eyes sparkled like a whimpering little pup, apologetically and out of shame.

“I feel like… some of that whole Admin thing could’ve been handled better. I mean, I should’ve known better. I should’ve known it wasn’t really you.” Lukas waved his hands around as he spoke, contorting his face into a frown “I feel sort of…responsible? I felt like I needed to do something, since no one else did.”

Lukas broke off and turned away, running a hand through his hair as he cleared his throat.

“You’re my best friend Jesse, I didn’t want to actually hurt you. I didn’t want to do anything that could hurt you.” Lukas emphasized some of his words, softening his tone for a moment.

“I just wanted you to be nice to me again, and to everyone else. And I-I just felt…really betrayed. I really thought you changed, that those powers did something to you.” Lukas talked himself breathless, gawking at the ground.

With another sharp inhale, Lukas proceeded, “I guess that’s why I hesitated so much. I’m just glad Romeo didn’t win. I love having the real Jesse around. The Jesse. My Jesse.”

Jesse’s mouth loosened and their eyebrows raised, bashful at Lukas’ statement. Lukas’ words soaked into Jesse’s ears, easing some of the tension they felt bottling up within them. They couldn’t resist smiling over his last statement.

“Oh, so, I’m your Jesse now?” A giggle spewed from Jesse’s lips. The blonde’s head shot up, reeling his flustered expression from the ground to meet Jesse’s eyes again.

“Th-that’s not what I meant.” Lukas stuttered, his cheeks swelling red.

Jesse threw a fist into Lukas’ arm playfully, smirking. “Hmph! Sure…”

“Jesse, c’mon...” Lukas’ face grew warm, raising his hand to rub where Jesse had touched his arm.

“Sorry. Didn’t mean to sway the conversation.” Jesse turned to face the railing, putting their arms up and leaning over it. Just as before, Jesse faced the night sky, pondering about The Admin, now with the addition of what Lukas had said. Lukas followed Jesse’s lead, walking over to join them. He flung his arms up and over the railing just like Jesse had done.

“You don’t have to feel bad, Lukas. You shouldn’t put any blame on yourself.” Jesse broke the several second silence, peering up at the moon as they continued, “I mean, even Axel and Olivia didn’t know. I didn’t really expect you to know even if they couldn’t tell the difference.” Shrugging, Jesse leaned to turn their head, glancing at Lukas. He was already staring blankly at them.

“Plus, The Admin’s plan would’ve never worked anyway, with you and the New Ocelots being total badasses.” Jesse gave Lukas another playful bump on the shoulder. The gesture caused Lukas to swallow hard, audible enough for Jesse to hear.

“Aw… Jesse, you don’t have to say that.” Lukas’ words got wobbly quick, causing him to run a hand along the side of his face as he dropped his head.

Jesse felt their cheeks flare up with heat as they studied Lukas’ face in the moonlight, admiring the dips and dots down his angled jawline, and the puny hairs that poked out from the end of his sideburns. The two have been close like this before, but something felt different now. Jesse wanted so desperately to reach out their hand and play with the blonde’s hair, or to caress the scar by his right eyebrow, or maybe just to turn his face towards them again so they could peer into his beautiful blue eyes.

Man, he was handsome.

Jesse quickly realized that they were staring at the poor guy for a while, driving their glance away and back towards the sky. Weird. At the snap of a finger, the thoughts of The Admin suppressed themselves within Jesse, and instead were replaced by the memories shared between the two friends. Pleasantries and tender conversations, and memories like now will forever remind Jesse of the powers of friendship and companionship.

Or… maybe this time is something different? The emotions Jesse felt now seemed complicated, like something they hadn’t completely explored before. Foreign, but fuzzy.

“Jesse?” The sound of Lukas’ voice dug Jesse out of their thoughts, causing them to blink.

“Yes?” Jesse peered over, noticing Lukas had gotten closer.

“I… write about you a lot. I mean, you know that already but like…I feel like out of everyone, maybe it should’ve been me who figured it out. You know what I mean?”

