To be honest it might not be hard to see chairs sailing over head with the Chargers, but they were just rowdy sometimes. They meant well. Aside from the time Bull had saved him from the man hunters on the border, no one had ever really died or gotten into a scuffle. They kept to themselves, even if some of them flirted with the waitstaff too much, but Bull usually kept them all in check.
"Hows about I pick you up at your bakery and we can walk there? It's not too far." Since he didn't have a car anyways. Unless he wanted to try and fit into the company car with the rest of the chargers. The company bus more like with how many they managed to squeeze in.
"Basic burgers and fries place, nothing special. We'll probably still be in armor anyways."
The phrase 'it's a date' gets a nervous little laugh out of Krem he hadn't expected. He should have though, since he laughed like that when he had asked JW out the first time, just there was a distance between them and text to hide behind. He coughed to try and cover it. "Good, I'll see you then, though...um."
How come asking was so hard? He could talk, not trip over himself too much, smile his dashing smile, and yet whenever he went to ask for something he wanted, it came out stupidly. "I was wondering also, you know, if you wouldn't mind too much. I could walk you home, if you were heading home after this anyways." Smooth operator.
The laugh only made JW grin wider. YES. He was back on top of this fluster wrestling match. The grin didn't fade when Krem made his offer either. It softened and turned less shit-eating and more genuine.
He hadn't...ever had anyone walk him home that he could remember. The last guy he dated was also a roommate so that didn't count. And he had to admire Krem for slipping that in. It put those worries that screamed 'oh no this brave ripped solider is going to realize I'm an ugly sick broom and bail' to bed once again.
"Sure. I need to get home anyway and see if that box came."
That was a good look Krem was sure, sitting up from his chair and tossing his cup easily enough, and the wrapping of his sandwich. He doesnt head to the door just yet though, waiting patiently for Jw to get up before he made a move to the door.
He could be a gentleman, and yet Iron Bull said that courting and taking it slow was all a waste of time.
JW made a short show of getting up, bowing his back and stretching his long arms high above his head. He wasn't ripped like Krem but he hoped his sheer height could be...cool. Or something. He was trying. When he was done with that, he dipped back into his usual slouch, grabbed up his bag, and headed for the exit.
"Hope you're ready for a walk, I live in the sticks."
Regardless of how not ripped JW was, Krem was kind of wishing the man had the same problem with his shirt as he did with his pants making a move like that. But, he doesn't comment, just lets his eyes wander before making his own way to the door. He holds it open for JW because he can and shrugs casually. "If a soldier ever tells you they're not up for a walk, they're probably a bad one." Because he can't imagine ever turning down any sort of walk or exercise, even when tired, he doubted he'd not able to, especially when he isn't even wearing his armor.
"You said you had a package coming in...anything special?"
YES, KREM. MARVEL AT THE GIRAFFE IN MAN-SKIN THAT IS JW.
And would you look at that, this boy does know his manners. JW lifted a brow at the open door and just grinned. He could get used to that. The walk wasn't nearly as long as JW made it out to be. When you got out of breath as easily as he did, a quick trip to the post office felt like an all day thing. Soon enough the businesses and houses thinned on either side of them and gave way to more trees and residences.
"Well aren't you nosy," JW nudged Krem in the ribs with his dagger of an elbow.
"You brought it up," He returns, coughing a little when JW nudged him with his DAGGERS. It was like those companionable claps on the back that the Bull gave, caught you off guard and practically knocked you clean over. "You don't have to tell me if you don't want to."
Still, with the sudden impulse to touch, Krem glanced to the side, measuring up Jim, though realizing that he was also like his boss in the way that it was impossible for him to put his arm around his shoulder. Too short. Hmm.
Krem's plan shot down, he casually looks away and "accidentally" brushes the back of his hand with JW's. He thinks he's so smooth.
JW knew it good and well and his grin didn't go away. Playing keep-away with information was the best. As long as it was him. He'd turned to look ahead and keep an eye on the street names when Krem's hand brushed his.
It surprised him and he glanced down with his good eye but didn't jerk his hand away. Now he was curious. Just how brave was this brave soldier boy?
There was something about not having the courage to ask, but thinking that you should, and yet wondering if it was weird to even bring it up. Was he four? Did he need to ask permission to hold someones hand? Or would it be rude to assume that JW wanted to?
He still had plenty of time to pretend it was an accident, in fact he had all of forever, and yet that wasn't what he wanted. He felt nervous, and yet, so very, very stupid. If he could kill a man with a giant rock on a stick, why couldn't he hold a man's hand without having all this inner dialogue?
"What street are you on?" He says all too quickly, because maybe it will just make JW not comment on the fact that he just grabbed his hand. His own is just a little sweaty with nerves. Maybe he should have wiped it on his pants before hand...can't really change it now.
