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Jake laughed as Rooster messed up a shot. "Told ya, you either got it or don't." He chuckled. Rooster stuck his finger up as he handed the cue over to Bob. Jake shook his empty beer bottle disappointedly. "Anyone wanna'nother round? On me,"
The group cheered. He rolled his eyes as he fished out his wallet. "Yo, man. What's that group over there?" He turned to face Coyote with a frown. "There a fight?" He asked. Coyote shrugged. "Maybe. Probably a new recruit mouthing off to the wrong person," He laughed. "Oh, they never learn,"
Jake laughed as well, but a small part of him worried. "Bro, if you wanna go check it out, go. I'll get the round on your tab," Coyote winked. Jake rolled his eyes. "Fine. I'll have the same as last time," He called over his shoulder, strolling over to the brawl.
Ever since the Uranium mission a few weeks back, he, along with the others who'd flown and fought, had unofficially been granted God-like status. The crowd parted as he strolled up. "I'll fix that pretty mouth 'o' yours, lady,"
"You mean you'll try?"
Jake groaned. "Elle!" He barked. His sister, the one spitting insults, spun around. "What the hell are you doing?" He asked. The man she was about to scrap with chuckled darkly. "Aw, big brother here to save you?"
Jake barely had time to warn him as her fist swung back into his jaw, sending him to the ground. He grabbed her arm and hauled her off as she spat profanities at the group. He roughly dragged her outside. "What the hell do you think you're doing, huh!? We said no more!" He shouted. Elle rolled her eyes from her spot on the table. "No, you said no more. I said I'd try," She argued. Jake scoffed. "Yeah, because you demonstrated so much restraint today,"
He walked to his car and grabbed the small first aid kit. He tossed it over. "Here, sort yourself out." He spat. Elle sighed loudly as she dabbed disinfectant on a cut. He paced slowly. "Jake, I did try. He stepped over the line, what else could I do?" She said quietly. Jake scoffed. "Call for me?"
"Oh yeah, because that always works out soo well," Elle spat at the floor.
Jake frowned. "What do you mean?" Elle looked up briefly from her cut-up knuckles. "It's nothin, don't worry about it," Jake pinched his nose. "It's clearly not nothin," Elle looked up again. "Whenever you come over to "protect me" or "fight my battles" or "break up the brawl" Jake, they harass me even worse than before," She looked down. "Fightin' 'em's the only way I can prove myself,"
Jake sighed heavily. "Elle, you have every right to be here, even more than they do. You've actually earned your place here," He said. Elle scoffed but didn't say anything further.
He sighed again. "Jake? Is everything ok out here?" He turned to the door, groaning when the group appeared. "It's fine, guys, just... keep an eye on my beer." He said. "Nope, not happening," Phoenix walked out. "What's happened?" She asked.
Jake sighed. He gestured to Elle, who waved briefly before icing her knuckles again. "Elle Seresin. She's my sister," The group made faces of confusion. "Hornet," He supplied. The groups faces changed. "Oh! Damn, what the hell happened to you?" Rooster asked from the doorway. "Oh, it's fine. It happens all the time," Elle smirked as she bandaged her hand. Jake rolled his eyes.
"It used to. She doesn't fight as much anymore," He shoved his hands into his pockets. "Aside from tonight, obviously,"
Elle made a sound. "Who'd you fight?" Phoenix asked. "Just some guy who opened his trap about my niece,"
Too late did Jake protest. Pheonix rounded on him. "NEICE!? You have a daughter!?" Jake glared at Elle. She shrugged. "It's not my fault you didn't say! I'd have thought that was quite important information, but that's just me,"
Jake huffed. "Long story for another time. Short story now, I have a kid. Alright? She's beautiful and amazing, but she lives with my mom while I'm away. I had a one-night stand when I was 21 and her mom didn't want her, so she's mine." He paused. "The reason they pick on her and Elle is because Elle took the fall to save my ass when she came on site and pissed off two admirals and several pilots with her temper tantrums."
Phoenix made a face. "Don't forget the fact that she has asperges, bro. They might think you've got an ill-behaved child." Elle sighed. Jake gestured. "And that. She's autistic and has sensory overloads... but we manage it." He smiled tightly. Phoenix sighed. "Why didn't you tell us? We're not gonna judge,"
He sighed. "Well, the base thinks Sienna's Elle's daughter. If I went round, saying she was mine, what kind of rumours do you think would be spread? Huh?" He took a swig of his beer. "And? We wouldn't care. We'd fight 'em off, like Elle here,"
Elle chuckled. "I'm always ready to swing for someone,"
Jake chuckled as well. "Well.. maybe next week I'll have her visit,"