Jesse took a moment to digest what had just been said. They lowered their eyebrows, unsure on how to reply and feeling confused. Something about the way Lukas spoke rubbed them a certain way, as if there was more to what he was implying.

“I guess that’s a weird thing to say out of nowhere, huh? Sorry.” Lukas managed a frail smile, brushing his hands down his torso and into his jacket’s pockets. He withdrew from the railing and began to back up, sighing.

“I-... nevermind.” Lukas’ tone was hoarse and sudden, as if he had felt denied of something.

“Whoa hey, what’s going on?” Jesse unexpectedly shook their words, whipping their head to face Lukas. They shut their eyes as they forced their arm out, gingerly clutching his jacket. The blonde jerked and stopped dead in his tracks, turning his head and giving Jesse a jarred expression.

“Lukas…c’mon. Don’t go anywhere.” Jesse opened their eyes again, “You’re my closest friend right now, with Petra out who-knows-where and the others spread out doing their own thing.” Jesse planted a foot forward, inching themself closer to Lukas.

“I’m not sure what’s buggin’ you right now, but we can talk about it. You shouldn’t have to keep bottling things up.” Jesse’s ongoing gaze rattled Lukas, but he didn’t dare to look away. Jesse continued after sighing, “We don’t have to act like a bickering couple, y’know. We can talk about it.”

Lukas’ pupils widened with awe. The only response he managed was a blink.

Jesse huffed, softening their gaze and wrapping their arms around him. Lukas instantly succumbed to the gesture, practically throwing himself into Jesse’s arms. His head burrowed into the crease of their neck, his nose sliding against their sensitive skin.

“I’m… going through something at the moment. I-...” The words barely escaped Lukas’ mouth, if it weren’t next to Jesse’s ear, it would’ve been dissolved by the sounds of the water stream below.

“You gotta learn to stop blaming yourself, okay?” Jesse pat Lukas on the back several times before stopping, massaging the same spot with their open hands. “Plus, you’re a terrible liar. I can tell something’s up.”

The embrace lasted for what seemed like minutes, until Jesse finally withdrew, stunned by the sudden emotional outburst from Lukas. The blonde had to be pried from Jesse’s arms, resisting to back away as if he didn’t want to let go. To be frank, though, Jesse didn’t want to let go either.

“Alright… sure… I’ll try.” Lukas almost choked on the response, his lips quivering just enough for Jesse to notice.

Jesse felt their stomach drop at the sight. It wasn’t characteristic of Lukas to be this upset over this sort of thing. He wasn’t telling them something. Jesse seized the opportunity to draw any possible conclusions. It took a moment before the topic of The Admin flooded in Jesse’s mind again. That had to be the problem, right?

“Lukas, whatever Romeo did or said to you? I would never do that. Never in my lifetime.” Jesse lowered their voice, guiding their hands down to hold onto Lukas’.

Lukas’ hands trembled in response.

“I know, I know… but… that’s not…-”

Jesse’s head cocked to the side, unsatisfied by Lukas’ answer. Jesse dropped their arms to waist level, still clutching Lukas’ hands with their own. They remained quiet, signaling a cue for Lukas to speak again.

“Jesse, I’ve gotta get something off my chest.” Lukas’ head dipped down, avoiding Jesse’s increasingly curious gaze. Lukas drew in a hefty breath of air, “I’m not sure if I should even try to explain…” His voice became gravely and weak, stopping again to exhale.

“My admiration for you doesn’t just stem from writing stories, Jesse. My exaggerations for you, everything I’ve written about you, it’s not because I consider you my friend or our leader...” There was an extended pause. Jesse could tell he was really struggling to find the right words.

“...I was so broken when I thought The Admin was you. I finally got the confidence to say something… and all I got in return was some impostor, laughing at me. Telling me that I was wasting my time. Telling me that I was an idiot!”

Lukas’ words pierced the breezy night air like an arrow, echoing around with every word being louder than the last. Lukas began to strain his voice, stopping for mere seconds to catch his breath.