The taller man's brows lifted. He went for it! JW leveled his chin and looked ahead, attempting to hide the very different grin that had formed on his face. MAYBE KREM WAS TOO SHORT TO SEE.
"Oh, it's a ways on back there--we turn here though."
JW pulled ahead, his own bony hand tugging Krem in the right direction. He took some long-ass strides too, just to be a shit. Is this a test? YOU JUST DON'T KNOW, KREM.
Well, Krem isn't too short to see, he's just avoiding eye contact. Or he was until JW's stride picked up. His pace is a little quicker, and for a moment Krem just wonders if he's walking faster since he's almost home, but it's fairly obvious that's not it when those steps of his get further and further apart. Krem's fast walk almost can't keep up. Not that it's winding him, he can keep up, but he just has to try harder. Each of Jim's steps is at least two of his own.
He'll be a good boy for another block, that's just fine, but he's giving JW one hell of a side glance right now, his irritation levels are low, but his grin keeps getting wider. He's got an idea forming and he's not sure it'll go over well, but JW keeps tempting him with ever long step of his.
Another few minutes of this... "You make it hard, you know?" He finally speaks up, "to behave, I mean."
"Oh, what, I thought you said soldiers liked to walk."
JW kept dragging him along, past decorative mailboxes and fences and finally they started to go uphill. There, beyond a few other smaller houses and perched high so that it could see most of the neighborhood was a two-story mess of a dwelling surrounded by a jungle of weeds.
Krem isn't familiar with the neighborhood, wonders if JW talks to his neighbors, but secretly hopes he does, just so he can maybe hear him gripe about it afterwards. He's been half dragged thanks to Jim, and he thinks, if that's JW's house, he can pay a little back in the final stretch.
"We do, though I'm missing something..." His fingers curl a little more tightly around the other man's hand, stops dead and gives a tug backward. It's not rough, he doesn't want to hurt him, but if there isn't much of a struggle, he'll heave him over his shoulder, his other arm coming around the back of his thighs so there isn't any chance of dropping him. "There we go, needed a little more weight." He'll pat his oversized load and grin, continuing on in his walking, and everything was right in the world.
When JW first felt the tug, he turned, still grinning. Oh, was soldier boy going to try and plant one on him? Was that where this was going to go?
But then his feet left the ground and Just Wonderful made a sound more befitting of a goose than a deer or a god or whatever else he claimed to be. And then he was dangling above the sidewalk and the town was moving away from them. It took him a moment to realize what happened.
"Wh-- you-- HEY!" That honk worked its way into his voice again.
It wasn't even a struggle, lifting him. He was prepared for what ever punishment this earned him, but having dragged him a block, he figured it was time he pulled, or rather carried JW's weight around too.
"Walking so fast I figured you'd tire yourself out before you even got home." He'll pat him again, though this time he's not so worried about not patting JW's ass. In fact he's aiming for it, strutting down the street with his burden as happy as a fucking clown.
JW could only look around at the passing houses and hope nobody was seeing this.
"How considerate," he grumbled. "I'm a lucky man."
There wasn't really a lot he could do. He didn't want to start struggling because that could get both of them hurt. This hill was pretty steep. And also a part of him liked not having to walk. But then, oh, then, he noticed the view. No, not the city, the other view. The view he got when he looked down.
Oh, hello.
JW reached down with a long arm and experimentally prodded at one of Krem's asscheeks.
Krem had half expected a struggle, and having experienced the Iron Bull's horns, he's at least a little wary of JW's, and treats them with as much respect as anyone would something that could poke your eye out. What he wasn't expecting as he continued up the hill though, was JW's finger pressing against his ass as he walked. He almost jumped, and he's glad that the man is facing south of him due to the fact that his face was tomato red. Funny how even in such an embarrassing situation, JW could still find the upper hand somewhere.
"Nothing but hours of squats and lunges," He returns as proudly as he can while he's trying to ignore the fact that his face was burning from his cheeks up to his ears. He swallows, knowing that once he gets to the door he'll have to put the other man down. Just a little bit to go.
"You're not protesting as much as I thought you would." In fact JW seems to be enjoying this.
Poke. Poke poke poke poke. JW even ventured so far as to reach a thumb under the band of Krem's pants and snap it.
"Pufh--why WOULD I? This view is amazing!"
He was trying really hard to make this sound like it was all his idea. But lo! The shadow of his house loomed. The sidewalk turned to a patchy stone walkway and continued angling upward. The jungle of grass shifted as they neared.
"Aaaah, you'll have to ignore the state of the place. The mower and my back don't really get along."
