A Few Minor Vices
Title: A Few Minor Vices
Characters: Jude/Max
Fandom: Across the Universe
Rating: PG-13
Table: 11
Prompt: 40, Cigarettes
Author's Note: This is entirely a product of imagination, and I do not own Jude Feeny, Max Carrigan, or any of the other characters depicted in the film Across the Universe.
Jude took a deep breath of the fresh air in the park as he and Max strolled down one of the many paths, closing his eyes for a moment. It felt good to be outside, in the sunshine, walking with his lover and feeling that nothing could tear them apart.
There was a feeling in the back of his mind, like dark clouds hanging overhead, that something was going to burst into their lives like a bombshell and turn everything upside down. But not today. Today was a day for them to enjoy being together, and being in love.
Max's hand tightening on his as they turned away from the path, heading for the trees in the center of the park, and a small gazebo that they both knew was hidden away there. Jude couldn't help but wonder if Max was up to something, or if he simply wanted them to be alone.
Probably a little bit of both, he thought with an inward smile. Max could be one of the most mischievous people he'd ever met; that was one of the things that had drawn him to the other young man on the first night they had met.
He'd fallen in love with Max then and there, he mused, smiling as he remembered the first time he'd looked into those sparkling blue eyes. He'd lost his heart in that moment -- and he never wanted ti back. His heart would belong to Max Carrigan forever.
"Where are we going? To the gazebo?" he asked, wondering why Max was choosing to walk through the wooded area of the park, rather than stay on the pathways. He hoped that his boyfriend didn't intend to try to have sex in a public place; that never turned out well.
"I wanted to walk through here, just to enjoy being outside," Max told him with a smile. "And to tell you something that I don't think you've realized. I kind of didn't think you would, so I'm going to bring it to your attention and see how surprised you look."
Jude's brow furrowed as he thought back over the past few days, wondering what it was that he should have noticed. It was obviously something that meant a lot to Max, or he wouldn't be bringing it up now, on their walk through the park. "I don't know what you're talking about."
Max stopped in his tracks, turning to face Jude and spreading his hands out as though he was conjuring up some image in front of his lover's eyes. "Haven't you noticed that there aren't any packs of cigarettes lying around the apartment any more?"
Jude's eyes widened in surprise as he thought back over the past couple of weeks -- and he realized that Max was right. He'd gotten so used to seeing his boyfriend's cigarettes lying around everywhere that he never thought about them any more; he simply didn't notice them.
"You quit smoking," he said slowly, feeling a smile start to spread over his face. He'd never really minded Max's smoking, but there were times when he didn't like having all that smoke in the apartment; it irritated his eyes when he was trying to draw.
But now .... It dawned on Jude that Max had done this for him. He had given up cigarettes because he knew that Jude didn't like them, even though he tried never to complain about Max's smoking. He was, after all, allowed to have a few vices.
"You stopped smoking for me, didn't you?" he said softly, feeling tears well up behind his eyes. This wasn't something to cry about, not even tears of joy, he told himself firmly, blinking them back. He didn't want Max to think that he was upset.
Max nodded, reaching out to take Jude's hand again. "I've sworn off cigarettes, babe," he murmured, his blue gaze focused on Jude's face, as though he was trying to read the younger man's thoughts. "And yes, I'm doing it because I know you don't like me smoking so much."
"You'll be around a lot longer if you stop smoking and killing your lungs," Jude told him, gulping back the lump in his throat and trying to keep his voice firm and steady. "And I want you around for a long time to come, Max. I want you in my life forever."
"I plan on being there forever," Max told him, pulling Jude close into an embrace and whispering into his ear. "That's one of the reasons I quit smoking. I don't want cancer to get me at a young age. I want to grow old with you, right by your side."
This time, the tears did come. Jude couldn't hold them back; he hadn't wanted to cry here, in the park, where people could see him -- or in front of Max, for that matter -- but those words undid him. They told him just how much he was loved.
