Chapter Text
As the day wore on, Jacks found himself caught in a whirlwind of emotions, his mind consumed by Evangeline's confession. It wasn't her death that troubled him; he had grown accustomed to the possibility, almost expecting it as a cruel inevitability.
What frightened him was his own reaction when she perished. The way his heart clenched and constricted, as if it were on the verge of disintegrating, leaving him with an overwhelming urge to scream and plead with the heavens. The realization that the stones, once his lifeline to resurrecting his relationship with Tella, had now become a necessity to save Evangeline's life. While he could search for another way to bring Tella back, he had no such option for Evangeline. At least, not yet. The Imaginarium held the potential answers he needed.
His frustration with Chaos for not revealing this sooner faded as he realized his own stubbornness had been the barrier to understanding the true situation. Jacks had been so invested by the pursuit of bringing Tella back that he had shut down any attempt to discuss Evangeline's fate. As long as Evangeline was alive, he believed he had fulfilled his part of the plan. That had always been the plan.
But now, facing the reality of the situation, he couldn't ignore the undeniable pull he felt towards Evangeline. She was unlike anyone he had ever known, and he couldn't deny the intensity of his feelings for her. Yet, history had shown him that those he loved had a tragic tendency to die.
Doubt crept into his mind like a poison, questioning if Evangeline truly was his true love or just another heartache waiting to happen. The fear of losing her, especially if she didn't survive his kiss, paralyzed him with uncertainty.
The bitterness he felt stemmed from her casual and confident delivery of her feelings, exposing the lie he had believed for a whole year. He had denied the possibility of a connection between them, convincing himself that he couldn't be loved or truly love anyone but Tella again.
LaLa's company provided Jacks with a much-needed respite from the overwhelming thoughts and emotions that consumed him. He found solace in their conversations, appreciating the advice and insights that LaLa shared. He was grateful for how often Evangeline confided in her, as it allowed him to gain a deeper understanding of their complex situation.
He had tried in several ways to say that he loves her. Each one comes out with the name of the other. LaLa suggested maybe he lacked the conviction or misunderstood the meaning of the word. He eyed her wearily.
Jacks’s didn’t tell her about the irregular pattern of his heart. He was certain he imagined it.
As the sun started to set, he set out to see Chaos. He wasn’t sure what to expect. He planned to see the Imaginarium, as he was promised the location but he was struggling when to go. He could go now, see how each choice played out and risk abandoning her or he could stay, knowing Chaos would welcome him because he was pragmatic.
Upon entering the cemetery, he spotted her cloak headed towards the tomb where she stopped him to state it was significant to her. He took a deep breath and detoured, knowing he needed to see her.
As Jacks approached Evangeline deep within the tomb, his heart raced with anticipation. He couldn't help but admire her from afar as she stood with her back to him, her figure silhouetted against the setting sun seeping through the cracks in the tomb's walls.
With a gentle lean against the entrance, Jacks observed her with a quiet reverence. Evangeline's words cut through the air, causing Jacks to startle.
“I know you’re there,” she asked, her voice cool and aloof. "Is it really that hard to leave me alone?"
Jacks didn't answer, instead choosing to focus on the way her hair fell in soft waves down her back. He hoped to break through her defenses as she had her back turned against him. "So you remember this place?" he asked.
"I do," she said, her voice softening slightly. "I'd ask you why you're here, but we can just say it’s your curse."
Jacks smiled wryly, admiring her spirit. "I'd ask you why you're here, but I have a feeling you're not going to tell me."
Evangeline turned to face him, her expression softened. "I got my memories back so suddenly. I haven’t had time to sift through it. Sometimes they came on their own. Sometimes you trigger them."
As he watched her turn away to explore the tomb, Jacks couldn't help but recall the first time he gave into the urges. He recalled how his heightened senses gave way to new possibilities of how he regarded her. But the moment had been brief, as her panicked voice had put a stop to it right at the crucial moment. Now, he longed to recreate that encounter, yearning for Evangeline to encourage him to go beyond just a single bite on her neck.