Krem will never admit to the sound he made when JW snapped his waistband. He almost jumps again when it happens and is half tempted to pinch what he's got under his own hand, but that might inspire more from the taller man. He's not sure he wants more when he's carrying him up to his yard.
Still, once he gets to the grass jungle and JW's comment of his back, he's wondering if perhaps this wasn't a great idea. He hadn't considered the fact that he could have hurt him if he was being careful, but if he had back problems... His fingers slip up from where they were and gently touched his back, "I'm not hurting you, am I?" Because he just hs to ask. He doesn't want to, especially when they're just dicking around, and he'll wade through grass to the porch, setting him down easily.
"I know a guy with a good back who might help you with the lawn. He's not cheap though."
"Huh? OH! Oh, no, this is fine. This is nice actually. I just can't, y'know, do a whole lot of pushing."
One of his oven doors was particularly rough on him but hey, you did what you had to in order to get by. Until they made ovens that closed themselves, he would just have to deal.
He finally does start to shift though so that he can halfway look at the side of Krem's face with his bad eye.
"Pushing. Well." Krem must have been hanging around The Bull too long because his ears are turning a little pink. Well. At least JW can't see his face easily at this point still. In any case, when he sets him down, Krem has to make a decision on how to answer that.
He might like slow, might like courting, and he was in no hurry to jump the gun on this, but at the same time...he was still just him, and he did want some things.
His hand comes up to run his fingers through his hair, playing with the short buzzed back of his head as a distraction and looking at Jim's door rather than back into his eyes. "Well, he likes cinnamon twists, but I think he um, he likes kisses too."
With his feet firmly on the porch, JW looks out over his domain. That was quite an uphill climb! He can't be anything but impressed. And a little turned on. Sure he didn't get to squeeze one of Krem's arms but he got to experience the raw power of them and that was good enough for him!
Also now that he's not stuck staring backwards at the world, he can see the traces of color left in the other man's face. It was such a nice reassurance. This sure was a thing.
"Real sweet tooth on this guy, huh?" He bumped Krem's arm with his, but kept it pressed there. "I can probably spare a few. He alright with payment up front?"
"You could say that." Krem says, dipping his head, still having trouble keeping that eye contact. It's better though, when he can more than just feel the other man's arm against his, but see it, and his hand turns a little, fingers tickling along Jw's own.
"Well, there's the down payment, and then...well. We can discuss interest later. There's going to be a lot of it."
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wolfintheattic) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
theattic2014-11-09 07:23 pm
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"Hows about I pick you up at your bakery and we can walk there? It's not too far." Since he didn't have a car anyways. Unless he wanted to try and fit into the company car with the rest of the chargers. The company bus more like with how many they managed to squeeze in.
"Basic burgers and fries place, nothing special. We'll probably still be in armor anyways."
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"Haven't had burgers in a while." He broke into another toothy grin. "It's a date. You know when I close."
And when he opened.
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How come asking was so hard? He could talk, not trip over himself too much, smile his dashing smile, and yet whenever he went to ask for something he wanted, it came out stupidly. "I was wondering also, you know, if you wouldn't mind too much. I could walk you home, if you were heading home after this anyways." Smooth operator.
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He hadn't...ever had anyone walk him home that he could remember. The last guy he dated was also a roommate so that didn't count. And he had to admire Krem for slipping that in. It put those worries that screamed 'oh no this brave ripped solider is going to realize I'm an ugly sick broom and bail' to bed once again.
"Sure. I need to get home anyway and see if that box came."
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He could be a gentleman, and yet Iron Bull said that courting and taking it slow was all a waste of time.
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"Hope you're ready for a walk, I live in the sticks."
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"You said you had a package coming in...anything special?"
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And would you look at that, this boy does know his manners. JW lifted a brow at the open door and just grinned. He could get used to that. The walk wasn't nearly as long as JW made it out to be. When you got out of breath as easily as he did, a quick trip to the post office felt like an all day thing. Soon enough the businesses and houses thinned on either side of them and gave way to more trees and residences.
"Well aren't you nosy," JW nudged Krem in the ribs with his dagger of an elbow.
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Still, with the sudden impulse to touch, Krem glanced to the side, measuring up Jim, though realizing that he was also like his boss in the way that it was impossible for him to put his arm around his shoulder. Too short. Hmm.
Krem's plan shot down, he casually looks away and "accidentally" brushes the back of his hand with JW's. He thinks he's so smooth.
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It surprised him and he glanced down with his good eye but didn't jerk his hand away. Now he was curious. Just how brave was this brave soldier boy?
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He still had plenty of time to pretend it was an accident, in fact he had all of forever, and yet that wasn't what he wanted. He felt nervous, and yet, so very, very stupid. If he could kill a man with a giant rock on a stick, why couldn't he hold a man's hand without having all this inner dialogue?
