Juice and Dealer's Choice of another Son (maybe not Chibs?) are on a long run, just the two of them. Maybe its for the Club, maybe its not, but they end up in a hotel or a diner or something together and they bond. Platonically, they get to know each other better. Maybe use the 36 Questions podcast/radio drama as an idea?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/36_Questions
-ineedthesons
Hi @ineedthesons I feel like this has taken forever but its finally ready. I decided to go with Tig for my other Son. Hope you like it.
Age Rating- teen and up audiences
Warnings- none apply
archive of our own
The road rolls out far in front of them, as one continuous strip of tarmac for their tyres to speed across. Itâs a rupture in a wide desert, a dash of grey amidst the golden glow of the surrounding plains. For Juice these are the moments where calmness and exhilaration meet. Where the feeling of peace and belonging riding brings is mixed with the elation of giving mother nature the middle finger and harnessing a speed she didnât gift their fragile bodies. Â
At their momentum particles of sand are kicked up as they pass by, the last rays of the parting sun light it up before its left swirling to the ground in their wake. Theyâre too many miles from home and yet still far from their destination when Tigâs bike starts to lose its roar. Like a hacking cough dying sounds are torn from it for a few moments before Tig eases down on the break, and gestures for them to pull over. Â
Itâs just the two of them out here. They were on a courtesy visit to a brother charter in Oregan, Samlinâs VP having recently passed and Samcro was expected to show respect. Knowing no help would be coming at this hour Tig crouches down assessing any visible damage. Still listening to Tigâs muttered curses Juice glances up, less than half a mile up the road lies a motel. Nudging the sergeant Tig looks up too and Juice can almost hear his train of thought. On the one hand he didnât want to spend the night on the freezing road fending off local wildlife, on the other he didnât want to spend it locked in a questionably unhygienic room with Juice.Â
ââWe could get two rooms.ââ That line and the promise of a luke warm meal won out. Tig pulls the bike upright and they roll it carefully down the road. Chaining it outside the building Tig doesnât fret over it being stolen, the symbol of the reaper and consequential threat of the Sons tended to keep potential thieves away. Juice mustnât have the same faith, Tig watches him yank at the chain a couple of times before they head inside. Â
Seeing the interior doesnât give either of them any optimism about the state of their rooms. In the reception the wallpaper has yellowed from years of smokers and a vibrant stain, that looks concerningly like blood, covers a good chunk of the flooring. When Tig walks to the desk he can hear a ripping sound as his boots pull away from the sticky floor. Â
The receptionist is a guy around Juiceâs age, tattoos covering his arms and his hair dyed an alarming bright colour. In his head Tig muses that it wonât be long till Juice has the same idea. The boy eyes their kuttes nervously before he speaks, ââHow can I help you?ââÂ
Glancing at the âcash onlyâ sign on the back wall Tig pulls out his wallet, smacking a few bills on the desk he answers, ââTwo rooms.ââ Tig gets a bad feeling when the guy looks down at his clip board.Â
ââSorry only one room left.ââ Tig can feel the migraine Juice is going to cause already forming. Apparently trying to help the guy adds on, ââItâs a double bed.ââÂ
Taking half the cash Tig tries to look on the bright side. ââYour kitchen still open?ââÂ
ââNo itâs closed for the week. Weâve got a vending machine and sandwiches though.ââÂ
Tig should have taken his chance with the wildlife.Â
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Walking in first, Tig dumps his bag on the bed before he reluctantly looks around. The faded wallpaperâs torn and peeling at the edges, the carpet is suffering from a range of cigarette burns but Tig will readily admit heâs willingly stayed in worse shit holes than this. The bed proves to be the worst feature of the room, the spring jab uncomfortably outward and the cover lays crumpled in the middle undoubtably riddled with strangersâ bacteria and bodily fluids.Â
