13. Not Our Day
Nothing changed. Sure, there were longer glances, awkward laughs, and softer smiles, and yeah, they tended to sit closer together when watching TV or eating or doing homework in the living room, but nothing was happening. It was driving Jean insane.
He'd had a couple girlfriends in the past during middle and high school, but he was…something or another – dating but not officially dating? 'Seeing' but not going steady? – a guy. His roommate. His roommate who was taking on an extra shift at work because he was too nice to tell the lazy ass he's covering for, again, that being employed means you show up to your work and do your damn job.
Marco wasn't going to be back until three and Jean hadn't seen the freckled boy for more than five minutes today, and that too while he was still trying to wake up to get ready for his lecture. The one hour window where Jean was back from his only Friday class and before Marco's only class of the day was taken away. So Jean moped over an unappetizing bowl of microwave mac 'n' cheese, aka plastic, because he was too annoyed to cook something. Plus, they were due for a grocery run, which he was probably going to do over the weekend.
Finishing his lunch, Jean cleaned up and then finalized the grocery list, adding some extra items for recipes he'd been wanting to try out. Some may have been a little fancier than average and went with wine and candles rather than beer and the glare of the TV, but no one needed to know and could shove their comments elsewhere.
When Marco returned, Jean was lying on the couch waiting for his assignment to write itself. "Hey," he said, tilting his head back to watch the other boy upside down.
"Hey," Marco returned with his usual, warm smile. "Did you eat yet?"
"Yeah, but I just made microwave mac 'n' cheese. I was going to go grocery shopping tomorrow while you were at work." Jean sat up and closed the lid of his laptop. He had until Sunday to finish it and it wasn't like he was getting any progress done. Marco was in the kitchen getting a glass of water and making toast. "Is there anything you want me to get that's not on the list?"
"Uh, no don't think so," Marco replied. "What are we doing for dinner?"
"We could go out," Jean suggested absently. "I'm honestly too lazy to cook and I don't think we've got much anyway. I still haven't really explored the area yet, either."
"Then…do you want to walk around for a bit before we get dinner?" He seemed somewhat anxious.
"Sure," Jean nodded.
Marco grinned at him around his toast. He looked incredibly dorky and butter got smeared against the sides of his mouth. "I'm just gonna shower and change – I feel gross from work." He practically skipped to his room and then the bathroom.
It was only when Jean was waiting by washing dishes did he realize why Marco was oddly excited. "Is this our first date?"
Jean looked down at his rumpled t-shirt and faded jeans, both slightly damp from a spurt of soapy water that bounced off a plate and splashed him. He couldn't go out like this if it was a date, especially their first as…whatever they were. So he rushed through the dishes and set them to dry before hurrying to his room. Marco tended to take twenty minute showers usually, so Jean hurriedly went through his clothes to find something that wouldn't be too nice in case this wasn't a date, but still nice to show he cared to put effort if it was. In both cases, he had to save himself from embarrassment, but he had to admit, he was kind of hoping it was the latter.
They'd been in some kind of limbo since the awkward confessing and emotional eruption two weeks ago. The first few days it was just awkward being around one another but they soon settled back into their old routine with just the slightest nuances having changed. A date, a proper date, could solidify what was simmering between them, or at least push it to the next level.
But if this was just them going out because they didn't have much choice and Jean was overthinking everything, he'd likely explode from the pent up tension and anxiety. Dating - almost-dating? – was so nerve-wracking.
Jean managed to settle on a pair of dark wash, fitted jeans and one of his nicer t-shirts with his leather jacket to stave off the fall chill. Marco had finished his shower and was dressing in his room, so Jean quickly slipped into the bathroom to take a leak and fix his hair. When he was done, Marco was standing in front of the TV, fiddling with his hair that was seemingly still slightly damp at the ends. He had changed into brown pants that were practically sculpted to his calves and thighs and a dark green sweater over a collard white shirt.
"So, uh, ready?" Jean asked, making his presence known.
Marco backed away from the TV and nodded, "Y-yeah. Let's go?"
They turned off the lights and Jean locked up behind them, taking the time to quickly check the contents of his wallet. He rarely carried much cash on him – coins and loose paper were such a hassle – and hoped they didn't go to the one place that didn't accept debit cards.
They decided to walk towards the park and if anything caught their eye, they'd detour or make a short stop. Jean pushed back his only memory of the park and walked alongside Marco, talking about classes and work and upcoming movies. However, his mind was a fickle thing and rarely liked to bend to his wishes.
"Marco," Jean started, using the brief lull after Marco recounted another of his psych professor's infamous vegetable tangents to change the subject. He didn't want to ask but miscommunication was the root of their earlier problems, and was Jean's fault, so he had to ask. "Is this…would you—I mean, like. Is this a date?"
The tips of Marco's ears turned pink under the streetlights. "Um, do you want it to be?"
"I asked you first."
Marco scratched at his red cheek, "I was…hoping."
