Don't Panic (Jalex)

Vegas But Like In The Context Of Remembering Sunday

The smell of eggs fills the kitchen on the quiet Wednesday morning. Or at least Rian is pretty sure it's Wednesday. It's kind of hard to keep track these days.

Zack is making breakfast as he quietly informs Rian of the events of the night before. Alex is still asleep upstairs, but Rian and Zack are still trying to stay aware of their surroundings. They know Alex won't react well to the news.

As the two lovers speak, Zack describes his concerns of Jack's health. He tells Rian of the dark circles under Jack's eyes and his dirty, matted hair. Zack also tells Rian of the possibility of Jack being followed, and what little he knows about the false military camp Jack has been trapped in.

Rian does his best to calm Zack's nerves, but their conversation is cut short by a certain brown-haired someone in pajama pants entering the room. Alex looks exhausted as he makes his way to the fridge and pulls out a milk carton. He smells what's inside and then holds it far away from his face. "Milk's gone bad again," he mumbles tiredly.

Rian sighs as he watches Alex dump the now chunky substance down the sink before throwing the empty carton away.

"Hey, Lex!" Zack greets cheerfully as he separates the food into four servings.
Alex frowns as he looks over Zack's shoulder.

"I think you miscounted those plates," Alex says as he grabs silverware to set the table with.

Zack ignores Alex's comment and sets a plate down at Alex's usual seat at the table. "You should eat."
Alex simply grumbles incoherently as he sits down at the table. He mutters a quick thank you to Zack before eating breakfast.
Rian sits down across from Alex and starts playing with his food, catching Zack's attention. "Rian, you're a grown man. Don't play with your food."

Zack sets an empty spot at the table before sitting down next to Rian. Alex looks between the two of them, obviously confused.

"Okay," Alex says finally. "You guys are acting weird. What the hell's going on?"

As the third wheel of the group, Alex has spent a lot of time studying his friends. Rian never plays with his food and Zack always just leaves breakfast to be self served.

A tense silence settles over the room as Zack glances nervously at the full plate sat in front of the empty chair. Alex takes note of this and suddenly the weird accident seems like a horror story.

"What's that for?" Alex asks, nodding toward the empty seat.

Rian and Zack exchange an anxious look, having a whole conversation with just their eyes.

"Well..." Rian says slowly, "it's actually for Jack."
Zack cringes at the sound of Alex's fork falling onto his plate.

"You're kidding," Alex practically growls as he stares at his food with distaste.
"No," Zack sounds almost apologetic. "He showed up late last night while you and Ri were asleep. He's in pretty bad shape, Alex."
"How bad?"
"Alex-" Rian warns.
"Bleeding our of a gaping wound bad?" Alex asks. "Or just mentally fucked up. Because, ya know what, I'm mentally fucked up!" Alex pushes his plate away and stands up from his seat. "I can't deal with this right now. Thanks for the food Zack, but I can't even look at him right now."

Rian and Zack watch sadly as Alex storms out of the room.
Rian shakes his head and grabs Zack's hand. Sometimes it really seems like he and Zack are raising two idiot children. Maybe they should loon up parenting tips, because they're not doing a good job. Zack smiles reassuringly at Rian and the depressing atmosphere lifts.

At least until Jack walks in a few minutes later.

He's still in the clothes he was wearing the night before and somehow he looks even more exhausted than before.

Zack and Rian greet him with a smile, but Jack sees the half eaten plate of eggs in front of the empty chair that's been pushed away from the table. His glasses nearly slide off his nose when he lowers his head, walking to the plate Zack had set for him. The food is cold now, but Jack doesn't care, it's the first real thing he's eaten in god only knows how long.

"Alex left some of your old clothes in your old room," Rian says, trying to break the depressing silence. "It's just the few things you left behind, but it's a change of clothes at least."
Jack nods, though he's not really listening.

Jack knew Alex wasn't going to want to see him when he got back, he was just kind of hoping he would be wrong. Now it seems silly that Jack could ever think he'd get Alex wrong. Jack knew Alex better than he knew himself.
How could he possibly think Alex would be over Jack leaving?

"Sorry your food got cold," Zack tries, "I didn't realize you were going to sleep in so late."
"It's okay," Jack mumbles. "Thank you."
Zack nods grabbing his now empty plate. He then stands up from the table and grabs Rian's empty plate, placing a kiss on Rian's cheek before making his way to the sink.

Jack drags cold food across his plate as his eyes begin to well up with unshed tears. His glasses hide it, but not well enough. Rian's seen Alex try to hide blotchy skin with cheap makeup and choke back tears while taking way too many shots. A pair of emergency glasses are practically nothing compared to the extremes Alex would go to after Jack left for the fake military.

Rian sees all.

Jack wipes his nose with the sleeve of his hoodie and then laughs quietly to himself as he stabs his food with the fork. "You two are like a married couple," Jack barely whispers.

Zack doesn't hear him as he washes the dishes, but to Rian it's the loudest sound in the room.

The sound of heartbreak always is.

Rian studies Jack for a while until his eyes catch sight of a silver chain around Jack's neck. Jack had never been much of a jewelry guy, so it caught Rian off guard.

He follows the chain down to a circular charm.

Jack catches Rian staring, and shoves the necklace into his shirt, but too late. Rian knows what an engagement ring looks like. He even remembers the jewelry store Jack had purchased it from. Rian had been there to help pick it out.

It was then engagement ring Jack was going to give Alex on the tour.

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