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om_mainNot gonna lie, this is pretty much Jack/Steve Valentine's fluff. Steve makes dinner and Jack manages to cope with a startling amount of romance.
Meet me in the kitchen.
It wasn't much. Because of graduation, Steve was still saving for a decent used car and a little bit of savings that he could use when he started college, but he'd figured out a few of Jack's favorite foods and cooked enough for the two of them. He'd thought about getting a small gift, but he really wasn't sure what Jack would be interested in, so this would have to do. This and the words that had been buzzing around his head for weeks.
Jack grinned when he saw the text, and redirected his path. He'd put Valentine's Day plans squarely in Steve's court, just to see what he'd do. He was done with work for the day - time to find out.
As he came around the corner and into the kitchen, a barrage of wonderful smells washed over him. He decided not to announce himself yet, just leaned against a counter with a smile, waiting for Steve to notice him.
Steve was busying himself with double-checking that the food was ready. After another minute, he checked his phone and frowned. If Jack wasn't ready, he should have texted by now. He turned and glanced at the door and started when he saw Jack's amused face in front of him.
"How long have you been here?" he accused.
"Not long," Jack placated. He nodded at Steve's phone. "Got your message," he added, trying to suppress an affectionate smirk.
Steve just shook his head, a smile on his face at Jack's antics. "Come here," he said, snatching Jack's hand and pulling him closer. He kissed Jack softly and then let him go to turn and present their dinner.
"Wow," Jack said, surveying the spread as he moved to the table. Instead of sitting down, he wrapped himself around Steve from behind, nuzzling at his neck in a way that was half teasing, half affection. "You really outdid yourself." There was some kind of beef dish, biscuits and gravy, mashed potatoes, even green beans. It dawned on him that these were all things he'd told Steve were his favorites - right down to the 'green beans done right, not the overcooked crap served in cafeterias.
Jack smirked against Steve's neck and nipped him lightly. "You shouldn't have."
Steve smiled and settled his arms against Jack's, leaning back. "Of course I should have. After you went to all the trouble to put together a romantic night out for us on my birthday?"
Laughing, Jack moved to press his face close to Steve's ear. "Y'know, you're right. You totally owe me."
Steve laughed in return and nudged Jack with his elbow, moving away. "Come on. We're eating here."
With a grin, Jack sat down at the table and wasted no time in helping himself. He put a pile of mashed potatoes on his plate first, and took a large bite before moving on to anything else, eyes closing as he hummed in pleasure. "Mmf. I love it when you cook."
Steve just shook his head at Jack's blissful expression and sat down next to him, taking helpings of his own food. "And love cooking, so it's a good mix. You make it easy on me. Typical comfort food is your favorite. It could have been, I don't know, sushi or something I'd have no chance of making.
Jack rolled his eyes, though he was still smiling. "So I'm easy, huh?"
"Yes," Steve answered, deadpan expression firmly in place. "Very easy."
"Heeeey," Jack overprotested, knowing he was completely guilty. He took another bite of his dinner, then said around it, "Though y'know, it's not just comfort food." He paused long enough to swallow, then continued. "There's just nothing like a home cooked meal."
Steve felt his face heat and his smile grew. Somehow Jack always knew the things to say that meant the most to him. "Good thing it's me you're dating, then, isn't it? Otherwise, you'd be stuck with restaurant food."
"More like cafeteria food," Jack replied, expression vaguely horrified. Not that he didn't still eat there regularly, of course, but... This was much, much better.
"So our relationship is based on the fact that I feed you," Steve teased. "Good to know."
"Pretty much," Jack replied, knowing the lie would be almost painfully apparent to Steve.
There were some lies that Steve didn't mind. Well, one type of lie and that was when Jack told one intentionally. "Eat your food," he said, pointing a fork at Jack.
"You don't have to tell me twice," Jack replied with a grin, taking another large bite.
* * *
Steve had never thought about dishes before except that they were necessary evils when cleaning. But it was actually kind of nice to be doing something domestic with Jack. He'd wash and then hand the dish over to Jack to dry. "Happy Valentine's Day," he said quietly.
Jack smiled, setting aside his latest dish on the dishtowel. Just like earlier, he wrapped himself around Steve from behind, arms around his waist so he couldn't be accused of interrupting. ...well, aside from being distracting as he nibbled on Steve's ear a bit. Mostly, though, he was thoroughly enjoying the warmth between them, and the unshakeable sensation of safety the whole night seemed to be imbued with.
