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ax_main2019-05-06 01:47 pm
ax_touchstone) wrote in ax_main2019-05-06 01:47 pm
Entry tags:
Simon and Jean-Paul | Backdated to Early May
Simon and Jean-Paul have dinner and discuss the future.
Jean-Paul really didn't think of himself as person who needed to be needed. Oh, he got a high off adoration like nothing else, but he could get by without it. Lately, though... he'd been feeling oddly restless because he found himself lacking people to be attentive to. Warren was in Europe. Jeanne-Marie was receiving care in Quebec. And Simon was in med school now, spending most of his days away from the Xavier Institute's campus.
But at least Simon would be back soon. And that meant he had time to set the most romantic ambush he could manage.
Outside their door, a portal opened in the hall and Simon stepped through with a thank you to his erstwhile 'carpool'. He was tired, but he'd managed to shower at school, getting rid of the smell of chemicals and bleach. With a sigh, he pulled off the gloves he generally wore in public, then opened the door to his and Jean-Paul's room, grateful that in less than two months, they'd finally be moving into their apartment in the graduate dorm. At least they'd have more room.
"I'm back," he announced, rubbing a hand over his face as he pulled the messenger bag off of his shoulder.
It wasn't so late in the evening, but the lighting in the room was dimmed and golden. Candlelight. And the first breath of air once Simon was over the dorm threshold revealed that Jean-Paul had been working his magic in the kitchen - the scent of something savory and delicious permeated the air.
But there was less than a moment to appreciate all of that before Jean-Paul had Simon in his arms.
"Welcome back," he purred, before stealing a kiss.
Simon's yelp was drowned in the kiss and he reached for the back of Jean-Paul's neck to brace himself as his bag slumped to the floor at their feet. He hummed for a moment, returning the gesture before a small laugh bubbled up between them and he leaned back. "What is this..."
"This is your lover welcoming you home after a long day at school." Jean-Paul kissed him again. "Missed you."
Simon returned the affection, melting a little at Jean-Paul's overtures. "I can see that. Did I leave you alone for too long? Or is this just because Warren is gone?"
"Hey." Jean-Paul deflated a little. "This isn't because I'm substituting you for Warren. Yeah, I got lonely. But if you were both here, I'd be cooking for three."
"I'm sorry," Simon corrected quickly, reaching up to stroke Jean-Paul's cheek. "That was unfair of me. I was teasing - or I thought I was. You know I enjoy how much attention you pay, especially when you're cooking..."
"It's all right." Jean-Paul turned his head just enough to kiss Simon's palm. "I do miss our third. But I had you in mind the whole time I was planning this. Cross my heart."
"I believe you," Simon told him, looking over his shoulder at the display in the room. "And I'm appreciative."
Jean-Paul's smile went impish. "Appreciative enough to overlook that it's chicken and not lamb, I hope." He took Simon's hands and towed him away from the door.
Simon followed, nudging his bag toward his desk with one foot. "You know that I can eat other things, right?"
"I have seen you put an alarming amount of trash into your body, yes," Jean-Paul deadpanned, leading the way over to his candle-bedecked desk. "But I usually try to offer you the finer things."
"Chicken is just fine," Simon smiled. "It's not as though it's corn dogs..."
Jean-Paul shot him a mock glare as he towed him over to the desk. "That never happened and you can't prove anything."
"I do have eyewitness testimony," Simon hummed, wrapping an arm around Jean-Paul's waist from behind to leverage a kiss to his throat.
Jean-Paul leaned back into his embrace with a sigh, warmth against warmth. "Slander," he murmured. "How was your day?"
"Long. Tiring. I'll never get used to the constant looks and questions I get," Simon admitted with another kiss before he gently released his boyfriend. "I never planned on being a celebrity."
"I'm hard to plan for," Jean-Paul teased. He pulled the desk chair out for Simon and plated up chicken and mushrooms over rice pilaf. "I could come with you one of these days? Maybe field some of your Q&A?"
Simon reached fora fork, but raised a brow in Jean-Paul's direction. "You want to come to Harvard with me?"
"Just for a day, to take attention off you. We don't have to, though." Jean-Paul poured water for both of them. "I know that would be a hell of disruption to your routine."
"It would certainly be distracting," Simon agreed. And not likely to win him points with his seniors, but it might be an interesting social experiment. And god, it would be nice to have Jean-Paul at his back for one day.
Jean-Paul flicked a wicked grin as he took his seat. "That wasn't a 'no'."
Simon rolled his eyes. "No, it wasn't a no. I suppose you tagging along for one day wouldn't do much harm."
"I promise, I won't even enter your classes, so as to keep that disruption to a minimum." But Jean-Paul found himself genuinely pleased at the idea. "Maybe lunch out afterward?"
