one. the bargaining chip

The soft, luxurious sheets envelop Juni like a dense morning fog, their cool fabric clinging to his skin as they beckoned him deeper into their warm cocoon. The mattress beneath him still exuded a weighty heaviness of sleep, intermingling with the familiar scent of Charlie's cologne that lingered in the air, evoking a sense of safety and intimacy.

From across the room, the quiet rustling of hangers and the dull thud of a dresser drawer being pulled open pierced the comfortable silence. Charlie was up and moving about, his lower half clad in a casual pair of jeans while he rummaged through his closet, searching for a shirt. Juni propped himself up on his elbows, a delighted smile spreading across his face as he watched his boyfriend with appreciation. "I love this view, by the way," he said, his voice playful and teasing.

"I bet you do," Charlie replied, flipping through a rack of graphic tees with casual precision. "But flattery won't get you out of going with me to their house."

"Damn, it usually works," Juni shot back, a teasing grin gracing his lips as he rolled onto his back, stretching like a contented cat. The oversized t-shirt he wore bunched at his waist, exposing a glimpse of his midriff. "But come on. Do we really have to go over there? We could just stay in our cozy bubble and watch a movie or something. Jason Takes Manhattan is on Netflix. You know it's my favorite of the Friday the 13th franchise."

Charlie chuckled, teasingly dismissive, as he pulled a black hoodie from the closet, the soft fabric contrasting with the sunlight spilling into the room. "We did that yesterday," he reminded Juni, a hint of a smirk playing on his lips.

"And it was educational," Juni argued, propping himself up on his elbows, his eyes sparkling with mischief. "You promised me some intellectual stimulation."

"And you promised to come see my cousins," Charlie retorted, arms crossed in playful defiance.

"I made that promise under emotional duress," Juni pointed out, raising an eyebrow as he looked at Charlie. "You were shirtless. It definitely shouldn't count."

"One, it absolutely counts," Charlie retorted, turning to face him, hoodie still in hand. "And two, are you implying that I manipulate you with my body?"

"I'm saying I would willingly let you manipulate me," Juni quipped, giving his boyfriend a slow, deliberate once-over that matched the teasing tone of their banter. Charlie rolled his eyes, yet couldn't suppress the smirk tugging at his lips as he crossed the distance between them.

With a playful flourish, the Reyes boy dropped his hoodie at the edge of the bed and plopped down atop Juni, leaning in to steal a quick kiss. "You're lucky I like you so much," he murmured, a playful challenge lacing his words.

"You like me because I'm charming and because I tolerate your absolutely unique family," Juni replied, grinning against Charlie's lips, their warmth mingling in the air.

"Oh, really?" Charlie chuckled, lifting Juni effortlessly from the bed, holding him aloft as he spun around playfully. Laughter danced between them, each giggle like a melody that filled the room with warmth. When they finally came to a stop, Juni found himself on his feet, Charlie's hands still resting on his waist, grounding him.

"How about if I promise to get you your favorite type of ice cream after this, hmm? Will that help you survive the ordeal with my cousins?" Charlie proposed, mischief sparkling in his eyes.

Juni contemplated, humming a playful tune as a thoughtful smile blossomed on his face. "I suppose that could ease the pain of having to interact with them," he conceded, a teasing lilt in his voice.

In that moment, Charlie's face lit up with a wide, genuine grin that warmed Juni's heart. The playful confidence that resonated in his tone held a sincerity that made the Juarez boy feel valued. "Good," he said, leaning in ever so slightly closer, their eyes locked in a dance of shared amusement. "Now, should we get moving?"

"Yeah, I guess so," Juni replied, grabbing the beanie off the bed and gently placing it on Charlie's head. "To complete the emo skater boy aesthetic, of course."

"Oh, ha, ha," Charlie shot back with a flow of sarcasm, laughter lighting up his voice, their playful banter echoing through the room. He placed his lips against the Juarez boy's once more and pulled back with a smile. "Okay, now we can go."

Juni rolled his eyes but joined his and Charlie's hands together as they left the bedroom. They soon descended the stairs, Juni on his phone after feeling it buzz in his back pocket. His mother had texted him about being late and allowing him to stay over at Charlie's. Not paying attention to what was in front of him, he accidentally bumped into his boyfriend's back. "Oh, sh..." he trailed off when he noticed who had caused Charlie to pause.

Stefani, Charlie's older sister who has barely visited since she left for college. Juni eyed his boyfriend, then Stefani, and then their father—who stood on the other side of the kitchen island—watching from a distance. "Oh, hi, Charlie," Stefani greeted her brother. She glanced at Juni and that was when he noticed the nervous and partially forced smile on her face. "Juni, how are you?"

"Hey," Juni replied, waving at the Reyes girl with a big smile. His boyfriend, on the other hand, said it more quietly and with a lack of warmth. That took Stefani aback. "Um... Hi, Stef, how are you? It's so nice to see you." she said as she approached the boyfriends on the stairs, in a tone meant to mimic Charlie's.

"Yeah, sure," Charlie declared still with a lack of anything. He stepped down and took a few short steps away from Stefani before turning to their dad. "Uh, we're going to the cousins!"

"Woah, now?" Marty asked. "Look, your sister just got home, I thought we—"

"Well, we have plans," the Reyes boy said, taking hold of Juni's hand and pulling him to follow after him in the direction of the door.

"Actually, you know what, I can-I can drive you guys," Stefani stated, collecting her bag and car keys. She placed her bag on her shoulder as she went after the couple. "I was... wanting to see them anyways."

"It's fine," Charlie responded in an uninterested manner. To which, Juni sneakily shoulder-checked him while mouthing, "Be nice."

"Hey, if you're gonna see your cousins, please don't talk about Iris to Uncle Howard," Marty let out. He approached his children and the Juarez boy at the door, though his eyes were stuck on his daughter. Stefani nodded her head. "Yeah. Yeah, no problem," she responded before turning on her heels and heading out the door with her brother and Juni. "Alright. Bye, love you."

"Love you too!" Marty called out as the door came to a close.