Jean-Paul and Simon, Saturday Night

[om_northstar]

Jean-Paul's busy season draws to a close, but things aren't exactly smooth between him and Simon.



Jean-Paul and Simon didn't usually put in appearances at Jean-Paul's after-parties together. It kept the idea that their relationship was totally platonic plausible, and Simon did need the time to study. But it was the last night of what had been a truly spectacular season for Jean-Paul, and the younger boy had worked hard for it. Turning up so that he knew he had at least one person in the crowd of fans who knew just how much effort he'd put in seemed appropriate.

For his part, Simon kept it professional and friendly, working his normally distant demeanor to his advantage whenever someone wanted to engage him in conversation. He acted the part of a boring intellectual with greater ease than he'd ever been able to do the opposite at parties hosted by his parents.

"Oh, hey." A dark-haired young man, probably a year or two older than Simon, flagged him down, raising his voice to be heard over the music and conversation. "You're Jean-Paul's spotter, right?"

Simon blinked up from his glass, and nodded thoughtfully. "Spotter, I suppose, is the practical term. Mostly, I'm doing research on the impact of extreme sports to the growth and mobility of young athletes."

"Yeah, cool man." Said in a tone that indicated Simon and his potential research was the last thing on his mind. He looked across the suite to where Jean-Paul was holding court among his fans, then took a thoughtful sip from the plastic cup in his hand. "So you're like, tight, right? You'd know if he was seeing someone?" He laughed suddenly. "So, is he seeing someone?"

The young med student blinked at the other teen, which could have been construed as him not quite registering the question. In fact, he registered it just fine...but had never expected to run foul of Jean-Paul's admirers quite so...openly. He cleared his throat. "Do you mean, is he dating anyone?"

"Yeah." The young man nodded. He was fit and had an athletic build, but wasn't familiar at a glance. "I mean, he's kind of got that 'all work, no play' thing going, but if he's quitting for the year, then he'll have some time opening up."

Simon resisted the urge to get surly with the guy. Jean-Paul had plenty to occupy his time with, not the least of which were his grades. That, and he didn't really want to imagine Jean-Paul 'playing' with anyone else. It took him a moment to think about the question, so to stall, he glanced across the room toward his friend, surrounded by adoring fans.

If he said 'yes', then the media might get wind of it, and then it would just be a matter of time before they started digging into his life to see who it might be. Neither of them could afford that, not the least of which was because of their mutant status. If he said 'no', on the other hand, Simon would be openly giving the guy an invitation to hit on his...well, his boyfriend, for lack of a better term. Then again, Jean-Paul could take care of himself.

With a knot in his stomach, Simon gave a small, disinterested shrug, hoping that he feigned it well enough. The other boy probably wasn't even concentrating on him, anyway, so it was reasonable to assume he'd just pass Simon off as another nerd with his face stuck too deep in his books to notice things like dating or 'fun'. "Not that I know of. I don't really pay attention that much."

The other boy laughed, though the sound was more good-natured than mocking.

"Not really what you're here for, right? Thanks, man. Try to enjoy the party, OK?" He turned his attention toward Jean-Paul again and started making his way through the crowd.
Simon glanced down at his cup, suddenly wishing it was filled with alcohol, rather than coke, and took a deep sip of the caffeine. Then, he set the cup aside and lifted the iPad that had been tucked underneath one arm. His back angled away from Jean-Paul and his admirers, he watched the other boy make his way toward his roommate through the reflective gleam glinting off of the article on chromosomal crossover.

By the time the interloper actually made his way to Jean-Paul, the crowd seemed to have lost interest for the dark-haired mutant. He scanned the room for someone and was just reaching for his phone when the new boy drew his attention. The annoyance that had been plain on Jean-Paul's face gentled to a reluctant, but genuine smile as they talked.
Simon wanted to beat himself senseless with the tablet.

He'd been sure Jean-Paul would take one look at the guy and send him on his way. Which, in retrospect, had been a moronic assumption. The teen - whoever he was - was good-looking and apparently charming, and JP soaked up professional adoration like a sponge. Of course he'd want to talk to him. Of course, he was probably even attracted to him.

With a defeated sigh, Simon lowered the tablet and crossed toward a grouping of chairs not swarmed by other party-goers and dropped himself heavily into the nearest one.

Yep. He was officially a moron.

