[ Finally, they get some privacy. Gailleann and her accompanying castle had been found, and while the location isn't ideal -- it's right near the sea, for one, and in the middle of Buttfuck Nowhere, a wintry desolate tundra that; while Johnny is entirely immune to, poses problems for the agriculture he'd once engaged in with the people of the spire.
That, and another thing. The trees he'd planted in Jack's honor are all withered and dead from the unforgiving cold; abundant proof of it in the patch that Johnny is currently glaring at from his vantage point by the window of their chambers.
(So is he sulking right now? Yes, he's definitely sulking right now.) ]
We can't have found ourselves in a sunny, tropical country? Noooo, it has to be either a giant creepy forest or a place cold enough to freeze Satan's butthairs off.
But Jack doesn't ridicule him for it. Johnny is genuinely upset, irritated by so many little things about this new landscape. The frozen trees was just the final straw, insult to injury.
He stands from where he was crouched beside the fireplace and comes to stand beside Johnny and look out the window for himself.]
Would Satan have a hairy ass? I always imagine him as smooth and toned, the better to tempt.
[Jack smiles gently at him. It's his job to pull him out of this, with an encouragement that's nothing like the relentless that he grew up with. Jack knows where that leads, he won't have it for his baron.]
You are where you're needed. Your gifts could make all the difference in the lives of the people here. Isn't that what you wanted to do?
[ Johnny softens at that, the reminder of what he's set out to do before everything went to hell. He even couched that in a Jack Benjamin Special of a joke, and Johnny thinks about it, smiling despite himself. His Jack is gentle-natured in their most private moments, given to a sharp clarity that Johnny appreciates and needs.
When his lover comes near, Johnny makes sure that the temperature surrounding him is nice and toasty; he will never let him go without warmth. Despite the frustration and the annoyance, he moves to draw Jack into his arms, coming around behind him to rest his chin on his shoulder.
His gaze is thoughtful as he looks out at the barren white wasteland. There is much work for him to do, more to ensure that his people survive. To make sure Jack does, in this unforgiving landscape. ]
Yeah. [ He sighs, low and quiet. What would Reed do? What does it matter? He presses his nose against Jack's dark, short-cropped hair. ] How much food do we still have in storage? Is it enough to go around for awhile?
[He's given him food for thought, which is all Johnny really needs. Jack leans back in his arms, his own thoughts turning to how to better their situation.]
We won't starve. But I need to find the hunters, start organizing them. [Jack's taking that upon himself. Johnny grills a mean steak, enjoys every bite, but he's not sure he could take it down while it was staring at him, not without feeling bad about it.] We're also not far from the coast. There's always fish in the water, no matter how icy it is.
[Jack turns in the other man's arms, turns to look at him and slide his arms around Johnny's waist.]
We won't just survive here. We'll prosper. Our future here will be good, Johnny. I swear it to you.
[Jack wants him to be happy and fulfilled, and he'll do everything in his power to see to it that he is.]
[ Jack is right on all counts. He loosens his hold around him enough to snuggle up to his lover, taking him in his arms and breathing him in again. He's missed him. He's missed this. Right here, right now, Jack is the silver lining in his cloud, a partner in all that they (yes, they, because Jack is such a large part of him now) set out to do.
They will prosper and flourish, and he cannot help but smile down at him. He trusts Jack to do what must be done, is grateful to have him by his side -- this is at gargantuan operation that he knows he cannot do by himself, and Jack is a godsend.
His mind works quickly, cupping his face with a soft smile. ] And we can get fur from those hunts. Fish to export out in return for essential items. Trade.
[ He presses his forehead to his with a smile, tender and soft. It's bittersweet, and he's torn between wanting to go home and setting roots here. ] Our future together? Is this your home now, Jack?
[Jack's eyelids grow a little heavy, but the fondness still shines through. Now Johnny's thinking, seeing the potential. A diamond in the rough to be sure, but Jack knows his love for a challenge. And he enjoys proving himself too.]
This is my home. [He answers softly.] The first I've ever truly known.
[And it'll take more than a little ice to make him feel otherwise.]
