#i can so ser marc and steven's faces like that too when jake makes his surprise appearance
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Hablar en Español
Summary: Steven looses a bet with Jake and has to speak in Spanish the entire day.
Warning: An introduced character near the end of the story is a racist stereotype used to prove a point and does not reflect the author's personal beliefs or opinions ❤️
(This is my first time making a fic like this ❤️ If I could have some feedback on this fic, it would be very much appreciated ❤️)
Marc yawned as he made his way in to the kitchen, thankful it was finally the weekend. Over at the table sat Steven stirring a bowl of cereal while Jake skimmed through a newspaper.
The oldest knight nodded to his two companions. "Morning."
Jake flipped the page of his newspaper. "Morning hermano."
"Steveo." Marc greeted as he ruffled his hair. "You sleep well?"
"Ci. Buena tardes."
The eldest knight stopped and looked at him. "Steven?"
Steven looked up at Marc then over at Jake.
The older American then turned his attention to the middle counterpart as well. "Jake?"
Jake looked back at the youngest. "It's buena dia Steven. Tardes is afternoon."
Steven looked down at his feet. "Lamento."
Marc threw up his hands. "Okay, will one of you tell me what is going on here."
Jake turned another page of his newspaper. "Someone lost a bet."
Marc lifted an eyebrow. "Oh?"
With a huff, Jake motioned back to Steven. "Tú explicas."
The youngest wilted then replied. "Tengo hablar español todo el dio."
"Again, it's día." Jake turned another page. "And it's pronounced ablar, not hablar."
"Una h!"
"H is not pronounced."
The youngest growled and crossed his arms. "Esto estúpido."
"Eres estúpido."
Marc held up his hands. "Alright, alright, alright, let me get this straight. Steven lost a bet he made with you."
Jake nodded. "Sí."
"And now Steven? You have to talk in Spanish for the rest of the day."
The youngest slumped back in his chair. "Cí."
"And if he decides not to?"
"Mi cabez que ser fallecido."
Marc bit his lip to keep from laughing. "Ihi dohon't think that means what you thihink ihit means."
"Que?"
"You are not fallecido Steven." Jake tugged on one of Steven's curls as he made his way to the sink. "Your cabello will be teñido.
Steven pulled his head away. "Que tu cara p-parece fallecido!"
Jake shrugged. "Don't care what my face looks like hermano."
Steven groaned and dropped his head on to his arms. "Español apesta!"
Jake narrowed his eyes at the youngest. "Tomar de nuevo!"
For a moment, Steven looked confused at Jake's response. "B-es la verdad!"
Marc placed a hand on Jake's arm. "Explain what you mean Steveo?"
"Forma de hablar apesta!"
Marc released Jake's arm. "You mean your Spanish speaking skills suck."
"Cí!" The youngest shrank back. "Q-qué hice?"
"You dropped off 'mi'."
"Acuerdo?"
Marc stepped closer to him. "'Mi' means 'my'. So when you dropped it, the sentence went from 'My Spanish sucks' to just 'Spanish sucks'."
The youngest's eyes went wide. "No! No! No! No quise decir es!"
Marc lifted his hand before Jake could respond. "Es?"
". . . E-eso?"
"Yes. Eso."
Steven's shoulders relaxed a little as he smiled. "Gracias."
"Happy to help Steveo."
"He needs too much help," Jake muttered.
The smile on Steven's face immediately dropped as he turtled into his shoulders.
Marc shoved Jake's shoulder. "Anyway, we need to do a grocery run later. We're out of almost everything."
"No quiero mi."
Jake crossed his arms. "It's---!"
Marc stopped him. "Mi is my."
Steven's brows furrowed.
"So, what's 'to go'?"
". . . Oh! Ir!"
"Bueno." Marc leaned against the counter. "You can stay home if you want, but if you want your veggie stuff . . ."
Steven groaned and thunked his head on the table.
"You don't have to talk much. Just get in and get your stuff."
Steven wilted as he turned his head. "Fino."
Jake scoffed and rolled his eyes.
"Ignore him." Marc sipped his coffee. "Jake es un cabeza de puta."
Steven snorted.
Jake growled then stormed away. "My head is not poop!"
With a grin on his face, Steven hurried away to get ready. "Gracias Marc."
Meanwhile, Marc hid a grin in his coffee cup. "De nada."
An hour later, the three scurried into the store.
"Steven, puedes agarrar un cochecito?" Marc asked.
The youngest stopped.
"Steven?"
"U-un cochecito?"
