[CO]Arguing, Again

[Casper & Jasper Emory]

Ugh, this was just so frustrating. It was not his fault that he was in a relationship that the other guy had only wanted to sleep with his brother once. Jasper honestly still didn’t get what the big deal was when he and his brother looked the same. Was it that hard to just give his brother a bit of attention in that way as well? For Franck it apparently was and that was what Casper kept trying to make clear to him and it just ended up breaking into a fight. A verbal fight at first but then there was some exchange of fist that ended up with Jasper having a blue mark above his eye and his brother likely had a bruise along his ribs but they went their separates and were not talking about it.

Yo! French Boy Toy, meet me at the parking lot so we can spend the cookout together. All day is yours. Im so nice, right?

Jasper sent the text to his boyfriend as he bitterly sat alone in the parking lot. How was he supposed to enjoy his day when his brother was not here? His other half, the guy he trusted the most in the world, and the person he would do anything for in a split second? He had to at least pretend to be happy for the sake of Franck not finding out that he and his brother were fighting and in part it had to deal with Franck. Not that it was Franck’s fault and Jas did wonder how long his brother would be able to keep up his nice guy act with this whole arrangement.

It sucked and Jasper felt bad, but he just hoped that after maybe an hour or two he would get a text from his brother and everything would be cook between the two of them. He really hoped so, because he knew he would only be able to make it maybe a little over an hour without knowing what his brother was up to or if they were cool again.

((Tag:François Laffont))

[François Laffont]

Franck meant to offer the Emory twins a gift. Well, maybe not a gift but at least a reward for their effort during the move-in week. Sure, they had to help since they were in some sport clubs but Franck also knew them enough to expect them to cause more mischief than real help. Even if they had been mischievous, he would have tried to come up with something. After all, with college and work, Franck knew his time for everyone else, including them, was reduced and since he was not certain they had that many other friends, he wanted to be there. Not to add that it would be nice to ‘chill’ with them. So, of course, when he got the text from Jasper, he thought that it would be a good time to do that.

Ooh, nice. Coming right up.

Franck sent his text and after making sure he could go there without being attacked by Frank again, he left for the parking lot. Poor Jasper might be hoping he could look all happy and as if nothing happened, but he forgot his lover’s power. Although, what hit him first was the blue over his eye. Then he felt the pain, anger, bitterness, guilt, everything. “What happened?” He asked, concerned. He didn’t doubt that the other one must be in as bad a state if not worse. Didn’t mean he didn’t want to know what happened.

Franck realised Casper was not around but he thought nothing of it. In fact, his brain had yet processed that thought. It was too busy focusing on Jasper and why he had to be in as bad a mood. His eyes were all on him and he was ready to do anything to get that off the boy’s mind. First, however, he needed to know what happened. Because he didn’t see how they could spend the cookout together and it to be nice otherwise.

[Casper & Jasper Emory]

OK.

Jasper sent that simple text back, not knowing what else to say. He was tempted to add a teasing comment to help give the illusion that all was well and that he did want to spend the day all alone with his boyfriend. That was just not the truth. Not to say that he didn’t want to spend time with his boyfriend, it was just that he didn’t want to spend hours alone with the other boy when he and his twin were having a fight over this boy. Not even the kind of fight in where both the bothers wanted to be with Franck and instead a fight because one of them was with the boy and the other had to deal with the solitude for the sake of Franck having time alone with his boyfriend.

Casper honestly had been fine with it for a time but with it lasting so long, how his brother was about it, and just a few other things in general just made it reach the point where it got complicated. Jasper smiled and gave his boyfriend a small wave when he saw the other pull up in a car. It was still odd to see Franck driving, for reasons the twins had a hard time explaining. Damn, he didn’t even touch me yet and picked up on it. Jasper thought to himself as he reached up to move his hair to cover up the bruise a bit better now. “I ran into a pole.” Jasper responded, even pointing to a light pole that he was going to blame for the bruise.

That could be a story that was believable, right? Jasper and his brother did hurt themselves often with their antics and general training so that could work. “You ready for this cookout event? I really want to try these ribs, never had them before and they look really good.” Jasper said, already backing up to head to where he had saw the ribs being cooked. He didn’t go to hold his boyfriends hand or anything since he clearly needed to get his mood to change a bit more since Franck picked up something was wrong without even touching him. That darn power.

[François Laffont]

Franck knew that the situation was not always easy on the brothers. They were not used to being alone. Only life would not always keep them together. Franck thought it would be a lot easier if Casper had someone too. Like this, it would make sense that while Jasper was busy with Franck, Casper was with his lover. But it would require one who was as understanding as Franck and it might not be easy to find. Franck thought he was already doing a lot to make it easier on the brothers. He did not always like having to spend his dates with Casper too but he did it. of course, his other option was for Jasper to constantly check his phone and sending texts to his brother so he might as well tag along. But he did wish they’d have more alone time. Things were complicated. And they just reached another level when Franck met with Jasper.