It seemed that he'd been left to reflect eternally on his idiocy, but when a warm body perching on the arm of his chair stirred him out of his brooding, a quick glance at the clock on one of the nightstands said it had been a little under a half-hour. Just a very long one.

"Hey." Jean-Paul nudged him, his expression casual. "Where did you get off to?"

"Hmm?" Simon answered, gloomy and tired. His gaze flicked up to meet Jean-Paul's, and he gave a small shrug. "I thought I'd give you some room."

Jean-Paul raised an eyebrow, but it was all the concern he showed. (Or could show, rather.) "Want to get out of here?

Relief kind of sagged Simon's shoulders a little, and he gave a nod as he pushed to his feet. "Sure. You want to drive?"

Jean-Paul nodded. "Sure, if you can tell me why you look as if you've had a harder night than I
have on the way."

Simon snorted softly. "I've never been good at any of this, and I'm apparently especially bad at it around sports enthusiasts. Lead the way."

-----

Within the hour, the pair were back at their hotel, settled in with take-out and Simon's Netflix queue. It hadn't escaped Jean-Paul's notice that Simon was subdued far beyond his usual quiet nature, and it worried him. As strenuous as they were, these trips to Jean-Paul's ski matches were the most time they had to really get away from the school together. He wondered what was going through Simon's mind now that it was over for a year.

He leaned over and kissed Simon on the cheek. "Hey. Loonie for your thoughts."

Simon glanced aside at the other boy, then swallowed another bite of his rice. He'd promised Jean-Paul he would be open with him, and after what had happened with the Josh situation (and the Eames thing), he owed it to him. "One of your admirers came asking me if you were dating anyone," he explained.

"Ah." Even without embellishment, that did explain a lot. "I think I know which one you are talking about. He asked me to dinner."

Simon gave him a pained look. "I told him you were available. I didn't want anyone trying to dig into your life to find out the details."

As practiced as he was at hiding his true emotions, Jean-Paul's gaze shifted away a moment before he reached out to squeeze Simon's wrist gently. "I know what I agreed to. And you're still my dinner date."

Simon inhaled slightly at the touch, closing his eyes for a second as he listened. He didn't need to hear Jean-Paul's heartbeat to know that he was telling the truth, but it helped. When he looked up, he nodded. "You...refused him? You two looked like you were enjoying the conversation."

Jean-Paul snorted softly, but didn't pull his hand away. If anything, he seemed amused. "Are you always this possessive?"

Simon blinked at him, startled. "Wh-what? I'm not-"

"I talk to another boy and you start getting jealous." Jean-Paul's smile faded a bit, even as the words left his mouth. He stroked his thumb idly across the back of Simon's hand as he considered his own first conclusions. "Or is it something else? You didn't actually think I was going to go out with him, did you?"

"I..." Simon dug his chopsticks into the box a little more. "I mean, it'd be well within your right, to keep up appearances."

Jean-Paul frowned. "I can keep up appearances just as well by citing school and distance. Are you planning to pick up a beard?"

"I." Simon cut himself off, realizing that the truth and what Jean-Paul wanted to hear were two vastly different things. He thought back to his conversation with Eames, and his stomach sank a bit. "No...I. No."

Jean-Paul sighed and pulled his hand away. "It's something you've been considering." It wasn't even a question this time.

"I..." Simon shoved the chopsticks into the box and ran a hand through his hair. "I considered it once. Awhile ago. I haven't thought about it since then."

"Look, Simon..." Jean-Paul shifted, turning his whole body toward his boyfriend. "I told you. I'm not going to push you to out yourself before you're ready. No PDA's, no hints to the interviewers..." He quirked a false grin. "...it is even alright that you were the only one who didn't try to paw me when the times were called today. But I'm not going to try to bury you either."

Simon's stomach dropped out at the mention of the jubilation that had surrounded Jean-Paul. It had torn him apart not to grab the other boy in a frozen bear-hug, and it hurt even more to know that it hadn't exactly felt good for Jean-Paul, either. His gaze slid to the floor, if anything but to avoid the understanding, but fake encouragement in his boyfriend's gaze.

"I am proud of you," he insisted quietly.

"Merci." Jean-Paul cupped Simon's chin and brought his gaze back up. "I am proud of my genius, gorgeous, and ridiculous roommate too. So believe I'm not going to pretend I have anyone else, all right?"

Simon flinched a bit when he met Jean-Paul's gaze, but nodded. "I won't- I'm not going to pretend, either."

