#scars!

Finally, he stepped over to the left side again and reached for the bandage over the worst gunshot wound. Jason flinched. Ali pulled back. “I don’t want to do this to you,” he said softly.

“It’s just a bandage. It’s…getting better.”

Ali nodded and reached for the bandage. The good thing about it was that it wasn’t a scar made by torture.  It was something to be proud of. He’d incapacitated Karl—made it so his capture hadn’t been permanent.

Fighting is always better than passivity.

He stood still while Ali peeled off the bandage.

Ali gasped. “That’s…quite the injury.”

Jason looked down, past the new bruise on his stomach, to the massive purple bruise on his side, spreading out to greenish yellow mottling on the edges, and in the center a dark ragged stripe. He felt a twinge of pain. But at the same time… it was a badge of honor. It was nothing but an inconvenience otherwise—the most serious of its transgressions being it had interrupted his time with Connie.

     “Get that MUTT out of the APARTMENT before I SKIN THEM!” She threatened. JD took the hint and scurried to Jay’s room. River turned and looked at her, disappointed.

     “You didn’t have to do that,” River put it simply. Mare groaned and mumbled about their lack of space before heading to her room.

     JD thanked Jay for the tank top and shorts. He was happy to provide. Then he examined the wolf a bit longer.

     “Somethings wrong with you, darling. I just can’t put my fingers on it-“ he stroked his chin with one hand, put another on his hip, and cupped JD’s face with the last two. They meekly explained to him what happened, feeling guilty for splashing Mare. “Don’t feel bad about it, buttercup. Mare isn’t always the nicest. Sometimes you gotta take what she says, and move on.” Jay seemed a bit troubled, yet recovered instantly. “She’s a bit crabby without her ‘beauty rest,’ and that’s one thing her and I can agree on. I’m sure she just wanted tonight to be over with.” That’s one thing her and JD could agree on. 

     JD thought about it some more, and came to the conclusion to apologize, then sleep the emotions off.  “Thanks, Jay,” they said. He gave JD a heartfelt hug before turning them loose. They paced to Mare’s room, ignoring her ‘keep out’ sign on their haste and definitely ignored the common courtesy of knocking.

     The faint red strikes on Mare’s back immediately caught JD’s attention. They looked like fresh wounds, a day or so after injury. Like a rat who’d been clawed by an owl, only to escape. JD winced in horror, wondering what could’ve caused them. Mare turned around and turned fully red.

     She lunged toward JD, slapping them across their face. They whimpered and covered their cheek. “WHY THE FUCK ARE YOU IN HERE!” she screamed. She brings her hand up only for JD to grab it. With seemingly no other option, she head-butts them in the chest, causing them both to come crumbling down. JD pushed her off them to take a breath. “Take a hint, dumbass! Get! OUT!!” They couldn’t stop wheezing. She went to sit on her bed, taking a moment to breathe as well.

     “Are you... okay?” They asked between breaths.

     “What the fuck are you taking about?” 

     “Well on your back-“ Mare grew wide eyed.

     “Don’t FUCKING mention them!” She throws a half-empty bottle of Pepsi at them. “Leave already!”

     “I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to upset you,” JD said, remorsefully. “I’ve got my own licks from plenty of things. Rocks, branches, raccoons, possums,”

     “JD! LEAVE!!”

     “But those are tiny compared to when my Aunt May would burn me.” They immediately winced from the old memories. “It still hurts.”

     Mare scoffed. Her eyes glowed red. “Yeah right. Your mortal wounds HEAL after a certain period of time. These fuckers have burned for CENTURIES!!! I just learned to IGNORE IT!”

     “You can’t ignore it forever, Mare.”

     “Bitch, watch me.”

     “You’re still hurting. On the outside and the inside.” Mare got quiet for a moment. JD tossed the soda back, which Mare caught and drank. Her eyes avoided them. They sat on the floor quietly.The room was heavy, and it pressed on JD’s throat.

     “I’m sorry about splashing you earlier,” they apologized.

     “It’s whatever.”

     “I’m sorry I brought up your-“

     “Whatever, JD. It’s whatever.”

     They walk up to their door frame. “I’ll see you soon.” 

     “See ya.”

     JD walked out the room and dashed to the couch. It was best they didn’t open up another wound for Mare, lest a full-on fight break out.