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This Fourth of July starts for them just like most others do. No alarm set, no work. Thank God.

While Jason knows he can’t get out of bed too late, as he does actually have to be somewhere with Nick later, it is nice just to have the option of lying still for just a little longer. Head resting on Salim’s chest, listening to his lover breathe. Just existing.

Salim has even less places to be than Jason does. And while Jason lies awake preoccupied with his thoughts, Salim drifts in and out of sleep. When he’s awake, he cards his fingers through Jason’s hair, or runs them soothingly down his back – and Jason lets out a sleepy, content hum.

This continues for long enough that Salim sees the travel of the sun and shadows change across the room, before Jason rustles in the sheets and pushes himself onto his arms.

He grumbles as much from the fact that he’s lost contact with Salim’s skin, and the sound of his heartbeat. Although as his eyes meet Salim’s, Jason smiles.

Salim smiles back, hands moving to cup Jason’s face. “Happy Fourth of July, Habibi.”

Jason laughs, “Aw, Darlin’! Thank you!” He leans forward, letting Salim guide him down to his lips. Jason moves to kiss Salim’s nose and forehead. “Excited for later?”

Salim nods, “Mhm,” Nick and Jason had been organising a barbecue for all their friends over at Nick’s place (mostly because Nick’s house would have a great view of the fireworks in town without actually being there amongst the insane crowds), “it should be fun!” He stretches, grinning, “I can’t wait for the fireworks.”

They were always Salim’s favourite part.

Jason grins right back, “Damn right!” He kisses Salim once more, still not quite ready to leave the bed, even if he speaks to the contrary: “I guess I better start getting ready to go, or I’ll never make it out the house…”

Salim shakes his head, pulling Jason back in, teasing Jason’s mouth with his tongue, “Wouldn’t that be a shame!”

“Mmm,” Jason sighs into the kiss, not resisting the temptation to kiss back, “Nicky’s gonna kill me.”

Salim huffs, resting his hands on Jason hips he pushes up, until they are both sitting. “Well, I can’t have that either.”

Jason laughs, nuzzling his face against Salim’s. “Good thing you wouldn’t intentionally send me to my death.”

Salim gives a little shrug, expression teasing Jason - saying that now he’s thinking about it…, and Jason shoves his arm playfully, that’s enough of that!

“Breakfast, babe?”

The Iraqi shakes his head, “Ah, no, it’s your special day. I’ll make it.”

Jason isn’t sure that should be any excuse for Salim to be the one to make breakfast, but he’s not about to complain when Salim is the one cooking.

As Jason follows Salim downstairs, he starts to regret their decision not to decorate this year. It made sense at the time; no real celebrations would be occurring here. They weren’t even hosting Zain – he was staying at a hotel a couple of cities over, exploring with his girlfriend. He was going to be at Nick’s later though, and they had seen them both over the course of the last few days.

Still, it felt weird not to come downstairs to an explosion of red, white and blue.

He laments this slightly over breakfast, but when Salim suggests they get out some decorations Jason waves him off – again expressing they won’t be home enough.

Salim doesn’t believe the American thinks that for a second, but he lets Jason smile about it and kiss him gently once more as he rushes off for his shower.

By the time Jason is ready, Salim has a cup of Iraqi coffee waiting on the table for him and has already cleared away everything from breakfast.

“Ah, baby, you read my mind!”

Jason knows he’s going to need it to put up with all the last-minute holiday shoppers. Even if he and Nick will count, they do have reasons to be waiting until the day of to buy most of their perishables.

Although, it comes down to as much having the time to do it as anything else.

Salim pulls Jason into his arms as he drinks, pressing his lips to Jason’s neck.

“How long will you be?” He murmurs against Jason’s skin, running his fingertips under Jason’s shirt, and the American shudders.

If Salim really wants him to stay home, he’s going the right way about it.

“Couple of hours? We do have a few places to go, and I assume both traffic and shops will be HELL.”