"Mm, you too," he mumbled, still teasing Steve's ear.
"This is the first place you kissed me," Steve said softly, closing his eyes and leaning back against Jack. "It was..." He thought back and surprise colored his voice as he continued. "Almost a year ago." And not long after that had been those dates they'd both stubbornly not called dates at the time.
Letting out a soft, low chuckle, mindful of Steve's ear, Jack added, "It was a fantastic kiss, too, as I recall. ...right up until I got hit in the head with some lip gloss."
"Never mess with Harley," Steve answered seriously. He leaned away from Jack's mouth, but only so he could turn around and face him. And this time, he was the one who kissed Jack first, pressing his lips softly against Jack's in a recreation of their first kiss. He pulled back after a moment and waited for the second part of the kiss.
Jack followed him, barely letting a breath pass in between. He did remember that first kiss, the way he'd tried to hold himself back until Steve practically begged him, hand on his chest, and then when he’d given in and felt that sensation in the pit of his stomach for the first time. The memory urged him on, deepening the kiss, hand raising to Steve's face in an unconscious mimic of the first time.
This time, there was no Harley to interrupt them, but there was something else curling around the tip of Steve's tongue. He’d been thinking it for a while, but he knew Jack's reaction to...well, pretty much anything that required an emotional connection was sex and avoidance. Not that Steve exactly minded, but there were things he needed to say. Things he needed Jack to hear. But still, he hesitated.
Concerned, Jack automatically let the kiss break, hands moving to rest near Steve's waist. He didn't ask, just hovered close, waiting for Steve to say or do something to explain. The message in his touch was clear: when you're ready, I'm not going anywhere.
And then Steve wasn't worried at all because Jack had his back. Jack would always have his back. "I love you," he whispered, leaning in to say the words almost against Jack's lips.
For a split second, Jack froze with panic. He'd been dreading this, afraid of ruining everything by not being able to say it back. The shock of it seemed to run down his spine to hit him in the stomach.
What he hadn't expected, though, was the rush of warmth that came with it. The words Really? You mean it? were on the tip of his tongue, but of course Steve meant it, he'd never mess around with something like that - which just redoubled that warm feeling that was now spreading all through his chest. A grin he couldn't stop was forming on his lips, and his eyes opened to look at Steve like he still couldn't really believe it.
He'd expected to be terrified; he hadn't expected to be thrilled.
Leaning in, he bit gently at Steve's lower lip, then murmured, "Say it again."
For those long seconds, Steve thought he was going to be sick. Jack didn't do well with emotion at the best of times and he knew that this was basically putting Jack between a rock and a hard place. But they'd been dating almost a year and it just felt...right. But then he saw the grin and a part of him started to relax.
And then he heard Jack's reply. Say it again. It wasn't a return declaration, but it was obvious that Jack wasn't unhappy with the turn of phrase Steve had used and so he said it again, more confidently this time. "I love you."
He barely got to finish the words before Jack was kissing him again.
Really, really kissing him. He didn't care if anyone saw, wouldn't stop even if the entire school came in and decided to take pictures.
Because sure, there were still plenty of darker emotions cutting at him, but for the moment Jack was more than happy to push those away and just bask in the (more powerful) good feelings. His hands had been drifting near Steve's waist, but now he wrapped his arms around him, pulling him in, keeping him close as his hands moved over his back.
There were kisses and there were kisses, the kind you saw in the movies, and this was definitely one of the latter ones. It was the kind that removed any doubt about what Jack felt for him, whether he said it or not. You kissed someone to shut them up. You didn't ask them to say it again and then kiss them to shut them up.
He cupped both of Jack's cheeks in his hands and kissed him back just as fiercely. He angled them so that Jack's back was towards the counter and then pressed him back slowly.
Jack was completely lost in it, couldn't get enough; his grip on Steve kept tightening, and he stepped his legs apart so Steve could get closer. A detached part of his brain told him this was a terrible idea, but Jack ignored it. This was real.
Except this wasn't a terrible idea, not for Steve. He just stepped up close to Jack and kept the kiss going. He'd needed to say the words, but he also knew how Jack would want to hear them and he was determined to prove that he meant it.
You. Just you. The thought kept echoing through Jack's head. He'd never kissed anyone like this. It wasn't a tear-your-clothes-off kiss, no temptation layered in, not even a hint of flirtation. Just Steve. Just Steve, and he needed more.