A light clicked on for Marc. "A trolley."
"Oh!" Steven took off. "Por supuesto!"
Jake sighed. "Don't baby him so much hermano."
"Baby him?"
"Ci! If he doesn't understand, he needs to just figure it out."
"But how will he learn if you don't help him to understand what he doesn't know?"
"He doesn't want to learn."
"What makes you say that?"
"If he wanted to know, he would have put in the work to understand."
Marc studied his counterpart. "Is that how you learned?"
"Ci."
"And how did you like getting treated that way."
Before Jake could respond, Steven returned. "El carrito."
"Gracias Steven."
"Marc?"
"Que?"
"Qué estás hablanda español?"
"Why am I speaking in Spanish?"
Steven nodded.
Marc shrugged. "Just wanted to."
Without another word, Marc directed them to the back of the store for their paper goods. He noticed as they made their way down the aisles, Jake seemed to be actually trying to help Steven understand Spanish instead of just snapping at him. For a bit, the middle knight would point to an object and ask Steven to get it. In response, the youngest would fetch the object before tentatively putting it in the cart. Jake would then give him a nod before searching for the next object.
However, the problem came when Jake would reask for one of the objects already in the cart.
"Steven, pásame los limpiador."
The youngest knight looked up at Jake in confusion. "Que?"
The middle knight huffed. "Limpiador."
Steven looked between Jake and the cart. He hesitantly reached in before pulling out the lemon juice Jake had picked up.
"Los limpiador. Not jugo de limon!"
"Que limpiador?"
Jake snatched up the cleaner from the cart. "Limpiador Steven. You literally put this in two minutes ago!"
The youngest turtled into his shoulders. "Lamento."
"Forget it." Jake threw the cleaner back in the cart. "You're not even trying."
Marc stepped forward. "That's not fair Jake. Those are easy to mix up."
"If he were paying attention, he would have remembered."
"He just learned that word Jake. He needs a little reminder to make it stick."
Jake scoffed. "Stop defending him hermano. He'll never learn."
A tense silence settled over the trio.
Marc turned to Steven. "Steven, go get the produce please."
The youngest quietly crept off.
The eldest knight then turned his attention back to Jake. "Why are you such a jerk?"
"He doesn't care hermano. Loosen up."
"But you're literally making him speak in a language he doesn't fully understand. He's going to struggle and need some help."
Jake rolled his eyes.
"You know what." Marc shoved him away. "Just go get the frozen stuff."
"Fino."
As Jake stomped away with the cart, Marc turned his attention back to the produce section. He took a couple of deep breaths before searching for Steven. It wasn't his fault he was so angry.
He eventually found him doing the oddest thing. The youngest would pick up one of the items on shelf, mutter something to himself, look at his phone, then mutter to himself again as he put it back.
Marc moved a little closer, but before he could get close enough, an elderly woman with gray hair tapped Steven's shoulder. She kindly smiled at the youngest before continuing a conversation. The two started talking back and forth with each other as Steven stuttered along.
Curiosity pulled Marc a little closer to the duo.
The older woman picked up a head of lettuce. "Uno cabezas de lechuga."
Steven nodded. "Cí. Uno cabezas de lechuga."
"Bueno." The lady picked up a second one. "Cuantos?"
Steven blinked.
The lady moved the first one up. "Uno."
Understanding dawned on Steven's face. "Dos?"
"Ci!" The lady picked up a third. "Cuantos?"
"Uno, dos, tres."
"Ci!" All three went into the reusable bag Steven had brought with him. "Tres cabezas de lechuga."
Steven showed her something on his phone. "Ayúdame . . . por favor?"
"Desde luego!" The lady squinted before picking up some potatoes. "Y esto es?"
"Papas."
"Ci. Cuantos tu?"
Steven paused and looked at the potatoes then back at the lady.
"Uno? Dos? Tres?"
Steven held up five fingers. "Cinco?"
The lady gently squeezed Steven's shoulder as she helped him count out the needed potatoes.
While the two finished, Marc stepped closer. "Steveo?"
The youngest turned. "Marc! Papas y cabezas lechuga!"
"Good job Steven." Marc gave the elderly woman a smile. "Gracias Señora."
"De nada sobrino," the elder woman squeezed his arm then gave Steven a hug before setting back off.
"Hey Steven?"
"Ci?"
"Why are you so determined to finish this bet?"
The youngest turned back to the shelves. "No nada."
"You have a long weekend. If you got your hair dyed today, it would be mostly faded by the time you go back to work. If not, we can always dye it back."