[ I don't know if this can be my home, too, Johnny wants to say, but he wisely keeps quiet, not wanting to make Jack feel bad. Because more than anything else he knows what this means to him, what he escaped in Shiloh, the life he had led. This is the first place that let him be himself.
He has to respect that. Johnny will deal with his problem on his own. He loves the way those heavy, long lashes look when lidding those clever green eyes, and he smiles, tipping Jack's face up so Johnny can steal a kiss from him. They're back together, that's what matters. ]
We will prosper. Have you considered learning to be immune to ice and snow? In here, your weapons won't have to melt.
They don't melt in my hands. I don't mind the cold.
[And not because he can have his own personal heater at the snap of his fingers. Maybe he shouldn't have fled Shiloh so quickly. Maybe he should've thanked his father for the advice that's served him so well. He didn't just numb himself with ice, he embraced it.]
We don't know what kind of beasts are out there. But my weapons will stop them quicker than most.
[ Johnny tells him pointedly. He's worried about it from time to time, that Jack would end up having frostbite when exposed to ice for too long. How many times had he wrapped those talented, skilled hands is his own and they were cold as ice?
He releases him and goes to look out at the vast, barren wasteland. ] I wanna go with you. At least, the first time around. I have to be familiar with this terrain, too. And -- oh!
[Meanwhile Jack goes to the wardrobe, throwing it open with a sigh. he's going to need a heavy cloak, gloves, all the things that are necessities now but weren't before.
He glances back over his shoulder, brow arched at Johnny's exclamation.]
[Johnny says (and sings) so many ridiculous things. He hated them once. (That's what he tells himself.) They confused him. (That part is probably true.
But now...now they come with that stupid, boyish grin, Jack's literal sunrise. He sighs, cupping Johnny's chin and bringing him in for a kiss.]
And how do you celebrate a "sexiversary"? I don't think they make cards for that.
[ He laughs softly and happily leans in to kiss him, gently catching his bottom lip between his teeth in a lavish kiss, tugging him close.
Johnny loves when Jack looks at him like this, like he's the only one that matters. His arm comes to wind around him, and he presses his forehead to his sweetly, blue eyes gleaming with promise and boundless affection. ]
I've got a skirt for that. You know, the one I wore last year.
[ He absently runs his fingers through Jack's hair, ruffling gently. His other arm wraps around his waist, humming. Waggling his brows at him, he responds. ],/small>
I won't be. I like body and non-body parts of me equally. C'mon, tell me.
[ Johnny pauses in surprise, blinking at the things he's listed down; he doesn't know how much Jack notices, but for this he's warmed and happy, and it shows.
More than anything -- ]
I want to make you happy, Jack. [ He's never thought of anyone else's happiness but his own before, but Jack changes so many things. Jack makes him want to be a better person. He touches his cheek. ] So, angry turns you on, huh?
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
action;
That, and another thing. The trees he'd planted in Jack's honor are all withered and dead from the unforgiving cold; abundant proof of it in the patch that Johnny is currently glaring at from his vantage point by the window of their chambers.
(So is he sulking right now? Yes, he's definitely sulking right now.) ]
We can't have found ourselves in a sunny, tropical country? Noooo, it has to be either a giant creepy forest or a place cold enough to freeze Satan's butthairs off.
action;
But Jack doesn't ridicule him for it. Johnny is genuinely upset, irritated by so many little things about this new landscape. The frozen trees was just the final straw, insult to injury.
He stands from where he was crouched beside the fireplace and comes to stand beside Johnny and look out the window for himself.]
Would Satan have a hairy ass? I always imagine him as smooth and toned, the better to tempt.
[Jack smiles gently at him. It's his job to pull him out of this, with an encouragement that's nothing like the relentless that he grew up with. Jack knows where that leads, he won't have it for his baron.]
You are where you're needed. Your gifts could make all the difference in the lives of the people here. Isn't that what you wanted to do?
action;
When his lover comes near, Johnny makes sure that the temperature surrounding him is nice and toasty; he will never let him go without warmth. Despite the frustration and the annoyance, he moves to draw Jack into his arms, coming around behind him to rest his chin on his shoulder.