Would Max really go to such great lengths for him? He knew how hard it must have been for Max to give up smoking -- and he'd apparently done it cold turkey, not over time. No wonder he'd been a little tense and irritable for the last couple of weeks.
"Hey, there's no need to get all emotional," Max told him, holding him close and smoothing the hair back from his face. "I figured that would make you happy, not make you burst into tears! Come on, Jude, smile for me. I don't want you unhappy, babe."
Jude nodded, raising a hand to wipe away the few tears that had streaked down his face and managing a smile. "I'm not unhappy," he murmured, feeling silly for letting his emotions take him over so palpably. "Just a little overwhelmed. I didn't realise you'd do something like that for me."
"I'd do anything for you," Max said softly, his intense blue gaze locking with Jude's dark one. After a few moments, he smiled, shaking his head ruefully. "Hey, I'm just left with a few minor vices now. What am I going to do to get myself in trouble from now on?"
"It's not like you could have gotten into serious trouble for smoking," Jude pointed out, recovering his equilibrium and moving slightly away from his boyfriend as they continued on their way to the gazebo. "I'm guessing that now you'll start drinking more."
Max shook his head, frowning slightly. "No way. I know that I can get into major trouble when I drink and get stupid, so I'm always careful with that. I don't need to be carted away to jail -- that'll just be another reason for my parents to give me the old 'I told you so' line."
"So, only minor vices now, hmmm?" Jude asked, laughing softly. "What would those be? Keeping me up all night wanting to make love? Not that it's a vice," he added quickly, not wanting Max to think that he didn't enjoy their nights of passion.
"If making love is a vice, I'd really like to see what you consider a virtue!" Max laughed, linking his arm through Jude's. "I'll stick to safe vices, like caffeine. And being my annoying self as much as I possibly can," he added, casting a mischievous glance at his boyfriend.
"Those are vices I don't mind you having at all," Jude answered, feeling his heart lighten as they moved under the canopy of trees. He was looking forward to the rest of this day -- as well as to seeing just how long Max would be able to cope with giving up one of his vices.
Characters: Jude/Max
Fandom: Across the Universe
Rating: PG-13
Table: 11
Prompt: 40, Cigarettes
Author's Note: This is entirely a product of imagination, and I do not own Jude Feeny, Max Carrigan, or any of the other characters depicted in the film Across the Universe.
Jude took a deep breath of the fresh air in the park as he and Max strolled down one of the many paths, closing his eyes for a moment. It felt good to be outside, in the sunshine, walking with his lover and feeling that nothing could tear them apart.
There was a feeling in the back of his mind, like dark clouds hanging overhead, that something was going to burst into their lives like a bombshell and turn everything upside down. But not today. Today was a day for them to enjoy being together, and being in love.
Max's hand tightening on his as they turned away from the path, heading for the trees in the center of the park, and a small gazebo that they both knew was hidden away there. Jude couldn't help but wonder if Max was up to something, or if he simply wanted them to be alone.
Probably a little bit of both, he thought with an inward smile. Max could be one of the most mischievous people he'd ever met; that was one of the things that had drawn him to the other young man on the first night they had met.
He'd fallen in love with Max then and there, he mused, smiling as he remembered the first time he'd looked into those sparkling blue eyes. He'd lost his heart in that moment -- and he never wanted ti back. His heart would belong to Max Carrigan forever.
"Where are we going? To the gazebo?" he asked, wondering why Max was choosing to walk through the wooded area of the park, rather than stay on the pathways. He hoped that his boyfriend didn't intend to try to have sex in a public place; that never turned out well.
"I wanted to walk through here, just to enjoy being outside," Max told him with a smile. "And to tell you something that I don't think you've realized. I kind of didn't think you would, so I'm going to bring it to your attention and see how surprised you look."
Jude's brow furrowed as he thought back over the past few days, wondering what it was that he should have noticed. It was obviously something that meant a lot to Max, or he wouldn't be bringing it up now, on their walk through the park. "I don't know what you're talking about."
