A Promise Of Forever [2/2]
Title: A Promise Of Forever
Author: Chris; alltime_panic
Rating: NC-17, but it's so brief and you most likely won't even notice it's there.
Paring: Jalex
POV: 3rd, Alex
Summary: That was then; this is now.
Disclaimer: If I owned this and it happened I would be a lot happier, but it didn't. Um, title goes to ATL. Summary and cut goes to S.E. Hinton.
A/N: Took me quite a while to update. I didn't spend all that much time on this, but overall I'm pretty happy with it.
Part One
Alex snapped his head up, tears already streaming down his face. "Jack."
"Hey, don't cry. I'm here." Jack gave Alex's hand a reassuring squeeze. Alex desperately grabbed Jack's shirt, bringing him closer so he could kiss him. It was desperate, it was needy, but it's all Alex needed to assure him that Jack really was there, with him. He really was blessed enough to sit in his presence, blessed enough to be kissing him right now with the other kissing back. A little more elegantly, slightly less desperate, but it was required in order to balance out both ends.
Alex pulled away, tugging Jack's hand so he stood up. They wordlessly made their way back to the apartment with Alex tugging him down backstreets, the sun finally sinking below the horizon.
Jack stepped through the door, fingertips automatically finding the couch, the coffee table, the fireplace. Everything seemed exactly how he left it; nothing out of place. Almost as if time had stood still.
Alex sat down on the sofa, giving Jack a pointed look. The younger quickly made his way over, shrugging off his jacket before placing it on the top of the couch and sitting next to the brunette.
"Why did you go."
Jack winced at his plaintive tone. Obviously, he'd broken Alex. He ruined him. There was no use in pretending he hadn't seen this coming, he knew Alex was so reliant on him. He was fragile, he needed Jack like he needed oxygen. And carbon dioxide. And vital organisms. And- okay, you get it.
"I was hoping you'd move on. Find something better. There's more out there than the confines of this apartment and the beach, you know. I traveled the world with May."
"Jack, there is nothing better than you. There's nothing more to life-"
"I came back because no matter where I went, no matter who I met, they weren't you. No one else had that stupid half british-half american accent. No one used as much hairspray. And not even the homosexuals wore pants as tight as yours. I want you, Alex. But it seems like you took my hint and moved on."
"What makes you think that? Jack, I'd never move on form you. Fuck, Jack, there's no one else out there besides you. No one could ever measure up to you, Jack. No one even catches my eye."
"Why is there a ring on your wedding finger?"
Alex smirked, laughing silently to himself as he slid the band off his finger and placed it in Jack's hand. "Because no matter who I cross paths with, at the end of the day I'm always yours."
Jack tentatively examined the ring, trying to figure out just what exactly Alex was trying to say. He was worried, he didn't want Alex to run after some other guy and live happily ever after with him. The happily ever after Jack had come back for. Then it hit him.
"You kept it? After all this time?"
"One time it fell down the kitchen sink, but other than that yes. You left nothing, Jack. All you left was a note that had nothing but a promise, a ring-"
"And my hoodie, which I see you've taken a liking to." Jack smiled, more to himself than Alex, because he was hoping he would wear it. He noticed how the older used to steal it all the time because he claimed it was the most comfortable. It was always more of his jacket, anyways. "One day I'm taking you to all the places I went. I know you've always wanted to travel the world, see the sun slip under a different horizon. It wasn't fair of me to go without you. So one day, you and I, we're going just the two of us."
Alex placed his left hand on Jack's cheek, stroking his cheekbone with his thumb. "I can't believe you're really here. Everyday I'd wake up hoping it would be the day. It never was, of course. I would have lost hope if I hadn't put all my faith in you. How did you know where to find me?"
"I think after two years of being secretly in love with you, I've picked up on your likes and dislikes. You sat there for half an hour every night when I was here, even on my birthday. Hell, we spent 4th of july in that damn spot. I didn't think anything would have changed due to my absence."
"Do you regret our last night?" Alex asked, curling up into Jack's side. Breathing in his scent; embracing his feel. It was so much better than the cold isolation he'd grown used to. Of course he had his friends, they'd go out for drinks on the weekends. And whenever they asked Alex where Jack went, he'd always told them that his heart was in another place.
"I relived it every day I was gone. I only regret leaving. But, I did learn something."
"And what would that be?"
"That no matter where I am in the world, no matter the situation or who I'm with, you'll always be my home. Wherever you are is where I belong."
"So about our last night…"
"Yeah?"
"I say we relive it." Alex proposed with a smirk, getting up and tugging on Jack's hand.
