Silent Knight

“I am perfectly capable of kicking and punching someone in the face, the only reason I would call you is to watch me unleash a can of whoop-butt.—Thanks.”

The question caused a chill to run down Jaxon’s spine, the hairs on his arms standing on end. Even if Jack were seeking an answer to it, there was no real one that he could offer to the other. There were only snippets that Jaxon knew of the other’s life, but not enough to truly gauge what the question meant to Jack. Teeth chewed at the inside of his cheek, pondering the question before he was following the other out the door and onto the street. “Well, I’m along for wherever you want to go. We can go to another bar, to my place – or we can just keep walking until something comes up.”

         “I don’t hate you, you’re just — I’m sorry, I know you’re only trying to help but how are you supposed to help someone that doesn’t know how to help themselves? No, no calling them, you’re bad enough but I don’t think I can stand another Marshall lecture, screw that.”

“Hey, secure is secure and it’s a good thing if you ask me. About that many. I spent the night on Liam’s couch the other day so I don’t feel like intruding over and over. The other guys..well I don’t know where the hell some of them are. I just figured you’d be the best option.” Though, he did feel like a bit of a burden. He just didn’t want to be home, though. Not in that house. “We’ll let… not find out then. I doubt he’d do anything bad to that pretty face of yours anyway, so you have nothing to worry about.” He laughed, trying to find any excuse out there that what he did at Bloodhound was completely acceptable. “That happens like… never. I can always find some chick to take back with me. Come on, look at me. Can you really pass all this up?” As he spoke, Mason shimmed around Jack for a moment—acting way too cocky than he deserved to be. “Well, if we’re being honest here, you don’t want to. I’m so much better the way I am, don’t you think?” Of course, everyone knew that wasn’t true. Sure, Mason knew how to have fun, but with the years going on and everyone around him actually growing up, he was going to have to learn to give up the reckless life eventually. “I wouldn’t say spiteful, but definitely immature.” He tried to laugh off, but honestly, his words did hold some weight. “Thanks, I appreciate it more than you realize.”

“Yeah, you’re the only one thinking like that. On his couch? How are you even walking right now? That thing is uncomfortable as shit. Yeah, I haven’t seen much of them either lately, heard Brax is out again though, so they’re probably attached at the fucking hip somewhere.” That was kind of how it always was, Jack was just always there - never really heading in any direction at all. Just there. “I don’t know about that, he’s been acting a little strange lately, and I’ve seen weirder things happen in that bar than Noah losing his shit so..--” He’d never not find it amusing though, that Mason had gone to such lengths to get with some girl, then again -- Jack hadn’t been all that different when he’d been in school. “Don’t jinx yourself, alright? I don’t know if I can help you with your ego if your luck runs out. I can definitely pass it up, you look like you’re eating too many burgers and not lifting enough anymore.” His brows knit together as his friend fucked around, never a dull moment. “I could think of a few improvements that could be made.. --- Don’t sweat it. Take whatever you want from the fridge, don’t touch the tequila in the cupboard, or the cafe patron, I will literally smother you in your sleep if you do.”

“I can handle myself, you know.—You can’t tell anyone…”

              “You could and seeing as no one else seem’s up to the challenge, then I suppose it falls to me and I can’t say I mind one bit. More like perfected myself and at one point in time my favorite color was blue and nowadays its green. Believe it or not, but there are some people whom know exactly who they are, what they enjoy and what they don’t; do you know who you are, Jack?” she asked as her own curiosity was piqued at his remark. “What makes you say that, love? Its not a need of mine, more of a want. Gives me time to do my nails you see. Then tell me where you want to go and we’ll be on our way.” 

“Apologies that the burden has fallen to you, whether you mind or not, I’m sure you’ve got better things to do that make my life a little more exciting. I guess.. what’s the point in polishing something that’s already pristine..--- Green’s a good color.” Her question stumped him a little and it was more than obvious on his face. “Can’t say I’ve thought about any of that for a long time.  I just.. I meant that you’re well.-- you. I can’t imagine you pay this much attention to all that many people, hence -- i’m the lucky one. Sounds hopeful but -- how does as far away from this place as your willing to let your driver take us?”

Jaxon hated saying it. He hated being that guy, the one that had to say it how it is, no matter how painful or horrible it might be perceived as. But Jack was his friend, and he would do or say anything that needed to be if that meant the other would start thinking about himself for a change. The silence lulled between them, only to be filled by the words that suddenly started falling from Jack’s lips, creating a sickening feeling in Jaxon’s stomach. He couldn’t stop the image of his friend pleading with Ophelia to stay, only for her to cause the now present scar on his face. Ophelia was his friend, too; but God, did he hate her in that moment. His eyes shifted over the scar once more, never imaging a time where he could do something like that to someone he cared about. “She’s alone, Jack.. She’s going to keep coming back so long as she knows that you’re going to be there waiting for her.” He hated to talk like this, about one friend to another; but if Jack needed to hear it, then he was going to say it. He watched him, waited for a moment when he needed to speak, when he needed to say what Jack needed to hear. Even as Jack repeated his words, he remained silent, allowing them to sink in and make the impression they needed to. When he suddenly took up one of the beers before heading for the door, Jaxon couldn’t say he wasn’t caught off guard. There was a moment of hesitation, where he stood wondering what he should do, but he knew going after his friend was the only option he had. Following out the door into the cold night, he easily caught up with Jack, falling into step beside him. “Where are we going?”

