Chapter Text
His relationships were never the best. Which was the biggest understatement one has ever said in the history of the universe if they took a peek into the dating life that was Jake English's. But this time around felt different. He wasn't coaxed into it, having to do it primarily due to being Dirk's only real viable option. Nor was he sort of guilt tripped into, by the likes of a spoiled rich girl who dreamed of having attractive babies and treating him like some sort of trophy or expensive vase only to be taken down off his high dusty shelf to brag and boast over. Gamzee was different. He felt as if he could peel off the heavy winter coat of his problems, hang it on a hook and enjoy the presence of a person who seemed to actually listen. And he could offer the same to the wild haired troll with facial scars. There was just some sort of calm energy that radiated from the high blood, he was always so.. chill. Not just due to the fact the guy felt like a blasted hunk of ice left in a snow storm, but he was eager to let things roll off his back like a duck in the rain and wipe away Jake's tears when he spoke about his experiences and past. Gamzee didn't tease him when he cried, nor did he groan and puff whenever Jake asked to watch his favorite film, it was honestly refreshing as all hell whenever no matter how many times they watched it, Gamzee always looked like a kid on Christmas as he sat in Jake's lap holding their bowl of popcorn and gummy candy, purple eyes sparkling as he stared at the screen. It made Jake all the more happy to wrap his arms around the troll's thin waist and snuggle his nose in between his shoulder blades.
They seemed perfect for one another, Gamzee never judged him for how he behaved in the past, ghosting Dirk for days on end, instantly jumping to the relationship with Jane as not to be alone. Gamzee had no room to judge, Jake learned more about the troll than he knew about most anyone, his addiction to the slime he needed to submerge himself in to calm his raging night terrors, his crippling fear of water and of abandonment. How all he wanted in the world was to see his lusus look down at him and say he was proud. Hearing the struggles his new found companion had broke his heart, he supposed that was when things dipped off the pale spectrum and into the red territory, as Gamzee called it. Their "bro sleepovers", which had once been them sleeping in separate bags in front of the television watching the same ten movies, had turned to them shopping for a large bed for Jake's room, imbedded with Soper slime essence so Gamzee could get a good nights rest as well as keep on the trail of recovery. They began to spend more and more time together, which seemed to unsettle their friends at first, but he didn't care. He was enjoying this time spent with Gamzee, holding the lanky troll close at night, a leg slid in between his and his face buried in his shoulder blades. Their first kiss was rather unintentional but nice none the less. Even with their new bed with soper essence, the voices were still a lot for Gam some days, so Jake had taken it upon himself to find a less mind destroying alternative, all he could find or think of was good old fashioned weed. He had done some reading and decided edibles would be the best thing to start with, given Gamzee's past and Jake's inexperience, plus from what Dave told him, it was the lesser of two evils, he just wanted Gamzee to not have a throbbing headache and mood swings on days it was too bad.
So brownies were baked, cookies as well, and a small bag with several gummy worms in it was bought off of one David Strider. He was recommended to start with just one, as to gauge how much the pair would need to feel the cheer, so that was what he did. Invited Gamzee over for another sleepover, and once there and up in the privacy of Jake's room, he produced the pouch of multicolored worms and Dave's broken record sticker slapped to the front. "Now, I have never done anything like this, but Strider says they may help you."
Gamzee of course was skeptical, he never liked Dave nor was he too fond of Dirk in some accounts, crossing his arms over his chest with a soft frown, almost a pout. "How do I know these are all up in motherfuckin okay to eat?"
"Because I'm going to eat one with you of course. If we don't like it, we don't have to do any more. I just want to help you, these could make the voices go away." Gamzee still eyed up the bag, pouting with a soft grumble, as if to sweeten the pot, Jake reached into his side table to hold up a bottle of grape faygo. "I also have this, and cookies downstairs cooling. And we can watch Avatar." He saw the troll's eyes flick to the bottle and with a little grin, Jake new he had him hooked.
"Fine. Pass me a fuckin worm." He holds his paint stained hand out with a sigh, still feeling uneasy. Jake unzips the bag and fishes out a red and purple worm, setting it in Gamzee's hand, settling on a yellow and green one for himself. "Now do I just swallow the shit or chew?"
"You chew it like a normal candy Gamzee. Dave said the aftertaste can be a bit ghastly which is part of the reason I got us some beverages." Jake was quick to snap the bag closed and toss the worm in his own mouth and chew, then swallow with a slight cringe at the taste. "I can say for a fact now, the after taste isn't very pleasant." He unscrews the cap of the soda taking a few sips with a sigh, he remembers a time when he wasn't too fond of pop, but he had grown to like this brand, not only because of the fact it was Gamzee's favorite. Gamzee poked and prodded at the worm a few seconds longer before offering a shrug and eating it with a cringe after he swallowed, taking the bottle from Jake. His face twisting in discomfort made him laugh a little before he moved to screw the lid back on the bottle, then rest his head in Gamzee's lap.