Jean's heart squeezed and jumped in his chest. He really had to see someone about any heart conditions he might suffer. "Alright then." He tried to play it cool, but with Marco peeking at him out of the corner of his eye, he stepped a little closer to the taller boy so their hands could brush together as they walked.
They must have looked like a bunch of idiots, walking side by side, pointedly looking at the floor or to the side, faces pinkening by the second. Jean's heart flipped and thundered, shooting around in his ribcage but the small, pleased smile Marco sported was more than worth the organ being a hyperactive piece of shit. He wondered what would happen if he took it a step further and pulled Marco's swinging hand into his own…
"MARCO! JEAN!"
The two started and turned around at the shout.
From the opening of a small street that led to the main shopping area of Trost they had passed by, Jean spotted Sasha beaming at them. She had a few bags slung over one arm while the other waved frantically in the air. Another figure appeared behind her holding more bags on both of his arms. The shaved head made him easily recognizable as Connie. Plus, those two were hardly ever without one another outside of classes. If you spotted one of them, the other wasn't far behind.
Jean and Marco waited for the other two to run up to them.
"Hey! What're you two up to?" Sasha asked once she and Connie caught up.
"We were just walking around before grabbing dinner," Marco replied easily when Jean froze and had to look for his tongue. He had taken a step away from Jean, creating a companionable distance between them. Jean crossed his arms over his chest, tucking his hands into the crooks of his arms.
"Same here," Connie grinned. He narrowed his eyes at Sasha, continuing, "But I've just been roped into being her shopping mule. Save me."
"You offered!" Sasha retorted. "I needed winter clothes and you said you'd help me. I'm not used to the cold here. It's way warmer back home, I've hardly ever even seen snow."
"It can get pretty chilly. We had a really bad snowstorm a couple years ago. A lot of farmers struggled with crops then."
Somehow, Sasha and Connie ended up joining Jean and Marco. They were all in the same math class so bitching about Professor Ackerman and his draconian teaching style was easy to fall into. Jean couldn't help feeling annoyed and anxious, though. The anxiety was something he was getting used to, what with constantly worrying if he or Marco would do something to tip off their friends that the dynamics between them had changed whenever they were around others. The annoyance came with waiting for Sasha and Connie to leave him and Marco alone. They were interrupting their date. Their first date. And right after Jean made a fool of himself by asking if the outing was a date or not. He should have just kept his mouth shut.
As they walked, Marco and Sasha ended up walking ahead of Connie and Jean, animatedly talking about horses since Sasha's family also raised and bred horses in her hometown. Jean wasn't sure what to talk about with Connie, he only shared one class with the other boy and even then, they never really talked much, not that they could have with Professor Ackerman as their professor. Connie seemed to have no trouble though. The kid had a mouth on him that never seemed to tire and he carried on a mostly one-sided conversation with Jean nodding and humming at the appropriate moments while he stared gloomily at Marco and Sasha's laughing figures.
"They're such a bunch of farm nerds," Connie commented. Jean just made a vague sound of agreement. "Hey, do you know if Marco likes anyone?"
The sudden question jarred Jean into paying attention to Connie's ramblings. "What?"
"Marco, like, you guys are best friends right? He ever…mention being interested in anyone?"
Jean's eyes couldn't possibly get any wider. He was pretty sure his heart had stopped for the solid moment he took to convince himself that there was no way Connie knew that Marco and Jean were a pseudo-thing.
"Uh, maybe, I don't really know. It's not like we talk about our crushes like a bunch of middle school girls," he said as casually as he could. Why did Connie care? Did he like Marco?
"You don't think he and Sasha could be a thing, do you?"
"What?"
"Dude." Connie gave Jean an exasperated look. His face was red. "Just, you of all people would know, right?"
"Why do you care so much? You crushing on my roommate?" Jean wasn't sure what he'd do if that were the case. Seriously, was Marco the male Helen of Troy or something?
"What, no!" Connie exclaimed. He lowered his voice in a hiss, "Sasha, man. But I think she likes someone."
"You could ask…?"
Connie gave him a deadpan stare.
"Or not," Jean conceded. "Fuck if I know, man. I doubt she's interested in Marco and I know Marco's not interested in her."
"But he could be."
"He won't." Because he's into me, Jean added to himself, and gay. "Just ask her if she's into someone and go from there." And why was Jean stuck giving relationship advice when he nearly ruined the one he was trying to form before it could have started?
"C'mon, you slowpokes!" Sasha called ahead of him, cutting off Connie's retort. She and Marco had stopped in front of a burger place that was a step above a fast food joint but not quite a proper restaurant. "Wanna eat here? Their chili cheese fries are to die for."
Burgers and fries didn't rank high in Jean's idea of first date food, but since their date had been interrupted, it was acceptable. Everyone agreed and they grabbed a booth by the windows, Jean and Connie across from Marco and Sasha. They decided on their meals and Sasha volunteered to go to the counter and order, Connie going with her, insisting to help.
