Archive of Our Own ^beta

                There were drinks to filter out the sound, everything needed to slow down in Jack’s head. Despite being an artist, this party was too much. The flashing lights, and the shatters of glass.  

               The artist had awoken from his dream, in the other man’s arms. Heavily bothered by whatever was happening. Rubbing his head and wincing. “Ah, Jack, you are awake!” the Kazakh lilt spoke and clapped slightly. “How did you sleep?" Jack nodded as if he were saying ‘I slept fine.’ This causing the blonde to jump up on his seat and smile. 

               Jack had smiled as he pulled himself up to look at the photographer. “You know, my divine, do you ever think about how much I love you? Also! Have you seen that podcast that spoke about us?”  

               The latter shook his head, entirely confused about what his lover was on about. This caused Joseph to smile and laugh even more, he began stroking his lover’s hair, twirling his fingers through the noir strands. This caused Jack to smile as Joseph caused nothing but comfort for him.  

              “Do you remember when I compared you to a bird I liked?” Joseph nodded, loving when Jack did it. Even if he were feeling down, dysmorphia or just missing his brother, Jack could always come and make him feel better with senseless compliments of things he himself liked. Such as that Summer night with the bird when they had just started dating. “Ah, yes! I loved it!” 

               Joseph wanted to finish that sentence with “Jackie” but stopped himself because of two reasons, one being it was embarrassing, two being it seemed as if Joseph were too clingy. Joseph hated coming off too clingy as he would fear Jack would leave, just like Claude did. He dreaded that he’d never see Claude again in his life, his own brother ripped from his life.  

               The photographer feared that no matter who or what they were, he’d lose them if he got too attached. Joseph’s tone had changed majorly as he continued his sentence with; “You know... You made me feel better that day. About myself and.. About everything.” The other smiled as he got told that, just knowing he made his lover feel better. Especially with such a stupid compliment as that. “Anytime sweetheart..” 

               He was melting, that word; “Sweetheart” it made him feel so good and so much better about this entire thought. “You know, you’re my divine Joseph, right? When I look into your azure eyes, I do not see... The boy I am, but the man, I must become to possess you. I want to take all the pain from your heart and turn it into functional joy. I want to take your hand by the Seine River, and with all of France as witness, take you... As my husband. We'll all dance, and sing, and drink. Then, I shall whisper in your ear ‘Let rivers run wild, or, let them be damned.’ My perfect Joseph. Joseph.. I know we have barely even dated each other for a year, but I want to... Marry you.”  

            Joseph’s eyes widened at the speech his lover performed, it was long, and seemed extremely genuine. He smiled while his face flustered up. “Oh, Gülim.. I don’t know about it. I mean I’d love to but, what if the media catches scent? You know how they are...” 

Jack rubbed his chin and nodded. “Gülim, give me time, and slow down. I will think.”  

              The latter nodded, thinking he messed up with Joseph. Jack doesn’t usually overthink stuff, but Joseph’s reaction was, off... Maybe he should’ve slowed down with the entire speech. He laid his head back onto Joseph’s lap and looked up at his love from down below. Joseph giggled as he picked up a camera and took a photo of Jack’s face. Jack hated his photos, but he had to admit, he was rather pretty in this one. This caused Joseph to smile and have a small celebration in his mind. 

             He absolutely lamented it when Jack would ask him to stop taking photos because he was either “Too ugly to be in the photo” or “A monster”. Joseph didn’t believe either of the statements at all. He believed Jack was the most beautiful man in the world symmetrical face structure. Sometimes, Joseph thinks about how he could take a meat cleaver through Jack’s face and get two symmetrical sides, in a good way, of course. 

            Joseph had his own imperfections, his nose wasn’t perfect, his cupids bow didn’t look ‘kissable,’ he thought he could stand to lose a few pounds. No matter how much reassurance Jack gave Joseph, he still believed that he was unhealthy, and ‘fat.’ The only thing is, was, is that Joseph is underweight, and yes, he was unhealthy, but only because some days, he would refuse to eat anything. Jack hated this, he loved Joseph, but hated his unhealthy habit of not eating. 

          “Ah, Joseph, I forgot to ask but have you eaten today? Anything sweet or filling?” Joseph shook his head, he had to be honest with Jack as he didn’t want to lose a bond of trust with him. “I’ll make you your safe food, Jos.” 

          Jack pecked Joseph’s cheek with a kiss and got up, going off to the kitchen. Making Joseph’s safe food was complex, but it was good, and worth it. It was chicken noodle soup with pear salad, including some walnuts. The hardest part was getting the salad just right for Joseph, he only liked it a specific way. As the soup cooked, Jack cracked walnuts to add to the salad. 

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          He was walking upstairs to their room, a tray with the soup. Jack put the tray on Joseph’s lap as he had now gotten onto the bed and under the covers. “It’ll be hot.” he smiled at Jack’s warning; he gets told it every time but still loves how he assumes Joseph hasn’t got it in his head by now. “What are you watching?”  

         “Just a show...” Joseph’s voice quietened as he had to eat in front of Jack, otherwise, they’d be here all day. He just wanted to watch his show, he wasn’t even that hungry anyway. He begun with the salad as Jack watched, smiling. “Also.. You said you were doing a photoshoot for someone soon? Can I ask who?”  

         “Two guys from that podcast I told you about.” Joseph hated talking with his mouth full, yet he only did so because he wanted it to seem like he wasn’t mad at Jack. “Ah, which ones? If I remember it was the one who got accused of doing shrooms and the other... Ah, I don’t know.” 

        “The grey haired one... Aesop and Eli. The order said it was an apology photoshoot for what happened between them..”  

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They were perfect for each other. 

An artist and a photographer.