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It was a night like any other. Classes were over and since it was the weekend, homework was being left for another Sunday evening of rushed studying and essay writing. That’s how it always went for Carlos, because he had more…pressing matters to attend to.
“Dude, move over!” The dog whined and Carlos added, “not you, Dude.”
Jay kept moving in and out of Carlos’ view, throwing him off. Jay had easily secured first place in their racing games with this method. “Just admit it. Your skills are no match for mine.”
Carlos tried shoving him, but Jay didn’t move. “You’re such a jerk!”
Jay passed the finish line, way ahead of Carlos, who threw his controller down in defeat. He glared at Jay, who just smiled that annoying smile in response.
“Come on, babe, it’s just a game.”
“You always cheat.”
“That wasn’t cheating! Just…distraction.”
“Cheating.” Carlos scooped Dude up into his arms. “You agree, right?” Dude made a noise and Carlos took it as confirmation.
“Okay, fine,” Jay said as he stood up, “next time I’ll let you win.” He stretched.
“You won’t have to let me. I’ll show you.” Carlos stood up, set Dude on his bed and started toward the TV.
Jay huffed. “Yeah, okay.”
Carlos turned off the TV and as he and Jay began putting the controllers away, he began to think out loud. “What should we do for food?”
“Order something?”
“I’m tired of takeout.”
“Okay, yeah.” Jay thought for a second, and his expression soured. “I really don’t think we should cook anything- I mean, I’m surprised they even let us in the kitchen after what happened last time-”
“Last time was just an accident!”
“You left the food in the oven and it almost exploded.”
Carlos shrugged. “Like I said. Accident.”
“Dude climbed on the counter.”
“Accident.”
“Be a better pet parent.”
“That should go for you, too! You’re technically his other dad.”
Jay grabbed their room key and followed Carlos out the door. “I am not responsible for him.”
“You so are.”
Carlos called for Dude, who leapt off the bed and hurried to follow him. The communal kitchen wasn’t too far of a walk from their dorm, and it was empty for once. Usually there’d be the occasional student (or group) getting a snack at this time, but Jay and Carlos (and Dude) had ample time and space for their cooking.
Jay opened the fridge, checked the pantry for some sort of idea on what to make. Nothing, really, much of it had been picked clean by other students and hadn’t been restocked yet. Jay found a few containers of noodles and asked, “how do you feel about spaghetti?”
“Spaghetti doesn’t seem too complicated,” Carlos said. “Or maybe butter noodles?”
“You always eat those.”
“It’s easy.”
Jay pulled the ingredients out of the pantry, set them on the counter, then went for the fridge. “Whatever you want. I’ll eat anything.”
Carlos started a pot of boiling water. “Oh, I’m aware.”
Carlos was right- this was indeed quick and easy. Boil water. Noodles. Strain noodles. Add butter, garlic powder, and onion powder. It was done in around fifteen minutes and the boys took their food back to their dorm, where they’d probably eat it in five minutes, put the plates somewhere they’d forget and not return them to the kitchen until they remembered two weeks later.
Those were Carlos’ favorite type of meals. Quick to make, easy to eat, so he could get it over with and get back to whatever it was he was doing before. He and Jay were too competitive to play for more than ten minutes, so they searched through their collection of DVDs before settling on Jay’s choice- an action movie aptly titled FacePunch.
They settled on Jay’s bed, with some of Carlos’ pillows for added support. They leaned back against the headboard, Carlos slumped against Jay’s shoulder as he took small bites of his noodles. Dude lay at their feet, curled up into a cozy ball.
“Sometimes I wish I was a dog,” Carlos mused.
“Oh, yeah?” Jay asked. He took a mouthful of noodles, then continued. “Why’s that?”
“Dude doesn’t have to worry about homework or class. Just..sleep and snacks and cuddles.”
“But you wouldn’t be able to eat chocolate,” Jay said through another mouthful.
Carlos sighed. “You’re right…hey, careful, you’ll choke.”
Jay had already finished his food, and set the plate on his nightstand. Carlos reached over to do the same, and Jay set the plate down for him. He put an arm around Carlos and brought him closer, pressed up against his side. Carlos wrapped his arms around his middle and leaned his head on his chest, his cheek smushed against him.
His voice was a bit muffled. “We should’ve brought popcorn, too.”
