Good Morning
The morning light had awoken Gustavo before his bedmates. For hours he laid there, staring at the softness of Jesse’s face. The younger man was tucked gently beneath Gustavo’s arm. Gus could feel only softness and warmth from Jesse’s naked body, which had molded to fit into Gus’s own.
Eventually Mike woke up as well and lifted his head to look over Jesse. He and Gus exchanged a look, a sort of silent mutual question, ‘how do you feel about last night?’ There was nothing awkward about it, but Mike rolled out of bed mumbling something about a shower. When he returned, fully dressed in black slacks and a blue button-up shirt he was smiling.
Gus was sitting with his back against the headboard and Jesse’s head had moved into his lap. The youngest man was still in a deep sleep, his face the picture of innocent dreaming. Gus rubbed his back gently.
“You’ve certainly found your way with him,” Mike said with a small smile.
“Yes, I believe I have,” Gus said with a smile of his own.
“How about I go make us all some breakfast?” Mike offered.
“I could help.”
“No, no, keep bonding. He doesn’t like waking up in bed alone.”
“Well, that explains all the lovers.”
Mike smirked, knowing Gus knows it’s more than that.
“I’ll see ya downstairs.”
A few minutes later, Gus began to stroke Jesse’s hair, which was slowly growing back. Gus remembered that hair, how unruly it was, how it was as untame as Jesse was then. Jesse with his head shaven and groomed had become his and Mike’s, but Gus would not ask him to shave it. He wanted to see the choices that Jesse would make when left to his own devices, even over such miniscule details as hair. Ever since the night that Jesse had killed Gale, Gus had been fascinated with him, with his loyalty and his choices and his clever and foolish bravery.
“Jesse,” Gus said into the young cook’s ear. “It’s time for breakfast.”
Jesse stirred with a small yawn and when his eyes opened they met Gus’s with such affection that he kissed his softly right then. Jesse smiled against Gus’s lips.
“Good morning to you too,” Jesse whispered.
Eventually Mike woke up as well and lifted his head to look over Jesse. He and Gus exchanged a look, a sort of silent mutual question, ‘how do you feel about last night?’ There was nothing awkward about it, but Mike rolled out of bed mumbling something about a shower. When he returned, fully dressed in black slacks and a blue button-up shirt he was smiling.
Gus was sitting with his back against the headboard and Jesse’s head had moved into his lap. The youngest man was still in a deep sleep, his face the picture of innocent dreaming. Gus rubbed his back gently.
“You’ve certainly found your way with him,” Mike said with a small smile.
“Yes, I believe I have,” Gus said with a smile of his own.
“How about I go make us all some breakfast?” Mike offered.
“I could help.”
“No, no, keep bonding. He doesn’t like waking up in bed alone.”
“Well, that explains all the lovers.”
Mike smirked, knowing Gus knows it’s more than that.
“I’ll see ya downstairs.”
A few minutes later, Gus began to stroke Jesse’s hair, which was slowly growing back. Gus remembered that hair, how unruly it was, how it was as untame as Jesse was then. Jesse with his head shaven and groomed had become his and Mike’s, but Gus would not ask him to shave it. He wanted to see the choices that Jesse would make when left to his own devices, even over such miniscule details as hair. Ever since the night that Jesse had killed Gale, Gus had been fascinated with him, with his loyalty and his choices and his clever and foolish bravery.
“Jesse,” Gus said into the young cook’s ear. “It’s time for breakfast.”
Jesse stirred with a small yawn and when his eyes opened they met Gus’s with such affection that he kissed his softly right then. Jesse smiled against Gus’s lips.
“Good morning to you too,” Jesse whispered.