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Chapter Text

Keeping the smile off his face is a losing battle. Every time Joke thinks he's about to be able to tone it down there's something that makes the corners of his lips inevitably curl up again. It may be the sudden feeling of the ring on his finger, maybe he catches a glint of it in the light, or  maybe he sees the matching band on Jack's finger and a smile on his lips mirroring his own. Joke's cheeks almost hurt from smiling this much. It's a losing battle, and he gave up trying to hide his happiness. It feels good, and he's learning that sometimes wearing your heart on your sleeves might be a good thing. 

They're walking side by side, hand in hand. The feeling of Jack's ring against his skin keeps sending sparks through Joke's body, Jack's words from just a few hours ago replaying in his head. Just stay with me, that's enough.

He looks at the ring on his own finger. Such a little yet enormous thing. Jack's life wrapped around Joke's finger. Jack's life, the life that Jack was willing to sacrifice just to stay with Joke until the very end. A promise, engraved around their ring fingers and inside their hearts.

Joke still can't stop smiling, his heart so full it's probably not even healthy anymore.

Jack's hand squeezes his, and that's when Joke realizes that his boyfriend has been staring at him the whole time. He doesn't feel embarrassed, doesn't try to suppress the smile on his lips. He just looks back at Jack, pulls him closer by their linked hands and presses a kiss against his cheek.

Jack laughs, and as sappy as it sounds, Joke thinks that might be his favourite sound in the whole world.

"It's not the first time you put this ring on my finger. Remember?", Joke asks, suddenly waving his fingers before his eyes. Jack looks taken aback for a split second before his lips turn into something that's half a smile and half a grimace at the memory.

"How could I forget", he replies. " But that doesn't count, obviously. I didn't even know it was you”.

Joke shrugs, and they start walking again. Tidying everything up at the school took a while even after everyone else went home, so it's gotten late and the streets are pretty much deserts. Joke can easily let himself imagine that he and Jack and the only two people left on the Earth's surface. 

"I know", he says. It's a little difficult to put everything he's feeling into words, but he tries anyway. "It just feels- ironic, I guess. I stole this ring for you, and in the end you gave it to me". Joke feels like there's some kind of metaphor in there, something about things always coming back where they belong, about fate and things coming full circle. He feels a little too dizzy on love and happiness to really sort through it though.

He wonders if Jack gets it anyway. It doesn't really matter in the end, though.

Another soft laugh, and Joke tears his eyes away from the ring to look back at his boyfriend.

"You're more romantic than you let on". His hand is holding Joke's tightly yet softly at the same time, and Joke feels precious and important under that touch.

"You're the one who basically proposed to me".

The truth is that Jack didn't really say anything about marriage yet, but what need is there to say it, when the rings around their fingers speak for themselves? Maybe not now, not soon, but they are a promise of their future together. 

"And you're the one who basically said yes".

Jack's smile is enough to light up the night.

"Of course", Joke says, softly. "I've sort of been waiting for you for five years, Jack".

Joke never thought about marriage before, the simple idea so far away from him, so impossible, a dream that wasn’t worth contemplating even for a split second. Until Jack, of course. And even if the idea is still scary, still fills him with doubts and fears, Joke would say yes in the blink of an eye if Jack asked for real. If it’s him, if they’re together, Joke thinks he’s ready to face everything. 

There's a moment of silence. Jack is looking at him like he doesn't want to ever look at anything or anyone else. Joke never thought he could have anyone looking at him that way, Jack especially. Who could ever be worthy of being on the receiving end of such a look from the most beautiful person in the world? Not Joke, for sure. Thoughts like that had crowded his mind for the better part of the past five years, tainting every memory of Jack and every moment with him - you're not worth it, you don’t deserve this, it can't last, you'll ruin everything again . And he had, he had messed up again and again. And yet, in the end, there he was, with his hand in Jack's, his life around his finger, and the rest of their lives together before them.

And so, tonight his head is finally free from the maze of doubts and thoughts and endless self-hatred that he’s been trapped in for so long. Joke isn’t naive enough to believe they’re gone forever, but at least right now he’s free of them, his mind is nothing but a mantra of how much he loves the man beside him, how much he never wants him to look away from him, how loved he feels in return.

Jack doesn't reply with words. Instead he pulls him in, his free hand coming up to cup his face as he leans in for a kiss. Joke's lips are already parted when they meet.

It doesn't matter how many times they kiss, it feels life-changing every single time. Every time their lips meet it feels like Joke's world is realigning around his own center of gravity. 

Joke doesn't care that they're in the middle of the street in a pretty dangerous part of town, and Jack doesn't seem to, either; they keep kissing for a little eternity, lips meeting again and again, breathing each other in like the world would end if they stopped. Joke is sure they would keep kissing all through the end of the world.

"Let's go home?", Jack says against his lips after a while.

Joke can only nod, thinking he would follow Jack to the edge of the earth if he asked. After all, the rings on their fingers are a promise, a reminder that, no matter what, their home is wherever the other is.

~ ~ ~

Grandma is the first one to find out, of course.

