Nick and Jay

[x-wolfcub.livejournal.com]

Nick tracks down Jay to talk about Shiro, but the conversation also turns to their own awkward state of affairs.



As Nick peaked around the corner into the garage, he immediately wished that he had picked a different time to find Jay Guthrie. As he tip-toed around the room, he couldn't help but swallow hard as his eyes moved around from one weapon to the other. Of course with his wings, Jay wouldn't really need any weapons. As he spotted Jay around the corner, he remembered there first meeting, and thought better of the whole sneaking up approach. "Hey Jay." Nick smiled, but kept his distance all the same.

A wing arched back much like the way someone would raise an eyebrow to an inquiry,revealing the tall lanky twenty one year old and Jay stood upright from leaning over the engine of his truck and replaced the dip stick back in position. He wasn't unhappy to see Nick, but his expression wasn't thrilled either, scrutinizing the guy and placed him somewhere in the category of Kyle and complicated stuff.

"Hey," he finally greeted only to turn back to what he was doing, or what he thought he was doing.

"I know we never got around to it last time we talked in the kitchen because of... stuff..." Stuff was an easy way of saying being leaned on because you thought he was taking sexual advantage of the person you've taken up a personal pledge to protect, but stuff would work. "But I was wondering if you had some time that we could talk about Shiro?"

"What about Shiro?" he asked, turning around completely. Today wasn't a day for having his wings away, even though he wanted it, there was some underlying feeling that he shouldn't. And well, he thought to himself, here it is.

"Ever since his sister manifested he's been acting really weird." Nick paused for a second, realizing how strange that must sound. "Well weirder than usual at least. I'm starting to get worried. I know that he keeps to himself around the mansion mostly, but a few people said that you two were close at least at one point, so I figured I could start with you."

Jay reined in a long inward sigh and walked past Nick, dropping his wrench into the tool box and picked up a towel to wipe his hands. He paid a good deal of attention to what he was doing, gaze down, again with his back to Nick.

Silence stretched between them and his wings shifted a bit before he spoke.

"We dated," he corrected. "And weird how?"

Nick paused for a second. He had known that Shiro was harboring a secret for a while now, but he had no idea that this was it. He coughed to bring him back to the present. "Well, he's barely been seen by anyone. And there's even mumblings that he thinks that his meditations are becoming much more intense." The boy paused to lean back against the side of the garage, rubbing his arms in the process. "I know I'm probably just blowing things out of proportion, but he's been one of the few people who I've actually connected with here..."

"Well Ah can't tell Shiro what to do," he said and dropped the rag on the bench. One hand hung off the edge of the table, shifted until he was half grabbing at it, half leaning into it. "He's just gonna tell me to fuck off if Ah ask, maybe a bit nicer but still--"

"I don't necessarily want you to tell him what to do..." Nick took a few scurried steps forward, but immediately regained his composure and backed away again, scratching the back of his head. "I guess I just wanted to see if someone else had noticed it. That's all."

He shrugged. "Ah dunno. Ain't noticed nuttin' cause Ah've been givin' him his space lately. Maybe that's what he needs?" He ran a hand through his hair. "Ah dunno. want me to talk to him?"

"I don't want to force you into anything you don't want to do." Nick held his hands up and took a few unconscious steps back once again. "I think I just wanted to talk with someone myself. You know, the whole getting the message out there makes you feel better by itself?"

"Yeah, but maybe he needs that. Ah dunno. Everyone needs someone to drag their ass outta the hole. Guess this gets to be me," he smirked briefly and started to head for the door. "Ah'll see what Ah can do."

"Thanks Jay..." Nick added with a brief smile. He slowly turned and began to walk away, but quickly caught himself. Closing his eyes, the boy forced himself to turn around, ready to bite the bullet. "Hey Jay, is everything ok between us?" He paused for a second. "I mean between stabbing you with a fork, and the whole 'talk' we had a few weeks ago..."

Us? For a second there Jay thought he heard wrong but no, he heard right and waved over his shoulder. "Yeah we're fine but if yer worried about it, come to the kitchen n' Ah'll feed ya."

A small smirk tugged at the corner of Nick's mouth. "Thanks Jay. I appreciate it."