Uhh soooo in my mind this takes place in the No Homo AU but like 10 years after those ficlets. That said, there’s basically no connection so don’t worry about reading those.
TW: use of the f slur
The warm sun is the best alarm clock Jack could ask for. Morning’s like this, lazy and easy with Robby snoring light and easy on his chest, are rare and cherished. Jack buries his nose in Robby’s soft hair and takes in the fading scent of his shampoo.
He wishes they could stay this way forever; curled around each other in the safety of their home. It’s not often their days off align, between Robby’s residency and Jack starting active duty, sometimes it’s like living with a ghost rather than his college sweetheart.
Robby stretches with a low groan and looks up at Jack with sleepy eyes. “Morning.”
“Good morning,” Jack says. He kisses between Robby’s eyebrows. “What plans do you have for today?”
Robby hums and kisses the underside of Jack’s jaw. “Nothing yet, but I bet I can think of something.”
They make love slowly, under the covers in missionary, the exact way Jack was told sex was supposed to be. Though, he doubts his high school gym teacher thought he’d be using those half baked, celibacy-forward, lessons as an excuse to kiss his boyfriend all the way to orgasm.
After all these years, Jack still can’t get enough of Robby’s pretty blush. He kisses down his chest, appreciating every inch of glowing pink skin as Robby tries to catch his breath. “We should shower,” Jack mutters against his chest.
Robby groans. “Too tired.”
“You’re gonna regret it.”
“I’ll go after you,” Robby says. He rolls onto his stomach and tugs Jack’s pillow into his arms. Thankfully, he’s cute enough that Jack doesn’t mind the extra laundry.
“You don’t want to join me?”
Robby waves a lazy hand. “We’ll go again later.”
Jack smiles and kisses his cheek. “Looking forward to it.”
When Jack gets out the shower, Robby has fallen peacefully back into sleep. He’s so beautiful with the light shining off his naked back, that Jack can't resist kissing him again before heading to the kitchen. He’s halfway through his first cup of coffee when a familiar truck swings into the driveway.
Jack’s heart sinks. Through the window he watches his mother’s fried blonde hair and his father’s beer gut approach despite his desperate wishes that he was hallucinating.
Before they can knock, Jack rips open the door and forces a smile. “Mom. Dad. Hi.”
“Oh, my boy,” his mother coos. She kisses his cheek, leaving behind a sticky mark, and pushes past him into the house.
His father shakes his hand, and before Jack can get another word out, says, “When you got stationed in Beaufort, we expected you to make more of an effort to see your family.”
Jack’s moth goes dry. “Sorry, sir. It’s been busy on base. I was hoping to get out there soon.”
His father grunts unhappily, but his mother pats his arm. “Don’t worry, sweetheart. We know there’s a lot going on.”
“Whose car is that?”
“Wha— uh, excuse me? Sir?”
“There’s two cars in the driveway,” his father huffs. “Don’t tell me you need two.”
“Uh, no, sir.” Jack’s heart thuds under his ribs. “It’s… Robby’s.”
His father frowns. “Robby? Your old roommate?”
“Yes, sir. He’s working in a hospital not far from here, so he came to visit.”
“That’s nice,” his mother says from the kitchen. She’s already digging through his cabinets, taking stock. “I was worried about you being lonely.”
“No, ma’am. I’m alright.”
“Where is he?” His father asks. Jack gapes stupidly, unsure what to say. His father’s frown deepens. “Your buddy came to visit at nine in the morning and you don’t know where he is?”
“No, I do. He—“ the old pipes begin to sing through the walls, “he’s showering.”
“Here?”
“The water at his apartment is out,” Jack lies. “He came here to shower and do some laundry.”
His father nods slowly and shuffles to the living room to do his own investigating. Neither of his parents have taken their shoes off, Jack clenches his jaw thinking of what Robby will say.
“I— uh, I’ll be right back.”
Jack bolts to the bedroom and heaves behind the door. His vision has spots from the stress. On shakey legs, he forces his way into the bathroom.
“Robby,” he rasps.
“Yeah?” Jack shushes him instinctually. Robby pokes his head from behind the curtain. “What’s up?” He whispers.
“My parents are here.” Jack’s hands tremble. “They think your apartment’s water crapped out and that’s why you’re here.”
Robby’s jaw drops. The few times he’s met Jack’s family have been short and unpleasant. “I’ll leave.”
Guilt gnaws at Jack’s stomach. “No, this is your home too.”
“Jack, it’s not worth it. I’ll go to the store or something.”
“I’m sorry.”
“It’s fine, just get back out there before one of them says something.”
Jack obeys and hopes he hasn’t been gone for too long. When he renters the main room, his father is holding a book.
“This yours?”
The blood escapes Jack’s face. His father knows damn well he doesn’t read things like Jane Eyre in his free time. He’s barely forced his lips apart when his father continues.
