Jean woke to find Marco had fallen asleep as well. He was leaning heavily to one side, though he still remained upright thanks to Jean's weight in his lap. Jean smiled, sitting up as gently as he could, successfully avoiding waking the other boy. He took in Marco's sleeping face, calm and relaxed. Jean had been told that he sort of scowled even in his sleep. Perhaps his face had just gotten stuck that way.
He kissed Marco back into consciousness, the darker fluttering his lashes as he blinked awake, lips smacking a few times as his mind caught up with his body. He looked up at Jean through his lashes, which were low with half-closed eyes, and he smiled. It wasn't toothy, but it was pleased nonetheless.
Jean returned the smile, nuzzling into the crook of Marco neck and inhaling. Marco was even warmer after sleeping, and Jean sighed appreciatively. Marco chuckled, stroking the back of Jean's head lazily.
"I didn't mean to fall asleep too. Did we nap long?" He asked. Jean pulled back, getting up and drawing the curtains aside enough to look out at the sun.
"There's still daylight, at least. I'd say it's about four." He guessed, yawning as he strode back over to the sofa. "Do you have to be back? It's Arturo's turn with the sheep, isn't it?" He wondered, trying not to dwell on the realization that he knew the work schedule of the Bodts.
Marco smiled, nodding.
"Yes, I had morning chores today. I can stay a bit later, if you want me to." He offered. Jean nodded, sitting back down and searching out Marco's hand, filling the empty spaces between the fingers with his own.
"That's probably for the best anyway. People will be going home soon, so it'll be high traffic. You should probably wait till about six or so." He suggested. Marco nodded.
"Is that because you don't want me to be seen, or because you don't want me to leave?" He wondered. Jean barked a laugh, squeezing the bigger hand in his.
"A bit of both, honestly." He admitted. Marco grinned, leaning over to kiss Jean's cheek.
He took to looking around again following that, eyes tracing over the stairway before he turned back to Jean.
"Levi used to live here, didn't he?" He inquired, gesturing to the stairs. Jean nodded.
"Yes. His furniture and everything is still up there. I haven't been up, though." He replied, looking up at the ceiling as if he might see the rooms above through it.
"I can understand that. It was his until very recently. But have you considered moving in at all?" He wondered. Jean's eyes widened, and he looked at the other boy quizzically.
"H-Here?" He stuttered. Marco gave him a look as if to say that that wasn't the brightest question he could have asked.
"But I… I mean…" He tried to think of a good reason why he ought to avoid that. But he couldn't really think of any. He was plenty old enough to move away from home, even if it was just down the street. And the place was, in all technicality, his. He held the deed now, and he'd taken to bringing things of his to make the space more personal.
And his profession of choice was performed right underneath the living quarters, which were just the right size for one person.
"I… I hadn't really considered it, no." He confessed. "Do you think it's a good idea?"
Marco leaned till his head rested against Jean's, and he hummed.
"I think it would make it easier for us to see each other." He explained. "I could come visit you sometimes without having to worry about your father seeing me and sending a mob after me. And you wouldn't have to worry about how late you're out when you come see me. We could fall asleep in the meadow, and wake up in each other's arms. You wouldn't have to rush home and lie about where you've been or why you've missed dinner."
Jean took a breath, still staring at the ceiling. The more Marco talked about it, the better the idea seemed. And, honestly, he was already used to the place. He'd been there pretty much every day while working for Levi, and now he was there every day working for himself. He might as well move in, honestly.
"I wonder if father would let me." He voiced, not having meant to say it out loud. Marco didn't comment, choosing instead to rub the back of Jean's hand with his thumb. "I guess it wouldn't hurt to ask." He decided, turning to Marco. The freckled boy gave him a smile, nodding.
"I'm sure he'll at least consider it. You're an adult, and you've proven yourself responsible." He offered. "Even if your newspaper wasn't fantastic, you made the effort to put it out on time."
Jean nodded, then his eyes narrowed.
"Did you just say I did a bad job?" He demanded. Marco blinked, his thumb stilling in its ministrations.
"Well, not bad, per se." He corrected. "Just not quite up to Levi's standards. You'll get better." He assured, obviously trying to stifle amused laughter. Jean huffed.
"How dare you."
Marco couldn't stifle the amused laughter.
"Oh, don't be offended. I thought you could use an honest opinion." He chortled. Jean scowled.
"You could have a little less honest about it." Jean whined, nudging the other boy's shoulder. Marco kissed his cheek, as if that made up for it.
