Chapter Text
Jake stirred from his sleep in a daze, sunlight creeping inside his lazily closed blinds. Wow, he had actually fallen asleep in his bedroom instead of either his kitchen counter or couch.
He opened his eyes, fighting the urge to fall asleep again. He looked around his room and rubbed his eyes, when did it get so messy? There were stacks of papers scattered all over his room, probably half-finished projects he couldn't bother to get done.
His mind lingered to that interaction with Rig yesterday— well, lack thereof.
He brushed it off (As he usually did with things that involved feelings.) and got up, did his usual routine, he was in his shower, contemplating. Should he go back and talk to Rig? Should he have talked to Rig yesterday?
He sighed as warm water ran over his body like a reminder, he recollected himself before his mind fully succumbed to his thoughts.
Steam curled inside his shower, filling the small space and temporarily soothing him & his thoughts. He always prefered warm showers over cold showers..
He ran his hands over his face and groaned, deep and heavy with burden he hadn't shared with anyone besides himself (And maybe Lime).
"Don't lose your way. Follow your journey of leading others to the path of the future." His father had told him once. How did that end up now? Did clinging to some noble cause or sense of justice ever really mean anything? Did it really ever fix anything?
He scoffed, "Tch, its pointless." But could he really stop now? When his father's last wish is almost about to come to fruition? He can't let stupid feelings overcome his stainless white goal. His only duty in life. The only thing that made him worth something in this world.
He grabbed his towel off the rack and wrapped himself with it, running a hand through his brown hair as he did.
Jake looked in the mirror and grimaced, was his hair really that messy before?
He walked to his bedroom to change (of course) and picked out a white button-up, a black tie and some black tailored pants. His usual business attire.
He went to the bathroom again and stared at his reflection: eyebags from working late; that permanent flat, indifferent expression he always wore since he couldn't bother feeling anything but numbness, "That's not professional. Feelings aren't professional." He mused; those dark, empty green eyes that used to always glow when he spotted Rig from afar in a crowd. That 'glow' had dimmed ever since Rig left.
He fixed his hair and sighed. What had he become?
He went down to his basement where his actual workshop was, he worked on a few gauntlets and new concepts he had. Once he finished (He had decided to not work overtime this day), it was nighttime. He went out of his apartment quietly and went to a flower field.
The one he and Rig used to always go to after stressful days. Smiling at eachother warmly, holding eachothers hands so closely as if they would disappear from eachothers lives if they let go.
He stared at the vast sky, filled with stars but felt so empty.
Jake had always swore to himself he would never let anyone be more important than his work. His destiny. The only thing that made him truely important in this world.
They had always told eachother that "It meant nothing." or "We were just friends."
But even he knew, that was just a lie full of cowardice.
Even he knew that no matter how hard they desperately tried to deny their feelings for eachother, it would do absolutely nothing. It would just make them cowards.
Even his past self knew it was wrong. That their love was wrong. But it felt so right..
The sky had started to rain down meteorites, since it was august, frequently dubbed as the "One of the best months to see meteor showers". He watched the sky attentively since he knew that Rig was always obsessed with space. He couldn't blame Rig for finding it interesting. The sight in the sky was beautiful after all.
Jake couldn't help but imagine Rig, sitting beside him, his black eyes shining with excitement as he saw the usually empty sky, glow brightly with meteorites like a light show. He could already imagine Rig grabbing him by his shirt and with a wobbly smile on his face, pointing at the sky above with a shaky finger from sheer happiness.
He smiled bitterly at the thought. How ironic it was their "anniversary" (The day they split-up) that the sky started raining down meteorites, Rig's favorite thing to watch when they went to this flower field.
They had encountered a few meteor showers when they used to go to this place. After all, it wasn't rare for meteor showers to occur. And every time, it felt special. As if the sky did it for them. And only them.
Huh.. maybe Rig would remember about this special day.