Salim snorts softy, yeah that checks. “Okay.”

“Why? Miss me that bad?” Jason smirks, making Salim lift his head up.

And Salim returns his smirks, “Always.”

“I’ll try to hurry.”

***

Salim doesn’t really mind if Jason doesn’t hurry. He’s got plans of his own while Jason is out. And as soon as Jason closes the door, he sets the plan in motion.

Even before Jason had lamented it this morning, Salim had planned to take the time to decorate the house properly. Maybe not as over the top as they usually went, but Salim wanted to at least acknowledge the celebration in their own home. (Besides, that always ended up with waaaay too much clearing confetti or glitter off the floor and Salim was positive he was still finding some winking at him in the light from last year).

He finds ribbons and streamers in a box, hanging them strategically around the house. He wants to do something nice for Jason at least! And Salim is happy to do it as a surprise!

Salim is glad that he has time, as he has to get ready too. Even so, he keeps his eyes on the clock, he can’t have Jason coming home too early.

*** Jason is glad that he and Nick are at least organised, running up and down the aisles of the grocery store as if they’re doing military drills. (This would be more effective if there weren’t so many unorganised people clogging up the space).

The traffic has been horrific. And Jason is glad Salim isn’t with him, the amount of cussing people out and flipping them off he’s been doing.

The only issues that Jason and Nick have is trying to find foods specifically that Salim (and Zain) will be able to eat. With Jason spouting “It needs to be Halal!” so often that Nick thinks he might kill him.

As if he didn’t hear Jason the first hundred times.

“Will you calm down I didn’t forget your boyfriend – also I’m surprised he’s up for celebrating this!”

Jason snorts, as if Salim didn’t refer to it as his special day this morning. He also holds up his hand, to flash his wedding ring. Nick rolls his eyes at Jason, but doesn’t correct himself.

Still, thanks to Jason’s persistency even Nick thinks they’ve done a good job at catering for everyone expected at the party.

There’s a couple of things left on the list, and then Nick and Jason will likely load this stuff between their trucks and drop it off at Nick’s, where Jason will go home to collect Salim and meet back for the party later. This stuff is heavy; Nick definitely can’t do it all alone – that’s half the reason Jason is here in the first place. (The other apparently so he can be hypervigilant about what Salim can eat.)

Jason follows Nick down the aisles with the list, looking up and down shelves to find the last couple of things, when his mobile buzzes in his back pocket.

Jason can’t imagine this will be anyone other than Salim – probably wanting a better ETA, or just checking in. Jason checks his watch; he’s still within the couple of hours he told Salim this morning. He will be home soon.

But then he stills; what if he’s asking for something specific for the party? What if he’s asking for something for Zain for the party?

Jason would rather not face Salim’s disappointed expression, and slides his phone out of his back pocket.

“Hold up will ya!?” He calls out to Nick, who halts a few paces ahead.

Jason unlocks his phone, and immediately his whole body jolts. Heat rushing in all directions, his pulse quickens.

What the FUCK Salim!?

Jason wants to check that no one is looking at this over his shoulder but he physically cannot tear his eyes away.

The picture he’s been sent cuts off at Salim’s navel – that’s probably on purpose. He’s shirtless, standing against a background made up of the American flag. There’s a bandana tied around his head – also the stars and stripes.

The light bounces deliciously over his bronze toned muscles. Jason wants to reach through the phone and run his hands all over them, feel the warmth of Salim’s body pressed against his, hear the way he whines under Jason’s fingertips. Those pretty dark brown eyes are nearly black with the sultry intensity that he stares into the camera. And that teeny tiny smirk - oh he knows exactly what he’s doing.

Fuck, holy fuck… This is like something from one of Jason’s wet dreams. What the fuck was going on!? He tries to swallow but his mouth is too dry, he can hear his blood rushing into his ears.

Was this right now!?! Did Salim look like this RIGHT NOW!?!?

‘Happy Fourth of July, Jason❤️🤍💙’

Is the text that comes through afterwards.

