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Bradley’s head pounds, the uneven bumps of the road only serve to make it worse.
He feels something warm trickle down the side of his face. Lifting a hand off his steering wheel he wipes it away. When his fingers retreat slightly damp with blood he curses.
At least he won.
Shaking his head, he tries to pull his focus back to the road. He’ll patch up when he gets home, take a hot shower and sleep it off. No big deal.
When Bradley pulls up to his house, the last he expects to see is Jake's truck in his driveway.
Turns out Jake is going to make it a big deal.
He parks, takes a deep breath before sliding his keys from the ignition and climbing out of his bronco. The wind is nearly knocked out of him as he makes his way up his porch steps. Maybe that guy got a couple good hits, more than Bradley would like to admit.
He wraps an arm around his chest as he unlocks his front door.
Slowly, he unlaces his shoes, placing them haphazardly by Jake’s. By the time he’s done, the exhaustion starts to set in. Even so, he straightens up, groaning when he feels his ribs protest.
“Bradley?”
Bradley bites his lip and immediately regrets it, his split lip flaring in pain. He sighs as he swipes his tongue over the cut to find a familiar tangy metallic taste. Bradley walks further into his house, towards the kitchen when he nearly collides with Jake.
Jake seems a little annoyed at first before his face contorts with worry.
“Oh my god, what the hell happened?” Jake asks with wide eyes. He’s cradling Bradley’s face, turning it from side to side. He lightly brushes his thumb over Bradley’s bottom lip, pulling back with a mumbled apology when Bradley winces.
Bradley shrugs. “It’s nothing.”
Jake scoffs, dropping his hands to grab one of Bradley’s. He drags Bradley down the rest of the hall to the bathroom. He opens the door, tugs Bradley in, then shuts it behind him.
“What happened?”
Jake’s shuffling around the bathroom as he asks, rifling through the cabinet for god knows what.
He grabs Bradley by the shoulders, maneuvering him around the room, pushing him down to sit on the edge of the tub. Jake crouches to look through the draws under the sink, spotting Bradley’s personalized first aid kit and taking it out onto the counter.
He unzips it, pulls out butterfly band-aids and alcohol wipes, places them on the counter next to the bag.
“Roo.”
Jake turns to face Bradley again, leaning against the sink with his arms crossed over his chest. He’s almost glaring, but the genuine worry behind his eye is unmistakable.
“Did you fight that guy?” He asks.
‘That Guy’ in question was some douchebag that was getting a little too personal with Jake for either Jake or Bradley’s liking. Jake had left a bit early from their outing because of it, with the bullshit excuse of ‘feeling tired’.
Jake had asked Bradley not to do anything, but of course ‘That Guy’ had to run his mouth and start talking shit. Bradley would rather not relive that, in fear of the rage he would go into, but let’s just say it didn’t end well, mostly for ‘That Guy’.
“No, I tripped.” Bradley says in the most deadpan tone he can muster.
Jake rolls his eyes. He pushes off the sink and rips open the alcohol wipes. Taking one out, he folds it to a point and walks toward Bradley.
He spreads his knees, letting Jake step into the empty space until he can feel the side of Jake's knees pressed against his inner thighs.. Jake’s free hand cradles the other side of Bradley’s face, holding it still.
Bradley’s hands hover over Jake’s waist, raising an eyebrow at him. Jake relaxes a bit as he nods. Bradley smiles slightly as he grasps the small of Jake’s back and draws him closer. He feels Jake lean into him, feels the knuckles of Jake’s other hand carefully run along the cut above his eyebrow.
Jake’s face is still scrunched up with concern, his smile lines deepen with his frown. Wetness gathers the rims of his eyes, but nonetheless he stares Bradley down. Bradley would dare say Jake was pouting, but he doesn’t voice it out loud, lord knows what Jake would do to him if he did.
“Why do you have to be such an idiot?”
That’s all the warning Bradley gets before the wipe is on his cut. He lets out a hiss, his eyes squinting at the sudden pain. Thankfully, Jake lets up, only slightly, going over it slowly.
“At least I’m your idiot.”
Jake’s hand stills. Bradley almost stops breathing. He grips Jake’s waist. Taking a second to breathe, he risks looking up.
The ceiling lights make Jake shine, a halo of light surrounds his head in a faint yellow glow. His brows are high in his forehead, his pink lips are agape in shock.
