We'll Be Alright

Ch 2 - Groceries

(tw for homophobia and toxicity from a karen)

"Pica!" Jonas calls from a few aisles down. I'm looking at birthday cards- not because anyone's birthday is coming up, I just like the funny captions.
"Coming," I call back. When I find my boyfriend, he's excitedly clutching a container of Lady Gaga Oreos and bouncing. I laugh and come closer, stretching up to pet his head.
"Can we? Can we?" He asks, like an excited puppy. I nod, smiling. He cheers and runs to put them in our cart. We continue to stroll through the grocery store, occasionally stopping for things on the list.

I accidentally drift off, unintentionally drawn to a rack of kid's storybooks in the pharmaceutical section. I run my fingers over the tactile covers, transfixed on the bright colors.
"Tsk," a lady from behind me hisses.
"Pica," Jonas' hand comes down on my shoulder.
"Don't you think you should control your son? He's much too old for that sort of thing," the lady snaps. I turn around to face her and she's ushering her own kids away, like I'm a disease she doesn't want them to catch.

"I'm older than him," I say in a small voice. Jonas laces my fingers with his and squeezes.
"He's older than me. By two years," Jonas repeats, louder. "And we're dating." The woman looks even more disgusted.
"You really should keep all that at home," she sneers, gesturing at our joined hands. My chest feels caved in.
"Keep what at home?" Jonas says slowly. I can hear the rage in his voice.
"You know what I'm talking about," the lady replies snootily. She turns on her heel and struts away quickly, her children scurrying being her.

Jonas pulls me into his chest, his arms absorbing my trembles as he runs his fingers through my hair. I bury my face in my favorite spot and try to hold in my tears as he rubs my back.
"Shh, it's okay. Do you want to go home?" I shake my head. "Let's finish up these groceries and then we can go." For the rest of our trip, I cling to the back of my boyfriend's hoodie. Usually grocery shopping is fine- even if I'm in littlespace and I try to pack 32 tubs of rocky road ice cream into the cart while Jonas isn't looking. Right now, though, it feels like all eyes are on me as I shuffle behind Jonas with my head tucked low, trying to make myself appear as invisible as possible.

When we make it through the checkout line, I'm proud of myself for carrying bags like a big boy. Jojo chuckles at my determined face and I pout at him. I try to help put groceries away, but I keep getting distracted by the cat.
"Honey, put Rosie down," Jojo says gently while I'm playing with her feeties.
"She dancin'," I mumble absently. Suddenly I feel a warm hand on top of my head.
"Leave the poor cat alone," my boy chuckles. My bottom lip quivers and Rosie leaps out of my lap.
"I bad?" I whimper, eyes filling with tears.

"Oh, sweetie, no," Jojo says gently, picking me up and enfolding me in his arms. "You're not bad. You're my perfect little boy." He nuzzles my cheek and I giggle wetly, pushing his face away, tapping his horns.
"Tickles!"
"That's the point, little one!" He says mischievously, poking my cheek. "Silly little goose."
"You da silly goose," I say, poking him back.
"We can be silly geese together!"
"Yeah!"

A/N

back with another chapterrr. lady gaga oreos are a 100% valid reason to get excited
this one's sorta short because I didn't like the karen and got a bit stuck with the ending
anyway stay safe, take ur meds, and don't forget to eat some food n stuff
love u

summary of the chapter in case you had to skip:
pica starts to slip in the grocery store, and a karen assumes he's jonas's kid and scolds him for looking at kid's books. jonas confronts her about her homophobic comments and she walks away. pica regresses fully, and when they get home, he cries, thinking it was his fault. jonas reassures him.