Work Text:
Clay’s first full day back at Liberty High felt heavier than he expected. Very corner of the school carried whispers, sympathetic glances, or stares that lingered too long for his liking. He tried – he really did – to keep his head down, focusing on the rhythm of the crutches under his arms, but the weight of it pressed against him.
His boyfriend though, was unshakable. He walked beside Clay like a silent anchor, carrying Clay’s backpack and stepping into any space that felt too crowded. When people looked at Clay for too long, Jeff looked back harder – enough that they turned away.
Jeff was also the one picking him up to school every day since they got together. It was really sweet and Clay loved it.
By the time lunch rolled around, Clay was exhausted. His scar ached, and he was more than ready to hide in the library, but Jeff wouldn’t let him. ‘’Come on, babe’’, Jeff said, nudging his shoulder gently. ‘’You’re not eating alone’’.
Clay opened his mouth to protest, but when they pushed through the cafeteria doors, he froze. The entire table of friends – Jessica, Justin, Zach, Tony, even Alex – were waiting for him. When they saw him, they all stood at once.
‘’Clay!’’, Jessica’s voice rang out first, and before he could react, she was wrapping her arms carefully around him. ‘’God, it’s good to see you fully back now’’.
Justin grinned, clapping him gently on the shoulders. ‘’Man, we like live together but still. Looking good with those crutches’’. Zach leaned over the table, his smile easily. ‘’We saved you a seat. Don’t worry, it’s got maximum crutch clearance’’, he jokes.
Even Tony, usually the calmest of the bunch, gave him a small, genuine smile. Clay could only blink at all of them, overwhelmed by their enthusiasm. He’d expected pity, maybe avoidance of the topic. But not this. Not…joy.
Jeff took his hand and gently guided him into the free seat, setting his tray down. ‘’Told you’’, he said quietly, just for Clay. ‘’You’ve got a lot of people who care about you. So you don’t have to do this alone’’. And Clay let himself believe that.
…
The days blurred into weeks. And weeks turned into months. Clay grew steadier on his crutches, then a cane, then finally walking on his own again. Only taking a cane with him on long events. The physical pain faded slowly, but the shadows of that night still lingered. Some nights he woke in a cold sweat, the echo of the gunshot still ringing in his ears.
Justin was there most of the nights Clay had his nightmares. Jeff too when he slept over. He’d sit with Clay on the porch until sunrise or drive him aimlessly through the quiet streets until Clay’s breathing calmed.
Their bond deepened even more and in all unspoken ways. The way Jeff’s hand always held his when they walked. The way Clay’s smile came easier when Jeff was near.
The others helped too. Jessica checked in with him every day, sliding jokes and gossip into their conversations until Clay laughed. Alex shared note’s from classes so Clay wouldn’t fall behind on bad days. Tony dragged him to the diner, making sure he still felt normal. Even Zach stuck close, quick with humor when Clay looked like he was spiraling.
And Justin was now officially his brother. They shared everything and it was a damn blast, even though Justin couldn’t keep his side of the room clean.
…
One afternoon, after school long ended, Jeff and Clay sat in the bleachers next to the baseball field, watching the empty field glow in the late sun. Clay fiddled with his hands, heart pounding.
‘’I keep waiting for it to fall apart again’’, he admitted quietly while watching the birds fly in the sky. ‘’Like I don’t deserve any of this. You. Them. Surviving when I shouldn’t have’’. His gaze drops onto his fingers.
Jeff turned to him, brow furrowed. He never liked it when his boyfriend talked like this. It was quite heartbreaking. ‘’Clay. You deserve every second of this. And if I have to spend the rest of my life reminding you, then fine – I will’’. He said it so seriously and full of love that Clay had to swallow hard.
Chest aching with something bigger than fear. He looked at Jeff then, really looked at him – the boy who never left, who fought to keep him alive, who held him together when he was falling apart.
All the love Clay felt coming from Jeff, he let it hit him. For the first time he felt…ready to finally deserve this.
