A/N: Oh God so I'm also taking a stab PepsiCola (my OTP) IDK when I'll update but there WILL be more chapters. A FEW. May end up containing other pairings or John/Dave/*insert-3rd-party*. Suggestions? R and R please.
Your name is Dave Strider, and you're starting to feel a little nervous. Your iPhone is ringing in your ear as you wait for your best bro, John Egbert, to answer his damn phone. You never really call him, preferring to handle things over PesterChum to keep your cool kid façade securely in place, so… maybe he didn't even have your number saved? That'd be kind of a bummer. You were just about to give up and toss the damn thing across the room when you heard a soft click on the other end, someone answering.
"Dave?" You heard the sleepiness in his voice and chuckled softly.
"Dude, were you asleep? I know there's a time difference but it should already be eleven over there." There. In Washington, where John lived. Far away from your shitty apartment in Texas that you shared with your Bro.
"Shut up, you kept me up 'til three in the morning messaging me! And for your information," God you loved that teasing tone he got before he pulled out a bit of his coveted Pranksters Gambit. "I was about to hop in the shower. Dave, I could've been naked when you called me." Okay. Wow. You're totally not picturing a naked John right now. Nope. You swallow a bit before replying.
"For all you know, I could be naked right now." There's silence for a second and you wonder if maybe you crossed a line there. John is "not a homosexual" so you're never absolutely sure how far to take the teasing. Even if it's not necessarily teasing most of the time. You're not afraid to admit it: You, David Elizabeth Strider, have a huge gay crush on your best friend, John Egbert. The only thing you were afraid of was scaring the bucktooth wonder off with you advances. But you've been sort-of flirting with him for three years now and… He just can't seem to take the hint. It doesn't exactly help that you've never actually met in person. Which brings us back around to the reason you were on the phone in the first place…
"That's kinda homo bro." Woah now, you don't say? Risk taking time in 3, 2…
"Only for you hon." You make ridiculo- ironic kissy noises into the phone's receiver for dramatic effect and are relieved when you hear John's unbelievably dork laugh/snort echoing back at you. "Anyways I did have a reason for calling you," Some of the previous nervousness still squeezed you.
"I never would have guessed." Eyes rolling.
"Ha-freaking-ha Egderp. I just needed to ask… Are you planning anything for… Most of July?"
"No… I don't think so. I mean, Dad and I usually go to this really cool fireworks show for the fourth but other than that I'll probably just be lazing around my house pestering you and Jade since Rose has that internship thing." Here goes… a lot.
"How you feel about meeting up." There was another intimidating pause now.
"Like, for real? I could see you?" Damn this boy is cute, you smile to yourself.
"Yeah, for real."
"Wait, so you'd be, like, with me, close enough to touch." Who's being "kinda homo" now Egbert?
"Woah Egbert, didn't know you were dying to get your hands on me, but who am I to deny you? No one can resist the Strider Swag. That's trademarked by the way, don't steal it." You can practically hear his blush and you idly wonder if his glasses fogged up.
"Dave!" That's all he squeaks out, the rest of the noises he makes don't actually count as words. You almost feel bad for him. Almost.
Once you get your dork calmed down you do actually work out the details of you coming to stay with him in the summer. You say you can stay at a hotel, but he assures you his dad won't mind. Apparently you count as family. You like that, a lot. You also don't tell him that you kind of already bought your plane ticket. It took quite a bit of saving up but you knew it would be worth it. Talk of summer plans trickle off with one last brief whine from John about how far away July is. You remind him it's only a month. He says he knows. You exchange a little more friendly banter before John actually has to get on with his day. You forget he actually has a life sometimes, since you really don't.
"Later John."
"Bye…" You disconnect and drop onto your bed feeling both satisfied and oddly hollow. You've gotta tell him your feelings soon…
The next month passes slower than your entire Junior year, which you recently finished, did. Oh, who are you? You are John Egbert, you are 17 years old, and it's finally the day before your best friend in all of paradox space and notorious cool kid Dave Strider will finally be coming to stay with you. All month. This is the first time you'll ever meet in person, and you think you'll explode with excitement. You've been pestering him more and more since the arrangements were made for him to fly up to Washington and… right now was no exception. Except, you were Skyping. And it was a video call. And you're mind was a little too distracted by all that is Dave to properly help me narrate this for you. So I'm gonna wing it.
Dave wore a loose black tee and his typical shades, that you bought him, thank you very much, were perched on the bridge of a freckled nose. God you were a sucker for freckles. Not that you had a thing for Dave… Err… Okay maybe you did. A little crush… Okay, okay a huge fuckin' homo crush. You were totally crazy for your best bro. And that is sick on so many levels you can't even comprehend. Sometimes when he teases you your afraid he figured it out and is mocking you. But then he just goes back to talking like normal and things are comfortable, like they normally are. Like right now. He's laughing that quiet little laugh that makes your, admittedly goofy, grin grow wider. Your chin is in your hand and you're just kind of watching him… It's almost midnight and your eyelids are doing that droopy thing. You let your thoughts kind of drift as you sit in companionable silence.