“I loved you, Jesse. I mean, I-I still do.” Something caused him to stop again, pulling his hands away from Jesse’s grip. His head swayed a little, as if he was shaking it as he turned away.

“Look what I’m saying is… there’s-… I have… I have feelings for you Jesse. Very strong feelings. I-I think I’m in love with you.”

Jesse froze up, with any form of a verbal response getting caught in their throat. They could only manage a gasp, before finally realizing that this is what was bothering him. This revelation rendered both parties unresponsive. Lukas shut his eyes, slowly withdrawing away from Jesse and shuffling back towards his steed, who had been eagerly waiting for his return.

Jesse couldn’t move, nor could they bring themself to speak. How could they after such a sudden, unexpected confession?

“It’s okay. You don’t have to say anything. I’ll uh… see you around.” Lukas paced himself back over to his horse’s side, leaning to grasp the reins.

“Lukas, wait!” The words poured out from Jesse’s mouth, abrupt and shallow.

Lukas stopped moving, much to Jesse’s relief.

“...What?” The response from Lukas was merely a peep, like the response of a kitten. The reluctance in his voice was compelling enough to make Jesse stand stiffly and rethink their next words carefully.

The stillness of the meadow dulled away, as did the noise of the stream of water from below the bridge. All Jesse could focus on now was Lukas, in vain over what they could possibly say to him. Instead of the plague of thoughts of The Admin, or of Beacontown, all that filled Jesse’s mind was the here-and-now, dreading the possibility of making Lukas leave. They shut their eyes, taking in a deep breath.

“Lukas, listen to me.” Another pause. Jesse shook their head to themself, their thoughts racing like a stampede of mobs. “We’re here, together. I stayed here because I knew it was right. It was the best decision.” Jesse opened their eyes again, noticing that Lukas was still standing next to his horse and with his back facing them.

“Jesse, where is this going?” Lukas almost snarled the words, his head robotically moving downward. “I’ve embarrassed myself enough for a lifetime. Just forget I said anything.”

“No.” Jesse shot back, scooting their foot forward. “Lukas..-” Jesse felt themself choke up, frowning as they spewed their next words out.

“Lukas, I chose to stay because… well. Because you’d be here. And I don’t think I can run away from you again.”

Chapter 2: Part Two

Summary:

Lukas confessed. Jesse is internally freaking out a little. How is this gonna end, huh?

“Lukas, I chose to stay because… well. Because you’d be here. And I don’t think I can run away from you again.”

Jesse couldn’t believe how quiet the space around them had gotten, their words phasing through the night as if they spoke to a hungry, endless void. They could feel their hands becoming weak and their heart beginning to thump like an eager rabbit. Jesse felt like they could drown from the air they anxiously breathed in.

The night sky undressed itself into a beautiful white polka-dotted black-purple canvas, with the moon still arching upward, leaving the wooden bridge where Jesse and Lukas stood to be dimly lit. The everlasting darkness swallowed the landscape surrounding it.  Even though the blanket of black approached, accompanied with the howling of the night, nothing could intimidate Lukas nor Jesse. The only thing they could do was stand idly and wordless, abiding to whoever had the guts to say something first.

Jesse blinked, attempting to throw themself out of their troubled mind. It was almost impossible to think of anything to say, with Lukas’ back facing them, they couldn’t even read his expressions. The thought of screwing this up chewed at them, stirring up an absurd amount of anxiety that boiled within them.

Jesse knew they had to say something, especially with Lukas on the verge of jumping back onto his horse. They had to be honest with both Lukas, and themself.

“Lukas, I-I think we feel… the same way.”

It was obvious to both friends that the words were involuntarily spoken. They were uttered in a labored mumble, exhausted outward into the chilling night air. It was a desperate but necessary plea to finally get something said.