Joke wakes up with Jack's head resting on his chest, legs tangled together and arms around each other, their naked bodies pressed together. For a moment he's afraid the day before has been a dream. But then there's Jack's hair softly tickling his lips, the light snores coming from him as he keeps sleeping, the feeling of being inside him the night before still so vivid in Joke's body. And, of course, the rings. Jack's hand is resting on his chest, the golden band warm against Joke's skin. And his own ring is touching Jack's skin there where Joke has his arm wrapped around him.

Not a dream, Joke thinks. He hides his smile leaving the softest kiss on Jack's head. He's heavy and warm against him, and Joke would gladly stay the rest of the day just like that, with Jack peacefully sleeping in his arms. It's not possible, of course, not for today at least; they will have to get up eventually, the work at school is waiting for them. Their lives, everything they've built from scratch. The light from outside tells him it's still early though, so Joke doesn't wake Jack up yet. He just stays like that for what feels like hours, unable to go back to sleep and unwilling to get up, basking in the feeling of having the love of his life so close, the sound of Jack's breathing guiding his thoughts.

Eventually, he needs to get up. He tries his best to disentangle himself from Jack's hold without waking him up, missing his warmth as soon as it's gone. Jack lets out a light whining at the loss of contact, and Joke leans down to leave a kiss on his forehead in apology.

Waking up like that is definitely something Joke wants to get used to, wants it to become his new normal, his everyday and his forever.

He feels warm and full, the pit in his stomach a pleasant sensation. The mundanity of it all makes him feel like he's walking on a cloud. He feels like he could fall any time, and that isn't a new feeling; what is different is that this time he knows Jack would be there to catch him. 

He gets dressed quietly and then goes to the kitchen ready to prepare breakfast; maybe he could bring it to Jack in bed, waking him up like that. 

He finds Grandma already there, busy cooking.

"Aw, Ama, you don't need to, I can do it", he says as a greeting. It's an argument they have almost every morning, another little piece of Joke's everyday life. As always, she laughs and tells him he needs to wake up earlier if he wants to beat her to it, but doesn't oppose it when Joke leads her to sit down and takes over.

They make small talk as he cooks. It's nice and pleasant. It's fragile, this life, as everything that's precious is, but Joke finds he isn't scared that it will break any time soon.

He doesn't realize Grandma's gaze on him has grown heavy until she lets out a soft gasp and reaches out to take his right hand. Her hand is calloused against Joke's as she traces her eyes and fingers along the line of the golden ring. The smile on her lips grows slowly, soft and fond at first, then proud and happy as she looks up to meet Joke's eyes.

"I'm so happy", she simply says. "It suits you so well".

Joke feels ready to cry and can't do much more than nod at her words.

"You're already family", she adds. "But I still can't wait for it to become even more official".

Joke should probably tell her that they don't plan on getting married anytime soon, that neither of them has even proposed for real yet, but before he can find his voice again without risking to start crying right then and there, a sound from the doorway makes both he and Grandma snap out of the moment. 

Jack is standing there, leaning against the kitchen's doorframe, his eyes and smile so fond that Joke can't stop his heart from doing somersaults.

Grandma motions Jack to come closer, and when he does she reaches out and takes his right hand just like she did with Joke’s. She’s holding both of them, the smile shaking a little on her lips as she’s clearly about to cry. Her eyes are watery when she looks up at them.

“Oh Ama, come on, don’t cry”, Jack says, pulling her into a hug.

“How could I not cry when my grandchild is going to get married?”

Jack laughs, lets her go and reaches out to wipe away the few tears that escaped her eyes. Joke’s heart is swelling in his chest. That’s his family, right there.

“We’re not…”

Jack almost looks like he feels guilty to tell her she’s gotten it a little wrong, so Joke jumps in to help.

“Not yet, Ama”, he says. “Jack hasn’t even proposed properly yet”.

“And why am I the one who should propose? You could do that too, you know?”, Jack replies. His hair is still a mess, the sleep still not completely gone from his eyes, his smile teasing and happy. And Joke loves him so much he feels like crying. He’s not used to being this happy, but it’s always so natural when he’s with Jack.

“Oh, you’re the one who gave me the ring”, he says, his smile matching Jack’s. “But who knows, maybe I’ll be the one who’ll propose to you. We’ll just have to wait and see”.

Their banter is interrupted by Grandma’s laughing. 

“I’m happy for you”, she says again. Then she takes Jack’s hand in both of hers. “Your parents would be so proud of you, Jack”.

This time it’s Jack’s turn to swallow back his tears. Joke doesn’t miss the slight trembling of his lips nor the way his eyes start shining with unshed tears.

Joke pulls them both into a hug, lets himself drown in the feeling of happiness and belonging. His family, something he never thought he could have. When he pulls back, he wipes his eyes dry. Jack’s arm doesn’t move from when it found its place around Joke’s waist, and Joke leans more into the touch. 

“Okay, enough, let’s stop with the emotional moment”, he says with a laugh. 

“Yeah, let’s have breakfast”, Jack agrees.

Grandma laughs and starts setting the table for all of them. 

“Everyone will be so happy when they find out”, she says.

And oh, god, Joke didn’t think about it. The teasing from Tattoo and the others when they found out that he and Jack started dating was bad enough, he can’t even begin to imagine how they will react to this now.

“They’re going to be insufferable, aren’t they?”