"Okay." Jean-Paul held him just long enough for a kiss before letting him go. "It felt right wearing your armor out there."

"It didn't restrict your movement too much?" Simon asked curiously, slowly beginning to unwind himself from his uncertainty.

"I've had to adjust in some ways, but I'm badass enough to compensate." Jean-Paul's smile was genuine this time.

Simon's curiosity eased into a grin, and he bumped Jean-Paul's shoulder with his own. "Yes. You most certainly are. You're amazing out there, you know? I know...I know it looks like I'm disinterested, but...I watch every second of it."

"Know how I can tell?" Jean-Paul chased that playful touch, leaning back against Simon. "Your hands always go right to wherever aches when you get me alone. Even before you've had a chance to scan me."

Simon opened his mouth, blinked, then reddened slightly. "I...I suppose that might give it away, yes."

"I do tend to flatter myself that it's more than just a surgeon-to-be's instincts." Jean-Paul slid an arm around Simon's shoulders, ignoring his own dinner for the time being. "You really think I look amazing, huh?"

Simon's lips twitched as he glanced at Jean-Paul sideways. "I said that you were amazing. I didn't say anything about your looks," he taunted.

That earned him warm lips against his neck and a reproving nip. "You know what I mean," Jean-Paul said with a laugh.

Simon grinned boyishly and turned his head, eyes sparkling as he caught Jean-Paul's gaze. "I think you're amazing, Jean-Paul. I think you're incredibly talented, your powers completely aside, and you're the best looking guy I know - and you know it," he laughed softly, "but I...I'm lucky. To be with you."

Jean-Paul lifted his head and kissed Simon firmly in answer. Every response of his body showed his pleasure at Simon's words as clearly as shouting, but outwardly there was only the warmth of touch and Jean-Paul's hands in his hair.

Simon returned the kiss, just barely able to choke back a groan at the sensations, especially of Jean-Paul's fingers in his hair. The box of Chinese and his chopsticks were forgotten, shoved aside as he turned toward the other boy, one hand skating up his side.

The thin silk of Jean-Paul's pajamas was already body-hot thanks to Jean-Paul, and seemed no barrier at all between their bodies. Jean-Paul's free arm wrapped around Simon's waist, pulling him closer with a single strong tug.

There was a laugh against Jean-Paul's mouth, and Simon found himself hauled chest to chest with the other boy, attempting to figure out how to disentangle their legs. He finally manage to straddle Jean-Paul's lap, flushing slightly at the closeness, but returning the kiss warmly.

Finally, it was Jean-Paul who broke the kiss. He didn't go very far, just pulling back enough to look Simon in the eye.

"I'm feeling lucky too...as crazy as that is, given our lives right now. Just...I feel lucky that you think it's worth us trying to be together."

"Well, it's not like we have any other choice but to enjoy what time we have," Simon pointed out.

Jean-Paul tensed beneath him, the expression on his face chill.

"So I'm what, then? The best option you have to kill time until we get killed?"

Simon blinked, the grin on his lips slipping a few notches. "I...I mean, that's not what I..."

Jean-Paul didn't try to get out from under him, but the ice he used to mask the unexpected hurt of those words remained. "So tell me what you did mean. Because that sure as hell sounded like you think I'm the best of a lot of poor options."

Simon slid off of him, rubbing his mouth, trying to find a way to explain away his own awkwardness. "I just...I meant that I might not have been...so quick. To...to leap into this if..."

And that sounded even worse.

"Only because it's new to me! Not because of you!"

Jean-Paul moved like a cat, pouncing him the moment he was clear and pinning him to the mattress by his shoulders. "On what planet have we 'leaped' into anything, Simon?"

Simon stared up at him, heart thundering in his chest as he attempted to process the speed and the power that was at the same time both terrifying and arousing. "I...I know it seems like..."

"Not 'seems'. We've inched along. We've been careful, both of my public and your powers. And I'm still fucking terrified half the time that you're going to get spooked and run." Jean-Paul's knees were pressed tight to his hips, his weight still shifted forward. "This hasn't been fast. And this isn't just a way to pass time for me."

Simon's eyes flashed. "It hasn't been just a way to pass time for me either, and you know it. You know how busy I am. But I...this is important enough for me to make time for it."

Jean-Paul slumped, letting the mask down.

"I know," he admitted, sitting up, though not dismounting. "This just scares the hell out of me some days, though. I worry that...you know. I'll get to be more of a pain than I'm worth."

