A TGM AU - Blacksmith + Metal-artist Jake and History Teacher Bradley.
ONE TWO THREE FOUR FIVE SIX SEVEN
EIGHT
A YEAR LATER
The sound of the hammer hitting hot metal is soothing background noise now, and he sits there, sleeves rolled up in deference to the heat coming from the forge, a whole bunch of essays in front of him for marking. He could be at home, but he’s actually come to enjoy spending time in the forge while Jake is working. The view of course is what got him here in the first place, and sometimes he’ll find himself just staring at Jake, watching his arm muscles flex, watching him wipe sweat and leave a trail of soot instead, his ass when he bends over. There is no part of Jake that he doesn’t find attractive in some way and it’s how he knows he’s got it bad for him.
That and he now has an appropriate period-appropriate costume and he knows enough about the village that he’s taken impromptu tours. He’s the school master, they’ve even built a bigger classroom and outfitted it with historically accurate props and Bradley hadn’t realized they were doing six-month anniversary presents but apparently the blow job he’d given Jake in the classroom that night and then fucking him over the desk had been more than sufficient.
Their first summer together had been great, Bradley’s days filled with running baseball trainings and then going to games. He’s looking forward to this coming summer, more of the same but his circle of friends has solidified and he feels a lot more settled. Plus he’s got a big change happening. Jake asked him to move in, his house on the ranch actually his whereas Bradley has a lease that runs out in June. So that’s when he’ll officially move in. He’s looking forward to it, knows Jake is as well, taking things from Bradley’s apartment and then putting them on display in his own place. He grins at the memory of finding a picture of his parents suddenly appearing on Jake’s bookcase, and he knows the students essays he’s currently marking are definitely benefiting from his good mood today.
“Hey handsome… you almost done?”
“Yeah, three to go,” Bradley says with a relieved smile.
“Good. Cause I was going to threaten to throw them in the fire if you weren’t…” Jake says with a grin and Bradley shakes his head at the empty threat. It’s close to closing; Jake only covering because George needed to take his grandkids because another of his grandkids was demanding to be born. Jake reaches up to run a hand over his face, leaving a smudge of soot. Jake wears gloves, Bradley has no idea how his hands get quite so dirty, not that he minds Jake leaving marks all over him, ones he can wash off or otherwise.
“You’ve, uh, got a little… something.”
“Do I?”
“Yeah, just uh, there…”
“Did I get it?”
“No. You somehow made it worse… come here.”
Jake steps closer, and there’s still the wooden barrier to keep visitors away from the forge while it’s in use. He licks his thumb and swipes over the mark, tries to ignore the heated smirk Jake is giving him which is promising all sorts of things. Then Jake is leaning forward, and Bradley meets him, captures Jake’s mouth in a kiss, not caring that technically the village is open. He pulls back sooner than they’d both probably like, licks his lips, can taste the sweat where it’s transferred from Jake’s skin, sees Jake’s eyes track the movement and he swallows, can’t help but lick his lips again and Jake groans low in his throat, eyes dark.
“Hi Coach B…”
Bradley is so glad his back is to whoever just spoke, but still a little terrified of who might be with them. Most of his students know Jake’s his boyfriend, none of them care. A few parents are a little less warm. He’s pretty sure no one but Jake hears the quiet fuck he says on an exhale and he turns, smile pasted on his face and is immediately relieved to see only three people, Anthony and his moms. They are all failing badly at hiding their amusement but he’s just glad it was them.
“Hi Anthony… Jenny, Liz.”
“Mr Bradshaw.”
“Hi Mr Seresin…”
“You can just call me Jake… not like I’m one of your teachers.”
Anthony is of course filled with questions, and with his moms’ permission Jake brings him the other side, shows him all the tools up close and Bradley wonders if it would be rude to try and mark the last few essays. They have under thirty minutes, so not really, but he could maybe get one done. Instead he ends up making small talk, plans they have for summer. He doesn’t mind, they’re nice people and good parents. Then the school bell is ringing, indicating the village is shutting in five minutes and Anthony rejoins them, grin wide.
“See you tomorrow Coach!”
“See you tomorrow Anthony.”
“Uh, Mr Bradshaw… you’ve… got a little something on your face,” Liz says, gesturing toward his face while clearly trying not to laugh before she turns around and follows her wife and son. Bradley murmurs his thanks under his breath, mortification complete; knows the ground won’t open up and swallow him but a part of him still wishes for it. He wonders when he’ll stop feeling embarrassed every time someone catches him making out with Jake.
“Come here…” Jake says, and Bradley goes, a bit more relaxed now knowing that there isn’t going to be a repeat of someone walking in to interrupt them. Jake smells… like sweat and soot and heat and leather. It’s so fucking good and Bradley knows he’s developed a Pavlovian response to smelling the forge or leather, the combination is fucking lethal to his self-control.
“I think you have a thing for me in leather Mr Bradshaw…”
“Like that’s news… You get off on calling me Mr Bradshaw. Lucky it’s only you saying it that gets me hot, otherwise I’d have lost my job by now…”
Jake laughs against his neck and Bradley pulls away, because as nice as this is he still has three essays to grade and he’d much rather continue this at home where they can lock the doors and take as long as they want.
… … …
Jake is pretty fucking happy with life. Bradley has moved in, their lives slotting together like two cogs in a clock; their friends and families are all cogs around them and it all just works. Bradley is happy, Jake is very happy, three of his pieces being included in an exhibition in MOMA, and they have a weekend away planned for them for the opening. He has a plan. Assuming he doesn’t get cold feet.
Which is why he finds himself dragging Bradley by the hand through MOMA, the bright lanyard around his neck declaring him an artist and permitted entry to the exhibit before it officially opens. He’s grateful for several reasons.
“There’s just one piece I really want to show you okay?”
Definitely the smallest and most intricate things he’s ever made, but he’s proud of them and he’d had this idea tickling away in the back of his mind. When the curator had asked him what the piece, or pieces rather, were called he’s simply replied One Day. And now along with two other much larger pieces, they’re in MOMA, on display with works from other metal artists from around the world and his intentions are there for the entire world to see.
“We’re coming back right, you’ll let me take my time and have a proper look?”
“Yeah yeah, yes, of course I will… Just. I need you to see this first.”
He stops them then, right beside the plinth where the map said they’d be. On the plinth, surrounded by glass are two rings; made from the same piece of wrought iron and he’d had to work on them in secret, didn’t want Bradley seeing them early. But they’re finished and on display and Bradley is staring at them, reading the information plaque, eyes shooting to meet Jake’s. He grins and shrugs, won’t get down on bended knee in MOMA because Bradley might just turn heel and walk out on him, even if there are very few people around right now.
“So… uh… one day, I’d like to use one and ask you to marry me.”
Tank perfec t size for put grandma in to p\ay! inside very Soft and Comfort Grandma tinker soundly put grandma in Tank. Put grandma In Tank. no problems ever in Tank because good Shape and Support for artitrtic bones of old grandma. Atank yes a place for a grandma put grandma in tank can trust Tank for giveing good love to grandma. friend Tank
I heard this song on the bus ride home from school today, and now it's stuck in my head. Especially parts of the chorus. And if i have to deal with a song being stuck in my head, i feel like i might as well share it on here too. Apparently the song is based on the life of french poet arthur rimbaud, if that means anything to anyone:
