#thread: dodger

Phoenix was feeling conflicted as he walked through the ren faire, messing with the orange tennis ball in his hands. The night at the bar still replayed through his head as he walked. Maybe I already have. It was a joke, it had to be, but it was also Dodger, who always lived somewhere in that gray area of his life. Rubbing his face he sighed thinking over the chat he had with Jay, he was honest with her before anyone else. Always making sure he was clear with his intentions. He wasn't sure when she'd gotten not only so much smarter than him but also mature. 

Spotting a familiar figure sleeping under a tree in the park he felt his gaze soften. Walking up he dropped the tennis ball onto his chest, ”You know there's a whole faire going on around you and you're sleeping through it,“ he said with a grin on his face.

The aim had been to meet Emrys after his triumphant win at the jousting tournament, but after crushing defeat instead, Dodger decided to let the youngster have some time to himself, wallowing or causing havoc or whatever it was he was doing. No doubt he’d turn up with a pocket full of shit he’d taken from peoples booths and, as he always did, Dodger would tell him how proud he was.

How a stroll through the park had turned into a Power Nap, Dodger wasn’t entirely sure, but at least he knew he hadn’t passed out and had been competent enough to find a tree to curl up underneath. The voice, and the sudden jolt on his chest startled him awake, and he looked up, unable to distinguish the face of the man in front of him initially with the afternoon sun shining in his eyes, glittering around the silhouette of the man’s head like a halo. “I’ve seen what I need to see,” he pressed a hand hard onto his eye, rubbing the sleep from it with such intensity a red mark remained even after his hand moved. “You know there’s a whole faire going on around you and you’re over here talking to me?” He echoed back, eyes adjusting to see the face of Phoenix gazing down at him.

Phoenix had stuffed his hand in his pockets, sticking his foot out to keep the tennis ball from rolling away after it slid off Dodger. Sitting down in front of him he picked it back up and tossed it from hand to hand. "I've done a lap around, seen what I need to see," he shot back a smirk on his face. "I haven't seen you today so here I am," he said, eyes flicking to the mark on his face and shaking his head. "Did you actually try and have some fun, or just make a bee line to this tree?"

Much like a dog would after a nap, Dodger remained where he had been asleep and stretched his body out on the spot, legs and toes pointing far out and his arms raised above his head. Something clicked when he did but he couldn’t be sure which part of his body was creaking this time. “Aww and you came to see little old me?” He let his hands flop back to his sides, and he patted the grass next to him, prompting Phoenix to air next to him, “I feel honored.” What time even was it? “I’ve had fun,” he said defensively, “it’s not like I sleep all the time. Anyway, where’s Jay? Is she enjoying herself? Kids always love days like this. Kids and Duck.”

"You should be, though I'm afraid I didn't bring any beer, you'll just have to settle for my company until you're ready to get up," Phoenix said grinning down at him. Shifting to sit closer when Dodger motioned for him too, he'd always been a bit too ready to follow along with him. At the mention of Jay his grin softens to a smile and he nods, "She is actually, off with that boy she likes. Took after her dad that one, likes the quiet ones with that pissed off look." As much as he may have intimated the boy on occasions, he did genuinely like Felipe and appreciated what he was to his daughter. "She did request that you come watch the jousting with us at least once, and the archery booth. Wants to win you a prize."

Dodger let out a low groan and rolled his eyes. "If you didn't bring beer, how am I supposed to pretend that your presence is tolerable?" He said with a stern face and a single raised eyebrow, but the corners of his mouth betrayed him, twitching ever so slightly into a smile. Not that Phoenix would be able to see it properly as he shuffled in closer to Dodger, allowing the sleepy man to rest his head on the Romero's lap. "Off with a boy? At her age? Thought all they cared about at that age were superheroes and puppies?" A joke obviously, Dodger had known Jay long enough to get a sense of her personality and how she seemed mature for her age, something he couldn't relate to at all. "I can come along for the jousting. I got a friend that's entered so I need to show him some support anyway."