“You need to get a new job, or one of these days it’ll be your blood coating the place.”

“Ophelia.. I’ve worked there since I was eighteen and nobody there has ever laid a hand on me.”

“I don’t get it.—You can’t make me.”

“You wanna’ walk home with a murderer on the loose? Finish the drink.”

Normally, the scar on Jack’s face was not normally something that Jaxon focused on. Yes, he knew it was there and how it got there; but he didn’t let that distract him from whatever foolish antics the pair were getting into. But now — now he could barely look at it, hating the fact that it was a reminder for Jack. “Fine.” He stated calmly, finally lifting his gaze to the other’s. “I would leave her. As hard as it might be, I would leave and I wouldn’t look back. She knew what you are, she knew that hurting you was going to leave an impression; and she still did it anyway.” Unlike what was happening between Ophelia and Jack, Cassidy had apologized to him, tenfold for what had transpired that night. Had Ophelia done the same for Jack? “Yes, you.” He stated calmly, knowing that everyone always thought differently than when they were told that. “It’s always going to be like that, until all those she’s looking for are done away with. It’s about her, Jack; she’s only going to think about her until this is done. You need to start thinking about you, and about what you deserve.”

April 16th, 2017. Sunday, sometime in the afternoon. Red Creek, Ontario.

Twelve hours after a nightmare shook him awake when it was still dark outside, Henryk felt like the Devil had chewed and spat him back onto the pavement. He was exhausted. Nothing a few shots of expresso and sheer willpower couldn’t handle, of course. The vampire walked around the town with a plastic cup of steaming coffee in one hand and glaring at no one in particular. He was in the middle of crossing the street when a familiar face emerged from the crowd, rooting him in the spot with a surprised look on his face. Time froze for a moment and he drowned out the world, eyes glued to the ghost from his past. She should’ve been dead. From somewhere far away, a yell cut through the silence and a firm hand grabbed his arm, pulling him back. A car drove right past him, tires screeching, honking angrily. The coffee splattered against his shirt, steaming hot, and he winced. “Oh, kurwa!” What a day.

“Hey.-- Hey!” He called out, all too aware that the other likely didn’t hear him by the dazed look on his face. You’re human. You’re human. Stop doing stupid shit. Like running out in front of an oncoming car to drag the other clear out of the way. What sounded like a curse fell from the other and Jack couldn’t stop an exasperated laugh from building in his throat. “Really? -- You’re going to... you were almost cleaned up by that car. I think a shirt covered in coffee is the last thing you should be worried about.”

Ophelia rolled her eyes. “You know what I meant – Was it really a gas leak?”

He paused, not entirely sure he wanted to have a conversation with her “No, Noah’s been...--- playing games. Place was coated in red when I got there this morning.”

“Home sweet home. This place hasn’t changed a bit.”

“Nothing around here ever really changes, Andy. Figured you’d have worked that out by now.”

“--- You are tone deaf to all shit, Marshall.”

“Hey, I have a lot of favors to ask, okay? And I’m secure enough to admit that I really only have like three friends. Aren’t you lucky that you just happen to be one of them? Let’s be real here, though. At least we had fun doing that. Don’t say it like it was a bad thing.” The male cocked out a smile as he maneuvered through the room and hoped that Jack wouldn’t say no. Granted, he could ask Liam too, but there was also a part of Mason that loved add more to Jack’s plate. “I wouldn’t say necessity. And for all you know, I could’ve become a born again virgin over night. Maybe I’ve found the error in my ways and want to become a better person.” Which wasn’t true, but it was amusing to entertain the idea. “Ouch, glad to know the feeling isn’t mutual. You know, I think I’m going to have to find someone else to put as my favorite now. Just to be spiteful and immature. I do thank you for the spare bedroom, though. I only need a place for the weekend.” Hopefully. 

“Oh like I don’t know it. That’s pretty damn secure if you ask me, is it really only three? And not one of the others have room for you?” He joked, a hint of humor sparking in brown hues. “Oh luckiest guy in the world right now I’m sure. Wasn’t it a bad thing though? Wasn’t it? Noah would probably have my head if he knew I’d gone along with it.” Jack didn’t pay much mind at all to Mason needing a place to stay, and in reality, it didn’t bother him in the least. Being on his own wasn’t something he was entirely used to just yet. “You might not, but you haven’t seen the look on your face when you can’t take a girl home. Like hell you did. You, a better person? I’ll never live to see that day.” Mason Delgado didn’t mature, Jack had already done enough of that for both of them. “Like you could find someone else to take on all the responsibility that comes with being your favorite, Mase. I think you’ve got spiteful and immature pretty well down pact already, why bother trying any harder than you have to. Don’t sweat it, it’s yours for as long as you need.”

“I was curious, wanted to see what the fuss was all about. I’m not impressed, by the way.—I told you, I’m not drinking that.”