"What street are you on?" He says all too quickly, because maybe it will just make JW not comment on the fact that he just grabbed his hand. His own is just a little sweaty with nerves. Maybe he should have wiped it on his pants before hand...can't really change it now.
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"Oh, it's a ways on back there--we turn here though."
JW pulled ahead, his own bony hand tugging Krem in the right direction. He took some long-ass strides too, just to be a shit. Is this a test? YOU JUST DON'T KNOW, KREM.
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He'll be a good boy for another block, that's just fine, but he's giving JW one hell of a side glance right now, his irritation levels are low, but his grin keeps getting wider. He's got an idea forming and he's not sure it'll go over well, but JW keeps tempting him with ever long step of his.
Another few minutes of this... "You make it hard, you know?" He finally speaks up, "to behave, I mean."
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JW kept dragging him along, past decorative mailboxes and fences and finally they started to go uphill. There, beyond a few other smaller houses and perched high so that it could see most of the neighborhood was a two-story mess of a dwelling surrounded by a jungle of weeds.
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"We do, though I'm missing something..." His fingers curl a little more tightly around the other man's hand, stops dead and gives a tug backward. It's not rough, he doesn't want to hurt him, but if there isn't much of a struggle, he'll heave him over his shoulder, his other arm coming around the back of his thighs so there isn't any chance of dropping him. "There we go, needed a little more weight." He'll pat his oversized load and grin, continuing on in his walking, and everything was right in the world.
"That one yours on the end, Wonderful?"
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But then his feet left the ground and Just Wonderful made a sound more befitting of a goose than a deer or a god or whatever else he claimed to be. And then he was dangling above the sidewalk and the town was moving away from them. It took him a moment to realize what happened.
"Wh-- you-- HEY!" That honk worked its way into his voice again.
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"Walking so fast I figured you'd tire yourself out before you even got home." He'll pat him again, though this time he's not so worried about not patting JW's ass. In fact he's aiming for it, strutting down the street with his burden as happy as a fucking clown.
"You don't have to thank me."
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"How considerate," he grumbled. "I'm a lucky man."
There wasn't really a lot he could do. He didn't want to start struggling because that could get both of them hurt. This hill was pretty steep. And also a part of him liked not having to walk. But then, oh, then, he noticed the view. No, not the city, the other view. The view he got when he looked down.
Oh, hello.
JW reached down with a long arm and experimentally prodded at one of Krem's asscheeks.
"What has it got in its pocketses."
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"Nothing but hours of squats and lunges," He returns as proudly as he can while he's trying to ignore the fact that his face was burning from his cheeks up to his ears. He swallows, knowing that once he gets to the door he'll have to put the other man down. Just a little bit to go.
"You're not protesting as much as I thought you would." In fact JW seems to be enjoying this.
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"Pufh--why WOULD I? This view is amazing!"
He was trying really hard to make this sound like it was all his idea. But lo! The shadow of his house loomed. The sidewalk turned to a patchy stone walkway and continued angling upward. The jungle of grass shifted as they neared.
"Aaaah, you'll have to ignore the state of the place. The mower and my back don't really get along."
no subject
Still, once he gets to the grass jungle and JW's comment of his back, he's wondering if perhaps this wasn't a great idea. He hadn't considered the fact that he could have hurt him if he was being careful, but if he had back problems... His fingers slip up from where they were and gently touched his back, "I'm not hurting you, am I?" Because he just hs to ask. He doesn't want to, especially when they're just dicking around, and he'll wade through grass to the porch, setting him down easily.
"I know a guy with a good back who might help you with the lawn. He's not cheap though."
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One of his oven doors was particularly rough on him but hey, you did what you had to in order to get by. Until they made ovens that closed themselves, he would just have to deal.
He finally does start to shift though so that he can halfway look at the side of Krem's face with his bad eye.
"Yeah? Does he like baked goods?"
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He might like slow, might like courting, and he was in no hurry to jump the gun on this, but at the same time...he was still just him, and he did want some things.
His hand comes up to run his fingers through his hair, playing with the short buzzed back of his head as a distraction and looking at Jim's door rather than back into his eyes. "Well, he likes cinnamon twists, but I think he um, he likes kisses too."
He coughed, "Those aren't bad either."
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Also now that he's not stuck staring backwards at the world, he can see the traces of color left in the other man's face. It was such a nice reassurance. This sure was a thing.
"Real sweet tooth on this guy, huh?" He bumped Krem's arm with his, but kept it pressed there. "I can probably spare a few. He alright with payment up front?"
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"Well, there's the down payment, and then...well. We can discuss interest later. There's going to be a lot of it."
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