Jack laughs, and Joke with him. 

“Definitely”.

Chapter Text

Aran is starting to regret his decision of helping out at the school. Sure, he loves the kids and he loves using his academic knowledge for something as good as teaching them; he also really loves the atmosphere at school and spending time with everyone there. He still can't bring himself to say it out loud, but he feels light and at ease whenever he's there, surrounded by everyone; it's becoming sort of like an escape for him. The only other place that makes him feel like this is Tattoo’s apartment - he's not sure when exactly that happened, but it did, and for that he's grateful. 

If he has to be completely honest with himself, he never thought he would ever find anything or anyone that could make him feel like this, not before meeting Tattoo and the others.

That line of thoughts brings him back to the problem at hand, the reason why he probably shouldn't have accepted this job.

“Come on”, Tattoo insists again. 

Aran rolls his eyes at him again and crosses his arms against his chest. “I said no”. 

“Why though, you did great last time!”. 

Aran’s heart definitely does not jump at that last sentence. He knows he's going to give in in the end, because if there's something he's learned about himself in recent times is that he can't say no to Tattoo, even when it's about helping out with his experiments during his physics class with the kids; even when Aran is a little scared of this kind of things to begin with.

Thankfully, before he can once again let his feelings get the best of him and give in to Tattoo's request, they get interrupted by Joke calling out to them as he approaches. Aran is not surprised in the slightest when he see Jack  right next to him. It's rare to see one of them without the other lately. Aran feels his heart squeeze for a moment at the sight, both in fondness and jealousy, but still smiles at them. He's happy for them, really. No matter how much he would also love to have what they have. He waves back at them and pointedly avoids looking at Tattoo.

“Ehi guys, we were looking for you. You're next with the kids, right Tattoo?”, Jack asks.

“Yeah, I was just trying to convince Aran to help me out”.

Whatever they say next is lost on Aran as his attention is drawn to Joke's right hand, to the golden band around his ring finger. He moves his eyes to Jack's hand, and he barely suppresses a scream when he sees the matching ring, right there around his finger.

When, a few days ago, Jack asked him for the fake ring that was in his father's treasure room, the reason for the request wasn't lost on Aran. Honestly, only an idiot wouldn't guess what Jack planned to do with it. Still, Aran didn't think he would do it so soon, barely a month after things settled down.

Thinking about it now though, he shouldn't be so surprised, not when Jack and Joke are like this every time they're together.

The rings around their fingers are the obvious consequence of the obvious feeling surrounding them, something that Aran can't not recognize as simple and unabashed happiness and love.

He's not jealous of them.

They've all seen how much they mean to each other, have been witnesses of the endless pining, all the hurt they had to go through to get here. There is nothing short of devotion in Joke's eyes whenever he looks at Jack and it has been like that since the first time Aran saw them. Even while watching them when they were all working together to get his necklace back, Aran couldn't suppress the thought that he wanted someone to look at him the way Joke looked at Jack.

It’s good to see that Jack is finally right there with him, looking back at Joke with the same undeniable love in his eyes, unafraid to show it to the whole world.

Oh, it will be beautiful seeing them get married, he thinks, as the happiness for his friends almost completely overcomes whatever jealousy he was feeling a moment ago.

He hides his smile behind his hand as he watches the two of them without really listening to what they're saying. Turning towards Tattoo he lightly slaps his shoulder repeatedly to get his attention, then points to the two lovebirds’ hands. 

Tattoo looks confused for a handful of seconds. Maybe Aran is simply too used looking at him and studying his reactions at this point, but he sees the exact moment it connects in Tattoo's head; his eyebrows shoot up in surprise and after a moment a grin makes its way on his lips.

“Aren't you going a little too fast?”, he teases, interrupting whatever silent conversation Jack and Joke were having. He points to their hands when the two of them only look back at him in confusion.

“There's no such thing as too fast when it comes to love, Tattoo”. Aran says it to join him in the teasing, but if Tattoo catches the hidden message for him in his words he won't complain.

Joke laughs, and Jack looks at him with such love in his eyes and smile that it almost feels like they're intruding in a private moment. Lately it often feels like that with the two of them.

“Thanks for giving me the ring”, Jack says then looking at Aran.

Aran nods. “I didn't think you'd propose so fast though, I have to say”, he says. “So when's the date?”

Jack shakes his head. “Not so fast”.

“Why? I wouldn't be too surprised to see you two get married tomorrow”, Tattoo says still grinning. “Just don't expect a gift from me, I'm broke”.

“I'm ready to start organizing everything, just leave it to me. It's gonna be a perfect ceremony”, Aran adds, and he's only half joking. It doesn't matter when exactly Jack and Joke are going to get married, he'll be damned if he doesn't organize the best ceremony and party for them. His mind is already thinking about everything that needs to be done. He wonder if involving Rose in it would be too mean considering her past feeling for Jack - but he needs some help and neither Tattoo nor Hoy would even know where to start.

Jack and Joke are still smiling like the fools in love they are when they leave to go back to work. Aran doesn't miss the way Joke reaches out to grab Jack's hand as they walk.

“How long do you think it will take?”, Tattoo asks.

“A couple of months, at most”, he replies. “I need to start planning”.

“I say even less. Wanna bet?”

