Chapter Text
"Jimmy, I can help you–"
"No!" Jimmy interrupts with a distracted wave of his hand, or the best wave he can manage without dropping the plastic gun in his hand. Joel can barely hear him over the sounds of all the machines running near him. "I got it."
"It wasn't an offer Jim," Joel replies, his tone stern as he leans forward. Folded forearms resting on one of the large gun holders situated just to the left of Jimmy. "You're wasting all my tokens and you've won like…10 tickets."
"It's fine, those were just warm ups."
"Are you sure? I can–"
"I got it!" He misfires terribly just as the words leave his mouth. Joel feels the corner of his mouth tick up.
"Do you?"
Jimmy spins on his heels to face Joel, mouth opening so he can retort with something witty or snarky–Joel isn't quite sure yet–but right on cue a Cy-Bug jumps Jimmy in game. In an instant his attention is drawn away, shrieking in terror the entire time as he proceeds to fumble with his gun and miss every single shot. It's somewhat impressive, in a terrible way.
"Hold the gun up–"
"I said I got it!"
He does not in fact 'got it.' Joel tries hard (and fails) to not laugh at the continued display of ineptitude as the in-game character flails around pathetically before a very familiar dark red game over displays on screen. He already knows what Jimmy is going to say when he sheepishly turns back towards him.
"No." Joel drawls immediately, pushing up slightly so he's leaning against his hands instead. He's already thinking about the next game they're going to play. Perhaps something a bit more up Jim's alleyway.
"Oh come on! One more chance, please?" Jimmy pleads desperately, "I'll actually do good this time, hand on heart."
To his credit, he actually does put his left hand over his heart in some sort of dramatic show of sincerity. It's hilarious and somewhat endearing but his original point still stands. Joel manages to fight off a scoff, standing up straight so he can cross his arms.
"You've died in the first fight three times in a row now." He says tilting his head down slightly so he can look at Jimmy from the top of his sunglasses.
"Please," Jimmy begs once more, doing his best puppy dog eyes. He hasn't let go of the gun but his free hand moves from his chest to touch Joel's arm gently. "I'm having so much fun with my amazing best friend who I haven't seen in ages and so graciously took me shopping–"
"Alright, alright, I get it." Joel interrupts with a chuckle and honestly no real annoyance in his tone. He playfully swats Jimmy's hand off of him so he can pull out more tokens from his pocket, watching in amusement as Jimmy lights up; practically bouncing on the spot in excitement. It's true that today is one of the first days in ages they've hung out–with Joel getting a job right out of college and Jimmy helping with the fall harvest back on his farm–Joel thinks that Jimmy deserves a tiny bit of grace today; if only to stop his wheedling. "I know, I know. I'm so tall and rich and handsome but these are the last ones I give you for this game. You hear me?"
Jimmy nods dumbly, already holding out his hand like a poor Victorian orphan boy. It doesn't even seem like he acknowledges the backend of the sentence, squealing with joy as the tokens are hesitantly dropped into his open hand and moving to quickly slot them into the machine. Joel can't help but roll his eyes fondly at the sight. He can't believe that Jimmy was so originally against going to the arcade as a hangout. Claiming adamantly that it was for kids, an obvious scam, and now that they were college graduates they simply couldn't be caught 'playing with toys.'
However, just about when he was about to cave and let Jimmy pick a new location, Jimmy had locked eyes with a yellow bird plush on display and decided right then and there he would win it. Hopping from game to game, desperately grinding in hopes of earning enough tickets with an unrivalled determination. Joel figures it'd probably cost three times less online or in a proper store but he wasn't complaining when Jimmy had finally stopped listing all the reasons why he was above arcade games. And of course Joel doesn't tell him he has enough tickets saved up that he could technically just buy it for him right now because that wouldn't be nearly as fun or entertaining as watching Jimmy try to win…anything.
"I think this gun is wonky," Jimmy muses, sheathing the gun and picking up the one closest to Joel instead. "I'm going to try this one."
Joel snorts, taking a small side step back to give him some more space. "Go for it, I believe."
"I know you're lying to me but I'm going to choose to ignore it."
Jimmy's face scrunches up when Joel snickers, half out of annoyance and half out of concentration. Joel–being the person he is–is ten seconds away from commenting on Jimmy's initial reluctance to hang out at the arcade, looking forward to what sound Jimmy would make when hit with an "I told you so" the size of Mars while he's trying to focus. That is until he feels the weight of eyes on the back of his neck. The kind of stare that sends pinpricks down his spine and all the way to the tips of his toes, making all his hairs stand on end.
He rubs the back of his neck but he doesn't turn, focusing instead on laughing at Jimmy who just jumped at the opening cutscene for the fourth time in a row. It was probably nothing anyways. He'd been getting looks from everyone–probably because he looked sick as hell in his leather jacket–but the feeling doesn't dampen, even after an uncomfortable amount of time. So he turns and locks eyes with the one man he did not expect to see, the man who he for all reasons logical did not want to see.
Etho.
He looks good, both metaphorically and literally. He always had been unfairly attractive and the fact that he still is doesn't surprise Joel. The fact that he's still wearing the same black turtleneck and green jacket, also unsurprising. What does surprise him however is the insanely murderous look on his face.
Oh. Right.
It's then Joel remembers to not only stop checking Etho out but also the reason why he didn't want to bump into Etho no matter what. So he does the only thing he can think of to do when confronted with an ex he hasn't seen nor spoken to in over a year.
He runs away.
"We're moving." He mutters almost unintelligible, eyes darting away and back to Jimmy who by some miracle has already died.
