Clang (19 page)

“Hey, good-looking.”

“Hi,” Chase grinned. The tattoo shop door swung shut behind him and he joined Jackson on the sidewalk. He slipped his hand into Jackson's and stretched up to kiss him.

Jackson loved that he was a couple inches shorter. Not short enough to be a hassle, but short enough that he could stretch up on his toes and tease Chase. He could make him work for a kiss now and then.

Not today, though. He wanted everything to come easy to Chase after the kind of day he'd had.

“Feel like going out for a meal?” Chase asked.

“Oh. Sure,” Jackson nodded. He hadn't expected Chase to be up for going out, but then, he had no idea how that confrontation had gone earlier. “Where?”

“The fancy new place down the street?”

Jackson nodded. “What's the occasion? Other than... you know.”
Do I ask about it yet?

“Being free,” Chase said. He took Jackson's hand and led him down the street. “How was your day?”

“Nowhere near as eventful as yours... as usual,” Jackson chuckled. “It never seems to be. Er, there was an argument with a builder, but the paperwork's on my side so we settled it quickly.”

“Over what?”

Jackson grimaced. “Money. It always gets ugly around that. I've never had trouble with him before, but I think he's getting forgetful... He wanted to pay me half what he agreed on upfront and the rest later, but I have bills from my suppliers to pay, too.”

Chase frowned and squeezed his hand. “Yeah. And you took care of it?”

“Yep.” Jackson bumped his hip lightly against Chase's to make him smile. “He remembered when we went over the paperwork we did last year for his first order and apologized a lot.”

“Good.” Chase laced his fingers with Jackson's. “So I might as well tell you how it went down...”

“If you want,” Jackson nodded. “Not if it'll stress you out again, though.”

When Chase looked at him, Jackson spotted something a little different in his eyes. His mood was light and cheery again. God, it had been weeks since he'd seen Chase look this carefree – if he
ever
had. “It won't stress me out.”

“No? Okay. You look... good.”

Chase smiled. “Thanks. So, Jerry came in and told me he wanted to talk to me, and I said he's not allowed to anymore. He gave me a note from my brother and I pretty much told him I'm out of the family for good. Or he told me. Either way, we agreed on that much.”

Jackson couldn't imagine being told that and still being able to smile. Chase's family was so different.
Shitty
, he wanted to think. He winced and nodded.

“I got a little more Biblical than that on him, but it worked. I really think he's gone for good now.”

Jackson nodded. “And that's what you wanted?”

Chase was silent for a minute as they walked – long enough that Jackson started to question whether he'd heard. Before he could repeat it, Chase swung their hands lightly and nodded. “I think so.”

Jackson paused at the crosswalk when the green walking man turned red and leaned in to kiss Chase's lips in a little peck. “Okay.”

Chase leaned into him and smiled, kissing him back before murmuring, “Thanks for asking.”

“You wanna dance after dinner? Have a drink?” Jackson suggested. He could help Chase make this a celebration.

Chase lit up with a smile, those beautiful white teeth flashing as his eyes brightened. The light turned green. They pulled away from each other, still holding hands, to start walking. “Yeah. That sounds great.”

“Okay, it's on,” Jackson smiled, swinging their hands lightly. “Oh, there's the restaurant.”

They didn't discuss Chase's family again. Instead, Jackson asked Chase about his clients that day, what tattoos he was drawing or planning, and about his fencing classes. Chase even managed to sneak to the bar and pay before Jackson could even ask for the bill.

After supper, they ambled back down the street to the gay club. Chase stood tall as he led Jackson inside and paid their cover.

Chase and Jackson stood at one of a few small tables around the edge of the dance floor to watch people for a bit. They had to stand close together to hear each other, but Jackson wasn't complaining. He liked having an arm around Chase's shoulders anyway, and Chase seemed to find it amusing.

“Have you been here a lot?” Chase asked, turning his lips to Jackson's ear.

Jackson shook his head. “Not in months. Maybe a year...?”

Chase's eyebrows shot up. “Ah. Wow.”

“I'm not sure I remember how to dance,” Jackson laughed.

Chase winked and sidled closer to kiss his jaw. “I'll remind you.”

Jackson finished his drink and waited for Chase to finish his. He led him to the dance floor to sidle close under the lights, his arms around Chase's waist.

They spent hours on the dance floor without having another drink, just losing themselves in movement and music. They could grind and dance dirty for some songs and act silly other times without judgment. If they were being judged, neither of them noticed or cared.

Only when Jackson's feet started to hurt did he nudge Chase, leaning down to his ear. “You wanna go home?”

“I've been waiting for you to ask for hours,” Chase teased, kissing his neck and slinging an arm around his shoulders. They tried to slip through the small crowd in the even smaller club. At coat check, Chase gave a startled glance to a tall, curly-haired man nearby.

