[ Johnny is ashen and angry, staring at him for a few moments -- he's so furious and so terrified by that few moments (the ones that will last with him forever) that his fingers clench into fists. He almost died, and Johnny's not in the mood to be empathetic.
Jack's calm and it gets under his skin even more. ] Do you even understand what you just did?! What if I hadn't caught you? What the fuck --
[ He paces like an angry tiger, desperate to shake off the adrenaline, the terror that still grips his heart. ] No! We're not even! We're -- [ He sputters, practically purple with rage. ] How even -- what is wrong with you? What if you slipped from my hands, what if I couldn't catch you?
[Johnny's anger continues, and the color is slow returning to his face. Meanwhile Jack slides from unmoved to confused, because there's no way that Johnny wouldn't catch him. The thought, the possibility never entered his mind.
But it obviously entered Johnny, and that surprises him, until it steadily dawns that no amount of self-confidence can stop some fears. The fear of losing the one you love, having them slip from your fingers and die right in front of your eyes-
His breath catches.]
Johnny - Johnny, I'm sorry. I took it too far. I was terrible and wrong.
[ Jack's apology is so surprising that Johnny stops short. Usually, he'd need pliers to wrangle any sort of apology out of his proud, haughty prince. But it's different this time, and Johnny doesn't quite get why.
Still, it's enough to wrongfoot him, to take the wind out of those indignant sails. Johnny scrabbles, trying to find the momentum again, but Jack looks at him that way and his words get caught in his throat.
Shit. Jack could kill someone in cold blood and all he'll need to do to make Johnny his willing accomplice is turn that look on him. ]
You're really sorry? [ He pauses, then half-heartedly adds: ] I haven't finished yelling at you yet.
[Pride goeth before a fall, or in this case, after one. Jack steps forward once Johnny's anger shows signs of subsiding, reaching for him, drawing him close like they were above the clouds.]
I know, and I'm sorry. You're the one person I never want to be cruel to.
[And his actions were, so caught up in debts and getting even. But Johnny never meant to frighten him, he was just being Johnny. Therein lies all the difference.]
[ Johnny doesn't instinctively see it as cruelty, doesn't remember Jack's unkindness -- he's always figured it's a part of him, and has accepted that part of him, too. He's one for quick forgiveness, because he can't imagine begrudging Jack Benjamin a thing, not when Johnny knows that he's so much more than the occasional cruelty, that his gentleness and his kindness shines through all the brighter on the occasion.
He'd just been hurt too much for too long, and he instinctively understands his lover's tendency to even a score Johnny isn't keeping. There is no score, when it comes to Jack. He cares too much to bother with that sort of thing.
Johnny steps into his arms and wraps his own around him, brows still knitted but taming in Jack's embrace, holding him tightly to assure himself that the fear is unrealised, that he's safe and here.
His heart is still pounding, and Johnny the daredevil, the bold and reckless Human Torch, had known what true fear was in those moments. ]
You know what you did was dumb, right? Even for me. And I wrote the book on dumb.
[ He buries his face in Jack's neck, breathing him in and pressing his lips to his pulse, soft and affectionate all the same. He might be angry with Jack, but it doesn't mean he'll drive him away. At least, not this time. ]
I could forgive you all the time. I'd be really mad at you but --
[Because it's true, no one knows dumb stunts like Johnny Storm. But that is also something that Jack accepts, loves about him along with all the rest.]
It was idiotic. I'll never do anything like it again.
[He whispers it against Johnny's ear. If he forgives him this once, Jack will never give him reason to do it again.]
You would never let me die. It's fact, it doesn't need to be tested.
[ By now, Johnny's anger is gone to the wind. Jack looks so genuinely chastised that he can't bear to do that to him any longer. He sighs and shakes his head before letting him go, taking his hand and squeezing it. He sits on the step of their castle, gesturing for his prince to sit with him. ]
[ Of course he's rattled! Imagine a flightless Johnny throwing himself off Cearul while you're riding him, Jack.
But Jack's sweetness goes a long way in making up for it, and Johnny happily wraps his arms around his waist, not caring whether they're being nauseatingly sappy together in public or not.
He leans up to nuzzle his jaw, leaning his chin on his shoulder with all the intimacy of a man in love. ]
[If people around the spire don't know by now...well, they know by now. They know that they share a bedroom, that Jack has an interest in the spire and in the baron's protection that's beyond ambition or professional.
Jack settles, smirking softly.]
