Chapter Text
“Have you seen Dirk or Jack anywhere?”
June looked up from the picture she was drawing. It’d been a peaceful week, all things considered, and today was no different. About time, she thought. They were all long overdue for a day where nothing eventful happens whatsoever.
Though, she supposed some of them preferred to keep everyone else on their toes. The girl turned in her seat, giving Quint her full attention.
“Not since this morning, no. Why?”
Quints gaze drifted to the side. He tapped his fingers together nervously. “I was afraid you’d say that,” he mumbled, then gave June his Queasy Face™. “Nobody has seen them for hours. I understand they’re dating now and prefer their privacy but it’s been eerily quiet all day and they promised they’d always inform us if they're going out together so—“
“Woah, hey, deep breath, dude.” June interrupted calmly, used to her friends anxious spiraling. It’s not often Quint gets like this, but when he does, June’s happy to step up as the logical one.
“Big Mama and Rover are still here, right?” Quint nods. “And did the monsters see Dirk or Jack leave on foot?” The scientist rubs his arm, “If they did, they didn’t mention it.”
June got up from the couch and walked up next to Quint, putting an arm around his shoulder. “Which you know they’d never do. So the lovebirds are probably still here somewhere.” June smiles reassuringly, which then dropped as she realized something.
“Wait, you checked their rooms, right?”
“Oh.”
“Seriously?” June deadpanned. How is it that the most obvious location was overlooked by the smartest guy around?
“I simply figured it was too quiet for them to be here! So it didn’t make much sense to investigate their rooms!”
June guessed that checked out. Jack’s not a quiet person—unless something bad was happening. Dirk is if he’s by himself, which he almost never was these days.
“Well, let’s go investigate anyway,” June began leading Quint towards the ladder upstairs, climbing ahead of him. “And if they’re not there, then I’ll hunt them down and beat the crap out ‘em for making you worry.”
Quint chuckled and followed right behind his friend, rolling his eyes.
“My hero.”
~~~
They started with Jack & Quint’s shared room since it was the closest. The very first thing they noticed upon entering was the massive pit of bedding and clothes in the kiddie pool Jack sleeps in, the inflatable acting as a foundation for the many pillows stacked on its rim.
The second thing being—
“Dirk!”
“Shhh!” Dirk hissed behind his pointer finger, then looked down like he was checking on something. He sighed in relief, then met his friends confused gaze. He smiled awkwardly, whispering a proper greeting.
‘Uh, hey guys.’
‘…What??’ Is all June could say. She had so many questions. In her periphery she noticed that, somehow, Quint had a hint of recognition on his face, amongst his concern. Said boy raised his hand and pointed at the “bed”.
‘Is Jack…?’
In response, Dirk waved a beckoning hand at them. The two teens shared a quick look before continuing into the room. Once they were standing right next to their friend, he lifted the corner of the blanket covering him to reveal—
‘Oh.’
A sleeping Jack. Curled up on top of Dirk, his head tucked into his boyfriend’s chest.
June’s eyes traced over her friend. He seemed so peaceful.
But just to be sure…
‘Is he okay?’ June asked gently.
Dirk shook his head, ‘No idea. One minute I’m gettin’ my reps in, and the next he’s dragging me to his bed.‘ The muscular teen laid his hand on the smaller boys blanket covered back. More so In an effort to comfort himself. He felt terrible for being so clueless when Jack did strange things like this. Don't get him wrong—he’d drop everything to cuddle his boyfriend, but this was different. Did he do the right thing, letting Jack lead him here? Was he doing the right thing now?
‘He didn’t say anything to you, did he?’ Quint asked like he already knew the answer. Dirk glanced at him curiously.
‘Yeah. How’d you know?’
Quint sighed, ‘There’s no need to worry, friends. Jack is simply nesting.’
June & Dirk looked at Quint with matching expressions of confusion.
‘Nesting?’ They questioned in unison.
‘Well,’ Quint began, ‘that’s what I refer to it as. Jack’s never talked about it, so I’m not certain how else to describe it.’