When Dodger slips into his lap, Phoenix feels his cheeks flush, setting both hands behind himself to lean on. "You're breaking my heart, and here I thought we had something special. But you just want me for my beers," Phoenix said, letting his smile fade as he did his best to look distraught. His lips still twitched, a smile returning and laughing when Dodger described Jay. "She's 15, I'm pretty sure this is when boys enter the equation. Thankfully he's not getting into fights like I was for you at their age." Looking down at him curiously he asked, "Oh yeah, who's your friend? Already replacing me for not bringing you a beer?"

"If I really wanted to break your heart, I'm sure I could, but that's a lot of effort on my part." He glanced up at Phoenix for a moment, catching the underside of that strong jaw, and Dodger reached up, grabbing one of his friends hands and bringing it down to rest in his hair. "Am I an anomaly then? I don't remember liking boys or getting into fights at 15." He closed his eyes for a moment, thinking back to his younger years as Phoenix played with his hair, how funny that despite everything the two of them were still here. "Nah he does me favors now and again. Squeezes into spaces I can't. I think he looks up to me for...whatever reason. But your position is safe; I don't think he's even old enough to buy beer yet."

"You'd be surprised how little effort you'd need to do that," Phoenix admitted as he started running his fingers through Dodger's hair. Thinking it over before shrugging, "Well I don't remember liking boys at 15 either, was barely in my 20s when Bradley happened," chuckling he gives him an amused smile, "Also what fights would you even have been in, I took care of that for you." It feels odd to reflect on that time, he'd been so angry and quiet, Dodger being the one who could get him to relax and smile. He snorts at the description he's given, "Is this how you tell me you accidentally adopted a child? Because now you're just risking Jay getting jealous as losing her favorite uncle."

Dodger paused, and tilted his head up once more to catch Phoenix's gaze. "Lucky for you, little effort is kinda how I roll." Not that he needed to tell Phoenix that; the Romero had seen it all first hand, watching him grow from a boy to a man with his ambitions and drive waining more and more with each passing year. But Dodger wasn't unhappy, no matter what people would think. He had everything he needed. "You never had to take care of the fights," Dodger shuffled a little, twisting on the spot to face Phoenix fully, "I'd have won that shit before you jumped in." He chuckled softly, shaking his head. "I did not adopt a child, I've seen how much work it takes to raise one. But Jay isn't getting rid of me that easy, she's still my favorite. You both are."

Phoenix moved his hand through his hair, occasionally rubbing the other's forehead with his thumb. "Not always, always felt like you put in the effort  for me," he quipped, an easy grin on his face. He couldn't think of a time Dodger missed a meeting between them, been late sure, but never slept through that. Chuckling he shrugged, "Well maybe I just like protecting you, be a shame for something to happen to that pretty face." Moving his hand he flicked his finger on Dodger's forehead before going back to playing with his hair. He could feel his gaze softened, maybe it was the way he spoke of Jay so fondly that made him even more charmed by his friend. "We better be, hate to have to sign up for the joust just to re-earn your favor. Doesn't look good for the fire captain to have a grudge against some kid."

"I did," Dodger was quick to answer. Effort was something to be earned, as far as he was concerned, and maximum effort all the time exhausted people, wore then out and grounded them down until there was nothing left worth knowing. That's why he would happily float through life, putting in the effort for those who really deserved it, and Phoenix, in one form or another, had always been one of those people. "Aww, you think I'm pretty," he fluttered his eyelashes dramatically, looking up at Phoenix with a pout on his face, feigning cuteness, the flick against his head breaking his character and warranting a chuckle. "Thank you." He shuffled back into position, one hand coming up to idly draw vague shapes against Phoenix' thigh. "I'd say if you develop a grudge against a kid, you're a bit weird and probably have some underlying issues. But...you are a Romero, so that is kinda expected," he followed with another laugh, "no, but I promise, no one is gonna replace you and Jay's spot in my life, okay."

