jeremy washes jean's hair:o
okay so this was gonna be a fic wherein the trojans find out about the Waterboarding and then Jeremy offers to help Jean learn how to relax in the shower again. it would have a couple chapters, maybe three. (i started it back in like... uhhh september last year. far before tgr came out and jean started getting his water therapy stuff)
but anyway! it would be like... chapter 1, they find out why jean's showers are so long. chapter 2, a while later when jeremy asks jean if he can wash his face for him. chapter 3, a long while later where jean gets his arm a little fucked up during a game and jeremy offers to wash his hair for him. and i think i would have them mutually pining the entire time. like they are NOT established dating in this fic! anyway! i'll get you a snippet of what i have because you were the only ask i got for this one! <3
this is from chapter 2, which is... funnily enough the only chapter i've actually started writing XD
Jean tries his best not to react when the water cuts on and the faucet starts pouring a stream of water into the basin. He stares at it as it pours down, then Jeremy sticks his hand under until the cloth he's holding is adequately soaked. He wrings it out until it's just damp. When he turns back around to face Jean, who has been sat on the toilet lid, he smiles softly and holds up the offensive piece of fabric.
"Are you ready?" He asks softly. Jean nods and Jeremy moves to stand directly in front of him. Jean is a fool to be looking at his hand right now considering just how close Jeremy and his pretty face are. He never gets to see Jeremy from this sort of angle. Always from above, never from below. His hair frames his face nicely and the bathroom's overhead light appears like a halo, turning him into the angel he tries to be. "Jean? I'm going to touch you now."
Jeremy's hand cups the side of Jean's face and it's so warm. There are callouses on his fingers and his lotion smells faintly floral. It's... comforting. Jean just barely leans into it and Jeremy's face lights up. He holds up the cloth. "Ready?"
"Yes." Jean swallows and closes his eyes.
"Hey," Jeremy says, tightening his grip on Jean's jaw. It's not painful but it is firm. Grounding. Exactly what Jean needs. "Eyes on me."
The authority in Jeremy's voice does something strange to Jean's insides, but he ignores it. (Always ignores it.) But he doesn't ignore Jeremy. (Can't.)
He opens his eyes and finds the striker right where he left him, standing over him with a look of determination. Like he alone can fix all of Jean's ridiculous issues. Hell, perhaps he can. Jean will certainly let him try if it means having Jeremy so close. The two of them stare into each other's eyes and Jeremy raises the cloth to Jean's face.
The first touch of it to his cheek has Jean's stomach roiling but Riko always hated having to repeat himself, so Jean reflexively leans his head back. Or tries to. Jeremy still has hold of him and from his expression he doesn't plan on letting go. He doesn't let Jean tilt back, doesn't let him fall into old memories. Instead Jeremy swipes the cloth over Jean's cheek, then up towards his eye, across his forehead.
Jean's fists are clenched in his lap. On some level he realizes that the sensation of wet fabric on one's face should not be so stress inducing. But it is. It has been for years. But this is not the same. He can breathe. I can, he tells himself, inhaling deeply to prove that it's true. There is no water in his lungs. He is fine.
After a couple of minutes of this gentle pampering, Jean's shoulders climb out from under his ears and he almost allows himself to relax. Jeremy hums a song they'd heard in the car the day before and takes his time, washes Jean's face clinically but gently.
Jean is completely fine. Until the cloth passes over his lips and his heart seizes in his chest. For a split second it's black and dark and Riko's laughter echoes somewhere in his mind. Before true panic can set in, the wash cloth is gone. Jean blinks and he's surrounded by colors and light and Jeremy, who is holding his hands up and away from Jean's face. He looks like someone has pulled a gun on him, both because of the position of his hands and the startled look on his face.
"Are you alright?" He asks. Jean blinks at him.