"No quiero teñirme pollo."
"You don't want to dye a chicken?" Marc bit back a smile. "Do you mean pelo?"
Steven huffed. "Soy estúpido!"
"You're not stupid Steven. It takes practice to learn a new language."
Steven sniffed. "Yo desear comprensión."
Something clicked in Marc's head. "You want to understand?"
"Ci."
"Why do you want to understand?"
"No sabo Jake, nosotros estamos cerrar." Steven fiddled with the straps of his bag. "Yo impresiono Jake, puedo acercarme más."
Marc softened. "You want to get closer to Jake by showing you understand his language?"
". . . Ci." Steven's shoulders sagged. "Yo estúpido."
"You're not stupid Steveo. That's actually extremely sweet."
The youngest looked up.
"It shows you care so much about Jake that you want to communicate with him more." Marc gently squeezed his arm. "Most people wouldn't go through all the stress of learning a language for someone unless they care a lot about that person."
"Perro qué Jake estó enojado?"
"Why is Jake mad?"
Steven nodded.
"Jake only knew Spanish when he was introduced to the world so he had to learn English fast to communicate."
"Por qué?"
"Because not everyone is as accepting of those that are different from them."
"Eso rudo."
"It is rude."
"P-perro genitales!"
Marc snorted. "I think you mean genial. And you're right, it is cool. However, you aren't showing that to Jake."
Steven cocked his head.
"Steveo, what is the biggest thing that helped you and Layla bond?"
"Nostros hablar el Francés."
"Yes, and since both of you speak French, sharing that language helps to strengthen your communication, right? Just like with me and Jake?"
"Ci."
"Now, I don't speak French well right?"
Steven shook his head.
"But that does that mean that I don't try to learn so I can improve?"
Steven shook his head.
"That's right, I have Layla teach me it brings us closer together because I show her that I have a desire to understand her more."
"Perro yo comprensión como eso!"
"Two rs is dog.
"Oh, pero?"
"Yes. And I can see you want to learn, but do you also see why Jake is so upset by the way you chose to learn?"
"Un poco."
"You're doing this because you lost a bet. Jake doesn't think you're serious about learning because you care. He thinks you're doing this because you're forced to."
" . . . Oh."
"I can see you definitely care." Marc ruffled his hair. "But I would have chosen a different way of showing that to him instead of just loosing a bet."
Steven's shoulders slumped. " . . . D-debería hablar Jake?"
"I wouldn't talk to him right away. Give him a little space first." The eldest knight headed off. "I'm going to grab a couple things. You going to be alright on your own?"
Steven nodded. "Ci."
"Alright. Call me if you need me."
"Cosa segura hermano."
With that, Marc headed off back down the aisles. He found Jake aggressively taking things out of the freezers and putting them into the cart.
"Jake?"
"What?"
"Can I talk to you?"
Jake shrugged as he slammed another item into the cart.
"Look, I know why you're pushing Steven so h---."
"He doesn't want to learn."
"He didn't choose the best way to show you---."
"He showed me enough." Jake glared. "He showed me he's only going to try if it benefits him."
"That's not the full story."
"What do you mean?"
"He has another reason."
Jake paused. "And what would that be?"
"He thinks that by impressing you with his desire to learn after loosing this bet, he'll get closer to you."
The younger knight was quiet.
"I know he didn't go about it the best way, but Steven does care." Marc squeezed his arm. "And he does want to get closer to you."
Jake still didn't say a word.
"Take a breather and finish up here. I'm gonna go grab some things and I'll meet you up front."
A moment later, Marc headed off to the right aisle. It didn't take long to find the needed bread items and headed back to the front of the store for the youngest.
Marc found him studying something on his phone. "Steveo, vamos."
The youngest hurried up to him. "Donde esta carrito?"
"The trolley? Jake's bringing it up."
Steven froze. ". . . Debería hablar él ahora?"
"Talk to him now?" Marc ran a finger through his curls. "Let's see how he acts when he gets up here first."
The youngest nodded.
A few seconds later, Jake came storming up to both of them with the buggy.
Marc tensed at his younger counterpart's movements. "Jake, you alright?"
The younger man grabbed Steven's arm and herded them all to a checkout line. "Vamos, actualmente."
Steven studied his older counterpart. "J-Jake . . . Que pase?"
"Después hermano."
Marc opened his mouth to respond, when he was cut off by another voice. "Thought I told you to go back across the boarder!"
