Fluff #7 for kizunashipping if you're up for it?
7. “Wait, no, don’t take kissing away from me.”
Jack was enjoying his morning like he did every day: sittingat the quaint café across the street, drinking (a third) cup of Blue EyesMountain coffee, and reading an article in the paper, written by his favoritereporter (not that he’d ever tell her that). He took a sip of the piping hotbeverage, closing his eyes and leaning back in his seat as the warmth envelopehim. This was bliss.
“Jack!” Aaaand that was the end of his bliss. Crow was stompinghis way over to Jack’s table, Yusei trailing behind him as calm as ever. “Howmany times do I—we have to tell you? We don’t have money for you to keep buyingcoffee here!”
“And how many times do I have to tell you that you’reoverreacting. There’s plenty of budget for me to drink my coffee,” Jack repliedcoolly.
“Jack, you don’t contribute to any of our living expenses atall, and you’re using the money that we earn to pay for your fancy coffee,”Yusei replied. His voice was calm and even, but Jack could tell he wasirritated.
Jack was about to retaliate, but Crow jumped in before Jackcould open his mouth. “If you don’t start helping out, we’re going to cut youoff.”
Jack scoffed, “What do you mean you’re going to cut me off?I’m just not allowed to have money anymore. I’m the one who does the groceryshopping!”
This was true. Yusei and Crow were usually too tired or toobusy to go grocery shopping, and Jack would usually only buy the things Yuseiand Crow put on the list for him. The only time Jack truly splurged was oncoffee—which was, again, every day.
“No,” Yusei said, crossing his arms. Jack didn’t like Yusei’sdemeanor and squinted at the other man. “You’re still allowed to use our money,but—” Jack didn’t like where this was going already— “until you can get yourspending under control…” Yusei looked hesitant to go on.
Crow huffed a sigh and continued for him. “No moreaffection. No more kisses, hug, cuddles. None of that shit.”
Wait, no, don’t take kissing away from me. That’s whatJack wanted to say, but he had way too much pride to say that out loud. Instead,he simply squinted at his boyfriends. “You wouldn’t.”
“We would. And we are,” Crow retorted, looking far to smugfor Jack’s liking. Jack looked between Yusei and Crow, both meeting Jack withunwavering gazes.
Slamming his palms down on the table, Jack stood abruptly,nearly knocking his chair over. “So what? You really think I care? I don’t! Idon’t need either of you!” Jack stomped back to their shared apartment dramatically,his jacket fluttering behind him and his café check left unpaid.
Yusei sighed as he pulled out his wallet to pay for Jack’scoffee, leaving a generous tip for Stephanie since he knew Jack didn’t tipdespite frequenting the café. “How long do you think it’ll be before he cracks?”
Crow smirked at Jack’s retreatingform. “Two days, tops.”
That night, the three men were watching a small-time turboduel tournament, and they were huddled together on the couch, which wasdefinitely not made to fit three adult men. Actually, Crow and Yusei weresnuggled close together and kept their distance from Jack as much as they couldon the cramped space. Meanwhile, Jack had his arms and legs crossed aggressively,making himself as small as possible to avoid making any sort of physical contactwith the other two.
They thought they could torment him by denying him physicalaffection? Ha! Jack wouldn’t play their little game. He would just close himselfoff just as much as they were closing him off, and they’d come crawling back totheir king in no time.
Jack felt Crow moving next to him and looked out of thecorner of his eyes to see the other man shifting his legs to be draped across Yusei’slap, and he scooted even closer to him. Crow was practically sitting on Yusei’slap and was snuggling himself under Yusei’s chin. Jack did everything his couldto stop himself from scoffing at the grossly romantic display and grit histeeth as he turned his attention back to the television.
He wasn’t jealous. Absolutely not.
Crow and Yusei took note of Jack’s quickly changing temperand shared a quick glance. Crow smirked at Yusei, his eyes flickering down toYusei’s lips in silent permission, and Yusei nodded in consent. Now, Crow wasadjusting himself to straddle Yusei’s lap, leaning down to pressing quick kissesall over Yusei’s face before firmly planting their lips together.
Jack tried his damnedest to not look at the commotion goingon next to him, but his eyes betrayed him in the end. His brows furrowed as hewatched what felt like a furious make out session go on next to him but, in reality,was really a rather tame yet deep kiss.
Rubbing it in his face like this wasn’t going to break him.That’s what Jack kept trying to tell himself, anyway.
