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Raindrops hit against the apartment's window, rolling down it and blurring the outer view. The rainwater seeped through the slight rotted wood from outside and dampened small bits of the inside wood which was just above the sink. There, Jay stood, watching two raindrops race one another down to the bottom to see who would reach that rotting wood first. He knew he had to call the landlord about getting it fixed, though he knew he would be short some money.
Places in California weren't cheap. He wondered why he ultimately decided to stay, why he allowed himself to take residency here. He would have left ages ago if he hadn't woken up one day in this strange new area with not a penny to his name and his last memory being of that damned Alex Kralie shooting him and leaving him for dead.
{"I'll get enough money and soon go back to Alabama, back home and find Tim." He told himself that about four months ago. Four months. He's still struggling with money, and hasn't gotten remotely close to his goal. Though, a part of him doesn't want to leave to find Tim anymore. The feelings that he once held for the scruffy man had simmered the longer they were apart - something in the back of his head had constantly told him that Tim didn't love him anymore like he did and that it was useless to even attempt to see the other again.}
If Tim had found someone new that he cared for, good on him. Jay wouldn't dwell on it. It's been years since he had 'died', anyway. Tim wouldn't know that Jay came back either. Four months.. Four months he had been in California with a shitty, rundown apartment and a dreadful gas station job. Recently, one month to find out that the hooded man was also alive and stalking him. It wasn't stalking, though. Jay knew that. The other was only checking in. Where they went when they weren't lingering on the couch of his apartment, Jay would probably never know.
It took one month to develop a sort-of bond with the hooded man, two weeks into the end of the month to ask him to move in ("for you could have a place to stay at night and sleep comfortably." Jay had claimed.), and today of this month for him to silently ask, or sign, Jay a question that would change how they both see one another.
Music picked up in the apartment, which took Jay out of his trance. The raindrops he had been watching had long since dropped into the wood, the rain now beating against the window more harshly which caused a semi-permanent distortion to the outside sights from the window. Pulling himself away from the window - away from the sink - he turned to his roommate who had been standing by the couch. An extended hand beckoned him closer and he complied, eyes glancing to his laptop that he let the other use.
{"I know there isn't much to do, so, here's my laptop. You could watch something, or play a game? I have to wash the dishes." Jay spoke in a hushed voice as the laptop was placed down on the coffee table. The hooded man only gave an acknowledging nod in response as Jay had gone to the sink.}
The hand was still extended, an expectant and inviting gaze of 'Come dance' was present in the other man's eyes. A smile came to Jay's face as he placed his hand in the other's, tilting his head a little in question.
"You want to dance?" He asked, slipping his other hand into his jacket pocket because he was oh so awkward. The other replied with a simple nod, moving their free hand up and signing out the word 'CONSENT' letter by letter, then gestured to the arm that led down to the hand that was cozy in his jacket.
"Anything you need, go ahead." Jay muttered, taking his hand out of the pocket to make it easier for the other. His wrist was gently taken in the other's gloved hand and was brought up to his shoulder - being let go after the action was complete. Jay planted his hand down on the other's shoulder, holding it gently as he felt the other's hand now present on his back.
"I'm going to warn you, I don't actually know how to dance." Jay whispered, earning a playful eye roll from his companion. He was grateful for the sudden mask change he got greeted with the first day he spotted the hooded man.
{Tap, scratch scratch scratch. A pause. Tap, scratch. Another pause. Scratch, tap, scratch scratch. A pause longer than the rest, until Jay came to the realization that he sat in silence once more. The noise came from inside, in a familiar pattern. He racked his brain trying to think of what it could possibly be, till it started again. The same noises. The taps were short, the scratches longer.
It was morse code, he came to realize. Quickly opening a new tab in the laptop, he took down what he heard in a translator and got his answer. 'JAY', his name. He moved to his feet in a sudden panic, grabbing his phone from the desk and opening his camera to record. Taking careful steps towards the door, the phone pointed in front of him as though it were his old camera; he opened it, only to be met with nothing.