"Hmm, well aren't I special," Phoenix mumbled softly, it was meant to be a joke but it came out more genuine than he'd meant it to. It was odd to compare the Dodger everyone else seemed to see with the other he saw. Had seen when Dodger was willing to put in the effort, hell he'd done it not just with him but with Jay. It was more than he'd ever expected but it had solidified how he felt about the other man, and trusted him with what was most important to him. "Careful your ego gets any bigger and your head won't fit in my lap anymore. Wouldn't that just be a shame," he said, eyes flickering down to his thigh. He felt a warm flush spread on his face as he turned his gaze back to Dodger instead of the swirls on his thigh. "I'm the Romero you stuck around with," he grumbled, "Though I am a Sawyer now too so maybe that evened out my issues." Thinking of Bradley and looking at Dodger it struck him how similar the two made him feel, and how patient they always seemed to be with him. "Hey, can I try something? Just something I want to try and if it's weird we never talk about it again. We just stay the same, just you and me against the world."

Dodger could have lay here in complete silence and still felt comfortable, not just physically but mentally too. There was a stability that Phoenix provided to Dodger's life, one that he always had. "It would be a shame; you're damn comfortable." It wasn't a lie, to the point if Dodger closed his eyes any more he could drift back off into another nap, but that meant it would cut their time together short. He never liked cutting their interactions short. "Yeah, you are the Romero I stuck around with, and I'll continue to stick with, okay?" Maybe if he'd been closer in age to another Romero they would have ended up as a closer friend than Phoenix, but honestly Dodger was happy with the cards he'd been dealt. As Phoenix spoke, Dodger shuffled once more so that he was laying on his back, facing up at Phoenix as the back of his head remained on his lap. "Try something? Sure, as long as you're not gonna drop that ball on my face or something."

"You're as bad as my kid, just using me for a pillow," Phoenix grumbled Though he didn't actually sound particularly bothered by this. He tugged lightly on his hair before settling his hand back on his head, thumb brushing against his forehead. He'd been the one to come after Hawk and Duck, two of the loudest in his family, it had people expecting him to act a certain way. He lived up to the rep some days, fighting and cursing as much as they had, but he'd found his few friends and kept to himself. Content to just be with Dodger most of the time, he didn't need much, just having at least one person who saw him as just Phoenix was enough. "I'll hold you to that." Chuckling at his words he shook his head, "No that wasn't the plan," he mumbled. He moved his hand from his hair to grip his shirt. Tugging Dodger into a sitting position he stared at him wondering if this was a good idea. Shifting so they were now facing each other. Shrugging he pulled Dodger towards him and kissed him, surprised by how comfortable he felt doing it. Pulling back he let go of his shirt and scratched at his beard, "Was that...uh...was that ok with you? Cause I...I wouldn't mind doing that again."

“Y’know I think I might be worse. You are super comfortable, and I’m not gonna be as polite about it.” And he shuffled in closer, honestly considering wrapping his arms around Phoenix’s leg to prove the point of just how pillow-like he was. But this was Dodger after all, and he could find any surface comfortable. Perhaps it was the warmth of Phoenix’s body and their closeness as friends that made him all the more comfortable. Dodger didn’t protest as Phoenix grabbed onto his shirt, following every move the Romero made until their lips pressed together. Did it take him by surprise? Yes and no, the reasoning for the yes being that he had just been woken from a nap. He was groggy and confused enough as it was without his best friend leading him into a kiss. It stopped, and Dodger moved back for a moment, eyes looking over the face of Phoenix and the genuine happiness that he seemed to exude from that one simple action. “That was…yes…okay with me.” He paused, letting their eyes linger together a little longer before his body acted on its own and Dodger began to slowly toss a leg over to straddle the man, sitting on his lap. “We can do it again,” and Dodger instigated, putting both hands on either side of Phoenix’s face, pulling him back in for another kiss, but this time he had no intention of letting it end so soon.