…And it worked. Lukas’ arms swung at his side like wheat blown in the wind. He was definitely taken aback, his mouth agape. Although Jesse couldn’t see from where they stood, they could tell that the blonde was in deep thought. Jesse’s mind raced as a result, panicking that they had worsened the situation. Still, however, they remained quiet both out of fear and curiosity with what Lukas could respond with.

“...Jesse?” Lukas squeaked, his voice somehow sounding both lowered and heightened as he squeezed his words out, “Do-do you mean that…?”

Jesse’s chest tightened, their heart throbbing from hearing Lukas speak again. They breathed in, taking another few moments to think to themself.

“Of course I do, Lukas.” Jesse tried their best to sound reassuring, but they feared their efforts in doing so would only pry Lukas away. Their gaze was glued to the back of his head, hoping that he would spin around and face them. They took another step forward.

“I didn’t want to leave, because I wanted to be here…with you .” Jesse’s tone chipped away at Lukas, causing the blonde to crumple his posture.

“I think you’re amazing and cute…and a great friend. I’d be an idiot to not think of you any other way. You’re an awesome guy.” Jesse sensed heat forming in their cheeks again.

“Jesse…” Lukas’ voice piped down. He gradually swung his head around, peering up. Jesse stopped dead in their tracks as Lukas’ puppy eyed stare met theirs.

Before Jesse could even respond, Lukas bounced himself back, now with a giant beaming smile plastered on his face. It caught Jesse by total surprise, their reaction resulting in only a few blinks.

“Jesse, you don’t know how happy I am to hear that!” Lukas practically spat his words out, losing some control of his volume. He held his arms out as he pranced over to them, inviting Jesse into another hug. His explosive reaction relieved Jesse of a lot of tension, causing them to break into a toothy grin. Before they knew it, Lukas had his arms wrapped around them this time.

“So, so happy…” Lukas bellowed a hearty laugh, pulling his head away to give Jesse headroom in the embrace, still beaming like a buffoon. His blue eyes glistened from the moonlight, wide with pure glee. He sighed and continued, “I could honestly just kiss you right now.”

“Then why don’t you?”

Jesse sensed Lukas’ heart skip a beat as the words spilled out from their lips. Jesse immediately tensed up, shocked at their own impulsiveness. Lukas almost choked from the amount of air he inhaled, also startled by the abrupt suggestion.

Lukas shot a nervous glance at Jesse, his right eyebrow raising upward as he contemplated the decision. His uneasiness was mutually received by Jesse as they wiggled subtly in his arms, uncertain if either them or Lukas should make the first move.

“Are-...are you sure?” Lukas swallowed, his voice morphing into a low hiss. Before he could prevent himself from doing so, Lukas crooked his head and caught the sight of Jesse’s lips, putting zero effort into looking away.

Jesse squirmed, catching Lukas gawking at their lips, feeling their cheeks building up tremendous amounts of heat. At this rate, they were probably as red as redstone. Their reaction snapped Lukas back to reality, anxiously grinning.

“S-sorry, sorry. I don’t wanna make this weird.” The blonde’s eyes shined apologetically, with his eyebrows slightly raised.

Jesse was enamored, eyes gluing onto Lukas’ as their gazes met again. Everything paused like a movie. Jesse and Lukas became statues, engaged in a huddle forever staring into each other's eyes. How could it have taken this long for this to happen? The fantasies brewing in Jesse’s mind itched their deepest subconscious.

Before Jesse even knew it was happening, impulsiveness grasped for control. Somewhere, deep within Jesse, something awoke, and it was starved for physical affection. Jesse acted upon this new change of heart immediately, furiously closing their eyes and tilting their head to the side. Their arms wrapped around Lukas’ back, pushing the unsuspecting blonde towards them. Their hands gripped hard, one curling and bunching up Lukas’ collar.

Lukas’ face went ghastly white, too astonished to even process what was happening. His body buckled, staggering almost entirely onto Jesse before placing a foot aside to stabilize himself. His lips were now firm against Jesse’s, pleased that their lips were pleasantly warm. It took several moments before Lukas finally shut his eyes, embracing and cherishing the moment, his hands instinctively gliding up Jesse’s sides. It was difficult for him to not break out into a squeal.