"Jean-Paul..." Simon sighed, pushing up on his elbows. "I don't plan on going anywhere, and you're not a pain. In fact, that's pretty much the opposite of how I feel about you."

"Desole...it's hard habit to break." Jean-Paul cupped the back of Simon's neck to hold him still for a kiss. "And...sorry for throwing you down on the bed like that."

Simon swallowed past a dryness in his throat. "Just...try not to do it in anger again."

Jean-Paul's breath stilled in his chest. He backed away completely, his eyes wide in a face gone suddenly pale. "Je...I-I didn't not mean it like that! I wasn't angry with you. I wasn't trying to hurt you, Simon."

"I know," Simon sighed, sitting up and looking over at him. "It's just that you're so fast...in the moment, it can be..."

Jean-Paul swallowed hard and averted his gaze to the opposite wall, but nodded acknowledgement of Simon's words. "Sorry."

Simon inwardly winced at how much like a kicked puppy Jean-Paul could look, when he wasn't thinking about it. A shaky sigh left his lips again. "For the record, I...like it, when we're not, you know, arguing or discussing, or...whatever that was."

"Like...me using my speed, you mean?" Jean-Paul was looking up again. His expression was still wary, but it didn't seem like Simon was the object of distrust precisely. If anything, Jean-Paul seemed to have spooked himself.

"Yeah," Simon agreed, the edge of his lips twitching upward. "I mean you using your speed."
Jean-Paul held out one hand in invitation, a silent request for Simon's touch and closeness again. "I didn't mean for the night to go like this," he sighed.

Simon took his hand and slid closer. "Neither did I."
He could feel Jean-Paul's heartrate dropping as their fingers entwined, the fight-or-flight response slowly draining back into Jean-Paul's usual state of alertness, the potential energy in every cell of his being settling back into the background hum of a holding pattern.

"I was hoping to get you back here and seduce you."

Simon ducked his head. "I sort of screwed that up, didn't I?"

"Depends." Jean-Paul nuzzled his cheek briefly, then let himself slide down onto Simon's lap. "Still willing to be seduced?"

"Just as long as you don't let me open my mouth again," Simon sighed, sliding a hand around his back.

"I can think of a lot of uses for your mouth." Jean-Paul finally fully relaxed against him, wrapping an arm around Simon in turn. "But I like listening to you talk, you know? Especially when you're excited about something. You just...I get to see you in your element."

"You can't possibly want to hear me talk about neurotransmitters, or the article I've been reading about genetic recombination," Simon protested, blinking up at him.

"And you get so excited listening to me go on about the technology of snowboarding or listening to me bitch about the condition of the snow?" Jean-Paul snugged up close. "I like hearing your excitement when you're really into something. I like watching your eyes light up, the satisfaction on your face when you start drawing connections. I like it when I'm lying on the bed, you're going on a mile a minute, and I can just close my eyes and think, 'My boyfriend is a genius'."

The edge of Simon's lips ticked upward, both at the compliment and the sheer honesty of Jean-Paul's description. "I get excited watching you conquer the slopes as if you were taming nature itself. I...like when your body gets all tense just before you push off, when your eyes go distant and all you know is the wind and the air and the snow."

Jean-Paul smiled and ran his fingers over Simon's cheek. "A scientist and a poet. You are a catch."

Simon's smile widened, but he glanced down. "I'm sorry...that I've made you inch along."

"I get frustrated sometimes, going so slow," Jean-Paul confessed. "I...don't think it's in my nature to hang back once I've made a decision." He ducked his head in turn, but maneuvered to press a quick kiss to Simon's lips. His pulse was racing again. "But then I remember that you are trying and we are moving forward and...I remember how much you mean to me and how much I'd like to...to see where this goes. I can wait for us."

"Most of the school probably knows by now anyway," Simon pointed out quietly, reaching out to smooth his thumb across the back of Jean-Paul's hand.

"Then they know." Jean-Paul squeezed his hand. "But it's not the same as us telling them."
"What I mean is...maybe I can...let go of some of my hangups. Or at least, start to," Simon murmured.

"I'd like that. I want you to be comfortable with us."

"I know you do," Simon conceded softly, then kissed him again. "How about we just concentrate on the seduction for now?"

Jean-Paul's fingertips left a trail of heat as they traced down Simon's cheek, over this throat, and brushed aside the cloth of his pajamas to trace his collarbones. "Sounds like a plan, Dr. Tam."