The Peace the Evening Brings

[urnewkingbitch]

Who: Dave Strider and John Egbert
Where: Roof
When: Evening
Rating: M for Dave's mouth, otherwise G, however there is a TW for mention of rape
Summary: Feelings jam and then DATE NIGHT by stargazing for teh ironies.
The Story: Well, he had asked John earlier if he had any plans that night, and he said no. So, naturally, Dave left the guy a note that was short and to the point.

meet me on the roof at 9 PM
bring a pillow or two

Dave was already there, chilling on enough pillows to comfortably lie down on. Thank God it was a clear night that night, otherwise this wouldn't work at all. Stargazing was a nicely ironic date for a couple of guys like them. Nobody would ever have pegged Dave Motherfucking Strider as any sort of stargazer.

Granted, he was also hoping to talk a bit about what happened when they had been older. He had a feeling that was still on John's mind.

Comments

[hamburellakind]

John snorts. "Okay, that is not kosher. But I'm not entirely sure what else you're going to think up that I should warn against."

Dave had more imagination than he did when it came to this stuff.

[urnewkingbitch]

"Guess we'll figure it out as we go along like a couple of idiots."

It was because of his imagination that he got his own warning.

"That's all I can think of right now, so let's get this stargazin' thing on the road...or we could just be cheesy as fuck and keep starin' into each other's eyes."

[hamburellakind]

"Sounds good to me!" John nuzzled his nose into Dave's. He felt better, having talked about most of it, though to be honest there still seemed to be some stuff they should discuss. Like how Dave didn't trust him enough for...certain things. But that could wait.

For now, he was feeling cheesy as fuck. "I don't get to see your eyes that much, dude." He reached out, brushing his thumb over Dave's cheekbone. "And unlike a lot of the things you claim are cool about yourself, they are actually really cool."

[urnewkingbitch]

Dave was just going to keep holding the hand in his own all night long. Hope John didn't need two hands or that particular hand any time soon.

He snorted.

"Still not seein' how they're all that great." ...Oh haha puns.

[hamburellakind]

"They're like..." John shrugged. "Unique. Everybody has blue eyes, dude. They are nowhere near as bad-ass."

[urnewkingbitch]

"I see more brown eyes. Also, shut up, you have the best blue eyes ever put on a person. Red eyes just give a mountain of problems."

[hamburellakind]

"Don't people just think you're albino? I mean. You're almost pale enough for that."

[urnewkingbitch]

"No, they just think I'm really fuckin' pale and might be possessed by the devil. Not to mention the fact that my eyes are a little light sensitive 'cause of their color." Really, it was the best medical reason to wear shades. He didn't really want to sear his retinas and not see for the rest of his life.

[hamburellakind]

John nods. "Well, people are stupid. Your eyes are awesome. I'll read in dim light forever if that means I get to see them."

He turned onto his back to look up at the stars. His hand stayed firmly in Dave's, and just to reassure him he gave it a little squeeze. "You know, he might come back."

[urnewkingbitch]

"What else is new on the people front?"

Dave stayed where he was, at least for now. He wasn't sure why, but simply looking at John made him feel calm and at peace. Probably because it meant the boy was alive and not dead in a ditch somewhere. Regardless, John was more appealing than looking at the stars right now.

He squeezed the hand back. "Yeah, maybe. The mansion does like to surprise us like that. Though, with my luck, it'd probably suck in the one in the universe we're goin' to." Dave took a breath before admitting it aloud. "And I'm not sure if I'm ready to see my bro as a teen."

[hamburellakind]

John glanced over, surprised. He would've thought that Dave would rather see him as a teen. "Wouldn't that be easier? Like. I dunno, he'd be our age so he'd be less intimidating, right?"

It didn't seem terribly likely that he'd be scarier or weirder because he was a goofy teenager. Okay, maybe weirder, but probably not scarier. The Striders really knew how to be weird sometimes.

[urnewkingbitch]

He shook his head. "Dude, it'd be like suddenly meetin' your dad as a kid. I don't know anythin' about him as a teen. I dunno what's changed, what's stayed the same, or even if he fuckin' knows me 'cause accordin' to Lalonde he and ectomom are four goddamn centuries ahead of the world."

There was a lot Dave didn't know, and probably the top two biggest things he was afraid to find out was if his Alpha brother still loved him, and if he was, well, proud of him.

[hamburellakind]

John frowned. He supposed he knew what Dave meant, but, well. He was also aware of how he was probably never going to see his own dad again in any sort of incarnation. He wasn't a part of all the ectobiology stuff. He'd probably just...be some other dude, if he existed at all.

Or be Jade's son, and that was kind of weird to think about.

In any case, John took his time coming up with a response. The stars were pretty, at least, so he had plenty of reason to literally stare off into space while he thought his wording out.

"Wouldn't it be better to get to know him as a kid now than to never see him again?"

[urnewkingbitch]

"Maybe. But what if I end up as a disappointment to him?"

Dave unconsciously squeezed John's hand tighter. As happy as he was at the fact his brother would be alive, he was still afraid of that meeting. He was afraid it wouldn't end like either of them hoped. He was afraid that maybe the expectations were too high.

Bro was his hero, and had been significantly older than him. If anything, it was going to be pretty awkward, even by Strider standards.

[hamburellakind]

John chewed his lip, his thumb stroking the back of Dave's hand.

"What has he even got to be disappointed about?" He tilted his head. "Way I see it, you're pretty fricking awesome."

[urnewkingbitch]

"I couldn't save him."

That was what it boiled down to, maybe. It was a year to grieve and make peace with Bro's death, but there was still guilt.

[hamburellakind]

John leaned his forehead to Dave's. "Maybe it was fate. Or just dumb luck. I don't think he could blame you. You're his kid." He sighed. "If he did blame you, he'd be a huge dick and not worth your time. But I don't think that's who he is."

[urnewkingbitch]

He shook his head.

"Bro didn't blame me when I told him. It's just...I can protect the three of you, so why the hell can't I do the same for our Guardians?"

[hamburellakind]

John frowned. "Who says you have to?"

John knew Dave thought this was the case-- obviously he did, or else Davesprite wouldn't be a thing. But he'd never totally understood why he took that upon himself. Wasn't it, well, equal?

"I want to keep you guys safe too. But I know I can't be doing that all the time..."

[urnewkingbitch]

"It's part of my role as a Knight. I'm the one doin' that all the time, makin' sure you guys don't kill yourselves in a minor lapse of common sense, among other things."

He rolled over so that he was facing the stars instead.

"And now we're addin' four more to the mix."

[hamburellakind]

John pulled Dave's hand up to his lips and kissed his knuckles. "I don't think you give us enough credit."

[urnewkingbitch]

"I know you guys can defend yourselves and shit, which is great, and I trust you guys with coverin' my back and each other's, but I gotta make sure you survive the day."

Okay, he smiled a bit at the kiss.

"Oh how courtly of you."

[hamburellakind]

"Pff, whatever." John rubs Dave's hand against his cheek.

"I just think you need to relax. Realize that...that not everybody's going to make it."

Like how he's pretty sure his Dad is dead. Yeah.

[urnewkingbitch]

"Doesn't mean I have to like it."

He sighed, tightening his grip on John's hand briefly. It wasn't fair that their loved ones had to be ripped away from them so soon like that.

[hamburellakind]

"I don't expect you to."

John pointed upwards suddenly. "Shooting star. Make a wish."