Lukas managed to bring his hands up further up to Jesse’s neck, still continuing until they reached Jesse’s chin. He cupped it with both hands, his touch as careful as he could manage. With another quick sliding maneuver, his hands attached themselves onto Jesse’s cheeks, resting upon them. They were pretty warm.

Jesse could’ve sworn Lukas purred as he moved his hands, but the thought of that died as Lukas’ hands enraptured them and recaptured their full attention. Although they were cold from swaying in the wind minutes before, it was still enough to charm Jesse over.

Jesse fell into another trance of fantasies, grateful that Lukas stayed. For once, the sensation of Lukas’ balmy lips filled a hole in their heart that they didn’t know needed patching. For once, it wasn’t something over friendship -- it was for companionship, someone to provide their other half. It was the perfect moment to explore something new. Something that they actually wanted to happen. Something that was happening, right now .

The anxieties of worrying over Beacontown dissipated second by second. The heat emitting from Lukas’ body was like a smelter, thawing and dissolving Jesse’s stress. It was like a miracle remedy. Jesse’s posture loosened, collapsing into Lukas’ embrace like a melting candle as the aforementioned hand's supported their head, preventing their lips from detaching.

Another breeze danced past the two lovebirds, failing to deliver a chill. They were still encased in an ardent kiss, their lips moistening and palms growing sweaty from the blossoming passion.

…Until Jesse’s eyes snapped open, leisurely withdrawing from Lukas’ face, their mouth agape. The realization of what they were doing hit them like a sack of bricks, leaving them panting lightly for air while their face pinkened. Lukas’ movement was excessively slowed, as if he wasn’t ready to stop. His hands slumped down and onto Jesse’s collarbone, his fingertips just barely touching their neck. Jesse carelessly gripped their hands at his back again, feeling overpowered by his gentle touch.

“I--…I have… been waiting for that, for a very, very long time.” Lukas took the words right from Jesse’s mouth.

Moments of silence followed, with Jesse and Lukas again in stasis, staring at one another. Jesse had to force themself to blink several times, retracting themself out of their daze, as well as attempting to get a response out of their partner. Lukas replied by breaking out into a giggle, unable to contain himself. It surprised Jesse, who mustered out a faint snicker in return. 

Lukas couldn’t help but continue giggling, savoring the moment as much as he could. His eyes eventually met with Jesse’s again, though, shutting him up fast.

“Heheheh… my bad.” His bubbly tone stung Jesse deep, almost causing them to flinch from the sensation. It was something new, and very welcoming.

“Stop apologizing, silly.” Jesse’s hands slid upward from where they were sitting, meeting at the base of Lukas’ head. As they proceeded, Jesse could feel the spot where Lukas’ skin was scarred from PAMA, and where his hairs were always shortened and misaligned because of it, all those years ago. Jesse pushed their fingers further up, brushing through most of Lukas’ mane. Lukas straightened his back immediately, his shoulders shooting up like pistons. It was apparent that the action caught him off guard, but he did nothing to prevent it from happening.

Jesse’s fingers continued to swim in Lukas’ hair, lowering their eyes for a moment. They glanced away to the side, processing what had just happened. Their eyebrows dropped down.

“What does this make us now?” Jesse shot their eyes back up, interested to hear what Lukas would reply with.

“Uhh--...” Lukas huffed, his face scrunching up as he processed the question. He darted his eyes away, as if the answer would magically appear in the wind. “I guess…this means we’re a… bickering couple now...?” He chuckled, pleased with himself for making the call back joke.

Jesse stared at him, expressionless, causing a droplet of sweat to squeeze it's way off Lukas’ forehead. Then, suddenly, Jesse burst out into a laughing fit, levering their hands back down to playfully push Lukas away. Lukas snorted, his relieved smile radiating with joy and content.