Aran has definitely been spending way too much time with him, because he grins back at him. “Why not”, he says. “Now let's go to class, come on. We have some physics experiments to do”.

Chapter Text

There are barely a few things that Hoy loves more than being with his friends. Even when he and Tattoo could barely afford to get a drink and had to live everyday trying to find ways to pay their debts back and escape Boss' grasp - even then, being with his friend was the one thing that could always remind Hoy that there was something good in this world, something that makes life worth it. 

And now, it feels like a blessing. 

He's been spending a whole lot of time in the temple and with Nang so it must be rubbing off him, because he's been finding himself thanking the gods and making merits more and more every day; and he still has the Star tarot card Nang gave him, holding onto it like a sort of talisman. He has no idea if it's really thanks to the gods and their fortune that they managed to survive everything they went through but he's not gonna risk it - and so, thanking the gods and making merit it is. Perhaps he's also been spending way too much time with Tattoo's mum in the temple.

Right now, sitting around their usual table with his friends, drinks in their hands and laughter filling the air around them, Hoy is thankful once again.

Tattoo bumps his shoulder against his to get his attention. 

“So, you heard the happy news?”

“Huh?”

“Our local lovebirds' news”, Aran jumps in. He and Tattoo are starting to have this habit of finishing each other's sentences.

Hoy looks at Jack and Joke in confusion. They're sitting close as always, shoulders pressed together; it feels like they can't bear to be even one millimeter too much away from each other, which is honestly fair given everything they went through. Aran told him about what happened in the warehouse while he and Tattoo were out - he feels only a little sad that he missed the scene of the two of them kissing like there was no tomorrow right in front of Boss and everyone else. Even just imagining it, it feels like a scene from a movie.

“What news?”, he asks in excitement.

Joke is leaning his forehead against his hand in exasperation, while Jack is rolling his eyes at them. 

“There's no news at all, shut up”, Jack says, waving his hands lime to shoo away the topic. It doesn't work, of course.

“Oh please”. Now it's Tattoo and Aran's time to roll their eyes at them. Hoy looks back and forth between the four of them only feeling a little left out of whatever is going on. 

“Look at their hands”, Tattoo adds, pointing at them.

Hoy does just that and, sure enough, he finds something he didn't notice before. He's pretty sure neither Jack nor Joke used to wear rings, so Tattoo must be referring to that. They're small and simple, just two golden bands wrapped around their fingers, inconspicuous enough that Hoy wouldn't have noticed them at all if the others didn't point it out. They're cute though, and he feels a smile growing on his lips.

“Matching rings!”, he almost yells in excitement. “Oh I like it! We can have matching rings for the whole gang! So, where's mine?”

He's met with stunned silence and four pairs of eyes staring at him like he's grown a second head. He's wondering what exactly he said wrong when Tattoo hits him on the back of his head. Which, ouch, that hurt. Hoy is pretty sure there was no need for that. He says as much.

“God, you're so stupid”.

Apparently the situation is hilarious for everyone, because Joke starts laughing so hard he can't keep himself upright; he leans his head on Jack's shoulder while shaking with laughter, and Jack is clearly trying his best to suppress his own laughter too. He circles Joke's shoulders with his arm like he's afraid he might fall if he let him go.

“Idiot”, Aran says. “They're not matching rings, they're wedding rings”.

“Huh?”. Hoy takes a moment to think about it, stares at the rings on his friends’ fingers, and… oh. Oh, they're wedding rings. 

He feels disappointed for just a split second - because he really would have loved to have matching rings for the whole gang, it would have been so cool! But then the feeling is gone, replaced with building excitement. His friends are getting married? Jack and Joke are going to get married?

“No, come on, they're not wedding rings”, Jack says trying to calm down the atmosphere. He's still holding Joke close though, and his voice seems to stumble on the last two words, so Hoy doesn't pay him too much attention.

“Oh my god, you're getting married!”. This time he does raise his voice a little too high, and Aran slaps a hand on his mouth to shut him up.

“Guys, we're not getting married”, Jack says again, rolling his eyes at them.

“Not yet”, Joke adds. He seems to have made a home with his head on Jack's shoulder and his arm around him, because he's still there even now that his laughter has subsided. They’re so cute together, Hoy thinks nothing makes as much sense as them getting married. Of course they would get married. Even he can see it.

“Oh god, you might as well be married already”, Tattoo says, looking away from the pair like he can't stand the sight of love. But Hoy knows his friend too well, and the smile tugging at his lips and the look in his eyes tell another story.

“Oh I can ask Sister Nang if she can celebrate the marriage for you!”, he jumps up. “I'm sure she'll be happy to do that!”

Aran looks at him with a grimace. “Do you want them to get married in a temple?”. The way he says it makes it sound like a personal offence.

“Why not?”

“Why not? It's a wedding , Hoy, not a religious celebration! Leave it to me, I'm planning everything already”.

Both Jack and Joke seem to give up on trying to clear things up again and just let them talk. Hoy sees the way they look at each other before Jack leans down to press a kiss on Joke's forehead like they're in their own little world. And he sees the way Joke takes Jack’s hand into his and starts playing with the ring there. 

It tugs at his heart in happiness. 

