Chapter Text
“Jake?” Keith’s voice called out, unusually soft. He’d followed the Sylvan back to the lodge, and was more confused about seal anatomy than ever because he was very sure neither humans nor aquatic beings were meant to be able to climb a snowy hill as fast as Jake had.
A boldly dressed figure looked up from where he’d been sat on the porch, trying to tug off his snow boots, and frowned
“You should’ve stayed with Hollis, they looked hurt.”
Keith laughed as he sat next to Jake, beginning to work on the yellow laces of his own boots
“You know Hollis, they’re a big kid. Anyway, you looked more hurt.”
“.. But I didn’t fall over?” Jake reminded Keith, confusion evident in his voice
“You’re the biggest softie I know, Jake. There’s more ways than physical to get hurt.”
He seemed to notice Jake’s expression and, quickly, reassured
“It’s a good thing.”
“Thanks..”
The pair sat in silence for a minute, fiddling with their laces before an almost nervous Jake broke the quiet.
“Why did you come, though?”
“I told you” Keith said dismissively,
“That jackass upset you, and I wanted to make sure you were alright.”
“That ‘jack-a’ was one of you, though.” Jake protested, his censoring only causing the other boy to snort,
“I’m not any more.”
“You’re kidding, right?” Keith asked in disbelief, turning to face Jake again.
“You’ve always been one of us”
Jake exhaled shakily, breath visible in the cold air.
“Jim doesn’t seem to think so.”
“Screw Jim. We miss you.”
“Are you.. Even allowed to say that?” Jake asked, laughing in surprise as Keith shrugged.
“Hollis would agree, and anyone who doesn’t can shove off- you were one of the OGs.”
Jake only laughed harder, mood clearing almost instantly.
“You did not just say ‘OG’ unironically”
“People change!” Keith defended, grinning as Jake shook his head.
“Not that much. Something’s wrong.”
“Yeah? Hollis has a tiktok.”
“They do not” Jake protested in disbelief
“Do too! They post our stunt videos on it.”
Jake simply laughed, ignoring the ache in his chest that reminded him just how much he had missed these interactions.
“You’re ridiculous.”
“It’s true! Hey, maybe if you rejoined us you could be in some videos-” The other boy offered tauntingly, and whilst Jake was still shook to his core by the idea of Hollis owning social media, especially one they'd been so snooty about before, he did know what his answer had to be
“You know I can’t rejoin you guys.”
Keith sighed and stood
“Just think about it, yeah? You can even ask Mama, if you care that much”
-
Mama stared at Jake in disbelief
“There’s no way in hell you’re joining the Hornets again.”
“We’ve mellowed out! Also, give Barclay my thanks, cause as per-fuckin-usual, his hot cocoa is the shit” Keith chimed in, wiping his chocolatey mustache away with the back of his hand.
“..A pleasure as always, Keith” Mama said dryly
“I’m sure you have, and you sure proved yourself at the whole battle, don’t get me wrong. But you have a bad rep with the police, and you know silfs can’t afford a magnifying glass on them like that.”
“What cops? Neither wants to arrest us, and one doesn’t even have the corporeal form to do so.” Keith reminded her from where he was perched on the countertop.
“Other cops. You go out of town, compete in competitions- and I’ve seen the posts, you’re a rowdy bunch.”
“You follow the Hornets instagram?” Jake asked in surprise, joining for the first time since he was shut down at the start of their conversation.
“Tiktok, actually.” She replied coolly, and Jake had no idea whether the concept of Keith telling the truth or Mamma actually having the app was more surprising.
“*Anyway*, you aren’t rejoining the Hornets.”
“But-” Both Jake and Keith had tried
“No.”
-
“I can’t believe you’re rejoining the Hornets!” Keith hollered as they approached the run down bar that had once been their nest.
“I’m visiting. She can’t fault me for that, right?” Jake shushed him, and Keith's infuriating smirk was the only reminder he needed that she could, and definitely would, do just that.
“Whatever. Everyone’s gonna be pumped to have you back- y'know Hollis never shuts up about you, right? And some of the younger guys, they think you’re so fuckin cool- and I mean, you are! Hope you aren’t rusty though, you used to be really good… not that it’d be a problem, we could catch you up. Oh, and the nest’s nearly rebuilt! You’re gonna love it” Keith rambled, and Jake just listened to his old friend, letting him fill the silence as he took in the familiar scenery until some bikes pulled up to the ruins.