The only saving grace he can think of was the bar they passed on the way up, a stones throw away, connected to the reception via a short hallway. Tig can see the thought process behind keeping the bar open all night. Thereâs little need to improve the place when you can just pile cheap alcohol on customers until they donât care about the rancid smell hanging in the air or the mold flourishing in every corner.Â
Juice is still in the doorway, staring at the room with a grimace. Tigs seen the way he cleans the clubhouse, some niggling compulsion always present that whispering for him to bring order to the chaos around them. The urge is like an ich that needs to be scratched getting progressively worse the more its ignored. His obsession with cleanliness and organisation stemmed from OCD Chibs had once informed him. Tig doesnât know if the boy had told him outright or if that information was gained from Juiceâs behaviour mixed with Telfordâs limited medical knowledge.Â
ââIâm gonna head to the bar. You coming down?ââ Â
ââNo. Iâm going to stay. Clean up a bit.ââÂ
ââIâll see you in a couple hours.ââÂ
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He spent the next hour staring at the back wall of the bar, his eyes tracing over the bikini clad model staring back from their calendar. The sight of it reminds him of how far from home they are, this time at the clubhouse heâd been lied between two blondes in the backroom. Instead of in a motel with Juice. Still it's not all bad thereâs a cold beer clasped in his hand, and the hum of voices behind him talking about the game works as comforting white noise. Â
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Only when Tig has consumed enough vodka to stop the heart of a lesser man does he stumble back to their room. When he gets there, it's clear there's been a nominal improvement to its state. The floors been swept, any reachable mold has been banished and the bed covers have been stripped, a variety of cleaning supplies sits in the corner of the room. Juice lies in the middle of the bed now in sweatpants and a loose shirt, Tigs entrance having just woken him up. Â
ââWhereâd you get that from.ââ Tig asks nodding to the corner. Â
ââCupboard down the hall.ââ His mind still saturated in sleep Juice mumbles the last line, ââI picked the lock.ââÂ
Tig lets out a laugh at the metal imagery that inspires; Juice sneaking down the corridor like a Puerto Rican James Bond, running back with a mop and spray bottles under his arm. Deciding to try and have some fun he puts on his best sergeant at arms voice, wondering if could still could still scare the kid like when he was a mere prospect, Tig asks,ââ And when they check the security footage and kick us out. What do we do then?ââÂ
Juice smirks at that, ââNo cameras.ââ Heâs braver than when he was a prospect, back then Tigâs tone would have sent him out he room with his tail tucked between his legs.Â
Shedding his kutte, and shirt Tig folds them onto the wardrobe before he lies on the bed his feet on the bottom bars. Even at night there's a thick humidity hanging in the air and what Tig wouldnât give to hear the clanging of an old AC working its magic, keeping them awake all night. Unfortunately, like everything else in the motel itâs fallen into a state of disrepair. They were left with holding the small widow open with the motelâs complimentary bible. Â
Tilting his head back and closing his eyes, Tig tries to implement his plan of trying to get some shut eye and then setting off at first light. When heâs reached the divide between dreams and consciousness it starts up, a tap, tap, tap that immediately sets his nerves on edge and chases away any dreariness. Juice at least looks a little guilty when Tig glares at him, and manages to stop his tapping. Though maybe Tig should be careful what he wished for because thatâs when the talking started. Â
ââDonât the germs bother you?ââÂ
ââYou donât know if thereâs any germs.ââ And Tig know thatâs true, heâd forbidden Juice from using his UV light after what happened last time. After seeing the state of the stripped mattress heâd not wanted to stay in a motel for months, Juice had slept on the bikes that night.Â
Tig still canât believe heâd been roped into taking the boy along, he himself had been chosen to go to pay their respects to their Oregan charter whilst Juice was strong armed into the journey by Chibs. Tig figures heâs just trying to clear the air between his two brothers after the Doberman incident. Fat chance of that happening. Heâll always have the scar on his ass reminding him of the fact Juice is a complete idiot. Â