When they finally broke to gasp some air, foreheads pressed together and bodies giving up none of the closeness, Jack brushed a kissed to the edge of Steve's mouth before managing to say, "My room." Another kiss, this time to Steve's jaw. "Now."
There might have not been the intention of temptation, but just being Jack at all was temptation enough. Steve ducked his head in a nod and kept his eyes closed. He knew that one of them would have to actually move, but he had to take a breath before he finally pushed away just enough that they could move. He caught Jack's hand in his and began leading them away.
They almost made it back to the room. Almost.
They were kissing again when they reached the hallway, Steve pressed up against a wall. A few more steps and it was Jack, head leaned back against a different wall, groaning softly as Steve left a mark on his neck.
Finally they reached Jack's door, and Jack had Steve pinned against it. Hands were everywhere, Steve was mumbling his name... Jack pulled Steve's shirt off so Steve would feel the heat between them and the coolness of the door behind him. That done, he paused for a moment, just taking him in. In a second he'd click the door open and they'd fall inside, fall into each other; first he wanted to look at Steve. He wanted to look at the person who loved him.
Steve wasn't sure whether to argue or not. Sometimes he was still frustrated with Jack's penchant for actions instead of words. And he might have had a complaint if Jack had just pushed him inside, but instead he stopped. Stopped and just looked at Steve with all the things he wouldn't or couldn't say. When faced with looks like that, Steve couldn't doubt. His heart thumped in the exact way he suspected it would when Jack finally managed the words and then he was the one grabbing at Jack's shirt, fumbling at the door, and dragging them inside.
*******
Jack's head was still spinning the next morning.
He'd had a lot of over-the-top fantastic sex; honestly, it wasn't exactly a rare occurrence in his life.
But he'd never had a night like that.
With an almost blissfully happy sigh, he rolled on to his side, not moving the arm Steve was using as a pillow. As usual, Steve was still asleep (Jack, as ever, was the early riser). He wrapped his free arm around his boyfriend, careful not to wake him; Jack just wanted him closer. There was a strong part of him that never wanted to let him go at all (though that didn't even make sense with reality, so he was doing his best to ignore it). He settled for just lying there happily, breathing in the moment and trying to doze.
Except that the arm did disturb Steve, just enough that he yawned loudly and shifted in Jack's grip, just turning so he was on his back instead of his stomach. He didn't even have to open his eyes to know where he was. And he definitely didn't have to try very hard to remember what had happened last night between the two of them. He smiled a little, eyes still shut.
"Morning?" he asked softly enough that if the movement had just been Jack moving in his sleep he wouldn't actually wake Jack up.
Jack took the opportunity to start teasing Steve's ear gently with his teeth. "Morning," he confirmed, tugging Steve a little closer.
Steve groaned softly and opened his eyes enough so he could turn his head and catch Jack's mouth with his. It was certainly a pleasant way to wake up, but he wasn't sure he wanted to be awake enough to start a repeat of last night. Not yet, at least.
Not that Jack really minded. Mostly he was enjoying thecuddling sleepy warmth, the lazy feeling of waking up in bed together, the ease and familiarity of it all...
But Steve definitely needed more sleep than he did, so when the kiss broke, he placed another on Steve's temple. "It's early, you should go back to sleep."
"'M asleep," Steve assured. He rolled back on top of Jack and buried his face in the crook of Jack's neck. More sleep sounded like a good idea. A very good idea.
"I'll just stay here then," Jack chuckled quietly, clearly not protesting. Sure, this would delay his plan to go grab them breakfast, but like hell he was going to pass this up. With a lazy grin, he let his fingers trace nonsense patterns over Steve's skin.
Steve could probably be moved if Jack really wanted to get up, but today was Sunday and that meant that he didn't have to get bed for class and since so many people were in relationships, he doubted anyone was getting up for either squad or JVX training. That meant he had a morning in and he was going to take full advantage of that fact. He wasn't exactly asleep, but there were definitely long minutes when he couldn't have said he was exactly awake either.
Jack stared up at the ceiling, just enjoying Steve's breath on his neck. Occasionally he tipped his chin down to press a kiss to Steve's shoulder or neck, or let his head fall to the side to rest on Steve's, or ran his fingers idly over Steve's back. His body wasn't wired to go back to sleep, but that didn't mean he felt any compulsion to get out of bed. ...not yet, anyways.
