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Jay entered the house, breaking the silence with the creak of the front door and soft movements across the wooden floor. Bennie was awake as well, lying down in the couch and watching a movie with a crappy blanket wrapped around him like a lifeline.
Upon seeing Bennie, Jay walked over and threw something to his boyfriend. Before Bennie could even slightly complain, he looked at what was thrown to him and his frown turned into a smile.
"You got me a new blanket? I don't need that, Jay," Bennie insisted, sitting up and scratching the back of his head.
Jay walked over and gently laid him back down, not speaking much but replying to that with a simple "Well now you have one."
Bennie watched as he got up and left for the kitchen, where he could be heard rummaging through the pantry. Bennie kept the movie paused until he came back out, wondering if he'd maybe want to watch it together.
Jay emerged from the kitchen with a bag of chips and a glass of water, glancing and Bennie with a strangely red face for how he usually looked. This confused Bennie, but he decided not to mention it right away.
When Jay sat down next to him and sat the glass in front of him on the coffee table it got stranger, Bennie cautiously sitting up again to drink it down.
"You've, uh, mentioned not drinking enough water before?" Jay's voice was more timid than usual, more worrying Bennie than feeling thankful for the water.
"Uh, yeah, sure. Are you okay?" Bennie put a hand on Jay's shoulder, genuinely slightly concerned. "I swear I won't be mad about anything--"
"No! No, nothing's wrong, I just-" Jay interupted, but stopped himself with a groan. Bennie let him sit there for a minute, unsure if he should just ignore it and turn the movie on again.
Jay cleared his throat, looking into a corner of the room rather than at Bennie. "...I have been, uh...given several 'recommendations' from your friends on how to treat you better"
This surprised Bennie for a second, feeling embarrassed for them doing something like that and getting ready to apologize, but Jay spoke again.
"It feels nice, actually. This."
Bennie shut his mouth, slowly nodded. The room filled with silence so Bennie reached out to the coffee table and turned the movie back on, catching the attention of Jay. He seemed to enjoy this shift, relaxing into the couch and watching with ease.
Bennie quietly opened the blanket, admiring the softness of it for a second but quickly glancing over to Jay. "How much was this anyways?"
Jay seemed to consider this question for a moment before shaking his head. "Doesn't matter. Just use it, dumba- um, Bennie."
Bennie laughed at the last part, unable to contain his laughter. It was hilarious how kind Jay was trying to be, at this point.
"You can still call me a dumbass. I don't mind." Bennie reassured, causing Jay to redden further. It was clear he would love to tell Bennie to shut up, but he seemed to genuinely be trying.
Bennie could hear Jay softly mutter for him to keep watching the movie, so he did just that. He curled up in his new blanket, noticing Jay glancing at him more than he was actually focusing on the movie. It was quite strange, seeing him like this. Usually Bennie only got this side of him when he was drunk or when he wanted something, but it seemed pure.
After twenty minutes or so of Jay looking back and forth between staring at Bennie and watching the movie, he softly cleared his throat to try and get the blonde's attention, immediately getting it.
Bennie tilted his head as a small 'what?' and Jay looked away yet again. "Would you maybe like to sit on me?"
Okay. Okay, this wasn't new. Bennie nodded, his movements slow and almost unsure of themselves. Jay cringed at this sight, immediately reassuring the man with a hint of regret in his voice. "I don't want sex, if that's what you're worried about, Bennie."
It slightly hurt Bennie more now that Jay could read him like that, nodding and moving over a little faster, now being the one who was avoiding eye contact. He settled carefully on Jay's lap, facing him with comfortable space for the other.
It seemed that wasn't what Jay wanted out of this, however, immediately pulling Bennie into an embrace and holding him there for a while. Longer than they'd ever been in a hug, sober at least.
Bennie slightly wanted to cry because of it but held back tears, melting into the kind embrace and resting his cheek on Jay's shoulder. To this, Jay carefully ran his hand up and down his back, watching Bennie with a careful gaze.
"You can fall asleep, it's fine. I don't mind." Bennie nodded, wrapping his arms around Jay's shoulders and staying there, clinging to him even as he drifted off to sleep.
Jay turned the movie back on, turning the volume down after a bit of consideration. Maybe Chris and the others were right- this was nice. Better than seeing Bennie torn and burnt out all the time.
Jay sat there for the remainder of the movie, stroking Bennie's back whenever he seemed to tense or slowly start to wake out of discomfort. He didn't want to acknowledge what a stark contrast this was compared to how he used to treat the man, so instead just stood and carefully started to carry Bennie to the bedroom.
He set the man down on the bed, getting a piece of hair out of his hair and watching him. He was perfectly content, laying there, unlike how he usually looked like when he rested. Tired. A little sad, even.
Jay was going to lean down for a kiss but stopped himself. Bennie wouldn't tell the difference anyways, he'd just be asleep.
Bennie woke up, stretching and yawning with a feeling he'd never woken up to before. Joy, happiness, even a little bit of fulfillment filled his mind as he sat up and looked for Jay.
There was a note on the kitchen table in thick black letters, telling Bennie that it was from Jay.
'Bennie. I left to go back and grab Chris to get to the next pit stop. Love you, Jay.'
Bennie held the note in his hands, unsure of how to feel. It wasn't even a full 'I love you', but he wouldn't complain. He couldn't. This was the best he'd felt in months.
Bennie clutched the note to his chest, going back to bed with it lying on the pillow next to him.
Though the house was quieter, colder, and a little more empty without Jay, Bennie felt more able to go to sleep than how it was before. He'd never gotten that kind of comfort from someone, especially when it came to Jay. So he was grateful. For the progress he made, they made, and even a little for his friends.
Say, surely Jay didn't mean all of their group- so who exactly told Jay to do all of this? And moreso, why would he listen? Bennie wondered this for a good ten minutes before letting it go as he drifted off to sleep.
"You know the deal, fork it over," Jay grunted. Chris was stood next to him, arms crossed and clearly uncomfortable with the situation. She shuffled back a little, letting the tension between the two grow.
The three were perched at a gas station, Jay's bags and other crap to bring a long the trip all in a pile on the sidewalk next to them.
"I can't believe I even had to pay you to do this," the other said, sorting through a wad of cash with impatience that would make any receptionist anxious.
"Too damn bad. You're the one that made the deal, and I finished my part of the bargain, so give me my cash." Jay was cold and unrelenting, gesturing violently with his hand to give him the money.
Derrick handed it over, absolutely seething at Jay's words. He clenched his fists, turning to leave but turning once more for a final word.
"This wasn't for you by the way. You're ruining Bennie's life, you bastard."
"He ruined his own life, don't blame that on me," Jay snapped back. Derrick made a disgusted look, making him continue. "I didn't do SHIT. You're the one that's desperate to point fingers because you know that I'm not gonna fix it, but so fucking what?"
"I'm not helping, but I'm sure as hell not causing it either. So go fuck off to that little hole you call a house."
Derrick was already gone before Jay could finish. He muttered a curse under his breath, picking up the bags with angered movements. Chris followed him and did the same, watching where Derrick had walked away.
What the hell was that about anyways?