#geoffxjack

Michael had his glasses pushed up in his hair and he was squinting at his piece of paper His tongue was peeking out of the corner of his mouth, and the way he was holding the paper so tightly was sure to leave creases. Ray kept trying to tell him, but Ryan had taken the Puerto Rican to the kitchen sink and was attempting to scrub the red off the boy's hands. It almost looked they were trying to hide evidence from a murder.

Geoff did his best to shake that image from his mind as he took in the pure happiness that seemed to radiate from them. Even with his kitchen destroyed right before dinner there was no way he could get upset at them. Or, more specifically, get upset at Ryan for bringing the paint set into his house. The man kept spoiling their kids and Geoff was pretty sure eventually the three lads would leave their parents to go live with their "cooler" uncle one day. (He'd already caught Ray trying to sneak out to spend the night over there once.)

Resigning himself to his fate of having to clean this with the one hour before dinner left, he walked over and picked Gavin up off his husband. The kid put green all down his favorite shirt and got it on his hair as he squirmed, but Geoff just laughed. Ryan turned to him with an apologetic smile and he did his best not to flip him off. Even though it was extremely tempting when it was clear that the man didn't regret this in the slightest. Instead he gave all of his attention to his kid. "Are you painting your Pops for a reason there, buddy?"

"I wanted to make him like Elfie." Gavin told him.

"There's no one named Elfie, Gavin. Idiot." Michael told them, putting his glasses down. "He means the green witch."

"Elphaba!" Ray shouted out over the water.

"So you think I'm wicked Gav?" Jack pouted.

"Nooo! Pops I think you're a witch!" Gavin frowned, crossing his arms and spreading the green more.

"You think I'm a witch? Why?"

"Because Kerry said that sometimes you act like a witch and because your beard is full a magic."

"Kerry said what?"

"Uhhh.." Ryan at least had the decency to look guilty. "It's not what it sounds like?"

"And I was talking with Ray and we agreed that Pops had to be magic because he puts up with Da all the time."

"Hey! I'm right here." Geoff said, putting Gavin down. 

"And he never yells at us." Agreed Ray.

"And Pops never takes away desert." Michael chimed in.

"Jack, they've all turned against me!" Geoff held a hand to his heart, and put the back of his palm against his forehead. "Forsaken by my own family!"

"It's okay Geoff. I still love you." Jack laughed as he stood up and kissed his husband's cheek. "Sorry about the kitchen."

"It's alright. We were talking about painting it anyways, right?"

"So what shall you cook for dinner when the boys don't love you?"

"Well, I mean, if they don't love the cook I could always make brussel sprouts..."

"Da! Da no, come on you promised today would be chicken nuggets!" Ray whined.

"Daaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa, you don't even like brussel sprouts." Gavin added.

"C'mon we love you Da, we promise, now can we please have chicken nuggets for dinner? Please? We'll get cleaned up real good and everything!" Michael pleaded, placing his work of art down on the table.

"Well..."

"Pleaaaaaaaase?" The three of them chimed and it was not fair. There was no way anyone could ever say no to these three all aiming their puppy eyes at them at once. Even Jack had already given in, and had started to clean up the mess.

"Alright. Go get cleaned up with Uncle Ryan. And don't leave Edgar in the bathtub this time please, Michael? It's hard to get him out of the drain." 

"I didn't leave him, he had to be in there for protection!" 

"Against what?"

"Uncle Ryan! He's crazy!"

The place smells a lot more like sweet coffee then the snobby place he usually visits. It's got a warmer, more comfortable air, and Geoff actually finds himself relaxing and taking time to read the menus posted on chalk boards nailed into the walls. Each item had clearly been hand written but it didn't seem annoying or pretentious- more homely. It helped that everything was very legible. He was still looking over the menu even when he already knew what he'd get, when the bearded man seemed to grow a voice.

"What can I get you?" The voice was deep, and just as nice as the rest of the place. The man was smiling, but it didn't seemed forced at all and Geoff actually had to stop himself from full on grinning back.

"Uh, hi. Can I get two large coffees- black, a large decaf half milk with a splash of cream, and..." He eyed the rest of the menu but nothing seemed to jump out at him and Geoff wasn't against saving his money. "That'll be all actually."

"Of course." Geoff let the rest of their conversation drown out as he took the chance to actually study the man. He had glasses but it didn't make him seem closed off- just more knowledgeable. Not in the book smart way- more in the way that he seemed like the kind of person to go to when you needed advice because the eyes behind those glasses were the kindest and most understanding Geoff have seen in his entire life. Which was nice- most baristas didn't care nor understand that some of their customers needed their coffee before they could fully function. He tried to learn the rest of the man's face by heart but the coffee was ready and paid for far too fast.

Geoff didn't have any reason to lollygag, and he really shouldn't considering the other two were already going to be pissed enough that he hadn't gotten them their usual fix. So he'd grabbed the tray of drinks and left reluctantly. As he turned to pass the window again- he caught another smile from the barista that could only be directed at him and felt his the corners of his own lips raise. It was going to be a good day. Even though when he did get to work the lack of their shitty regular coffee was immediately noticed and complained about. Geoff just flipped them off and put down the tray, picking up one of the black coffees to claim as his own.

He was pleasantly surprised when it actually wasn't bad. Even Gus stopped whining about Geoff not getting the proper caffeination for powering him when the man drank from his own cup. Though that led to the problem of him having to explain to him just why he hadn't bought their usual. His answer of "I just wanted to try something new" barely satisfied them, and he spent the rest of the day wondering if the cute barista with the beard worked a regular weekly schedule. He hoped so, because the coffee was a lovely excuse to see the man a bit more.

Besides, the coffee was a lot better. So it wasn't like he was just stopping in the same shop every morning for a man who'd caught his eye. Geoff would never do something as dumb as that. (Even though the man's smile lit up the whole room. And his eyes drew Geoff in. And his laugh was the best thing Geoff had ever heard.) Okay, so he might be but the point was no one would know because he always got the coffee alone and all he ever did was order coffee, joke with the barista, and then leave. He never even learned the man's name.

Geoff hadn't been expecting Gus to meet with him one morning because he needed 'at least one fucking hour away from Burnie or he'd will kill him and we'll be screwed'. He hadn't expected Gus to see the real reason he'd stopped in the shop. Or for him to smile before he'd even taken a drink of coffee, like he'd been shown the best secret in the world. Geoff knew he was screwed the moment Gus nudged him and told him to go sit down- he wanted to argue but if he did he really would have given Gus something. Listening to their conversation was awful, embarrassing, and Geoff couldn't wait until they left. On the bright side, when they did leave he finally knew the man's name.