Eventually, Steve woke up just enough to mutter, "You don't have to stay awake and do nothing on my account," into Jack's chest.
Jack hummed a chuckle. "And if said I'm happy here?"
That touched Steve even in his sleep-addled state. "Then you stay," he said and tightened his hold on Jack just a little more.
With another quiet laugh, Jack let a few beats pass before interrupting the quiet again. "...even if the alternative is that I go get you breakfast?"
Steve opened a single eye and stared at Jack, carefully controlling the amusement he felt threatening to make him grin. "You're determined to keep me awake, aren't you?" he said, one eye "If I say yes, go get breakfast, does that mean I can nap until you get back?"
"I suppose so," Jack replied, mock-thoughtfully. "If you prefer sleep and food to my company..."
"I did suggest you stay," he reminded Jack. "But if you keep talking about food..." And right on cue, Steve's stomach grumbled.
"Guess that settles it then," Jack said, grinning broadly. "Alright," he rolled sideways, so Steve was on his back with Jack hovering just over him, "I'll be back." He leaned down to press a kiss to Steve's neck, then another. "With breakfast." He kept moving down Steve's neck. "You wait here, until I get back."
Steve was tempted to pull him down, but it wasn't like he was staying away. He was definitely coming back. Still, he caught the back of Jack's neck and pulled him in for a real kiss, letting it linger before letting him go. "Incentive to hurry," he said innocently.
Jack smirked a little stupidly, then pushed himself up and out of the bed. "You know I love incentives," he teased, flicking his eyebrows in Steve's direction while he pulled on some pajama pants.
Steve rolled his eyes and curled back up on the bed, at least pretending to be asleep, but he still kept one eye on Jack as he got dressed.
Jack didn't bother with anything more than the pants and some flip flops. This would be a quick trip. He just needed something to go with the jar of Nutella in the drawer by his bed (his little nod to Valentine's day that they'd completely ignored the night before). He gave Steve a meaningful once-over - strawberries, he decided, would be perfect - then grinned as he headed to the door. "Don't forget to dream about me," he said, tone making it a very suggestive statement. "I expect to hear all the details when I get back."
"Hurry back and I won't have to dream about you." Because first Steve would fill one appetite and then he would go back to filling the other one.
With a grin, Jack just waved and set off for the cafeteria. This was going to be a very memorable breakfast in bed.
Meet me in the kitchen.
It wasn't much. Because of graduation, Steve was still saving for a decent used car and a little bit of savings that he could use when he started college, but he'd figured out a few of Jack's favorite foods and cooked enough for the two of them. He'd thought about getting a small gift, but he really wasn't sure what Jack would be interested in, so this would have to do. This and the words that had been buzzing around his head for weeks.
Jack grinned when he saw the text, and redirected his path. He'd put Valentine's Day plans squarely in Steve's court, just to see what he'd do. He was done with work for the day - time to find out.
As he came around the corner and into the kitchen, a barrage of wonderful smells washed over him. He decided not to announce himself yet, just leaned against a counter with a smile, waiting for Steve to notice him.
Steve was busying himself with double-checking that the food was ready. After another minute, he checked his phone and frowned. If Jack wasn't ready, he should have texted by now. He turned and glanced at the door and started when he saw Jack's amused face in front of him.
"How long have you been here?" he accused.
"Not long," Jack placated. He nodded at Steve's phone. "Got your message," he added, trying to suppress an affectionate smirk.
Steve just shook his head, a smile on his face at Jack's antics. "Come here," he said, snatching Jack's hand and pulling him closer. He kissed Jack softly and then let him go to turn and present their dinner.
"Wow," Jack said, surveying the spread as he moved to the table. Instead of sitting down, he wrapped himself around Steve from behind, nuzzling at his neck in a way that was half teasing, half affection. "You really outdid yourself." There was some kind of beef dish, biscuits and gravy, mashed potatoes, even green beans. It dawned on him that these were all things he'd told Steve were his favorites - right down to the 'green beans done right, not the overcooked crap served in cafeterias.
Jack smirked against Steve's neck and nipped him lightly. "You shouldn't have."
Steve smiled and settled his arms against Jack's, leaning back. "Of course I should have. After you went to all the trouble to put together a romantic night out for us on my birthday?"
Laughing, Jack moved to press his face close to Steve's ear. "Y'know, you're right. You totally owe me."
Steve laughed in return and nudged Jack with his elbow, moving away. "Come on. We're eating here."
