Author: veiledndarkness
Title: Shades of Skin
Rating: PG-13 for language
Summary: Jack's not sure why color should matter.
Warnings: Usual disclaimer. Not mine, never will be. It's one of those 'young Jack learns a lesson from Bobby' stories. These are almost general, but knowing me, lol, I gotta slash it up somehow.
ooo
"Why does it matter?" Jack asked cautiously from the bleachers near the basketball nets.
"What?" Bobby asked breathlessly between gulps from his water bottle.
Jack squirmed awkwardly as Bobby's intense gaze landed on him. The look made him feel funny. Like his stomach was flip-flopping. He licked his lip nervously.
"I dunno, these guys at school were saying that we're not a real family, and I just..." he trailed off, his voice fading at the angry glare that now crossed Bobby's face.
Bobby grabbed his bag and tossed it at Jack's feet. Sitting down heavily beside Jack, he reached in and pulled out a small towel and wiped at his face and neck.
Jack bit his lip when Bobby turned to face him. "Says who?" he demanded.
He tried to shrug. "Just these guys...they're assholes anyway," he said, with a bravado he didn't feel.
Bobby took a long drink from his bottle before answering. "Why do you care what they think anyway?"
Jack shrugged again. "Damn, Jackie, we gotta toughen you up. Tell 'em where to go if they say shit to you," Bobby said, his voice rough sounding.
Jack fought the blush that tried to creep over his face. He breathed quickly, hoping that Bobby wouldn't notice how he always went red whenever he spoke in a voice that practically growled.
"I don't care, really I don't," he said, ignoring the snort that Bobby made.
Bobby looked out over the basketball court where the rest of the boys were playing. "Lemme guess, they said shit about me an' you bein' white and Angel and Jerry bein' black?"
Jack blinked. "Umm, yeah," he said. Bobby nodded once, a grim look on his face.
"Figures," he said, scowling heavily. Bobby sighed. "Look Jackie, the truth is it shouldn't matter. Some people get it, some don't. Don't let it bother you. Color doesn't matter," he said.
Jack frowned. Bobby swallowed some more water. "Y'see Angel over there?" he said tilting his head slightly. Jack nodded. Angel was over by the fence, flirting with some of the girls who had gathered to watch the boys play.
"Color means nothing to Angel. He's been off an' on with that little Latina bitch for fuckin' ever," Bobby said, his lips curling for a brief moment. "It doesn't matter to him, cause he doesn't care."
Jack nodded again. Angel smiled at one of the girls, one finger trailing through her red hair, the girl smiling widely back at him. Bobby laughed at the look on Jack's face.
"It doesn't matter cause he's more concerned with what they got to give," Bobby said with a smirk.
Bobby stood up and stretched. Jack found his eyes wandering as his shirt rode higher. Jack flushed at the look Bobby gave him. Busted. Bobby pulled Jack to his feet and grabbed his bag.
"C'mon ya little fairy, dinner's ready soon," he said as he slung one arm over Jack's shoulder. They walked off the court, Bobby shouting out an insult to Angel as he walked by, laughing uproariously at the nasty looks on the girls' faces.
As they walked, Bobby nudged Jack lightly. "You remember what I said?" he asked.
Jack shook his head, ignoring the skip he felt in his stomach at the look on Bobby's face.
"Family is all we got sweetheart. Color doesn't stand up to shit when it comes to family," he said firmly. "Besides, it's not like Ma sees us in colors. We're just her boys to her."
Jack smiled hesitantly. "Right," he said. Bobby pulled him in a bit tighter and Jack closed his eyes for just one second, content and confident that Bobby was right. 'What is color anyway?' he thought to himself.
