Chapter Text
Jonas tries to recall why he is where he is now at the first place. All he could remember is that he was on his way home after his last class and then someone stopped him. Seeing that it was Robert, Erik’s uncle (or at least that is what Erik told him), Jonas didn’t think much. He greeted the older man as usual and informed that he would come to the apartment later for final projects. What he didn’t expect was to be dragged to Robert’s car.
“Is there anything that I could help you?” He asks nervously. The older man is staring at him now and he could see the crystal blue of the man’s eyes. It is terrifying him that there is no emotion expressed in Robert’s face. He is not going to be kidnapped, now is he? “Erik is still at class, he’s discussing his assignment with the teacher.” He decides to make another conversation, hoping to end this bizarre situation.
“I want to talk to you,” Robert says darkly.
Jonas gulps. He could still feel the thick air surrounding them and it makes him hard to breathe. He waits for Robert to continue.
“How do you feel about Erik?” asks the man straight to the point.
He doesn’t really know about how to answer the question. Is the man asking him about his feeling for Erik as a friend or is the man implying that Jonas is somehow having a crush to the oblivious boy? Because, you see, Erik is cute. The boy just doesn’t know how much attractive he is and sometimes it frustrates Jonas to no end.
“He’s a good kid,” Jonas answers nonchalantly. What else could he say?
“You’re not attracted to him in any way?” Robert asks again.
Then Jonas understands what it means. Robert must have thought that Jonas is attracted to Erik in that way. Well, Erik is attractive, cute, and beautiful, but Jonas is straight and he only considers Erik as his younger brother. “Of course no!” Jonas cackles a laugh.
Robert raised his eyebrows. It seems that he doesn’t believe what Jonas has said. “You sure?” he asks again to confirm.
“Yes! I mean, Erik is adorable and stuff, but uncle, I’m straight,” Jonas is trying to hold his laugh. It doesn’t seem polite to burst out in laughter over the statement, but it is funny to Jonas. “Why are you asking this? If you don’t mind me.”
Robert gives a sigh and looks at Jonas, defeated. “Well, I saw both of you in a fancy restaurant before and yeah.”
Jonas recalls that time. He has already booked a restaurant for his date with his girlfriend long time ago but apparently she couldn’t make it, so instead of wasting the reservation, he invited Erik to go along. It was just a friendly dinner and something to cheer Erik because the latter seemed in a bad mood that week.
“Oh that, my girlfriend couldn’t make it and so I asked Erik to go with me. Besides, he seemed so down and I thought it could cheer him up. Well it did, he’s happy but when we got home, he seemed a bit silence even more. Guess something must have happened there.” Jonas shrugs, like it is just a casual stuff.
The older man doesn’t speak anything more after that except thanking Jonas. The boy gets off the car with question mark in his mind. He is curious as to why Robert is concerned about that, but thinking maybe the man is doing that because Robert is Erik’s uncle.
When Erik walks out from the school, Jonas is still staying on the gate, deciding to greet his friend. Erik greets him back and then runs to Robert’s car. Jonas turns around to see Robert and Erik.
Now Jonas understands why.
The saying of “eyes are the windows of the soul or something” is true. He could see how Robert’s eyes soften when the man is staring at Erik. It is full of caring – and love (as cliché as it sounds, it’s the truth). And Erik, the boy is even more talkative when he’s with Robert. Jonas shakes his head.
How could he miss something like this? He has been friend with Erik almost too long already. He should have known that the boy’s changing mood is caused by the older man. Jonas smiles.
Robert and Erik relationship might not be easy, he could already see some of the hardships they are both going to face. However, Jonas wants to say to them when the time comes, he’ll be there for them – for Erik, mostly.
Because, you see, Jonas might not really tell the truth to Robert. He doesn’t think lot of Erik because he already has a girlfriend, but if there is a chance for him someday, maybe Robert should be careful.
(Jonas smirks at that thought).