The Decision about Jobie (Outdated Short Story)

!!This short writing contains talk of sex and reference to sexual events. However, it does not go into detail and is for plot sake!!


     “I feel like we should talk about it, it just feels like he’s a part of it now.” Ace said, his tone hushed.

     He laid within the night beside Gene, the bed dipping heavily under the large man’s weight. Despite the chill of midnight wafting into the room from the opened window, Ace was warm. Gene’s body emitted a soft flourish of heat, drawing the thin male to him. He smelled good. He smelled like his home, tobacco and basil.

     The scent had soaked into Gene’s olive green bed sheets, and even after a run through the wash this morning it still smelt like Gene.

     The tired man beside Ace- with aching bones and tender muscles- was melted into the bed, eyes still closed while Ace whispered worries into his ear. The rumble of his dark snoring had steadied as Ace shuffled and turned beside him, and Gene had awoken to ask what Ace was worrying about.

     Gene had returned from a full shift at Henry’s Diner to then cook a meal for three men and then get harassed by Ace’s unease in bed. Depriving him of sleep.

     Ace felt selfish. This could have waited for the morning.

     “I’m sorry Gene,” He whispered, “I'm sorry, we can talk about this in the morning.”

     “Mm,” He sighed. The beast took in a slow deep breath, the bed frame creaking as he began to turn. “Aye, m’ listening.”

     “I know,”

     “Cmere.”

     Ace felt six thick fingers press firmly against his back, squishing him closer into Gene’s familiar body. Unable to help himself, Ace let out a whimper and gently nuzzled his cold nose into the crease between Gene’s pecs.

     “Alright, what’s going on with Jobie?” He asked again, gently guiding Ace back into the conversation.

     “I guess I want us to be sure of everything before- I don't know- it all just happens. Do you think Jobie is one of us now? I mean- is he in the relationship of this? If he is then when did he start being a part of the relationship?”

     “Mm…” Gene’s chest rumbled, the gears slowly turning in his head. “He isn't.”

          “A part of the three of us?”

          “He’s a part of us.”

          “Wait so he’s in the romance with us then? Have you kissed?”

     “No, no.” Gene said, “He is a part of us. Not uh… romantically.”

     “Oh- I see. Sorry- I’m not mad if you’ve been intimate though. He cuddles with us and you- I know that- but I guess I just want to know those things. You know? If you and Rory are romantic with him eventually. Do you want to be or- would you?”

     “I dont know, think he’s queer?” Gene teased.

     “Yeah, he is. I think so, he gets uhm,” Ace felt embarrassed saying it, “y'know when he and Rory tussle he gets hard.”

     “Bad luck maybe?”

     “What about all the cuddling he's been doing with you then? You’ve had to have noticed Gene- he was nibbling on your neck yesterday.”

     “Hmm… Don't recall.”

     “Gene!” Ace accused with a grin. “Stop, I’m being serious.”

     “Alright. Yea, I think you’re right." Gene shifted again. "He’s uh…”

     “Different from that first month we had with him.”

     “Mhm.” Gene nodded

     “So would you be intimate with him? Or do you want to be?”

     The slow whirring of Gene’s lungs left three deep breaths between the two men before he answered.

     “Yea I think I would.”

     “Oh, you would have sex with him then?

     “Oh… That's what we were talking about?”

     “Oh- yea it was. Yea, sorry. I’m sorry.

    Gene let out a chuckle, the sound vibrating in his chest against Ace’s nose. The large man shifted, the bed creaking again as he pulled Ace a bit closer.

     “Well- I don't know!” Ace giggled. “Okay but would you have sex with him?”

     Gene allowed the gears to keep turning, rolling his shoulders a bit before melting back into the bed. Despite having a fear for silence in conversation, Ace never felt any panic when Gene had a buffer for words. Sometimes- especially for big questions- it would take him a while to answer.

     “Mhm. Yea I would.”

     Ace felt his heart sink. Not because he didnt want Gene to have sex with Jobie, nor did he think Jobie shoud’nt be a part of their romance. It's been coming for some time now, and he knew it at the back of his head. It stirred in his chest every time Jobie cuddled up to Gene or got handsy with Rory while tussling. That nauseating swirl in his chest got frantic especially when Jobie would hold his face and stare at him. Of course, Ace had once found it terribly unsettling, and would quickly pull away. Yet, he had come to find that Jobie only did that with him and not the others. It was special. Jobie’s hands would hold Ace’s cheeks and his thumbs would rub back and forth on them, often muttering while he did. Once, he had said Ace’s eyes were beautiful. Very important, and beautiful.

     So why did Ace feel this way?