><
Jack scrunched his nose, "Alex, have you been getting around when I was gone?" He tried his best to suppress his jealousy, because anyone who even laid a finger on Alex was Satan in Jack's eyes.
"No, just constant getting off to your Facebook profile." Alex winked, trying to indicate that he was simply joking around. Jack doesn't need to know that he was being serious, anyways.
"You can re-add me now by the way, since I'm back. But clean up next time, you have cum stains on your sheets."
"Oh, those are yours." Alex blushed, quickly slapping a hand to his mouth when he realized what he had just said.
He felt the need to explain when Jack gave him a question look. "I, uh, I guess I never really got around to cleaning my sheets. I guess. Or something like that."
Well, so much for an explanation.
Jack took a step forward, placing his hands on Alex's hips. "You're so cute when you don't know what to say."
Alex grabbed Jack's face with his palms, slowly moving his thumbs up and down. "Can you just shut up and make love to me?"
Jack smirked, wrapping his hands around Alex's wrists and brought his hands down as he walked them backwards, falling on top of Alex when they hit the bed.
He kissed him hard on the mouth, wasting no time in getting his tongue inside the other's mouth.
><
"I love you" Jack panted, using extra strength to make out words rather than grunts and moans.
Alex knew from high school that people would say and do anything while in bed with you, but this was Jack. And things with Jack have always been different.
Before Alex could respond, a particularly hard thrust went straight into his prostate, causing his body to shake, his toes curl, and cover his sheets in cum.
Jack came a few thrusts later, before pulling out of Alex and collapsing next to him.
><
Alex woke up and slung his arm around Jack. Only the younger was no where to be found. Alex shot up right, immediately hopping out of bed and running through all the rooms of their apartment until he was right in front of the front door.
Alex couldn't help it. He fell onto the couch and his body shook with every sob. He grabbed the throw blanket, wrapping it around himself protectively while he clutched the corners to his chest.
He awoke up being shaken. His eyes peeled open, displayed a worried Jack in front of him.
Alex lunged onto the raven haired boy, wrapping his arms around his neck and holding him close. Jack patted his back, whispering comforting words into his ear.
"I thought you left Jack. Y-you weren't here."
"I went to the store, and then stopped at Starbucks, Alex. I got you your carmel frappuccino. I'm not leaving again. I promised you that, Lex. I meant it."
Alex fisted his hand in Jack's shirt, crushing their lips together. He pulled away, just an inch, "You better mean it, you fucking asshole."
><
"Come with me." Alex tugged on Jack's hand, trying to hint to the younger to follow him.
Jack didn't ask. Because Jack simply knew.
They found themselves on the beach minutes later, intertwined hands resting on top of Alex's stomach. He was seated in between Jack's legs, who placed his head on top of Alex's shoulder.
Jack finally understood why Alex had come out here every night. The sun setting never really struck him as anything incredibly breathtaking. It finally occurred to him. The way the colours blend together, gradually changing and shapeshifting. Every second truly mattered, for the next second the picture in front of him would be different in some way, even if it's just the slightest change in the colour outlining the sun. Through Jack's eyes, it was an exercise on how to live in the now. Suddenly he felt guilty for leaving Alex, since he's someone who's always living in the present. He never thought about the future. It was always right here, right now.
It was nice to fall into an introspective mood, much like Alex, in Jack's opinion. He liked understanding the older, because that way he could deliver exactly what the other wanted. It was hard to try and put himself in Alex's shoes. In Jack's opinion, he's a simpleton. He's not eccentric, like the older, and he doesn't stray from the norm. He's Jack; plain and tall.
The sun had fallen over the horizon, and the sky had been replaced with a black tarp sprinkled with twinkling lights.
"Jack?" Alex whispered to see if he had the other's attention.
He hummed in reply as a 'go on', nuzzling his nose into Alex's neck as he tightened his grip around Alex's abdomen.
"I love you too."
><
Jack was sitting next to the fireplace, the elder cuddled into his side. Alex's ring was still in his pocket. It felt as if it was burning a hole through the fabric. He couldn't get it off his mind, but he knew what he had to do.
He shifted, so he was on one knee in front of Alex.
"I say we put these rings to use."
"Yeah?"
"Alex, will you marry me?"
><
That night, Alex cried himself to sleep. Because Jack was here, with him, where he belongs. His naked frame was once again pressed against Alex's, arms protectively holding him close. Alex was complete. Jack was his, god damn it.
And when he woke up in the morning, Jack would be there.
A/N: Sorry if this wasn't what you expected, I didn't even know what to expect myself.