Jack. Jack was the man who had been making his mornings so much better for almost a month now. Jack was also the man who now knew Geoff's name, what he did for a living, and that he was - in fact- not necessarily straight.(Geoff had made sure that when his sexual orientation became a topic he looked as interested in his phone as possible. Nothing was worse than the fact that Gus knew Geoff would still come here tomorrow because the coffee really was fucking good.)

And he did. He went in the next morning and tried to ignore the flush that wanted to work it's way to his cheeks when Jack smiled a little more familiarly than usual and gave him a wink when he turned to make the same thing he always ordered. He also tried his best not to smile back, the barista didn't even know his name- he was just flirting now because he knew it was going to get him a bigger tip. (It did, Geoff hated to admit, but the dumb not-so-subtle flirting had made his day a bit better to begin with.) Jack kept it up for a full week and Geoff was convinced he was going to go bankrupt supporting the bearded man's shop.

Then he'd walked in on Jack getting pulled over the counter and wrapped in the arms of someone he'd never seen before. Geoff had actually felt himself preparing to fight and yell before he'd turned around and stormed out. God damnit, he hadn't felt like this since he was in highschool and he wasn't young enough to be this angry anymore. Okay, so maybe it was more envious than angry but Jack hadn't looked bothered. He'd looked happy to return the tender embrace and it drove something awful straight into Geoff's throat. Jack was already dating someone clearly, so he needed to be an adult. He needed to accept it, get over it, and move on.

Geoff didn't bring coffee to work that morning but no one bugged him about it. Burnie just hugged him and Gus tried to make him laugh. It worked a little, enough that he was able to distract himself with work. They had so much to get through and so very little time that honestly he should have been more absorbed in it already. (But he'd been distracted by kind eyes behind black rimmed glasses and a soul- warming smile behind a beard and- he really had to stop thinking about it.)

He started going back to the old place, but the coffee was shit. The atmosphere felt like someone had just died, the baristas hated him, and everything about the place made him feel like vomiting or killing someone. He managed to go there for a week before he broke. Geoff was a fully grown man and he would be damned if some little crush made him fucking miserable. So he convinced Burnie to go with him. (Because it was totally a mature thing to admit when maybe you needed support, shut up.)

Burnie glared down the bearded barista who didn't look like he was having such a great day. Jack still smiled at Geoff but it didn't seem as natural as before. Geoff let Burnie order, distracted by a familiar guy in the corner. It had to be the guy who had hugged Jack before and he was giving Geoff the same glare Burnie was giving Jack. Geoff couldn't blame him- someone was making eyes at his absolutely gorgeous boyfriend and fucking christ he was no where near over this man.

He didn't understand why he couldn't move on from a man he didn't even know the full name of. One he'd never seen outside his work place who was happy and deserved to be. One who was only ever in his life in the early morning of weekdays and who Geoff went to great lengths to get to laugh. It sucked, being glared at sucked, Jack avoiding his eyes sucked, the fake smile sucked, Burnie glaring down Jack sucked, his entire morning sucked and even with the coffee he didn't really feel like he had any energy.

Gus and Burnie began to make the coffee runs after that because he just couldn't go. He couldn't visit because he was a fucking kid still and couldn't grow past someone who was taken. Even the coffee almost started to taste bitter to him because he knew that it was Jack who had made it. There had never been another barista he'd seen who worked the hours Jack did at that shop. He'd only ever seen one other man- some young kid with darker skin, glasses, and a smile that made him wonder if being a comforting person was a requirement for being hired there- working at the shop at all, and that had been on the weekends.

It takes a full month for him to go back and step in. When he does, there's that man on the counter this time and Jack looks like he's exasperated-but fondly so. Geoff almost leaves again, but god damnit it had taken so long and he could face his. He could- as long as Jack was happy. That was what was important right? So he stepped up to the counter, and his tongue caught in his throat as he caught their conversation.

"Joel, I just cleaned that counter god damnit!" Jack said, back turned.

"My ass is not going to make it any germier than the numerous amount of customers throwing their money at you and leaving their sweat everywhere." 'Joel' replied, wiggling as if to prove his point.

"Oh my god get your fucking ass of my counter or I will turn you into coffee."

"You wouldn't do that, you love me."

"You can't prove that in court."

"I don't need you, you have yet to kill me."

"I really should, you know."

"You sound like an old wife. Going to kill her husband to grab a new one because he just doesn't do enough around the house."

"And you sound like a jackass, now get off my counter."

"Do you think that's why everyone thinks we're dating?"

"...Maybe?" Jack seemed to stop and think about it, placing the bag of beans in his hands down so he could cross them over his chest. "Could also be because you tend to drape yourself over me."

"Fair. But I can't help it, you're warm and outside is fucking cold as shit."

"We live in Austin. It's not cold, you're just insane."

"It is so cold until the sun is actually up."

"How would you know? You're never outside when the sun is up. Hell, you're barely awake when that happens Joel!"

"I am so awake-"

"Nope. Don't you fucking lie to me. Look me in the eyes and tell me that-" Jack turned around only to fall silent and blush as he found himself looking at a customer who had just been idly listening to their conversation. "Geoff! Uh. Hi! The usual?" He tried to control his voice but the surprise and embarrassment shown brightly.

"Yeah, thanks." Geoff replied with a small smile and relaxed a little when Jack smiled back. The moment Jack's back was turned though, he turned to Joel. "So.."

"What?" Joel asked, eyebrow raised.

"You two really aren't dating?"

"Why does everyone think that? I bet this entire town thinks I'm fucking Jack!"

"...I'm going to take that as a no."

"No. We're not dating. I love Jack and all but too much beard for me, you know?"

"Oh. That's..." Good he wanted to say but didn't. Instead, when Jack turned back with the tray of the three cups of coffees as always Geoff smirked. "Actually...I think I want to add to my order today."

"Really?" Jack looked confused, but set the tray down and got ready to make something else.

Geoff had found Jack standing in front of Grif’s stable, talking to the wyvern in hushed tones and Grif replying with soft cries or a small rumble.

“What are you doing Jack?” Geoff asks the taguel, walking over to the two.

Jack turns to address Geoff, “I was just having a conversation with your wyvern. I must say, he is very loyal.”

“Why do you say that?”

“Because I asked him why he stays with you. He told me because he cares for you very much and considers you a part of his family and would never leave you unless he died. That’s pretty loyal if you ask me.”

Geoff chuckles, reaching over and patting Grif’s head, “I consider him part of my family as well. I would not be here if it wasn’t for him.”

“Really?”

“Yup. Dunno if you could tell, but I was a pretty reckless kid when I was younger. Would always sneak out to explore, mainly Wyvern Valley, which was very close to my village. Well, one day I was out there and these mercenaries were down there, hunting for wyvern scales. I got spotted and they were going to kill me because I knew too much. Next thing I knew, there was this loud roar and all the mercenaries were gone, scared because they assumed it was some big scary wyvern. Then this little guy comes around the corner, almost smirking. He wouldn’t leave me alone so I let him follow me home. Rest is history.”

