They go to the American Museum of Natural History. Jack's always liked dinosaurs but he likes the museum's proximity to the Dakota even better.
"I take my daughter here sometimes," Pitch says as they wall through the Hall of Gems, where a hundred sparkling crystals wink under bright lights like multicoloured stars. "She loves it. Knows more about history than I do."
"I used to come here pretty much every weekend. Sometimes after school, too."
Pitch raises an eyebrow at him. "You don't strike me as a bookworm."
"I dunno, I've been studying those books you gave me pretty hard," Jack says, and his sidelong glance at Pitch meets a very hungry smile.
"Good. There'll be a test later."
"Multiple choice?"
"Hmm. Yes," Pitch says and leans in close so that only Jack can hear him. "Your choices are, a) being tied up, b) spanking, c) ball gags."
"How about, d) all of the above," Jack whispers, and Pitch's velvet laugh caresses Jack's ear.
"Congratulations, that's the correct answer." He straightens up and does an excellent job of looking nonchalant. "So why was it that you came here so often?"
"Why not?" Jack says, his head still full of naughty thoughts, and puts his hands in his hoodie pocket before he reaches over to grope Pitch's rather fine ass. "There's lots of cool stuff to see and no-one ever bothers you. And it meant I didn't have to go home. Wandering around here unnoticed is one thing. Sitting at home with my dad's special brand of Ignoring is a different matter."
"You don't get on with your father?"
Jack laughs without a single trace of humour. Why did he say that? What could have possibly possessed him to say that to Pitch? He stops in front of the star sapphires, gazing down at the imprisoned asterisms. "You could say that."
What else can he say about his father? He ignores me. Not exactly something to call Child Protection over. He had a roof over his head, got fed. So what if Jack had a better relationship with the doorman than with his father? No-one ever hit him, or starved him or any of the stuff he sees on the news. He lives in a ten million dollar apartment for god's sake. His dad either ignores him or says shitty things about him. Big deal.
"Do you want to talk about it?" Pitch asks, and Jack doesn't look up at him. He's had more than enough people look at him with that concern – or worse yet pity – in their eyes, he doesn't need to see it on the face of the person he's trying to sleep with.
"No. Come on. I want to see the dinosaurs. Which one's your daughter's favourite?"
Pitch's long legs make easy work of matching Jack's sudden spurt of speed.
"It sounds like you should talk about it."
"Yeah, my therapist says the same thing. Seriously, which is your kid's favourite? I always liked triceratops."
Pitch sighs, and Jack's head spins with relief when he lets him change the subject. "She likes triceratops too. She has a toy that I bought her for her birthday. It likes to attack Equestria. From what I can tell it's usually a misunderstanding and he ends up making friends with Twilight Sparkle."
"To my eternal shame, I actually know what you're talking about," Jack chuckles and grins up at Pitch, his tension ebbing away. "And your daughter sounds like she has some awesome toys."
"You should see her mother's place. We try not to spoil her; we don't need to. If we say she can't have the latest toy, she builds it out of Lego instead." He smiles proudly and Jack has to look away.
It's still raining when they're ready to leave, freezing sheets of rain that'll make the sidewalks slick tonight.
"Do you want to get a taxi?" Pitch asks, peering out at the rain.
"It's like four blocks. Besides, if we get soaked that's an excuse to get out of our wet clothes."
Pitch gives him an approving grin and then takes his hand.
"Then let's run."
It's cold, it's wet, but Jack's laughing as they sprint hand-in-hand down Central Park West and his heart is singing. He's still laughing and breathless when they step into Pitch's apartment, dripping on the hardwood floors. Pitch grabs a towel from the bathroom and dries Jack's hair, eliciting a new set of giggles before Pitch lowers the towel to Jack's shoulders and stops, looking down at him.
"What?" Jack asks. The way that Pitch is looking at him is making him feel self-conscious.
"You're beautiful," Pitch murmurs and kisses him, slick and warm and sweet, but it breaks off when Jack starts shivering.
"S-sorry."
"Nothing to be sorry about."
Jack is given too-long sweats and a Yankees hoodie, and his own clothes are hung up to dry.
"Hey, I thought the whole idea was that we were going to get out of those wet clothes."
"We are out of those wet clothes."
"Get naked, I mean. Naked and - you know. Sex."
"Your powers of description astound me, Jack," Pitch says dryly and pulls on a t-shirt - black, of course. His still-damp hair hangs over his forehead, curling slightly. It's a good look for him.
Jack goes over and stands close, close enough that he can feel Pitch's body heat. He stops, not quite touching, and Pitch stands still, waiting. Taking Pitch's stillness as permission, Jack explores. Starting with his hands on Pitch's chest, he moves down over his abdomen, feeling the lean, hard muscles there. His hands rest on Pitch's hips and he looks up at him.
"I really like you," he says, cheeks burning and feeling stupid and childish, but it suddenly seems important to say it.
"I really like you too," Pitch says, and kisses Jack's forehead, pulling him close. His t-shirt must be just out of the wash; it smells good, and Pitch is warm, and Jack is happy. A simple happiness with complicated feelings behind it, but Jack's life is always complicated in one way or another. "Come on, Jack. Hot chocolate and a movie. Your choice."
"The Road Warrior. Whilst cuddling. Followed by making out on the sofa. And then - well. Something fun."
"Something fun," Pitch promises with a grin, and leads Jack into the living room.
A/N: Hope everyone had a great time over the holidays, and I hope 2015 is the best year ever! Since I missed a chapter last week because of the holidays, there are two tonight. Thank you so much for all your incredible support, you're awesome.