“Oh, hi.”

“Hello...” The stranger eyed Jackson for a moment before looking back at Chase. “How are you?”

“Good,” Chase answered, leaning on the counter and handing over his ticket to the attendant. “You? Settling in well?”

“Yes, thank you.” He sounded Italian.

Chase waved between them. “Antonio, this is my boyfriend Jackson. Jackson, Antonio.”

Antonio gave Chase another moment's surprised glance. He smiled at Jackson and reaching out to awkwardly shake hands.

Another man slipped in beside them and rested a hand on Antonio's shoulder. He was short and round and had an adorable smile and a bright pink shirt. He was the kind of gay man Jackson saw coming from across the city, let alone the room. “Got our coats, Tony?”

“They found yours without trouble. Mine is less distinctive.”

Jackson grinned at the bright purple jacket that Antonio handed over to the newcomer. He glanced at Chase, who was smiling without a hint of discomfort.

“Here you are. Sorry for the wait.” The attendant handed over Antonio's coat first, then Chase's and Jackson's.

Chase slid a bill into the jar and nodded. “See you around, I'm sure,” he told Antonio with a wave, then nodded at Antonio's partner.

“Bye,” Antonio bade them, and Jackson followed his lover out to the street.

“Who were they?” Jackson asked.

Chase just smiled at him, buttoning up his jacket before taking Jackson's hand again. “Doesn't matter anymore. Let's go home.”

Jackson was happy to fulfill Chase's request.

***

“Oh man, I'm gonna hurt tomorrow,” Chase lamented. “I haven't been there in...
weeks
now.”

“Weeks?” Jackson laughed, slipping his shirt off and tossing it into the laundry basket. “What, like a week or two? Try months and months. Years.”

“It's not my fault you're antisocial,” Chase smirked.

Jackson laughed. “I'm not, you know that. I'm just... anti-stranger-social.”

“True. That's different,” Chase agreed. He tossed his own clothes in the basket. As he turned his back to approach the bed, Jackson stared. Somehow, he hadn't seen Chase's bare back before.

“Oh...”

Chase paused and looked over his shoulder, holding still so Jackson could look. “Yeah?”

A gnarled tree ran up one side of his back, across his shoulder blade, its branches stretching up towards his shoulder and neck. The leaves were thick, starting in pale pastels and brightening up towards the top of the tree. A kite, caught in the uppermost branches amongst the balloons, stretched up towards his opposite shoulder. In script was written,
Kites rise highest against the wind.

“That's beautiful,” Jackson murmured, rubbing his thumb along the tree trunk and up towards the kite. “When did you get that done?”

“When I first left home.” Chase twisted to glance over his opposite shoulder instead. “Thank you.”

Jackson leaned in to press his lips against Chase's.

Chase moaned quietly and leaned back into Jackson, his body warm against Jackson's. He fit perfectly against him, all slender and firm where Jackson was muscled. The bright colors and black tattoos streaked across his skin were works of art on an already beautiful body.

“It's perfect,” Jackson murmured, rubbing Chase's chest now.

“Can we shower together? I'd like that, after... today.”

Jackson let out a quiet breath of relief and nodded. “Okay.” He trusted Chase to know what he needed, and if that was warmth and closeness...

Jackson wrapped his hands around Chase's backside to pick him up and carry him the few steps towards the master bathroom. Chase laughed with surprise and Jackson winked, easing him to his feet on the bathroom tiles.

“What a romantic,” Chase teased, his eyes aglow from the hours of dancing and flirting. Jackson wanted to show his... love.

Oh, it was way too soon for that. Jackson's heart thrummed with nerves, though he knew it was true.

“You're gonna make me wait to make love to me, right?” Chase murmured after a few moments, stepping into Jackson's shower.

“Patience is a virtue.”

Chase snorted. “Thanks. I'll be the most virtuous little fag you've ever had.”

That
was an interesting word choice. Jackson flinched on pure instinct, glancing at Chase. He was grinning. Jackson brushed it aside for now and laughed. “You're a little demanding.”

“I know what I want,” Chase countered. He turned on the hot water and shivered, stepping out of the way until it warmed up. “But... yeah, maybe not tonight.”

“Not tonight,” Jackson echoed. He followed Chase into the shower, pressing a kiss to the back of Chase's neck.

Chase shifted and sighed with satisfaction, his body melting against Jackson's. “You could give me the old reach-around...” His tone sounded teasing, though. He was joking.

Jackson's laugh bubbled from his throat. “Oh, you,” he murmured, flicking Chase's shoulder as the hot water streamed down their bodies.

“I'm glad you don't find me... too much.”