'Paranoia' he thought as he turned back around, dropping his phone and jumping back with a startled gasp. There stood the hooded man that had tormented him, that helped him - cut him free from Tim's stolen zip tie trap, that led him to his unforeseen death. Though, there was something off about him. His mask seemed to be cut in half, showing his eyes and the front of his hair that peeked out from the hood. There was a gloved hand that extended out in an offer to help the poor man back up..}
A step forward was taken by the hooded man, a step back was quickly made by Jay - he didn't wish to get too much into the other's space, even though his space was taken by the step. Though, the man stepped back and an expectant gaze was met. There was a pause before he was pulled closer by the hand.
"This back and forth motion, is this some sort of dance?" Jay asked in a whisper, getting yet another nod in response which caused him to give a nod back. Step in, step out. A simple movement once you got the hang of it. It was the bare minimum of dancing, but it felt so relaxing, so right . The world seemed to melt around them, the only thing that they could see and hear was each other, and the music playing in the background. A smile formed on Jay's lips as the little dance went on, the rhythm becoming routine for them now.
Suddenly, a circle motion was being traced against Jay's back as their hands shifted ever so slightly. He wanted to attempt one of those spins. A nod was passed and the other lifted his arm, Jay turned with the guidance of his partner's hand. The spin was a success, the two being much closer in position now. Neither of them backed away, neither of them wanted to. Jay took a step closer, body lightly pressing against his roommate's as he leaned his head against their shoulder.
The pace got slower, it was a more peaceful movement that they took together - side step by side step. Jay had taken a moment to realize how calm the other truly felt at this moment, as though there were no cares in the world. As though the only thing - their only purpose - was to be here in this moment and to dance with one another. To be there with him, to protect him. There was a thought that maybe, just maybe, he would love to stay in this dance forever with Jay.
Nothing lasts forever, though. The thought of it made the grasp they had on Jay tighten, then soften back to before but with a more secure hold. Jay lifted his head off the other's shoulder in confusion and was suddenly met with the feeling of falling. Almost.
Both gazes quickly locked onto each other, the realization that he was being 'dipped' had hit him. Time seemed to almost freeze as the world had once again melted around them. There was nothing that could break this strange spell; breaths synced and minds drifting off to the same place.
'This is exactly like a romance film.. Are we going to kiss?' and '.... tension. .... feelings.'
Jay's thoughts are a lot faster than his roommate's, his breath almost quickened. The tension had never gotten to this level, did the hooded man like him? They've never really spoken about it before, so this would probably get brushed past once again.
There was no time to dwell on it as he was pulled back up, the hooded man taking a step back before stopping. Their hands moved away from one another awkwardly, the hand holding almost seeming to last for a moment more. Jay caught his gaze once against and offered a small smile.
"So-" Jay started, but was waved to silence by the other, who signed after. A few words that he could understand; 'follow me', 'leave', 'shoes' which he sort of pieced together with a full sentence of 'Follow me, we're going to leave, get shoes on.'
His thoughts were confirmed as a hand reached past him to the coffee table and the music was paused. Jay gave a quick nod to the other and went back to his small room to grab his shoes. He wondered where they were going in all that rain, and why the sudden change in behavior? Was the dancing not good enough? Maybe there was something important that he was going to do to him?
{' here is something i have wanted to show you. '}
The thought of the video crossed his mind and Jay exited his room, shoes on. He looked to his companion who was standing by the door, dangling Jay's keys out in a playful, mocking sense. The man smiled and let out a small laugh at the action, going over to the other and tilting his head a moment.
"So, where are you taking me?" He asked. His keys were handed to him and the door opened, the man slipping out of the apartment as they made a quick sign of 'secret.' Of course, a secret. Jay followed him out, shutting the door behind him and locking it. "Okay, let's go on this fun adventure?" He whispered as he shoved his keys into his pocket, then turned to face the other.
He got a nod in return, a hand extending towards him, so he accepted. Hand in hand, the hooded man led them away from the apartment and on a walk, the rain hitting them as they walked. There was a small glance towards Jay, in which the man had noticed he was walking without his hood up. He waved a hand in front of the other's face and gestured to his own hood that was clearly present protecting his head.
"Oh-" Jay said as he caught the action, then shook his head. "I like feeling the rain, it's alright." He assured the other with a smile. It seemed to work as the other had turned their attention back to the path at hand. They crossed the street, walking down to the nearby park that was deserted. He took him up a small mound where two intertwined trees had stood proudly.
