"There was a very strange and dramatic Adele mash up that I just had to be there for. I'm really sorry, babe. It was just hard to look away." But he shouldn't have stalled so long, given that it was so miserable out here. It was rainy and cold, Joaquin shouldn't have to be out in this. "Maybe I can make it up to you."
He held his hand up to say bye to Spencer and then started to move, not really wanting either of them to be standing around in the rain. "See you tomorrow, Spence!"
"I don't like him," Joaquin muttered before he could stop himself the moment they were definitely out of earshot. He was headed for his motorbike, mostly debating the best place to even take Kevin under the circumstances. The weather was not on their side.
He stopped by the bike and got Kevin's helmet ready first, holding it out to him. "He's checking you out. I should be allowed to knife him, just for that."
"Oh, come on. Don't be jealous. Spencer checks every guy out. Doesn't mean anything, he knows I'm taken." Kevin dismissed as he came over to the bike and let Joaquin help him out with his helmet. He was still struggling to get used to the whole bike thing. It was thrilling and exciting, yes, very sexy but also very scary.
Every time a car got close or they made a turn, Kevin clung for dear life.
Once Joaquin was on the bike, he put his arms around him. "You're not allowed to knife anyone."
"That really depends on who you're asking. If I asked the right kind of people, they'd just laugh at me for not having knifed him yet." Joaquin had to smile a little now, making it clear that he was teasing. Not that he didn't own a knife, not that he didn't carry it on his person right now. He just wasn't about to use it on some jock who sang for fun.
He got his own helmet on, to make Kevin feel better, and then helped Kevin onto the bike after getting on himself. "Don't worry, I'll be careful. But you should hold on tightly, just in case."
It wasn't that he was scared he would die but actually, yeah, no, he was scared he would die. When they started the journey, it was pretty okay, as always. He mostly just looked around and tried to ignore the rain splattering onto his helmet. Then the speed got picked up, the cars were around then and Kevin clung on for dear life.
He closed his eyes and prayed that Joaquin was going to keep up with his history of being a very good and safe driver.
Given the weather and knowing Kevin's misgivings - and feeling them based on how tightly he was holding on to him - Joaquin decided to not stay on the road too long. Which, given that Lima had not a lot going on and what there was tended to be outdoorsy, meant that he actually ended up pulling into the parking spot by his building. He had avoided taking Kevin here so far, but now here they were.
He got off the bike and held a hand out to Kevin, while he took his helmet off with his free hand. "You've been wanting me to take you here."
Not the best area of Lima. Not by a long shot. But it was daylight hours and he trusted that he could keep Kevin safe.
"Lima Heights?" Kevin had seen the sign as they came closer and looked around. No, it wasn't the best neighbourhood around but he didn't care, he really didn't. He was going to see Joaquin's place, he could just feel it. "This is where you live, huh? It's not bad." He set his helmet on the bike and then turned to Joaquin, curious.
Then he looked around, checked there was no one get pissy with them and took Joaquin's hand.
"You sure you want to show me your fortress of solitude?"
"I mean, it's kind of crap, so I don't know about taking you there, preppy. But it does have a roof." So there was that. Joaquin shrugged, holding on to Kevin's hand as he approached the building with him, already fishing out his keys. He unlocked the gate and let Kevin walk in first. "Second floor, so not too bad."
Given everything. "I can make us something to eat. I also have a TV that doesn't work fifty percent of the time, if you're feeling lucky."
"I am a gambling man. I love to live on the edge." Said the boy who nearly crushed his boyfriends ribs on the way here. As they got to the door, he waited for Joaquin to unlock the main door and followed him up. The hallway wasn't anything special but it wasn't messy and he didn't see any needles laying around so that was a big win.
"I'm not a snob, you know? I'm sure it's a nice place cause you live there and it's yours. I mean, it'll smell like you. That's enough for me." Kevin just didn't want Joaquin to feel judged.
"I keep telling you, preppy. You really need to get higher standards." Not that he wasn't grateful. Joaquin unlocked the door to his apartment - well, his one room studio - once they reached it, holding it open for Kevin and letting him inside.