“I expect this is also Robby’s.”
“Yes, sir,” Jack says.
“He brought a book to shower?” He picks a frame up from the mantel. “And a photo of him and his… grandmother?”
Jack’s throat is filled with cotton. “Robby is living here when I get deployed. Save on rent, and I won’t have to worry about this place.”
“Deployed?” His mother whizzes around the corner. “You never said.”
“When did you get your orders?” His father demands. “Where are you going? When do you leave?”
“I, well, I haven’t gotten them yet,” Jack stutters. “But it’s only a matter of time. They’re feeding us good on base so…” He laughs lightly. “Everyone knows what that means.”
“Oh, my brave boy,” his mother coos. “You call the second you get those orders. I don’t want to miss a minute with you.”
“Yes, ma’am. Of course.”
She wanders off back to the office, and Jack prays she doesn’t rifle through the filing cabinet with his and Robby’s tax forms inside.
His father sets Robby’s photo back on the mantle with a bang. Jack stands at attention and tries to quell the queasiness in his stomach.
“Does this country allow gay service members?” His father’s eyes bore into him. “Did I miss that in the paper?”
“No, sir,” Jack chokes. He squeezes his eyes shut for a second to gather himself. “Technically, gay people can serve, but nobody can know that they’re… um…”
His father isn’t any taller, but he manages to loom over Jack. He looks Jack up and down, mouth twisted. “Are you a faggot, Jack?”
Through a sandpaper throat, Jack croaks, “No, sir.”
“Did I raise a faggot?”
“No, sir.”
“Did I raise a liar?”
“No, sir.” Jack’s jaw quivers.
His father backs away, but only slightly. His heavy squint remains firmly on Jack, seeping to his bones. “Do you have a girlfriend?” Jack’s teeth won’t unclench for him to answer. His father shakes his head. “Of course not.”
“I— we’re busy,” Jack says. “The base— I haven’t had time.”
“You didn’t have time in college either,” his father scoffs. “Jacob always had time. I don’t think he’s been more than a week without a woman since high school.”
“I just—“
Right then, the door creeks behind them. Robby steps out meekly. “Sorry to interrupt,” he says. “I was just heading out.”
“Don’t bother,” Jack’s father says. He looks Robby up and down. He’s never liked him, said he was too ‘soft.’
“Oh, no,” Robby insists. “I have to get something back at my apartment—“
“Where is your apartment?”
Robby gapes for no more than a second, but it’s a second too long. “A few miles from here.”
“Right.” Jack’s father rolls his eyes. He takes a few steps to the hall and throws the guest bathroom door open. “Why didn’t you use this shower?”
Neither of them have an excuse. Robby looks at Jack for help, but he’s shaking like a leaf. He hates it. He hates feeling weak, especially in front of Robby. Jack has spent many nights kissing promises of love, devotion, and protection into Robby’s skin, and now when the time comes he can’t defend him against his own father.
Cruel, pale eyes glare at Jack. “If you’re not shipped out by Christmas,” he seethes. “Make other plans. I don’t want you in my house like this.”
Jack’s voice cracks pathetically. “Yes, sir.”
His father forces his mother out, making some flimsy excuses about some promise to help one of their friends load his truck for something or other that he forgot about and leaves without sparing either of them another look. The door slams and shakes the walls of the house.
“Jack,” Robby whispers. He reaches for him, but the truck hasn’t pulled out of the driveway yet. They aren’t safe yet, this house may never be safe again. Jack yanks himself out of reach and rushes to the kitchen. He downs the cold last half of his coffee and hunches over the sink. After what feels like an eternity, a gentle hand weaves its way over his spine and lands between his shoulder blades beneath his shirt.
“Sorry.”
“You don’t need to be sorry,” Robby says. “I think you handled that well, all things considered.”
Jack laughs, but it isn’t funny. “I shouldn’t have tried to hide you.”
“Jack, come on. I wouldn’t expect you to come out on a whim.”
“I should’ve stood up to him.”
Robby hooks his chin over Jack’s shoulder and massages along his ribs. “What if he called someone? What if he did something to try and get you discharged?”
“He still might.”
“Do you really think that?”
Jack taps the edge of the sink. “No. He’d be too embarrassed to tell everyone why I’m not in anymore.”
“I’m sorry, baby.” Robby kisses the back of his neck.
Jack blinks back tears. He can’t let Robby down anymore than he already has. “S’fine.”
Another kiss. “It doesn’t have to be.”
“It is.” Jack swallows. “Sorry for ruining our day.” The tears return.
“You didn’t ruin anything,” Robby says. “It’s not even noon. We can take a nap and start all over.”
With a weak nod, Jack lets Robby take his hand and guide him to their bedroom. It’s not enough, but it’ll have to do.