His gaze is thoughtful as he looks out at the barren white wasteland. There is much work for him to do, more to ensure that his people survive. To make sure Jack does, in this unforgiving landscape. ]
Yeah. [ He sighs, low and quiet. What would Reed do? What does it matter? He presses his nose against Jack's dark, short-cropped hair. ] How much food do we still have in storage? Is it enough to go around for awhile?
action;
We won't starve. But I need to find the hunters, start organizing them. [Jack's taking that upon himself. Johnny grills a mean steak, enjoys every bite, but he's not sure he could take it down while it was staring at him, not without feeling bad about it.] We're also not far from the coast. There's always fish in the water, no matter how icy it is.
[Jack turns in the other man's arms, turns to look at him and slide his arms around Johnny's waist.]
We won't just survive here. We'll prosper. Our future here will be good, Johnny. I swear it to you.
[Jack wants him to be happy and fulfilled, and he'll do everything in his power to see to it that he is.]
action;
They will prosper and flourish, and he cannot help but smile down at him. He trusts Jack to do what must be done, is grateful to have him by his side -- this is at gargantuan operation that he knows he cannot do by himself, and Jack is a godsend.
His mind works quickly, cupping his face with a soft smile. ] And we can get fur from those hunts. Fish to export out in return for essential items. Trade.
[ He presses his forehead to his with a smile, tender and soft. It's bittersweet, and he's torn between wanting to go home and setting roots here. ] Our future together? Is this your home now, Jack?
action;
This is my home. [He answers softly.] The first I've ever truly known.
[And it'll take more than a little ice to make him feel otherwise.]
action;
He has to respect that. Johnny will deal with his problem on his own. He loves the way those heavy, long lashes look when lidding those clever green eyes, and he smiles, tipping Jack's face up so Johnny can steal a kiss from him. They're back together, that's what matters. ]
We will prosper. Have you considered learning to be immune to ice and snow? In here, your weapons won't have to melt.
action;
[And not because he can have his own personal heater at the snap of his fingers. Maybe he shouldn't have fled Shiloh so quickly. Maybe he should've thanked his father for the advice that's served him so well. He didn't just numb himself with ice, he embraced it.]
We don't know what kind of beasts are out there. But my weapons will stop them quicker than most.
action;
[ Johnny tells him pointedly. He's worried about it from time to time, that Jack would end up having frostbite when exposed to ice for too long. How many times had he wrapped those talented, skilled hands is his own and they were cold as ice?
He releases him and goes to look out at the vast, barren wasteland. ] I wanna go with you. At least, the first time around. I have to be familiar with this terrain, too. And -- oh!
[ He pauses. ] It's mid-November, right?
action;
He glances back over his shoulder, brow arched at Johnny's exclamation.]
It should be. Why?
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Happy belated sexiversary, baby. Remember Halloween last year?
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But now...now they come with that stupid, boyish grin, Jack's literal sunrise. He sighs, cupping Johnny's chin and bringing him in for a kiss.]
And how do you celebrate a "sexiversary"? I don't think they make cards for that.
action;
Johnny loves when Jack looks at him like this, like he's the only one that matters. His arm comes to wind around him, and he presses his forehead to his sweetly, blue eyes gleaming with promise and boundless affection. ]
I've got a skirt for that. You know, the one I wore last year.
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[Jack hums, cocking his head to one side thoughtfully.]
Maybe not my favorite part of you, but one of them.
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Huh, what's your most favorite part of me then? Excluding my dick, which we all know is absolutely delightful.
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And what if I said it had nothing to do with your body? Would you be disappointed?
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[ He absently runs his fingers through Jack's hair, ruffling gently. His other arm wraps around his waist, humming. Waggling his brows at him, he responds. ],/small>
I won't be. I like body and non-body parts of me equally. C'mon, tell me.
action;
[Once he starts naming things, Jack finds it surprisingly hard to stop.]
I even like your temper. You're hot when you're angry.
[But then he's the human torch, he's always hot.]
action;
More than anything -- ]
I want to make you happy, Jack. [ He's never thought of anyone else's happiness but his own before, but Jack changes so many things. Jack makes him want to be a better person. He touches his cheek. ] So, angry turns you on, huh?