Chapter Text
Things weren’t supposed to be like this.
Time was now eternity, and for all the places she had seen beyond her home now, it felt more and more constricting whenever she was called to go. This wasn’t ever what she had wanted, but it was the hand fate seemed to have dealt her. Or perhaps, it was the hand Frank had shoved into her hands, and she wasn’t allowed to drop.
At one point, there had been a time where she had felt lucky by his entrance into her life. Julie chalked up meeting him to be one of the best things to happen to her. Or she used to. Life had been boring and monotonous, but at least it had been survivable. Greys seemed to be washed away the moment he stepped in to sweep her off her feet however, making promises despite the inability to keep them. It was then that she should have known it was too good to be true, but she had been too excited at the prospects of escape to really pay attention.
After all, what had she ever really ever really done in her life to earn it? From the beginning of her life, all she could remember was to keep her head down, and pretend things were perfect. She was to work hard, behave so as to not have her hand smacked by the literal- yet also proverbial- wooden spoon, and do well. She did that at first, especially when her family moved to Ormond. As her parents would say, it was their escape, their starting over, a place to be free. But it was her prison, and all she remembered.
Julie had wanted free of Ormond, and she was willing to do anything for it. That night at the convenience store gave her that, if nothing else. Her wish had come true, but certainly at what cost? That was always the thought on her mind now.
Now she felt stuck, she felt angry. The same consumption as before dug it’s way into her, but it was much worse than before. No matter the new sights, they all began to blend together, making Ormond seem perfect in comparison. It made her miss home, miss her family, and every short return she wished once again to go to a home she had never felt welcome to.
At least she had more options, then, aspirations and ideas. Every road trip was permanently canceled now, every concert gone, sometimes she even missed school or lame parties, anything that wasn’t the hunt. It wasn’t a sport to her like it was to others. She had wanted to sit outside, drink late at night with friends and loud music, smoke until her throat was on fire and her lungs were dry, stare at the stars and laugh herself silly in the arms of another until she earned herself soft kisses as proof she belonged.
Sometimes it even dawns on her that once, that had been her life. On a small scale, that was part of the Legion’s routine, late nights, the cliche mystery cups with too much alcohol, too many lighters for four teens to possess between them with twice as many cans of paint, and a room full of smoke. They’d play games, do stupid dares, plast music into the night where nobody could hear. Once even, she recalled Frank insisting to impress her with some kind of knife stunt only to hurt himself like an idiot, but they all laughed it off and fixed him up.
Other nights she remembered that she wasn’t so angry with him. Once, Julie had been the focus of his attention, and only she ever got to see the glimpse of softness in him. It was whenever he would take her by the hand and spin her around, pull her close by the small of her back. He had loved to bite just below her ear, and she’d laugh, pushing him away. His lips were always desperate, his hands always curious and hungry, and she had always been the one to fulfill him. It was mutual, it was bliss.
It was once upon a time, and dashed like every dream. Because none of that was possible now.
Now it was more monotonous than before, and still it was all Frank’s fault. Oh, the irony.
Kicking her feet, she shook her head, trying to knock the thoughts from her head. She didn’t want to think about it; she didn’t want to think about him. They were always there, eating at her, blaming him. She always felt angry these days. She picked the smoldering butt of the cigarette from her lips and put it out against the rotting railing next to her, before staring out at the snow, scrunching her nose up.
At least she could be home when it was available, she was too warm-blooded for anything but the snow and ice.
“Juuuulesssss~” the elongated name came like a purr, before there were arms wrapped around her, really not allowing for her to continue her thoughts much longer even if she wanted to. She merely laughed, leaning back into the embrace, just as Susie popped her head forward over her shoulder and offered a grin. “Knew I’d find you here. You always miss watching the best matches, you know.”
“I thought you didn’t like watching others,” she snorted, but Susie merely laughed, letting go and finding a seat next to her. The other girl was quick to bound her feet, her hands propping her back against the deck.
“You know I try to watch all of yours and Joey’s,” she nodded back to where the other Legion member stood, propping himself against the empty door frame, well, empty except for splinters of broken wood at his feet. “And a handful of Frank’s. Anywho~ Today we got lucky with watching Frank though, pretty worth it this time if you ask me. Tell her Jo-jo~” Cocking an eyebrow, Julie merely asked a silent question of What?
“That one guy one the other team gave him a run for his money,” Joey shrugged. “Jake? Jake Park, right? Took a hook down and used it as his own weapon. Fell right down into his hands, man went fuckin’ feral. Pretty good shit, honestly. Frank didn’t know what hit him. The others worked well against him too, man didn’t stand a chance.” he almost looked amused, giving a soft laugh of his own before Julie outright grinned herself.
“You’re fucking with me, no shit though huh?” leaning back, she took a deep inhale through her nose, staring up for a moment at the endless dark abyss for a sky before her. “Did Danny see it? Tell me that freak thought it was funny too.”
