FIC: Reveillon

This is the introduction of a new couple. Joux first appeared in the Ken and Jess story Hiding.
He demanded to have his story started before I finished From A Distance.



Title: Réveillon
Character: Derrick/Joux


With an awkward turn of his wrist, Joux had the last screw in place. Moving the wood back and forth, he smiled when the piece laid flat against the back part. The hinges worked perfectly. He dropped the screwdriver in the toolbox and shut it. He groaned as he stood up. The floor of the stage was hard on his knees. Joux sighed as he thought of how out of practice he was with being on his knees. He hadn’t had sex with anyone other than his hand in over a year. And he knew his hand would be his only company again tonight. Everyone had someone on Christmas Eve, except for him.


He'd spent the night putting together some of the props for the upcoming play instead of being with family. Picking up the toolbox, he felt a small rush of pride. He’d built the little stand by himself. He was becoming quite the handyman! Well, he at least knew a handyman. Jess, who he’d met at Lane’s party, had shown him the right kind of hinges to use and even how to use the screwdriver. Wouldn’t his family back in Louisiana be surprised at him, building with actual wood and tools and not making it a big disaster?


No! Joux thought. He wouldn’t think of those back home. They were no longer a part of his life. By their choice. And he’d honor their wishes. He’d made a life for himself in San Francisco. A good life. A frickin happy life.


He slammed the toolbox on the shelf in the back room of the theater. Deciding his mood was because dinner had been hours earlier, Joux wondered if anything was opened. He’d walk back to his loft and find something to eat along the way.


After locking the door to the theater, Joux hurriedly walked down the alley. The dark passageway was fine when a play was going and people were milling about, but tonight, there was only oppressive darkness to keep him company. It didn’t matter that he was a large man. He didn’t know how to fight and would end up bleeding on the ground if someone were to mug him.


Joux breathed a sigh of relief as he rounded the corner to a lighted street. Still deserted, but at least the lights would let him see anyone coming toward him. So he could run the other way. He knew he was a coward, he had no illusions of himself. Even with the streetlights and the holiday lights, Joux was nervous. No one was out and about. It was Christmas Eve, where were the people coming home from church?


Glancing at his watch, he saw that it was well after one in the morning. No wonder the streets were dead. And since he’d eaten a sandwich in the early evening, no wonder his stomach was growling.


He’d go home and find something to eat. He squinted as he tried to remember what was in his cupboard. His sandwich earlier had consisted of the stale heels of a loaf of bread, his last slice of cheese, ketchup, and mayonnaise. Suddenly the image a package of divinity flashed in his mind. He’d bought it the day before when he had a sudden bout of homesickness. It was truly horrible and tasted nothing like his momma’s candy. No, her’s tasted like a cotton candy cloud with bits of sugared heaven tossed in for good measure.


His stomach growled so loudly, Joux looked around to see if anyone heard. Then he shook his head. No one was around. Everyone was tucked safely in their beds, resting for the morning to come. There was no reason to be worried someone heard his stomach growl.


He wrapped his arms around himself trying to quiet his stomach and for warmth. When he first thought of moving to California, he believed it was always warm and sunny. But the nighttime temperatures dipped down into the forties. Joux wished he’d remembered to bring a jacket as he hurried home.


Turning the corner, the red glow of an open sign caught his attention. Joux barely stopped himself from bursting out in song at the sight of it. He looked both ways down the street and then jaywalked over to it.


Peering inside the large front window, he didn’t see anyone inside the small cafe. But when he tried the door, it opened with a jingle. The place was brightly lit but seemed to be deserted. He heard heavy footsteps coming from the back. Not seeing a sign directing him to wait to be seated, Joux slid into the nearest booth.


Just as he fully settled into the booth a large man with a stained t-shirt came through the swinging double doors that separated the diner from the kitchen.


“Shit, don’t you theater queens have any place else to feed your face?”


Joux startled at the nasty tone of the man. The snarl on the man’s face showed his missing front teeth. The glare in the man’s eyes showed his disdain. Joux decided that maybe the store bought divinity wasn’t so bad. He’d have it for his midnight meal.


Before he could slide out, a deep voice said quietly, “Hey, slick. You have two strikes already. You know what happens on the third.”