With a grin, Jack sat down at the table and wasted no time in helping himself. He put a pile of mashed potatoes on his plate first, and took a large bite before moving on to anything else, eyes closing as he hummed in pleasure. "Mmf. I love it when you cook."
Steve just shook his head at Jack's blissful expression and sat down next to him, taking helpings of his own food. "And love cooking, so it's a good mix. You make it easy on me. Typical comfort food is your favorite. It could have been, I don't know, sushi or something I'd have no chance of making.
Jack rolled his eyes, though he was still smiling. "So I'm easy, huh?"
"Yes," Steve answered, deadpan expression firmly in place. "Very easy."
"Heeeey," Jack overprotested, knowing he was completely guilty. He took another bite of his dinner, then said around it, "Though y'know, it's not just comfort food." He paused long enough to swallow, then continued. "There's just nothing like a home cooked meal."
Steve felt his face heat and his smile grew. Somehow Jack always knew the things to say that meant the most to him. "Good thing it's me you're dating, then, isn't it? Otherwise, you'd be stuck with restaurant food."
"More like cafeteria food," Jack replied, expression vaguely horrified. Not that he didn't still eat there regularly, of course, but... This was much, much better.
"So our relationship is based on the fact that I feed you," Steve teased. "Good to know."
"Pretty much," Jack replied, knowing the lie would be almost painfully apparent to Steve.
There were some lies that Steve didn't mind. Well, one type of lie and that was when Jack told one intentionally. "Eat your food," he said, pointing a fork at Jack.
"You don't have to tell me twice," Jack replied with a grin, taking another large bite.
* * *
Steve had never thought about dishes before except that they were necessary evils when cleaning. But it was actually kind of nice to be doing something domestic with Jack. He'd wash and then hand the dish over to Jack to dry. "Happy Valentine's Day," he said quietly.
Jack smiled, setting aside his latest dish on the dishtowel. Just like earlier, he wrapped himself around Steve from behind, arms around his waist so he couldn't be accused of interrupting. ...well, aside from being distracting as he nibbled on Steve's ear a bit. Mostly, though, he was thoroughly enjoying the warmth between them, and the unshakeable sensation of safety the whole night seemed to be imbued with.
"Mm, you too," he mumbled, still teasing Steve's ear.
"This is the first place you kissed me," Steve said softly, closing his eyes and leaning back against Jack. "It was..." He thought back and surprise colored his voice as he continued. "Almost a year ago." And not long after that had been those dates they'd both stubbornly not called dates at the time.
Letting out a soft, low chuckle, mindful of Steve's ear, Jack added, "It was a fantastic kiss, too, as I recall. ...right up until I got hit in the head with some lip gloss."
"Never mess with Harley," Steve answered seriously. He leaned away from Jack's mouth, but only so he could turn around and face him. And this time, he was the one who kissed Jack first, pressing his lips softly against Jack's in a recreation of their first kiss. He pulled back after a moment and waited for the second part of the kiss.
Jack followed him, barely letting a breath pass in between. He did remember that first kiss, the way he'd tried to hold himself back until Steve practically begged him, hand on his chest, and then when he’d given in and felt that sensation in the pit of his stomach for the first time. The memory urged him on, deepening the kiss, hand raising to Steve's face in an unconscious mimic of the first time.
This time, there was no Harley to interrupt them, but there was something else curling around the tip of Steve's tongue. He’d been thinking it for a while, but he knew Jack's reaction to...well, pretty much anything that required an emotional connection was sex and avoidance. Not that Steve exactly minded, but there were things he needed to say. Things he needed Jack to hear. But still, he hesitated.
Concerned, Jack automatically let the kiss break, hands moving to rest near Steve's waist. He didn't ask, just hovered close, waiting for Steve to say or do something to explain. The message in his touch was clear: when you're ready, I'm not going anywhere.
And then Steve wasn't worried at all because Jack had his back. Jack would always have his back. "I love you," he whispered, leaning in to say the words almost against Jack's lips.
For a split second, Jack froze with panic. He'd been dreading this, afraid of ruining everything by not being able to say it back. The shock of it seemed to run down his spine to hit him in the stomach.
What he hadn't expected, though, was the rush of warmth that came with it. The words Really? You mean it? were on the tip of his tongue, but of course Steve meant it, he'd never mess around with something like that - which just redoubled that warm feeling that was now spreading all through his chest. A grin he couldn't stop was forming on his lips, and his eyes opened to look at Steve like he still couldn't really believe it.
