Work Text:
Jeff stirred suddenly, eyes blinking as he adjusted to the dim light coming from the hallway. Abed was silhouetted on the floor, curled up with his head between his knees.
“Abed?” Jeff questioned, his throat dry around the name, like he was out of practice using it.
“Sorry. Sorry .” Abed muttered, quiet and ashamed. “I can’t—I still have issues sleeping in new places sometimes.”
“It’s okay.” Jeff replied, hoping he doesn’t sound judgmental—Abed seems skittish , like the wrong word from Jeff will scare him away.
He lifted his head up slowly, still hard to make out in the darkness.
“Do you want…?” Jeff trailed off, feeling impossibly shy.
Abed nodded minutely, and Jeff lifted the comforter, shifting over to make room. He clambered in immediately, limbs cold at every point they contacted Jeff.
“Sorry.” Abed apologized again.
“Don’t be.” Jeff whispered back.
“It’s freezing in my room, and there’s a clock on the wall that won’t stop ticking, and it’s been keeping me up for hours .” Abed said, his voice that low, even tone Jeff had always found so calming, even when Abed was tired or annoyed.
Jeff could easily imagine what Abed looked like when he couldn’t sleep, tossing and turning, tangled in the thin comforter, hands over his ears and head tucked under the pillow. “Oof, sorry bud. I’m happy you’re here.”
“I also just—I miss you.” Abed added, his hand sliding under Jeff’s shirt, clammy palm warming against him. Jeff had gained weight somewhat steadily since the last time they saw each other, and certainly since the last time they were this close, a product of quitting cigarettes with Britta and quitting drinking by himself. But it didn't seem to register negatively with Abed, who just gave his side an appreciative little squeeze and moved himself in closer.
“I miss you too.” Jeff said back, his hand finding Abed’s curls. They were longer than he’d ever seen them, a chaotic pile on his head that covered the tops of his ears, and Jeff reminded himself that neither of them look the same. “I’m happy Annie planned this trip out for us, gave us a chance to all be together again.”
“Not that.” Abed said bluntly, then corrected himself. “I mean, that too. But I miss you . I miss being with you.”
“You do?” Jeff asked again, unable to hide his surprise.
Abed nodded his head, a little sniffle escaping his nose that made Jeff realize he’d been crying. “I miss kissing you, and always having someone to watch stuff with, and being able to fall asleep at night.”
“Hey there, it’s alright.” Jeff said, feeling like he’s soothing a cat. “I do too.”
“Yeah?” Abed asked. “I didn’t think so.”
“Every day.” Jeff sighed under his breath, daring himself to lean over and kiss Abed’s head. “I thought you forgot about me, with your new house and your show and everything.”
“I tried to. I really, honestly did. But I couldn’t.” Abed admitted quietly. “Things are good, but I still wish I could go back. To Greendale. To you.”
“I miss the person I was with you.” Jeff said. “You taught me that there are people who still like me even when I show them all of myself.”
Abed made a low, strangled noise in the back of his throat, squeezing tight around Jeff’s midsection. “Me too.”
“Has that been hard lately?” Jeff asked, feeling Abed nod against him.
“Everyone out there thinks I’m some kind of genius.” Abed said, sounding forlorn. “It was amazing at first, sure, but— I don’t even feel like a person to them anymore.”
“I think you’re easy to put on a pedestal, hell it happened at Greendale too.” Jeff said back. “You’re so creative, I mean you really are a genius. But I know there’s a lot more to it than that.”
“Yeah, I dunno.” Abed said quietly. “I can run a multi-million dollar production for fourteen hours, but once I leave I can’t go to the grocery store and decide what to make myself for dinner. It’s pathetic.”
“Not pathetic.” Jeff corrected him gently. “But have you ever considered doing a solo gig? Something different, on your own time. If being the boss is tough on you.”
“Always wanted to do a documentary.” Abed considered. “Take a couple months to go around the country, shoot stuff and see where it takes me.”
Abed took one of Jeff’s hands in both of his and started playing with it as he talked, tucked under Jeff’s arm with his head pillowed on his chest. “God, I can’t even imagine how cool that would be. I know you didn’t want us to talk about your show while we were here, but it’s amazing, seriously. I’ve seen it like ten times through and I swear I tell someone I know you every day, it never gets old.”
