'Q&A', a Jack/Daniel triple drabble, R

[sid]

Q: What's the opposite of fluffy?

A: This.

300 words, set between Seasons 8 and 9.  J/D established relationship.

Many thanks to melayneseahawk  and tesserae  for help and reassurance.  :-)

 

Q&A

Jack scrubs an agitated hand through his hair. “What exactly do you want?”

 

It isn’t the first time he’s asked that question. The first time, the answer was, “You,” and a thrill skittered down Jack’s spine at the heat in Daniel’s eyes.

 

After Daniel descended the answer was, “Us,” and Jack knew he meant more to Daniel than he’d realized. Daniel wanted to recapture what they’d been to each other. Jack was something more than an object or an outlet or a project. Maybe one day he’d learn exactly what he was to Daniel. Maybe Daniel would even tell him.

 

Maybe pigs will fly.

 

Now, standing in Jack’s kitchen, Daniel’s answer is, “I want you to take the Washington job.”

 

Daniel never interferes in Jack’s career. Jack doesn’t need his permission to accept a promotion.

 

This is Daniel sending him away.

 

“So, it’s over?”

 

Daniel steps in close, eyes glittering. He slides his hand around Jack’s throat and applies mild pressure. “It’s not over unless I say it’s over.”

 

Jack feels arousal swirl, low in his belly. He takes in a breath through his nose and smells Daniel’s aftershave, the one Jack gave him last birthday. He shudders and begins to harden. “Okay. Just checking.” He licks his lips.  Waits.

 

Daniel’s hand tightens. “It’s never going to be over, Jack. Just so you know.” He releases his grip.  His hand moves to Jack’s shoulder, fingers tapping. 

 

Jack hurries to reply, letting all his relief show in his face and eyes. “That’s good to know.”  And if Daniel wants to read love into that….

 

“I’d keep you here if we didn’t need you there.” Daniel pulls him in tight, speaks gruffly into his ear. “I’ll miss you.”

 

“Likewise,” Jack gasps, as his hips begin to grind out his impossible, uncontrollable need.

 

Comments

[paian]

Great take on their situation at that time in the series -- a unique and fascinating and chilling take on why Jack took that job! -- and wonderful execution. Owwcch + mmmmm.

[sid]

Chilling is a good word for it! A little creepy and messed-up, and not what I would wish for them.

And neither of them are really talking to me, any more than they do to each other, so I'm left wondering which way Jack was leaning before Daniel stated his wishes. Hmm.

Very glad you liked it!

[paian]

I'm partial to the thought that Jack was leaning away from it. Makes the force of Daniel's leaning him into it more significant. (Hm, leaning ... 'Inclination' resonance there!) But why he might have been leaning away or towards ... well, that's how more fic is born! *g* (Characters don't 'talk' to me -- I don't anthropomorphize the constructs of characters that way as a writing tool -- so most times I need to write the story to find out the answer to a question like that. :-) Not to noooodge you into doing that, but I sure wouldn't mind if you did!)

Oh, and so happy to see you use that icon! :-)

[sid]

'Tis such a lovely icon. :-)

No, I don't sit and try to actually talk to the characters. I have no idea if that would work for me or not, although it sounds like it would be a very interesting process. But things sometimes come out in the course of writing, as you are saying. Only this time around nothing but secrets came out. *shakes Jack and Daniel hard* Still nothing. *g*

[paian]

Ah, well -- secrets can be half the fun! The way the silences in music can be as important as the parts the composer and musicians fill with sound. :-)