Max stopped in his tracks, turning to face Jude and spreading his hands out as though he was conjuring up some image in front of his lover's eyes. "Haven't you noticed that there aren't any packs of cigarettes lying around the apartment any more?"
Jude's eyes widened in surprise as he thought back over the past couple of weeks -- and he realized that Max was right. He'd gotten so used to seeing his boyfriend's cigarettes lying around everywhere that he never thought about them any more; he simply didn't notice them.
"You quit smoking," he said slowly, feeling a smile start to spread over his face. He'd never really minded Max's smoking, but there were times when he didn't like having all that smoke in the apartment; it irritated his eyes when he was trying to draw.
But now .... It dawned on Jude that Max had done this for him. He had given up cigarettes because he knew that Jude didn't like them, even though he tried never to complain about Max's smoking. He was, after all, allowed to have a few vices.
"You stopped smoking for me, didn't you?" he said softly, feeling tears well up behind his eyes. This wasn't something to cry about, not even tears of joy, he told himself firmly, blinking them back. He didn't want Max to think that he was upset.
Max nodded, reaching out to take Jude's hand again. "I've sworn off cigarettes, babe," he murmured, his blue gaze focused on Jude's face, as though he was trying to read the younger man's thoughts. "And yes, I'm doing it because I know you don't like me smoking so much."
"You'll be around a lot longer if you stop smoking and killing your lungs," Jude told him, gulping back the lump in his throat and trying to keep his voice firm and steady. "And I want you around for a long time to come, Max. I want you in my life forever."
"I plan on being there forever," Max told him, pulling Jude close into an embrace and whispering into his ear. "That's one of the reasons I quit smoking. I don't want cancer to get me at a young age. I want to grow old with you, right by your side."
This time, the tears did come. Jude couldn't hold them back; he hadn't wanted to cry here, in the park, where people could see him -- or in front of Max, for that matter -- but those words undid him. They told him just how much he was loved.
Would Max really go to such great lengths for him? He knew how hard it must have been for Max to give up smoking -- and he'd apparently done it cold turkey, not over time. No wonder he'd been a little tense and irritable for the last couple of weeks.
"Hey, there's no need to get all emotional," Max told him, holding him close and smoothing the hair back from his face. "I figured that would make you happy, not make you burst into tears! Come on, Jude, smile for me. I don't want you unhappy, babe."
Jude nodded, raising a hand to wipe away the few tears that had streaked down his face and managing a smile. "I'm not unhappy," he murmured, feeling silly for letting his emotions take him over so palpably. "Just a little overwhelmed. I didn't realise you'd do something like that for me."
"I'd do anything for you," Max said softly, his intense blue gaze locking with Jude's dark one. After a few moments, he smiled, shaking his head ruefully. "Hey, I'm just left with a few minor vices now. What am I going to do to get myself in trouble from now on?"
"It's not like you could have gotten into serious trouble for smoking," Jude pointed out, recovering his equilibrium and moving slightly away from his boyfriend as they continued on their way to the gazebo. "I'm guessing that now you'll start drinking more."
Max shook his head, frowning slightly. "No way. I know that I can get into major trouble when I drink and get stupid, so I'm always careful with that. I don't need to be carted away to jail -- that'll just be another reason for my parents to give me the old 'I told you so' line."
"So, only minor vices now, hmmm?" Jude asked, laughing softly. "What would those be? Keeping me up all night wanting to make love? Not that it's a vice," he added quickly, not wanting Max to think that he didn't enjoy their nights of passion.
"If making love is a vice, I'd really like to see what you consider a virtue!" Max laughed, linking his arm through Jude's. "I'll stick to safe vices, like caffeine. And being my annoying self as much as I possibly can," he added, casting a mischievous glance at his boyfriend.
"Those are vices I don't mind you having at all," Jude answered, feeling his heart lighten as they moved under the canopy of trees. He was looking forward to the rest of this day -- as well as to seeing just how long Max would be able to cope with giving up one of his vices.