juniper has just gotten home, elbow deep in a basin full of watered-down hydrogen peroxide, when his phone buzzed on the island behind him.
"hey, dad, mind checking my phone for me?"
magik made a vague noise of approval from his seat at said island, flipping juni's phone over and reading the text notification out loud.
Damian waited a few minutes for an answer and, when he didn't get one, scowled at the screen. He knew it was too good to be true. Who'd ever be interested in a beat up piece of trailer trash like him?
juniper took a few minutes to respond, but eventually said "text him back, will you? uhh, say hey, damian. juniper is fine, save sweetheart for later. and no, i don't think i'm having regrets. how are you?"
magik typed out the response and sent it, putting the phone back down.
"so you're officially interested in him?" magik leaned on the counter, smirking at juniper's turned back.
"none of your business."
Damian was about to drift off into an unhappy sleep when his phone lit up. The smile made his bruises twinge with pain, but it was worth it for the validation. Maybe, just maybe, Juniper might like him a little bit.
Things are good! Was the exclamation point too much? It felt like he was trying to sell it too hard. He backspaced and tried again. Good, especially now that you decided to text me back. Hbu? Anything special happen?
juniper had rinsed off his arms, and was leaving the clothes in the basin to soak when he got another text. magik shrugged.
"you're answering this one, son. i'm going to bed."
juni nodded in response, and toweled off his hands to respond.
ah, nothing much. business got a little rough, but it's nothing we can't handle.
Damian turned over onto his back, frowning at the new message. Things getting rough was nothing new with the mafia, but it was always something to worry about. Is everything okay on your end? I'd hate to hear about my favorite waiter getting hurt.
juniper smiled slightly to himself.
everything's alright. the only damage done was some minor bruising, and magik's going to bed early. he's such an old man.
Damian let out a sigh of relief. Careful who you make fun of, that'll be you in 9 years. You'd better pray being a loser at night doesn't run in the family.
oh god, i am praying. 28 and already going to bed at 10:30, that seems horrifying. juni was having fun, mercilessly making fun of his dad. he knew he'd grow up to be similar, though. that's why it was funny.
Damian muffled a laugh into his pillow, the last thing he needed was his father coming upstairs to investigate. A fate worse than death, I'm sure.
much, much worse. juni was smiling steadily at this point, and decided to send another. will you be around the diner tomorrow? maybe we could go out somewhere after my shift.
Damian sighed at the message, hand ghosting up to brush over the bruising on his cheek. Ot would be ugly by then, mottled and purple-green in the shape of a fist. That all depends on where you want to go, he sent, stalling.
i know a few places. namely, the pier, because ocean, or we could hit up the abandoned parking garage. my friends and i used to smoke pot there all the time. maybe even the theatre. your choice, amor.
juni started walking to his room while waiting for a response, sitting down on his bed and reminiscing about the loser gang of 15-year-olds riding bikes to the parking garage. magik never minded much, just warned him to be careful of becoming reliant on weed, and that the smoke could damage his lungs a bit.
juniper had always been a good kid, so he took his dad's advice. never regretted it.
The temptation of pot was strong, but he always got loose-lipped when he was high and the last thing he wanted to do was scare Juniper away. Besides, the pier wasn't too much of a walk and the breeze there would feel good on his bruises. And… Juniper was in the mafia. He saw shit like this all the time. It would be fine, he'd just think Damian'd gotten into a fight or something. Amor? You're really getting serious with that, better be careful. And… I'd like to go to the pier with you tomorrow, I just won't be able to buy anything from the diner.
psh, you deserve the nickname. if you're hungry, i'll bring you something. on me, mag likes to cook. we have so many leftovers. i can also pick you up if you'd like?
juni grimaced. he suspected he was being overbearing, but decided to send the text anyway. just in case damian would accept any of it.
No, Damian texted back immediately, going cold at the thought of his father finding out about any of this. Pops would kill him if he even had the suspicion that he was gay. Letting a guy pick him up with food and cute nicknames would mean annihilation. No matter how fluttery it made the butterflies in his stomach. I'll come to yours, if that's okay. It's more convenient if I walk.
oh, alright. yes to the food, though?
"hm. he's probably in the closet or something." juniper mumbled to himself, tucking his legs under him and wondering what time would be convenient.
Damian looked at the text consideringly. He wanted food desperately, right now he was down to one meal a day because his dad's debts were eating up more and more of their meager savings. He'd have to start taking one some… less credible jobs soon. Careful, with that attitude I might eat you out of hearth and home.
do it. nobody at the goddamn diner wants the turkey special, which is inconvenient because we have like 33 full turkeys in the freezer. dad will be pumped that i found someone to take all this food he makes.
juniper chuckled to himself, remembering the freakout they went through when they first announced the special and nobody ordered it. they had considered donating the turkeys, but quickly remembered that there wasn't anywhere to donate around here.
Turkey had never been Damian's favorite, but he was never in a position to turn down charity. Especially if he knew the food would be good. Come to think of it, I might be able to take a couple of those off your hands. As long as it's not an inconvenience, of course.
please, take them. expect me to show up to the pier with like… 8 duffel bags of food for you. it's not just turkey, it's some other things too. it's never an inconvenience, love.
((timeskip to the pier?))
(Sure)
Damian smiled at his phone. I doubt I'll be able to carry that all day, but I'd be very grateful. I'll see you in the morning sweetheart <3
the next morning. juniper jumped up early to gather food, trying to keep the bags minimal and easy to carry. he left the house with a "found someone to take the food, dad! i'll be back in about 2 hours."
Damian left earlier than he'd wanted to, eager to avoid his hungover-enraged father. As bad as the old man was at night, he was a million times worse in the mornings when headaches drove his fists through the walls or into his wife and child. He was sitting on one of the docks, feet dangling over the edge as he stared into the water. He was wearing a hoodie today, hoping to cover the extensive bruising on his face and arms.
juniper walked up to the pier, bag hefted over his shoulder and a small smirk on his face.
he approached damien, giving a small "hey, lovely. how do you do?" and holding the bag out.
The following keyboard controls are supported across Notebook.ai. All keyboard controls are disabled when editing a document or notebook page.