“It’s okay, I like hearing it from you.” Abed said, giving a little close-lipped smile. “I could probably find someone to buy that if I made it, but I’ve always been too afraid to do it. Going new places, being on my own a bunch and meeting new people over and over, plus it’s a lot of driving which I’m not great with—”
He stopped midsentence, blinking slowly and staring Jeff down.
“What is it?” Jeff prompted, watching Abed’s face turn up into a grin.
“When does your summer break start?”
“Abed, you can’t be serious.” Jeff muttered, Abed placing a kiss on the side of his face in response, which had always guaranteed Abed would get what he wanted. Jeff realized it most definitely still worked.
“Think about it. You’re good at fixing cars and carrying heavy gear and all the masculine stuff I don’t give a shit about until you look hot doing it.”
“So this is just a ploy for you to get me all sweaty and grease-stained working under a car?” Jeff chuckled.
“No, but I also wouldn’t be opposed to that happening.” Abed laughed along, and Jeff swore he fell in love with him all over again, just hearing that genuine laugh he did when he actually understood a joke Jeff made.
Jeff probably could’ve just told him that, but instead he said, “You adorable little weirdo.”
“Stupid tall asshole.” Abed said back, reaching up to hit him in the ribs. “And I don’t know if I’d be good at getting stories out of people. But you are.”
“But I-- I can’t , Abed. I don’t know the first thing about making movies.” Jeff stuttered, watching Abed shrug his shoulders at the statement.
“I know my way around a camera and not much else.” Abed smiled. “I can handle all that. Just say yes so I can start planning when I get back to L.A.”
Jeff turned to face Abed, only inches apart, the excited, endlessly curious look in his eyes visible even in the dark. He leaned in and kissed him, the first time he’d done it since they graduated, but in that moment they were back at Greendale, trading kisses in the empty study room between classes like they had all the time in the world. The taste of Abed’s mouth as he parts his lips is so blissfully familiar, like coming home, the quiet noises he’s making in the back of his throat igniting a fire Jeff didn’t know he had left in him. He thought that they’d run out of time years ago, that his chance with Abed had come and gone and he needed to accept that. But this night, the conversation, the kiss, the plans they were making-- he knew he couldn’t let this slip through his fingers.
When he pulled away, Abed had a knowing smile on his face, but he said it anyway. “Yes. Of course yes.”
2 Months Later
Abed dropped a duffle bag on the ground outside the van, kicking up dust with a dull thud as he wiped the sweat off his brow. “I think that’s the last of it.”
“I actually managed to get everything in here.” Jeff said, shoving a huge black box of Abed’s film gear into the space in the back. Most of the van was taken up by the mattress, the extra space filled with equipment and the few things they were bringing along.
“Thank you.” Abed said back, reaching up to squeeze Jeff’s bicep and kiss him on the cheek. “I told you I needed you for this.”
“Yeah, right.” Jeff laughed, bumping Abed with his shoulder.
“One last thing, Nadir.” A crew member called out, waving Abed down and passing him a bundle of cords.
“Awesome, thanks.” Abed smiled. “I’ll see you when I get back.”
“I can’t wait to see what you make.” He said back excitedly. “You sure you don’t need anyone to come along?”
“No, I’m good, but promise I’ll get you on the first thing I work on when I’m back.” Abed said, shooting him a finger gun.
“That’d be amazing, thank you so much, you know--”
Jeff could see that telltale look in Abed’s eyes, the discomfort, the subtle confusion as he found himself stuck in an exchange with no visible way out, so he stepped in and put a hand on Abed’s shoulder.
“Sorry, but we’ve gotta get going now if we’re gonna make it to our first stop tonight.” Jeff said, flashing his crooked smile.
The man’s eyes darted between Jeff’s face and his hand for a split second before answering. “Of course, wouldn’t want to keep you.” He grinned, heading back to the studio.
“ Thank you .” Abed said as soon as he was out of earshot, pulling Jeff down by the neck to plant a messy kiss on his mouth. “God, you’re the fucking best.”
“Anytime.” Jeff laughed, slamming the back door of the van closed.
“Ready to go?” Abed asked.
Jeff looked down at him, the same face he’s known so well for all these years, a bit weathered but still so perfectly Abed , and he nearly can’t believe how lucky he is.
“Let’s do this.”