‘I’ve only witnessed him do this a few times before, and I’m still not completely sure what it is.’ Quint explained, his regretful gaze drifting back to his best friend.
‘If you of all people don't know what this is then there’s absolutely a need to worry!’ June exclaimed as loudly as she could while whispering. Quint knew Jack the best out of all of them, so she and Dirk always went to him for answers regarding Jack’s…quirks.
‘Normally I’d agree with you, but like I said, I’ve seen him do this a few times before, and it didn’t take long to recognize a pattern.’
‘Based on what I’ve previously observed, this is a sort of…unconscious coping mechanism for him. I say unconscious because he’s constructed “nests” right in front of me and never acknowledged it, like he wasn’t really aware of what he was doing.’ Quint explained
‘And you never said anything?’ Dirk asked in disbelief. Since when does Mr. Science not ask questions?
Said Mr. Science was quick to defend himself. ‘It was never a good time. Jack always goes quiet when he gets like this, as you’ve noticed.’
‘Besides, you know as well as I do that getting an honest answer out of him is harder than pulling teeth.’ Quint factually rebutted. The others nodded reluctantly, annoyed that they couldn’t deny it.
Dirk began instinctively petting his boyfriend’s hair with feather light touches so he didn’t wake him. It only took a week before the teens learned that Jack was a very light sleeper, and with the still limited knowledge they had of his past, they only had deeply upsetting theories as to why.
Dirk got the feeling those theories were about to get much more upsetting.
The bigger teen snapped back to attention when June broke the silence.
‘I still don’t understand how this isn’t something to worry about.’
Quint placed a reassuring hand on his friend's shoulder. ‘Well, I noticed that this “nesting” is actually quite beneficial for him’ The boy consoled with a gentle smile. ‘I theorize that Jack puts himself in cramped spaces or buries under blankets as a way to destress and “reset” his brain, in a sense.’
‘Being surrounded by secure walls seems to calm him down immensely. He always sleeps deeper when he nests.’ Quint notes. ‘Not by much—it’s still easy to wake him. Just…less so.’
June’s gaze went from Quint, to the floor, then settled on Jacks sleeping form. Her mind considering what her friend told her.
‘I guess that’s good… he does look really relaxed.’ June observed with a smile, which Quint returned. Then the moment was interrupted by Dirk.
‘Yeah, that’s good n’ all, but what about the going quiet thing? And why did he bring me here??’ Dirk asked concerned.
Quint shrugged. ‘I suspect that talking, while in this state, is simply too overwhelming for him.’
The small teen then smirks knowingly and crosses his arms. ‘As for the second question, that seems pretty self-explanatory to me.’
‘But I don’t know what I’m doing!’
June & Quint jump at Dirk’s uncharacteristic panicked tone.
‘Of course I want to be here for him and take care of him, but why me?’ Dirk then gestures to Quint, ‘You know him better—he’s done this with you before! I suck at this kind of stuff!’ His grip on his boyfriend tightens slightly.
‘What am I supposed to do?’
The two other teens looked at each other, then smiled at Dirk. June put her hands on her hips.
‘I’d say you’re doing all you need to.’
Quint nodded, ‘Indeed. I’ve never seen him so peaceful before.’
Dirk glanced down at his boyfriend, still unsure. ‘So…that’s it? I should just stay here and keep doin’ what I’m doin’?’
Quint smiled ‘That’s exactly what you should do, friend’
‘In fact,’ He added, turning on his feet, ‘I think I’ll join you! I was planning on finishing my comic today.’
‘Me too.’ June chirped in agreement, leaving to get her art supplies.
And that’s how the team spent the rest of the day. June sat in a beanbag near the kiddie pool, listening to her record player through her headphones and getting lost in her art. Quint set up the hammock he slept on his first night with Jack, and read his comic to his hearts content. Dirk continued cuddling with Jack, his hand on the boys back, rising and falling with breathes that soothed any remaining worries Dirk had.
And all of them silently enjoyed each other’s company.