"Sorry. I'm sure your next one will be amazing, though." He guessed. Jean continued to sulk, but he didn't say anything else on the matter. Marco, after giving Jean time to consider any further arguing he might want to do, began humming again, occasionally peppering Jean's face with a small kiss.
After a few minutes, he stopped, turning to face Jean again.
"Do you want to come over for dinner?" He wondered. Jean blinked, glancing over at the other boy. It was an unexpected but not unwelcome inquiry.
"Can I?" He asked. Marco smiled, nodding.
"Mama's been pestering me to invite you over again." He offered. Jean chuckled.
"Sure, that'd be nice. I think mother said she was making greens with dinner tonight, so I could use an excuse to skip it." He agreed. "I'll just have to tell her I was working late."
Still, they had time to pass before it was safe to leave, so they got up and sorted through some of the writings that Jean had already begun accumulating. Marco helped him to pick out the ones that would be worth putting in the paper, and by the time they'd finished bickering about whether or not a tipped cow was worth the news, it was past time for them to go. Marco went first, and then Jean followed after sorting a few things out and locking the door.
When he got to the Bodt house, Marco was waiting out on the stoop, and he stood when Jean arrived, beckoning him into the house. Like last time, they went to the parlor and chatted with Mr. Bodt until dinner was ready.
"Ah, you really did come back." He greeted, blowing out a cloud of smoke and gesturing for the children to make room to accommodate Jean. "Welcome."
"Thank you, si-Mr. Bodt." Jean corrected, taking a seat after shaking his hand in greeting. Mr. Bodt chuckled.
"I thought we might have scared you off. Marco thought so." He pointed out. Marco groaned where he sat next to Jean, shooting his father a look.
"Papa, not you too!" He complained. Mr. Bodt barked a laugh, taking another puff from the pipe.
"No need to get so flustered, Marco." He chided, turning back to Jean. "How is the paper going?" He asked, quirking a brow. Jean sighed.
"According to Marco, not so well." He grumbled, shooting the boy a glance. Marco pretended like he didn't see it.
"Ah, yes. He's always been painfully honest." Mr. Bodt admitted. Jean was nodding, but the motion halted when he realized that he'd just received another backhanded insult from a Bodt. He huffed, earning a laugh from both Marco and his father. "If it's any consolation, Levi's first one was positively dreadful. He just decided one day that we needed to have a local paper. No one taught him anything before he got started." He recalled.
"It wasn't until he got in contact with some man from the port that he started improving." He added. Jean's mind processed that, then his brows drew up towards his bangs. He didn't know many people from the ports, and only one name really crossed his mind, since he'd learned it recently.
"Erwin Smith?" He guessed. Mr. Bodt seemed surprised to hear the name, but he nodded.
"Yes. He visited on occasion to teach Levi how to better his practice. After that, he'd visit to exchange stories. I'd say he was here once every month or two. He'd come by here sometimes to talk to us. You might have seen him before." He realized. "He was usually here on Sundays though, so you were probably given the day off. Did you ever meet him?"
Jean bit his lip, wondering if Erwin Smith was who he thought he was.
"No, never in person. I've just started trading letters with him, though. I found his address in Levi's papers, and I asked if he'd like to trade stories with me. I asked quite a few people, actually. He was the only one that replied." He explained, lips pursed as the girl, Marie, walked up to him and gave him a scrutinizing once-over yet again. He turned his attention to her.
"You're the boy that gave me cake." She recalled, tactfully interrupting their conversation. Jean was sort of glad for it though, for his mind had begun racing as he identified the man he was writing to. If he was right, then keeping Erwin as a contact was a dangerous ploy.
Marie was a welcome distraction.
"Yes, I am." He replied, offering her a cautious smile. She nodded, not giving any warning before she climbed up and planted herself in his lap. Jean froze for a moment, looking down at the child propped on his legs, but he eventually relaxed, shifting his thighs until the bones in her bottom we're quite as painful. Marco snickered, but Jean paid him no mind, proud to have won the affections of yet another Bodt.
Mr. Bodt gave a pseudo-annoyed sigh.
"Marie, you ought to ask before you climb into someone's lap." He scolded. Marie shook her head, craning a bit to hand Jean one of the corn-husk dolls in her hands.
"He likes me." She reasoned. "Or he wouldn't have given me extra cake."
Jean chuckled, taking the doll and examining it carefully. It was, of course, very crude. He could see where they'd tried to draw faces. It was pretty charming, in a strange way. Mr. Bodt's laugh was a tired rumble.
