fireshow | (no subject)

[ Really, they are, and he knows how fucking lucky he is to have someone who can just laugh with him about this shit. ]

That's us.

[He doesn't drive as fast as usual- better not to tempt fate. When they get to his place he parks around back and gets out, taking the boxes out of the back and heads to the front with John. He starts undoing his security system, glancing at John.]

Uhm... another heads up- and hopefully not something that's gonna cause our first fight- I've got a few things up on my evidence boards that kinda... sorta relate to the government and the Sentinel program. Mutants. I started to look into it. I just don't want you to be surprised, or... you know. Angry.

[ grabbing his duffel bag and other things he'd tossed in the backseat, he glances over to jason rather curiously when he goes and says that — slings the strap of the duffel bag over his shoulder and shuts the car door, heading over, heels scuffing against the ground as he does. ]

I mean... as long as you're not keeping some list of mutants or hunting them for some side cash...

John.

[He gives his boyfriend a look, pushing the door open once he gets the security undone, leading them inside.]

Opposite of that.

[He's gonna hunt those government motherfuckers instead.]

[ slight tilt of his head, he follows in after jason, letting him lead the way, adjusting the strap of his bag some as he goes. ]

You sure you wanna go digging around in that? The shit I could tell you isn't pretty.

[ things he's heard... things he's seen. ]

I know it isn't pretty. And I'm sure. Can't hurt to find out more about what's going on.

[Once inside he locks up again, then puts the boxes down so he can open the laptop on the counter up and disarm the second set of security. This place really is like Fort Knox.]

I'm working on simultaneous things, so don't worry. It's not like I'm obsessively stuck on that.

[ coming up behind him, he runs the pad of his thumb under the strap there against his shoulder, looking around the place before he looks back to jason doing what he needs to do there on the laptop. ]

So should I just keep the things I hear to myself then? Since you're not obsessed and all?

[ Jason lifts the boxes back up and heads for the stairs, glancing at John. ]

...I'd rather you told me. It would really help.

Not right now though, ok? Let's get you settled in.

Wasn't planning on right now anyways.

[ because it can be a lot sometimes. things that keep john up... or make him have nightmares. but, seeing how they're not discussing that right now, he follows again with his stuff, heading up the stairs. ]

[ It can definitely be a lot, and Jason's gonna cover most of it up when they get inside, just cause he doesn't want it always in their faces. He tends to do that when John comes over anyway. All the gruesome details don't need to be out there when they're having a nice time together. ]

Good. I want this to be nice for you.

[He gives John a small smile, cause he knows he's being corny again, but he can't help it. He lets them into the apartment, setting the boxes down in the main room.]

You can put your stuff in the bedroom. There are some empty drawers you can take. I don't got a lot of stuff.

[ stepping into jason's place— their place? wow. that's... something alright. either way, he stands there and takes a look around — watches as jason goes and sets the boxes down. shifting his bag there a little, he looks over in the direction of the bedroom and gives a short nod. ]

Okee dokee then.

[ which, with that being said, he takes that bag and his book and couple other things with him into the bedroom to do just that. taking his time with it because... it hasn't really hit him yet that this is happening but... it's starting to sink in a little more. especially with being here now. ]

[ He has a bookshelf off to the side in the main room that John can pretty much have to himself. He only uses one of the shelves anyway and the rest are bare. There's actually a lot of room for John here. Jason's never really filled up any part of it on his own- except for with his Red Hood stuff.

He follows John into the bedroom to help him with his stuff if he wants, but also to slide an arm around his middle and kiss his cheek. ]

Welcome home.

[ he's in the middle of taking some things — clothes mostly — out of the duffel bag he'd dropped on the bed when that arm comes around him and that kiss ends up pressed to his cheek. sweet and expected from the other. but when he hears those words... when he hears that welcome home come from jason as he looks down to his open duffel bag there, that's when it all suddenly hits him.

this... is home now... and he feels a lot of things all at once about that.

licking over his lips, a quiet laugh leaves him, more sheepish than anything else. and while he doesn't pull away from jason, he doesn't move yet— doesn't twist around in that arm to face him. instead, he just looks down to the taper candles he has there in his duffel bag and pulls a couple of them out. looking to them. ]

You need to go out tonight? Do your patrolling stuff?

[ It's a lot, he knows it is. He can hear it in the quiet laugh John lets out. It's a lot, but it feels right, and Jason finally feels like this could be home for him now too. Up until now it's just been a place to crash at.

He rests his chin on John's shoulder, shaking his head. ]

I don't have to tonight. I can stay here with you. If something major happens I'll head out, but otherwise it's all good.

Yeah?

[ again, that gets him to laugh a little at the thought. spending their first night in their place together. sounds like something out of a shitty romance novel he might pen one day. just... with more gothic flair... more gay, too, but. still gets him to smile a little at the thought.

glancing back some, though it's not by much what with jason resting his chin there on his shoulder, he runs the tips of his fingers over the taper candles he still holds. ]

And what do you wanna do tonight then?