When the large man turned, Joux saw who the voice belonged too. A man a few inches shorter than his own six foot two frame stood right behind the rude waiter. He had dark hair cropped short. His arms and chest bulged with muscles. And he had a scowl that would frighten men twice his size. Which he did when the first man backed off.


“Finish the dishes, please. I’ll take care of our guest.” The shorter man waited until the first man went back into the kitchen. Then he turned to Joux. “Welcome. What’ll you have tonight?”


Trying to scoot out of the plastic bench of the booth, Joux hurriedly said, “Oh, no. It’s ok I know what it’s like to be ready to close up and a customer comes in. I’ll head on home.”


The man blocked Joux’s escape. “We’re open 24/7. And no one has the right to talk like that. Not to you or anyone else. Don’t let someone get away with disrespect.”


“Oh, it wasn’t disrespect. I am a queen.”


“Well, then you really shouldn’t let anyone talk to you like that. Demand the respect a queen deserves.” The man’s voice was firm but there was gentleness within the tone as well.


Joux nodded but thought the guy must be crazy because no one spoke with respect anymore. People seemed to try and outdo themselves with nasty and rude replies on social media or even on regular television. And besides, he’d heard much worse growing up. He remembered the names his father and brothers called him. Queen was the least offensive.


“I’m gonna have to turn on the fan to clear out some of this smoke.”


The man’s words broke through Joux’s unpleasant memories. “Smoke? Is something burning?”


The man lifted one eyebrow. “Yeah, the wheels in your head. You got lost in your thoughts there. What were you thinking about so hard?”


“Oh, um. Just about home.”


“Where’s home? Your accent isn’t from here.”


Joux shook his head. “Louisiana. But San Francisco is home now.”


Nodding soberly, the man said, “It’s a good place to call home. Now, let’s get you something to eat before you waste away. What d’ya want?”


“Some good divinity.” Joux blushed as the words he thought were in his head spilled out his mouth.


“Divinity? Not sure what that is, but I’m pretty sure we don’t have any. How about some eggs? With some bacon, hash browns, and toast? Sounds good? Ok, be right back.”


Joux watched the man’s butt as he walked back to the swinging door. The tight jeans cupped them so deliciously. He quickly looked away when the man came back. Joux’s jaw dropped open when the guy sat down across from him.


“I wanna hear what this divinity is. My name’s Derrick, everyone calls me Dare, though.”


“Um...won’t your boss get upset? Sitting on the job?” Joux knew his own boss would be mad. Both of them. He was a server at two different restaurants and he knew both of his bosses would fire him on the spot for sitting with a customer. Of course, the places he worked were a little...ok, a lot more upscale than this. But still, he didn’t want the man....Dare, to get in trouble.


“Nah, the owner’s a bit of a hard-ass but he’s alright,” Dare said with a grin.


“You sure?” Joux really didn’t want to be the cause of someone getting fired. Especially on Christmas Eve.


Dare’s grin widened even more. “Yeah. I’m sure. Cause, ya know, I’m the boss. This is my place. Now, come on. Tell me about this divinity.”


Joux felt a moment of embarrassment that he’d thought Dare was a cook, but he shrugged it off. He knew better than to judge on looks. “It’s a candy. My momma made every year for Réveillon. Oh, I’d eat so much of it, I always had a belly ache. But it’s that good. You just can’t stop eatin’ it.”


Dare cocked his head to the side. “Réveillon? What’s that?”


“Oh it’s about the best thing there is at Christmas time. After mass on Christmas Eve, we’d all gather at my grandma’s house and have a big dinner. No, not just a dinner, but a feast!” Joux mouth watered at the thought of the food they served. “They’d have oyster stuffin’. And gumbo with shrimp as big as your thumb, and all the deserts! There’d be pies and cakes and all sorts of candy. My momma and my aunts would spend a week preparin’ it all.”


“Man, that sounds great! Why’ve I not heard about this? Does everyone have this big meal in Louisiana?”


“Well, I don’t know about everyone, but they do in my old hometown. And in New Orleans, the restaurants all serve a big feast on Christmas Eve. They go all big and extravagant, but they lower the prices. That’s their goodwill. I’ve never had Réveillon there, but I’ve heard it’s fantastic.”