"Sorry Marco." She added, turning to face him. "He likes me now."
Marco snorted, covering his mouth with his hands.
"Oh no, what can I do? You're stealing away all of his affections." He lamented dramatically. Marie looked more pleased than she ought to have.
"It isn't your fault, Marco. I'm cuter. Maybe if you get more cute he'll give you cake instead." She offered, patting his hand.
They were all thankful when Mrs. Bodt made the dinner call, and Jean was quickly abandoned in favor of food. Marie didn't even spare him a glance as she raced the other children to the kitchen.
Marco laughed, waiting for the stampede to pass before leading Jean up the stairs to his room yet again, fingers laced tightly together as they walked. Jean was just finishing with the basin when Marco spoke again.
"You don't like Marie better than me, do you?" He asked. Jean thought he must be joking, and he almost laughed, but Marco looked pretty serious. He had to wonder why on earth the freckled boy even had to ask, his brows knit as he stumbled over to press a kiss to the other boy's lips. Just moments earlier, Marco himself had been laughing at the idea. Was he truly considering it now? Jean hadn't ever seen him act so vulnerable.
"Marco, what on earth?" Jean asked, looking into ale-colored eyes in confusion. "Why would you need to ask something like that?"
Marco looked rather small in that moment, and he looked down at the floor instead of at Jean.
"It's just… Well, you and Marie would fit well together. I know she's young, but-" He began. Jean quickly put a halt to that, though, covering Marco's mouth with a hand.
"Marco, honestly. I told you just today, didn't I?" He prompted. Marco's brows furrowed, and he looked lost in thought, probably searching his memories for the correct moment that Jean was speaking of.
"…Told me what?" He finally asked. Jean sighed, rubbing his eyes in exasperation.
"That I… I love you." He managed, surprised at how much easier it was to say this time. Marco's eyes went wide, then his gaze was back on the ground.
"Oh." Was all he offered. He seemed a little more at ease, though.
Jean sighed, waiting for Marco to use the basin before he spoke again.
"Beyond that, we're meant for each other, aren't we? Why would I be after your sister, who probably isn't even half my age, when I already have you?" He asked. He watched Marco's face warm up to a rosy color, and he was proud to know he'd caused a blush instead of being the one doing the blushing for once. "There aren't many things in this world that I love more than you." He added.
Marco made a small noise, grabbing for Jean's hand and pulling him back towards the stairs, opting not to reply. Jean allowed himself a small smile as he joined the rest of the family at the table, letting Marco get away with not replying. Marie grinned at him from her seat to his left, and he had to force himself not to be too friendly, schooling his own grin into a polite smile. She seemed a bit confused by the reserved nature of the expression, but she didn't mention it.
Mrs. Bodt seemed just delighted to see him again, and she spent most of the dinner doing her best to embarrass her son. It would seem that Marco truly was in a weakened state, for he wound up with his head buried in his arms, only low sounds of protest escaping on occasion when Mrs. Bodt would mention something particularly embarrassing. Jean only laughed good-naturedly, his right hand busy squeezing Marco's thigh as he clumsily tried to bring food to his mouth with his left. That seemed to put the other boy in a better mood.
Just like the time before, Mrs. Bodt wouldn't let him help with the dishes, shooing him off when he tried. He made it his personal mission to someday sneak in and help, even though he wouldn't be caught dead doing dishes for his own mother. Even if he did want to, Joan would give him a beating if he caught him with his hands in the water. Woman's work.
Marco didn't escape the dishes though, as much as he looked like he wanted to, so Jean went to the parlor to wait for him, assuming they'd spend some time alone outside before he began his trip home.
Mr. Bodt had elected to smoke on the front stairs, so it was only Bodt children inside, most prominently Marie. She noticed him immediately and waved at him gleefully. Jean steeled himself, summoning all of his courage before beckoning her over to him, knowing what he had to do.
"Marie." He greeted as she approached. She smiled at him, and he tried to return the gesture, but his guilt made it hard. "I'm sorry to say, but we need to have a little talk." He announced. She didn't look as excited to see him anymore, but she nodded nonetheless.
"You see, you've made Marco very jealous." He began. She continued to frown, but didn't comment. "So I think we should be clear; I do like you, Marie." He assured. She brightened at that. "But I love Marco." He added.
Her brows furrowed cutely, very similar to the way that Marco's did. Maybe that's why he liked her most out of Marco's siblings.
"I love Marco too." She offered. Jean's smile strained a bit at the corners.
"Ah, no. I don't love him the same way that you do." He elaborated.