“I remember this tomb in two pieces, Jacks,” Evangeline continued. “The first was when you pinned me on the wall the first night and the second was when you panicked when you heard her voice. I was confused as to what happened between the two until I spoke to her. This anger took over because I also knew how she spoke of you. Your bitterness and her anger over the same memory.”
She turned to face him, “Should the first kiss you have with your true love be spoken with anger and hatred?”
“Kill enough men with your kiss and I am sure you too will feel the same way,” said Jacks through gritted teeth.
“And yet you tell me you love her,” Evangeline said with a sad smile. “But you never spoke about her like you did.”
Jacks's expression darkened at her words, as he struggled to remember his life before her. "I was angry and hurt that she chose another," he said quietly.
Evangeline studied him for a moment before nodding slowly. "I understand," she said softly. "It’s hard to want someone else once your heart’s set on it."
Jacks watched as Evangeline walked past him, and in a moment of impulse, he reached out and cupped her waist. The delicate fabric of her dress beneath his fingertips sent an electric shock through him, intensifying his feelings.
It's her. It's her. It's always been her.
He turned her around to face him, their eyes locking. "It was only Tella I knew I wanted," he said, his voice low and intense.
Evangeline's voice was soft as she spoke, her eyes searching his. "Then you must let go of me," she said, her words carrying a hint of sadness. "I have fulfilled my purpose to you once you obtained the stones. Show me the final person I must kiss to complete our bargain."
"And what if I'm not ready to let you go just yet?" he asked, their eyes still holding a steady gaze.
It's her. It's her. It's always been her. It's always been us. It's her. It's her. It has always been her. It's her I want to kiss. It's her I want to be with.
Evangeline gently removed his hand from her waist and took a step forward, breaking their intense connection. Her voice carried a sense of finality. "My role is fulfilled. It's time for you to fulfill yours."
Don’t. It’s her. No. It’s her. Don’t. It’s her. No. It’s her. Don’t. It’s her. No. It’s her. Don’t. It’s her. No. It’s her. Don’t. It’s her. No. It’s her. Don’t. It’s her. No. It’s her. Don’t. It’s her. No. It’s her. Don’t. It’s her. No. It’s her. Don’t. It’s her. No. It’s her.
Jacks watched her for a moment, trying to decide whether to follow closely or keep a distance. He didn't want to make her feel uncomfortable, but he also didn't want to lose sight of her. Eventually, he decided to follow a few paces behind, keeping his eyes on her as they walked through the dense forest. The leaves rustled underfoot, and birds chirped in the branches overhead, but otherwise, the forest was silent.
“You followed me like this too,” Evangeline said over her shoulder, breaking the silence. “When Apollo was afflicted with his curse. I guess you were always overprotective of me.”
Jacks chuckled softly, a hint of nostalgia in his voice. "I suppose I was," he admitted, falling into step beside her. "But you always had a way of getting yourself into trouble, and I couldn't help but be worried."
Evangeline smiled at him, her eyes shining with fondness. "Because I am no use to you dead, right?" she asked, her tone soft.
Jacks returned her smile, his eyes sparkling with amusement. "Exactly," he said, "I need you alive and willing."
Evangeline laughed, a sound like bells ringing through the forest. "Well, you did struggle with the willing part," she said playfully.
Jacks couldn't help but feel a surge of warmth in his chest at her laughter. They walked in comfortable silence for a while, the only sound the crunching of leaves underfoot and the occasional birdcall in the distance.
A sudden wave of fear washed over him as he realized where Evangeline was leading them. The cliff. The same cliff where they both jumped to escape Apollo after she cried she couldn’t swim.
He stopped in his tracks, his heart racing with anxiety. "Little Fox, we shouldn't be here," he said, his voice trembling slightly. "It's dangerous."
Jacks watched in horror as Evangeline perched on the edge of the cliff, her feet dangling precariously over the steep drop below. The wind whipped around them, irritating him with its incessant gusts. His heart rate increased, but not out of fear—for him, it was frustration that surged through his veins as he cautiously approached her.
The view from the top should have been breathtaking, but any sense of awe was overshadowed by Jacks's exasperation for Evangeline's recklessness. With a tinge of irritation in his voice, he spoke, barely concealing his annoyance. "Little Fox, seriously? Let's go back already."