Jake froze while the other two turned. An older man, dressed in jean shorts with cowboy boots and matching hat, stood glaring at the group.
"What are you? The three amigos?"
Marc stepped in front of the other two. "Who wants to know?"
"A fellow American." The man's oversized hat tipped to one side as he pointed to Jake. "Something he clearly ain't!"
Jake kept his gaze on the cart handle. He looked one more comment away from snapping at the older man.
Marc raised himself to his full height. "He has as much right to be here as you do."
"Says who?"
"Says a man who willingly volunteered to sacrifice his life for everyone to have the freedom to live."
"I ain't the enemy here! They're taking our jobs! They're invading our land! They're attacking our people! You should be attacking them, not your own people!"
"Just because you have a few people who take advantage of the situation doesn't mean everyone will. There are some people here looking to live a simple life just like you me."
The man scoffed.
Meanwhile, Jake studied the man's boots.
The man glared back. "We gonna have a problem?"
Jake gave the man a glare, but didn't comment.
"I'm warning ya!"
Marc kept one arm slightly raised incase the man lunged. "Hey, knock it off."
"Why should we respect 'em if they aren't respecting us?"
"Respect is earned, not given."
"I ain't respecting no one who isn't an American."
"Eso rude," Steven muttered.
"Quiet," Jake hissed.
The American took a step forward. "What did you say to me!"
"Nothing," Jake replied.
"No! What did you say to me!" The man tried to stalk forward but Marc's arm kept him back. "You can't tell me to shut up! It's called freedom of speech!"
"This isn't América."
"Are you calling me stupid!"
"Pero eres estúpido!" Jake snapped.
The man's face turned red. A moment later, he caught Marc by surprise by shoving him backwards before rushing toward Jake whos arm shot up to protect his head.
However, before the man could lay a hand on Jake, a reusable shopping bag filled with lettuce and potatoes swung around and connected with the American's face. "Callarse l-la boca gringo!"
The man turned his attention to Steven.
The youngest froze. "Oh bueyes!"
The American's fist connected with Steven's lip before he then tackled him to the ground to get in a few more blows.
Marc jumped forward. "Steven!"
Both he and Jake yanked the guy back while several nearby bystanders helped to wrestle him to the ground. Steven even scrambled back over to pin his feet to the ground.
Once the man was restrained, one of the clerk's piped up from the nearby register. "The coppers are on their way!"
"Why are you arresting me!" The man growled. "I'm one of you!"
"Save it for the police!" A man, presumably the manager, helped several of his clerks yank the man to his feet. "Now kindly take him to the front until the officers arrive!"
While the man was pulled away kicking and screaming, Jake grabbed the youngest knight by his shoulders and shook him. "What were you thinking! Estas loco?"
Steven stayed quiet as Jake yanked his chin up to study the bruising.
"Respóndeme Steven!"
" . . . Nada habla a mi hermano de esa manera," the youngest mumbled.
"Qué?"
Steven moved forward and wrapped his brother in a hug. "Lamento Jake. Te amo . . . lamento, fui un idiota."
It took a moment for Jake to respond, but eventually he got his arms up to return the hug. "I love you too hermano."
Steven buried his face into Jake's shoulder.
Meanwhile, the older knight couldn'thelp but tease. "That was the clearest I've heard you speak."
"Yo practiqué," Steven responded with a chuckle.
"Oho really?" Jake playfully pushed him back and pushed his own hat down over the youngest's eyes. "Tú practicaste?"
Steven lifted the hat up to beam at his older counterpart.
Marc smiled as he joined the two. "Are you alright Steveo? That guy split your lip pretty good."
"Eso bien, pero adolorido."
"Ihid imagine it is pretty sore." Marc gently moved the youngest's chin side to side.
Thankfully, one of the clerks from before placed a zip lock bag ice pack in Steven's hand. "The store owner has taken care of your groceries."
Jake nodded. "Gracias."
"Of course. We hope you'll come back again, and don't let that wanker be a representation of our store."
"Bueno." Jake herded the two toward the door. "Gracias Señor."
After gathering their bags, the three started their walk back to their apartment.
"Jake?" Steven asked.
"Yes Steven?"
" . . . Puedes tú enseñar español mas?"
"Teach you more Spanish?"
"Ci!"
"Of course hermano." Jake smiled as he gently nudged the ice pack back up to Steven's mouth. "But after we get tu labio healed."
Steven chuckled. "Sure thing mahate. Let's pop by thehe barber's shohop while wehere at ihit."
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