It was nothing special, he hadn't lied about that. There was a very small kitchenette, there was a television on some crates, there were some more crates that held his clothes and then there was a mattress. "...I'm still getting furniture. I had a couch for a hot minute but something was living in there so I threw it out the window."
Seemed like the best way of dealing with that. "Welcome. It's less crowded than back in Riverdale."
"It smells less like old beer and blood so yeah, I think it's actually an improvement." Kevin admitted as he looked around, feeling bad that Joaquin had to live like this and wishing he could offer to do something to help him. He knew he couldn't. If he offered money, he risked upsetting Joaquin. Not that he had much money, only his birthday funds.
He walked around the place curiously, looking at the lack of furniture and the single mattress on the floor. "I guess we can sit on this and attempt to get the TV going while you make us food." Whatever that entailed.
"Yeah, just sit on there. I've got a comforter, so it's basically a couch." It wasn't so much a comforter as it was an old blanket he used to cover up his actual sheets, but whatever. Luxury.
Joaquin walked over and turned on the TV, then kicked it twice before tossing the remote in Kevin's direction. "You can see what works. Always a surprise, it's part of the fun."
That said he headed for the kitchenette, glancing back at Kevin over his shoulder. "White people spicy, yeah?"
"Yes, if possible? I am embarrassed by my lack of heat tolerance but I didn't have anything spicy until two years ago. It hurts!" Kevin didn't get it, he really didn't. Spicy food just hurt him and made his mouth kind of sad but he didn't want to ruin Joaquin's plans so he was willing to find a way to learn to deal. "I want to work on it. Maybe you can gradually get me there."
So he wouldn't always be the whitest of white guys.
He fiddled with the remote and eventually found a semi decent channel playing Golden Girls reruns. "Tell me if I can help!"
"That's fine, I'll just make chicken enchiladas. I've already got the filling, so it won't take that long." He turned on the oven and then got the filling out of the fridge so he could start prepping the food. "Can you-- I have no idea if you can cook."
He didn't really care to ask before and it had never come up anyway. This was the first time they had ever hung out somewhere where cooking was even an option. "I used to cook for my siblings. I'm not great, but I can feed hungry kids."
"Oh yeah, nothing special but with dad being so busy and it being just the two of us, I used to cook for myself and him. You know, he could warm it up after work and all." Kevin had been doing a lot since his mom left, honestly. He tided, he cleaned, he made food and did the garden work. Not that he minded, it was just easier than way.
"You have siblings? Man, I know so little about you. We need to share more." Maybe they could play truth or dare. Where the truths were emotional and the dares were slutty as hell.
"Yeah. I got a little brother and a bunch of older sisters. And then there's just any other kid that's around, they all wanna be fed. Then they are cute and needy." Suddenly it went from one kid brother to five or six hungry kids. It was to be expected. "I don't know about sharing, preppy. You get that look on your face whenever you know too much about me."
Joaquin shrugged and arched his eyebrows. "I ain't tragic or unhappy. No need for the look."
"But I don't think you're unhappy. I think you had a difficult time but I don't think that means your life is just about it. I'm allowed to feel bad for you over sleeping rough as much as I'd feel bad if you just stubbed your toe." Kevin tried to reason, he could handle any of Joaquin's baggage and he didn't pity him or think he was miserable or anything. "I'm mostly always just impressed by you. You had all of that stuff going on and you're not half as jaded as I get sometimes and I don't even have big problems."
And there was Joaquin, being all soft and sweet to him, trying to protect him from bad things, always willing do his best. "You can tell me about your life, sad stuff and all, and I'll even it out and tell you about embarrassing things I've done so no one feels bad."
"I had a lot of luck, really. I wasn't alone." He kind of was now, but that was a different matter. "And I got to meet you." Which started under tragic circumstances, but whatever. Here they were now. Joaquin finished rolling his enchiladas and put them into the oven, then he walked on over to the mattress and sat down next to Kevin, putting both arms around him.