It took her young mind a while to process that, then her cheeks went absolutely scarlet and her mouth took the shape of an O.
"O-Oh!" She gasped, covering her mouth with a hand. "You mean like mama and papa!" She gathered. He nodded, glad that she'd caught on.
"Yes, I love him that way. Do you understand? I do like you, but Marco is the one I love." He reiterated. She nodded fiercely.
"Okay." She agreed. "Can I still have your cake?" She hoped. He snorted, but agreed, and she took off to return to her dolls just as cheery as ever. Jean was glad that that was over with.
He realized, too little too late, that Marie was the first person he'd ever actually told about his feelings for Marco, aside from the one in question himself. He was thankful that she'd accepted it so easily, but he was surprised about how easily it'd come out. He put it to the back of his mind, though.
Marco rejoined him shortly, and Marie giggled as she announced to the entire room how much Jean loved him. Both boys made a prompt retreat to the front door, passing Mr. Bodt on their way out. He gave them a knowing chortle, but didn't say anything as they took their leave.
Once they were outside and sitting down, Marco scrubbed a hand over his face.
"Why on earth did you tell her that?" He asked, looking over at Jean with exasperation. The other boy only shrugged, laughing nervously.
"I tried to explain to her that I liked her, but I love you. And I think she gets it… I didn't expect her to shout it like that though!" He groaned. Marco rolled his eyes.
"The fact that you haven't got any siblings is painfully obvious." He breathed, heaving a sigh as his hand sought out Jean's. "I'll be hearing about this for days."
Jean kissed him by way of apology, arms snaking around his waist as he pulled the other into his lap, not really minding the weight, holding him in place while their lips met. Marco sighed, the sound upbeat and satisfied.
"I am glad that you sorted it out with her, though." He acknowledged. "I hate to say I was jealous of my younger sister, but I was."
Jean let his eyes close as Marco pressed their foreheads together.
"I didn't mean to make you jealous. I never expected something like that to get to you. You're always so level-headed and reasonable." He pointed out, toes flexing pleasantly in his shoes. Marco chuckled bitterly, his breathing audible so close to Jean's ear.
"You'd be surprised. I like you to think I'm level-headed and reasonable. Truth be told, though, I'm rather easily flustered. My whole family makes a sport of teasing me. Even the younger ones." He explained. "Something about being alone with you is really calming, though."
Jean hummed in agreement. He'd felt that as well; He was always a lot braver and more at ease when he was around Marco. Even the mere thought of the freckled boy was enough to help calm his nerves.
"I wonder if that's part of being soul mates." He mused.
Marco didn't comment, opting instead to press his lips to Jean's neck, then he stood, helping Jean up as well.
"I suppose that's something we'll come to find out. It's getting late. You should probably get yourself home. Will you come see me tomorrow?" He hoped. Jean rolled his eyes, walking towards the fence.
"Do you really need to ask? You know I will." He replied, leaning over to kiss Marco one more time before stepping over the fence and waving. Marco waved back, his smile visible even in the waning light.
The house was as quiet as the walk to it had been, and he did his best to make very little sound. He managed to avoid the squeaky floorboards, and he slipped into his room without much fanfare. He could hear Joan snoring in the other bedroom, and let that comfort him enough to get into bed.
His mind didn't quite want to go to bed just yet, so he let it race with excitement for the idea of moving into the post office. A place to call his own, where he could have Marco over. A place where they could sit on a sofa and nap together. A place where they could take their meals together without the distraction of other people. A place where he might even sleep a night in the arms of his love.
It made him giddy to consider it, but he had to force the thoughts from his mind in a bid to find sleep, since the moon was getting ever higher in the sky.
Instead, he recalled the tune Marco had hummed earlier, and before he knew it, he'd found the world of dreams.
A/N: To be honest, and this is going to sound horrible, but the reason this took so long to update was because I honestly forgot. I sort of knew in the back of my mind that I needed to update, and I had even done my editing a week or so ago, but then it was late and I said I'd post it the next day.
Then I got swept up in work and school, and, well, here we are.
So, sorry for the delay, I'll do my best to make sure it won't happen again, scout's honor.
I don't have much else to say, that I can think of. Thank you all for your continued support and sometimes forced patience, it seriously means the world. I hope you all enjoyed the chapter, and I promise, things start picking up yet again, very soon. Just you wait!
For anyone interested, part two of my trans!Bertholdt shindig is up. It features Jean, Marco, and a lot of sex. You know, if that's what you're into.
Till next we meet!
KuroRiya
九六りや