Chapter Text
Vincent fixed his collar anxiously as he got dressed for school. He knew he was gonna see JFK, and while he was planning on changing a bit for whatever they did for their date he wanted to look nice whenever they talked beforehand.
Vincent waved goodbye to his mom as he walked outside, waiting on his doorstep for JFK to pick him up. It seemed like the easiest thing to do since they would spend time together anyways.
A small smile reached his face as he saw the red convertible pull up, JFK waved to him with a toothy grin.
"Hey, Sunshine!" He chirped as Vincent sat in the passenger's seat. He felt his face blush up to his ears.
"Hey, um- Hey, Johnny." He fiddled with his seat belt trying to buckle. JFK waited until he finished buckling to begin driving.
"So- uh- how's your art been?" The jock attempted small talk, though his face was a tad flushed.
"Oh, pretty good. I've had a lot of inspiration lately." Vincent hoped JFK would pick up what he was hinting at. Well, maybe not the fighting stuff but definitely the romantic stuff.
"Ah, haha, nice. Would you- er- wanna show me sometime?" Yeah, the flush on his cheeks definitely just deepened.
"Y-yeah! Yeah, that'd be fine."
The rest of the drive was comfortably silent, for the most part. The occasional flustered question would rear its head, but it was never awkward in an annoying way. More so a young way.
When they pulled into the parking lot JFK turned towards him, scratching the back of his neck the way he always did when nervous.
"Can i- er uh… hold your hand?" JFK's face flushed to a color that Vincent wasn't aware was possible as he nodded silently, a small smile on his face. JFK released the breath he'd been holding with his own shy smile.
"Cool."
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Now that JFK had asked he wasn't sure how to approach holding Vincent's hand. Does he grab it now or wait until they get out? He'd have to let it go to leave the car, right? He wasn't sure he and Cleo ever held hands, so he wasn't sure how to approach.
Vincent, surprisingly, reached out to grab JFK's hand. It was small and sweaty, but warm and so perfectly him.
The boys smiled at each other-
"Hey, guys! Oh shit, sorry. Didn't mean to interrupt." Joan backed away, hand over her eyes.
The boys had jumped apart as soon as they heard her voice, having been broken from their little world.
"What did you want, Joan?" Vincent sounded mildly irritated, JFK could understand why.
"Just wanted to see if you guys were coming to class, it's first period."
"Shit!" Vincent frantically opened the door as JFK did the same.Vincent impulsively kissed JFK's cheek. A playful grin on his face.
"Race you there." And the small boy took off running.
"See you later, Joan!" JFK shouted back as he took off after the short boy.
Damnnit, he was in deep.
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Vincent giggled as he ran to class, JFK following closely behind. They were quiet as they opened the door, having disrupted the class.
He and JFK smiled at each other throughout class, and any other one they shared after that.
They sat right next to each other during lunch, holding hands under the table and giggling when they caught each other's eye. It honestly felt like a dream come true.
Vincent was suspicious.
He didn't feel like he deserved such… good things. He deserved being beaten up behind the school and painting his depression afterwards. Not a golden retriever of a boy who smiles at him like he's the sun.
He let himself enjoy it in the moment, but when JFK dropped him back off to do homework and get changed for their date he spiraled.
"Mom, what if it's a prank? What if this was some sort of long con and right before we kiss or something everyone jumps out and mocks me for being some gay pervert?" Vincent had asked his mom for some help getting ready. It was not going to plan, to say the least.
"Vincent, do you really believe JFK would do that?"
"...No."
His mom stood up from his bed where she had been sitting and put her hands on his shoulders.
"Then don't think about stuff like that. If you know that JFK would never do that then there's no point in entertaining the idea."
"I know… but-"
"No buts! You're sabotaging this date before it even starts. Now, I really like the navy button up but the teal one brings out your eyes."
They settled on the navy one. Vincent hesitantly rolled the sleeves up to his elbow, and grabbed his corduroy jacket. He would take it off if he felt comfortable enough, but until then he wasn't prepared to flash his past to everyone.
Vincent looked at his reflection in the mirror, pretty happy with what looked back. His mother stood beside him, hand over her mouth.
"Oh, honey… you look so handsome." She turned to him, he turned to meet her gaze, "You're first date. God, you've grown up so fast."
"Mom…" Vincent grabbed her hand.
"I'm sorry, I just- I'm so proud of you. You've grown so much and put yourself in so many vulnerable positions, and I'm just so happy that you were brave enough to do that."
