What Will Be (Chibs and Juice)

43

6:30 AM

Juice was snoring softly, sleeping in Tigs extra room. Tig and Venus stood in the door way watching him before they got the day started. He looked so peaceful laying there, all the tension gone from him.

"Should we wake him up? He's gotta be at the lot this morning." She asked quietly.

Tig shook his head no. In all the months he'd been staying with the other man, he noticed he didn't sleep much. When he did sleep he was fitful, constantly moving, or whimpering and mumbling at something. Right now he was quiet save for the snores and his body was still and calm.

"Chibs might call this morning anyway for him to come in. I got the shop covered with prospects and actual employees. Let him sleep." He put his hand at the small of her back and pulled her away from the door.

Venus sauntered into the kitchen, grabbing her apron.

"You know Alexander, if I had known the shop was covered I could have gotten a little more beauty sleep."

Laughing at her Tig started the coffee maker.

"You know I'm always up early."

"That doesn't mean I have to be!" She skoffed playfully.

The two of them sat together in the small kitchen sipping coffee and eating toast. The entire situation was odd, Tig never found himself comfortable with anyone this way before. The deal with Juice hadn't made him nearly as uncomfortable as he thought it would, he felt happy. The people around him were happy. In his gut he worried it wouldn't last long.

7:15 AM
Juice walks sleepily into the kitchen, rubbing his eyes.

"Juice? Honey you alright?" Venus asked cautiously, when she saw the redness of his face and the tears on his cheeks.

"Woah man, you alright? What's up." Tig asked with genuine concern.

"I'm sorry. Didn't mean to cry. I'm pathetic and I don't know why you're doing any of this for me." He mumbled out.

His phone was clutched tightly in his hand, Tig noted.

"You're not pathetic Juice." He spoke very matter of fact. "You hear from Chibs?"

Juice shook his head no.

"Okay. So why are you so upset?" Venus asked in a sweet voice.

His fists balled up at his sides, and his foot raised. Because how could they not understand that the stupid phone call was the problem? Tig could see the frustration on his face but had no clue where it stemmed from.

Venus knelt down in front of Juice, taking his hands in hers. His leg relaxed before he could stomp it. She worked her hands into his, unballing his rigid fists. Tig sat up straight in his chair ready to pounce in the event he should hit her.

"Now Juan Carlos you listen to me dear." Her voice stern but soft. "I know you're upset and frustrated and you probably have no clue how to explain to us how you feel."

He tried to pull his hands away, stuttering out words no one could quite make out. Venus held tight. Tig was in literal awe of the situation in front of him.

"Hush now child. You can be upset and as mad as you want to be. But you'll not be disrespectful. I don't think anger is the real feeling here. Maybe it's one that's easier for you to express?"

He nodded, even Tig nodded in agreement.

"Why don't you try to relax a little, take some breaths. Chibs didn't say what time, and you know how prison works. If we can't go today that's okay. We can always write him a letter. You can put exactly how you feel in it."