Work Text:
A thud, followed by a loud groan echoed around the large lab. EJ, the mad scientist clone to beloved scientist Jimmy Neutron, threw another crumpled piece of paper towards the overflowing wastebasket. He wasn't sure how long he'd been in his underground lab, but he knew his eyes hurt and his body ached. He should be getting sleep, but since his begrudging truce and redemption with the Nickoons almost a year ago, EJ was having troubles with being the scientist he once was.
All inventions were now deemed ‘too dangerous’ by a majority of the Nicktoons, and he was forced to scrap them. The only one who encouraged his creations was their bucktoothed, pink wearing team member. Over the course of their truce he and Timmy had grown closer. He couldn't understand why he cared about the bucktoothed guy at all. Even more confusing is why Timmy Turner, savior of his and others worlds, wanted him of all people. The insane, evil clone of Jimmy, and Timmy chose him…
He was ripped from his thoughts when he heard a small ‘poof’ from behind him. Despite knowing who it was, he whipped his head back anyways, only to be face to face with the one guy he couldn't stop thinking about.
“Hey Mr. Insomniac.” Timmy said with a giggle, both hands behind his back. “Whatcha been up to?”
“Nothin.” EJ grumbled, throwing himself into his office chair for the 50th time that day, glancing at his desk of work and fumbling with a radio type invention sitting on his desk.
“Doesn't look like “nothin” but okay.” Timmy sighed, removing one hand from behind his back to move a few strands of hair from EJs tired face. The other hand moved to reveal a bag, which he sat on EJs desk. “I made you food, figured you hadn’t eaten yet.”
EJs silence told Timmy everything, and the younger of the two opened the bag to reveal multiple homemade dishes in tupperware. “Made some of your favorites, figured that’d get your creativity flowing.” Timmy said, placing down one of the tubs to reveal fresh pot roast.
Sighing contently, EJ accepted this small break from his work to enjoy a meal with his favorite human. Though, honestly, Timmy was the only person EJ liked. Timmy grabbed the rest of the tupperware while EJ ate, placing them in the minifridge EJ kept in his lab. He let out an annoyed, hurt groan at last week's meals spoiling away inside it already. “You didn't eat anything I made last week?”
EJ paused to look back, and hated the pang of guilt he felt looking over at his partner. “It was a chaotic week.” He stated, looking back at his desk to stop the guilt from taking over, this wasn’t an emotion he was used to. “Dan got tired of the truce and left our base. I don't know where he went and Whippy Dip isn't making things better. He and Danny have been on my ass this whole week about finding him.”
Timmy looked over at the obviously tired scientist. Figuring the meals would be fine left out for a minute, he walked over to the older, draping himself over the others shoulders to look at EJs plans scattered everywhere. “I can tell Jimmy to lay off.”
“No, I don't want him to get suspicious of us. That's the last thing you need.” EJ responded, leaning into the body heat Timmy produced.
“You don't deserve this stress though.” Timmy said, leaning into the other as well.
“...yes I do.”
Timmy frowned, wanting to respond, but EJ was quick to speak again. “You can take this back to him, might help with looking for Dan.”
Holding up the radio he was tinkering with before, Timmy took it from him, placing it in his backpack he always carried when visiting his team. Noticing the trash pile near the desk, Timmy spoke up again. “Damn, what’d those dead trees ever do to you.”
EJ just rolled his eyes. “Very funny, Turner. They're just failed invention ideas.”
“Failed ideas? You're smart, I'm sure you can't have that many failed ideas.”
“Neutron doesnt like any of my ideas. Has a whole damn list and everything for me to follow.” He sighed, placing his head on his palm, whispering into it. “I miss my old inventions.”
“What was wrong with them?”
“Too explosive, too destructive, too evil. Too much me.”
Timmy frowned. He understood that their team had to be stopped, for people's safety. He also thought Jimmy was too hard on them. He secretly thought Dan's leave was Jimmy's fault. If he'd just stop pushing them so hard maybe they'd be more willing to listen.
Timmy let out a sigh, as he walked over to EJs documents, sorting through them, looking for the file he'd seen so many times before, having cleaned EJs lab so often, due to EJs begrudging request. EJ noticed, calling the younger out. “What're you doing, darlin.”
“Just looking for something, hang on.” He said, before letting out a quiet “ah ha”, holding up a thick folder. Placing it on the table, he started sorting through it.
“Why are you looking through that? All I've got in there is information on other worlds.” EJ stated, peaking over the others shoulder.
Timmy didn't respond, instead he continued to search until he found a specific piece of paper. “This world doesn't have anything on it, right?”
EJ nodded, trying to hide his confusion. Timmy continued, “Soooo, why don't you test some more explosive inventions on this world?”
“Cause Neutron would stop me. I know he tracks every portal hop we do.”
“Well, I've got some magic in my necklace.” Timmy said, holding up said necklace for EJ to see. “Tell you what. Give me time to charge this, build whatever you want, and we'll travel there. Jimmy will never know.”
EJs mouth hung slightly open, surprised at what Timmy was suggesting. He wanted to go behind Jimmy's back? “Why?” EJ asked.
“Cause, I wanna see shit blow up.” Timmy responded, placing the information back in its folder, then wrapping his arms around his partner. “And you need it.”
With a sigh, EJ rested his head against Timmys. “Maybe.”
Timmy raised his head slightly, connecting his lips with the other, swaying them slightly as he soaked in this calm moment.
EJ happily accepted the kiss, holding the other tighter. He didn't deserve him, but he'd do anything for him now that he had him.