There's a part of Phoenix that almost can't meet Dodger's eyes. Is worried about what he'll see when he pulls back. But he keeps his gaze locked on him, it's Dodger, one of the few people  he's ever trusted with every part of himself. He trusts him, trusting in the fact that their friendship has survived over the years for a reason. Sighing in relief when Dodger agrees, he laughs surprised by how relieved he does feel. Grunting in surprise when the other man moves into his lap. His hands instinctively move to Dodger's waist, how natural everything is feeling making his heart speed up. "Yea...ok," he mumbles, leaning into his hands and kissing him back. He's been with people since Bradley, well he's been with women. Not a single one had made his heart race with something as simple as a kiss. "I did tell Jay about this," he mumbles in between kissing him.

This has not been on the list of things that Dodger had expected to happen today, nor was it something that he’d consider would happen ever. Yet, here he was, straddling the lap of one of his closest friends since he’d been a kid, embracing him with kiss after long kiss as if they’d been lovers for years. Maybe they had and Dodger hadn’t known it, taken their closeness at face value as just “best friends”, but this…made it all make sense. “Told Jay?” He questioned equally in the small gap between kisses, “that you were planning to kiss me?” He shuffled on Phoenix’s lap a little more until their bodies couldn’t get much closer, Dodger’s chest flush with Phoenix’s as he pushed in for another kiss, letting his hands drift down from the others face to glide down his sides.

Phoenix isn't sure what he'd expected to happen between them. There was the thought that they'd pull back and laugh, agreeing to be friends only. The dark cloud that was his fears had said he'd lose Dodger, maybe not as a friend but he'd lose the closeness they shared. Kissing him though, he can't imagine he'd ever even considered either option as reality. Chuckling he pulled back enough to bring a hand up, pressing it against Dodger's neck. His thumb brushed against his jaw. "That and...I don't really know what my plan was anymore," he admitted. He can feel that familiar anxiety, the need to go quiet, takes a breath and looks at him. "Told her there was a chance that maybe we could...maybe have this be more than just two guys who make out like teenagers?" Grunting when Dodger presses closer to him, can feel the other's breath on his face after another kiss. "We could try the dating thing? Let me tell people you're my...you're my guy?"

These gentle touches, the simple brushing of the pad of Phoenix’s thumb across Dodger’s bearded jaw, said more than any of their actual words had. The fact that Dodger hadn’t been bucked from Phoenix’s lap completely for potentially taking this moment too far said enough. The way they looked into each other's eyes as if finally seeing each other, some heavy curtain or thick fog finally lifting to reveal something hidden that had been there all along. It was…nice. More than nice. It was welcomed, and feeling Phoenix’s hands on his waist and on his neck, and the magnetic pull that their lips had developed…Dodger would be craving this every day. “I’m not Bradley…” the words came out before he’d had a chance to think them over, too serious to be a normal comment Dodger would make but only cementing how serious this was to become. “I’m not…Bradley,” his tone softened, “I’m never going to be Bradley and I’m not going to try to be Bradley.” He let his forehead fall forwards, resting gently against Phoenix’s, eyes closing as the tips of their noses brushed and the warmth of their breath merging in the space between. “I’m not here to be a replacement. I’ll be your guy. But you take me as Dodger. You take me as Aslan.”

I'm not Bradley. Phoenix blinked in surprise before his gaze softened in understanding. "No you're not," he agrees, thumb moving back and forth on his jaw. The necklace with two rings beneath his shirt feels warm, not heavy, never heavy. Bradley isn't a burden he carries, he's a reminder to always try and live freely. "The man I was with him, isn't the man I am today. You saw me at my lowest when I got back and you stayed, you stayed." There weren't enough words to describe what the last year's had been like, how much he'd needed Dodger as anchor through everything. How he loved Jay, how he'd always put in the effort for both of them. "Bradley was my first love, he has his place in me. There's a part of me that will always love him, that's moved that love to Jay," he explains. There's more he wants to say, hesitates and focuses on having Dodger's forehead against his own. The feelings he'd tried for so long to understand and come to terms with.  Taking a deep breath, he kisses him again before pulling back to look at him. "I loved Bradley, but right now. Today, I'm in love with you," takes another breath, "You're not a replacement, Aslan. You're my guy. As you, you're what I've needed to finally feel the sun again instead of this icy winter I've been stuck in."