ââLook just watch some TV and let me sleep.ââ Tig implored, ââIt even said outside that they have coloured TVs.ââÂ
ââNah only the premium rooms have colour TVs.ââÂ
ââShould have known theyâd be a fine print.ââ, Tig quips back. When the tapping starts back up again he finally snaps, ââAlright what do you want?ââÂ
ââYou know I was listening to this radio drama, 36 Questions.ââ Juice ignores Tigâs scoff at that. ââIt had this game in it. Where this couple asked each other-ââÂ
ââLet me guess, 36 Questions?ââ interjects Tig.Â
ââYeah. I could get it up on my phone. We could-Â
ââBond? Is this how you and Chibby got so close? You stayed up into the night braiding each others hair and sharing secrets and crushes.ââ Â
Juice cuts him off before he can continue. ââCome on man. It would at least pass the time?ââ Â
Tomorrow Tig will say he only agreed due to the number of vodka shots clogging up his brain and stealing all his sensibilities. ââI'm not doing them all. Pick wisely, kid.ââ Juice smiles wide, hint of mischief lighting it up. For a second Tig almost feels apprehensive about what's about to happen.Â
ââAlright Iâll start off easy. Before making a phone call, do you ever think about what youâre going to say?ââÂ
ââNo. Iâve got something to say Iâll just say it.ââ Tugging the phone out of Juiceâs hand Tig takes a moment to scroll through the questions before settling on one. ââTell me an embarrassing moment from your life.â Â
Really Juice should have known that would be the one he picked. Most of these moments have happened whilst he was prospecting for the club, plenty courtesy of Tig's mean streak. The memory of being left in the town square and forced to walked back to the clubhouse in only a diaper is a vivid one. Face heating up Juice says ââI think you already know it.ââÂ
Tig crackles at that, ââYeah, I do. Just wanted to remind you of it.ââÂ
ââHow did you even think of that?ââ Â
ââIt just comes to me in the moment, like a vision from a spiteful deity.ââ Â
Even with a red shade brightening his cheeks Juice manages to let out a chuckle. Heâs always been able to laugh at himself, which was fortunate as Tigâs tormenting nature hadnât been deterred when Juice was finally patched in. Â
At the time he hadnât found the situation funny, with it being a sunny summer day and all of Charming apparently had decided to go to the square. When he arrived back to the clubhouse half an hour later he was still burning from the horrified looks, insults, and laughter. Luckily Chibs had more mercy in him after the other guys and after spending a good five minutes laughing at Juiceâs expense, heâd pulled some spare cloths from the back and driven him home.Â
Pulling back his phone Juice glances down. ââWhen did you last sing? Either to yourself or someone else.ââÂ
Tig doesnât say anything and Juice starts to think he isnât going to, ââFor my daughters when they were young. Back when I used to live with them and Coleen... It's been years though. Dawn she would ask me to every night, and I did. But that was years ago. Way before Chibs dragged you to our doorstep. Then when they were about seven and ten we were having an issue with the Mayans. Bodies were dropping every other week, I was out most nights burying them in a desert graves. Eventually I got home one day and they were gone. Colleen had packed up in the night and left with the girls.ââÂ
'âSorry Tig. I didnât know.ââÂ
ââYeah. Well I still see them every year at least.ââ Juice offers the phone out to him. ââAlright, er If you could wake up tomorrow with any quality or ability what would it be?ââÂ
Juice smiles nervously at Tigâs question, ââYouâre not allowed to mock me for this.Â
ââIâm probably gonna to but continue.ââÂ
 ââI donât... Iâd like to be a little more... Iâd like to be a little smarter. More like you or Chibs.ââÂ
ââCome on youâre our hacker youâve got brains even if you donât always use them.ââ Tig was surprised that he had just said that, it was even more surprising that he had meant it. Â
ââNot that kind of smart. Iâd like to just...ââÂ
ââHave more common sense?ââ Tig jibs backÂ
ââNow you are mocking me. But yes exactly.ââÂ
Showing some out of character kindness Tig tells him that heâll get there eventually. ââComes with experience.ââ Â
Tig doesnât have a chance to pass back the phone, clearly Juice has had this in his head for a while. ââI think I know the answer but if you lived to 90 and could keep the mind or body of a 30-year-old for the last 60 years of your life, which would you want?Â