Yes, there really is nothing he loves more than being with his friends and seeing them so happy.

Chapter Text

I can do this.

It must be around the tenth time or so that Rosé repeats those words to herself. The truth is that she's not actually sure she can do it, but she has to. The wound in her heart is still fresh and she feels like she's just pouring salt into it, but she also knows she has to do this. And it's not just that, she wants to. She owes it to Jack after all. And to Joke too.

So many things happened in the last month, so many that sometimes it feels like her brain is trying its best to bury those memories deep where they can't hurt her anymore. It's a losing battle though, and she's well aware of it. Among everything that happened, among the near death, the  gunshots, the collar around her throat and her father's betrayal - among all of that the image of Jack and Joke hugging and kissing like they would be happy as long as they got to die in each other's arms feels like a light in all the darkness and despair of that day.

It's weird. Rosé remembers the way her heart had once again broken in a thousand small pieces, but she also remembers Jack's smile and the way the sight of it had been enough to help mend it a little. 

The smile of the man she fell in love with so long ago. The man she had let herself believe she could have, and the smile that was never her to begin with.

It hurt, there was no way around it. But after crying her eyes all throughout more than one night, after thinking about it over and over again, and especially after seeing the way Jack and Joke looked at each other, she reached the conclusion that she was happy for them. She was happy for Jack, happy that he had someone who looked at him like he hung the moon and stars in the sky, someone for whom Jack himself would probably do that and much more. It didn't matter that that person wasn't her.

Or, well, it did matter, of course. Her heart was still bleeding a little, heavy with contrasting feelings every time she saw the two of them.

But she was happy for them, she truly was.

And so what if her poor heart had broken yet again when she saw them a couple of days ago and noticed the rings on their fingers? It wasn't lost on her that they were on their right hands instead of the left ones, but she also wasn't enough of a fool to not understand what they meant. And so, when she asked Aran about it, she did so while expecting the answer already. And if a traitor tear escaped her eyes then, Aran was nice enough not to point it out; instead, he simply patted her shoulder in compassion, and she appreciated it.

I can do this, she repeats to herself as she stands before Jack's house. It’s an off day at school, so she assumed Jack would be home. She felt confident until the moment Jack's house came into view.

Now it's been around ten minutes she's been standing before the house trying to find the courage to step forward. It would have been easier going to the school - a less intimate place and many more people all around them; it would have been easier to make an escape if she needed it. And yet, here she is.

I can do this.

And before she can stop again and rethink all of the life decisions that brought here here, she pushes her feet forward and pulls her lips in a smile.

“Hello!”, she greets. The door is open as it usually is so she takes one more step and steps inside. 

And finds herself face to face with Joke. 

Ah. She didn't think about this possibility.

He's holding a broom in his hands and the shock on his face makes it clear that he's taken aback by this situation just as much as her, perhaps more. She's the one who just barged into his house after all.

“Huh… Rosé”, he says after a moment, and it sounds both as a greeting and as a question. He's faster than she is to shake himself out of his stupor, though. “What are you doing here? If you're looking for Jack, he's out with Grandma running some errands, but he’ll be back anytime soon”.

This could be an easy way out. She could say that yes, she was looking for Jack, turn around and leave.

But no. She can do this. She moves forward, stepping more inside of the house. 

She shakes her head. “I… I was looking for both of you actually”.

“Something happened?”

It's heartwarming the way Joke seems to be ready to spring into action to help. Suddenly, she remembers that it was him who had been willing to help her five years ago, even while sure he would lose against those thugs. The memory almost makes her laugh.

She never really stood a chance against him, did she?

She catches a glimpse of the ring around his finger. Even in the dim light of the house it seems to shine a little.

“No”, she says, clasping her hands behind her back and looking away. Should she have brought a gift? It would have been easier, having her hands occupied while holding onto something at least. “I just wanted to congratulate you”.

It's not surprising that Joke looks confused at that. “Huh?” 

A laugh escapes her, one that's half hysterics and half embarrassment. “Well, yes. You see-”

“Rosé?”

She turns around at the sound of Jack's voice. He's always a sight for sore eyes and never fails to make her heart dance in her chest, falling and stumbling on itself, breaking again and again.

Jack comes inside and moves to stand next to Joke like there's some sort of magnetic field always pulling them together. She wonders if he's even aware of it, if he's aware of the natural way his hand comes to grasp Joke's shoulder for a moment and then moves on his forearm and just stays there. She wonders if Joke is aware of how much his demeanor changes when he's with Jack, from still and guarded to at ease and relaxed. Their eyes are drawn to each other like a higher force is pulling their gaze.

“She's here to… congratulate us?”, Joke says, and it sounds like a question. He looks at her as to make sure he heard that right.

“What for?”, Jack asks.

Even as she steps closet to them she can't enter their bubble. It's no surprise at all after what she witnessed in Boss's warehouse. She bears the heavy and cautious weight of Joke's eyes as she reaches out to gently take Jack's hand into hers. The ring on his finger feels a little like a slap, but at the same time she finds herself smiling.

“Jack, Joke, I'm happy for you”, she says, and is met with two stunned stares in reply. “Really”.

The air is getting too stiff and weird and she really can't stand it anymore. Letting go of Jack's hand and taking a step back, she laugh, breaking the tension.