He'd expected to be terrified; he hadn't expected to be thrilled.
Leaning in, he bit gently at Steve's lower lip, then murmured, "Say it again."
For those long seconds, Steve thought he was going to be sick. Jack didn't do well with emotion at the best of times and he knew that this was basically putting Jack between a rock and a hard place. But they'd been dating almost a year and it just felt...right. But then he saw the grin and a part of him started to relax.
And then he heard Jack's reply. Say it again. It wasn't a return declaration, but it was obvious that Jack wasn't unhappy with the turn of phrase Steve had used and so he said it again, more confidently this time. "I love you."
He barely got to finish the words before Jack was kissing him again.
Really, really kissing him. He didn't care if anyone saw, wouldn't stop even if the entire school came in and decided to take pictures.
Because sure, there were still plenty of darker emotions cutting at him, but for the moment Jack was more than happy to push those away and just bask in the (more powerful) good feelings. His hands had been drifting near Steve's waist, but now he wrapped his arms around him, pulling him in, keeping him close as his hands moved over his back.
There were kisses and there were kisses, the kind you saw in the movies, and this was definitely one of the latter ones. It was the kind that removed any doubt about what Jack felt for him, whether he said it or not. You kissed someone to shut them up. You didn't ask them to say it again and then kiss them to shut them up.
He cupped both of Jack's cheeks in his hands and kissed him back just as fiercely. He angled them so that Jack's back was towards the counter and then pressed him back slowly.
Jack was completely lost in it, couldn't get enough; his grip on Steve kept tightening, and he stepped his legs apart so Steve could get closer. A detached part of his brain told him this was a terrible idea, but Jack ignored it. This was real.
Except this wasn't a terrible idea, not for Steve. He just stepped up close to Jack and kept the kiss going. He'd needed to say the words, but he also knew how Jack would want to hear them and he was determined to prove that he meant it.
You. Just you. The thought kept echoing through Jack's head. He'd never kissed anyone like this. It wasn't a tear-your-clothes-off kiss, no temptation layered in, not even a hint of flirtation. Just Steve. Just Steve, and he needed more.
When they finally broke to gasp some air, foreheads pressed together and bodies giving up none of the closeness, Jack brushed a kissed to the edge of Steve's mouth before managing to say, "My room." Another kiss, this time to Steve's jaw. "Now."
There might have not been the intention of temptation, but just being Jack at all was temptation enough. Steve ducked his head in a nod and kept his eyes closed. He knew that one of them would have to actually move, but he had to take a breath before he finally pushed away just enough that they could move. He caught Jack's hand in his and began leading them away.
They almost made it back to the room. Almost.
They were kissing again when they reached the hallway, Steve pressed up against a wall. A few more steps and it was Jack, head leaned back against a different wall, groaning softly as Steve left a mark on his neck.
Finally they reached Jack's door, and Jack had Steve pinned against it. Hands were everywhere, Steve was mumbling his name... Jack pulled Steve's shirt off so Steve would feel the heat between them and the coolness of the door behind him. That done, he paused for a moment, just taking him in. In a second he'd click the door open and they'd fall inside, fall into each other; first he wanted to look at Steve. He wanted to look at the person who loved him.
Steve wasn't sure whether to argue or not. Sometimes he was still frustrated with Jack's penchant for actions instead of words. And he might have had a complaint if Jack had just pushed him inside, but instead he stopped. Stopped and just looked at Steve with all the things he wouldn't or couldn't say. When faced with looks like that, Steve couldn't doubt. His heart thumped in the exact way he suspected it would when Jack finally managed the words and then he was the one grabbing at Jack's shirt, fumbling at the door, and dragging them inside.
*******
Jack's head was still spinning the next morning.
He'd had a lot of over-the-top fantastic sex; honestly, it wasn't exactly a rare occurrence in his life.
But he'd never had a night like that.
With an almost blissfully happy sigh, he rolled on to his side, not moving the arm Steve was using as a pillow. As usual, Steve was still asleep (Jack, as ever, was the early riser). He wrapped his free arm around his boyfriend, careful not to wake him; Jack just wanted him closer. There was a strong part of him that never wanted to let him go at all (though that didn't even make sense with reality, so he was doing his best to ignore it). He settled for just lying there happily, breathing in the moment and trying to doze.