‘’Jeff’’, he begins softly, leaning closer. He needed to be as close as possible. ‘’I love you’’. Three simple words. They were three simple words with so much more meaning. And only Clay and Jeff could now how powerful they were to them.
The jock’s grin broke wide and bright, the kind of smile that reached his eyes. His earing shining with the hit of the sun. And Clay thought how can someone be this beautiful. Jeff moved closer sensing the moment. ‘’You think – I would really like to kiss you now’’, he admits breathlessly.
Clay nods and whispers a simple, ‘’I would like that’’. Jeff didn’t hesitate to claim his lips. Holding Clay’s cheeks softly while only pressing his lips to the others. No movement just a peck. Featherlight but all too meaningful.
It was a promise.
They broke away after a few seconds. ‘’Wow, that was –‘ Clay begins. ‘’It was…I loved that’’, he smiles at his boyfriend.
…
‘’So, when are u going to tell the others about Jeff, Clay’’, Justin asked while brushing his teeth in the bathroom. Clay only rolled his eyes. They had this conversation a million times before. Of course, Justin knew about them, but only because he lived and shared a room with Clay. ‘’I really don’t know Justin. Not like we’re trying to hide anything’’. And that was the truth. They really do not try to hide, but Clay and Jeff aren’t really that much into pda anyway.
Justin’s groan could be heard from the bathroom as he makes his way back towards the beds. He sits down, shaking his head. ‘’Dude, you’ve got a total snack on you’re side! Show off a little’’. They both burst into laughter. ‘’You’re ridiculous Justin’’, Clay smiles.
…
A party. Jessica’s house was buzzing that night. She decided that it was time to throw a party, make new memories, not to hold onto bad ones. So yeah, a party was held at her place. Music thumped through the walls, lights glittered off half-empty cups, and laughter echoed from every corner.
It wasn’t prom, or homecoming, or anything official since that first party at her place – just Jessica deciding everyone deserved one night to feel normal again. Clay hadn’t been sure he wanted to come at all. His body still ached a bit when he moved too much, and crowds made his chest tighten.
And it’s not like he is a party animal anyway. He disliked them since…forever really. But his loving boyfriend had leaned against his doorframe earlier that day, arms crossed, grin titled.
‘’You don’t have to dance. You don’t have to drink. You just have to be there – with me’’, he said. Showing off his best smile with fitting puppy eyes. And somehow, Clay knew he couldn’t say no to that.
That’s how he got to where he is now. Sitting on Jessica’s couch, Clay watched his friends laugh and move around him. He felt…content, holding his cup full of diet coke. He took his cane with him, just to be safe. It was propped nearby, still a little reminder of his fatal wound.
Jeff sat close enough that their shoulders brushed, his warmth grounding Clay in the noise. His cologne smells incredibly good. Did someone spike my drink or why does he smell so damn good. Clay thought, closing his eyes to smell it more.
‘’Doing Okay there?’’, Jeff asked amused over the music, while drinking a beer. Clay nodded, lips tugging into a small smile. ‘’Better than I thought I’d be.’’. Jeff hesitated for a moment, then leaned closer.
‘’You know, I’ve been thinking…maybe it’s time we stop keeping this between us. You deserve to be happy, Clay. Out loud. Not just when it’s the two of us’’. Clay’s heart thudded. He wasn’t used to being seen – not like that. But when he looked at Jeff, at the easy confidence in his eyes mixed with genuine care, he felt the fear shrink a little bit.
‘’Justin actually asked me the same question a few days ago’’, he chuckled quietly and took Jeff’s hand into his own. Squeezing it. ‘’Lets do it’’.
…
It happened naturally. They were standing in the kitchen, because Jeff wanted another drink, when Zach made some ridiculous joke. Clay laughed – like really laughed. So, Jeff leaned in, hand finding Clay’s, their fingers lacing together like it had always been meant to be. His thumb stroking over the back of his hand slowly as he lifts their joined hands up to kiss them.
At first, nobody seemed to notice, not like they never held hands before.
The Jessica, walking by with a plate of chips, froze mid-step. Her eyes widened, then softened into the biggest grin.