“Interesting. Wyverns aren’t known to be that accepting of humans.”

“Well. It wasn’t smooth sailing let me tell you. Grif here was a little rebellious himself.”

Jack chuckles a little and Geoff can’t help but smile when he hears it. Jack had a nice, comforting laugh, one that made anyone feel at ease when they heard it. Jack stops chuckling and opens his mouth to say something when a ringing sound fills the air.

“Well, I’d love to hear more about that story but dinner’s ready,” Jack says. “Maybe another time?”

“Yeah, that’d be nice. Maybe, if you’re up to it that is, I could hear about what it was like for you when you were younger.”

Jack gives Geoff a small smile, “Maybe. We shall see.”

Geoff nods and the two leave the stables to head to dinner.

++++++++++++++

They didn’t get to continue their conversation for a while, one or the other always too busy to talk and many constant days of battling leaving them too exhausted to stand. The two finally had a chance to talk when they were back in Ylisstol, the capital of Ylisse. They were in the capital to restock on supplies and to allow Burnie to catch up on matters with his brother Matt and to see their mother. Jack and Geoff were just wandering around the town, looking for the supplies they needed.

“Thank you again for accompanying me around,” Jack says. “I just don’t feel safe wandering around alone in such a big city.”

“If I were in your position I would have probably asked someone too,” Geoff says. “Not many here have probably seen a taguel since the incident so one wouldn’t know how they would react. I’m honored you asked me though.”

Jack looks off to the side, “I was hoping we could continue our conversation from a the last time we had chatted.”

“Conversation? Oh right, me and Grif meeting. Well, like I mentioned last time, Grif had a little rebellious streak. He would always mess with me and my friends back in the village in little ways.”

“What did you do about those?”

“Well back then my mother was a war cleric so I would use her healing staff and lightly bonk him on the head when he did something bad. I never did it all that often but he’s a lot calmer now.”

“I see.”

“It is funny though to see him scare off the ladies that are way too stubborn for their own good,” Geoff says, chuckling.

“That sounds like something to see.”

Geoff nods and the two stop at one of the shops because Jack saw something he was interested in buying. Once buying the item, the two keep on walking.

“So, is it still alright for me to ask you about your childhood?”

“....I’ll do the best I can. I lived very far from Ylisse, in a wooded area with my warren. There were many children there along with myself, I was the oldest of the children if I remember right….”

Jack rambles on as they walk, explaining as much of the taguel tradition as he could to Geoff. He also explained that he didn’t know much about the traditions as he was just a teen when his people were attacked.

“And then not long after that was the attack.” Jack finishes.

“Wow,” Geoff comments. “I learned so much about the taguel from you.”

Jack smiles, “I’m glad you liked hearing about it. It makes me a little happy when people ask about the taguel. And that’s why I really need to keep my species alive. I want people to know and finally accept us and learn not to fear us.”

“Jack….” Geoff says before getting a determined look on his face. “Alright then, it’s settled. I’ll make sure to keep you safe until that dream is realized!”

“What? No, Geoff you don’t have to do that for me.”

“Well that’s just too damn bad because I’m doing it anyway. That’s what friends are for right? Look out for one another and help make their dreams come true?”

Jack stares at Geoff for a couple minutes before nodding, “Alright fine. But you better not get your idiot self killed.”

“Can’t guarantee anything. But you have to promise the same thing.”

“Fine. We should be getting back. It’s starting to get dark.”

Geoff nods and pats Jack on the back before leading him back to the castle where the other Shepherds were staying.

++++++++++++

Geoff was an idiot. No, scratch that, he’s probably the biggest idiot out there. He hoped that if he survived this the others wouldn’t yell too much at him.

The Shepherds were fighting a group of Plegian soldiers when they were ambushed by another, larger group of Risen, dead soldiers brought back to life by some unknown force. Geoff had ended up separated from the rest of his group, Risen and soldiers coming at him at both sides. It was hard for him to just fly out of there, as archers and wind mages kept Grif pinned to the ground lest he take life threatening injuries. The others were helping however they could: Ray was shooting arrows as far as they would go, Ryan was killing enemies from a distance using his newly bought Mire dark tome, Gavin was using his dancing to rejuvenate the soldiers to keep fighting and Michael was just destroying anything that was in front of him, making a line straight for Geoff. But he wasn’t worried about them, or himself getting hurt. It was the fact that he could not see Jack on the battlefield and that alone was enough to nearly send Geoff into a panic. He always had Jack in his line of sight when in battle and if he didn’t then Grif was keeping tabs on the taguel. But Grif didn’t know where he was either and Geoff was worried. He was so worried he wasn’t watching his back as a Risen snuck up on him, a wyrmslayer blade in his hands. Geoff hears his name shouted and turns in time to see a familiar figure leaping in the way of the sword's blow.

Blood. There was so much blood. Blood flying in the air, soaking the ground, and seeping into the now red fur of the owner that took the blow for him. As the beast falls to the ground and shifts back to his human form, Geoff spins Grif around and shouts as loud as he could.

“JACK!!! YOU'RE ALL DEAD AS DICKS!”

What happened next was a blur to Geoff, not quite remembering what happened after he saw Jack go down. Burnie tells him that he basically went berserk, destroying the Risen and Plegian soldiers like they were nothing, himself and Grif practically covered in blood when they were done. He knew friend from foe and therefore harmed none of his comrades, much to Geoff's relief. Once the fighting was over, Grif hovered over Jack’s prone form and growled at anyone that dared to get close. The only one Grif allowed close to Jack was Caleb, once he showed Grif that he meant no harm. Caleb did the best he could there but the body can only handle so much healing magic before it starts to reject it. Ryan carried Jack back to camp, Ray and Michael leading Grif back, his rider having become practically a hollow shell. He only came back to himself when he found himself in the healer’s tent, Jack laying in a cot right next to him.

Geoff scrambles out of bed and kneels down next to Jack’s. His torso was completely wrapped in bandages, as well as his left arm. Jack’s glasses were off, laying on the little night stand to the left of him. Geoff places a hand on Jack’s chest and lets out a sigh of relief when he finds that Jack was still alive.

“You idiot,” Geoff whispers, his voice cracking slightly. “You fucking idiot. Why did you do that? I’m supposed to protect you and you go and do that?  I could have dodged it! Grif’s armor could have protected him! Why did you do it?” Jack doesn’t respond and Geoff takes a deep breath, “Don’t you know how much I care about- Shit.”

Geoff groans and puts his head in his hands. He didn’t want to admit it but it was true. He was falling in love with Jack. A taguel who was probably the last of his race. He was basically dooming Jack’s race to extinction by just liking him. And if Jack liked him back? No. He couldn’t let that happen. So, Geoff did the only thing he could think of, given it probably wasn’t the smartest. He would distance himself from Jack. Geoff climbs to his feet, giving Jack a gentle kiss to his forehead before leaving the healer’s tent and stumbling to the stables.

