Work Text:
This was so awkward.
The two boys were in Jackson’s room, David scribbling some doodles onto his homework, while Jackson was actually doing his homework.
All in silence.
Uncomfortable, awkward silence.
Jackson needs to do something or he’ll actually go insane.
The past few weeks, Jackson’s been feeling so weird about David. Nervous to be around him, getting this fluttery feeling in his stomach like he’s getting sick when David hugs or talks to him, and still wanted to be around him, just.. more often. This is so weird.
Okay it’s getting too quiet.
“So,” Jackson starts talking, David looking up from his paper. “Are you actually gonna work or just draw?” He asked, his voice having a teasing edge to it. David blinked and smiled sheepishly. “Right- I just.. don’t understand it.”
Jackson looked at David’s paper.
“Oh, this is simple. Let me explain it.” He plopped over next to David on his bed, lying on his stomach as well. “See, you gotta multiply and then subtract.” He explained, giving him an example. David just stared. “..Uhm-“ “Please tell me you know how to multiply.” “Duh! I do! Just.. it’s a bit hard sometimes!” David defended himself, grumbling.
Jackson looked at him, then let out a soft laugh. “Don’t worry, I won’t judge you or anything. Let me help. See, this is an easier way to multiply.”
He spent the next half hour (or more, Jackson wasn’t keeping count) explaining multiplication to David. By the end, David had managed to get all the questions right but one.
“What don’t you get? This is like the other questions.” Jackson raised an eyebrow.
“This is different! It’s fractions! They’re like mathematical torture!” David shot back as he looked at him, frowning. Jackson rolled his eyes. “No, no, look. It’s like what we learned last week.” He shifted, and noticed something. David didn’t look back down.
He looked back up at David. “Hm?” He raised an eyebrow. David blinked, his face reddening. Like he was blushing.. Blushing? No, that’s wrong. David likes girls. He’s dated girls. Like Mariah.
David looked away, letting out a nervous laugh. “Nothing! Just zoned out a bit.” He put his head down on the blankets, relaxing. Jackson laughed as well. “Don’t fall asleep. You gotta finish the homework.” He flicked David’s forehead gently, and David looked up, pouting.
He flicked Jackson’s forehead back, and it soon turned into a forehead-flicking war.
David grabbed Jackson’s wrists so he couldn’t flick his forehead anymore. Jackson laughed. “Hey! That’s cheating!” He protested. David grinned. The homework was long forgotten.
Jackson lost balance and laid down on his back, laughing. He looked up and paused. That fluttery feeling was back. David had let go of his wrists, his hands on either side of Jackson’s arms. He was atop him, still laughing. Jackson felt his face warm up and he was sure his cheeks were red.
He lifted his hand, hovering over David’s cheek. As David finally opened his eyes once his laughter died down, Jackson flicked his forehead and grinned. “I call dibs on winning.”
David stared, his eyebrows furrowing. “Cheater!” He blurted out, but his face was as red as Jackson’s. Jackson smiled and sat up. David sat back, his hand on the back of his neck as he cleared his throat.
They both looked up, looking into each other’s eyes just a second too long.
Jackson realized and he looked away just as quickly, his hand over his mouth as his mind raced. Well fuck.
What if that’s what was going on? Maybe Jackson has a crush on David. That could be it. He has to get over it quick, though. This was.. wrong. Right?
He felt a hand on the side of his face and he almost jolted, but held himself back. He looked up, and saw David. He had gotten closer, leaning forward. Jackson’s eyes widened as he stared at the blue-eyed boy.
He opened his mouth to say something, but couldn’t think of anything. David glanced down at his lips, his face reddening even more (somehow).
All in silence.
Tense, flustered silence.
Why are they just frozen? Is David waiting? What?
Jackson really just couldn’t take it anymore. He leaned in and closed the gap between them, grabbing David’s shirt and pulling him in closer.
The kiss probably lasted, like, 2 seconds, but it felt like a blissful eternity. Jackson pulled back, looking at David with wide eyes.
What just happened?
Seems David was thinking the same thing, since he sat back and put a hand to his mouth like he was processing.
“..What?” He breathed. Jackson looked at him, noticing how red his face was. He bit back a laugh and just looked away with a giddy smile.