Jason’s brain is short circuiting. What was he supposed to do with this; Salim knows he’s out with Nick in the middle of a damn grocery store!!!

Asshole!!

Somewhere far off Nick’s voice echoes, “Dude, you okay?”

Jason tries to respond automatically that he’s fine – but it comes out as nothing more than splutters. He realises his hands are shaking as he moves to text back – and it’s nothing but desire that’s causing it to happen.

‘Right now? You send me that right NOW?!’

To back up Jason’s guess that Salim knows exactly what he’s doing, he receives a short text back:

‘Why don’t you come home and see… 😉’

Jason can almost see that little smug look on Salim’s face, glint in his eyes when he knows exactly what this is doing to Jason – even when he can’t see what it’s doing.

“Jason, what the fuck is going on dude?”

Jason crams his phone back into his pocket: suddenly he only has a one-track mind. And it’s telling him to drive back home.

“I gotta get home, RIGHT NOW!” He blurts.

He understands to Nick he must look absolutely crazed. Still, his buddy has seen Jason in so many situations now that it doesn’t seem to faze him.

“Dude,” Nick jerks his thumb over his shoulder at the shopping cart. “You expect me to do this by myself?!”

Jason is staring at him with wide eyes – brain just screaming ‘HOME! HOME! HOME! HOME!’ – “SALIM!” Is about the best he can manage.

Nick’s eyes widen – “What happened? Is he okay? Is something wrong!?”

Jason opens his wallet, grabbing his card and a wad of cash and thrusting it into Nick’s hands.

“No, uh, yes, uh – look I’ll see you at the barbeque later, okay?”

He barely gives Nick a chance to respond before he’s sprinting for the exit.

“JASON!” Nick yells after him, watching his best friend run across the store. Well, if it’s Salim, nothing is calling him back.

Nick just hoped the Iraqi was okay.

***

As the blue truck pulls into their drive, Jason can honestly say he’s surprised he’s made it home without causing an accident. He guesses he’ll have to see if he picks up any tickets later. His knuckles are almost white, gripping the wheel so tight as he tries to stop his body shakes from getting any worse.

He throws the door open, scrambling out, locking it before rushing to their front door. Jason has to try to jam the key into the lock at least twice.

‘Fuck! Fuck! Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!’

Eventually he forces it open and slams it behind him.

Jason halts in the doorway. Sense enough to pause and admire the fact that Salim has done up their house while he’s been gone!

The red, white and blue ribbons and banners look so neat, twisted together in elaborate bow and flower shapes, Salim has even curled the tails. He’s hung stars and stripes bunting all the way up the staircase and the ‘Happy Fourth of July!’ banner, from last year’s party they hosted, stretches across the living room.

Jason’s heart soars to a new level of happiness. Salim didn’t have to do any of this – Jason had expressly stated that this morning. But he did. The second he’d heard the slight complaint out of Jason’s mouth Salim had known exactly what to do.

Or perhaps, given the picture, he’d planned this all along. Jason threw his phone and keys on the counter. Usually he’s neat, but his shoes are tossed carelessly at the bottom of the steps as he races up the stairs.

There’s no way Salim isn’t in their bedroom, right? Looking that good?

Jason is moving so fast he clips the top of the banister with his hip, but he barely feels it. He slides into the door glad that it’s been left on the latch, rather than his still shaking hands having to embarrassingly deal with the handle.

He freezes at what he sees in front of him. And Jason thought his reaction in the grocery store was bad… He must be having a full on heart attack this time.

Indeed, on the wall behind their headboard is hung the US flag, and Salim sits in the middle of the bed looking up at him. The Iraqi is biting his lip, regarding Jason with such adoration they look like literal heart eyes.

Everything is already laid out neatly on the bedside table. There is no doubt what and who this is for. Even the bandana has been left there invitingly, and Jason can think of several different things he’d like to do with that before they left this room.