Grif was there to greet him. Geoff didn’t have to say a thing, Grif just brought Geoff closer and wrapped one of his wings around his friend, curling around him as if to protect him from the world.

“It’ll be better this way,” Geoff says, the composure from before falling apart and tears start to run down his face. "It’s better this way. It’s better this way.”

Geoff repeats it in his head until he falls asleep, curled up against Grif.

+++++++++++++

Geoff’s avoiding of Jack lasted only about a week, and by then the whole camp was on edge. They had to deal with a mopey Geoff and a pissed off Jack, neither of the two were very fun to deal with. Geoff would just not respond, just nod or shake his head with asked something. Grif was harsher that he usually was, almost biting Miles’ hand off a couple days earlier. Jack was just plain out angry, snapping at the littlest thing or just growling and stalking off. Gavin would end up at Burnie’s tent more often, tears running down his face from something Jack had said. He knew Jack never meant them, the taguel apologizing as soon as he could, but they still hurt. Burnie was just about ready to smack them both in the head and make them get it over with, but he didn’t have to.

Jack and Geoff eventually ran into each other when they were walking through camp. Geoff took one look at Jack and tried to run but Jack was having none of it. He shifts into his taguel form and pounces on Geoff. Grabbing Geoff by the back of his shirt, Jack drags the wyvern rider out of camp and somewhere private so they could talk. No one dared to stop Jack, especially since Jack was shifted and they just wanted the problem between the two to be solved.

“You,” Jack says, his voice distorted as it always was when he shifted, throwing Geoff gently against a tree and cornering him there. “Have some explaining to do.”

Geoff tried to play it off, “I have no idea what you are talking about. Oof!”

Jack lightly smacked Geoff with a paw. “You know damn well what I am talking about! You’ve been avoiding me and I want to know why!”

Geoff stays silent, looking away from Jack, unable to look at him without seeing all the blood from that fight. The stand in an uncomfortable silence, neither of them able to say a thing. Finally, Jack gives in and sighs.

“What did I do?” Jack says. “I know you’re probably mad at me for taking that blow for you and Grif, but was it that bad of me to do it? Was I wrong to protect the two I care about most in this world?”

Geoff felt his resolve breaking under the sound of hurt and despair Jack’s voice was making. His heart fluttered a bit when Jack said he and Grif were people Jack cared about very much. He shakes his head.

“I forgave you the moment I knew you were alright,” Geoff says. “I’m avoiding you because of myself.”

“What?” Jack says. He shifts back into his human form and walks over to Geoff, kneeling down next to him.“Geoff you aren’t making sense.”

“I love you okay?!  Damn it Jack, I’ve been in love with you since that day in the market back at Ylisstol! But...but I can’t be in love with you. It isn’t meant to be. I would be causing your species to become extinct if we were to be together.”

Jack was stunned to silence, making Geoff think he had been rejected. He just smiles and tries to move past Jack to go back to the camp, possibility to hide in his tent and never come out again. Before he could get far though, Jack grabs his arms and pulls him back over to him, pinning him to the tree. Geoff is about to ask what he was doing when Jack’s lips seal over his own. Geoff is surprised, freezing up for a few seconds before relaxing and returning the kiss. After a while the two pull away to catch their breath.

“Wh..What?” Geoff pants out.

“You really are an idiot you know that?” Jack says. “Oh and I love you too.”

“But..but your race…”

“If I really am the last of my race, I’m sure I can always see if one of the ladies would be a surrogate. I’m not that much of an idiot. I’ll keep my race alive, but I want you by my side when my race is brought back.”

Jack digs into the limited pockets his armor gave him and pulls out a simple silver band with a small wyvern etched into the ring.

“Will you be by my side Geoff? For the rest of our days?”

“...Yes you sap. Yes I will,” Geoff says, letting Jack slip the ring on. “I’ll have to get one made for you.”

“I shall happily await for it.”

The only answer he could come up with wasn't one he was fond of. Because it meant a lot of things that he wasn't sure he could commit to.

The week after the short was recorded, the jokes about Team OG being the new Mavin wouldn't stop. They were literally in every let's play they recorded, in every VS, in every GO, in every behind the scenes videos..It'd even gotten to the point where they were in every podcast Jack was on. Geoff was never on the podcast, he simply didn't have the time for it anymore.

The most surprising thing about them, was that neither Jack nor Geoff actually seemed to mind them too much.

Geoff could always tell when something was bothering Jack. The man had been his friend for years, it was pretty easy to tell after a while. So watching Jack get a bit flustered and smile or laugh at the jokes was a huge weight off his chest. It gave him hope he didn't know he needed. Though he wasn't planning to do anything with that hope. Everything was fine as it was now, and nothing could possible make him take the dive. 

Except Jack and his dumb ass mouth.

He'd been listening to the podcast while working, just to give him comforting voices in the now-empty office. To be completely honest, Geoff had been mostly tuning them out. The background noise made him more comfortable, and listening required a lot of focus he couldn't afford to pay if he wanted to actually work. But then he heard his name.

"My goal in every lets play is to get Geoff to laugh. If I get Geoff to laugh at something i said then I'm good." 

It was unmistakably Jack and he felt all focus drain away. Jack felt the most important thing in a let's play was making him laugh. Geoff felt numb as he let the realization wash over him. A few minutes later they were on to some other topic and he felt the small glee rise from somewhere deep within his heart. Clearly, he'd been an idiot this entire time. As had Jack, if that statement meant what he thought it meant. His cheeks hurt from smiling the entire time he'd been working after that, and he knew it was time.

The moment Jack got to work, Geoff pulled him aside. Or, more accurately, he dragged him outside since no where inside was really private anymore. Geoff steeled himself, trying not to let Jack's confused face break his confidence. He was Geoff Lazer Ramsey, damnit, and he was fucking awesome. 

"Listen, Jack..I uh." Yet, he found himself still tripping over his words.

"Is everything okay, Geoff? Did something happen? Is everyone okay?" Jack sounded worried and kept glancing back to the Achievement Hunter window like any moment it'd open and one of the lads would be behind it and hurt. It made Geoff want to laugh, cry, and helped him relax- because he was getting worried over confessing to someone who was honestly just a big teddy bear.

"Something happened. I'm just trying to figure out how to say it and it's hard as dicks. No one is hurt though." Not yet, anyways. Geoff added mentally, having to bite his lip back from letting that slip through.

"Oh thank God. Alright, what happened?" The relief that washed over the man was so physically visible that Geoff found himself chuckling under his breath.

"Well. Fuck it. You know how Team OG's been a fake relationship joke since the damn Blaine short?"