Seeing him in that state, of course the boy worried. Franck had started to spend enough time with the twins to be able to tell them apart without Jasper to even see him. When he did, it was easier, since he obviously liked him more, but Franck started to notice the small difference in the boys’ emotions and he was able to tell them apart. It also meant reading the differences in their neutral emotions became a lot easier too. And he knew something was wrong. Something Jasper claimed to be nothing but a pole. Franck turned to look at the lamppost he showed him. “The pole hit you on the face?” It was pretty clear he did not believe. Especially when one quick look at the boy’s hands showed he used them to punch. Obviously, he had a fight with someone. Why he didn’t want to admit it though... Franck chose to believe it was only because Jasper knew how much he disliked violence.

Jasper even wanted to elude the question by talking of the cookout and the ribs he wanted to try. Franck decided to allow it. For now. He frowned though at the boy’s attitude. Was he about to go there without even checking if Franck followed behind? Normally, Jasper would just grab his hand or wait for him to take it. He tried to ignore it, again using excuses to justify this. He was just looking at where they were cooking said ribs. He wouldn’t go before Franck said what he wanted to eat, right? “I think I’ll go for hamburgers myself. You want to get them? I could get us some drinks. And ice for your eye,” he suggested. He didn’t want to tell him the truth about the eye, he could tell as much, but it was not an excuse to leave him in that state.

[Casper & Jasper Emory]

“Yup, was not paying attention to where I was going in my excitement to run over here, that I ran into that pole.” Jasper explained when Franck asked. That had to be a pretty good story but he knew that it lacked a bit more detail and creativity then it should have. He normally was pretty good at coming up with a lie but that was normally because his other half added and filled in the other pieces of it so it made sense. They were a unit, they did it all together, and it just reminded Jasper how very much alone he felt right now. Yes, he had Franck but it was not the same feeling he got when he was with his brother and it would never be.

Jasper was just pleased that Franck was going along with him, not fussing too much about things that he didn’t want to talk about. He didn’t know how long that would last since Franck liked to know what was bothering people so he could make it better. Jas just hoped Franck learned his lesson from last time and would not push too much. Jasper didn’t want to talk about it, he just wanted to eat, and try to ignore the hurt feelings inside him as best as he could. Jasper was about ready to go, his hands remaining to himself still as he worked on trying to get his thoughts solely on food and how good it would taste once he would consume it.

“A hamburger? Sure, I could go for one of those too. I want to try all the meats.” Jasper responded with a nod as he started to walk off in the direction where he knew they could get the meats the desired. He expected Franck to follow behind and was obviously keeping a certain amount of space between him and his boyfriend for the time being. As for the ice comment, he didn’t say anything and kind of just pretended like he didn’t hear that bit as he was practically scampering up to where some burgers were being set aside once they were done cooking on the grill. Jas didn’t even hesitate to grab a plate and work on putting a burger together.

[François Laffont]

Jasper maintained his story about hitting the pole because he was not paying attention. This didn’t look like something that would happen by just hitting a pole. First, he’d hit it pretty hard. Second, Franck saw the knuckles. It was a fight. If he didn’t want to talk about it though, it might just be because he knew Franck hated fights and didn’t want to upset him. For that reason, he chose to drop it. He didn’t know who else was involved and he quite frankly was not certain he wanted to know. In the relationship, Franck loved to be oblivious to a lot of stuff. It was better that way.

He felt the longing and pain coming from Jasper all of a sudden and this rang into Franck. He suddenly felt the desire to just hug Jasper, feel that the boy was there. But he did not move. He knew who Jasper felt this for. “Your brother’s not around?” he asked only to regret it. Jasper said he wanted to spend alone time with Franck. He knew how Jasper could be nervous after a while if he didn’t have his brother around. It might just be it. Except there was too much pain to just be it. Franck felt like he should have kept the question to himself.

Not to add that the lack of physical interaction between them had him uneasy. Jasper was usually very physical and it only made Franck very physical too. Well, he already was, or so he believed, he simply allowed himself to be as tactile as he knew he could be. Didn’t he admit in the past to be a hugger?