Except that the arm did disturb Steve, just enough that he yawned loudly and shifted in Jack's grip, just turning so he was on his back instead of his stomach. He didn't even have to open his eyes to know where he was. And he definitely didn't have to try very hard to remember what had happened last night between the two of them. He smiled a little, eyes still shut.
"Morning?" he asked softly enough that if the movement had just been Jack moving in his sleep he wouldn't actually wake Jack up.
Jack took the opportunity to start teasing Steve's ear gently with his teeth. "Morning," he confirmed, tugging Steve a little closer.
Steve groaned softly and opened his eyes enough so he could turn his head and catch Jack's mouth with his. It was certainly a pleasant way to wake up, but he wasn't sure he wanted to be awake enough to start a repeat of last night. Not yet, at least.
Not that Jack really minded. Mostly he was enjoying the
But Steve definitely needed more sleep than he did, so when the kiss broke, he placed another on Steve's temple. "It's early, you should go back to sleep."
"'M asleep," Steve assured. He rolled back on top of Jack and buried his face in the crook of Jack's neck. More sleep sounded like a good idea. A very good idea.
"I'll just stay here then," Jack chuckled quietly, clearly not protesting. Sure, this would delay his plan to go grab them breakfast, but like hell he was going to pass this up. With a lazy grin, he let his fingers trace nonsense patterns over Steve's skin.
Steve could probably be moved if Jack really wanted to get up, but today was Sunday and that meant that he didn't have to get bed for class and since so many people were in relationships, he doubted anyone was getting up for either squad or JVX training. That meant he had a morning in and he was going to take full advantage of that fact. He wasn't exactly asleep, but there were definitely long minutes when he couldn't have said he was exactly awake either.
Jack stared up at the ceiling, just enjoying Steve's breath on his neck. Occasionally he tipped his chin down to press a kiss to Steve's shoulder or neck, or let his head fall to the side to rest on Steve's, or ran his fingers idly over Steve's back. His body wasn't wired to go back to sleep, but that didn't mean he felt any compulsion to get out of bed. ...not yet, anyways.
Eventually, Steve woke up just enough to mutter, "You don't have to stay awake and do nothing on my account," into Jack's chest.
Jack hummed a chuckle. "And if said I'm happy here?"
That touched Steve even in his sleep-addled state. "Then you stay," he said and tightened his hold on Jack just a little more.
With another quiet laugh, Jack let a few beats pass before interrupting the quiet again. "...even if the alternative is that I go get you breakfast?"
Steve opened a single eye and stared at Jack, carefully controlling the amusement he felt threatening to make him grin. "You're determined to keep me awake, aren't you?" he said, one eye "If I say yes, go get breakfast, does that mean I can nap until you get back?"
"I suppose so," Jack replied, mock-thoughtfully. "If you prefer sleep and food to my company..."
"I did suggest you stay," he reminded Jack. "But if you keep talking about food..." And right on cue, Steve's stomach grumbled.
"Guess that settles it then," Jack said, grinning broadly. "Alright," he rolled sideways, so Steve was on his back with Jack hovering just over him, "I'll be back." He leaned down to press a kiss to Steve's neck, then another. "With breakfast." He kept moving down Steve's neck. "You wait here, until I get back."
Steve was tempted to pull him down, but it wasn't like he was staying away. He was definitely coming back. Still, he caught the back of Jack's neck and pulled him in for a real kiss, letting it linger before letting him go. "Incentive to hurry," he said innocently.
Jack smirked a little stupidly, then pushed himself up and out of the bed. "You know I love incentives," he teased, flicking his eyebrows in Steve's direction while he pulled on some pajama pants.
Steve rolled his eyes and curled back up on the bed, at least pretending to be asleep, but he still kept one eye on Jack as he got dressed.
Jack didn't bother with anything more than the pants and some flip flops. This would be a quick trip. He just needed something to go with the jar of Nutella in the drawer by his bed (his little nod to Valentine's day that they'd completely ignored the night before). He gave Steve a meaningful once-over - strawberries, he decided, would be perfect - then grinned as he headed to the door. "Don't forget to dream about me," he said, tone making it a very suggestive statement. "I expect to hear all the details when I get back."
"Hurry back and I won't have to dream about you." Because first Steve would fill one appetite and then he would go back to filling the other one.
With a grin, Jack just waved and set off for the cafeteria. This was going to be a very memorable breakfast in bed.
