blisters ; jayson

commencement II;

∴

Grayson has, unsurprisingly, ditched his travel pillow to hug it between his arms and his head lolled over, of course, to Jack's shoulder.

Jack, peeped, out of the corner of his eye that Grayson is blinking in his sleep slightly which means he isn't completely unaware of what he is doing- Once Grayson is fully knocked out, his mouth usually hangs open the size of a lion's yawn.

There is an awkward air but Jack bites his lip, wondering whether they're okay enough for this to be comfortable, or whether he should slip away from Grayson's head.

The latter jolts awake though when the plane jumps, from a slight turbulence, but Grayson is cartoonishly wide-eyed and his fingers grip the armrest from his pillow.

"Scared?" Jack says this with a smirk, shortly coming to the conclusion that he may be overthinking altogether.

And it's in natural human manner that he begins to feel haughty when he sees Grayson frightened- the animalistic desire to instigate.

"N-no," Grayson glances at him shortly, tries to glare at him with a squint but the plane jumps again and the smallest shriek escapes his mouth.

The embarrassment immediately prickles as Grayson shuts his eyes, Jack is laughing at him with that confident grin he knows he loves, but hates so much right now.

"I mean, you can hold onto my arm if it makes you feel better," Jack is teasing and he knows it.

But he really considers the possibility and in his state of mind, the plane sounds like it's breaking down to pieces so he might as well hang onto another capable, considerately strong man-

"Shut up," the blush, that fucking blush creeps onto his cheeks and his heart skips- It never used to, he never used to feel anything for Jack and now it's as if their roles have reversed and he hates it. Is Jack doing this on purpose? Is he fucking flirting with him 50,000 feet in the air?

Grayson begins to consider the offer, glances back to Aaron and Ethan who are both fast asleep and he shifts closer to Jack though the arm rest separates them.

"I have a fear of heights," he feels the need to explain himself and he glances around shyly as though everybody on the plane could hear him.

"I know."

Grayson glances back up at him, there's only a kind smile with the dimples, the scruff is growing around his chin and he awfully resembles an aura that Ethan always had about himself, and he isn't mocking him but loving and open, as always, as always.

The shivers come forth, Grayson's brain begins to turn to mush because he doesn't know if it's because of the turbulence or the butterflies in his belly anymore.

The slightly shaking fingers, quiver only visible from Jack's distance, reach for Jack's hoodie slowly and when, for the last time, the plane jumps and the pilot apologizes for the inconvenience, Grayson's arm wraps around Jack's faster than a bolt of lightning.

Jack only wants to say "aww" but it would repel Grayson back to his shell, so he lets his heart swell at the sight silently.

And swell his heart does.

Grayson removes the arm rest and sidles up to him completely, he can't even make a joke out of it anymore as he usually would, because the fear is actually real- it's one of Grayson's deepest secrets that only Ethan has access to and now, now he's just-

Jack is silent all throughout, but whenever Grayson looks back at his eyes for reassurance, they are kind and sweet and loving.