“Oh you liked that one, huh?” Lukas cackled, his hair bouncing a little as he laughed. He exhausted air from his lungs, recovering from the bout of amusement. He cleared his throat, speaking again, “Sooo… was that a yes to the question… or…?”

“Of course it was!” Jesse exclaimed, waving their arms upward.

“W-wait, really?!” Lukas’ pupils widened, his body tensing up. “Are--…Are we like, a thing now?”

“What do you think, dummy?” Jesse playfully winked, crossing their arms.

“I’m taking that as a big yes.” Blushing, Lukas strolled a single step forward, leaning himself forward into a bow. He shot his hand outward, committing into a dramatic position as he challenged Jesse for their own hand in his.

Jesse turned so that their dominant hand reached out first, playing along Lukas’ theatrics. They couldn’t help but giggle as a result.

“Please allow me to act as your guide tonight, like your knight in shining armor. I shall ride you back into town.” Lukas’ voice boomed in a joking manner, holding his laughter back, surely aware of how silly he was being. He cleared his throat again, “It wouldn’t be the first time.”

Jesse, entertained, shook their head at the blonde bowing before them. They leaned, too, meeting hands with Lukas. Carefully, he latched onto Jesse’s hand and pulled, guiding the way back towards his horse.

“This is so unnecessary.” Jesse remarked breathlessly, unable to wipe the smirk off their face.

“I know. But I got you smiling, right?” Lukas turned back, peering over at Jesse and teasingly winking back at them.

Lukas’ sudden spark of confidence left Jesse bewildered. They blinked in response to his flirtatious reaction, unable to respond verbally. Lukas smiled again and returned his gaze back to where he was walking, guiding Jesse with his other arm on their back. Although taken aback, Jesse was delighted with the change.

The two arrived at the horses' side moments later, with the darkness of the night still seemingly creeping around them. Lukas released his grasp from Jesse, withdrawing and retreating behind them. He pressed his chest to their back, lowering his hands to grip their waist securely. Jesse’s eyebrows flexed upward in total surprise.

“Lukas? What’re you--”

“Uh… I’m offering to help you up.”

Jesse’s heart skipped a beat. From where Lukas placed his hands, it made Jesse internally freak out for a moment. They swallowed to ease their nerves, hesitantly raising their arms up to grab the saddle. 

Lukas watched Jesse raise their arms upward, using his strength to boost Jesse up enough for their boot to slip into the stirrup. He stepped back after the success, but idled close enough to catch Jesse if they were to fall. Jesse twisted their body over the hump of the horse, comfortably getting seated on the backside of the saddle.

“Thank you, humble knight!” Jesse’s voice almost cracked from their flustered state, attempting to hide it by fixing the hair that was now sprawled over their face.

Lukas peered up at them, awkwardly nodding. “You are so very welcome.” His tone was genuine, albeit still dramatic enough to play along with the act.

Jesse instinctively bent downward to offer Lukas their hand, who in return, seemed grateful by the gesture and seized it. Together the two pulled until Lukas planted his foot into the stirrup, hauling his body over the horse’s back and finally resting onto the rider’s side of the saddle. Taking the reins, Lukas steered the horse in the direction of Beacontown.

The moonlight reflected the land for miles, allowing Jesse to recognize the tree line that stretched hundreds of blocks where the water stream paved into. Besides the chilly air, it was a gorgeous sight to behold; the violet star-filled night sky seemed so inviting. Jesse’s eyes drifted, wandering the space above, unable to focus on its entirety. At last, for the first time tonight, Jesse was free from their unanswered questions and tasks. Instead of droning about the past, Jesse rode on the back of Lukas’ steed in the present.

Jesse extended their arms out, wrapping them around Lukas’ torso and clutching him close. Now instead of asking for impossible answers, Jesse found the simple solace in the presence of their newly crowned beloved. They buried their head in the crevice of Lukas’ neck, huffing out a dragging sigh. Lukas’ steadied breathing almost cradled Jesse to sleep, causing their eyes to wilt with exhaustion.