She shook her head, seemingly oblivious to his irritation, her gaze fixed on the distant horizon. Her response came softly, yet determined. "You can leave if you want," she murmured. "I won't be here for long."
"You never think about the consequences, do you?" he retorted, his frustration thinly veiled.
Without acknowledging his irritation, Jacks swallowed his pride and reluctantly settled beside her, being careful not to disrupt her delicate balance. The tension between them hung heavily in the air, an unspoken conflict that fueled their silent standoff as they stared into the distance.
For a while, they sat in uncomfortable silence, the relentless wind howling around them, exacerbating Jacks's irritation. He sensed the weight of Evangeline's emotions, a mixture of vulnerability and defiance, but his annoyance prevented him from fully empathizing. Gathering his patience, he mustered the will to speak again, only to be interrupted by her.
“I was so mad at you for what you did to Apollo,” she said calmly, her voice filled with lingering resentment. “That was probably the most I ever felt like I could hate someone. I wrote my letter that night, ready to sever all ties with you. But then, Apollo was afflicted with the curse, and I saw how you were more concerned about my well-being, how you tried your hardest to protect me. My opinion of you changed that night. When you jumped with me, it surprised me. In that moment, I remember thinking I could have been bewitched by you as you swam me to shore."
“I did recall telling you that I would have something to make you hate me,” Jacks reminisced.
“I believe LaLa’s mirror hunter curse did the job,” she pursed her lips in indifference.
Jacks hesitated, his heart heavy with regret and a desire to mend the rift between them. Searching for a way to show Evangeline that he cared, he asked, his voice filled with genuine concern, "Did... did you get what you needed from Poison?"
Evangeline's gaze softened as she looked at him, understanding his attempt to reach out. She shrugged, her voice tinged with a mix of exhaustion and disappointment. "Almost," she replied, her shoulders slumping. "My crying face seemed to convince Poison that he was the cause, expediting the process. I also had to reschedule my fight since Apollo might be coming. I was looking forward to it. That guy had been a menace at The Salty Mermaid."
Jacks nodded, acknowledging the challenges she had faced throughout the day. "It sounds like your bad morning extended to a bad day," he observed, trying to empathize with her struggles.
Evangeline sighed, weariness evident in her eyes as she searched his gaze for answers, for a deeper understanding. "Jacks," she began, her voice tinged with both exhaustion and a longing for clarity, "What am I to you now?"
Jacks gently took her hand, his lips softly pressing against her skin as he kissed it. He felt the weight of her tears, the vulnerability etched across her face, and he wished to ease her worries. His lips trailed a path up her arm, relishing in the warmth of her touch, before coming to rest behind her ear. Her proximity sent a shiver through him, a rush of emotions intertwining with his every thought.
"A glorified apple," he teased playfully, a hint of affection in his voice.
But her reaction was not what he expected. She pushed him off abruptly, getting up from the ground. Jacks stood up as well, unable to suppress a grin that tugged at the corners of his lips as he admired her cute yet fierce expression.
"Not even a day!" she yelled at him, her voice laced with frustration. "Couldn't even give me a day to process your rejection."
Jacks sensed the turmoil threatening to consume her. He was keenly aware of how close she was to the edge of the cliff, physically and emotionally. The way she stomped her foot and the fierce determination in her eyes, he knew that one wrong move could send her plummeting into the cold sea below.
"Little Fox?" he called out pleading, his eyes filled with worry.
"Stop!” she yelled, her voice cracking. “Stop it with the cute Little Fox and the eyes and the hair!”
In a desperate attempt to prevent her from doing something rash, Jacks reached out, his hand on her waist to pull her back. But before he could react, she forcefully shoved him away, causing her to lose her balance.
"Oh no," she said, almost in resignation, as Jacks instinctively grabbed her wrist, their gazes locked in a moment of shared panic.
"And you say you don't need me," Jacks grinned confidently.
As she scowled at him, her eyes filled with defiance, Evangeline skillfully twisted her wrist against his thumb, her determination evident. Jacks felt his heart sink as he helplessly watched her descent through the air. The wind rushed past her, and the vast sea drew nearer with each passing second. He couldn't bear the sight of her falling, a sense of helplessness gripping his chest.