Finally alone, Marco smiled somewhat remorsefully, "Guess it's just not our day, huh?"
Jean sighed, "Yeah. Who knew going on a date with a guy would be this difficult?"
"It's not always like this," Marco defended. "I think we just happened to receive the full brunt of today."
"Hm?" Jean frowned, confused.
Marco laughed, "It's Friday the thirteenth, Jean."
"Oh. Pshh, I knew that," Jean huffed, but Marco kept laughing at him. He tried to bite his lip to hold back, but he wasn't doing a very good job. "Oh fuck you."
Jean looked away, catching sight of Sasha and Connie's figures waiting in the short line. It seemed they were being held up by a parent and their kid, the kid fussing about something or another. The cashier, despite her patient 'customer smile', looked just about ready to off someone, the kid or herself.
"So Connie's crushing on Sasha," Jean commented, changing the topic.
"I know, he's not very subtle," Marco chuckled. "Sasha's the only one who doesn't know at this point, I think."
"Connie's worried about her crushing on someone. He thought it was you and was worried you and her would end up together." A hint of irritation slipped into his words.
Marco blushed, "Oh, well that would never happen."
"I told him as much." At Marco's widened eyes, Jean quickly added, "I just said you wouldn't be interested in her. I didn't tell him…you know. Promise. I wouldn't do that. I know you said you were out, but that's your thing to tell."
At Marco's heart flipping smile, Jean found himself thinking that he should have sat beside his roommate instead of across.
The two boys drew their conversation to a close as Connie and Sasha returned with trays of greasy food.
"That looks so good," Marco said, helping Sasha pass out the food. "What do we owe you?"
Connie, the resident mechanical engineering major who was surprisingly good at math, was in charge of figuring out how to split the bill fairly between the four of them. Jean would have offered to cover Marco's tab but he was short on hard cash and couldn't even cover his own burger and fries, plus the tax. Marco ended up covering for him, much to his embarrassment.
"I'll pay you back later," Jean promised.
Marco just waved him off, "It really doesn't matter." Jean secretly vowed to cover the expenses for their actual first date and let Marco win this round.
They dug in and Jean had to acknowledge Sasha's claim about the chili cheese fries after stealing one from Connie, who was not happy at being short a fry. They talked about school and complained about coursework and teachers – midterms were around the corner with the upcoming fall break and no one was happy.
Their date was ruined, but Jean couldn't say that he wasn't enjoying himself with Connie being a general idiot and Sasha going off on random tangents that somehow always tied to food in some way. He stole glances across the table at Marco and took advantage of watching his roommate when he spoke about something from one of his classes or a childhood anecdote Jean had already heard. When Marco'd meet his eyes, a warm secret seemed to be shared between them.
Connie was talking about a chemistry lab he had done back in high school and how it went horribly wrong when something brushed up against Jean's leg, startling him enough for eyes to fall on him
"You okay?" Sasha asked.
"Oh, what? Yeah, no, just bumped my knee against the wall." Jean glared at Marco when Connie resumed his story. Marco smiled apologetically and he started to withdraw his leg from where it was touching Jean's, but Jean pushed his foot out to keep Marco's limb in place.
For the rest of the time they hung out at the restaurant, Jean felt the comforting presence of Marco's shoe by his own. Sasha and Connie seemed oblivious to the slight redness at Jean and Marco's ears and cheeks.
A/N: I am so happy the thirteens lined up. I didn't intend for their first date to be on Friday the thirteenth (on my timeline thing to keep days in order after the fuck up with SB and SC), much less have the thirteenth chapter be the first date chapter. I didn't even notice until I was halfway done and then promptly spent like five minutes just laughing. Now if only I had finished this damn chapter a month earlier and managed to post it on May 13. My life would have been made.
Yay fluff and stuff. After the angst and unresolved tension (okay, still unresolved but slightly more resolved than before) and Jean being a dummy I think you guys deserve just pure fluff for a bit (and I also just don't really have an outline for this story? just random drabbles that I basically try and piece together around a loose plotline I have in my head. That is how I write all my fics, tbh).
Also. If you are a fan of Danganronpa, I wrote these two KuzuHina drabble things that are on my tumblr and AO3 account. When you write the fic because otp is rarepair *cries* (But Hisoka x Killua fics are fucking impossible – I rewatched and reread Hunter x Hunter because SENSEI IS BACK AND THE JOY AND HAPPINESS AFTER SUCH LONG HIATUS IS UNREAL. But also happy that Togashi-sensei is doing much better. I found out I have the same birthday as him, which was weird because no one is born in April, man. Like no one fucks in June/July. But April is a shit month in general. It's the Thursday of the months.) Yup. And I revamped my shitty website so it's still shitty, but less than before.
Tumblr: nachtgraves
Twitter: nachtgraves
At 3am my brain was like, you know, what do you feel about the name Nacht Graves? And thus, the change in pen name and shit even though I thought I'd stick with RT Cipher for good. *sigh* I swear I'm some sort of masochist.
Laters!