As he looked into his eyes, he said nothing for a few and then kissed him. When he pulled back, he shrugged. "I don't mean to not share. I'm just not good at opening up."
"That's why I don't push. We always go at your pace. I'm just curious." Kevin admitted, knowing that he maybe should know more this time around as last time he got pretty fucking blindsided but he didn't really want to make Joaquin tell him anything he didn't want to. As much as he wanted to ask him about the gang life, what FP did to him and how much Joaquin got screwed. It wasn't a topic for now. Maybe one day.
"It's like your musical education - we take it slow." Otherwise, Joaquin gave him that look and he knew he had gone too far.
"Uh-huh. Not about to show me a dog musical, are you?" Joaquin still was not sure what to make of Cats. It had been an experience he'd not soon forget, he'd say that much. He leaned in to kiss him again, getting his hands on Kevin's hips. "I'd do it for you."
That was quite the admission. "I'd watch a dog musical for you." Maybe he was completely insane. Or too in love. "Y'know, before you? I've never been jealous before. Now I sometimes can't stop picturing them trying to get you."
"As far as I know, there is no dog musical but I thank you for your noble gesture." He laughed and then kissed back, wondering if he should push his luck again soon and drag Joaquin to a showing of Rent at the local theatre. So far, they mostly watched stuff on his laptop, sitting outside and trying not to get chilly.
At the admission, Kevin almost swooned because, well, it was kind of hot. That someone was jealous. Possessive. Of him. Kevin. He always thought he was too boring to inspire jealousy. "You know I'm loyal to you." He felt that was important to say. "Who are them? Like... every gay guy?"
Joaquin pushed Kevin to lie down on his back, figuring it was relatively safe because he'd have to get up when the enchiladas were done or he'd risk burning the place. So that meant that he could be forward for now, by getting on top of Kevin and holding him down by the shoulders, catching his eyes. "Every. Guy."
He kissed his neck and then looked at him again. "I don't believe any guy can be all straight around you. Makes no sense."
"All of them?" Kevin had to laugh, playfully, flattered at how Joaquin saw him compared to how he saw himself. He didn't think he was bad looking just a bit funny looking and he could probably stand to lift more and maybe work on his quads. All these little things he could pick apart forever but Joaquin was just there, looking at him like that.
Possessive, in love, flattering his ego. He moaned as he kissed his neck as that was always his kryptonite. He wanted more already but he knew food was being done and there was no time to properly ravage Joaquin. Even so - he tried. His hands were already going up Joaquin's shirt. "I love you so damn much."
Joaquin had to laugh because it was so impossible to hear Kevin say that after all they'd been through. He caught his lips for a deeper kiss and he felt Kevin's hands under his shirt and he stopped thinking for a while, until he became aware of the smell of food again.
So he ended the kiss and pulled away, grabbing Kevin's arms to force his hands off of him. "Food first. You never eat enough. And if you mention carbs, I'm withholding myself."
"I ate more than enough. I'm just careful what I eat. It's about your macros, you know? Though mine are skewed towards protein and away from -- the c word I'm not allowed to say." Kevin pointed out but he was definitely going to eat because a hot boy he was dating had cooked for him so yeah, he would eat it even if it burnt his mouth out and made him gain 5kg instantly.
"Some of us have to watch our bodies. My metabolism is really bad and I have a whole workout schedule to keep up with. Food is fuel." For the brain and the body. That's why he studied hard and worked out just as hard.
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He held his hand up to say bye to Spencer and then started to move, not really wanting either of them to be standing around in the rain. "See you tomorrow, Spence!"
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He stopped by the bike and got Kevin's helmet ready first, holding it out to him. "He's checking you out. I should be allowed to knife him, just for that."
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Every time a car got close or they made a turn, Kevin clung for dear life.
Once Joaquin was on the bike, he put his arms around him. "You're not allowed to knife anyone."
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He got his own helmet on, to make Kevin feel better, and then helped Kevin onto the bike after getting on himself. "Don't worry, I'll be careful. But you should hold on tightly, just in case."