“Jake- hell yeah, I didn’t know you were coming” one of the Hornets exclaimed as she hopped from her bike, holding her hand out for a fist bump he happily gave.
“Oh! It’s great to have you back”
Hollis beamed at him as they pulled off their own helmet, raising their fist to him too. He considered it for a moment before pulling them into a hug instead, shaking his head.
“I’m not back, I’m just… Hanging out.”
Hollis pulled away from the hug, raising an eyebrow at him playfully
“Yeah? What if I said this was a Hornets only affair?”
“What, are you tryna make him marry into the family?” Keith called out, grinning at the resulting snickers from the other riders.
“You foiled my plan. I shall now remain single forever.” Hollis deadpanned in response, only causing more laughter in the group as Jake rolled his eyes
“I forgot you guys were like this.”
“Miss it?” They asked with a smirk, holding out a bike helmet that he instinctively took.
“...Maybe.” He confessed as he looked down at his hands,
“Wait- what’s this for?”
“The bike! We might be adrenaline junkies but we’re not idiots.” A Hornet chimed in.
“Alright, we are a little. But our nannies over there insist” she amended after she saw Hollis cross their arms, jerking a thumb towards them and Keith.
Keith puffed out his chest as he mounted his bike.
“Damn right we do- you guys ready?”
“I uh- I can’t ride.” Jake quickly said, eyeing the bikes nervously.
“It’s easy! Kinda like… a mix between riding a bike and driving a car, only nothing like a car apart from the engine.” Someone called out, and Jake stared at them blankly
“You can do that, right?”
After a moment of silence he shook his head, slowly trying to hand his helmet back to Hollis.
They nudged it back to him
“I’ll have to teach you, then.”
“Seriously? Cause I can just watch you guys or something.” Jake offered, turning to face them.
“Yeah, but that’s boring” They hummed out, clipping their helmet back on.
“Wanna learn or not?”
“Sounds radical.” He decided, grinning at the groans it brought out from the other Hornets.
“Some things never change” Hollis huffed,
“You guys go ahead! We’re gonna stick to the kiddie path here.”
“Have fun~” Keith taunted as he drove away, gesturing for the others to follow him. Jake frowned- was it *not* going to be fun? Should he be scared right now?
“Alright, you wanna hop on?” Hollis asked, leaning the bike towards him, and his frown only deepened.
“Shouldn’t you like… show me first? Or something?”
“There’s no trick to it! M’afraid we don’t have any kids, so you’re not getting stabilisers, but if you’re that scared I can hold you up on your first go.” Hollis offered, and even though Jake knew they were teasing him, Keith had left him genuinely afraid of the wheeled contraption (deathtrap?) he was preparing to mount.
“Please, yeah.” He decided, hesitantly copying the earlier movements of a Hornet to clamber on, one foot still securely on solid ground.
Hollis froze for a moment, expression indecipherable, and Jake wondered if he’d done something wrong until they eventually snorted.
“Yknow what, sure. Only to get you started, though, cause you gotta go fast to keep your balance.” They said as they gently placed a their hands on his waist, helping to hold him upright
Jake gulped, looking down nervously. He had no idea what stressed him out about this so much- he snowboarded down massive hills, and no matter what Keith had been suggesting, riding a bike down the road could *not* be that scary, especially not with Hollis helping him. He felt his heart beat faster anyway, quickly moving his feet to the pedals.
Unfortunately for the both of them, as Hollis tried to move him forwards, he forgot about the pedalling part. He wobbled, turning to look at them in surprise and managing to overbalance the whole bike in the process. Straight into a snowdrift.
“Pedal!” Hollis yelped, far too late, as the pair went crashing into the snow.
“You could’ve told me that earlier” Jake whined as he frantically tried to roll off Hollis and the bike, only pushing them further into the snow.
Hollis squirmed away, managing to stand after a few moments of struggling, and pulled the bike away from Jake.
“I thought it was obvious!”
Jake huffed, now lying alone in the mound of snow.
“What does that say about your teaching, huh?”
“That I’m excellent for cushioning your fall? Speaking of- get up, you’re gonna catch a cold.”
They extended their hand, which Jake reluctantly took and allowed himself to be pulled up
“So… no second attempt?”
“No! Cmon, I’ll give you a ride back to the lodge- hop onto the back, cause there’s no way you’re driving this thing again for a *while*.” Hollis told him as they climbed onto the bike, and he reluctantly followed them, standing awkwardly on the bar attached to the middle of the back wheel and clinging to their shoulders.
As they set off down the icy road, Jake decided he really didn't like bikes.