“Invite me to the ceremony, alright? You can count on me for anything! Just tell me and I'll help you out”, she says. “We're friends after all!”.

Before any of them can reply, she waves at them and turns around. The last thing she sees before leaving the house is Jack and Joke leaning into each other, stupor still painted in their eyes.

Her eyes sting a little, but it doesn't matter, she tells herself, and for some reason she can't help but smile. After all, with time, her heart will heal.

Chapter Text

It's been a while since the last time he drank with Jack like this. Save can't even remember when it was, can barely remember the last time they even talked properly to each other without impending death hanging on their heads. It feels like a lifetime ago, maybe another universe, another version of himself.  And it feels like a relief now, being here, the fresh air of the night around them as they drink like old friends who haven't seen each other in ages and finally get to meet and catch up.

“So”, Jack says, the bottle of beer he's drinking swaying between his fingers. “How's work going, Boss ?”. He stresses the last word teasingly, and it makes Save laugh. 

It's different, his relationship with Jack now. He's not even sure they can consider each other friends, not like before at least - yet at the same time, there’s no doubt that they're closer now, they know each other in ways they couldn't before. Save probably isn't even worthy of considering Jack a friend, but he promised himself he'll get there, making amends for his past actions.

“It's… hard”, he groans, and takes a sip of his own beer. “There's so much to do and I don't even know where to start. It's too much, almost as stressful as when I had to repay my debt. Except that that made me want to run away, while this… it makes me want to stay and sort everything out, make things better”.

It might be the alcohol that's making his tongue so loose, but it doesn't matter. It is the truth after all. 

“You're doing a great job”, Jack says.

“You're just saying that. You don't even know what I'm doing”.

Jack shrugs at that. “True, but I've seen you dealing with Boss during the Monopoly game. I know whatever it is you have to do, this community is in good hands”.

Again, maybe it's the alcohol's fault, but Save feels his heart swell a little at the compliment and the trust his friend is putting in him. He's not so sure he's worthy of it, but he'll take it anyway.

“Maybe next time you'll even be able to make a proper public speech”, Jack adds, the teasing edge back in his voice as a smile plays on his lips. And Save can't help but laugh, both in amusement and embarrassment - the memory of his speech in front the community still haunts him.

Jack is laughing too, and Save suddenly realizes that this might be the first time he sees him like that. Happy and at ease, relaxed, defenses down. He almost looks like a different person. Save knows that being free of debts and power’s shackles will do that to a person.

And he also knows all too well that love will do that too. 

He himself feels different now, and it's not just because he's free or because of his new role in Suphanimit; it's also because he can go home to Hope without worrying about being seen, because he can walk around the streets while holding his hand, because they can smile at each other without having to hide, without the fear of being found out. Looking at Jack being with Joke, Save feels like that's what changed Jack the most, after all.  They're sort of like a mirror to each other, the four of them.

“Maybe my next public speech could be at your wedding, what do you say?”, he says back, matching Jack's teasing.

He can't help but laugh again when Jack almost chokes on his beer and then puts his face in his head with a groan. “Oh god, not you too”.

“Why, isn't it true?”

The ring on Jack's finger is difficult to miss, especially because of Joke's newfound habit of holding Jack's hand and playing with it as a soft smile grows on his lips. And since the two of them are basically attached at the hip lately, it's a scene that everyone in Suphanimit has probably seen a lot already. And even when they're not together it's Jack himself who keeps absentmindedly touching the ring. So, it's definitely impossible to miss both it and the matching one on Joke's finger.

Save doesn't think they even realize it. Sometimes he thinks they barely realize there are other people in  the room with them. 

Even now, Jack's fingers are playing with the ring, turning it around his finger gently, like he's making sure it's still there.

“It's too soon”, Jack says. He's pouting a little as he looks at the ring.

“But you want to, don't you?”

The pout melts into the softest smile Save has ever seen on Jack's face. It was almost a rhetorical question, but if there was any doubt before, now that smile is answer enough.

“Of course I do”, Jack says quietly. His eyes are just a little unfocused because of the alcohol and his voice is just that tiny bit slurred. He looks so in love it makes Save's heart melt. He knows he probably would look just like that talking about Hope.

“Then what's the problem?”

A long moment of silence passes as Jack seems to think about him. In the end, he just shrugs, and instead of answering the question, he changes the topic. “What about you? You and Hope have been together for a long while”.

Save shrugs even as his heart skips a beat in his chest. “We never talked about it. Maybe one day, though”, he says, a smile growing on his lips. “I'm pretty sure you and Joke will beat us to it, though”.

Jack just laughs and takes another sip of his now almost finished beer. “Get your speech ready then”.

“Already working on it”, Save laughs.

They've been there for a couple of hours now and it's getting late. Save's head is starting to feel a little too light. He's hit by the sudden need to get home, get into bed, and curl himself around Hope. 

Neither he nor Jack is particularly drunk, so he's not worried about getting home. And yet, he's barely finished that thought though that he sees a figure approaching their table. 

“Jack, your future husband is here”.

The way Jack’s eyes light up makes it look like they haven't seen each other in years instead of barely a few hours. 