“Are you--...” Lukas’ hushed in a mild, concerned tone. Lukas was subtle with his head turn, glancing over to check on Jesse.

Before Lukas could mutter out another word, Jesse retorted by squeezing Lukas comfortably within their arms, resulting in him going silent. Lukas’ forehead wrinkled as his eyebrows anchored upward, making a mental note to himself before refocusing back to steering. Pleased with how tonight went, Lukas smiled and eased his posture, slouching as his back cushioned against Jesse.

The trip back to Beacontown wasn’t a long one, with both Jesse and Lukas riding on horseback together in silence. Nothing had to be said, though. They seemed content with just being in each other's presence. 

The gates into Beacontown opened immediately after spotting Lukas, allowing easy passage into the streets of the town square. There, Lukas gradually slowed his horse down into a trot, circling around the beacon-hill to hitch next to the Town Hall steps.

“There you guys are!” A familiar shrill floated through the air, startling both Lukas and Jesse. Jesse, who was nearly asleep, perked up to scan the area like a prey animal. Through their haze, it only took a second before Jesse noticed Radar was standing on the steps leading into the Hall, his eyes lit up like Christmas lights.

“Hey Radar..!” Jesse mumbled, refraining from yawning.

“I’m back!” Lukas chimed in, tossing the reins onto a makeshift hitching post nearby. He curled his body, lowering himself back down the horse and hopped onto the ground.

Jesse observed Lukas from above, patiently waiting for their opportunity to jump and meet the ground, too. To their surprise, however, Lukas swiveled back, turning to face them with a beaming grin.

“May I?” The keen blonde presented his hand to Jesse yet again, swiftly raising it for them to lever onto.

Jesse gawked at Lukas, glad to see he was still rolling with the chivalry act. They lifted their weight off the horse’s back, turning to accept Lukas’ hand in steering them safely down. At the last moment, Lukas angled himself against Jesse’s side to ensure their feet were firmly planted on the ground. With his hair drooping down to his face, Lukas grasped Jesse’s hand within his, still grinning.

“Oh man, you guys--!”

Radar began to speak, but stopped mid sentence as he witnessed Jesse suddenly throwing their arms around Lukas’ neck, tugging him down slightly. Closing their eyes, Jesse captivated the unsuspecting blonde like a fly in a webbed trap, snuggly pressing their lips against his. Their free hand brushed away the loose hairs that dangled in Lukas’ face, revealing a rosy blush painted in the man’s cheeks.

Unlike the previous kiss, this only lasted mere seconds, but was still prominent enough to leave Jesse and Lukas bashful. Jesse reeled back as they opened their eyes again and glanced at Radar, who was watching with his jaw practically dropped to the ground. Jesse giggled and returned their eyes over to Lukas, who had his eyes fixated on them the entire time.

“Thank you for everything tonight, Lukas.” Jesse’s tone was genuine and humble, their gaze shifting to the side and at the ground. They took in a breath of fresh air and started up again, “I’m glad you came to visit. I was pretty upset earlier.” Jesse’s head rose again as they looked back at Lukas, raising the pair’s intertwined hands up to chest level. “...Until you came. You just make everything better, you know that, right?”

Lukas’ eyes shone in the moonlight, wide with infatuation. Affected by Jesse’s words, as well as the second kiss, his heart began to pump like crazy as a wave of emotions overwhelmed him. He was speechless from Jesse’s display of affection in front of another person, something that he was not expecting so soon.

Jesse noticed his silence and giggled, realizing that they had won the unspoken game of romantics for the night. They reached up with their free hand again and gently flicked at Lukas’ goggles, snapping him out of his trance. He blinked multiple times before violently nodding.

“O-Of course Jesse! Of course. Anything for you.” Lukas’ wobbly words spilled out from his quivering lips. His face was now completely red.

Radar sprinted over to the couple, his curious eyes growing big.

“Uhhh. What was that?”

Jesse peered over at him, snickering.