"You could, of course, audit a class or two," Simon suggested. "Though you'd likely be bored or horrified, depending."
Jean-Paul gave the notion serious thought. He liked the idea of being able to see Simon's new arena, in and out. "It wouldn't be a disruption, you think?"
"Oh, it would," Simon countered, cutting into the chicken. "You wouldn't believe the amount of fans you have amongst the elite at Harvard. But I think they need a little disruption from time to time. And it would be nice to finally put all of the 'is he or isn't he' rumors to rest. Bite the bullet and finally let the world know that yes, I'm with you."
"I would believe it," Jean-Paul said, grinning with a smug satisfaction. "But that does not mean they have leave to harass my boyfriend. So yes. Let's make it very clear where we stand on that subject. Maybe a few of your classmates will actually drop from jealousy when they realize just what that means."
Simon snorted softly, but he had a smile on his lips. "And what does it mean?"
"That you're sharing a bed with two gorgeous mutant celebrities," Jean-Paul pointed out. "It's not exactly difficult to connect the dots from Warren to me to you."
"Technically only you, at the moment," Simon pointed out with a small smile. "But I take your point. Speaking of celebrities, have you met Dorian yet?"
Jean-Paul shook his head. "I think I miss half the new kids who come through the doors these days. Who is this Dorian?"
"Dorian Pavus; political royalty," Simon told him. "I grew up around him. Even though my father settled us in Williamsburg, there were times when we were in D.C. for weeks, even months, and there were certain expectations when it came to social events. Granted, Dorian was always more of a rebel than I was, but we bonded over our love of science. A few months ago, his parents got tired of his...I suppose, outwardly homosexual lifestyle. I don't know all of the details - only that his mutant gene triggered a power manifestation and he ran away. He stayed with friends for awhile, but that became an unendurable situation, so I invited him here. You'll likely run into him at some point."
"Royalty, gods, and aliens running around, and you got stuck with the school jock." But Jean-Paul's grin was easy and relaxed; no actual sign of insecurity. "I suppose I'll have to meet him, if he's a friend of yours."
Simon raised an eyebrow, then leaned forward, reaching out to brush his fingers through Jean-Paul's hair. "Don't let anyone ever tell you that you're just the school jock. And don't let him intimidate you either. He's brilliant and enjoys using his wit against others, but there is no one on this campus - not royalty or gods - I'd rather have than you."
Jean-Paul was on his knees beside Simon's chair in a moment, in much easier reach for petting and looking as if he had more than dinner on his mind. "I don't plan on being intimidated by your friends, Simon. That's your department."
Simon's lips quirked to one side, and he raised a brow. "Are you suggesting that I'm intimidated by my friends?"
Jean-Paul's grin widened. "I'm saying you have an intimidating intellect."
His face softened, and Simon stroked his thumb across Jean-Paul's cheek. "There's no reason you should be intimidated by me."
"Mmm. Now you've got me thinking I should make some confessions later." Jean-Paul leaned shamelessly into the petting. "But then, maybe I'd be selling my information a little too cheaply."
That was a little cryptic, and Simon found himself frowning, turning to look at Jean-Paul straight on. "Is there something I should know?"
That got a chuckle. "Nothing to worry about, I promise. Just teasing you a bit."
Simon continued to frown at him. "Honestly?"
Jean-Paul sighed and took his seat again so he could look at Simon without having to crane his neck. "Now I've gone and worried you, haven't I?"
Huffing a sigh, Simon leaned in for another kiss. "Forget it. What I really wanted to ask you tonight was whether you were ready to move? I know we haven't exactly talked about it very much."
Now Jean-Paul was entirely somber, his grin replaced by a contemplative frown. "We haven't. I guess I haven't been that keen on change, even good change. But we need to decide, non? A love nest for two or three? Or..." Jean-Paul paused, then forged ahead. "Did... you still want a roommate?"
Simon's lips twitched, his eyes twinkling. "Jean-Paul, I want you with me."
Jean-Paul drew up a little, trying for something like indignation, but his smile was instantaneous. "Well, you know. There was always a chance you'd like your own space."
"Once upon a time," Simon agreed. "But now...I can't even imagine it. I want you to move in with me."
"Good. I mean... I thought you'd want to. But you know." That fear of abandonment was always there, always something Jean-Paul guarded against. Since Jeanne-Marie had left the school, it was a fear that reared up more often. "I'm glad though. Really."
"I am too. So I say again," Simon smirked, "Are you ready to move?"
"Yes, but right this moment?" Jean-Paul blinked at Simon in feigned confusion. "Do we get to finish dinner first?"
Simon leveled an unimpressed look at his boyfriend. "Tell me why I put up with you again?"
"Good food. Fantastic sex. Excellent scenery." Jean-Paul grinned at him across the table. "I've demonstrated the first two, you know..."