‘’About time you idiots’’, she said loudly enough for the others to hear. The room turned towards them. For a split second, Clay felt panic rise – every instinct screaming him to let go, to retreat. But Jeff gave his hand a small squeeze, steady and sure, and Clay stayed.
‘’Yes…we are together’’, he announced shyly. Justin let out a low whistle, annoying his brother with it. Tony smirked, also unsurprised. ‘’Called it months ago’’.
Clay looked at him.
‘’What do you mean, months ago –‘’. But Zach interrupted him by clapping Jeff on the back loudly, grinning. ‘’Finally, man. Good for you both’’. Clay’s cheeks burned. He looks up to his boyfriend desperately to be saved from this endless teasing.
Jeff had other plans. He pulled him closer, slipping an arm around Clay’s waist, carefully not to press too hard where the scar was still sore. ‘’He is mine’’, Jeff said, proud and easy, like it was the most natural thing in the world.
And Clay – awkward, anxious, always second guessing – blushed even harder. ‘’You can’t just say that!’’. Everyone bursts out into snickers and amusement about Clay’s shyness.
He leans up anyways and gives his partner a quick peck. Both smiling brightly at each other afterwards.
…
The party at Jessica’s had ended with laughter and hugs, but Clay was grateful when Jeff drove him home – only instead of Clay’s house, he pulled into his own driveway. ‘’Sleepover?’’, Jeff asked, casually, though the look in his eyes said he’d been planning this al along.
Clay smiles. Even though his ribs still ached, his body was heavier than he liked to admit, and his brain was always running a mile a minute, he said, ‘’Yeah. Sleepover sounds good to me’’. Jeff smile was worth it.
But is room…it was a mess. It looked a lot like Justins side of the room. Though it smelled faintly of clean laundry and whatever cologne he always wore. The lights were soft, the ped piled high with blankets.
Jeff kicked off his shoes, switched into a pair of sweats, tossed a box of pizza onto the nightstand and started flipping through Netflix. ‘’Pepperoni, extra cheese. Just how you like it’’, he said. ‘’Oh, and take whatever sweats you want.’’
Clay grinned and opened the closet, grabbing the comfiest sweats he could find and collapsed next to Jeff after changing. ‘’I thought you hated extra cheese’’.
‘’I do’’, Jeff confirmed , shrugging with a crooked smile. ‘’But you don’t’’. Clay shook his head, cheeks heating, and he took a bite. The movie started – something Jeff insisted was a ‘’classic’’ but turned out to be half explosions, half terrible dialogue.
Clay kept laughing at the wrong moments, and Jeff kept laughing at Clay’s laugh. Before long, the pizza was forgotten, the movie a low background hum. The younger shifted carefully against Jeff, testing the limits of his already strained body. Jeff immediately adjusted his position, sliding an arm around him, tucking Clay against his chest with gentle precision.
‘’You good like this?’’, he asked softly, his breath brushing Clay’s hair, while he strokes over his arm. ‘’Perfect’’, Clay murmured, melting into the warmth. Relaxing for the first time in a few hours.
Tey lay there in comfortable silence, Jeff’s fingers drawing absent circles on Clay’s arm.
Then he had to chuckle, ‘’So, when are we doing tutoring again? I still don’t get half the stuff in English lit.’’
At hat Clay had to softly laugh against the others chest. ‘’You mean you don’t understand it, or you just want an excuse to spend even more time with me?’’ God, his boyfriend was such an idiot. But Clay loved it.
Jeff tilted his head, grinning down at him. ‘’Both’’
Clay rolled his eyes but smiled, heart swelling. ‘’Fine. Tomorrow. But I’m making you actually read the book this time’’. Jeff kissed Clays temple gently. ‘’You’ve got yourself a deal’’
The movie rolled on, long forgotten, as the two of them drifted into the kind of quiet only trust can bring. Clay felt safe and Jeff loved that he made him feel safe.
And that night, wrapped in each other’s arms, the world outside didn’t matter. ‘’Hey stop stealing my blanket!’’, Clay grumbles annoyed.
‘’You’re blanket? This is my bed!’’
Yeah, life was very good at the moment.