Hell Above

The pair are seated at a booth in one of the dinkiest restaurants on the outskirts of town. They come here a lot, partly because Jack doesn't have to worry about running into people who know of him or his father in this part of the city, but mostly because Alex really likes the food here.

There’s a large supreme pizza on the table between the two, majority of it already eaten. Jack’s just glad that they’re finally eating something that isn’t pasta for once. Alex is laughing around a bite of pizza at something Jack just said, and the younger man can’t help but grin at his best friend, watching as the blonde tries (and fails) to hide his pink cheeks by holding up his half eaten slice of pizza in front of his face.

“You’re such a dork.” Jack laughs at him, watching as Alex scrunches up his nose in response as he swallows a bite of pizza.

“At least I’m cute.” Alex grins, honey eyes light and happy as Jack and him banter back and forth.

Jack just smiles over at him, shaking his head a little as he agrees, “Yeah, you are.”

Alex ducks his head down, and Jack watches in delight as a blush paints the other man’s cheeks again. It feels really good to be like this, laughing and joking together without anything interfering. It’s truly been a while since he’s seen Alex so happy and carefree, and Jack can’t help the swell of emotions that surge through him as he hears the other boy laugh again, especially after seeing how distraught Alex had been last night.

The two finish their meal in a light silence, soft smiles still present on both of their faces, and when Jack wraps an arm around his shoulders as they walk down the sidewalk towards Jack’s car after they leave, Alex can’t help the heat that spreads across his cheeks once again.

-

It’s sort of a funny thing, Alex thinks later that evening, while he lies awake as the morning hours creep closer – It’s sort of a funny thing that he and Jack are friends at all. From the very beginning, as Alex can recall, the two just clicked, despite those first few months when Alex thought Jack was an asshole and refused to acknowledge him. Alex knows now that that isn't even remotely true, and most of the time it’s Alex being an ass out of the two.

The funny thing though, about their friendship, is the fact that it’s totally ridiculous. Who would have ever guessed that a prostitute and the son of one of the richest business men in New York would become friends, let alone friends as close as he and Jack are? Maybe it was fate, or some other super natural force like that that brought them together. Alex doesn't even really care, he realizes, he’s just thankful that he has Jack, and that Jack is too stubborn and in too deep to leave him now.

Alex rolls over, away from the dull light that never ceases from the picture window along the far wall of Jack’s bedroom. Even in the middle of the night, there’s always a constant illumination from it. He used to hate that window, would never be able to sleep due to the light it let in. He guesses he just grew used to it over the years, and it’s not even a passing thought for him now, just a permanent fixture in his life.

Jack wraps an arm around him as Alex scoots closer to the younger in bed, smiling to himself as Jack pulls him closer to his body in his sleep. The younger is snoring lightly, and Alex would think it was horrendously annoying, but honestly he just finds it really cute at the moment. He presses against the other boy, tucking his nose against Jack’s chest.

The dull ache of his back brings him out of his head though, reminding him of what he’d managed to block out so far tonight. Alex sighs, closing his eyes. He wishes that he knew how to explain to the younger how grateful he truly is to have him. Alex isn't stupid, he knows that if he and Jack hadn't met, he would be homeless, turning tricks each night to just get something to eat. Alex knows he will never be able to thank Jack enough for everything the other man’s done for him, inviting him into his home, taking care of him, but most of all, just loving him when he doesn't even love himself.

It took a really long time for Alex to get used to Jack. At first it was awkward, they hadn't even known each other that long by the time Alex moved in, the only reason being that he was kicked out of his shitty one bedroom apartment and had nowhere else to go. Jack had welcomed him with open arms, letting him sleep on his couch each and every night. Alex had never really planned to live with Jack permanently, but when the six month mark rolled around and Alex was still camped out on Jack’s couch each night, the pair just silently assumed Alex wasn't leaving anytime soon – not that Jack had wanted him to anyways.

Alex wasn't used to the affection Jack gave him, had never experienced anything like it before. Not even anything as simple as hugs, even those were out of place and foreign to him at the time. Growing up with a spiteful, alcoholic father, and having his mother walk out on him and his dad when he was only about nine, Alex had never had a loving family, and had skimmed through school with shit grades and barely any friends as well. So when he wound up living with Jack, the boy really didn't know how to react that first night when Jack had pulled him into the apartment and straight into a very sincere hug.

Over the years Alex got more comfortable with Jack, allowing the dark haired man to get inside his skin, find out all the things Alex kept pent up in his head. They learned everything about the other, from their childhoods, and teen years, relationship with parents, and biggest fears, to how much mayonnaise to put on the others’ sandwich.

It’s the most cohesive relationship either have ever been a part of, and both are more than thankful to have the other in their life. Somewhere along the way, in between those 5 years together, the two had managed to surpass a lot of the boundaries typical best friends have. They’d never kissed, though, or done anything further than that. It was simply a lot of cuddling and flirting, the later mostly on Jack’s part.

Jack shifts, twisting so that he’s tucked closer to Alex, his head resting against the blondes’ on the pillow. Alex smiles softly, opening his eyes to look up at Jack’s face in the gray of the room. The other man is handsome, Alex is well aware of that. The younger is cute, but not in a childish way. He’s attractive in a way that expands beyond just ‘cute’ or ‘hot,’ his looks falling somewhere in between the two, a perfect balance in Alex’s eyes.

The blonde male, on the other hand, has never had the highest self-esteem, and with the way he was treated as a child, and the business he got himself into, it really is no surprise. He just can’t find anything to really like about himself, instead seeing only what he discards as flaws. He knows Jack disagrees, they've had plenty of arguments on the topic throughout the years, but Alex just can’t figure out why Jack thinks he’s so special.

Alex closes his eyes again, tilting his head back down to rest against Jack’s chest, and then brings an arm out to wrap securely around the younger’s waist. While Jack had been with his father this afternoon, Alex had done a lot of thinking. He hadn't been able to get what Jack asked last night out of his head, and it was still there, in the back of his thoughts, right now. He can’t even really believe it himself that it’s been six years since he’s had sex that wasn't with a client, that wasn't because he was being paid to do it.

Somewhere along the way, Alex supposes, he just lost the drive. He wonders if he can get it back, if he even wants to. It would probably be beneficial, he thinks, in the future. If he ever stops whoring, and actually wants to find a sexual release, he should probably get over the emotional baggage now, rather than later. And the only person Alex would ever consider to help him with it, happens to also be the one that brought it up.

Alex knows Jack will do a lot of things for him, but the blonde isn't sure if he’d be willing to do this. He really doesn't want to fuck up what he and Jack have going, and asking for sexual favors is probably in the category of ‘things that you do not ask if you want to maintain a normal friendship.’

Whatever, Alex thinks as sleep pulls him under, this friendship has never been normal anyways.