There were more things said in the time it took Finn to finally fall asleep, nestled against his broadened chest. Tiny, nothing reassurances that may as well have been a lullaby for how often Jake found himself saying them. I love you, it's okay, I'm here, everything's going to be okay.
Even after Finn's soft sobs blurred into steady breathing, Jake felt anchored to him for what felt like another hour of meditative rocking. The quiet would've been a perfect time to contemplate tomorrow and begin thinking through his next steps, but Jake couldn't bring himself to be that practical.
Instead, he catalogues the moment. Finn's pajamas, coarse and practically threadbare in a few places after too many washes. His hair, grown out to an awkward length around his shoulders -- Jake could see where it clung, still wet, to his neck from his shower. The waxy, bruise colored skin around his eyelids. His fingernails were getting long again. Just the ones on his left hand, though.
Mind clear and Finn fast asleep, Jake finally let himself cry. And though it was over in a matter of moments, his body felt about a hundred pounds heavier on the other side of it.
"C'mon, bro." He murmurs, manipulating Finn's body carefully as he shifted positions and carried him up the treehouse ladder to their bedroom. It's now that Jake allows himself a thought towards tomorrow, if only to hope it's a little better than today.
1/3
Even after Finn's soft sobs blurred into steady breathing, Jake felt anchored to him for what felt like another hour of meditative rocking. The quiet would've been a perfect time to contemplate tomorrow and begin thinking through his next steps, but Jake couldn't bring himself to be that practical.
Instead, he catalogues the moment. Finn's pajamas, coarse and practically threadbare in a few places after too many washes. His hair, grown out to an awkward length around his shoulders -- Jake could see where it clung, still wet, to his neck from his shower. The waxy, bruise colored skin around his eyelids. His fingernails were getting long again. Just the ones on his left hand, though.
Mind clear and Finn fast asleep, Jake finally let himself cry. And though it was over in a matter of moments, his body felt about a hundred pounds heavier on the other side of it.
"C'mon, bro." He murmurs, manipulating Finn's body carefully as he shifted positions and carried him up the treehouse ladder to their bedroom. It's now that Jake allows himself a thought towards tomorrow, if only to hope it's a little better than today.