“Never,” Jackson promised, rubbing Chase's chest.

They were quiet for a minute before Jackson let go. “Here's the soap.”

“I'm... I'm really happy,” Chase admitted, taking the soap and scrubbing himself off. “Christ, you were right with what you said the other day. But this felt different. I'm
choosing
this. This isn't... proving anything, you know?”

Jackson smiled, ducking his head under the water to wet his hair. “I'm so proud of you,” he murmured. He ran his hand across Chase's shoulder.

Chase was changing before his very eyes. Even that moment of self-awareness seemed to have made him conscious of his own boundaries.

This was a different Chase than the one who had seduced him in his workshop, but it was one Jackson loved no less.

“Thanks,” Chase chuckled quietly.

He barely remembered drifting off a few minutes later, wrapping up the clean, soapy-smelling man in his arms and against his front. As he went to sleep, he had one image stuck in his head: Chase looking back with a smile as Jackson's soapy hands ran over the bright leaves at the top of the tattooed tree.

Turn in notice.

Chase glanced at the alarm that flashed across his phone screen. He shut it off and sighed, glad he'd set it earlier that week. It was crunch time: if he wanted to break his lease, it was near the end of August. He'd have better luck if the landlord could quickly pick up a student around September first.

He rubbed a hand over his mouth, glancing out towards the workshop in the backyard. It was great to have Friday off, but Jackson had a project he had to finish by the end of the week. Chase was hanging out in the house while he smithed.

It was nearly noon. Chase was in the middle of making KD and spam – the only meal he knew how to make that wasn't out of the same package. He figured combining two packaged foods made it a little fancier, at least.

“Kraft Dinner?” was Jackson's greeting as he stepped through the back door, grinning at the distinctive bright blue box on the counter.

“Shh, don't ruin the surprise!” Chase scolded.

“Oh, and ham – nice one.” Jackson beamed and came over to kiss him. “For me?”

“No, for me. All for me. I'll eat the whole pot... with a spoon.”

Jackson's laugh boomed through the kitchen. He let go and grabbed bowls and forks for them. “Thank you.”

“You're welcome.” Chase drained the pasta and dumped it back in the pot, adding the butter, milk, and cheese packet. The ham was already cut up and went in next. “It's the only thing I really know how to make...”

“No...” Jackson groaned. “Really?”

“Really,” Chase blushed. “I always lived off... um, this, and Hamburger Helper, and Sidekicks, and...”

“Jesus, no, no,” Jackson held out a hand. “Not under my roof. I can teach you proper cooking.”

Chase held his breath, dumping macaroni into each bowl. “Actually... I wanted to talk to you about that.” He carried their bowls to the table and settled down opposite Jackson, trying to be casual and not anxious about the conversation. “I gotta turn in my notice soon if I'm moving out, so the landlord can find a good student...”

Jackson nodded. “Are you thinking about it?”

“Um. I don't know,” Chase admitted. “It's weird with the way we haven't dated long...”

“Mmhmm?” Jackson was quite neutral as he listened, not showing what he thought yet.

“But now that we're living together, I really, really like this,” Chase confessed. He laughed. “How long-term is this?”

“This meaning you living here, or us dating? Or both?”

Chase licked his lips. “Both.” He hadn't even eaten a bite of KD yet. He realized he was still holding his fork in the air.

Jackson put down his fork and reached across the table to take Chase's hand. Chase quickly put his fork on the table, too. “Chase: if you would move in with me, I'd be delighted to have you,” he said seriously.

Chase didn't have words for the way his heart nearly burst out of his chest. “Really?”

“Yeah,” Jackson laughed quietly. “If you're worried about being independent, I can convert the walkout basement suite so it feels more like we're dating – whatever it takes. But it's your decision. We'll keep dating either way. I'm in this for the long-term if it works out and you want to be, too.”

Chase let out a breath. “I was hoping you'd say that,” he admitted. “I want to stay.”

Jackson stood up and pulled him to his feet to kiss him. Chase was only too happy to lean into Jackson to enjoy the moment.

Then, Chase sat back down again. “Eat up.”

Jackson chuckled fondly and settled down again for lunch. They didn't say much over their bowls of macaroni, but Chase caught Jackson giving him sneaky, affectionate glances.

Finally, Chase laughed when their bowls were clean. “I'll wash up,” he told him, standing up and gathering their dishes. “You get back out to work.”

Jackson looked surprised. “Not going to suggest a celebration of our news?”

“There's lots of time for sex later,” Chase told Jackson. The moment the words left his lips, even
his
jaw dropped a little. Then, he shook his head. “Go on, get out. Sooner you finish work, sooner you're back inside, and then we'll see,” he winked. “I'm going out shopping with Noah for barbecue food though.”