No, that comes later. This is just what I felt like doing.
[ Johnny doesn't care whether they do -- Jack has Johnny's favor, his eye, his affection and everything that matters. So when his lover settles in his arms like he's belonged there all his life, Johnny relaxes and takes comfort in his presence, choosing to nip at his earlobe. ]
I think I'm going to attach a parachute to you every time we go flying. Just in case.
Don't tempt me, Benjamin. [ Johnny mock-growls. His hands slide down to Jack's hips before he tips his face up expectantly. Kisses go here, Your Highness. He's more than earned them. ]
Now give me some sugar to stop the rattling. I'm giving you a punishment of 50 kisses.
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Jack's calm and it gets under his skin even more. ] Do you even understand what you just did?! What if I hadn't caught you? What the fuck --
[ He paces like an angry tiger, desperate to shake off the adrenaline, the terror that still grips his heart. ] No! We're not even! We're -- [ He sputters, practically purple with rage. ] How even -- what is wrong with you? What if you slipped from my hands, what if I couldn't catch you?
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But it obviously entered Johnny, and that surprises him, until it steadily dawns that no amount of self-confidence can stop some fears. The fear of losing the one you love, having them slip from your fingers and die right in front of your eyes-
His breath catches.]
Johnny - Johnny, I'm sorry. I took it too far. I was terrible and wrong.
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Still, it's enough to wrongfoot him, to take the wind out of those indignant sails. Johnny scrabbles, trying to find the momentum again, but Jack looks at him that way and his words get caught in his throat.
Shit. Jack could kill someone in cold blood and all he'll need to do to make Johnny his willing accomplice is turn that look on him. ]
You're really sorry? [ He pauses, then half-heartedly adds: ] I haven't finished yelling at you yet.
[ seriously, jack, why do you even like him ]
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I know, and I'm sorry. You're the one person I never want to be cruel to.
[And his actions were, so caught up in debts and getting even. But Johnny never meant to frighten him, he was just being Johnny. Therein lies all the difference.]
Forgive me, just this once.
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He'd just been hurt too much for too long, and he instinctively understands his lover's tendency to even a score Johnny isn't keeping. There is no score, when it comes to Jack. He cares too much to bother with that sort of thing.
Johnny steps into his arms and wraps his own around him, brows still knitted but taming in Jack's embrace, holding him tightly to assure himself that the fear is unrealised, that he's safe and here.
His heart is still pounding, and Johnny the daredevil, the bold and reckless Human Torch, had known what true fear was in those moments. ]
You know what you did was dumb, right? Even for me. And I wrote the book on dumb.
[ He buries his face in Jack's neck, breathing him in and pressing his lips to his pulse, soft and affectionate all the same. He might be angry with Jack, but it doesn't mean he'll drive him away. At least, not this time. ]
I could forgive you all the time. I'd be really mad at you but --
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[Because it's true, no one knows dumb stunts like Johnny Storm. But that is also something that Jack accepts, loves about him along with all the rest.]
It was idiotic. I'll never do anything like it again.
[He whispers it against Johnny's ear. If he forgives him this once, Jack will never give him reason to do it again.]
You would never let me die. It's fact, it doesn't need to be tested.
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[ By now, Johnny's anger is gone to the wind. Jack looks so genuinely chastised that he can't bear to do that to him any longer. He sighs and shakes his head before letting him go, taking his hand and squeezing it. He sits on the step of their castle, gesturing for his prince to sit with him. ]
Are you okay?
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[Because Johnny still looks a little rattled. Jack squeezes his hand, eyes the place on the step beside him.
And then with a smirk settles himself on Johnny's lap.]
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But Jack's sweetness goes a long way in making up for it, and Johnny happily wraps his arms around his waist, not caring whether they're being nauseatingly sappy together in public or not.
He leans up to nuzzle his jaw, leaning his chin on his shoulder with all the intimacy of a man in love. ]
Is this you making things up to me?
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Jack settles, smirking softly.]
No, that comes later. This is just what I felt like doing.
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I think I'm going to attach a parachute to you every time we go flying. Just in case.
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Why stop there? People fall down the stairs and break their necks too. You should just attach one to me all the time.
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Don't tempt me, Benjamin. [ Johnny mock-growls. His hands slide down to Jack's hips before he tips his face up expectantly. Kisses go here, Your Highness. He's more than earned them. ]
Now give me some sugar to stop the rattling. I'm giving you a punishment of 50 kisses.