“A good chunk of people saw it,” Susie scoot herself to lean against Julie’s shoulder, only to get a glance down at her. “Danny thought it was pretty good though, gave Frankie shit for being- and I quote- a weak ass pussy for going down because of such a little thing. To which the response was,” she cleared her throat, pitching down her voice, “You try doing that and tell me how it feels?” pausing for a moment, she picked her words carefully for a moment, “He then followed it up with a few slurs and Danny stabbed him. We...couldn’t defend him on that. Which is also why we’re here.”
“To inform me my ex-boyfriend is everyone’s least favorite homophobic homosexual?” Julie snorted, rolling her eyes. She was reaching into the pocket on her flannel, producing her third cigarette of her Ormond visit. After all, what was it going to do, kill her? “Because listen, we all know, he’s just in denial of bisexuality existing and thinks you can only pick one. He’s an ex-straight man, I’m now a lesbian, the world moves on.”
“Yes, well, no. We know he doesn’t quite get it but also,” Joey was now sitting on the other side of her, holding a hand out expectantly. She handed him a cigarette as well, lighting it with his nod of approval and thanks, before he continued. “It’s about the rules we made, when we threw all this together.”
“Frankie was beat, and you know what that means Jules.” Susie cut in, her expression like that of a cat much too pleased with itself. “I think it’s time we sneak off to pay Jake a visit, you think? He may need it considering the others see him as a game or a challenge now, buuuuut...” she elbowed Julia a few times, before the other girl sighed.
“Looks like we have a mask to give over. I get it.”
-xxx-
His return was not magnificent, not in any way, shape, or form. At least, it wasn’t to him. Upon his return, there were shocked murmurs spread amongst those who had been there, who had come with him and made it, or those who had been there to witness on their end. However no one spoke to him, leaving him alone as he sat in his silence. He was used to it, it was something normal at this point and he enjoyed it for the most part.
It was the silence and solace from others that would remind him of home. It was even times when he was away from the adrenaline and murder, when he thought if he wasn’t always on the run, maybe nothing would have been so bad. It was away from his family, the responsibilities that were nearly thrust upon him, the stress he had already run away from. Though in the end, some of it had found its way back into his life.
He tried not to think about that at the moment though, his fingers pulling at the cut flesh as he continued to work over his wounds. When a few months prior he had once again run into Ji-Woon, he had wanted nothing more than to fade back into nothingness and never see anything or anyone ever again. But there he was, occasionally reminded of the life he never wanted, much less while he was chased for eternal sacrifice.
No, he wasn’t going to deal with that. He had won, he had done more than win, and right now that was enough. Another day, another problem.
After the first few minutes, he had worked himself out of his jacket and was inspecting the few wounds left along his body under his shirt. Flickering light wasn’t the best, but it was what he could work with. It was good enough, it always was, it always had been and had to be.
“Want some help?” he paused, brows raised, stiffening at the words as he looked over his shoulder. “Relax, Jake, it’s just me.” Laurie raised her hands as if in surrender to him, before cautiously taking a few steps closer to him and taking a seat next to him. Holding out her hand, she produced a handful of medical supplies, smiling. “Claudette gave them to me, got them her last time through. I think they’ll help.”
He sat silently, scowling for a moment, before hanging his head with a sigh. Shifting, he moved to pull his shirt up and tossed it aside. “Go ahead. Thanks, Laurie.” Merely a shrug was offered before she set to work in their comfortable silence. Jake would occasionally wince when she cleaned the shallow wounds, but made no other sounds. It took her no time at all however to have him pulled back together and wrapped in the clean bandages.
“You still shouldn’t pull at them, but he didn’t do too bad. Looks like Yui got hit worse than you did, and Steve...” she clicked her tongue, rolling her eyes. “That boy is going to get himself in some real trouble again acting the way he does sometimes. But you’ll all pull through.”
“Managed to get us all out though, beat him up a little, save Kate...” he sighed. “Seems better than normal, unfortunately.” he did stop there for a moment, giving her a look for a moment as he twisted his hands together in his lap. “You saw all that though, that’s not what you’re here to talk to me about. It’s what I did, isn’t it?”
“I’d be lying if I said no, Jake.” her response was quick, and when she looked at him just then her eyes nearly cut him in half. “Everyone has their own tricks, we trade the cards, and it seems to improve our chances occasionally. They do the same and it evens out. I brought my cards to the table and it seems like the only way we ever get to fight back, until these new guys show up, even though that got old fast.” leaning forward on her arms, she brought her face closer to his. “But what you did...we can all do if we have the nerve. Or if we try together, who knows what we could manage.”
“What are you suggesting?”
“The next time we see him, you and I, I want your help. Because I’m sick of doing nothing. If we’re here forever, against that ...just once I want to turn the tables again.” Laurie had a determination he hadn’t seen in what felt like years, maybe it had been years. The way she seemed to nearly vibrate with excitement, her eyes shining. “Please?”
He couldn’t shoot down her optimism, not on this, not when he knew exactly what she was talking about.
“You have a deal.”