Ship: Zach/Jacob, Barbara/Melissa, absolute crumbs of pre-slash Gregory/Janine
Summary: Movie night at Jacob and Zach's is uneventful for everyone but Gregory. Day six of Miya and Mia's Tickletober: movie!
“Gregory, my man!” Jacob greets cheerfully, opening his door fully, “dap me up!”
Gregory narrows his eyes, bringing his hand up to force Jacob’s down where he had left it for a dap. “Hi, Jacob.”
“No worries, brother,” Jacob smiles, “give me your jacket!”
Gregory tries to suppress a smile at Jacob’s awkward affections, handing him his jacket and the bag with the wine he had brought. “Thanks, dude.”
Jacob grins wider, grabbing both from Gregory and walking towards the kitchen, “Ava cancelled, but everyone else is in the living room.”
Gregory nods, walking towards the living room, following the sounds of conversation. He makes his rounds, saying his hellos to Zach, Barbara, Melissa, and Janine. Barbara and Melissa are cuddled up on one of the loveseats, sharing a bowl of popcorn, raisinettes sprinkled throughout. Janine is on one side of the couch, Zach on the other, space for both him and Jacob to sit if he’d like. He considers it for a moment, looking between the spot and the other loveseat, until Janine pats the cushion next to her. He complies, flopping down, barely any space between the two of them.
Jacob returns with more snacks and some drinks, struggling to hold everything before inevitably dumping it all on the coffee table. “Alright! We have wine, beer, and extra snacks in the kitchen, but this should do us for now!”
Jacob slumps down, cuddling into Zach, who has the tv’s remote in his hand. He cues up Scream, the franchise the group had decided to binge this weekend. Janine had recommended they try to watch all the classic horror franchises throughout October. Of course, it took some convincing for Barbara and Melissa, though Gregory had been in from the beginning since it had been suggested by Janine, he found it hard to ever turn her down.
The group gets comfortable, getting all of their snacks and drinks while the movie pulls into its opening. All is calm and serene in the beginning, or, as calm and serene as the atmosphere of watching a horror movie can be. About halfway through the movie, while Billy is making his appearance at the video store, Gregory notices Jacob squirming. He assumes he’s just getting restless and fidgety, knowing that Jacob is not the type to stay still for long, until he hears quick breaths coming out of his nose, as if he can't breathe.
“You ok-” Gregory turns his head to look at Jacob and sees that his face is red, nose scrunched, and he observes for a moment. When he sees Zach’s fingers moving quickly over Jacob’s side, he puts the pieces together, and can’t help the grin spreading over his face. Yes, Jacob can be over the top, and sometimes, only sometimes, Gregory is annoyed by it, but mostly he just puts on a face to hide his fondness. This time, he's not doing such a great job at hiding it.
He watches this game between Zach and Jacob, he thinks maybe he should look away, they may not be able to see him since the room is so dark: is he intruding? Either way, he can’t tear his eyes away from how cute and unguarded Jacob looks.
In the background, the movie’s score swells as another death happens on the screen, and Gregory sees Zach’s fingers move down to Jacob’s tummy. Jacob screeches, arching forward and covering his face with his hands.
Melissa laughs, throwing a kernel of popcorn Jacob’s way. “C’mon kid, the movie’s not that scary.”
“S-sorry,” Jacob stutters in response, and Gregory almost thinks he can see Jacob’s ears turn pink in the dim light, “t-took me off guard.”
Janine scoffs, though she can’t see Jacob’s predicament from her spot, “Really, Jacob? I totally saw that coming.”
Gregory watches as Jacob takes a shaky breath, Zach’s fingers having returned to his sides, “I-I must’ve g-gotten distracted.”
“Whatever you say, scaredy cat,” Melissa teases, another kernel of popcorn flying in Jacob’s direction.
Gregory turns his attention back to the movie after the interaction, though he does hear Jacob’s laughter continue nearly silently throughout the movie. He figures it’s best to keep the secret to himself for now, though he can't stop himself from thinking about the fact that Jacob had never tried to pry Zach's hands away. Planning on keeping his knowledge of the incident a secret, Gregory decides that maybe he’ll ‘accidentally’ discover it another time, maybe it’ll finally make it easy for Gregory to show Jacob his appreciation for their friendship.
This is dedicated to the Anon I know only as Twilight-Anon (Should we come up with a better name? (: ). Again, please be gentle, I don’t even own these books anymore, so if I got anyone’s personalities wrong, I apologise.
I know I got their wording right, but then I don’t think I’ve mastered American speech patterns. The wolves can cuss in Australian terms if they want to. On that note…
______
Seth Clearwater shook himself, blinking back tears as Jacob Black morphed back into the large black wolf that was his alter ego.
