((Backdated to about a week after Jay's return from the rez))

[lil_hulk]

It had been a week after Jay had gotten back from the rez. He had settled back into an almost regular routine at the Avengers mansion. But there was something he hadn't quite done yet. It was one of the things he had quietly vowed to himself to do. He was kind of ashamed at himself for putting it off for a week, but now was not the time to dwell on it. He was fixing it. He had come back a man, so he had the courage for this. He just needed May to show up since he finished with his school for the day. Also, he needed to check the mirror for stubble.

"No rugged look for me," he noted to himself as he glanced himself over in the bathroom mirror. The bedroom window had been left open for his girlfriend's normal mode of entrance.

Comments

[girlspider.livejournal.com]

There was a heavy thud as May landed onto the floor of her boyfriend's room. She rolled up her mask and stretched before flopping on one of the chairs and put up her legs on the desk to lean back. She undid the bun that held her hair and closed her eyes. It had been a week, a WEEK. And no phone call.

Jerk.

[lil-hulk.livejournal.com]

Tactile and visual confirmation had proven he was a still smooth-cheeked buy. Though he blinked at the thud from the other room. He adjusted his shirt in case it had bunched up in the five minutes it had taken him to walk into the bathroom and check on his face.

Jay stepped out of the bathroom and gave May a happy to see her grin. "Hey, May."

[girlspider.livejournal.com]

May threw a webbing wad at him as she poutded. The wad was aimed for the side of his head and zipped by without touching him. "No phone calls, you jerk." She pouted.

[lil-hulk.livejournal.com]

His grin faded. Oops. He had totally messed that up. He had been so good about calling when he was on the road trip. But then he kind of got fixated on a few ideas once back in New York and... well, crap.

"I'm sorry, May. I... only have lame excuses." He approached carefully with his arms out to show he was unarmed and still available for webbing wad peltings.

[girlspider.livejournal.com]

"I am allll ears, Jaybird." She gave a slow smile and flicked her webbing again. Of course, totally missing.

May couldn't stay that mad for long.

[lil-hulk.livejournal.com]

He was certain she was not all ears. Her ears were perfectly proportional to the rest of her body. However, saying that right now would not get Jay off the hook.

"Well, after the naming ceremony, I got all sorts of ideas on what I should do with myself. And you were in plenty of them, but I just proved thinking a lot and not doing anything makes me a dumb man. Instead of smart. Uhm." Once he was close enough to May, he crouched down so he wasn't looming over his girlfriend. "And I got something I have to tell you."

[girlspider.livejournal.com]

May kept her comfortable position on the chair, her head tilted as she watched Jay for a few moments. "Is the dramatic pause over?" She teased before swinging her legs down. "Because I quiver with anticipation."

[lil-hulk.livejournal.com]

Jay laughed. He couldn't help it. He was making things needlessly more dramatic than it should be. Maybe because there was still the unsure teenager in him.

"Yeah, it's over. I forgot my dramatic eyebrow lift," he chuckled as he reached for one of her hands. Maybe this would be easier if he was touching her. "I just..."

They both had danced around saying it. He could possibly send her fleeing back out that open window, but Jay thought he had to say it. "I love you, May."

[girlspider.livejournal.com]

Well, she wasn't fleeing through the open window. She mostly just stared at her boyfriend for a moment.

She cared but that l-word... that l-word was TRICKSY.

But May did glance at the window and become a bright shade of red. "Jay..." Her voice was touched.

[lil-hulk.livejournal.com]

Well, not fleeing was good. He would either die on the spot or go become a hermit if he drove her away. Though Jay nervously rubbed the back of his neck and shifted a bit.

"I... I'm not looking for you to say it back to me or anything. You might not... be ready. Or..." He sighed a bit. "I just wanted you to know. And maybe accept it. Understand. I know you care about me. It's... I'm in love with you."

[girlspider.livejournal.com]

Not fleeing was very good. Though he couldn't drive her away. She shifted in her seat, too, and tried to smile but her mouth wouldn't listen.

"I don't think... I am ready to say that word, y'know? I don't... I totally accept it!" She said quickly.

"I accept your feelings for me but I'm tongue tied and not sure and scared and worried you think I'll never feel the same and and..."