Crow pulled back and placed a soft peck on the tip of Yusei’snose, causing him to smile that endearing smile of his that was often reservedonly for those who were closest to him. Jack huffed and rolled his eyes, andlooking back at the other two, his found Crow watching, smirking at Jack’sdisplays of clear annoyance and jealousy. Jack snapped his gaze back to thetelevision set but couldn’t find it in himself to focus at what was going on inthe duel at all. Crow simply shrugged and went back to peppering Yusei withkisses.
Jack tried to distract himself as best he could. His footwas tapping vigorously, and he could feel his eye barely twitching. He heard asoft chuckle escape Yusei’s lips as Crow kissed down from his sensitive earlobeto his collarbone. Not being able to handle much more of the two’s insufferableantics, Jack quickly rose to his feet.
“Get a room, you two!” He called over his shoulder as hestomped up the stairs to his bedroom, slamming the door behind him. Yusei andCrow cringed at the sound, knowing they would get an earful from Zora tomorrowabout making a ruckus.
“You think that was too much?” Yusei questioned, feeling theslightest hint of guilt for teasing Jack like this.
“Nah, he’ll be fine,” Crow replied, waving his hand nonchalantly.“He knows the consequences for his actions, and if he doesn’t like it, he’ll changehis spending habits.”
“I know your right, but he seemed awfully jealous.”Crow guffawed in response. “Jack’s been jealous plenty of times. Trust meYusei, he’ll be just fine.”
Yusei placed a gently kiss onCrow’s cheek. “I hope you’re right.”
The next day Jack andYusei were working on their bikes in the garage, while Crow got as much extra sleepas he could before his afternoon shift started. Jack noticed that Yusei wouldhardly so much as look at him as they passed tools back and forth to each otherin silence. Try as he might, Jack couldn’t even get his fingers to brushagainst Yusei’s during their exchanges.
This is getting irritating already, Jack thought tohimself. He thought back to that morning when he’d tried to wrap his armsaround Yusei from behind while the shorter man made breakfast. Yusei simplyducked under Jacks arms and muttered a soft “good morning” before turning hisattention back on the food he was preparing. Forgetting the punishment his boyfriendspromised him yesterday, Jack blinked in shock before his memory caught up tohim.
Jack certainly didn’t pout when Yusei denied his embrace. Aking would never pout to someone so far below him. He did huff an exasperatedsigh though turned on his heel to sit at the table, jerking the chair outbefore plopping himself down ungracefully.
After serving Jack and himself breakfast, Yusei sat acrossfrom the other man, eying Jack as he scarfed down his food. He had asked Jack afterbreakfast if he would want to help work on their D-Wheels, to which Jack had accepted.
Which led them to know, working in silence aside from thesound of metal tools clanking and the occasional test start of the bikes. Jackwas sitting on a chair next to the computer listing out the bike’s components,while Yusei worked on the underside of the vehicle. Bored of just sitting therewaiting for Yusei to ask for another tool, Jack started swinging his leg out,tapping his foot against the bottom of Yusei’s boot. In response, Yusei benthis leg to keep himself out of Jack’s reach.
“Really?” Jack exclaimed, his tone betraying the fact thathe was clearly frustrated.
“What?” Yusei hadn’t even bothered to come out from underthe bike to talk to Jack.
“I’d hardly consider kicking you affectionate, Yusei. This alreadyfeels like it’s getting out of control.”
“It’s distracting, and you’re going to make me slip if youkeep kicking.” Jack rolled his eyes at the excuse.
“Don’t you think it’s a little harsh to deny your boyfriendaffection, just because I have a little bit of a spending problem?” Jack spatout.
This time, Yusei did crawl out from under the bike, sittingup with his legs crossed. “A little bit of a spending problem would be buying afew too many ramen cups for the week. You’re dropping almost 10,000 yen oncoffee nearly every day, Jack.”
Jack scoffed and turned his nose up. “It’s absolutely worthit. They offer the best, and I deserve the best.”
Yusei sighed, slumping his back against the D-Wheel. “We don’thave the money for the best. We’re lucky enough that Zora is letting us crashhere for free, but we still have other living expenses that we’re barelyscraping by on.” Jack said nothing in response; he didn’t want to admit thatYusei had a point. Yusei sighed at Jack’s stubbornness. “Look, I honestly don’twant to put you through this, and neither does Crow.” Jack wanted to doubtthat, but he knew Crow did love him. “But at this point it does feel like yourexcessive spending is putting a strain on our relationship.”
