Anything but Judgement

                                    

                                          
While spending a short afternoon in the arms of Jess, Y/n's bottled emotions spill out at once and their boyfriend is there to help.
                          
Any Season
                          
Angst - in the form of sad/hurt reader, implied emotional destress.
                          
✿
                          
Jess had been stressed for the majority of the morning. It was summer. No more school, and therefore Luke set him up for more hours of work within his cafe, which was always at its busiest during the holidays. From the second Jess woke up, at half six with his uncle whacking his feet with an old newspaper screaming to get up, and until the later afternoon, he hadn't had a break from his job. Therefore, he hasn't phoned or met with Y/n, like he wishes he could.
                          
Holding three hot plates at once as he delivers table to table, twirling in spot to face a voice that says there's no extra tomato's in their sandwich like they asked or they've yet to receive their muffin, a low grumble emitting from Jess' throat in reply as he fixes the order. Small gaps between where he stands behind the counter, moving his hair from sticking to his sweat-clad forehead before dabbing his head with a dishtowel. However, those intervals didn't last long before his uncle again hit Jess with a towel to the back of his legs. 
                          
The little coffee shop was almost too chaotic to notice the bell that rang when Y/n enters the shop. But when he hears Kirk shouting, "Jess, I need more sugars. Five isn't enough", he turns his head to the table he resided beside the door, to scream a retort back to the man-child, but is cut off when they step through. A weak smile covers their face as Jess observes their arrival.
                          
His eyebrows furrow as they follow their figure, not aiming for a table but instead towards the curtain that led to the steps to Luke and Jess' flat. "Hey, Y/n", Luke greets as they walk past and up the stairs. He turns to Jess, who eyes the man in reply. His eyes widening in realisation, "I don't think so!", "I'm taking a break", both reply in unison as Jess pulls his apron off and chucking his small notepad behind the counter.
                          
"It's too busy, Jess", Luke begs, quite pathetically in Jess' opinion. "Don't get your panties in a knot. I'll be back soon," replies Jess, already standing behind the curtain and thundering up the stairs. Luke stands at the bottom of the steps, sighing when the door slams shut, "ten minutes or you are in trouble!". 
                          
Jess can hardly hear his uncle as he steps into the room, head-turning towards his bed where Y/n lay with a book in their hands. "What are you doing? I thought you would be another while..." they trail off, resting their book onto their stomach as they look towards their boyfriend, who walks over with a widening smile.
                          
"You look very beautiful" Jess dismisses their last question as he scootches them over before laying beside them, arm instinctively wrapping around their shoulders as Y/n lays further into his embrace, hand resting on his stomach as they let out a loud sigh. 
                          
For a while, nothing is said. Just the peace and quiet of the room and their breaths as they close their eyes together, the warmth of the cuddle enough to protect the anxieties of the noise below the floor. Or so was thought.
                          
Jess' eyes are reopened from the interruptance of Y/n's sharp intakes of breath. He glances at them as they arise from the previous position to sit straight. "Hey, what's wrong? What happened, darling?" asks Jess, following their place to also rub a careful, comforting and helpful hand up and down the love of his life's back. 
                          
Their shaking hands cover their tear covered face as everything they have been trying to bottle up suddenly rushes out. The previously tranquil state, overwhelming as they were once again, left to their own thoughts, which reached the place they could almost always escape from around Jess. But today was not one of those times.
                          
Jess was about to pull their hands from their face, but decided it would be better to wait on his love to take their time to speak or look at him. Suddenly words rushed out their mouth in a strangled sob, "I'm sorry, I'm just really struggling..." they trail off. Jess heart breaks at the unsettled state of their partner, wishing he could make it all better for them.
                          
"Tired of what?" Jess asks, it takes them a few moments to continue, but Jess' hand never stops his reassuring hand movements as he also lays a kiss on their temple. "... of everything". After a minute, Y/n is able to release all the issues they have been dealing with, the demons overtaking their mind. Soon pulling their hands away as they explain everything, Jess' comforting gaze showing anything but judgement. 
                          
The brisk breath intake after venting for several minutes indicates Y/n has finished with their expressing of pre-hidden emotions. Jess laying another kiss to their temple as his hand strokes their cheek before laying back down in bed and opening his arms for Y/n to join in his warm embrace. 
                          
When they do, they feel their anxieties somewhat melt away as he speaks, "I'm always here for you, I don't want you to bottle up these feelings", squeezing their frame closer, he continues, "whenever you need me, whether that's in the early hours of the morning or late times at night, I will always be there. You don't have to go through this alone. That's what I'm here for". 
                          
Y/n's heart swells at the words falling surprisingly effortlessly from his lips, "I love you", he adds, Y/n's eyes turning to look at their boyfriend above, who lays a short and gentle kiss to their lips, both taking their time before pulling away. "And I love you".