-have to stop – oh, hey Jake, what’d Billy say?
Have to stop what? The larger wolf gazed over at the youngest pack member curiously, As long as they haven’t hurt anyone, kidnapping Bella doesn’t count as breaking treaty, unless she didn’t go with them voluntarily, which we can’t prove she didn’t, and with her ability to walk into dangerous situations, she probably did –
Jake breathe. Seth ordered, a barely concealed chuckle laced within the words.
Right, sorry. Dad doesn’t think there’s anything we can do, they’re allowed to come back, that’s what the treaty is all about, after all. ‘Peacefully coexisting’. The disgust was evident, even in his mental voice. Alright, that I caught, is this about your Dad, Seth?
I don’t think it’s possible to ‘coexist’ with a Leech. Paul's voice cut in, cutting off whatever defensive response Seth was about to shoot back. There’s a whole frigging continent for them to live in, why can’t they just live somewhere else?
Or even better, Embry Call chuckled, a brief image of ducking a low branch flashing through the pack mind, they can go live in Switzerland.
At least here I can keep an eye on them. Jake muttered shortly, slowing as he and Seth reached Sam Uley’s place.
Or an eye on Bella’s arse anyway. Paul snickered.
Shaking his head, Seth only caught the beginning of Embry’s quelling comment before he and Jake both phased, trotting into the house he was learning to call a second home. “Mmm, are those pumpkin scones that I smell?”
“If I find even one of those missing, Jacob Black, I will know exactly who to blame!” A female voice floated out of the kitchen, a wooden spoon waving at them around the archway to emphasise her unsaid threat.
Gaping in Emily’s direction, Jacob glared at a sniggering Seth before turning to his alpha and pointing wordlessly. “I – she – Sam!”
“Don’t look at me, she’s always right.” The taller shape-shifter shrugged from where he was lounging on the couch, eyes twinkling in amusement.
“Even when I’m wrong.” Emily nodded, placing a tray laden with just enough scones for one each on the coffee table. “And don’t you forget it. One. Each, Jacob Black, you will leave one for Embry and Paul or so help me.” The dark haired girl laughed as she slipped back into the kitchen.
“What do the elders have to say?” Sam Uley asked, the question seeming to summon three other bodies from the yard.
“What we thought.” Seth almost laughed at the tone of utter disgust that always laced Jake's words when the Cullen's were brought up. “Unless she went unwillingly, they aren't violating the treaty. If she comes back turned, that’s a separate matter, but unless that happens…” Jake trailed off.
“If she comes back a Leech, can we prove it was one of them?” Jared’s quiet voice cut in thoughtfully. “I mean, how do we prove that?”
“We don’t have to.” Jake growled, crumbling his last piece of scone in his fingers.
“We do have to, or we could well have their whole race on our arses” Sam growled back, the subtle undertone in his voice causing Jake’s eyes to drop to his feet.
“These scones are really good” Quil Ataera moaned, “Leah if you aren’t going to eat yours-”
“Boys.” The only female of the pack rolled her eyes with a scowl, lobbing hers at Quil’s head. “I don’t see why we don’t just tell them to pack up and get out if they come back. They have a whole continent, if they want to stay in America”
“Paul will be thrilled” Seth snickered, “he said the same thing.”
_______
“I have nothing in common with that moron.” Leah was still yelling a half hour later, to the mutual amusement and annoyance of the rest of the pack. Seth sighed, jumping somewhat as Jake fell onto the couch beside him.
“So do you want to tell me what that was earlier?” He asked casually, eyes still flicking between the doors, as though he expected Bella to walk, or stumble, rather, Seth snickered mentally, through it at any moment.
“What?” Leaning back, Seth sounded casual, but Jake could tell from his posture that he’d hit a sore spot, if he’d been in Wolf form, his tail would have dropped to between his legs.
“I’m sorry, Seth.” He said quietly. “I should have thought, asked Sam to send Quil-”
“No.” Seth’s voice was oddly quiet as he spoke, “No, I have to learn to deal with it. Especially because Leah – and the pack – they need me to be as strong as they are”
“There is no ‘learning to deal with it’, Seth.” Jake put a hand on his knee quietly, speaking in undertones so he didn’t draw the attention of any of the others, “You just remember, and one day – one day it won’t hurt when you do. I don’t really remember my mother, I was only a kid, after all. But I do remember my sisters, and my Dad’s hurting. I don’t think I was old enough to understand what was happening. It will get better, promise.”
“Right, I know, it’s just-” Seth shrugged, blinking rapidly and looking away from him.