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It wasn't that he was scared he would die but actually, yeah, no, he was scared he would die. When they started the journey, it was pretty okay, as always. He mostly just looked around and tried to ignore the rain splattering onto his helmet. Then the speed got picked up, the cars were around then and Kevin clung on for dear life.
He closed his eyes and prayed that Joaquin was going to keep up with his history of being a very good and safe driver.
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He got off the bike and held a hand out to Kevin, while he took his helmet off with his free hand. "You've been wanting me to take you here."
Not the best area of Lima. Not by a long shot. But it was daylight hours and he trusted that he could keep Kevin safe.
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Then he looked around, checked there was no one get pissy with them and took Joaquin's hand.
"You sure you want to show me your fortress of solitude?"
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Given everything. "I can make us something to eat. I also have a TV that doesn't work fifty percent of the time, if you're feeling lucky."
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"I'm not a snob, you know? I'm sure it's a nice place cause you live there and it's yours. I mean, it'll smell like you. That's enough for me." Kevin just didn't want Joaquin to feel judged.
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It was nothing special, he hadn't lied about that. There was a very small kitchenette, there was a television on some crates, there were some more crates that held his clothes and then there was a mattress. "...I'm still getting furniture. I had a couch for a hot minute but something was living in there so I threw it out the window."
Seemed like the best way of dealing with that. "Welcome. It's less crowded than back in Riverdale."
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He walked around the place curiously, looking at the lack of furniture and the single mattress on the floor. "I guess we can sit on this and attempt to get the TV going while you make us food." Whatever that entailed.
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Joaquin walked over and turned on the TV, then kicked it twice before tossing the remote in Kevin's direction. "You can see what works. Always a surprise, it's part of the fun."
That said he headed for the kitchenette, glancing back at Kevin over his shoulder. "White people spicy, yeah?"
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So he wouldn't always be the whitest of white guys.
He fiddled with the remote and eventually found a semi decent channel playing Golden Girls reruns. "Tell me if I can help!"
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He didn't really care to ask before and it had never come up anyway. This was the first time they had ever hung out somewhere where cooking was even an option. "I used to cook for my siblings. I'm not great, but I can feed hungry kids."
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"You have siblings? Man, I know so little about you. We need to share more." Maybe they could play truth or dare. Where the truths were emotional and the dares were slutty as hell.
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Joaquin shrugged and arched his eyebrows. "I ain't tragic or unhappy. No need for the look."
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And there was Joaquin, being all soft and sweet to him, trying to protect him from bad things, always willing do his best. "You can tell me about your life, sad stuff and all, and I'll even it out and tell you about embarrassing things I've done so no one feels bad."
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As he looked into his eyes, he said nothing for a few and then kissed him. When he pulled back, he shrugged. "I don't mean to not share. I'm just not good at opening up."
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"It's like your musical education - we take it slow." Otherwise, Joaquin gave him that look and he knew he had gone too far.
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That was quite the admission. "I'd watch a dog musical for you." Maybe he was completely insane. Or too in love. "Y'know, before you? I've never been jealous before. Now I sometimes can't stop picturing them trying to get you."
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At the admission, Kevin almost swooned because, well, it was kind of hot. That someone was jealous. Possessive. Of him. Kevin. He always thought he was too boring to inspire jealousy. "You know I'm loyal to you." He felt that was important to say. "Who are them? Like... every gay guy?"
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He kissed his neck and then looked at him again. "I don't believe any guy can be all straight around you. Makes no sense."
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Possessive, in love, flattering his ego. He moaned as he kissed his neck as that was always his kryptonite. He wanted more already but he knew food was being done and there was no time to properly ravage Joaquin. Even so - he tried. His hands were already going up Joaquin's shirt. "I love you so damn much."
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So he ended the kiss and pulled away, grabbing Kevin's arms to force his hands off of him. "Food first. You never eat enough. And if you mention carbs, I'm withholding myself."
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"Some of us have to watch our bodies. My metabolism is really bad and I have a whole workout schedule to keep up with. Food is fuel." For the brain and the body. That's why he studied hard and worked out just as hard.
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