“Dang, you’re right. Oh, but speaking of chocolate-” Jay reached into his pocket and after a second, retrieved a chocolate bar. He smiled and offered it to Carlos. “For you, good sir,” he teased.
Carlos brightened immediately and sat up, grabbing the chocolate and unwrapping it. “Thanks! Want some?”
“I’m good, enjoy it, babe.”
“More for me.” Carlos (somehow) shoved the rest of the bar in his mouth and pressed himself to Jay again. As if they were glued together. And neither of them minded. Not one bit. Jay was hot like a furnace and Carlos ran cold sometimes. This was one of those times, and Carlos closed his eyes, sighed, and relaxed.
“You’re super hot.”
Jay paused. “Thanks?”
Carlos looked at him. Nudged him. “Like, you’re super warm. Like the sun.” He sighed again, squeezing Jay’s arm. “You’re like your own sun.”
Jay looked down at him. He examined his sleepy face, his cheek still covered with some chocolate. He tried to clean it with his thumb. Carlos opened his eyes, and Jay paused again, struck silent by big, brown puppy eyes.
“What? Why’re you looking at me like that?”
“Like what?”
“You’re looking at me the same way Dude looks at you when he wants a treat.”
“I’m just looking,” Carlos mumbled sweetly, and it made Jay’s heart flutter.
He finished cleaning his face and licked the chocolate off his thumb. “Uh-huh,” he replied. He focused on the movie again, stroking Carlos’ hair with his free hand. Carlos was easily lulled to sleep. He closed his eyes again, tried to get a little closer, and gave that little sleepy hum that meant he was on the verge of falling into dreamland.
“How are you falling asleep?” Jay asked quietly, mostly to himself. The movie suddenly got loud and he glanced at Carlos. Nothing. Actually- scratch that. A soft snore.
Jay almost shook him, but he didn’t. He shook his head, but he found instead of being annoyed, it was just endearing. He slowly began to peel himself away, and when he got too far, Carlos shot up, ripped from his sleep.
“Hey! Where are you going?” He asked, in the same tone as before. Same puppy dog eyes. Same sleepy puppy dog eyes. It tugged at Jay’s heartstrings, sent a pang through his chest.
He let out a sound between a scoff and a sigh. “I was trying to tuck you in. You’re falling asleep.”
“No, I’m not,” Carlos lied, yawning.
Jay pulled back the covers, motioned for Carlos to move, then placed the covers over his legs. “Just sleep. It’s fine.” He grabbed the plates and put them on the table in the common area, and when he came back, Carlos was half-asleep again.
Face in Jay’s pillow. Under Jay’s blankets. Wearing Jay’s shorts, and his shirt, and his socks.
Jay sighed, again, not annoyed at all. Carlos was just…so cute. How was he supposed to be mad at him? Ever? When he looked so adorable snoring and wrapped up in about a dozen blankets? Jay had always thought Carlos resembled a puppy a little bit. He was a little smaller and shorter than him, quick and nimble and sometimes a little clumsy. He reminded him of those dalmatians his mother wanted to…skin, so badly.
When his thoughts drifted to the Isle, he stopped there. He didn’t have to worry about that- not anymore, not for a long time, hopefully. Carlos wouldn’t have to worry, either, about his mother; nor would their friends.
He took a breath. No more of that. He approached the bed.
“Scoot,” he said as he climbed in next to Carlos, who groaned and tiredly moved aside for only a second before plopping on top of Jay. He promptly fell asleep again and Jay sighed, smiling, playing with Carlos’ hair.
The movie went on in the background- classic action movie stuff, gun fights and fist fights and everything in between. Jay turned it down a little, for Carlos’ sake.
When the door opened, and Jay heard the laughter of his friends, he instantly shushed them. Mal and Evie gave him a look.
“He’s sleeping,” Jay hissed, gesturing to Carlos.
“Excuse us,” Mal said playfully. Evie gave an apologetic look.
“Jaaaayyyyyyy,” Carlos groaned, feeling around for him.
Evie gave an annoyingly sweet “awwwwww” and Jay waved them away. They left to their side of the room, giggling not-so-quietly to themselves.
“Jaaaay!”
“I’m literally right here, babe.”
“Staaaaaaay.”
“I’m staying.”
“You’re warm.”
“You said that already.”
“Stay.”
Jay kissed his head, and settled into the blankets. “I’m staying, babe.”
“Yaaaay.”