It was unlike Dodger for his breath to catch so solidly in his throat, but the more he really listened to Phoenix's words, the more he couldn't help but hold his breath to not miss a single one. It was all true, Dodger had seen him at his lowest, and he'd done nothing more than simply be there for him. He didn't try to overly sympathize, or coddle him, or follow suit to become one of those people that were overly attentive. He'd been there when Phoenix called, for a beer or a chat or a night to just sit in silence and think. Dodger had always made that amount of effort, the same amount now, being what Phoenix needed. "Then we have an understanding," he nodded after speaking of Jay, someone he'd grown to love as a family member of his own. He didn't have any of those left here. And again Dodger fell into the kiss, this one brought forth by Phoenix, and he smiled into it, a happy smile. A content smile. "Funny you say that," he can't help but smirk, keeping his lips close and ready for the next time they lock together, "I think I'm in love with you too. So I'm your guy...and you're my guy. And we can feel the sun...together."

Phoenix feels a laugh slip out, the only way for the amount of emotion he's stuck with to come out. His heart's racing and his cheeks feel flushed, but he also feels genuinely giddy of all things. He can't think of a time he'd been this excited over something, can't think of a time where he hasn't been afraid to be open about how he's feeling. All things considered it wasn't how he was raised, let alone how he'd allowed himself to be, he wasn't the quiet Romero for nothing. Leaning forward he doesn't hesitate to try and kiss that smirk off Dodger's face when he hears him agree and call him my guy.  Bringing his hand off his neck and wrapping both arms around his waist, "I'm your guy," he says a grin on his face as he looks at him. He's going to have to explain this to his family later, Jay first for obvious reasons. "Still up for that beer? Or are you gonna take a nap on me?" he asks, leaning his forehead against his again.

For the first time Dodger turned his head away as Phoenix's face pushed itself in closer, the clear attempt to wipe the smirk from his face about to fail, just another layer that added to the playfulness they both enjoyed. The extra layer that they were a couple. As simple as that? Everyone always made it sound so complicated. "My guy. Are we going to ever get used to saying that?" He doubted it. Dodger had never been in a serious relationship; there wasn't much allure to someone that slept most hours of the day and refused to partake in a normal routine, but that was something Phoenix was used to, something that Phoenix knew going into all this. Nobody knew Dodger like Phoenix did, and outside of the Romero's, he doubted anyone knew Phoenix as well as Dodger did. "Listen, it's been an eventful ten minutes, I'm gonna need at least an hour to nap so I can recover. But of course-" he planted a quick peck on Phoenix's lips, "-you're more-" and another, "-than welcome-" an another, "-to join me."

Phoenix chuckled, shaking his head as he looked at Dodger, "Maybe, if you'd rather call me something else let me know. I won't get offended over it," he said. He wasn't expecting conventional when it came to Dodger, wasn't expecting an epic  burning romance, just wanted someone he could come home to and be with. There was a calmness and stability that Dodger brought to his life that no one else really did. At his nap request he chuckled again feeling his shoulders shake, before he froze at the first peck, feeling dazed when Dodger finished. Almost hadn't caught his question before he shook out of it, "You know what, I could go for a nap," he mumbled, taking his hands off his waist so he could get up.

Dodger tapped his chin playfully, humming as if deep in thought before pressing that same finger up against Phoenix’s lips as a smile stretched across his own. “I got plenty of things I want to call you now, but to everyone else…my guy it is.” Part of Dodger was panicking, thinking that this was all happening so quickly, that he’d suddenly agreed to something without thinking it over at all, but the reality was they’d been thinking about this for years, both of them, probably. Always 100% content in each other's company, the easy conversation, the constant flirting hidden behind the banter only a best friend could get away with. There was no thinking involved because the decision had been made before today. “A nap it is then,” with the other’s hands now removed from his waist, Dodger finally slid off Phoenix’s lap but remained seated right by his side, head coming down to rest on his shoulder. “How about this: you go find Jay, tell her the good news, and I’ll meet you either at or after the contest winner announcement? And then you and I can take our first nap…together?”