Just then a bell rang from the back. Dare slid out. “That’s your order up. Be right back.”


Joux expected Dare to bring the meal over and head back to the kitchen, but after he set the plates down, he slid into the booth again.


“It’s not much of a feast for you, but it’ll fill yer stomach.”


The scent of the bacon and eggs smelled just as good as any of the dishes his momma would have served. Joux was hungry and dove right in. He’d devoured half the plate when Dare spoke again.


“So do you have a recipe for that candy yer momma made?”


“No, I wasn’t ever in the kitchen when they made it and when I left....well, I didn’t get the recipe.” Joux didn’t want to think about the night he limped out of town.


Dare pulled his phone out of his back pocket. “How’d you spell it? There’s got to be a recipe online.”


Joux spelled it out and watched as Dare typed it into his phone.


“Is this it?” Dare held his phone out.


Looking at the picture, Joux nodded. The divinity pictured looked fancier than his mom’s but it was the same candy.


Dare pulled the phone back and tapped on the screen. “Hmmm. Doesn’t look too hard to make. I bet I have most the ingredients in back.”


Joux finished up eating as Dare mumbled about ingredients as he read the recipe. He looked up just as Joux was mopping up the last of the egg with his toast. “You get your fill? You want more?”


“No, I’m good. Thank you. It was just what I needed. If you’ll get my check, I’ll pay, and get out of your hair. I’m sure you have family waiting for you.” Joux was feeling bad about keeping the place open so late.


Dare lowered his head a little and gave him a look. “You’re not keeping me from anything. I told you, we’re open 24/7. And that’s three hundred and sixty-five days a year.”


“Oh. Um. Ok. But it’s almost two and I probably need to get to bed. It’s been a long day.” With his stomach full, he was ready to crash. “How much do I owe you?”


“Nothing. It may not be some fancy New Orleans restaurant, but this is my goodwill toward you. It’s on the house.”


“No! No, I can’t let you do that. I can pay. I have money.” Joux didn’t want to cheat Dare out of his money. Keeping a restaurant up and running was hard to do. He couldn’t just give free meals out!


Dare stood up and put his hands on his hips. He sent Joux a Look. And that’s how Joux thought of the expression. Look with a capital L. “You gonna be arguing with me on Christmas Eve? After a fine Revel like that?”


“Um. It’s not revel, it’s Réveillon.” Joux corrected him.


“Whatever, it’s free. You doing anything tomorrow afternoon? Or since’s it’s already tomorrow, you doing anything later this afternoon?”


“No? I’ll probably sleep in. And then just hang out in my loft.” Joux knew it sounded sad to be home alone on Christmas Day, but he didn’t have any plans. He stood up and held out his hand. When Dare took it, he said, “Thank you for dinner. That was really nice of you.”


Just as serious, Dare shook his hand. “You’re welcome. Now, come back later today. Say...about four and I’ll have some divinity for you. Not sure it’ll be good as your mom’s.”


“Oh, you don’t have to-” Joux tried to explain that he didn’t have to make the candy but Dare interrupted him.


“I know what I do and don’t have to do. Now, I need someone to taste it and tell me if it’s right. I can’t serve something if it doesn’t taste right. Now, can I?”


Joux blushed. The man just wanted to make sure the candy was right. “Oh, yeah. Sure. I can come back.” Joux walked to the door. “Thank you again. It was really good.”


“Wait. You know my name, but I don’t know your’s.”


Opening the door, Joux turned back. “Joux. I’m Joux.”


Dare nodded once. “Joux. Good. Now, I’ll see you at four.”


“Yeah. I’ll be here.” He stepped out onto the sidewalk.


Before the door shut, he heard Dare call out, “Merry Christmas, Joux.”


“Merry Christmas to you too, Dare.” Joux smiled as he started walking home. Yeah, it was a Merry Christmas. He’d had his Réveillon and tomorrow he’d have his favorite candy. He’d lived in San Francisco for the past five years, but he had a feeling his life was about to get really interesting. He’d made some new friends and found a good little diner to eat at. He remembered that Réveillon actually meant “awakening” and that’s what he felt now. That he was awakening to more in his life. And that made it a very Merry Christmas, indeed.


TBC