"Oh...Yeah. Is it bothering you? We could get the lads to stop it, I mea-"

"No, shut up and listen. If it bothered me, I would have put an end to it long ago. It's kind of the opposite. I brought you out here to ask you something about it."

"Ask away."

"How do you feel about making Team OG a real thing?"

"What?"

"I mean, it's fine if you don't really feel that way. We're old as dicks and can maturely handle this but I guess I just needed to ask." Geoff shrugged and looked up at Jack, biting the inside of his cheek.

"Are you asking me on a date?"

"Shittily, yes."

"That was the worst pick up line I've ever gotten."

"Nah, you've had worse."

"Only in Let's Plays."

"Want me to give you worse?"

"As long as it means we're making Team OG..uh, what do they call it? True? Canon?"

"Fuck if I know, but definitely." Geoff shared a smile with the other man and just as they leaned in towards each other, they heard tapping on glass. Geoff sighed and didn't bother to turn around. "The lads are saying hi aren't they?"

"Yeah. I think Gavin is recording too."

"Want to give them a show?"

But when Michael starts to spend more and more time around Geoff, Jack doesn’t like it at all. He glares at the red head, silently warning him to back off. His jealousy only gets worse when Geoff cancels date plans with him to go out somewhere with Michael. Eventually it all explodes at once. When he catches sight of them, holding hands and giggling together, he loses it.

Jack pulls Geoff away from Michael and kisses him as passionately as he can, holding him as close as he can. When they move apart, he grips the man tighter to him and stares down the Jersey boy who’s laughing.

"Oh man, I was wondering how long this would take. I told you he was jealous, Geoff. You owe me like 20 bucks." Michael grins, and Jack has to take a moment to realize exactly what is going on.

"Damnit, Jack. Could a had another 30 if you’d waited one more day. Though I never pegged you for the jealous type." Geoff slams the twenty into Michael’s hand and Jack steps away slightly.

"You were making me jealous on purpose?" He asks, eyeing them suspiciously.

"We made a bet." Geoff shrugs, smirking.

"You are absolutely the worst person I have ever dated."

"Mmhmm."

Gavin had even gotten Jack to record a special slow motion video with him. Geoff was pushed out of the room when it happened, so he's not sure what they recorded but he knows that it made his youngest laugh and it's a sound he hadn't heard in a long time. Plus, with the extra money from both the raise and the split paycheck Geoff was finally able to get Ryan put on the insurance. So now the teen drives his brothers to and from school, watching over them without a fuss until he gets home. Free baby sitting.

On the 13th night of them all eating dinner together, Geoff finally calls in and quits his second job. He's got the proof now that he doesn't need it. His family is well-fed, happy, and healthy. Oddly, he finds himself including Jack in the mental picture of his family and the internal checklist he keeps. Though it's not that surprising- Jack's an attractive man who not only cares about him, but cares about the kids too. And prior feelings towards the man may play a part as well but it's not important. Or at least it wasn't when he didn't even have time for himself, let alone anyone else but his kids.

On the third week since his collapse at work, after Jack makes Ryan laugh so hard he spits out soda on everyone, Geoff knows he's going to make a move. He has a need to keep this bright man in his life. But then he's distracted because the Ray's birthday is that week. Which leads to a fun conversation with Jack.

"So are you going to get something for Gavin and Michael too?" The bearded man asks, editing a video from last week.

"No. It's not their birthday." Geoff answers, leaning back in his chair. It makes Jack pause.

"I thought they were triplets?"

"Not really. We call them that because I adopted them all at the same time, but Ray's the youngest. Then Gavin, then Michael."

"Oh."

"But anyways, Ray wanted me to give you this." Fumbling in his bag for a moment, he pulls out a small envelope covered in crayon marks and hands it to the younger man.

"What's this?"

"Open it." Geoff watches as Jack does, smiling to himself.

"He wants me to come to his birthday party?"

"Well, it's not really a party so much as just family hanging around whatever dessert he chooses this time."

"That sounds lovely, but like it should be a family affair."

"Jack, if Ray took the time to make you an invitation asking you to please be there and warning you there won't be cake, I'm pretty sure he considers you family already."

"But I-"

"Listen, if you don't want to go that's fine. If you don't consider the boys family, it's fine. You've only known them three weeks. Just think about it and give Ray a proper answer okay? He spent hours trying to make sure that invitation was just perfect."

"I....Hours?"

"Yup."

"...Why is there no cake?"

"He hates it and hates he has to eat it on his brothers' birthdays so he goes out of his way to choose something different."

They laugh together and Geoff already knows what Jack's answer will be. It's no surprise when the man tells Ray at dinner that he'll be there. What is a surprise is that Ray hugs him and then demands that Geoff trades seats with him because he wants to sit next to Jack. His birthday comes sooner than they all thought, and Ray's picked conchas for desert. Ryan gives him back his own personal xbox controller- which is now painted with roses and a white mask on it. Michael and Gavin give him a card they made together. Geoff gives him a white mask that he can wear at home, but not to school. Jack gives the six year old packets of rose seeds and Geoff isn't sure if he wants to kill the man for giving Ray something that could potentially hurt him, or kiss him for giving him something that makes him so happy. Though he will admit he's placated when Jack kneels down and explains that Ray needs to have supervision when he's taking care of them. Not for the first time, he wonders how the boys would take Jack joining them.

What he doesn't see is Gavin recording his fond look.

On the fourth week, he's going to ask Jack to dinner. Alone. Just the two of them alone in some diner or something. Except Jack's not at work, and he doesn't come over for dinner. Geoff didn't even realize how much of a presence the man had in his life until he just disappeared. He falls asleep with his hand curled up around his phone, waiting for some explanation. Some text to say Jack's fine, he's just got a cold. Or he doesn't think he needs to be around the kids anymore. Honestly, he could get a text saying Jack hates him and that'd be fine as long as he gets something.

There's nothing in the morning either.

He can't find the will to eat breakfast that day and goes to work early instead. Quickly, he learns from Burnie that Jack's in Australia. Geoff thanks his boss for telling him and spends a moment just staring at his computer screen silently. Maybe he'd been misreading the man. Maybe Jack didn't like him. Pushing the thoughts out of his head, he tried to just get through his day and ignore how his chest hurt at the thought that Jack wouldn't tell him about Australia. They weren't married. They weren't dating. Jack wasn't obligated to tell him anything.

At dinner that night, Geoff has to tell his four kids the man they were growing so fond of is in a completely different country. The triplets don't take it well. Michael calls Jack a word a kindergartener should not know, Ray takes Ryan outside so he can tend to his roses silently. Gavin waits until they're gone and puts himself in his father's lap. Geoff picks him up, stands up, and brings them to the couch. Silently they build mindlessly in Minecraft until Gavin asks what's been on his mind.

