xp_logs | Jay & Shiro Evening

Instead of using email, Jay takes the physical approach and asks Shiro to go to Gay Pride Parade. He tests a theory and the result is more than satisfying.

Jay didn't bother waiting for an invitation after the door to Shiro's suite was opened, he just rolled off the door frame and let himself in. "June 28th is the Pride parade. It's a Sunday and so, you should be able to come with me and Clarice this year - if she goes, which she does usually, so make sure you ain't doin' anything like washin' your hair, or you know, tryin' out a whole box of condoms," he flopped down on the couch, picking at string at the knee of his holey jeans.

"I'm sorry. What?" It was like Jay was speaking a foreign language. More foreign than English, that is. "What do washing my hair or using condoms have to do with anything? And what the hell is a 'Pride Parade'?"

"Gay Pride parade?" Jay asked, splaying his hands in front of him as though it was obvious. "June 28th. You. me. Clarice. Port. Gay pride. Make sense?" he asked.

Shiro stood frozen in place, more than a little horrified. He couldn't be serious. "I think you may have the wrong suite. Jean-Paul is on top of me. The floor! I mean, he lives on the floor above."

Jay started at Shiro for three heartbeats.

"Oh you're going," he said with conviction. "Cause if Jean-Paul's on top of you, yeah you're going."

"Why? What do you get out of it?" This was growing even more uncomfortable than their "discussion" the morning after they slept together.

"What do Ah get out of it?" Jay echoed in question. "What're you talkin' about, what do Ah get out of it?" He didn't understand what Shiro was getting at and the look on his face was apparent. "Fun?" he supplied, gesturing helplessly.

"I'm sorry. I meant . . . Kuso." Shiro fell ungracefully onto the couch next to Jay. His grasp of the English language seemed to fail when it came to subjects like this. "Why do you think I would want to go? You know my feelings on this. It is not for me. I am hardly an example of that sort of pride."

Huh... right. Jay turned towards Shiro, his leg sliding up on the couch, resting on the side, against Shiro's outter thigh. "Why wouldn't you wanna go? It's one big party, food all over the place and aren't we friends? Ah thought you'd wanna come out with us?"

That goddamn F word. It was a guaranteed guilt trip, especially when coming out of someone wronged like Jay. Dammit. "Would it not be rather awkward? Me there with Clarice, even if she is a lesbian now. And I have not even considered men since you and I . . ." And of course there was Kali. What would she think?

"So? There's alotta people that go that're straight and Ah don't think Clarice would care a whole lot, just as long as you ain't droolin' all over her. C'mon Shiro, you always hole yourself up and Ah think you need this, someone draggin you, kickin' n' screamin', to the parade. It's just a parade, that's all."

"Well, if it is just a parade . . . You are not going to force me to wear rainbows and leather and all that, are you?" Although come to think of it, his X-Men uniform would fit in well.

"Not if you don't wanna but Ah reckon you'd look pretty damn temptin' if you wore leather," he smirked and then added quickly, "Oh but you gotta wear 'em necklaces they throw at you." He didn't want to start waving his own flag in Shiro's face but knew he sort of won this one. He'd get Shiro to the parade and make him see what he's missing when he's in denial. "So's that mean you're gonna come?" His tongue poked out the side of his cheek, trying to wipe off the smirk to his double meaning.

That wasn't lost on Shiro, and it showed through his awkward squirm on the couch. "I suppose. I would not want you to get indignant and obnoxious just for my sake," he teased.

"Ah'll spare you the indignant stuffs but Ah reckon Ah could pull out obnoxious somewhere," he crept towards Shiro with threatening fingers. "Ah think Ah recall a spot," he grinned mischieviously.

Shiro intercepted before Jay could go any further, despite his body's insistence that Jay be allowed to proceed. Shiro shifted uncomfortably, but kept his grasp on Jay's hand. "Guthrie, I . . . please. I do not think that is such a good idea."

Jay leaned in closer, grinning from ear to ear. "No?" he asked. "Ah think it's a really good idea. Was a good idea the last time Ah did it," he poked Shiro in his side, right to the spot that would make him jump... or tremble.

It was a tremble. "That was last time," Shiro breathed huskily. He pushed away Jay's hand but still kept hold of it. Memories of the previous summer came unbidden, and a shiver ran down his spine at the thought of Jay's fingertips dancing over Shiro's bare chest. Their lips meeting. Being enveloped in velvety angelic wings. "Dammit."

Jay's fingernails trailed lightly on the inside of Shiro's palm, fingertips pushing through the gaps between their fingers. He dropped his gaze, his bangs falling over his eyes as he laced his fingers through Shiro's. "What about this time?" he asked quietly, a faint knowing smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.

Shiro stood up to put some distance between the two of them, but immediately realized that wasn't such a good idea. It was way too obvious what this train of thought was doing to him. He reddened and turned around so he could adjust himself. "Do not make me do something that we will both regret, Guthrie."

Jay's eyes fell on what was literally nearly staring him in the face and tried to bite back a laugh. "Okay," he put up his hands like he gave up and stood up. He wanted to get some sort of confirmation that Shiro was in denial and he got it, a visual mouth full. "Ah ain't gonna push," he said, though he had to walk out from inbetween the coffee table and couch, slowly started to slink past Shio toget to the door. "You do what you want."

Shiro stepped away as Jay passed by. "The twenty-eighth. I will see you then." If he didn't explode first, and there was certainly no guarantee of that if he couldn't rein in his mind.