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What kind of maniac would do something like this? Lukas thought to himself. It was an overworld made of wool. The only things that weren’t wool were the bridge and the strange Redstone lamp cloud that definitely had significance. Before he could even take a step, a crushing weight landed on him. Axel didn’t immediately get up, either. He laughed. He fucking laughed. As if he was aiming to fall on Lukas which, if he was honest, was probably the case.
It was the fall that broke his back (not literally, but it felt like it). Lukas forced Axel off of him, which surprised Axel if his widened eyes were anything to go by. He wasn’t given enough time to react before Lukas’s fist met his eye. The blond laid into him as fast and as strong as he could. Someone grabbed him by his arms and tugged him back. He kicked and twisted in their grip.
Breathe. Some part of him said. Just breathe. He was panting. Heavily. He looked up at Axel. There would definitely be a black eye later. His nose and lip were dripping blood, which was collecting and dripping at his chin. His eyes were squeezed shut and watering, probably from the blows that Lukas landed on his nose.
Internally, Lukas smiled. It wasn’t like he made it out pristine; there was a bruise forming on his cheek and what felt like his shoulder from Axel trying to push him off. At least he could say “You should see the other guy.”
“What the hell’s your problem?!” Axel shouted though it sounded weird since he was pinching his nose. One of his eyes was open, glaring at the blond.
“ My problem? You can’t be serious!” Lukas only then realized, when he struggled, that Jesse was the one holding him back. Olivia and Petra stood with Axel, Olivia making sure he was alright.
“I have no idea why Jesse even let you come with us. You’re as much of an asshole as your stupid friends.” Something within Lukas snapped. He broke out of Jesse’s hold and rushed Axel. Axel seemed more prepared this time. Lukas shoved him and pinned him down at the waist and raised his fist.
“Take it back!”
“Can’t,” Axel said, and since he never knew when to shut his mouth he added, “Wouldn’t.” Lukas hit him hard. He wrapped his hands around Axel’s neck and squeezed hard. He was pulled off quickly. Axel’s gasps and wheezes had all the satisfaction Lukas needed before he walked away.
He tried to breathe, he really did. It helped somewhat. He slumped down on the trunk of a tree. Well, a fake tree that was made of wool. He hugged his knees to his chest and took a deep breath. He became aware of his hands and legs trembling. Then he became aware of muffled footsteps approaching him.
“Hey,” Jesse said. If Lukas hadn’t just assaulted Axel, he would have thought Jesse was coming up for a friendly chat. His tone made Lukas feel even sicker and guiltier than he already was.
“Listen, if you’re here to tell me off, don’t bother.” He felt Jesse sit next to him.
“Lukas…”
“Look, I’m sorry that I’m tired of your friends treating me like dirt because of who I’m friends with. I’m sorry that I’m tired of being the bigger person when they do. I’m sorry that I got angry when Axel called my dead friends stupid. And I’m sorry that I keep wearing my jacket because it’s the only thing I have of them left!” Lukas’s voice was full of venom as he spoke. He took a shaky breath and gritted his teeth as small tears rolled down his face.
Jesse carefully put a hand on Lukas’s shoulder. Lukas let him. “I want to go home, Jesse. I miss the Ocelots. You might have known them as, to quote Axel, ‘assholes’, but they were my family. When you got to know them, they really weren’t that bad. And now they’re gone.
Even if I did go home, I don’t have anything to go back to anymore. I have nothing and no one.”
“You have me.” Before Lukas could open his mouth, Jesse spoke again. “I mean it. I mean me. I can’t speak for Olivia and I definitely can’t speak for Axel, but I can speak for me. I promise, when this is all over, we’ll go back to town together. But to do that, we have to keep moving.”
Lukas nodded and rubbed his eyes. “Yeah, got it. You know where to find me if you need anything.”
“Sure do.” With that, Jesse stood and walked back to his friends.