"Did Jack leave because of us?" His voice is so sad that it hurts Geoff to hear it.

"No. Jack would never leave because of you guys."

"Did he leave cause of you?"

"I...I don't think so."

"Why did he leave then?"

"Sometimes a person's work makes them travel far away from the people they love."

"Does Jack love us?"

"Yeah. The smeghead does."

"Da?"

"Yeah?"

"Does he love you?"

"Uh-Gavin there's a creeper in front of you."

"But does he love you? Cause he has to love you to love us right?"

"Gavin it's hissing."

"Oh. I blowed up, Da! I had all the iron!"

"What?!"

"I took all of the iron out of the chest!"

"Then why didn't you run from the creeper?! Dang it, kid, now we got to start again."

"Does that mean we get to play longer?"

When Ray starts getting really tired, Geoff stops eating. He makes up an excuse that he ate at work or that he's going to eat later, and makes sure his 5 year olds eat. The last thing they need is one of the kids getting sick. Ryan catches on the first week. He even tries to get a job without Geoff noticing- and he almost does, they're on the second interview process when Geoff finds out. He actually calls in sick to his night job to spend the night arguing with Ryan. It takes three hours to convince the sixteen year old that they'll be fine. That he'll be fine. That school is more important right now. It's the first night he gets anything more than two hours of sleep.

Jack notices the bags under his eyes and his exhaustion and tries to start helping Geoff with more of his work, but he doesn't want that. He's not useless or invalid he's just a little tired and he can do this. He really can. Except life smacks him in the face and doesn't allow him too because he passed out at work. In the middle of recording a video with Jack. Burnie had come to ask him about being on Drunk Tank only to find Jack picking him up and carrying him to the couch in their office.

"What happened?" Burnie was quick to grab his phone and dial 911. He didn't call it, but it was a button away. Kneeling next to the couch, he carefully took Geoff's wrist in his hand to check his pulse. Assured there was one, he moved his hand to rest on Geoff's chest to make sure the man was breathing. When his hand moved, however, he could feel ribs under it.

"He passed out. I moved him but...Burnie I don't think he's eating enough...Or sleeping enough..What if there's something wrong with him??" Jack bites his lower lip, staring at the man on the couch. "What should we do?"

"Let's find out what's going on before anything. Maybe there's a good reason or maybe he just needs more sleep or something." So they wait until Geoff's eyes blink open and he stares at the ceiling, trying to figure out where he is. When he finally does and makes to get up and leave, Jack leans over him.

"Hey Geoff. Are you okay?" He watches the panic in those eyes and knows that the other man wants to run.

"I'm fine. Now leave me alone, asshole." Geoff's voice sounds weak even to himself and Jack shakes his head, pressing his hand on top of Geoff's chest. He'd sit on him to make sure he wouldn't run but he's afraid that his weight would crush the light man.

"No. What's going on Geoff?" Burnie asks, backspacing the 911 off his phone now that it's clear they won't need an ambulance. "You fucking fainted so don't dare say it's nothing."

"What time is it?" Geoff sighs, bringing his arm up to cover his eyes. He hadn't wanted them to find out but he may not have another option now unless he wants Burnie to put him in the hospital 'for his own safety'.

"Answer my question, damn it." Burnie's eyebrows are drawn together and he's obviously irritated or thinking Geoff doesn't care about his own health. Which is pretty true- as long as his kids are fine he doesn't care.

"It's 4, Geoff. Why do you need to know?" Jack is calm, unlike Burnie, but clearly worried too.

"Take me home, Jack." He sits up once the hand allows him too, and blankly looks at them both. "Take me home and it'll make sense." Burnie tries to argue with him for a minute longer but Jack is already helping him up. Eventually even the older man just nods and tells Geoff that it better be a good reason. Jack drives and Burnie sits in the back with Geoff, trying to ask how long it's been since he's eaten a full meal or got a full night's sleep. He doesn't answer. When they get to his house and he opens the door, Burnie finally falls silent out of shock when voices ring out.

"Dad, is that you? You're home super early!" Ryan calls out and there's a thump that has to be him rising from his chair at his computer desk. Idly, Geoff wonders if his homework got done.

"Mi-cooooooo! Raaaaaaaaay! Da's home! He's home! C'mon hurry up!!!" Gavin's voice is shrill but it still makes him want to smile because the little moron just sounds so happy.

"So..'Dad'?" Jack asks first, with an eyebrow raised. Geoff just nods.

"Shut up Gavin we're hurrying!" Michael is loud but that's normal.

"I'm going to get the first hug you guys are going to miss out tonight because you're too busy fighting." Ray's voice is quiet as it travels down and Geoff has to suppress a chuckle. To his surprise, it's Ryan who makes it into the living room first. He hugs his father tightly.

"Welcome home Dad." It doesn't last for long and he steps back, looking at the other two men in their house. "Who are these guys? Are you okay Dad?"

"Yeah, I'm fine. I'll explain when your brothers are out here too." Geoff can already hear the triplets making their way down the corridor and kneels down, just waiting. Ray races in and jumps into his Dad's arms when he sees him.

"Daddy! You're really home! I missed you, Daddy." It's the loudest Geoff's ever heard Ray speak and it makes him smile, even when the boy turns his head to stick his tongue out at his brothers. "Told you I'd get first hug!"

"Ray." Geoff scolds him lightly, only to be interrupted by Ryan.

"Technically, I got the first hug." The teenager smirks down at the kid but Ray ignores him.

"Daaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!" Gavin's call of his name is more like a battle cry because he runs while he says it and hops right into Geoff's arms next to Ray. "Aw man, are you going to eat dinner with us tonight then? Ryan says he's going to be cooking and Ryan's cooking is always the tippity toppest!"

"Tippity toppest doesn't even make sense, Gavin." Michael's much calmer in his approach. He stops for a moment to eye the other adults but ignores them to hug his father. "Missed you, Pops. Who are these assholes?"

"Language Michael." Ryan scolds and Geoff raises his eyebrow. When did the teenager become the parent? Probably around the time you stopped being the parent to make sure they could eat a voice reminds him. Geoff puts the triplets down and stands up.

"Jack, Burnie. These are my kids. This is Ryan, Gavin, Michael, and Ray. Kids these are some of the people I work with at Rooster Teeth. This is Jack and Burnie." Geoff stands aside and watches as Ryan marches up to Jack, eyeing the man for a moment before sticking out his hand.

"Pleasure to meet you, Jack." He says, shaking the man's hand before moving on to Burnie. "You too, Burnie. Thank you for taking care of my idiot Dad at work."

"I am still your father you know." Geoff says, but gets ignored.

"I never knew he even had kids, but I'm surprised you're so well behaved." Burnie replies to Ryan, a small teasing smile on his face.

"Is he mocking Da, Micoo?" Gavin tries to whisper but fails miserably.