Jack’s eyes widened at that. Despite the stubbornness shoutingat the back of his head to maintain his pride, he turned his gaze back toYusei, his expression softening to show he was giving Yusei his full attention.
Yusei was looking down at his lap, fidgeting with hisgloves. “I get that you’re used to having the best handed to you, and you didn’thave to worry about money when you were working for Godwin,” Yusei and Jackboth winced at the name, but Yusei carried on. “But please remember that Crowand I haven’t had that luxury. I know old habits die hard, but it really isstressing Crow and I out a lot to try and budget when you’re going out andspending the money we earn the way you do.”
Jack opened his mouth to retort but thought better of it. Itwas hard to argue when he knew Yusei was right. Damn, he hated it when Yuseiwas right, and that was a lot more often than he would ever admit out loud.
Yusei looked up to meet Jack’s gaze again. “I’m not going toask you to stop buying coffee or treating yourself every now and then, but pleaseat least consider spending a little less, okay?”
Jack was about to respond but was interrupted by Crowclambering his way into the garage. “Hey, sorry to interrupt your work, guys,but I gotta head to work.”
“No worries, we’re working on my bike,” Yusei told him,pointing back to Crow’s D-Wheel over his shoulder with his thumb.
“Cool, thanks babe.” Crow leaned down and cupped Yusei’s chinin his hand, giving him a firm kiss before grabbing his helmet and hopping onhis bike.
Jack full-on pouted this time, having left himself be morevulnerable around Yusei and not having his stubborn walls up. Crow grinned athim and gave Jack a half-hearted wave before revving the engine of his bike andspeeding out of the garage.
Jack slumped resting his elbows on his knees and lookingdown at his hands. Yusei’s eyebrows arched with concern as he reached out toplace a hand on Jack’s knee. But before Yusei could make contact, Jack wassuddenly on his feet and putting his jacket and helmet on.
“Where are you—” Yusei stated, but Jack cut him off.
“I’m heading out,” Jack said terselybefore hopping on his own bike and speeding out of the garage as well, leavingYusei to be in his own company. He sighed before crawling back under his biketo work in silence before getting ready to go out for work as well.
When Yusei and Crow returned home later that evening, theysaw something neither expected to ever see in their apartment. On the kitchencounter sat a simple coffee pot and a can of instant coffee, the smell of burntcoffee permeating the air. Both had figured, if anything, Jack would havesettled for one coffee a day or maybe only going to the café a couple times aweek.
But no. He had gone out of his way to buy a coffee maker fortheir home and sacrifice his bourgie coffee for the cheapest instant coffee thestores had to offer. The sentiment touched both of them, knowing it was somethingthat was difficult for Jack and his damn pride.
Yusei and Crow shared a look of adoration for theirboyfriend before walking into the living room to find Jack sitting on the couchand reading a book, scowling as he sipped the coffee he had made not long ago. Hearingthe two walk in, Jack looked up from his book at this boyfriends.
“So, whatcha got there, Jack?” Crow teased, plopping downnext to Jack on the couch.
Jack rolled his eyes at the question. “Coffee, nitwit. Whatelse would it be?”
Crow pouted as Yusei sat down on the other side of Jack. “Youmake that yourself?”
“Yes, clearly. There’s a coffee maker downstairs, and I havecoffee. It didn’t just appear out of thin air,” Jack felt bad for being such asmartass, but he was still frustrated from his earlier battle with the machinein trying to get it to work.
Yusei smiled at him, secretly proud of Jack’s sacrificesomething that was important to him for the sake of his boyfriend.
“And you didn’t make us any?” Crow was still pouting, but itwas clearly exaggerated by this point.
Jack glared back at him. “No. If you want some, make ityourself.”
“Ugh, fine. Judging by the smell, I wouldn’t want to you tomake it for me anyway,” Crow retorted, crossing his arms.
Yusei reached behind Jack to swat at Crow for being rude. “Whathe means to say is, ‘Thank you for buying a coffee maker, Jack. We appreciateit.’”
Crow rubbed the back of his head. “Uh, yeah, what Yuseisaid.”
Jack would deny it if either of them said anything, but a lightblush dusted his cheeks as he turned back down to his book. “I don’t know whyyou’re thanking me. I got that for myself, but I guess you’re welcome to useit.”
Yusei and Crow shared another look, this one more knowing asthey nodded to one another. Both men leaned closer to Jack, giving a chastekiss to each of his cheeks. Jack couldn’t stop the smile from forming on hisface or his eyes rolling in endearment.
