𓅭𓅭 maddox cooper

Everything had to be perfect. John-Paul was making up double for what he'd done at the auction, and it was their first Valentine's together, so it had to be just perfect. He was glad Maddie had been so willing to keep her brother out of the house for the day so he could set-up, but he was running out of time. He checked his watch and nervously covered its face when he saw just how little of it he had left to....

He glanced around the condo and realized everything was done. Red, pink, and white decorations covered almost every space. Candles littered the coffee table around their oh so romantic fondue setup. A bottle of champagne, chilled over ice with two glasses needing to be filled, sat nearby. Duck's favorite movies sat stacked by the t.v. ready, in order of preference, to binge. Blankets lay dormant on the couch, waiting to wrap up the couple in their warmth.

JP only had one thing left to get ready. Himself. He headed for the bedroom and threw on the matching pjs he'd gotten them, chuckling softly when he saw himself in the mirror. Maybe this was going to be too much. He was in the middle of debating a change when he heard keys in the door. So much for second guessing.

He grabbed the second set of clothing and rushed out toward the front door, setting the pajamas on the couch as neatly folded as possible on the way. "Hey," he greeted, only slightly out of breath. "You guys have a good siblings Valentine's?" he asked with a glance Maddie's way, hidden knowing in his eyes.

"Lunch was great. And so was the library and the animal shelter and main had some great sales. We did pretty much everything we could think of," Madison answered happily, hopeful she'd kept him out long enough for JP to get what he needed, done - the short, silent nod was all the confirmation she needed. "I love you Duck, but I'm beat. He's all yours."

Shutting the door behind her as they said their goodbyes, John-Paul turned all his attention to Duck. "I hope Maddie didn' wear ya out too much 'cuz I got a lil' somethin' planned for us," he said as he wheeled him further inside, the set-up now revealed. "I know it ain't much," he started, sounding almost exactly as he had when giving Maddox his Christmas gift. "But with as crazy as things've been I though' maybe a nice nigh' in migh' be a good idea for us," he went on explaining with a bit of nervousness.

Although anticipation filled him throughout the long afternoon, Maddox enjoyed every minute spent with his twin. Maddie was literally his best friend ( outside of all his other best friends ).

The pajamas! A man after his heart! He watched John-Paul's face with a wide smile as Maddison beat him to answering the question. At his twin's goodbye, Ducky quickly turns his head to look up at them. "I love you too Mads. It was the best siblings Valentine's." Maddox grins as they leave shutting the door behind them.

"I always have energy for you. You're literally the love of my life." Ducky reminded him as he took the offered pair of matchig pjs. "And this is disgustingly sweet." The set-up, the pajamas, the champagne the... fondue! He loved every bit of it.

"Can I ask you to marry me, again?"

[txt: Duck] I just meant maybe you're drawn to something there. Like I could go even further and point out JP and Jack both have names that start with "J-O". Weirder.

[txt: Duck] We just want what's best for you cause we love you.

[txt: Duck] Like you love JP. 😘

[txt: Duck] Who is definitely the better of the two "J" choices btw.

[txt: Madi] Who's the flavor of the month? Did you meet her in yoga or on set?

[txt: Madi] ....

On Valentine's Day, a package arrives at his door, as one does every year. A plain, white card accompanies it, with 'from Fitz' in cursive on the back, and a short, personal message;

Ducky,

I do hope your recovery is going smoothly. Whenever you have the time, let's grab a bite to eat? Wherever you wish, in any corner of the world, my treat.

Happy Valentines,

Fitz

The following gifts are included within the wrapped package:

"Hey Cupid, I got your package. We'll go wherever you want, when you want." Ducky insisted on flipping the script. Fitz was always trying to treat others. Maddox had to make sure his friend was treating himself too! "So why don't you figure out what your heart truly desires and I'll be glad to go for a ride."

The only safe person Fitzroy could visit — and wanted to see, if only to keep abreast of how they were doing — was Maddox. Ducky had his own problems right now, he wasn't going to worry about Fitz's, and that was precisely what the Englishman felt he needed.

Some fresh air. To breathe.

So, he brought Ducky to the pier, so they could sit and talk together. Fitzroy kept spending a lot of his time in recent days either on his boat or at the pier, the water always helped. That, and music. A saxophone sound in the middle of the ocean, mixed with gentle lapping waves, was the ultimate balm.

"I'm fine." He assures Fitz with a soft smile. A week ago, no, Maddox would've been looking for an excuse to get out of the chair. But he'd started to accept that he might be stuck with this injuy for longer than he'd realized and his restlessness started to quiet. His expression brightens as he thinks about Valentine's. "We had a night in. Fondue, candles, movies. It was all very romantic."