“Right, that's tomorrow,” Jackson groaned, plodding towards the back door. “I'll have to clean off the barbecue.”

“You say that like it's a chore. I see you patting it on your way to the workshop.”

Jackson turned red and pretended not to hear him as he stepped outside and slid the back door shut after him.

Chase laughed under his breath, leaning against the counter to have a good look around at his new home. He still had to deal with the landlord, but he was positive he could work something out. If all else failed, he could sublet.

He'd do whatever it took to stay with Jackson, but this time, not because he had nowhere else to go and he was afraid of being found. This time, he wasn't running
away
. Since confronting his uncle, Chase hadn't even had a crying attack in the shower, or a dark night with too much vodka. He was stunned at how
easy
it had been. He'd done his grieving a long time ago. Now, he was running into Jackson's arms, and Jackson was reaching out to pull him close at every turn.

Jackson was everything he wanted his home to be.

***

“So, what's the new exhibition about? And twenty hamburgers?”

“Make it two boxes.” Noah held the freezer door for Chase as he grabbed boxes of frozen hamburger patties. “The exhibit's all tiny art.”

Chase hummed. For a show put on by some pretentious rich guy, that actually sounded interesting. “Cool. Why tiny art, though? Not, like,
world peace
or
beauty
?”

Noah leaned in and lowered his voice. Grocery stores were a prime spot for overhearing gossip, after all. “I think the guy thinks he can buy a lot of it for the same amount as a few large paintings and impress people...”

“Oh,” Chase laughed, setting the boxes in the cart. “Did you try explaining--”

“That size doesn't dictate price?” Noah smirked. “That can apply in so many situations. But yes,” he lisped, letting the door swing shut and flourishing as he turned on his heel to follow Chase.

Chase snorted. “Funny.” He wheeled the cart along. “What veggies do we need?”

“Fresh veggies are better on the barbecue. We'll go back there.” Noah checked his list, then dangled it between two fingers and sauntered along next to Chase.

Even Chase was surprised at how at ease he felt around Noah. He still didn't quite know how to respond sometimes, but Noah made him laugh instead of cringe more often now. “Okay. What do they like making most?”

“Asparagus, green beans, corn... the usual. Thomas is a fiend for corn. He'll eat it all if you let him.”

“Good to know,” Chase chuckled. “You must like being around them a lot.”

Noah nodded. “Oh, yeah. I'm moving in soon.” He glanced at Chase. “You are, too, huh?”

“It... it's
way
sooner than you and Cam, but yeah,” Chase admitted. “It was supposed to be temporary, but I like living with him. And I like the family atmosphere.”

“Yeah.” Noah started choosing corn cobs, squeezing them and peeking under the layers of leaves. “It gets a little lonely here sometimes. Or it did before I met them. Now I have this huge, weird circle of friends from each of them and from my own hobbies...”

Chase laughed. “Yeah? You don't have family here?”

“No. They haven't been out to see me yet, either,” Noah shook his head. “But I'm hoping to see them at Christmas or something. We've never been super-close. We're the type to visit once or twice a year and maybe call on special occasions, but otherwise leave me alone.”

“That sounds okay,” Chase nodded. “The opposite of these guys, though.”

“Very opposite.” Noah frowned as he stuffed corn into a bag, then chose another. “Help me pick corn.”

Chase abandoned the cart and grabbed a plastic bag to start choosing corn cobs as Noah showed him how to. “I don't have one, so I'm kind of looking forward to getting involved with the Rileys more,” he admitted.

Noah gave him a quick glance, then smiled. “Yeah? They're super-nice, even his parents. It's just small-town manners. It's really easy to get to know people. I kinda wish my family were more in touch, though... I drove them away a little, you know?”

Chase nodded. He wasn't sure what to think of Noah confiding in him so easily, but again, he tried hard not to judge him. After all, Noah seemed to be trusting him like a new family member, and being treated that way was a relief. He kept his voice down out of respect for Noah's privacy. “If you want them to talk more, try encouraging them. Maybe they just think you want more distance than you want anymore.”

“Mmm.” Noah gave him a thoughtful glance. “Wise.”

Chase cracked a smile. “Thanks. This enough corn?”

“It should be.” Noah squeezed his shoulder. “Come on, let's go get green beans next.”

Chase took charge of the cart and followed after Noah, smiling to himself at Noah's retreating back. Maybe Noah was loudly colorful, the type for whom the closet was never an option, but he seemed sweet.

This was his new life: grocery shopping and barbecues, bringing lunch to Jackson when he was off while Jackson brought him lunch on his work days. And getting to know a whole new family on top of that... It was overwhelming, but every fiber in Chase's body told him he was on the right track.