(no subject)

[macabre-whimsy.insanejournal.com]

Who: Wil and Jacob Grimm
What: Wil asks a favour (Originally posted by Wil)
When: Friday night
Where: at home
Warnings: none, maybe swears



Wil tapped his fingers against the edge of his laptop and glanced up at Jacob. They were sitting together in the library, spending the evening companionably after dinner. He'd been talking to Hans on his journal, and he bit his lip as he hesitated a little longer before clearing his throat slightly.

"So, uh. Would you like a drink of something?"

Jacob looked up over his own laptop and then he closed it halfway. "Sure, I suppose. Is this you trying to make me get up and get it?" he asked, amused.

Wil shook his head, amused, and put his computer aside. "No, I was getting up anyway." He went to the liquor cabinet. "What do you want?" He got two glasses out and put ice in both.

"So, you know Hans is writing a play?" he asked conversationally.

"Whiskey," Jacob said, watching him with his laptop still warm on his lap.

"I did. He asked me if I was interested in co-writing a play, actually. Though this could be a different project entirely. I am interested in reading it, I do enjoy the things he creates."

Wil nodded, pouring a drink for them both, then taking Jacob's glass to him. "He was just mentioning it to me. How would you feel about investing a little time and money into getting it on the stage?" he asked, settling back in his chair.

Jacob screwed up his face as he did when he was considering, but he only looked that way for a second. "I would be very interested in that. I would love to see something he produced on stage and to help him achieve that would be very nice." Jacob took his drink and he sipped at it.

Wil nodded. "That's what I thought you'd say. Once we've set up a trust for the baby and put some aside for Greta- we really need to get onto that- we do have a lot of savings doing nothing. Why not make a poor, struggling playwright's dreams come true?" He smirked a little, teasing.

"Yes, Hans Andersen is an unknown," Jacob smiled. "You're right though, we do have a lot of savings. And we bring in enough money even without that. Of course I'd be interested."

Wil smiled back and nodded. "I'll talk to Hans about it then, see what he wants to do. I don't know where he's up to with the writing process yet."

He sipped his drink, the words to finally tell the truth about Hans on the tip of his tongue. But- ah, not yet. "I saw you got a parcel today. Who was it from?"

Jacob grinned, taking another sip of whiskey. He didn't have secrets from Wil. That just wasn't how their relationship worked. "It was from Louis. He sent me a few things. You probably don't want to know specifics," Jacob said, though if Wil said he actually did, Jacob wouldn't even hesitate in telling him. "I want to send him something in return, though I am not entirely sure that was the intended reason for sending it n the first place."

Wil raised one eyebrow, but refrained from comment. "No, probably the using of it is the intention... I hate to think." He shook his head. "Going well then, I assume."

Jacob and Wil were different in the way they went about having lovers. Wil had fallen in love and married and settled down. Jacob had never been interested. He was far more in to the slightly darker side of sex, though he didn't see it that way. And it wasn't something he required, but he did enjoy it. Things with Wil were simple and straight forward. He saved his other inclinations for other people, and he knew Wil didn't always approve. Jacob could deal with that, as long as it never interfered with what he had with Wil.

"It's going fine. He's an amazing and talented young man. I am referring to his intellect there, thank you."

Wil snorted. "I'm sure you are," he said, pretending to be scandalised by his brother's words. He sipped his drink again, then put the glass down and picked up his computer again. As he went back to looking at the screen he added, "By the way, I'm seeing Hans now."

Jacob nearly dropped his glass and his computer at the same time. Quickly he put both down and then he leaned forward, his elbows on his thighs. "What?! You're what?!"

Wil looked back up at Jacob again for a moment, wary. He was unconsciously using the computer as a kind of shield.

"Well you're seeing Louis. It's not a bit deal," he mumbled, slouching in the chair and hunching his shoulders.

"No, I-" Jacob held up his hand and he took a moment to breathe deeply and figure out what he was trying to say. This had shocked him so much, since he had thought Louis had said he couldn't get what he needed from Hans sexually. Perhaps Jacob had assumed that meant things it didn't mean.

"It's fine, I just- Hans? Wil, will you stop hiding behind your computer, you look ridiculous. Did this happen while you were discussing the play?" He had so many questions, but that seemed like a good first one.

Wil rubbed his hand over his face. "It happened... erh, a while ago... you went to apologise to him for being a jerk and so I went to make sure you weren't horrible to him and he told me he loved me then..." He squirmed a little. "He sent me letters for about a month before I did anything about it, but now we... When Louis came here I was there." He glanced guiltily at Jacob.

Jacob straightened up slowly in his chair as he struggled with what Wil was essentially admitting to.

Wil had been with Hans for a while, it seemed. Hans had sent Wil letters and Wil had said nothing. Jacob had gone to see Hans quite a long time ago.

Jacob's chest felt like all the air had rushed out of it. It wasn't that Wil was with Hans. That was fine. Wil had the right to be with anyone he wanted to be and if it made him happy, it would thrill Jacob. He loved it when Wil smiled. But Wil had hidden something from him. Jacob told Wil everything.

"This was happening...and you didn't tell me?" Jacob asked, his voice shaking.

Wil clenched his jaw, his face going red with guilt and embarrassment. "I hadn't made up my mind at first, and then... I don't know... I missed my chance and then the longer I left it the harder it got..." All his excuses seemed petty and pathetic when faced with Jacob's wounded expression. And saying Hans had requested he not tell felt like passing the buck. He didn't have to go along with the request. Hans was hardly likely to threaten him into submission.

Jacob stared at his brother and he shook his head. He tried to find words to say something, but he felt betrayed. It was a normal thing, to keep secrets and to not say everything. It wasn't something they did.

"I tell you everything," Jacob whispered, and then he stood up. "Wil, for the record, I hope Hans makes you happy because you deserve it. And so does he. But I can't be in the same room with you right now."

Wil looked away, hurt, but he knew he deserved it. He nodded once, accepting his punishment. Maybe later he'd share the letters with Jacob, when he wasn't so disappointed and angry with Wil. "I'm sorry," he said.

Jacob collected his laptop and he sighed. "You know, if you had told me about this, maybe I could have talked you through it. I'll see you later, Wil." And then, because Jacob hated the idea that if something happened, Wil could disappear and that would be the way they spent their last moments together, Jacob said, "I do love you. I'm just hurt."

Then he stalked away to his bedroom to sulk