"Trust me," Simon smirked slightly. "You demonstrate the third on a daily basis."
Jean-Paul really didn't think of himself as person who needed to be needed. Oh, he got a high off adoration like nothing else, but he could get by without it. Lately, though... he'd been feeling oddly restless because he found himself lacking people to be attentive to. Warren was in Europe. Jeanne-Marie was receiving care in Quebec. And Simon was in med school now, spending most of his days away from the Xavier Institute's campus.
But at least Simon would be back soon. And that meant he had time to set the most romantic ambush he could manage.
Outside their door, a portal opened in the hall and Simon stepped through with a thank you to his erstwhile 'carpool'. He was tired, but he'd managed to shower at school, getting rid of the smell of chemicals and bleach. With a sigh, he pulled off the gloves he generally wore in public, then opened the door to his and Jean-Paul's room, grateful that in less than two months, they'd finally be moving into their apartment in the graduate dorm. At least they'd have more room.
"I'm back," he announced, rubbing a hand over his face as he pulled the messenger bag off of his shoulder.
It wasn't so late in the evening, but the lighting in the room was dimmed and golden. Candlelight. And the first breath of air once Simon was over the dorm threshold revealed that Jean-Paul had been working his magic in the kitchen - the scent of something savory and delicious permeated the air.
But there was less than a moment to appreciate all of that before Jean-Paul had Simon in his arms.
"Welcome back," he purred, before stealing a kiss.
Simon's yelp was drowned in the kiss and he reached for the back of Jean-Paul's neck to brace himself as his bag slumped to the floor at their feet. He hummed for a moment, returning the gesture before a small laugh bubbled up between them and he leaned back. "What is this..."
"This is your lover welcoming you home after a long day at school." Jean-Paul kissed him again. "Missed you."
Simon returned the affection, melting a little at Jean-Paul's overtures. "I can see that. Did I leave you alone for too long? Or is this just because Warren is gone?"
"Hey." Jean-Paul deflated a little. "This isn't because I'm substituting you for Warren. Yeah, I got lonely. But if you were both here, I'd be cooking for three."
"I'm sorry," Simon corrected quickly, reaching up to stroke Jean-Paul's cheek. "That was unfair of me. I was teasing - or I thought I was. You know I enjoy how much attention you pay, especially when you're cooking..."
"It's all right." Jean-Paul turned his head just enough to kiss Simon's palm. "I do miss our third. But I had you in mind the whole time I was planning this. Cross my heart."
"I believe you," Simon told him, looking over his shoulder at the display in the room. "And I'm appreciative."
Jean-Paul's smile went impish. "Appreciative enough to overlook that it's chicken and not lamb, I hope." He took Simon's hands and towed him away from the door.
Simon followed, nudging his bag toward his desk with one foot. "You know that I can eat other things, right?"
"I have seen you put an alarming amount of trash into your body, yes," Jean-Paul deadpanned, leading the way over to his candle-bedecked desk. "But I usually try to offer you the finer things."
"Chicken is just fine," Simon smiled. "It's not as though it's corn dogs..."
Jean-Paul shot him a mock glare as he towed him over to the desk. "That never happened and you can't prove anything."
"I do have eyewitness testimony," Simon hummed, wrapping an arm around Jean-Paul's waist from behind to leverage a kiss to his throat.
Jean-Paul leaned back into his embrace with a sigh, warmth against warmth. "Slander," he murmured. "How was your day?"
"Long. Tiring. I'll never get used to the constant looks and questions I get," Simon admitted with another kiss before he gently released his boyfriend. "I never planned on being a celebrity."
"I'm hard to plan for," Jean-Paul teased. He pulled the desk chair out for Simon and plated up chicken and mushrooms over rice pilaf. "I could come with you one of these days? Maybe field some of your Q&A?"
Simon reached fora fork, but raised a brow in Jean-Paul's direction. "You want to come to Harvard with me?"
"Just for a day, to take attention off you. We don't have to, though." Jean-Paul poured water for both of them. "I know that would be a hell of disruption to your routine."
"It would certainly be distracting," Simon agreed. And not likely to win him points with his seniors, but it might be an interesting social experiment. And god, it would be nice to have Jean-Paul at his back for one day.
Jean-Paul flicked a wicked grin as he took his seat. "That wasn't a 'no'."
Simon rolled his eyes. "No, it wasn't a no. I suppose you tagging along for one day wouldn't do much harm."
"I promise, I won't even enter your classes, so as to keep that disruption to a minimum." But Jean-Paul found himself genuinely pleased at the idea. "Maybe lunch out afterward?"
"You could, of course, audit a class or two," Simon suggested. "Though you'd likely be bored or horrified, depending."
Jean-Paul gave the notion serious thought. He liked the idea of being able to see Simon's new arena, in and out. "It wouldn't be a disruption, you think?"