“Yeah. Just. You’ll get there – let’s catch some leeches in the meantime, right?” Jake squeezed his knee supportively, leaning back in amusement as the younger wolf squawked and lurched forwards in response.
“No – really?” Jake laughed, leaning towards him with a sadistic glint sparkling in his eyes.
“Really.” A female voice laughed, it took Jake a moment to recognise it as Leah, a happy Leah? “Ticklish as a three year old.” Their argument forgotten, the other members of the pack looked over curiously, Leah apparently having been paying partial attention to her younger brother.
“Leah!” Seth yelped, scrambling backwards and away from a rapidly advancing Jacob Black.
“This makes things much more interesting” Quil laughed, quirking a mischievous eyebrow at the fourteen year old who’d scrambled backwards into his legs, now blocking his way out.
“No, no, it doesn’t – I mean it, this isn’t-” Seth yelped, trying to scramble upwards and away from them as Jake swiftly pinned him to the ground, easily catching his flailing fist with the help of Quil, now crouched at his head. “Seriously, you guys need to let me g-gaha, J-Jahake-”
“Here, gimme those” Quil laughed, easily pinning the younger wolfs arms above his head. “You a little tickly, Sethie?” he taunted, adjusting his grip as Seth struggled to pull his arms down to protect where Jake was drumming his fingers along his stomach.
“I think he might be, want to smile for us, Seth?” Jake laughed, trailing his fingers along his sides, slipping them underneath his shirt to scratch rapidly at the sensitive skin.
“Nohoho, J-Jake I swehear to God-” Squirming underneath the two older boys, Seth bit his lip, arching his back and trying to lever them off, cursing them all mentally.
“Don’t tell me this is getting to you? Just smile Seth, and maybe I’ll stop” Jake teased, scampering rough fingers up his sides to dig at his ribs “Is this a bit better? Bothering you a bit less?” wriggling his fingers into the gaps between his ribs, he vibrated his fingers quickly, laughing as the fourteen year old arched his back, giggles pouring from his mouth.
“Nohononono, Jahahahahacohob, Quhiheeheheel lehet gohoho yohou bahahahastard” Seth babbled, his face flushing pink and his legs kicking out vainly behind them.
“What, does this bother you, Seth?” Jake twisted his wrist, dragging his blunt fingers up and down his friends ribs, pressing firmly enough to wriggle against each rib as he went by. “Just a little bit?”
“Yeheeeheheheehees Yehehehes it frihihigging bohohothers me” Squealing as the older boy suddenly jammed his fingers under his arms, Seth pulled furiously at the hands holding him down, shaking his head in denial
“Mind your mouth Seth Clearwater, don’t make me come over there!” Leah laughed, ignoring the gaping Jared beside her
“Cohohome ohohohon, I’m smihihihiling, Nahahahahohohoono, Jahahake cut it ohohohout!” Seth was all but howling, sounding oddly like his Wolf counterpart as he strained against Quil’s grip on his wrists.
“I did say maybe.” Jake shrugged, switching from scrabbling his fingers in his armpits to digging his thumbs into the ticklish skin, slowly massaging them deeper into his underarms.
“BahahahaAAHAHAHASTARD, AHahahahaaa, stahahahahaaahahahap, Stuhuhupid muhuhuhutt” Squeezing his eyes closed, Seth swore mentally, bucking his hips, madly trying to throw the larger wolves off him. Trust me to go wolf when I’m angry, but not when I’m being tortured. “Nohoho Leeahahaa NAAAAAHAHAHA QUIHIHIHIT NOSTOPDON’T-"
Jake laughed, glancing behind him to see the usually foul-tempered girl perched on her brother’s shins, squeezing viciously at the tops of his knees. “Temper, temper. See, now I want an apology”
“Come on Seth, apologise, and I’ll make him stop.” Leah laughed, smiling for the first time since her life had blown apart.
“AlrIHIHIHIGHT ALRIHIHGHT, SORRYI’mSOHOHOOORRY, chrihhihihist, stahahahahaaap pleeheheeheease stahahap.” Seth babbled, shaking his head, tears slipping down his now flaming cheeks.
“Come on wolf-boy, let him breathe” Leah laughed, patting Jake’s shoulder, her eyes glistening with a thank you that he knew she’d never be able to speak. Nodding to her, Jake stood up off the still babbling shape-shifter with a laugh.
“Saved by your big sister,”
“You jerks” Seth breathed as he glared, embarrassed, at the chuckling wolves around him.
“Maybe. Wanna know a secret though? Jake is just as ticklish.” Quil laughed, glancing at his packmate slyly.
“No, we are not going there, don’t even start it. You’ll lose, Quil, you really don’t want to get into this with me-”
