Chapter Text
You knew going in that this would be a challenging relationship to navigate.
One of the first things Jesse has done once the three of you had become... friendly... was to send over a contractor to Asa’s house with instructions to ‘make the basement livable’.
The unfinished basement in the old house currently held box upon box of Asa’s specimens and books, stacked as tall as the ceiling and nearly covering the whole floor. When the three of you had initially trod down the wooden steps Jesse joked that ‘maybe they should call you The Hoarder instead of The Collector.’
If Jesse has left it at that everything would have been fine – but instead he just had to overstep.
Asa practically tossed the poor contractor out on his ass and stood shaking with barely restrained rage in the living room, black eyes flashing at Jesse, who returned the look with a nonplused one of his own.
As was becoming your default role, you sat between the men and played referee.
You’d never seen more sass and vitriol communicated silently between two people, one of whom was too angry to talk, the second who physically couldn’t (but was free and clear with his snide signing).
‘I understand that his aesthetic is mothball-chic; but would it be so bad to lay down some tile and paint a wall or two?’
You sighed deeply at the bald man splayed across the large couch in Asa’s living room.
You hung your head in exasperation and clasped your hands tighter at the answering growl from the broad man currently leaning against the doorframe and glaring at the floor like it just called him names and insulted his insect collection.
“I think you’re missing the point Jesse… This… thing is going to be an adjustment for all of us; but we still need to respect each other’s boundaries...”
“Which is an extremely kind way of saying ‘don’t fuck around with my house’.”
You were surprised that Asa had decided to break his silence, but you guessed that he was frustrated enough with the situation to not want you to mince words with Jesse.
Jesse’s broad shoulders rose and fell in a deep huff of exasperation.
‘Fine, grandpa. Don’t come crying to me when you get achy in the winter from the cement floors down there. I tried.’
Asa groaned.
“Grandpa? Really?”
Motioning to Asa’s form with a wave, Jesse quickly signed ‘You’re literally wearing a sweater vest right now.’
“It’s a classic menswear piece.”
And they were off again.