“A kiss?”

Radar bounced up as Jesse said the word out loud, his hands clamping under his chin. His hair danced in sync with his jumps.

“A KISS?! Waitwaitwaitwait--” Radar ceased his hopping and leaned forward, lowering his voice. “Are you two… you know?” He made a motion with his hands at Jesse, who in return nodded their head as a reply.

“OH MY GOSH! My favorite two people, together?! This is… AWESOME!” Radar shouted unexpectedly, resulting in him immediately shutting his mouth. His excitement was still shown in his movement, though, as he continued to wiggle.

Jesse and Lukas both laughed awkwardly, the two simultaneously feeling embarrassed. Taking the lead, Jesse departed from Lukas’ side and made their way towards the steps with Radar following close behind.

“Actually, I think I’m gonna head home, Jesse.” Lukas’s voice sizzled, faint and just audible enough for Jesse to hear.

Jesse stopped in their tracks, spinning around to notice Lukas was already picking up the reins of the saddle again. They could feel their heart sinking, remembering Lukas’ life outside of Beacontown. For a moment, they felt the need to ask him to stay, but knowing he had his own duties to tend to, Jesse figured it was best to let him go this time.

“Aw… leaving so soon?” Radar asked, speaking for himself and for Jesse, who had tilted their head to the side.

“Yeah… I’ve gotta head back. Gotta feed the animals and do stuff in the morning.” Lukas chuckled, but it was mostly to himself. Jesse could tell from the way his eyes shifted away from theirs that he didn’t want to leave, either.

“Can you come by tomorrow..?” Jesse couldn’t help but blurt out the question, growing ill from the thought of having to leave Lukas so soon. The thought of being away from him now was far too overbearing. They needed him to be around. They wanted him.

“I will certainly try, Jesse.” Lukas hummed his reply like a lullaby, hurling his eyes up. His eyes met with Jesse’s as he mentioned their name. As always, his comforting and gentle tone reassured them, taming the wild emotions that began crawling up from their chest.

Jesse swallowed hard, nodding at the handsome blonde as they managed to raise their arm up and began to wave at him.

“I’ll see you tomorrow then, Lukas.”

“Bye!” Radar expressed his own goodbye before joining Jesse in waving.

Lukas smiled at the two of them before turning back, situating himself to the side of his horse. Swiftly, Lukas clutched at the pommel on the saddle and effortlessly hauled himself up, inserting his foot into the stirrup. He twirled his body and sat down, fidgeting to make himself comfortable.

Jesse’s gaze was glued onto Lukas, dissecting his every move with admiration and adoration. From his gestures, or to the way his hair continued to bounce the entire evening, Jesse desired every part of him. Finally after all this time, they had the opportunity to call him something other than ‘friend’.

Lukas raised his head, pivoting himself to face Jesse from atop the horse.

“Goodnight, Jesse.” His goofy grin returned as soon as he noticed Jesse blankly staring at him, flustered by their apparent affection. He snapped his hand upward and performed a hat-tipping motion, as if he was wearing a hat. He darted his eyes at Radar and did the same, “Goodnight, Radar.”

“Goodnight, sir Lukas!” Radar snorted, staging an exaggerated salute in response.

Jesse delivered one last fixed stare at their beloved, confident that he will keep his promise. They watched him lead the horse away from where they stood, trotting down the road that they had come riding through earlier. They watched until Lukas’ figure was no longer recognizable past the gates, down the forested path.

After what seemed like an eternity, Jesse diverted their attention to the Town Hall, turning around to follow the path up to the rest of the steps. Radar was already at the front door by now, frantically waving his hands at Jesse.

“You have GOT to tell me what happened.”

“Heheh... Maybe tomorrow.” With a yawn, Jesse entered the doors into the Hall, returning to Beacontown as Hero In Residence. 

Now with someone else to share the title with…?

Notes:

Does this work need any corrections with spelling or grammar? Or is it hard to read at times? Lemme know, I'd like to see any feedback!