Vincent felt the tears well in his eyes as his mom spoke, matching the shine she already had.
"That means a lot, Mom."
There was a knock on the door. Vincent's mom looked down the hallway and back to him.
"Welp, time to shine. Let's go, honey."
Vincent cleared his throat as he walked downstairs. His mom went to the kitchen with a thumbs up.
Vincent took a deep breath before opening the door, only to immediately feel it knocked out of him.
JFK looked… "fucking gorgeous" was the only way to give it any justice.
He had slightly less gel in his hair than usual, making it look softer. He also was wearing a goddamn forest green turtleneck,which Vincent was not aware was even a color he owned but suited him so incredibly well.
"Wow, um, you look really nice." Vincent managed to stutter out, mentally facepalming at how flustered he sounded.
"Oh- uh- you too." JFK's face flushed as he scratched the back of his neck, "Ready to go?"
"Yeah! Yeah, absolutely. Um, lead the way?"
JFK opened the car door for Vincent before walking over to his own side.
"So, what exactly are we doing?" Vincent asked once they got in. JFK looked down at his lap.
"I- er uh- I wanted to take you to the planetarium. It seems like the kind of thing you would like."
At first mention it sounded fun. Looking at the universe with someone you liked, it felt romantic.
Then Vincent remembered how terrifying the expanse of space was to him. He found it just as interesting and gorgeous as he did overwhelming, but being trapped facing it whilst in a dark and large room? Not the best.
Vincent batted the thoughts away. JFK was here, he'd be fine. He smiled.
"Sounds fun."
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JFK couldn't help but smile the whole drive there. He wanted to reach out and grab Vincent's hand but wasn't exactly sure how to do that and drive at the same time.
Pulling into the parking lot of the planetarium and parking, JFK looked at Vincent and worked up the nerve to ask once more.
"We didn't really get to hold hands earlier, do you- uh- wanna try again."
"Sure, I- yeah, I do."
They walked into the planetarium hand in hand, JFK paying for their tickets while Vincent fidgeted with the hem of his jacket.
He'll be fine, JFK is here. He'll be fine, JFK is here. He'll be fine, JFK is-
"-Ready to go?" JFK asked, interrupting Vincent's spiral. He took a deep breath and smiled.
"Yep."
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JFK smiled, grabbing Vincent's hand once more to head into the theatre.
They let go to sit in their seats and waited a bit, chatting idly. Not much later the lights darkened.
A giant voice came over the speakers as the dome ceiling showed the night sky, talking about all the constellations and stuff.
JFK felt Vincent's hand on his wrist, he went to smile at him when he realised that he was in the middle of an intense panic attack.
"Shit, Vinnie, do you want to go to the bathroom?" JFK whispered. Vincent nodded silently, tears brimming his eyes as JFK wrapped his arm around Vincent and lead him out of the theater and into the men's room.
"Vin, I'm so sorry, just- uh- tell me about different types of paints?"
"What?" Vincent's voice was watery.
"Tell me about the oils and waters and stuff."
"Well- um- water paint is activated by water, but i-it can come in pan or tube form. And- and oil id an easily blendable form of paint, but it takes at least a couple of days to dry."
"Uh-huh."
"Acrylic is one of the most common types of paints, it dries pretty quickly but has some substance to it. It's kinda plastic-y feeling." Vincent's breathing had begun to even out."
"Great, how do you feel?"
"Oh, um- better…" he looked to his hands, "I'm sorry for freaking out. I tried not to but-" JFK grabbed Vincent's hands.
"Hey, it's ok. I'm just glad you feel better, that's all I want."
"O-ok."
"Vinnie, can you look at me?"
The short boy look up at JFK, who cupped his cheek.
"Can I kiss you?" The jock asked, Vincent's cheeks flushed and he giggled.
"JFK, we're in a public restroom."
"And?"
Vincent scoffed, but leaned into JFK's hand.
"Yes, you can kiss me."
JFK leaned down while Vincent stood on his tiptoes.
"Can I ask a question now?" Vincent whispered against his lips.
"Myeah" JFK muttered against his lips, definitely not putting as much effort into making his words actually sound like words.
"Will you- Sorry, I'm just really nervous" Vincent laughed shakily, "Will you be my boyfriend?"
Vincent could feel JFK smile against his lips.
"I'd love to be your boyfriend, Vin. As long as your mine?"
It was Vincent's turn to smile as he playfully hit JFK.
"Obviously." He spoke as he pulled JFK back down for a kiss.
JFK already knew their kids would love the story, whenever that would come.