"He better not be. No one but us gets to make fun a Pops." Michael's glaring at Burnie with his eyes narrowed and it makes all of the adults laugh. Soon the triplets are ushered into the kitchen to help Ryan cook dinner.

"So do you have a wife too we don't know about?" Burnie asks as they sit down on the couch. Geoff watches Jack's face at the question and makes a note of how it looks saddened at the idea. Interesting.

"No. Just the kids." He answers, leaning back in his chair.

"Your paycheck doesn't cover everything it needs to, does it?" Jack asks quietly, trying not to look relieved that Geoff's not married.

"Uh.." He sighs and shakes his head. "Been working a night job to, since I'm being honest. Ryan tried to get a job to help behind my back but I just want him to focus on finishing highschool, you know?"

"Why didn't you ask for help?" Burnie asks and Geoff doesn't have a good answer.

"My boys are fine."

"But you're not, Geoff. When was the last time you ate?"

"Uh..."

"Slept?"

"When Ryan tried to get a job."

"Geoff. That's not healthy."

"I know, alright? But the boys need everything."

"You need to take care of yourself too. What if today was worse? Who would take care of them then? Ryan isn't legally old enough to adopt them. Your health matters, idiot!"

"I-"

"I'm sharing my paycheck with you from now on. You need to sleep and eat, damnit. No arguing." Jack speaks up finally, arms crossed over his chest.

"I don't need charity, Jack."

"It wasn't a choice or a question. You fainted at work Geoff!"

"Actually, let me talk to Matt and Gus when we get back to work. You guys have been deserving a raise for a while anyways." Burnie mutters and then stands up. Jack tosses him the keys and he's out the door before Geoff can deny his statement.

"How long have you had kids, Geoff?" Jack asks quietly.

"Uh..I adopted the triplets last year. I've had Ryan for two years now."

"Why did you keep quiet about them?"

"There wasn't really a need for anyone to find out about them. Nor did it ever come up."

"I guess that's fair."

"The better question is why are you so disappointed you didn't know about them?" As Jack's face flushes, he's saved from answering by Ryan coming to the door.

"Dad, is Jack eating with us tonight? Gavin wants to know if he should set up another place at the table. There's plenty enough made if he wants to!" The teenager smiles at them both and Geoff just nods. Ryan leaves to the kitchen again and Jack raises an eyebrow.

"If you're going to force me to accept money from you-"

"Geoff I didn't mean to be-"

"Then I'm going to force you to eat dinner with us. Nightly. Unless you've got plans with someone else. I understand if you don't want to be spending time with a lame dad."

"You're not a lame dad. Your kids are wonderful and kind a cute even. I'll eat dinner with you guys every night of the year if it means you'll actually eat."

"So to make sure I'll sleep you'll sleep here too?" Geoff raises a teasing eyebrow before giving a quick laugh at Jack's expense. "Seriously though, Jack?"

"Yeah, Geoff?"

"Thanks for forcefully supporting me."

"Sure, Geoff. That remind me though- promise me something?"

"Huh?"

"Promise me you'll quit your night job. Between the two of us there should be enough money so you don't have to worry and can sleep and spend more time with your tykes." Jack looks determined, like he'll do it for Geoff if he doesn't promise.

"I promise, you asshole. Though you're over reacting."

"When you're at risk I'm allowed to over react." It's so quiet Geoff barely hears it but it makes him smile a little as they go to eat dinner.

So when, after years of a happy marriage to the woman of his dreams, Geoff found the latent feelings bubbling to the surface, his desire flaring, it was never directed at Jack. He accepted the possibility of men long before he met Griffon, and didn’t let the idea die after her, both of them understanding that sexuality rolled and changed as easily as any other human aspect. But Jack was straight, or at least Geoff presumed so. In all their years of friendship, Geoff only ever saw women on his arm. When Geoff found himself staring at men— at a man— he vowed not to breathe a word to anyone, to keep the secret to his grave, not to disturb the peace cultivated between them. Most of the time, it didn’t bother him, and neither Jack nor anyone else bothered to call attention to it.

Their wives, though. Their wives fucking noticed.

Caiti slipped in their lives like the perfect puzzle peace, her bright optimism similar to Jack’s but without the sarcastic bite, and yet she kept up with their awful humor all the same. She and Griffon melded well, and couple dinners became more frequent than solo outings between Geoff and Jack. Same difference, in the end, though, because most dinners ended with the two women snagging tea or coffee to calm down after the alcohol and sitting in the living room or on the porch discussing who knew what, while Geoff and Jack added yet more beer to the night and laughed themselves stupid.

Whether Griffon realized first and told Caiti, or vice versa, or if they both had the idea and were relieved to find the other woman thinking the same, Geoff would never know. All he knew was the fear that struck him the day Griffon trapped him in the corner of the kitchen as he prepared waffles for them, arms crossed and eyes level.

“What’s up?” he’d tried, as innocently as he could muster under her stare.

“How are you and Jack doing?” That should have been Geoff’s first red flag. Griffon never beat around the bush. Doing so meant she knew as well as he did how delicate the situation was and just how much it could fuck them both if handled improperly.

Geoff swallowed hard as he tried to conjure an answer. “Good. Why?”

Her head cocked to the side, and her gaze narrowed. “You’ve been hanging out a lot lately. Any particular reason?” She used the tone that she brought out when she knew Geoff was hiding something important from her, usually if he forgot an anniversary. It didn’t happen often, but when it did, Griffon’s wrath brought thunder and lightning crashing down with a single breath.

Geoff let himself look to the waffles, wondering briefly if they would burn. “Well, he did just get married. Gotta mourn the loss of singledom.”

Griffon’s eyebrow arched in a way they both knew, saying, That isn’t what I meant and you know it. “What’s up with him, Geoff.” Her tone left no room for argument.

“Um.” Geoff swallowed again. “The waffles are gonna burn!” He scurried around her to tend to them, grabbing uselessly at a spatula if only to occupy one hand while he flipped the automatic waffle iron with the other. Griffon kept her eyes on Geoff all through breakfast, gaze breaking only when he left for work, and even then, he could feel her retinas burning holes in him through the window.

Shit, he was in trouble.

It made it that much harder to look at Jack, walking in the Achievement Hunter door with a pathetic, mumbled, “Hi,” as he sat down, and waved off Jack’s concerned look with an excuse about sickness. He might as well be sick, with the chewing out his wife would no doubt deliver.

This was confirmed after the eight hours it took Geoff to finish work and get home to the smell of pizza, freezing in the doorway. Cooking was his refuge, his solace, the activity he could take up when he wanted no one to bother him. Not that Griffon would have let him ignore her, but now Geoff couldn’t even shove off her looks with hands busy at the oven, or microwave, or handling bits of food and knives in a way that kept all other humans away and gave him peace.