{"The lover trees," an old lady had told Jay. "They were planted together by the couple who funded this park.. awfully nice of them. The trees grew together as lovers, an' I hear ollld rumors by teens that you could find love under them."
What a nice lady she was. Though, unless Tim was coming to him, Jay didn't expect to be falling in love under those trees.}
Unless..
They stopped a few steps away from the tree, the hooded man's quick actions pulling Jay back into the position they were before for dancing.
"Wait- We don't have music," Jay said, a confused tone seeing its way through his words. 'Make our own' was roughly signed against his back and he gave a small nod. "Got it." Jay whispered after and their dance began. It was almost the same as last time, though it was more free - not confined to the music that had been playing on the laptop.
They were free. Rhythm flowed through them as both their bodies and minds were practically synced with each other. They danced gracefully against the grass, a soft smile present on Jay's face while a smile showed through the hooded man's eyes for once. It was at this moment that the world around them had once again faded to be ignored, the small drops that fell on them from the both trees' protection hadn't bothered them.
They spun, they danced, they laughed. Jay laughed. The other only gave a half-wheezed attempt of a laugh. It didn't bother Jay though - no, it only made his heart skip a beat, his feelings burning warmer inside of him. His feelings. Did he truly hold feelings for his roommate?
There wasn't a second to let the question sit, as he was being dipped again. Jay gasped, his attention getting latched back onto the other as he caught himself staring a moment too long in his eyes. But, he didn't do anything about it. He only moved a hand to the other's face, gently pressing it up against his cheek and his fingers slipped through the fabric. He worked the mask off the right side of the man's face, causing it to dangle at his left. His hand then moved to relax against the hooded man's face. Brian's face. ... The Hooded Man's. His thumb gently brushed against his cheek before he decided, 'fuck it.'
He leaned in, closing the large gap between them as he pressed his lips against the other's. The kiss was reciprocated, though it had lasted merely four seconds before the silent one had slipped up and his body gave in. He knew he couldn't hold Jay like that for too long, though he wasn't being cautious. They both fell to the grass, the taller moving to the side before he crashed down onto Jay. They looked at each other and smiles cracked through the small twinge of pain they had felt, laughter had joined quickly after.
" Well -" Jay started, calming down his laughter as he let out a content sigh. "That was.." He trailed off. What was it? What did it mean for them ? He saw the hands of the other making out a few signs that he didn't understand, so he gave a small shrug. The hooded man shook his head and sat up, pushing his hood down and motioned for Jay to sit up as well - to which he complied.
They quickly turned to the unsuspected man and grabbed him by the shirt, pulling him in for another kiss. Jay's eyes had widened in shock, though shut as he melted into the kiss. Hands moved his hair as the other stabilized himself against Jay by putting their free hand on his shoulder. The kiss lasted longer this time, neither of them wishing to leave it. They had to part as they lost air though, both of them catching breaths as they stared into each other's eyes. Jay was the first to crack.
"That was amazing- " He spoke, letting out a small laugh as he broke eye contact by turning his head - a blush was present on his face that he was trying to hide. The other gave a nod, a grin on his face present before he fixed his mask and pulled it back to its proper place. His head turned back to look at the other and a hand went to the back of his neck, rubbing it nervously.
"What are we now? .. Does this change things between us?" Jay asks and gets a shrug in response. "Well.. I don't mind anything," He offered, not really knowing what he was saying. The other took a moment, giving a few signs before shaking his head, spelling out a few words for Jay. 'DATING. IF YOU WANT.' A pause, letting Jay process each letter before continuing. 'TAKE IT SLOW.' Another pause, this time awaiting a response after he processed this one.
"I think I'd like that," Jay said as he leaned in, giving the other's mask a quick kiss. He moved away and got up, extending a hand out for the other. "Well.. We should be heading back now anyway," He said with a small laugh. The other nodded and took his hand, getting helped up into Jay's arms. He raised a questioning eyebrow as Jay looked away.
"Sorry, I must've miscalculated." He said, but the man could tell that he was lying. He gave a playful head shake in response and took Jay's hand in his own, beginning to walk with Jay at his side. There was a smile hidden under his mask. He won. He was with someone that made him feel whole again. He was happy. And maybe? Just maybe..
They should dance more often.