Mmhm.

[He smiles at the way John laughs again, feeling him settle into the idea of this a little more. Jason would much rather be here with John than out there tonight.

He'd absolutely read that romance novel if John ever wrote it.]

Well. First we can go grocery shopping, then we can either cook dinner together or go out to one of the diner's I love around here. We can come home and watch a movie if you want to? Make out on the couch until we have to move to the bedroom? Or we can go out for drinks? Totally up to you. I'm way open to anything.

Leaving it all up to me, huh?

[ dropping the candles down to the bed, he rests his hand over jason's then and lets himself lean back into him. just a little. ]

Well. Food's gonna be a priority either way, so. Should probably get some of that. Both in our stomachs and for here.

Those are some options, but yeah. We can do anything.

[His eyes follows the candles as they drop down onto the bed. It feels symbolic in a way. Like John coming to terms with all of this. Letting himself trust what he has here a little more. Holding on to him instead of the candles.]

Yeah, definitely. We can start with that. Just uhm... why don't you continue unpacking, I'm gonna run out and return the car and I'll be back in like ten minutes? That cool?

[ a glance over his shoulder, he hums. ]

Yeah. Don't wanna get it reported after all.

[ soft bit of laughter there, he slips out of jason's hold, grabbing a couple candlestick holders from the bottom of his duffel bag that he waves at jason as he moves around the bed, looking for a spot to place them. ]

Expect seeing a lot of these around, too. Least you'll never be without light or warmth so long as I'm here.

Nope.

[He laughs, letting John move out of his hold, watching as he goes to set the candlestick holders in various places.]

Don't need the candles for light or warmth with you around here, but... I like the candles too. Feel free to put 'em wherever you want- just maybe a little less around the computers.

Alright. I'll be right back.

[He's all smiles, glad to see John making himself at home before he heads off to go return the car.]

[ he may not be a tech geek like his boyfriend seems to be, but gosh, he knows a thing or two about fire safety.

jason heads out and john finishes up with unpacking the stuff he has the mental capacity for at the moment. granted, it's not a lot, but. lining the bookshelves with his shit is just not anything he's in the mood for at the moment, so. he opts to place seven candlestick holders around the bedroom all at different heights and in different spots — a couple placed together, but. spaced out enough for them to fill the room with light and for john to skip the flame across one wick to the next.

clothes shoved into a dresser drawer and his journal and writing things left in the duffel bag he deposits at the foot of the bed, he spends his remaining time looking around the place. being a little nosy, yeah. all while playing with a small flame in the palm of his hand. sometimes rolling it across the backs of his fingers, other times, swirling it around in his palm like a ball. he's safe here with jason now, but. some things — some habits aren't so easy to give up even in a safe space. that habit being having himself feel protected. ]

[ Jason covered up his evidence boards, but if John wants to snoop, he doesn't mind. He figures a lot of it John has already seen when he's come over and the rest will be seen anyway, considering they're living together now. It's a nice feeling. Jason's already excited to get back to John as soon as he's out the door.

Returning the car is quick, and he makes his way back soon after that. Once inside, he calls out to John. ]

Honey, I'm home!

[He laughs at himself, spotting John with the flame rolling in his hands.]

Everything good?

[ hearing the way jason calls that... it catches him off guard a little and he can't help but raise his brows as he turns around to greet the other. ]

That was... so incredibly dorky.

[ and yet, he says that with affection, of course.

laughing a second later himself, he rolls the flame across the backs of his fingers a couple more times before he slides it around his wrist and into his palm, closing his fingers on it to snuff it out. ]

Yeah. Just... taking it all in.

I know.

The heart of this killer is sappy, corny and dorky at times, what can he say. He's just glad John finds it amusing more than annoying.

He smiles at the flame in John's hand, moving closer.]

Feels good with you here. Always has. I remember... the first time you came over, I caught myself thinking about how much more it felt like a home with you here. Like, an actual home instead of just a place I was hiding out in. Now it really, truly is.

[ with the flame out and his focus entirely on jason, he leans back some against whatever table he's closest to, mindful of the stuff on there as hands drop behind him to gently grip under the edge of it.

jason's words get him to smile a little, even if he has to look away for a second before he's looking back to the other, teeth sinking into his bottom lip. ]

I remember when uh... I asked you to come over? To break in, as I put it... and, uh. When you crawled in bed with me, even after I passed out... I don't know. It just... stuck with me. That feeling. Having you crawl in bed.

[ he laughs, sheepish, a shake of his head and a lick of his lips as he ducks his head for a moment. ]

It was a nice feeling.

That feeling, yeah. That's the one.

[He nods, leaning back against the table as well, right next to John. He reaches out with his pinky, looping it around John's.]

I had never felt such warmth in my life. And it wasn't just cause of all the candles.