Geoff walked in the living room to find Griffon already there, a slice of pepperoni and olive in her hand, patting the seat next to her. “Dinner’s ready,” she said, gesturing to the six pack sat beside a large, steaming, cardboard box. Geoff sat gingerly and shot her a glare.

“I know what you’re doing.”

She paused, about to take a bite of her slice, to smirk at him. “Yes. Take a few minutes to think about your answer.”

He did, because Geoff fell at every command Griffon gave him, but thinking about it only wound his nerves tighter and tighter, a coiled spring waiting to burst. Ten minutes into the meal, he blurted, with bits of tomato and bread in his mouth, “You’re going to fucking murder me.”

Griffon put her food down and turned to face him, a hand on his knee, her lips set in a thin, determined line. “No, I’m not. Spill it.”

Mustering the right words took time and effort Geoff didn’t want to expend, fumbling over his own lips, his hands gesturing back and forth to communicate what his words couldn’t and failing miserably at it. Griffon let him flounder, only staring, until, quiet and reserved, Geoff sighed his defeat, and said, with a pause after every word, “Okay. I might, maybe, want to, you know, tear off all Jack’s clothes and, I dunno, pound him into a mattress.” A hand went self consciously to the back of his head to scrap at his hair, fingers digging punishingly into the scalp.

Rather than spit ice and fire at him for suggesting his want to fuck someone besides her, Griffon beamed at the show of her success. “There, now that wasn’t so hard, was it?”

And Geoff groaned, because it was.

To make up for the lack of concern and betrayal, though, Griffon instead asked endless questions. Geoff half wished she weren’t so damn good at manipulating him, that he could lie about the whole thing without his gut twisting itself in endless knots. But he listened to each question and did his best to answer.

“How long has this been a thing?”

That was easy. Geoff could practically recall the date and time he realized he was noticing his eyes catching the bodies of attractive men as well as women in their outings at bars, more than just a simple appreciation of theirs looks. The fact it happened after so many years of marriage and so late in his life altogether prompted a scrambling mini crisis wherein he drank more than usual and thought back to see if he always felt this way, or only bothered to pay attention to that part of himself now, when everything in his life fit together so well and his brain actually had room to wonder about same sex attraction.

“A few months,” he said, giving her the short answer.

“Is it all men, or just Jack?”

That question was harder, and made Geoff put his head in his hand as he thought. In part, the attraction to Jack came after the mini crisis, when he noticed how he sounded when they bickered on AHWU, how he laughed when Jack did something stupid in a Let’s Play, the way he favored Jack rather than Ryan in their team efforts, how he smiled when Jack brought him fresh coffee in the morning. Yes, they were close friends, had been for many years. Maybe that helped disguise it. But the stirring in Geoff’s gut he suddenly started to get when Jack stretched and his shirt lifted to reveal that bit of stomach, or the warming of his chest as he watched the end of the Extra Life livestream and saw Jack tearing up with his happiness and disbelief, that was unmistakably more than feelings of friendship.

Geoff stopped watching men in bars after a while, too happy to let himself focus on Jack.

“Mostly Jack,” Geoff said, crossing his arms over his knees and bending down to avoid looking at Griffon.

“All right.” Griffon put a comforting hand on his back, her legs curling up on the couch underneath her as she stared at him. “Why didn’t you tell me sooner?”

Geoff scoffed at that. “Really, Griffon?”

She kept staring.

“Okay, okay,” Geoff said, returning his eyes to the carpet to trace out imaginary patterns in the fibers while he sorted his words. “Well, besides the message media drills about cheating—”

“You and I both know that doesn’t matter,” Griffon interrupted, a smile in her tone.

Geoff waved a weak hand at her. “Yeah, I remember that discussion fondly.” After the rushed engagement and marriage, Griffon took the time to sit Geoff down and explain exactly what her thoughts on other partners were, making sure he understood in no small part that nothing would break them up, as long as they were honest. It certainly showed now, the way she was hounding him about what Geoff kept trying to convince himself was an early mid life crisis that needed no handling other than a bottle of vodka every other weekend.

“It’s not just that,” Geoff said, quieter, lacing his fingers together and squeezing. “Jack— he’s my best friend, Grif. We made Achievement Hunter together. We’ve worked so hard over the years. And in all that time, whenever I bothered to look, he had a woman on his arm. That romantic fuck, all he ever talked about was whether she was the one, if they could get married some day. And he did.” Geoff allowed himself a small smile. “He’s got Caiti, and she’s perfect for him. They love each other so much.” Geoff sat up straight and looked Griffon in the eye. “How am I supposed to tell him this, make him think that I wish Caiti never left Australia for him?”

Griffon tilted her head. “Is that how you feel?”

“God no!” Geoff threw his hands in the air, defeated. “Why the fuck would I think that? Caiti’s amazing, she’s a fucking ball of sunshine and everybody loves her. I love her, too, you know, she’s like family.” He laid his head back on the couch, eyes sliding closed. “Jack wouldn’t know that, though. The second I tell him, he’ll think I want him to abandon her. That I want to abandon you.” Geoff chuckled, a hallow sound that didn’t ring true. “What kind of sick fuck am I to bring that kind of unhappiness to him?”

“An idiot, is what you are.”

Geoff lifted his head, eyebrow raised. Griffon had her lips pursed. “You just said it yourself. You’ve known each other years. And you really think Jack would assume the worst if you told him about this?” Her lips curled in a disappointed sneer. “You’re underestimating your best friend.”

God damn it, he hated it when she was right. Geoff pressed his hands to his face and rubbed vigorously. “What the fuck do I say, then? Because he’s not exactly going to jump at the chance to have me when his newlywed wife is waiting. They haven’t even gone on their fucking honeymoon yet, Griffon. I’m gonna puncture a hole in their marriage.”

“Underestimating,” Griffon sang. “One,” she said, holding up a finger, “don’t sell yourself short. I’ve loved your drunk ass far longer than you deserve.” And that was truer than anything else they’d said thus far, Geoff thought. “Two,” Griffon continued, bringing up a second digit, “you’re assuming he wouldn’t want you. A lot of people who’re straight end up falling for their same sex friends, Geoff. It’s called sexuality and it’s weird as hell.”

Point for her again. Geoff thumped his head on the couch. “Why the fuck can’t I just drown this in beer? That usually works.”

Griffon put a hand to his forehead, petting the tiny hair fringes that stuck up there. “This isn’t wanting to buy a sports car or pick up guitar, Geoff. Jack’s a person and he deserves to know, whether or not something comes of it.”

Geoff took in a deep breath through his nose. What he ever did in this world to deserve such an understanding wife who put up with his amount of bullshit, he would never know. If he were more religious he might say God had a sense of humor, except that the situation wasn’t so much funny as aggravating, making him want to grind his teeth together. “Besides,” Griffon said. “You might get what you want.”