Jason flushes bright red, momentarily looking away,

“…You’re not… wearing anything.”

Holy fuck. Holy FUCK. This is a wet dream.

Please - fuck - don’t let him wake up now.

Salim gasps sarcastically as if he hadn’t realised. “Oh, goodness, I suppose I’m not.”

Salim waits until Jason is looking back at him. Those pretty honey-brown eyes locking back with his. Salim’s face starts to flush to match Jason’s.

He looks mostly in control, but as Jason’s eyes graze lower, the rapid rise and fall of Salim’s chest betrays that his pulse is racing too. Salim is trying to keep his self-restraint in check just like Jason is.

“Is that an issue?”

That’s all Salim needs to say, lip bite turning to full smirk, flirty tease to the tone of his voice.

“Fuck NO.”

Jason is already throwing off his cap and removing his shirt, leaping onto the bed.

Salim waits for Jason to get to him before laying himself back – not that Jason wouldn’t have pushed him down and pinned him there with the force of his kisses.

Each and every one is more heated than the last as Jason’s hands – no longer shaking – trail down Salim’s chest and stomach. All he wants to do is touch.

Salim whines a little into the kiss as Jason’s hand moves between their tangled legs; nails digging into Jason’s back.

The American growls, harsh kisses moving onto Salim’s neck. The Iraqi pants a little, before gaining some semblance of grounding.

“Can’t you at least wait until I get you out of your clothes!?”

Jason forces himself to be patient, pushing himself up onto his hands by virtue of pinning Salim’s own under them.

“You did this to yourself, Darlin’, don’t give me that. You knew what I was gonna do.”

Salim chuckles, “Perhaps.” He bites his lip again, “Happy Fourth of July, Rohi.” Although Salim had said it this morning, the almost whispered quality of it this time holds so much more meaning.

Jason’s head tips, before he smiles like he’s just got the joke.

Is this what Salim had meant by looking forward to the fireworks?

Salim smiles back, like he knows Jason’s figured it out, turning his head to one side so he can graze his lips against Jason’s tattoo. Jason removes his hand from Salim’s, chasing his lips, fingertips caressing his jaw until Salim is looking back at him.

“Best fuckin’ Fourth EVER.”

This time he gets a breathed laugh – he knows what Salim is thinking. They haven’t even got to the good part yet.

But Jason already knows he’s going to enjoy every second of this. He leans down again, claiming Salim’s lips once more in a rough kiss. Their fingers interlock, and the hand he’s not pinning down tangles itself in Jason’s hair.

Jason’s free hand moves back between them, and the moan he elicits from Salim this time is fucking beautiful.

There was a fic for this that was going to be called "Rise for the Flag" (because I like to think I'm funny 😆), but I lost the spark for it unfortunately, but here's the quick run down!

Jason was going to be taking Salim to America for a 4th of July weekend so he could show Salim the awesome fireworks 😌 While walking the streets to a festival, Salim sees an American printed bandana and jokingly puts it on, but seeing Jason's reaction to it gives him an idea ✨

Jason's jaw drops and his face flushes bright red, he tips his cap to try and hide it but Salim seen it clear as day. Jason plays it cool, teasing Salim about looking like a real American now, that he better be careful so Jason doesn't lose him in the crowd. Salim grins at what he'd seen and agrees all to politely, but he buys the bandana when Jason's not looking... He buys a little extra beyond there as well while Jason's not paying attention.

He'd only wanted the collar, but the man selling it to him offered the leash for free and Salim felt he had to accept (he didn't want to reveal that the collar is very much not for any dog 🤫) - the leash is very worth it though.

Picture with me; Salim getting railed doggy style, face down ass up, Jason bent over him pressed real close while tightly pulling on the leash connected to the collar around Salim's throat, Salim's hands tied behind his back by the bandana 🤤 (The hotel room is a mess by morning 🫡)

Anyway, here's the version for us non Americans! Added the garters so it wasn't so plain without the flag design 🩷🩷🩷