     The idea of being with Jobie officially was so stressful. If he hadn't said anything, maybe they could have eased into romance with him and not had to say anything at all. But how would he know that everyone was okay with it? If they didn't all agree that sex was allowed with Jobie, then would someone be hurt if it happened?

     Really saying that Jobie was a part of the relationship changes everything. Now there's four, not three. Four people doing this abnormal thing all together. Ace would be having sex with three people now, not just two. That's so many people- and that swirl of worry began to stir again.

     Furthermore, what if Jobie proved to be more difficult than they thought? He had been a nightmare to Ace in the beginning, but he seemed to be easier to interact with now. Or perhaps Ace’s tolerance of him had grown.

     If that tolerance faded, then what if Ace didn't want Jobie in the relationship anymore? Would he get kicked out? Or would Jobie get rejected from the group and have nowhere to stay again? God that would be awful. Everyone would be mad at Ace for it too, and resent him for being so incompatible with Jobie. No, for being selfish.

     But that was better than everyone leaving him. Even if they all hated him, he would rather that they stay with him.

     “Aye.” Gene’s groggy voice brought Ace back, “you got a kink in your think?” He asked.

     “No. I’m just thinking.”

     “Mm.. you're worrying.”

     “I just don't want everything to change.” He admitted, revealing to himself what the anxious stirring was.

    “Oh yea?” The broad man said. “What's gonna change? We uh… Already shop for four now. And uh,” He took many long pauses, “He already has a room with Rory. We’d just be fuckin now is all.”

     “Oh- god Gene.” Ace scolded at the crudeness of it.

    "Hey, You got all ruffled about Rory too."

     "Yea, I remember." Ace muttered, though that now felt so distant.

     "Hey and uh... me too. You happy with us?"

     "Of course."

     "Then don't worry about it."

     As usual, Gene’s warm words of reassurance seemed to soothe Ace. The tangled strings of thought still wrapped around one another in his chest, but suddenly he was back in Gene’s bed in Gene’s room. He was not being abandoned, not now.

     “Okay, well I’m okay if you and Rory want to be intimate with him now.”

     “Yea?”

     “Mhm. I don't think I want to yet- well I just don't know yet, but I like sitting on his lap right now.” Ace said, feeling that he sounded quite stupid.

     “Hmm. Yea.” Gene muttered, trailing off a bit. “Oh, hey, Rory’s been uh, blowin 'em.”

     “What?”

     “Giving Jobie head.”

     “Are you serious? When?”

     “Yesterday.”

     “Wait- Gene!” Ace sat up, pulling a rush of cold air into the bed sheets. “What happened- did you catch them? Oh my god why didn't you say?”

“Oh. I didn't think uh… y’know, it was important.”

Ace’s jaw was slightly opened, the thin man now wide awake and gazing down at Gene through the dim lighting. There was a slight smile on his lips. Amusement.

“What! No- tell me more. Where were they? When did that happen- did you catch them?”

“Yea.” Gene chuckled, his eyes still closed and a grin stretching lines into his skin. “You were at work and uh, I came home from groceries.”

     “Oh my god was it in the living room?”

     “Yea. Rory was going to town, so…”

     “What! You didn't tell me?”

     “I forgot, but uh, I was thinking just now I should tell you.”

     “Well- yea! Gene- oh god that changes everything.” Ace huffed with a smile, falling back into the bed. “Rory..."

     “Heh..."

     “God- I feel stupid. Why did I make this a whole thing?”

     “Mm.. no this is good,” Gene sighed. “Hey, how about this sugar. If we want to have sex with someone, we just gotta tell the others.”

     “With anyone?...”

     “Mhm.”

     “I don't know. I’m sorry.” Ace muttered. “I don't know if I could do anymore than four people.”

     “No, no that's not what I'm sayin. Having sex doesnt mean that theyre in the relationship.”

     “I dont know.”

     “Like William.”

     “Oh- yea. Okay, I guess that's fine.” Ace said, sniffing a bit to clear his nose.

     “Mm not saying we’re gonna go and uh… start sleezing around. Just a general rule to ask everyone before we do. That a good deal?”

     “Yea. I think so. I don't know, can we just try it for a while first before making it an official rule?”

     “Mhm.”

     Ace shifted into the bed, settling more confidently now. Gene gave him a squeeze that pressed them together, making Ace smile a bit as he was buried between two pecs squishing against his face. The curled hair on Gene’s chest was soft against Ace’s cheek, encouraging Ace to start nuzzling his face against it.

     “Hey, nothings changing.” Gene said, finally allowing himself to begin drifting off.

     “I know. Thank you Gene.”

     “mhm.”

    "Hey- we need to talk to Rory."

     "Tomorrow."

     "Okay, sorry. Night."

     "Night sugar cube."