He smiled at Jasper’s comment though. “I feel like there’s a good sex joke to say here,” he replied although did not mention sex joke and left Jasper to figure out on his own. There really was no surprise that Franck would not say it out loud, it was very unlike him to do so. “If you get the burgers, I put mayonnaise in mine. If they don’t have that, cheese and relish is fine too. I’ll get the drinks and the first one who gets a table saves it for the other, alright?” He also wanted to get some ice, as he told Jasper. He didn’t need to end up blind of one eye because it was swollen. Plus it would give him the opportunity to run away since Jasper was not acting like usual and he didn’t want to show how this affected him. Maybe once they’d sit down he would be Jasper again. Because Franck got used to his boyfriend holding his hands when they walked together.

[Casper & Jasper Emory]

That question, it made the pain all the worse inside Jasper, and he was still doing his best to ignore it. No he is not around. He won’t be around because he hates me now. Hates me for being with you and things just not being the same between us. It's all my fault. I'm such a selfish brother who does not even think about how his brother feels about having to spend those hours alone. Jasper thought to himself as he clenched his fist for a moment. He was quick to take a deep breath, trying to keep himself under control as he forced as smile on his face to try and bring back those happy feelings to him.

If only that was how it worked, but it did not. "He wanted us to be able to spend time together, so it’s just me and you for the whole event. Isn’t my brother so nice?" Jasper asked his voice cracking a little bit as he spoke. It could almost sound like he was holding about sobbing or was going through puberty. That could in fact be true, if they had not been fighting. a lot of the time when Jasper and Franck would be alone would be because Casper would tell Jasper to go spend some alone time with his boyfriend. When Lucy was around a lot more, things had to not have been so bad for Casper.

Now Jasper was starting to understand how lonely things must have been for his brother and it just made him feel worse. "Go ahead, say it. I dare you." Jasper said, smiling a little bit more at the possibility of Franck making an actual sex joke. Jasper knew of what he could say and that was why Jasper had said it in the first place. Anything that would be a distraction for him was desired. "Of course you like white stuff on your meats." Jasper pointed out, when Franck spoke about how he wanted some mayonnaise on his. Jasper still made sure to recall everything that Franck wanted, so he could get it for his boyfriend.

"Alright, I get the burgers and you get the drinks. Go team." Jasper said, trying to do a cheer at the end before he was quick to go off to get the burgers for them. Yes, this was a good idea because it allowed him some space to get his mind focused on things other than his brother and try to make this day just about Franck so the other boy would not worry.

[François Laffont]

It would have been impossible for Franck not to feel his boyfriend’s pain. Even without being an empath, it was showing all over his face after Franck asked about his brother. He understood immediately that something happened. It was not the first time the brothers fought. Franck learned not to deal with it, as they would get back together on their own. They couldn’t stay angry at each other forever, they were what they had most precious. Franck wanted to just grab Jasper and hold him or something but he restrained himself, knowing the boy would likely just stiffen and move away from him. He needed space when he was in that state and as much as it tortured Franck, he would give him space.

Jasper tried not to let it show. Failed attempt of course, but Franck decided not to point it out and play along as he said Casper gave them some time together. He nodded in agreement. “Remind me to thank him for it later,” he replied but, should Jasper pay any attention to his boyfriend at all or the tone of his voice, he would get that Franck was not that naive. He would address the matter. Later. Preferably when Jasper would feel a little more comfortable or when they’d get someplace more private. In case it affected him too much. No need to make a show for all to see.

The possible sex joke lifted his mood a little and Franck chuckled at this, happy despite the fact he was blushing some. “There’s one meat you haven’t tried yet,” he said. Yes, he dared say it. Only he mumbled it, certainly making it hard for Jasper to get all that he said. He was not going to repeat it though. Once was enough. He should feel impressed that he even dared to say it once. When he opted for hamburgers, it was so that Jasper would not make a comment about him eating a hotdog and the obvious comparison he’d make. He didn’t think one moment about the mayonnaise. He really put that in his hamburger so he naturally told it to Jasper, since he’d go get them. Only there was something to say about that too. Franck just avoided a sex joke to jump right in for another one. He opened his mouth, eyes wide from the shock he said that so casually and the embarrassment he felt at it. “I just fell right into it again,” he let out once he was finally able to speak.

The ‘go team’ did not fool Franck. Jasper was very upset and it involved his brother. He would have to fix that. His only consolation was that he was pretty sure now the black eye was a result of this fight and not because Jasper beat up some other student. He watched Jasper leave towards the grills, frowning as he thought of this. He soon turned away and went to fetch the sodas. He also asked for some ice. They had plenty, to keep said sodas cold, they could easily part with some. They barely even asked questions when he explained that someone hit themselves, that it was fine but swelling. They offered it, wrapped up in a cloth and Franck left with that to get a table and wait for Jasper to return. What he wouldn’t say was that he was not only looking around for him but also for Casper. So he’d know what happened.