"Hey, Dave?" He looks just as tired as you, if not more. He has to catch a plane in the morning and it's already closer to being day there than it is here. He stifles a yawn and you totally don't think it's adorable. He hums some form of recognition to your sort-of question. "Can I see your eyes?" You know it's a touchy subject but what the Hell. Worth a shot. He looks a little more awake now as he sits up straighter.
"John…" His tone is warning. Then he sighs. "When I get there." You jump a bit at that.
"R-really? 'Cause you don't have to show me. I mean, I wanna see. I have for a while. But I know it's not something you're really comfortable with and wow if you're really okay with letting me see…! That's really awesome Dave! Like, I'm really excited now! Not that I wasn't excited before, 'cause I was- am- err…" You trail off, embarrassed at your ramblings. Dave just laughs again.
"John, go to sleep. We both need it. And tomorrow we can hang out for real and tell each other all our lame ass secrets and build a fucking tree house or some shit. Do all that bro stuff. 'Kay?"
"… 'Kay! G'night Dave!" You smile and wave at your webcam as he says goodnight before hanging up the call. The slightly unpleasant squeeze in your chest at Dave's use of the term "bro stuff" is over whelmed by the nervous excitement tearing through you, even as you sink into your bed and a dreamless sleep.
You're awoken by your screaming alarm at eight in the freaking morning feeling drained and… You're still John Egbert. And Dave's plane lands in two hours. You're suddenly wide awake and scrambling into the bathroom to shower, letting the scalding hot water rinse away any leftover sleepiness.
Even once you're clean you stand there and enjoy the warmth for a while. Okay that's enough naked wetness for you, sorry to say. You dry yourself quickly and pull on boxers, blue-grey jeans with the knees a bit tattered, and a green long-sleeved tee. Laughing a little at your own conscious effort to look good. You go back to the bathroom and find yourself in front of the mirror trying to tame your dark hair into some semblance of order. Alas, no matter what you do, it continues to flip about in random cowlicks. Oh well, lost cause. You brush your teeth thoroughly once, then twice. Almost grimacing at your overbite. But then again… you guess it could maybe be seen as charming. Endearing at least. Finally you look into the reflection of your blue eyes. You see your own giddiness there. You smile widens and you check the time on your phone. And hour 'til he lands. Until he's here with you, after so many years of friendship. Of longing… But you're not thinking about that today! You finally get to meet your best friend and that's that!
Deciding you'd better head out then, you do so. Slipping on some worn down Vans and a navy blue hoodie, you dash out the door. Dad's car is gone, obviously since he's at work, so you get to take the truck for a change. You really love that thing. All sturdy and big. Kinda awesome. Anyways. You drive away then.
You are Dave Strider and where the fuck is John? You're pushing your way through the crowded and stuffy airport, have to hold your shades in place at times. Jesus fuck, is everyone fleeing the state? Why are there so many people? Your eyes scanned the faces swimming around you but… Hmm he just doesn't seem to be here… You slip your phone out to text him just as you hear you name called behind you. Not 10 feet away is John. Okay, don't tell anyone, but your cool slips a little and you can't quite constrain your grin. Your, as you now can see, shorter friend rushes over to you and- WOAH, tackles you into a fierce hug, laughing like the derp he is. You hesitate to wrap your arms around him in return but… What the Hell. You hold him close for a second before he excitedly pushes away again.
"I can't believe it's really you!" His eyes are so bright with excitement and wow webcams did not do them justice. And you see that they're getting really glossy, what the fuck?
"Bro are you about to cry?" You're torn between humor and a tinge of worry.
"Haha, yeah I guess I'm just really happy. We've been friends for so long and you're finally here and it doesn't feel real and I-" He cuts himself off my flinging his arms around your neck again and holding tight. This time you don't waste any time returning the embrace. When it continues on you cautiously burry your face in his soft hair. This is probably the best moment of your life. Ever. Eventually he does pull away, giggling, and takes one of your two bags, leading you to his truck. That was unexpected. This little kid drove a monster of a vehicle. Suitcases thrown into the truck bed, you let yourself into the passenger side. The seats are well worn and comfortable, it's muggy inside from the heat it's been sitting in, and it smells… cozy. Like cheap tree-shaped air fresheners, mint gum, and that awesome smell that can only be known as truck-smell. John slides in smoothly beside you – not faltering in the slightest despite the height of the truck. You were soon on the highway, not talking but enjoying the rumble of the engine and soft music John had turned on. You stop at a McDonald's about halfway to Egbert's house and then continue.
It's exactly how you pictured it. Big and white and average. That slime-toy-thing John used to get all excited about sits in the front yard next to a massive tree that supports a very cliché tire-swing. You think you might like it here. John leads you inside.