In that heart-stopping moment, his world shattered into countless fragments. The fear of losing her, of experiencing that devastating loss once again, overwhelmed him completely. The instinct to protect her at all costs surged through his veins, overriding any rational thought. Without a moment's hesitation, he drew in a deep breath and leaped after her, his heartbeat thundering in his chest as they both hurtled toward the water below
As they continued their fall, anger surged through him, caused by her reckless actions. The fear of losing her mingled with frustration, creating a storm of emotions within him. While the wind howled around them, his anger burned bright, fueled by her refusal to let him touch her. The intensity of his emotions mixed with deep concern for her well-being, amplifying the adrenaline coursing through his veins as they descended together, a dangerous dance of anger and fear.
Evangeline's voice carried over the wind, her words laced with mild frustration, "As though this day can't get any worse."
Finally, they hit the water with a resounding splash. Gasping for air, Jacks resurfaced, his heart pounding in his chest, scanning the water frantically for any sign of Evangeline. A surge of relief flooded over him as he spotted her a few feet away, effortlessly treading water with a stubborn scowl etched on her face, trying to find her bearings.
With urgency in his movements, he propelled himself through the water, each stroke bringing him closer to her. His hands trembled as he reached out to hold her. But just as his fingertips grazed her, she kicked away from him, her determination shining through even in the midst of their chaotic circumstances.
"Little Fox!" he called out to her, his voice quivering with a potent blend of fear and anger. "What were you thinking? You can't swim!"
Evangeline's sharp retort pierced the air as she stopped kicking. "What do you think I’m doing right now?" she snapped, her voice tinged with irritation. "Do you really think Cass would not have let me learn?"
The incredulous tone in Jacks's voice mirrored his disbelief. "So you lied to me again?"
Evangeline's eyes blazed with intensity as she splashed water on him, her actions a mix of retaliation and emotional release. "You called me a pain!" she exclaimed, the hurt evident in her voice. "And the worst!"
"Because you were!" Jacks retorted, splashing water back at her, the frustration mingling with a deep affection he couldn't deny. "You still are!"
Anger and hurt clashed as Evangeline's voice rose. "So that's what I am to you? A glorified apple who causes you the worst pain?"
Jacks's sneer revealed his own pent-up emotions, the lines etched deeply on his face betraying the frustration and longing he had held within. His words dripped with bitter irony. "And you would rather jump to your death than let me touch you?"
Evangeline's defiant response struck him with the force of a slap, her eyes blazing with determination as she held her ground against his persistent concerns. Her voice carried a hint of disdain, emphasizing her unwillingness to yield. "I didn't die, so that renders your argument irrelevant, doesn't it?"
She turned around to begin her swim to shore. But before she could escape his grasp, he reached for her arm and pulled her close, his grip firm and unyielding. The struggle that ensued between them intensified, Evangeline's body writhing in a desperate attempt to break free, while Jacks held on with a newfound resolve, his grip fueled by an almost desperate determination to never let her slip away again.
Now aware that she could have broken free with the right twist, the need for her to understand coursed through Jacks's veins. He tightened his arms around her, the strength in his embrace becoming an embrace of protection rather than possession. He held on as her thrashing lulled to a stop.
"You scared me," he whispered into her ear, his voice a fragile whisper, choked with a tumultuous blend of fear, love, and relief in her ear. "Please don't ever scare me like that again."
Her words came out coldly, tinged with the remnants of past wounds and lingering bitterness. The bitterness in her voice hung in the air, a bitter taste that lingers long after the words are spoken. "Why? Because you might have to find another fruit to quench your desire?"
The desperation in his voice cracked through the facade of his anger, revealing the raw vulnerability that lay beneath. The walls he had built around his heart crumbled, exposing the fragile, fragile heart that beat within.
"Because I don't want to lose you! Not again! Not ever!" His voice broke, revealing the tremor of pain and longing that echoed through his words. “I can’t …. I can’t ...”
