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Trying to cook in Jenko’s small apartment can be a bitch, Schmidt has learned.
Since they live on takeout more than they should with Jenko doing the majority of breakfast cooking, he tends to forget this lesson until he’s trying to cook something.
Jenko comes in when he’s just taken a hot baking dish out, and ordering, “Stand still until I get this set down,” he manages to get it set down on the towels covering the small counter without issue.
“Smells awesome,” Jenko comments.
“You can move now. How was your day? I didn’t hear about the precinct blowing up or being taken hostage.”
Taking off his shoes, Jenko says, “Yeah, imagine that. It’s almost like you were wrong to be so worried about taking the week off.”
“Eh.” He kisses Jenko. “I’m going to have to see if Captain Dickson’s offer for two weeks is still good. Things were good today, we got most of the estate settled, but it turns out my crazy aunt wanted a tree pod burial. Which she never told any of us, just put in her will.”
“If she had, we could have explained that, currently, that process involves cremation. Which is a no-no for most Jews. So, the family’s spilt on what to do.”
“Oh, shit.” Jenko makes a sympathetic noise. “Sorry, man.”
“We’ll figure it out. Like I said, good day.”
“That’s good. Um, look, Schmidt, this might be a bad time, but there’s something we need to talk about.”
Jenko has a certain tone when he’s about to bring up something big involving their relationship, and- managing not to sigh, he turns to get plates and silverware.
“Sure. You wanna get the drinks? I’m starving. We can eat and talk.”
It’d be just his luck Jenko has liked being with a new partner at work and is considering he might like the same, or just singlehood again, in his personal life. If so- he’s not the desperate kid, not the desperate rookie, he once was.
…
Sitting at the table, he prods, “Well? What do we need to talk about?”
He has the excuse of waiting until his food properly cools for not eating, but Jenko loves this dish. More than once, Jenko has shovelled it into his mouth and ended up sticking to cold, softer foods for a day or two later.
“Today, some of the homicide detectives were visiting, and they were pretty cool. One case, a vic. had a roll of money hidden away, and they knew, then, that it probably was the husband.”
Jenko, he notices, is watching him closely.
“Makes sense.” He carefully tests the food, and finding it’s cool enough, he takes a bite. “Was it?”
“Yeah. They don’t know if they’ll get a conviction, but they proved it was him. Anyway, they explained the logic: She was probably planning to leave. She needed money to do that, and the only way she could keep the money she was saving was if he didn’t know about it.”
“Too bad she didn’t,” he says. “Couldn’t. You okay? I mean, I’m sorry she’s dead, too, but this seems like it might be personal for you.”
“No,” Jenko says. “Not really. I’m sad she’s dead, that so many freaking things failed her, but- You understood the logic right away.”
“Yeah. I don’t think they taught that in the academy, but it’s a common trope in a lot of books and movies, man. Especially those Lifetime movies my ma likes to watch.”
Jenko is strangely quiet as he eats.
“Jenko- I don’t know what’s going on with you, but I’m your partner and friend. Your boyfriend. If something is bothering you, if you’ve- made some big decision about something, just tell me.”
He swears, if he’s about to be dumped, he’ll get a hotel before he goes back to his parents’ house.
“I know I used to bully you. But- is that why, Schmidt? Because, you do, too.”
It takes him a long minute, probably several, to understand.
Right. He periodically adds some money to his safe. He doesn’t know the exact number of the top of his head, but it’s several thousand.
“Jenko-” Shaking his head, he can’t keep his sigh in this time. “Jenko, I’ve done that since I first started getting an allowance. Banks can crash. Plus, they’re evil.”
“A necessary evil,” he continues, “but still. Evil. Even if they weren’t, though, there are a lot of ways, a lot of reasons, why relying solely on electronic money isn’t a good idea. Just like relying solely on cash isn’t, either.”
“We could leave it at: I was an anxious kid, and I’m still prone to bouts of anxiety. And I was like that before I ever met you. But, also, and as much as I don’t like stereotyping my own people, I think this is just sort of a Jewish thing.”
Letting out a breath, Jenko looks vulnerable in a way he’s rarely seen Jenko.
“Another difference is, I’ve never hidden it. I trusted you to let you know that the money was there and how to get it if you ever needed it.”
Exhaling, Jenko nods. “Right. Sor-”
“Don’t.” He squeezes Jenko’s hand. “Hey, it looks we’ve gotten pretty good at this communication thing. Remember: If either of us ever wants to leave, we’ll tell the other person right away. And it might hurt worse than anything, but other than asking why, we accept it.”
“Yeah, but I don’t ever want you to leave,” Jenko quietly says.
“Then, you’re in luck. I don’t think I’m ever going to want to.”
Smiling, Jenko begins to eat properly, or at least, properly for Jenko.
“Wow, dude,” Jenko says through a mouthful, “this is awesome. Hey, why’d you make it tonight, though? Usually, you only make it for special occasions.”
Before they got to this place of better communication, he’d’ve answered yeah, and you ruined it, you asshole.
Jenko didn’t ruin anything. It’s just a typical case of bad timing loving the two of them.
He was nervous, but he’d been as prepared as he could be. So, of course, Jenko suddenly having doubts, being worried, was bound to happen.
Really, it’s on him for not expecting something to derail things.
“Right, uh.”
“Schimdt.” Jenko squeezes his hand. “What’s going on?”
“I have a house now,” he blurts out. “Yeah. Aunt Kelly left me her house in the will.”
“Whoa.” Jenko leans back.
“It’s further from the station, but not too bad. It needs some work. Won’t be ready to be moved into for about a month.”
Do it, he orders himself. “And I was wondering if, maybe, you’d want to move into it with me. If not, I can stay here for now. But if you do, that’d be great.”
“Schmidt-” Suddenly, a laughing Jenko is wrapped around him, and when Jenko moves enough for him to see Jenko’s face, Jenko’s eyes are sparkling. “Dude, you have a house of your own, and you want me to move in with you. That’s so awesome.”
He’s thoroughly kissed.
“Is that a yes?”
“Hell yes,” Jenko answers. “When can I see this house?”
“Well, I have pictures right now. It’d probably be best if we waited until your day off to go see it.”
“Pictures. Now. I can’t wait to see it, man.”
Getting his phone, they sit back down, and over dinner, they look at the pictures and talk.
…
In bed, Jenko plays with his fingers. “We’re really doing, aren’t we, Schmidt? Building a future together.”
“If you’re in, I’m in.”
“Definitely in.” Jenko noses at his cheek. “Actually, I was thinking about- I could sell my car. I was looking at houses to rent near the station. It’s just, when Aunt Kelly died, I figured it probably wasn’t the best time to bring up finding a new place to live.”
Everything is warm inside, and he meets Jenko for a kiss.
“You don’t need to sell your car. What about your lease?”
“I can break it whenever I want. I, uh, know I tend to spend more than you, but I did take your advice to start saving, and I have enough saved up to easily pay the penalty. But honestly, I think the super would be happy to have us gone.”
“Yeah, most likely,” he agrees. “And actually, you tend to spend less than me day-to-day. You’ve just made several big purchases. Which isn’t bad. I really like this current car. If we could keep it from getting destroyed by crazy criminals, that would be awesome.”
“Love you, Schmidt.”
“I love you, too.”