ââThe body. My back was bad enough at forty canât imagine the pain of riding at ninety.ââÂ
ââI donât know how Piney does it.ââ Juice joked. The phones still in Tigs hand and they both glance at it before Juice then suggests ââLast one for the night?ââÂ
ââSure, why'd you come here.ââ Tig asks.Â
ââThatâs not one of the questions.ââÂ
ââItâs the one I'm askingââÂ
ââI got into trouble with a gang in QueensââÂ
ââWhat kind of trouble?ââ Tig asks. He already knows some parts of the story. When Chibs had brought a kid to the clubhouse, with bruised knuckles and a skittish gaze Tig had been assigned the job of background checks. According to their NY charter he was a small time hacker no one theyâd had to worry about or even personally met. A couple of weeks before Chibs had found him word had gone around the that Juice had a high price on his head courtesy of a growing Queens gang. He was safe as a prospect of the Sons and even more so when he put on the reaper. When the gang had found out no payback had come the Sons were bigger and more willing to get violent. Still they wouldnât risk sending back to New York for any reason. Â
ââIâd spent a few years in juvie, just for petty shit. When I got out I struggled to get a job. Some guy I knew hired me to skim some money off a local crew. I was meant to get 40%, instead he kept the money and ratted me out. Chibs found me outside of a bar in Lodi. Some guys had cornered me, wanted to drag me back and collect the bounty. They backed off when they saw the reaper. His voice is quiet when he fills in the blanks of Tigâs version of the story.Â
ââIâm glad he did. The club would miss you if you werenât here Kid.ââÂ
ââYou would too?ââÂ
ââDonât push your luck.ââÂ
Juice sits the phone on the bedside table after that, the silence feels comfortable now. In the darkness of the room, no longer lit up by the glow of his phone, Juice feels his eye getting heavier, his breath evening outÂ
Just before sleep takes him Tig breaths out, ââYou know I didnât think 36 questions was that bad of a podcast.ââÂ
Juice pulls himself up onto his elbows at that, ââYouâve listened to it too!ââÂ
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The next morning they rise before the sun. The beeping of Juiceâs phone waking Tig first, getting out of bed heâs sure to elbow the sleeping form next to him. It goes without saying that they wonât mention the previous night again. Â
Once theyâve reached their destination they stay in Oregan for a couple of days after the funeral, helping out whilst the charter gets back on its feet. For Juice the days are spent standing guard over the charterâs women and children. Tigâs more involved, going between office rooms with their Oregan brothers, talking in hushed whispers about topics he refuses to share with Juice. On one of the days he catches Juice kicking his heels inside the clubhouse, a baby in one arm and various children gathered at his feet, he makes sure to snap a photo planning on showing it to Chibs as soon as he can. Heâd send it now but heâd never gotten his head around modern phones and Juice was his go to tech guy. Â
After a few days theyâre riding back to Redwood, Tig having told them to phone if they needed support. On the journey back Juice grins when they pass by a familiar building, though neither of them considers staying another night. Â
When they get back to Charming business continues as usual. Tig is still more than willing to tease and torment and Juice still remains his favourite victim but it feels more brotherly than spiteful now, like a kid playfully bullying his youngest sibling. His attention is diverted after theyâve been back at redwood for six months. Theyâd gained another hang around whilst theyâd been gone and Chibs had finally decided to sponsor him, Tig took that as proof he had been suffering from empty nest syndrome since Juice had been patched.Â
Tig had found absolute delight in there being fresh meat to pick on. To Juice itâs a familiar hazing they put the prospect through, and he made it just as easy as Juice did. Heâs got mad ginger hair, half a set of balls and half a brain. Heâs just grateful that for the most part Tigâs taunting had been directed at someone else. Â
Chibs notices the changed dynamic quickly, and slides up to him one night to tell him, ââIâm glad you worked two things out, Laddie.ââÂ
I'm not too happy with the ending but I hope its not too sudden. Hope you enjoyed it ;)