May, lo and behold, was a dork.

[lil-hulk.livejournal.com]

May have been rambling and flustered, but Jay did manage a smile.

"I've been told I'm eminently lovable. Except Mom would say that anyway. And well, one cannot trust Marcus sometimes." He was going to have to stop crouching soon. There was a dull ache from being in the position he shifted to. "But, May, I'm still here and not going anywhere. I'll wait for it. However long you need."

[girlspider.livejournal.com]

"You are lovable! But I'm emotionally stunted by society and stuff so I can't say things I don't quite... feel brave enough not to say. Nothing changes, though. I care for you a lot and I..."

Oh, words were utterly failing her, big time. Hugely. Actions worked better, sometimes.

She cupped Jay's face and kissed him.

[lil-hulk.livejournal.com]

The whole getting up thing would have to wait. May was kissing him, and the message behind that was more important than the need to move. Though he kissed her until his legs got a bit more insistent.

"I missed you," he murmured as he shifted from crouching to on his knees. He might sit on the bed soon, but May was here. So that was where he was going to stay.

[girlspider.livejournal.com]

Of course kissing him was more important than his need to move. Though, for his convenience, May did slide from her chair to kneel with him. Her body allowed a little more flexibility and resistance to that flexing.

So she was right there with him, now. "I missed you too, you big lug. Worrying me to death sometimes."

[lil-hulk.livejournal.com]

"Sorry about that. No cell phones on spirit quests," he explained gently. Jay could have used one while he was out there a lone. Even if it would have defeated the point.

He wrapped his arms around his now-kneeling girlfriend. Because, really, who would stop him? Except for the likely suspects who could come through the open window...

[girlspider.livejournal.com]

"Spirit quests need to conform with the times, notably when someone on them as a worried girlfriend in New York!" She pouted before leaning into him a moment longer.

She closed her eyes, and took in a soft, long, breath, then smiled up at him. "I'm glad everything worked out. Feel more like a man? Does this mean we can't watch Mulan anymore?" She hugged him tightly.

[lil-hulk.livejournal.com]

"As amazing as you are, I don't think tradition quite works that way," he noted with a wry smile. He didn't mind her leaning into him. It always felt good to have May close.

"I'm sure the tactile sensation that is me hasn't changed. I remembered to shave today." Though he had to raise an eyebrow at the Mulan question. "Uh... only if you want to stop watching Disney movies?"

[girlspider.livejournal.com]

May pouted at this, though he cheek was pressed against his chest and he couldn't quite see the pout. "Any more traditions planned without the use of a cell phone?"

"Mulan is very manly." She chirped, and she pulled back to ghost her finger tips over his jaw. "Yes, I noticed that you shaved. It's nice."

[lil-hulk.livejournal.com]

"Uhm, the... the only tradition that goes after that ceremony is... marriage. So, no. No plans to be without my cellphone for a long time." Well, if telling her he loved her hadn't sent her right out the window, he hoped that wouldn't either. Maybe he should have just said no, come to think of it.

"Then Mulan's okay by me," Jay commented with a grin. He let her feel up his jaw for a little bit before leaning in for a kiss. "Glad you noticed. I got rid of the rough and rugged look just for you."

[girlspider.livejournal.com]

"Oh." She grinned sheepishly before scooting a bit away, allowing him the chance to sit where ever he wanted. She wiggled her toes in her shoes and shyly looked away. "Well, then I would have to smack you for carrying a cellphone to that, maybe, one day."

"It's nicest when smooth and shaven." She said again, and once he was comfortable, promptly kissed him. She been having a decently good night so far, she wanted to keep it that way.

[lil-hulk.livejournal.com]

Hurray for not scaring her away! Jay settled down with his back against the bed. "You might, maybe, one day. Unless by then they're implanting cellphones in everybody's head."

Not likely, but he hated the thought of turning his ear to make the volume go up and down.

He took that prompt kissing and gave some right back. Jay'd missed her terribly. Bruce and Marcus were not remotely snuggly. And well, who'd want to kiss them anyway? Jay gently slid one of his hands under her jaw as they kissed. The more he could touch her, the better.