"Now what? I don't feel anything." Gamzee huffed almost impatiently, making Jake snort once again with a shrug.
"It may take a small amount of time before it truly kicks in. " He answers with a soft sigh, Gamzee offering another shrug and lacing his long fingers into Jake's hair playing with the dark brown locks. "I could start the movie while we wait. Dave says we might juts feel a calm for a while, and if we want to get rowdy with it to take another after an hour or so." Gamzee nods at the mention of a movie, leaning his back against the heart shaped headboard, passing Jake the remote from behind him and tracing his long grey fingers down Jake's soft caramel colored cheek absentmindedly while the movie started.
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An hour passed and they slowly started to feel it, just a light calm passing over them, a rather pleasant feeling. Like a warm blanket was being tugged over the pair of them and every touch was magnified, Jake seemed very aware of how relaxing and soothing it was to have Gamzee braiding little patches of his hair, spaced out on the screen and not paying attention to his hands. A soft giggle left the troll above him, causing Jake to crane his neck up to look up at him, seeing those deep irises looking down at him. "What is it? This scene isn't rather funny, he's just bonded with his sky rider-" He was hushed by another soft laugh as Gamzee, traced his fingers over Jake's cheeks once again with a large smile.
"You're beautiful, you know that Jake bro? With your pretty ass big green eyes and those goofy lookin glasses. All kinds of pretty man."
Jake laughed as well, moving to sit up on his knees in front of Gamzee, movie forgotten. "Hardly, you on the other hand my friend, are very beautiful. You take such pride in your make up and its really something to marvel."
Gamzee reached out, lazily hooking his arms around Jake's waist and tugging him in his lap to hold him close. "But bro... I though we liked DC movies? You all up an explained how the man bat motherfucker was better. And like.. that fast dude. What was his fuckin name? Bolt? Yeah, with the cat and the fuckin squeak beast. Loved his white fur man, looked hella fucking soft."
Jake couldn't help the loud laugh that left him, hands trailing up to cup the troll's painted cheeks and nuzzle their noses together. "Gamzee those are several different films.. I meant the word marvel as in, something nice to look at. Because you are, something very nice to look at."
Gamzee let out a soft honk as he nuzzled his nose back against Jake's ignoring the makeup now smearing onto Jake's perky nose. "Am not.. got these scars.. like that Joker dude.. cept mine have a more fucked up story..." His voice trailed off and he looked downcast before Jake was quick to nuzzle his nose again, bringing his mind to a better time. He drew his eyes back up to meet Jake's a sweet grin over his face once more. "You're a fuckin miracle brother.. ain't no what I did to get you all up and liking me but I thank the messiahs every fuckin day for it."
Jake smiled back at Gamzee's words, and before he could really tell what he was doing, he pressed a soft kiss to the troll's painted lips, a very quick peck but it was easy to tell he had done it by the paint now on his lips. "And I thank my lucky stars you tolerate me and my mess of a life every day you smile at me."
Soft violet raises to Gamzee's cheeks at Jake's soft kiss as well as his words, he starts to open his mouth as if to respond, maybe say something about how Jake isn't a mess, or something equally sweet, but he quickly snaps it shut, along with his eyes, and presses another kiss to the human's mouth, a bit firmer this time. Jake is quick to close his own eyes as well as to kiss back, his hands cupping Gamzee's cheeks a few moments longer before they find their way up into his rats nest of hair, gripping the back of the troll's head as he desperately presses soft pecks to Gamzee's mouth, which were eagerly accepted and returned. Gamzee slid his own hands down to hold Jake's hips, fingers kneading the soft fabric of Jake's pajama bottoms with a low groan. Before things can get too heated however, Jake pulls away panting and blushing dark red. "I ah.. I'm sorry." The human whispers out which is met by a shake of the highblood's head.
"Nothin to be apologizin for bro. I kissed you back. I liked it. I like you." He nuzzles his nose against Jake's once again, then lets out a long yawn into the other's face. "This wormy dude gettin me all sleepy.." he mumbles, moving a hand up to rub at his eye.
Jake smiles softly, before peeling out of Gamzee's hold and laying on his side, tugging the troll against his chest. "I like you too Gam... Let's take a nap shall we? We can always watch the movie again later." Gamzee is quick to nod and settle right against the small human, his cheek pushing against Jake's shirt and his arms wrapping around the human tightly. Jake carefully settles his chin in between Gamzee's horns with a soft sigh, he opens his now grey and white covered mouth as if to say something, but quietly laughs as he hears a snore underneath his chin, reaching up to pull his glasses off and set them on the bed side table, then wrap his arms around the troll tightly once more, drifting off to the sounds of the end credits to his film.