Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Gabriel messed up. Bad. He knew he loved Jack, but why couldn't he just admit it?

"Come on! It'll be fun."

Jacks laughter would continue to ring in his ears. Gabriel hated these "get-togethers" that the higher-ups would throw whenever the SEP had finished another round of injections. Jack would always ask him to dance, he always says no, and Jack is sad for the rest of the night. (he always pretended he wasn't, though)

Gabriel was honestly tired of it. He was irritated, and tired. "Jack, for the last god damn time, I am not and will never dance with you. I'm not a faggot, like you." Jack was taken aback, a mix of sadness, disappointment, and anger on his face. Gabe got a few dirty looks from people around, "Okay, sorry" Jack said, quickly composing himself, and going to talk with other SEP members. Gabriel took a few moments to really understand what he had said. It was going to be a very awkward night in their bunks.

After the gathering was over, Gabe had started to head back to their shared room, hoping Jack would accept his apology. He saw Jack start to climb into the top bunk. "Look, Jack I-" "Not tonight, Gabriel. Please" He never used his full name, it was always Gabe. Gabriel quickly quieted down. 'This will all be over in the morning' he desperately thought to himself, and went to sleep.

When Gabriel awoke Jack was nowhere in the room. 'Probably in the mess hall' He thought, and quickly got ready, hoping to smooth things over during breakfast. Gabriel arrived at the mess hall and looked around for Jack. He wasn't in his normal spot, next to where he sat. When he successfully spotted him, an unreasonable surge of jealousy rushed through him. He was sitting next to a man who he forgot the name of, he forgot almost everyones name. Gabriel almost stomped over to the unfamiliar table.

"Jack, we need to talk. Now" Gabriel talked in a dark tone, attempting to scare the others off. "He's not going anywhere with you." The man sitting next to Jack spoke up. "And you are?" Gabriel said, still trying to scare the other man. "Vincent. We don't want Jack getting called another slur, so he'll be sitting with us today." Now it was Gabriels turn to be taken aback. "Thats not- fine"

This went on for about a week. Jack ignoring him, always choosing to hang out with Vincent instead of him. Jack even started to use nicknames for the other man. 'Vince'. More jealousy and possessiveness surged through Gabriel 'It should be me, he should only use nicknames for me' thought Gabriel whenever he heard the nickname slip out of Jack's mouth.

Gabriels breaking point was when he was on his way to the gym, he saw Jack and Vincent in the recreation room. Both watching a movie, Jacks legs sprawled over Vincents lap, both sleeping. 'Jacks never fallen asleep on my lap before' Gabe thought to himself. Then again, he had never let him. The first time Jack tried, Gabriel had pushed his legs off as quick as he could, Jack apologizing profusely. So why was he getting so jealous now?

This time, Gabriel did stomp over to where Vincent and Jack were. He harshly grabbed Jacks arm and yanked him off the couch. Jack and Vincent quickly woke up "What the hell do you think-" Gabriel turned around and punched Vincent in the face as hard as he could. Death grip still on Jacks forearm. "Ow, Gabe what are you doing!" He had loved to hear the nickname again but he only had a few seconds to enjoy it before he started to drag Jack by the arm back to their shared dorm.

When they got inside, Gabriel locked the door, and threw Jack to the ground. He quickly got up and punched Gabriel across the face, emitting a low growl from the taller man. He had taken Jack by the neck and slammed him into a wall. He was immediately docile. "Why?" Gabriel demanded. He had pulled Jack forward and slammed him into the wall with less force, but it still hurt. "Why are you ignoring me, why are you spending time with Vincent instead of me!?" "Wha- Gabriel you called me a slur! You expect me to be fine and dandy after what you said?! I thought maybe it was time to find other friends who accept me for something as small as which gender I'm attracted to!" Gabriel tightened the grip on Jacks neck and Jack was starting to see dots. "Gabe--" Jack choked out "Pl-ease" This snapped Gabriel back to reality, he lessened the grip and took Jack into a deep kiss. Jack pushed him off "What are you doing? What happened to not being a faggot?" "Ay, dios mio" Gabe muttered under his breath and kissed Jack. This time Jack leaned into the kiss.

Gabriel had led Jack over to the bed and pushed him down. Gabe straddling his hips and moving to Jacks neck. "What's Vincent gonna think" Gabriel teased, very happy marking Jack and metaphorically claiming what's his. "What does that matter? It's not like we were a thing." Gabriel stopped and looked up, Jack made a small sound of protest. "What?" Gabe questioned "What" Jack repeated. "But you guys were.. under a blanket and watching a movie together. I'm pretty sure people who are 'just friends' don't do that." "Well, I wouldn't know." Jack retorted, solemnly. A pang of guilt shot through Gabriel, recalling the memory.

"I guess I'll have to educate you, then

Chapter Text

Gabriel wasn't lying when he said he would educate Jack. The next few weeks, Gabriel showered Jack with love and affection, often stealing kisses and hugging him from behind. This always got a giddy reaction from Jack, a small laugh or soft smile. Gabriel would even do this in public, which was a huge step from what happened at that party.

Even though Gabriel made it very clear he didn't care what other people thought and made their relationship public, Jack had never asked him to do anything anymore. Not to dance, not to watch a movie with him, not to play board games. After a few weeks of dating, Gabriel started to become more and more curious as to why they never spent time together unless Gabriel had initiated it. One day when they were watching a movie together, cuddled up under some blankets, the thought intruded Gabriels head.

"Hey, Jack"

"Yeah?"

"Why don't you ask me to do anything with you anymore. I feel like thats all you used to do?"

Jack responded with a small hum, "I guess I just thought you wouldn't want to, I mean a few weeks ago you-"

"I thought we were over that" Gabriel said sternly

"We are! It's just the facts" Jack snickered

Gabriel, however, did not think the matter was funny. All he could think about is if this is Jacks way of punishing him. Every time he thought about that it made him even angrier. Almost everyone knew Gabriel wasn't good with his anger. Randomly, in the middle of the movie, Gabriels curiosity and anger got the better of him, again.

Through gritted teeth Gabriel had asked, "Jack, what the fuck is your problem?"

"Wha-, Gabe, are you ok"

"No no, don't bullshit me, Jack. Are you doing this shit on purpose? Are you punishing me for what I did weeks ago? Do you not want to spend time with me?"

"That's not- why are you so angry. Were we not just having a good time together. We're watching a movie"

"You always used to ask me to do shit with you, why did everything change because of something I didn't even mean to say!"

"I already told you. I'm trying to respect your boundaries!"

After a few moments of silence, Jack stood up.

"Where are you going?" Gabe asked, getting silence as a response.

A few hours later, when Gabriel had cooled off, he entered his shared room with Jack. He was peacefully sleeping in Gabriels bed. Which was basically their bed now. Gabriel quickly got undressed until he was just in his boxer briefs, and slid under the covers next to Jack, embracing him in a warm hug from the back.

"I'm sorry" Jack said, just above a whisper.

"No, you have nothing to be sorry for. I'm the one who should be sorry" Gabriel retorted immediately

Jacks apology making Gabriel angry, not at Jack, but himself for acting so irrationally.

"I'm sorry, baby" Gabriel slowly started pressing small, light kisses into Jacks neck and back.

Jack turned to face Gabriel, giving him a kiss.

They stared lovingly at each other until Gabriel broke the silence,

"I love you"

"I love you too"

The rest of their night was filled with affirming kisses and cuddling.