In that pregnant pause, a myriad of emotions swirled within Jacks, intertwining with the unspoken words hanging in the air. His gaze remained fixed on Evangeline, her eyes softening as the weight of their shared history settled upon them. He could see the pain she had endured, the hurt etched in the lines of her face from his earlier, much harsher, rejection. It was a stark reminder of the depth of her feelings for him, a reminder that left him both humbled and awestruck.
But as he looked deeper, Jacks noticed something more. There was a tenderness in her eyes, a gentle understanding that she reserved only for him. It was a realization that struck him to the core, illuminating the truth that had been concealed for far too long. Evangeline saw him, truly saw him, with all his flaws and complexities, and yet, she still extended her empathy and love. It was a revelation that sent a shiver down his spine, a flicker of hope igniting within his chest.
Her voice carried a hint of warmth, a trace of tenderness that she couldn’t conceal. "Well, I suppose you did follow me. Even though you didn't have to."
A tender smile tugged at the corners of Jacks's lips, the lines on his face softening as he allowed himself to revel in her presence. "Why are you so surprised? You know I'll follow you anywhere."
Evangeline leaned in, and placed a soft, lingering kiss on his cheek. Her voice carried a whispered promise. "I know," she said softly.
"Do you want me to swim you back to shore?" he asked, a surge of boldness coursing through him, trying to recreate the moment she described important to her.
"I wouldn't want my practice to go to waste," she replied, her voice tinged with a touch of hurt that resurfaced, a reminder of the wounds they still had to heal.
Jacks and Evangeline emerged from the water, droplets shimmering on their skin as they made their way back to the shore. Jacks couldn't tear his gaze away from Evangeline, her wet clothes clinging to her curves, accentuating her beauty in a way that stole his breath. Every detail of her was etched into his mind, and he couldn't help but feel a rush of admiration that shone in his eyes.
"What?" she said, her voice a mix of curiosity and self-consciousness.
Jacks blinked, caught off guard by her question. A small smile danced at the corners of his lips as he replied, "I can't help but wonder how unlucky you must be to fall for someone like me."
She let out an exasperated huff. "You know what hurts? It's that you say and do things that make me feel so deeply, and yet you think it's wrong for me to fall in love with you."
Jacks clenched his teeth, his frustration mingling with vulnerability. "Because you would be the one to fall for the person you shouldn't," he retorted, bitterness lacing his words.
"And you think I wanted to fall for you?" Evangeline's voice carried a tinge of disbelief. "Do you know how much easier my life would be if I actually loved my husband? Or how hard I've been trying to convince myself that I feel something more for Cass? I fell for you a long time ago, even before I realized it myself, and that feeling has stayed with me even when I lost myself."
"I'm sorry if my presence is such an inconvenience to you and Chaos," Jacks drawled, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
Evangeline pointed a finger at him, frustration clear in her voice. "That's it! I don't know your reasons, but these are my feelings. It hurts when you tell me I'm wrong, when others tell me what I should feel. I've spent a whole year being invalidated, and now I finally see that I was right all along. It's the imposition of others' feelings that hurts the most."
She turned away, her steps resolute as she headed towards the trail, leaving Jacks to grapple with his thoughts and the weight of her words.
Before she disappeared from sight, her voice carried a heavy mix of exhaustion and frustration. "Stop trying to mold things into what they should be and start accepting them for what they are. Apollo spent a year trying to force his feelings onto me, not realizing that I have actually been. And the worst part is that it's not even love he feels for me. He believes it is."
She walked away, grumbling about how much more she had been delayed now that she needed to shower and change, leaving Jacks alone with his swirling thoughts. He wondered for a brief moment if she was just as cursed as he was, forever bound to him no matter how hard they tried to sever their thread. He couldn't help but feel a pang of jealousy at how willingly she accepted her fate, and the truth remained that if she were truly gone from this world, he was almost certain that he would follow.
He couldn't help but laugh bitterly at himself. He had spoken his declarations to Tella so easily and effortlessly, and yet Evangeline might die without ever knowing just how much more he felt for her. The frustration welled up inside him, mingling with regret, as he realized the weight of his unspoken emotions and the possibility of losing the chance to express them.