"Hey wait! I'm still getting my tickets!" Jimmy exclaims, slotting the toy gun back semi-defeatily as Joel practically yanks the tickets out of the machine. If Joel was focused on anything other than escaping he would laugh about the pathetic amount but instead he grabs Jimmy's hand and pulls him away from the machine. Jimmy lets out a squawk of surprise as Joel tugs his arm roughly but otherwise allows himself to be dragged helplessly further into the arcade.
Joel doesn't run–no he has far more self respect than that–but he does move faster than he has in months. Finding himself ducking behind random machines and weaving through small crowds of people in the world's worst game of hide and seek slash tag ever as he searches for a proper hiding spot. Luckily, Jimmy doesn't say a word while he does this, despite how ridiculous it must look. Joel thanks whatever is up there that not only is the arcade crowded but that Jimmy remains blissfully quiet even as he's shoved fully into a random photo booth and only watches in mild confusion as the curtain is swept closed–leaving them in relative darkness–and Joel clambers onto the stool to hide his feet. It's only when Joel finds a delicate balance, does he speak.
"Joel, why are we–"
"Shhhh!" Joel hisses, pressing a finger to his own lips as he perches awkwardly on the stool.
Jimmy sighs but lowers his voice anyways. "Why are we–"
Joel interrupts him for a second time. "I think…no, I know for sure I saw Etho."
"Etho?" Jimmy gaped, "You mean your ex Etho?"
Joel pulls his sunglasses down so he can give Jimmy the most unamused stare he can manage.
"No, Etho from the bookstore down the street." He starts sarcastically before swiftly switching to anger, slugging the blond in the arm. "Yes, my ex Etho you blummin' idiot! We don't know that many Etho's, Jimmy."
"So?" Jimmy challenges, rubbing the spot where Joel had whacked him. "What's the big deal? He doesn't own the arcade, you can be here you know."
Joel resists the urge to roll his eyes. "Do you like seeing your ex's in public?"
Jimmy seems genuinely offended by that statement, letting out a scoff as his hand goes to his chest.
"I'll have you know that Scott and I are good friends!" He snarks before pausing briefly. "And well…I sometimes talk to Ta–"
"Right, I forgot you guys technically ended on good terms." Joel mutters, running his hand through his hair nervously. "Did…did I ever tell you how I ended things with Etho?"
The sentence comes out less as a question and more as a sheepish squeak. Jimmy raises an eyebrow at him.
"No…" he replies cautiously, "you always change the subject."
Joel leans over to peak out the curtain for a moment before drawing it close again. It might be paranoia and honestly a bit egotistical to think Etho would come after him but possibly running into him again terrifies Joel a lot more.
"Well, I might've, kinda, sorta…packed all my things while he was out, blocked him everywhere and then left a note behind." Joel exhales all in one breath.
Neither of them make a sound for what feels like the longest minute of Joel's life, Jimmy blinking back at him as he truly processes the statement. Then it clicks, his jaw drops open.
"Excuse me?!" He shouts, absolutely appalled and far too loud for Joel's taste.
"Sh!" Joel hisses, surging forward to slam his palm over Jimmy's mouth, which almost makes him fall over. "He's still here!"
Jimmy slaps his hand off of his mouth with surprising strength but he doesn't lower his voice, not this time. "You broke up with someone via WRITTEN NOTE?"
"Hey, it was a very well written note for your information." Joel states to no response from Jimmy; who instead continues to stare at Joel like he had just admitted to kicking dogs for fun. Joel drops his head down slightly in a sigh, scrubbing a hand down the bottom half of his face. "I know it was a shitty move and I'm an asshole–"
"No, really!?"
"–but it sounded like a good idea at the time, okay?"
It really did. The energy between the two had become tense at best, suffocating at worst. Despite that they hardly talked, simply existing in the same space together despite having so much they needed to talk about. When they did talk however it led to heated fights and tears, Joel getting far too angry (which he could admit now) and Etho simply...not saying a word. The only way those arguments ended was someone walking away without an apology and more tense silence the next day.
They weren't dating anymore, that was a fact. They were back to square one as the acquaintances who got paired up randomly as roommates for the first year of college and then decided to continue being roommates for convenience afterwards. Scratch that, they were much worse than that at that point. They were two people who couldn't be in the same room, let alone the same house without being at each other's throats.
It wasn't a big blowout, screaming match that ended the relationship.
It was Joel studying for one of his finals late one night when he suddenly snapped. Realising that he couldn't stand it anymore, that he was giving up. His things were packed up as soon as he got home from his last final. He was out the door the same night. For good.
"You're unbelievable, Joel."
"You know it," Joel jokes weakly, leading to Jimmy punching him in the arm this time, "but now you know why I am avoiding him, right? I think we both know a reasonable punch is coming my way and I'm too pretty to die."
Jimmy wrinkles his nose in confusion. "You think he's still mad?"
"Have you met Etho?"
"It's been over a year now, you guys dated for less than that!"
"And?"
"And we have similar friend circles, you can't avoid him forever." Jimmy adds with vindication.
"I dodged him successfully our entire final year of college." Joel replied smugly. "Watch me."
"First of all, you got lucky, and second of all, you're overreacting." Jimmy drawls, "He's not out for your blood Joel. In fact he's probably long over it by no–"
Jimmy doesn't finish that sentence, instead being interrupted for the upteenth time but this time not by Joel. Instead by the curtain to their photo booth being pulled back. Both their heads turn to see a very disgruntled Etho and a curious Bdubs peering around behind him.