Four Brothers
Author: veiledndarkness
Title: Middle School Talent Show or How Jack Got His Groove On
Rating: PG-13 for language
Pairing (if any, or gen): None
Summary: A performance of a lifetime, no laughter will stop him.
Warnings: Not mine, no profit made and no harm intended.
For the prompt Laugh at fourbrothers100
*This is quite a bit of silliness, but it amuses me so*
XX
Jack hears the laughter from his classmates and holds his head up high. He doesn’t give a flying fuck what any of them think and he’ll be damned if he’s gonna let their snickers stop him from participating in the school’s talent show.
He doesn’t expect much help from his brothers, but Jerry insists on doing the moves with him over and over until Jack’s sure that he can do them in his sleep. And Bobby nearly falls off the couch from laughing at his costume, but a slap upside the head from Evelyn soon quiets him.
Jack shyly asks them to come to the talent show. A part of him wants them to cheer him on the way he’s seen other families do for their kids. A bigger part of him is terrified of looking like an idiot in front of them.
XX
Bobby helps with the finishing touches. He knows how hard it is to stand up in front of strangers and perform. Bobby as a ballet dancer was quite the legend in Jack’s school. He’d secured his tough guy image by shattering the nose of the first kid to laugh at him when he’d donned his tights.
He shows Jack how to relax more, to slip and move with the music, to ignore everything else but the music. Jack soaks up every word Bobby says. He figures its valuable advice.
XX
Jack spends the better part of the hour before his performance hiding under Bobby’s leather jacket. He’s beyond afraid of fucking up spectacularly and Bobby’s coat smells like home.
When he can’t hide a moment more, Jack gives the jacket back to Bobby and slinks over to the stage wings. He feels like he might throw up. Bobby winks at him and slips away from the stage. He takes his seat with Evelyn and his brothers, eager to see Jack perform.
Jack does the breathing exercises that Evelyn taught him and clears his mind. He dimly hears his name called and steps forward as the music starts. One slow step after another.
XX
On stage, Jack dances in a haze. He ignores his fellow students, their families, all the strangers, every last one of them, except for his family members. He doesn’t look at them, he’s afraid to see their reactions.
The beat of the music is loud and strong and Jack suddenly isn’t Jack any more. Now, he is Michael and he’s singing his heart out and moon walking across the stage, avoiding a girl named Billie Jean.
When it ends, and it ends too soon, there’s a moment of silence and Jack’s about to faint, when he hears the loud whoops from his brothers and then thunderous applause from the crowd.
Jack trembles under the spotlight, covered in sweat. He smiles and bows, his face flushed a light pink. He feels like he’s floating as he exits the stage. Amidst all the noise and congratulations, Jack spots his brothers and Mom across the way.
He laughs and rushes over to them, already looking forward to the familiar, loving teases. He loves them all so damn much and in that moment, he’s sure that they’re proud of him and that's all he ever wanted.
XX
Title: Middle School Talent Show or How Jack Got His Groove On
Rating: PG-13 for language
Pairing (if any, or gen): None
Summary: A performance of a lifetime, no laughter will stop him.
Warnings: Not mine, no profit made and no harm intended.
For the prompt Laugh at fourbrothers100
*This is quite a bit of silliness, but it amuses me so*
XX
Jack hears the laughter from his classmates and holds his head up high. He doesn’t give a flying fuck what any of them think and he’ll be damned if he’s gonna let their snickers stop him from participating in the school’s talent show.
He doesn’t expect much help from his brothers, but Jerry insists on doing the moves with him over and over until Jack’s sure that he can do them in his sleep. And Bobby nearly falls off the couch from laughing at his costume, but a slap upside the head from Evelyn soon quiets him.
Jack shyly asks them to come to the talent show. A part of him wants them to cheer him on the way he’s seen other families do for their kids. A bigger part of him is terrified of looking like an idiot in front of them.
XX
Bobby helps with the finishing touches. He knows how hard it is to stand up in front of strangers and perform. Bobby as a ballet dancer was quite the legend in Jack’s school. He’d secured his tough guy image by shattering the nose of the first kid to laugh at him when he’d donned his tights.
He shows Jack how to relax more, to slip and move with the music, to ignore everything else but the music. Jack soaks up every word Bobby says. He figures its valuable advice.
XX
Jack spends the better part of the hour before his performance hiding under Bobby’s leather jacket. He’s beyond afraid of fucking up spectacularly and Bobby’s coat smells like home.
When he can’t hide a moment more, Jack gives the jacket back to Bobby and slinks over to the stage wings. He feels like he might throw up. Bobby winks at him and slips away from the stage. He takes his seat with Evelyn and his brothers, eager to see Jack perform.
Jack does the breathing exercises that Evelyn taught him and clears his mind. He dimly hears his name called and steps forward as the music starts. One slow step after another.
XX
On stage, Jack dances in a haze. He ignores his fellow students, their families, all the strangers, every last one of them, except for his family members. He doesn’t look at them, he’s afraid to see their reactions.
The beat of the music is loud and strong and Jack suddenly isn’t Jack any more. Now, he is Michael and he’s singing his heart out and moon walking across the stage, avoiding a girl named Billie Jean.
When it ends, and it ends too soon, there’s a moment of silence and Jack’s about to faint, when he hears the loud whoops from his brothers and then thunderous applause from the crowd.
Jack trembles under the spotlight, covered in sweat. He smiles and bows, his face flushed a light pink. He feels like he’s floating as he exits the stage. Amidst all the noise and congratulations, Jack spots his brothers and Mom across the way.
He laughs and rushes over to them, already looking forward to the familiar, loving teases. He loves them all so damn much and in that moment, he’s sure that they’re proud of him and that's all he ever wanted.
XX