“What just happened?” David muttered, looking at Jackson. Jackson looked back. “We kissed.” He responded.
“..Holy sugar.” The blondie finally processed what happened, then looked at Jackson with wide eyes. “We just kissed.” Jackson nodded.
“..So, you like me?” His eyes were wide with hope, and Jackson felt his heart skip a beat.
“Yeah, of course.” Jackson smiled, then yelped as he was pulled forward into a hug.
“Aw, thank goodness!” He exclaimed. Jackson laughed softly. “Do you like me?” He asked back curiously. David pulled back with a wide smile. “Of course!”
David laid back down, pulling Jackson with him. Jackson smiled as he laid on David’s chest. “So.. are we dating?” He asked. David grinned. “Yes. I would like to.” His voice was calmer but still held that giddy tone.
Jackson relaxed. “So we’re boyfriends.” David giggled and nodded. “We’re boyfriends.” He repeated.
There was silence, comfortable silence, this time.
.
.
.
“You still have to do your homework.” Jackson chuckled. David groaned. “Nooooo! I don’t wanna.” Jackson suppressed a laugh. “Was all this so you wouldn’t have to do homework?” He asked. David gasped. “You’ve foiled my evil plan! Now I have to do homework!” He whined. Jackson laughed.
Ah shit.
He felt a gut-wrenching pain in his gut and he froze, making David look at him. He sat up, David following.
“Jackson?” He heard David faintly call him, but it was muffled in Jackson’s ears.
His hand trailed up to his stomach and he squeezed, his face contorting in pain.
David’s calls fell on deaf ears as Jackson hunched over.
His ears were ringing and he felt beads of sweat build up on his face.
“Jackson!”
Jackson inhaled sharply and pulled his hand back from his torso. He looked up hesitantly and saw David watching him, worried.
“Are you okay?!” David asked the second he noticed Jackson’s attention was on him.
Jackson looked away, embarrassed. “Y-Yeah, I’m fine.”
“That’s bullshit!” David protested, making Jackson startle a bit. “Dude, I thought you were gonna pass out or something! What actually happened?”
Jackson stared at him. He didn’t want to lie, but he couldn’t tell the truth. There was no believable lie for this, though!
..Except-
Wait- is he really gonna do this? Sacrifice his identity and potentially his relationship with David so that he doesn’t find out about the magic?
.
Yes.
Yes he is.
“I- uhm.. got period cramps.” He smiled anxiously, his mind racing. Fuck this is so stupid-
“Period cramps? But.. I thought only girls got periods-“ David connected the dots and paused, his eyes widening. Jackson sat there, shame evident in his expression as he gripped the fabric of his clothing.
“You’re.. a girl?” He asked curiously. Jackson stiffened and frowned, shaking his head. “No, no. I used to be a girl. I didn’t.. like being one.” He explained quietly. He can’t believe he’s actually doing this.
“You’re trans?” David asked in confirmation. Jackson nodded. “Oh.”
It was silent again. Jackson wanted to claw his throat out.
“Okay.” Huh?
Jackson looked up, confused and surprised. “‘Okay’? That’s all you have to say?”
David shrugged. “You’re a boy now, right?” Jackson nodded. “Then.. you’re still my boyfriend.”
Jackson just stared, trying to not burst into tears. “You.. You’re okay with it?”
“Yeah? Why wouldn’t I be?” He asked curiously.
“Well- uh, some people think it’s wrong. And weird.” Jackson scratched his arm. David frowned, leaning in to peck Jackson’s lips. “I think you’re a handsome boy.”
And that was it. Jackson’s tears fell and he raised his hands to cover up his face. He felt gentle hands grab them and sniffled as David hugged him. They laid back down just like before and David shifted so he could wipe away Jackson’s tears.
Jackson hid his face in David’s chest, his shirt soaking up any more of the tears on his face.
David rubbed his back and just reassured him quietly.
Eventually Jackson looked up with a sniffle. “I love you.” He murmured.
David’s cheeks flushed and he smiled brightly. “I love you too, Jackie.”
Jackson leaned in, and they kissed for the third time that evening (not like Jackson was counting or anything), even though they were both a bit tired.
Jackson really did love this boy.
And David loves him just as much.