Jake lets out a breathy laugh, almost disbelieving. Finally, after what feels like the longest moment of Bradley's life, Jake speaks.
“Whatever you want, Roo.”
His smile is gentle, his voice is low, almost like they’re sharing a secret. Maybe they are.
Jake’s hand leaves his cheek to brush the hair off his forehead, lingering to wrap around a curl or two.
Bradley feels himself melt . If he could, he'd most likely be in a puddle of goo spilling into the tub behind him.
He wraps his arm fully around Jake’s middle, tugging him closer until his face is nearly smooshed into Jake’s stomach.
A hand cups the back of his neck, the other cradling his chin. Jake tips Bradley's head up, shifting a bit so he's not blocking the light.
He keeps his hand on Bradley's chin, fixing his grip on the alcohol wipe before finishing with the last few swipes.
Sighing, Jake drops his hands to Bradley's shoulders. He walks back, out of Bradley's arms and turns to grab the band-aids.
As he peels the backing off he closes in on Bradley and holds his head back with his hand. With his thumb he carefully soothes the lines in Bradley's brow, coaxing him to relax. Gently, Jake places it over the cut, pressing the pads of his fingers over it to make sure it stays.
Bradley lets Jake fuss over him a bit longer. He lets Jake’s touches linger, lets them graze his bottom lip, lets them breeze through his hair, lets them rub delicately over the newly forming bruise on his cheekbone.
“Ow, what the hell.” Bradley yelps when Jake presses his thumb into his bruise.
Jake snorts. “Sorry, sorry, I couldn’t help it.” He leans in, the tips of their noses brush against one another.
“Want me to kiss it better?” Jake’s voice is low, almost teasing.
“ Yes .”
Bradley knows how desperate he sounds, to have Jake’s lips on his skin even for just a second. Jake lets out a breathy laugh, a smile peeking through the corners of his mouth.
A linger kiss meets Bradley’s cheek. It’s pleasant, light, barley brushing against his skin.
Bradley is helpless to the noise he makes when Jake pulls back. Jake’s face widens in concern.
“Did I hurt you?” Jake asks softly, like if he speaks too loud Bradley will bolt.
Bradley shakes his head. “You missed a spot.” He says simply, trying to ignore the fire rising on his face.
Jake rolls his eyes. “You’re so needy.”
He cups Bradley’s face between his palms. Jake presses a kiss above the cut on his eyebrow.
“It’s kind of cute.” He whispers. Bradley isn’t sure if he’s meant to hear it but he does. It makes his lungs squeeze and his throat go dry.
His heart nearly bursts when Jake closes in, his breath tickling Bradley’s chin. He sees Jake’s eyes flicker down, feels Jake’s thumb light tug at his bottom lip.
“You can tell me to stop.”
Then Jake is kissing him.
Jake is kissing him.
What’s worse is he’s so gentle, an achingly tender press of the lips and nothing more.
Bradley gasps, grips tight onto Jake’s hip and drags him closer. He melts, his body is plastered to every inch of Jake’s.
Moremoremo-
Jake pulls back. He’s panting, his face is flushed, but god damn is he the most beautiful thing Bradley’s ever seen.
“Easy there tiger.” Jake says breathlessly.
Bradley feels pride swell in his chest. He did that. He made Jake breathless.
Jake runs a hand over his forehead and into his hair, tugging a bit as he goes. He sighs, grabbing Bradley’s hand and dragging him up.
“Come on, let’s get you some meds. Maybe some food.”
Bradley doesn’t speak, just lets himself be led, lets himself relish in the feeling of being taken care of.
Jake doesn’t let go when they leave the bathroom, knowing Bradley’s house like the back of his hand, not getting lost or forgetting where things are once.
Bradley feels a warm, low buzz circulate through him, he feels giddy. Getting to watch Jake in such a domestic setting makes his head swim.
Jake sat him at the island table, Bradley’s currently perched on a stool. He’s got a half full glass of water in front of him.
Jake’s on the other side of the kitchen, in front of the stove humming to himself.
Bradley smiles, getting up slowly and walking towards him. He wraps his arms around Jake’s waist, tucking his face into his neck as Jake finishes up making grilled cheese sandwiches for the both of them.
If only it could be like this all the time.