Joke spares a moment to greet Save, but then his attention is only on Jack; he rests a hand on Jack's shoulder and then slowly moves it to the back of his neck; Jack melts into the touch right away, leans into it like he trusts Joke to keep him upright always. They fit together like puzzle pieces.

“Come on, let's get you home”, Joke says, his voice gentle, in love.

“You didn't have to pick me up”, Jack replies looking up at him, the feelings in his voice a mirror of Joke's.

Save suddenly feels like he's intruding in a private moment. The need to get home to Hope, to wrap himself around him for the night, it's stronger than ever.

He waves at Jack and Joke in goodbye but, as wrapped in each other as they are, he wouldn't be too surprised if they didn't even notice. He smiles to himself as he heads home.

Yes, he better start preparing that speech as soon as possible.

Chapter Text

There's something Jack has discovered lately, and that is that few things make him feel better than coming home after a long day of work at the school. Especially now that “home” means finding Joke already there, maybe busy cooking in the kitchen or maybe waiting for him at the table. Especially when Jack can come up behind him quietly and greet him by wrapping his arms around him; especially when he can leave a kiss on his cheek and then bury his face in the back of his shoulder, breathing him in like the air he needs to survive.

This is what home is now, and few things feel better than coming back to it. To Joke.

Jack loves the routine they built, love that it was so easy falling into it, like the space for it was always there, simply waiting for them to fill it. He loves that Joke helps out at the school whenever he can and also keeps working at the bar, loves that he can clearly see how much Joke loves staying at home and cooking for him and Grandma. Jack loves the life they're building together, loves Joke more than he ever imagined possible, and everyday he finds something new about him to fall in love with.

Right now, he kisses the back of his neck again and tightens his hold around him.

“How was work?”, Joke asks. He doesn't stop cooking, but lets Jack cling to him like an overgrown koala. It's so incredibly domestic, and it doesn't matter how many times it happens, it never fails to make Jack's heart grow ten times bigger, ready to burst out of his chest.

“Some of the kids asked me if they could be the flower girls at our wedding”, he says. He wonders if Joke can feel his smile against his skin.

Joke laughs, loud and happy, and as always Jack's heart dances to the rhythm of that sound. 

A few moments of silence pass, and then Joke finishes whatever he was doing at the stove and turns around in Jack's arms. He's smiling so wide and Jack's heart makes somersaults in his chest. Happiness looks so good on Joke; it makes Jack stupidly happy knowing that he himself is a big part of that happiness.

Joke brings a hand up to brush against Jack's cheek, moves it to gently pass his fingers through his hair. Jack leans into the touch, lets his eyes fall shut for a moment. He could fall asleep right there, with his head on Joke's shoulder and his arms around him; he knows Joke would take care of him.

“The other day one of the boys asked me which one of us would wear the white dress”, Joke says, laugh still clear in his voice.

Jack laughs too. “I think you would look great in it”.

“Oh, I know I would”, Joke says with a smirk.

Jack doesn't mean too, but the image pops up in his head anyway. He has no doubt Joke would look great in a wedding dress, be it a long white one or a suit. Actually, he looks good in everything; and maybe the truth is that Jack wouldn't mind if Joke wore sweatpants and a shirt to their wedding, as long as he would let Jack put another ring on his finger and call him his husband for the rest of their lives. 

He's been trying to ignore that kind of thoughts, telling himself that it's too soon, that they should wait, take their time to find the right footing in their relationship. But then he looks at Joke and finds himself back there again. It's perfect, what they have, so what should they wait for? Jack wants this to be his home forever, wants to tell Joke that in any way he can. 

Then what’s the problem?

The conversation he had with Save a few days ago is still replaying in his head, the question dancing around in his mind. 

The truth is that there is no problem at all, and that the words he wants to say so much have been sitting heavy on his tongue for quite a while now.

At this point it's second nature for his hand to take Joke's and start playing with the ring around his finger.

He doesn't have to wonder if Joke would say yes, there's no space for any kind of doubt between them anymore. So why is he nervous? 

Joke pulls him out of his thoughts by gently rubbing his nose against his.

“You know, everyone is talking about it”, he says, smile still on his lips. “Tattoo and Aran even have a bet going on about when we'll get married. Pretty sure it was supposed to be a secret, but they made the mistake of letting Hoy in on it, so of course that means everyone knows now”.

Jack knows, of course. It's impossible not to know when no one is subtle about it and is even afraid to ask them directly. It doesn't bother him at all, but it does make his skin vibrate and his heart do athletics every time someone mentions it.

Like it's a possibility, a real one. And Jack could grasp it so easily if he so much as reaches out.

This time, the words are out of his mouth before he even realizes it.

“Let's get married, then”.

He's met with stunned silence, the hand Joke still had on Jack's hair coming to a stop. Jack's heart stops too, jumps in his throat and makes it a little difficult to breathe. 

He has no reason to be nervous, he knows that. But Joke is staring at him, eyes wide and the corners of his lips twitching like he's not sure if he wants to smile or not. Like he can't really let himself believe Jack is saying it for real.

Jack can't allow that. 

“Let's get married”, he says again, and this time his voice is stronger. There's nothing he's more sure of than the fact that he wants to spend his life with Joke. “For real”.

