Comments | popslashhigh: THURSDAY: New Traditions

detentionkid in popslashhigh

THURSDAY: New Traditions

Feb 06, 2018 01:17

It's been a long week. (Which is weird, considering the week's only half over and they're out of school for the long weekend, but.) AJ hasn't been avoiding Brian - they still have classes together, and that History project - but he can't seem to make himself relax when they're around each other, and Brian's obviously feeling the strain. He hadn't ( Read more... )

jackie, aj, brian, harold

Comments 56

rokofages February 5 2018, 22:48:14 UTC

Brian closes the door to his room, so the loud voices from the living room he was just in go muffled and quiet. "Ah, so that's why there's turkey on every available surface in this house," he says, smiling just a little when he hears a quiet snort over the line. He sits down on the edge of the bed, plucking lightly at a small rip in his jeans. "Happy Thanksgiving, AJ."

detentionkid February 6 2018, 17:25:34 UTC

"Yeah," AJ says wryly, thinking of the quiet, empty house he'd come from. "Not really." Brian huffs out a laugh that's more breath than sound, and AJ looks down at his lap. "How's your day going?"

rokofages February 7 2018, 15:29:21 UTC

"Good." Brian hears laughter coming from somewhere in the house, and he smiles to himself. "My grandma's already complained about her knees twice, but that's pretty restrained coming from her. We've just all been for a walk."

detentionkid February 7 2018, 17:21:57 UTC

There's so much warmth in Brian's voice that AJ leans his forehead on the steering wheel, just for a second, trying to soak it all in. "Must be nice having everyone over."

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rokofages February 27 2018, 16:58:52 UTC

"After you were invited, you mean," Brian corrects amiably. He lets go of AJ's sleeve and tries not to give it anymore thought. "C'mon," he says, nodding towards the kitchen. "She's in there cooking up a storm. I'll introduce you to everyone else after ( ... )

detentionkid February 27 2018, 18:18:08 UTC

"Happy Thanksgiving," AJ replies. "Thank you for having me."

He goes to jam his hands in his pockets, and only then remembers about the flowers. "Uh, these are for you." The pansies are starting to droop when he holds them out to Brian's mom, and he winces. "Sorry, they're a little -- I had the heat turned up in the car."

rokofages February 28 2018, 18:52:20 UTC

Brian watches his mom take the flowers, clearly surprised and trying not to be obvious about it. "No, they're lovely," she says after a moment, turning the bouquet over in her hands once and then looking at AJ again. "I love pansies," she says sincerely, and her smile this time is a little softer. "Thank you, AJ. I'll put them in water straight away ( ... )

detentionkid February 28 2018, 20:46:19 UTC

"Sure thing," Brian says, aiming that same, fond smile at AJ for a second before he goes to grab the sauce, and AJ feels his neck flush hot. Now that he's handed off his gift-bribes, he doesn't have anything to focus on but Brian's proximity as they carry the dishes out of the kitchen, and the warm, if slightly cautious, look he gives AJ over his shoulder as they set them out on the table. There's so much salad they need to make a second trip into the kitchen, and Brian's mom nods her thanks with a smile, wan but genuine, and AJ feels the heat creep up to his ears.

You get in your own head a lot when you feel pressured, he hears Lance say. He's not going to do that today. He's not going to spin out, or think about what happens next, or the what ifs. He just needs to stay right here, in the moment, and ( ... )

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rokofages April 2 2018, 18:43:46 UTC

"Okay, good." A grin crosses Brian's face, bright and wide. A memory flashes of when they shared a plate of donuts for breakfast in his kitchen, and his gaze skirts past AJ's mouth before he looks down at his lap. "Knew I could count on you."

detentionkid April 3 2018, 06:11:05 UTC

Brian is close and smiling and saying things AJ probably doesn't deserve to hear, and it would be so easy to lean over and kiss him. AJ drops his gaze to Brian's hands. "I mean, I don't know if I'd go as far as breaking cabinets for candy, but."

rokofages April 4 2018, 12:09:20 UTC

"I don't do things halfway," Brian replies, looking up again. Something crosses AJ's face, and he looks like he's about to speak, but he turns to look in the direction of the doorway instead. Brian blinks in confusion, but then he hears it too.

"Brian."

He turns, and looks at his family all making their way out of the living room. Alice gives him a conspiratorial wink as she drags Chloe along by the hand - past his mom, who's standing in the door and looking like it's not the first time she's called his name. "Sorry, yes?"

His mom shakes her head at him, but there's a small, tired smile on her face. From the dining room Brian can hear Harry go, here you go, grams, a footstool and an ice pack with your name on 'em. "You can go take your seats," she says. "I was just waiting for the turkey to rest." She casts a look and a small smile at AJ as well. "I hope you're both hungry."

"Thanks, mom," Brian says, feeling heat bloom on the tips of his ears as he gets up.

detentionkid April 4 2018, 20:25:16 UTC

"Thank you," AJ echoes as he joins Brian on his feet. Brian's mom nods at them both before going into the next room.

"I guess we should--" AJ starts to say, just as Brian says, "So we probably--"

They both pause, but this time when Brian laughs, AJ ducks his head and lets the smile come. The clinking of glass and cutlery carries over the steady murmurs of conversation from the dining room, and Brian angles his head towards the door. He presses a brief hand to the small of AJ's back, and even through his shirt, the touch warms AJ down to his bones. "C'mon."

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