Extra Cash
Ultimately_Vibing
Chapter 3
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
'The City's Jewel'. Cole was back again. This time, armed with a small flower made of glass, stained with funky blue swirls.
God knows why he was asking Jay out at the workplace.
It just felt... right, somehow.
Sure, he had to pay 20 bucks for it, but there was just this nagging at the back of his head that this is where they should be.
It had been weeks since they last spoke properly. The other ninja had noticed the growing discomfort, trying to pry, but it seemed both he and Jay were keeping a tight lid on this whole situation.
The absence had been what really pushed Cole into thinking about what Jay meant to him. How much he missed Jay's babbling, his teasing, his loud, loud mouth. How many things he associated with Jay; he hadn't touched that slice of cake in the fridge because it tastes like the way Jay makes him feel, and he couldn't watch his favourite TV show because that was THEIR show, he couldn't play his favourite game because Jay usually watched and commentated, he couldn't drink tea, because it makes him think of Jay's warm smile.
Cole missed him.
Cole likes him. In a different way to how he likes the others.
Ugh. He never had been very good at crushes.
'Crushes'.
It sounds so childish. A tad fickle.
This is more than that.
Just... overwhelming affection.
"You can go up."
Cole nods.
He'd timed it so that he'd be Jay's last customer of the day.
"Hey honey, I'll be with you in a minute."
"It's me." Cole calls back to him.
The door opens after a few seconds.
"I'm not having sex with you."
"I know! I'm just here to talk."
Jay raises a brow at him. "You are aware I'm working right now."
"I know, I know, I just... it felt like I should tell you everything here."
Jay unfolds his arms, sitting on the bed, inviting Cole to do the same.
"The floor is yours."
"Cool. So, uh," Cole takes a deep breath, "I've missed you. A lot. And I've also been thinking a lot. About you. And stuff. Did you know I think about you even when I don't mean to? Like... I can't even play Mario Kart, because you're usually there, making fun of me or something. And I think about you when I drink tea. And, uh, just a lot of stuff like that. So, I was thinking, and I realised that - well, first of all, you're so stupid. You need some higher standards. I am almost certain you deserve a relationship with someone much better than me. I'm shit at romance and all that, and I'm kind of mean sometimes. And you're so... Jay. That's, uh, an adjective now. For when someone's really cool and shit. Wait, hold on, I had a point, uhh - Oh! Yeah. I want to be better. For you. If you'll still take me. And! I bought you something!"
Cole presents the glass flower, holding it out in his palm.
Jay doesn't say anything for a long time, but he is a little red.
"Wow..."
"Wow?"
"I cannot believe you paid 20 bucks to tell me you want to date me as we sit on a bed where I fuck people for extra cash."
"I dunno! It just felt like the only place I could say everything."
Jay reaches out, taking the flower. "This is cute."
"Yeah! Like your eyes."
Jay smirks at him. "Shit at romance, my ass. I think you're doing great."
Cole feels his face burn.
"Kiss me. And then take me out. And then you can fuck me." Jay caresses his cheek. "Free of charge."