He adjusts his hold around Joke's waist, brings him closer. Despite the nervousness plaguing his senses, he can't help but smile. It doesn't matter that they both knew deep down that sooner or later this moment would come, it still feels so good saying it out loud.

The smile Joke is giving him back is unsure though, fragile. 

“Just because everyone is talking about it?”, Joke asks. It's probably meant to be teasing, but Jack can hear the slight note of uncertainty and fear underneath it. He knows Joke too well to not be able to imagine all the messy thoughts going through his boyfriend's mind right now. He also knows he can calm them down, one by one, make every single one of his doubts disappear. 

And so, he leans his forehead against Joke's. He can feel him relax right away.

“Because I want to marry you”.

He lets the words linger in the air, waits for the truth of them to settle inside Joke.

“Are you sure?”, Joke asks. Jack doesn't mind, he's patient; and he knows he'll have the rest of their life together to unravel and placate the insecurity that runs so deep inside Joke's heart and mind.

“More than anything”, he replies without missing a beat. He brings a hand to the side of Joke's neck, can feel the hammering of his heart eat there.

“Isn't it too soon?”, Joke asks again, but his voice is lighter, and at the same time he adjusts his arms around Jack's neck to hug him better. And so, Jack knows he won.

“Too soon? I've also sort of been waiting for you for five years, Joke”.

This time, Joke’s silence is accompanied by a smile on his lips. 

“You’ve spent the last five years hating me, you mean”.

Jack can’t not concede the point. But if it were that simple he wouldn’t have felt his world crashing down around him with every sort of conflicting feelings when he met Joke again.

“Only after almost falling in love with you when we first met”.

“You’re just being sappy now”, Joke says, but Jack doesn’t miss the slight blush that’s making its way on his cheeks.

He shakes his head. “I tried to get your number twice, because I wanted to see you again”, he says. “And you kept disappearing before I could. I wanted to look for you the first time, but I didn’t even know where to start; then we met again, and I thought it was fate”.

Jack remembers it well, the moment he recognized Joke at the bank after spending the previous days trying to think of a way to meet him again. It really had felt like fate.

And now, after everything that happened, Jack thinks that perhaps it really was. That they are meant to be, have been since the very first moment.

“You were beautiful and mysterious and you tried to fight to protect someone even though you knew you couldn’t win”, he keeps going. Seeing Joke there at the bar that first night had felt like a vision, being able to spend so much time talking to him had been like a gift. 

“Shut up”, Joke says. He leans his head against Jack’s chest, but Jack won’t have it - he wants to see him, wants to see his beautiful smile and the pretty embarrassment that’s definitely painted on his face right now. So, with a hand on Joke’s chin, he pushes him up, forcing him to meet his eyes.

“You caught my eyes right away”, he says. “I was so enamoured with you from the very first moment. And now-”

He’s caught off by Joke’s lips on his. And he doesn’t waste a second before kissing back, passionate and open mouthed. Joke always kisses him like he wants to eat Jack whole, and Jack loves it, would gladly let him do it. 

He gets lost into it, in the taste of Joke filling his senses, in the feeling of Joke’s hands grasping his neck, the feeling of his body in his arms. It’s only when he feels the pressure of Joke’s ring on his skin that he remembers what they were talking about earlier, and that Joke hasn’t said yes yet.

He needs all of his willpower to break the kiss, even more so when Joke whines when he does so. Jack placates him with one last peck on his lips.

“So”, he says, short of breath. “You haven’t answered”.

They’re still so close that Jack can feel it when Joke’s lips curve into a smile. 

“You still haven’t asked properly, Jack”.

And Jack can’t help but laugh again, a short breath against Joke’s lips. He’s not nervous anymore, every last trace of it gone; and he knows Joke’s doubts are gone, too.

He drops on one knee without any fear, he takes Joke’s left hand in his with nothing but certainty in his mind. Certainty that this is what his forever will be like.

He asks, knowing already what Joke’s answer will be. “Joke, will you marry me?”

Yet, it still feels life-changing when Joke holds his hand back and says, “yes”.

He knows Joke feels the same when he pulls him back up and crashes his lips against his in a kiss that’s hungry and loving and passionate all together.

“I love you”, Joke says against his lips when they part.

“I love you too”.

Gently, Jack takes Joke’s right hand and takes the ring off his finger. It feels a little like time has stopped when he takes Joke’s left hand and slips the ring onto his ring finger. Only when Joke has finished doing the same for him does it feel like the world starts moving again.

It feels like fate even now, like this was where they were meant to end up at since the very first moment they met.

~ ~ ~

They’re wrapped around each other on their bed, naked bodies pressed together in every possible point. Jack will never get tired of feeling the weight of Joke’s body against him like this.

“We have to choose a date”, Joke says suddenly.

“As soon as possible”, Jack says without thinking twice. “I’m pretty sure Aran already has everything planned, we just need to tell him and he’ll get everything ready in a day or two”, he adds, smiling.

Joke laughs. “You’re right”.

“They’ll be even more insufferable now when we’ll tell them”, Jack says joining him. “After all they were right, in the end”.

Joke hums. “There really is no such thing as too soon when it comes to love”.

Jack nods, leans down to kiss his future husband. 

“And we waited enough anyway”.