"Oh, it would," Simon countered, cutting into the chicken. "You wouldn't believe the amount of fans you have amongst the elite at Harvard. But I think they need a little disruption from time to time. And it would be nice to finally put all of the 'is he or isn't he' rumors to rest. Bite the bullet and finally let the world know that yes, I'm with you."
"I would believe it," Jean-Paul said, grinning with a smug satisfaction. "But that does not mean they have leave to harass my boyfriend. So yes. Let's make it very clear where we stand on that subject. Maybe a few of your classmates will actually drop from jealousy when they realize just what that means."
Simon snorted softly, but he had a smile on his lips. "And what does it mean?"
"That you're sharing a bed with two gorgeous mutant celebrities," Jean-Paul pointed out. "It's not exactly difficult to connect the dots from Warren to me to you."
"Technically only you, at the moment," Simon pointed out with a small smile. "But I take your point. Speaking of celebrities, have you met Dorian yet?"
Jean-Paul shook his head. "I think I miss half the new kids who come through the doors these days. Who is this Dorian?"
"Dorian Pavus; political royalty," Simon told him. "I grew up around him. Even though my father settled us in Williamsburg, there were times when we were in D.C. for weeks, even months, and there were certain expectations when it came to social events. Granted, Dorian was always more of a rebel than I was, but we bonded over our love of science. A few months ago, his parents got tired of his...I suppose, outwardly homosexual lifestyle. I don't know all of the details - only that his mutant gene triggered a power manifestation and he ran away. He stayed with friends for awhile, but that became an unendurable situation, so I invited him here. You'll likely run into him at some point."
"Royalty, gods, and aliens running around, and you got stuck with the school jock." But Jean-Paul's grin was easy and relaxed; no actual sign of insecurity. "I suppose I'll have to meet him, if he's a friend of yours."
Simon raised an eyebrow, then leaned forward, reaching out to brush his fingers through Jean-Paul's hair. "Don't let anyone ever tell you that you're just the school jock. And don't let him intimidate you either. He's brilliant and enjoys using his wit against others, but there is no one on this campus - not royalty or gods - I'd rather have than you."
Jean-Paul was on his knees beside Simon's chair in a moment, in much easier reach for petting and looking as if he had more than dinner on his mind. "I don't plan on being intimidated by your friends, Simon. That's your department."
Simon's lips quirked to one side, and he raised a brow. "Are you suggesting that I'm intimidated by my friends?"
Jean-Paul's grin widened. "I'm saying you have an intimidating intellect."
His face softened, and Simon stroked his thumb across Jean-Paul's cheek. "There's no reason you should be intimidated by me."
"Mmm. Now you've got me thinking I should make some confessions later." Jean-Paul leaned shamelessly into the petting. "But then, maybe I'd be selling my information a little too cheaply."
That was a little cryptic, and Simon found himself frowning, turning to look at Jean-Paul straight on. "Is there something I should know?"
That got a chuckle. "Nothing to worry about, I promise. Just teasing you a bit."
Simon continued to frown at him. "Honestly?"
Jean-Paul sighed and took his seat again so he could look at Simon without having to crane his neck. "Now I've gone and worried you, haven't I?"
Huffing a sigh, Simon leaned in for another kiss. "Forget it. What I really wanted to ask you tonight was whether you were ready to move? I know we haven't exactly talked about it very much."
Now Jean-Paul was entirely somber, his grin replaced by a contemplative frown. "We haven't. I guess I haven't been that keen on change, even good change. But we need to decide, non? A love nest for two or three? Or..." Jean-Paul paused, then forged ahead. "Did... you still want a roommate?"
Simon's lips twitched, his eyes twinkling. "Jean-Paul, I want you with me."
Jean-Paul drew up a little, trying for something like indignation, but his smile was instantaneous. "Well, you know. There was always a chance you'd like your own space."
"Once upon a time," Simon agreed. "But now...I can't even imagine it. I want you to move in with me."
"Good. I mean... I thought you'd want to. But you know." That fear of abandonment was always there, always something Jean-Paul guarded against. Since Jeanne-Marie had left the school, it was a fear that reared up more often. "I'm glad though. Really."
"I am too. So I say again," Simon smirked, "Are you ready to move?"
"Yes, but right this moment?" Jean-Paul blinked at Simon in feigned confusion. "Do we get to finish dinner first?"
Simon leveled an unimpressed look at his boyfriend. "Tell me why I put up with you again?"
"Good food. Fantastic sex. Excellent scenery." Jean-Paul grinned at him across the table. "I've demonstrated the first two, you know..."
"Trust me," Simon smirked slightly. "You demonstrate the third on a daily basis."
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Dorian is like: You forgot stunningly handsome.
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