From X

( @duckyisms )

Send “#” for a RANDOM text.

[txt: Duck] Not that I think having Jack in your life is a good thing AT ALL, but. I was just thinking. You have a thing for guys whose names start with 'J'. Weird.

[txt: Madi] Everyone seems to have an opinion about my dating life

[txt: Madi] 🙄🤨😒

From X

( @duckyisms )

Send “✉” for a text that WASN’T SENT.

He paused in the doorway when Duck caught him trying to sneak in bed. A smile tugged at his lips just seeing him, though sadness lingered in his eyes. "Sorry. I was tryin' ta be quiet," he replied, heading fully into the room.

John-Paul kicked off his shoes and took off his shirt, tossing it to the ground before adding his pants to the pile and sliding into bed with Maddox. His heart was pounding so hard he was sure Mad could hear it as loudly as he could. John-Paul wrapped his arms around his boyfriend fiancée and snuggled into his chest, inhaling deeply. "I missed ya tanight," he admitted freely, his voice muffled against Duck.

JP leaned back enough to see Maddox, gently taking hold of his face and pressing a kiss to his lips. His thumb ran across Duck's mouth lovingly before his touch slid to rest at his hip. How could he have been so stupid? Fucking them both so royally. "I got somethin' I need ta tell ya n'I don' want'cha ta get too mad at me when I do," he started, ripping the bandaid off sooner rather than later, his grip gently flexing against his hip. Nervous didn't begin to cut it.

He dropped back on the bed with a deep breath, his hand going to his scar to soothe the offbeat drumming now tightening his chest. "I fucked up. Bad," he blurted out, a small grimace flashing through his features as a particularly tight clench gripped at his heart. "I bid higher than I meant to on Nate," he admitted, rolling his head to the side to finally see Maddox, his brow furrowed with worry.

He felt like he was going to vomit.

He was glad to have Jp resting against him and admittedly, he felt much safer than he did at any other point in his day. The world might be on fire but at least when Ducky was in his fiancée's arms none of that seemed to matter.

Ducky's leg moved in reaction to Jp's hand on his hip. He lifted it to entangle Jp more against him as he processed the strange comment. "I won't." He gives his assurance as soon as Maddox realizes this is something serious. Ducky tries not to adjust in fear it will scare Jp off of whatever he's about to say. "It's okay." Jp's only started to give the details of what happened and Ducky is already offering absolution of his percieved sins.

He's awake at this point, chest heavy as he takes in Jp's obvious distress. As if he could take the guilt away and hold it himself.

His stomach does a roller coaster loop de loop as Jp finishes his explanation. Okay--things were bad; but it wasn't... that bad. It wasn't life endingly bad. And Maddox figured, anything just short of that, he and Jp could manage to find their way through. He just hopes that Jp sees things the same.

"I see why it happened." Maddox offers comfortingly. His hand rubs against Jp's arm and the other holds his hip. "And... if we had to get fucked.. I'd rather it be for that reason." Ducky assures him. "Helping a friend." He leans forward to give Jp a kiss on the lips, a further assurance that things would be okay and please baby take a breath.

"Thank you for not keeping this a secret." The only way Ducky would truly have been upset by this situation. "It's life, baby... We'll figure it out."

From X

( @duckyisms )

He was going to kill him.

He was going to break up with him.

He was going to kill him and break up with him and hate him.

John-Paul stood outside of Duck's door, key in hand, just staring at it, unable to do anything except convince himself that the moment he stepped foot inside it was a going to be over for them. How had he missed the extra zero? Spending his own savings was one thing but now he owed his life to Sada Vang all because one extra, fucking, life-changing zero. How in the hell was he going to explain all of this to Maddox?

He was a dead man walking.

Well, rather standing.

As much as he talked about saving the enviroment and healing their broken little world, Maddox had never been able to be alone at home without the comforting background noise of the television. It was the light from the tv that allowed Ducky to see a shadow in the other room, assuring him he was correct in thinking Jp was home.

"No, which is why we haven't been talking about him. I mean he just got out of the hospital and he's still only half alive or something, maybe? I don't know. Haven't heard much about him. I think someone spotted him feeding the ducks with Aggie and their friends, and that was super lame I didn't even post it. Who care about feeding ducks? Like yeah, sure, I know you guys are all banged up, but like... you can still bang and mack on the wrong people, and do something. I feel like even with all the almost dying, Maddox could totally destroy some of these guys in a 1 vs 1."