Operation: Cease and Desist (o/o Closed)
Started May 07, 2023 by @Anxietyfilledcinnamonroll

At Alaska's blush, Jake's eyes bounced around his face, taking that in. The rosy look on the man's face looked good on him, Jake noted. He'd have to see more of that.
Jake cringed away from Alaska, sort of sitting back in the chair and slumping down, trying to disappear from the man's view. Mr.Satori. He called him Mr.Satori.
"You can just call me Jake," He said in return, now looking a little uncomfortable at being called by his last name. He watched Alaska jot something down as he kept talking. He sat up a little straighter to try and see what he was writing down.

Jake looked up at Alaska from his notebook when he reprimanded Jake.
"Well, I didn't know that, and besides, Jax said I needed a good reason to get in here or behave horribly- so I just took the ones that sounded easiest" Jake explained, not really thinking through what he said. He could seriously get Jax in trouble, but to him, this was all his fault, not Jax's. Jax wasn't the one who had fought the security, that had been Jake so there was no reason for him to get involved.
"No you can't," Jake said a little too quickly, a small blush appearing on his face. Scent. "And what scent? I took a shower before I went out with Jax" He said. "Though, I guess fighting Bane really did a number on me," He thought about this. He'd take another shower before going to sleep- if he even got to get any sleep.
Jake scoffed at Alaska's next line.
"Of course, you're not getting a straight answer, but that's beside the point! I gave you an answer, that should be enough?" He questioned. "And as I said, I was just curious," Jake said, now giving Alaska a playful irritated look.

Jake groaned loudly when Alsaka wouldn't let up, pressuring him to tell the truth.
"That is the truth" Jake whined a little, though he soon froze, his eyes widened a little a small realization that came into mind. Wait. Maybe he could use this to his advantage?
Jake's distraught show he was putting on soon came to an end when he sat up straighter, eyeing Alaska.

"I would be willing to talk if I got something in return," Jake said a little confidently as if that would work. He really wasn't in any position to be asking for things at this point. At first glance, Jake seemed a little arrogant, like he can get away with anything and people should bend to his wishes, but looking a little closer he seemed very insecure and was trying to make up for that. By not taking things seriously, it helped alleviate the stress he felt. If he took things too seriously all the time, he knew he would become someone less than desirable to be around. Not that people didn't already find him a pain in the ass, but he liked to think it was better than turning out like everyone wanted him to.

@Anxietyfilledcinnamonroll

Alaska turned away from Jake, trying to keep himself under control. Emotions only brought forth his thought instead of drowning them out. He couldn’t have this happen. Alaska’s thoughts could not be known to Jake. He glanced back at Jake, shying away. Jake must hate being called Mr. Satori. Noted. He stared down at the younger man, nodding his head. “Jake it is.” Alaska muttered carelessly. Trying to keep a stoic figure while having a sassy personality didn’t work out. “You can sit up now.” Was Alaska mocking Jake? Somewhat. Ink blotted the notebook pages, each word crafting a report of Jake’s offense. Alaska refrained from letting him read the entire report. However, he let the man know what he could submit to Nexus by adjusting his hand. With each taunt, he moved his hand back. Alaska was not stupid. He knew what he was doing. Being an interrogator, Jake ought to have noticed it.

Alaska raised an eyebrow, looking Jake up and down. “Did you even receive a briefing prior to arriving? Did you even receive a briefing when you first arrived?” He was being critical, irritation growing in his voice. A small sigh came from the werewolf. Instead of fighting with Jake, he returned to his notes. “Jax was teasing you. Warning you, in fact. Not instructions on how to meet me.” Alaska scoffed, jotting down more notes. Putting his pin down, he gazed around the room, returning his stare to Jake. This man blamed his coworker for his foolish behavior. He didn’t know what was worse, Jake’s incompetence or his smeared eyeliner. Nothing would get done. A punishment already popped into Alaska’s mind, but he waited before he dealt it. “Yes, I can,” Alaska remarked, a smirk creeping across his lips. “Oh no, not that type of scent. Only werewolves can pick it up. You smell roses. The scent usually tells us that a person is enamored.” Werewolves were interesting creatures. Each emotion had a scent to it. It leached off the human body, letting surrounding creatures with powerful enough nose alert of the person’s ordeals. That is how dogs usually discern their owner’s emotions.

The room had grown silent again. They could hear faint consultation with the guards Jake fought. No other sounds penetrated. Alaska swallowed, lifting his head. Jake was right. There wouldn’t be a clear resolution to this. But it would end in punishment. “You won’t give me an honest response. We are going to wrap this up. I have enough evidence to deal proper punishment to you. So your response is sufficient.” Alaska closed his notebook, placing the pen in a little holder on the side. He cleared his throat, the sound echoing off the walls. It filled the room with the dreadful sound. “If it is your truth, then it is your punishment.” Boredom suffused Alaska’s mind. He was about to stand and unchain Jake from the chair, but Jake’s crafty words caught his attention. “What would you want?” He tilted his head, curiosity pitching Alaska’s voice. He was one to be fooled. Despite the personality he betrayed, it was simply a mask. Jake’s arrogance unsettled him, but Alaska was not cruel. He would void the punishment if he got a straight answer. Alternately, lessen the severity of the punishment.. Alaska hoped it wasn’t anything that would get him in trouble. But voiding the punishment would get him in trouble.

@Dayzed

Jake did in fact sit up straighter. He noticed Alaska letting him see certain parts of what he was writing, but not all of it. He let out a dissatisfied sound at Alaska's tease when he moved his hand again in a way where Jake couldn't see what he was writing.
"I did," Jake said casually. "Not here, but Nexus did give me one, it was a lot of threats and demonstrations" Jake snickered, though, there was a deep-rooted fear there behind his eyes when he said that. Jake knew he should be more careful, but for right now he was testing the waters of what he could get away with and where the line was drawn.

Jake simply rolled his eyes at Alaska when he mentioned wanting to meet him. He didn't say anything even though it was pretty obvious at this point. At Alaska's explanation, Jake turned a bright red.
"WRONG!" Jake sort of yelled, embarrassed. He did not smell like roses. He would deny it till he died.
…
Well, maybe not till he died. He just wasn't used to getting his feelings outted like that. Though, now he knew that Alaska wasn't quite human. Jake wouldn't be able to hide himself so well around this person and that intimidated him some.

When Alaska quickly closed the book, Jake internally panicked at that.
"W-wait-" He watched the other man get up. "It's not!" Jake said desperately, now seeing how he was being cornered, though, when Alaska humored him about his wants Jake gave a shaky smile in return.

"Oh- uhm…I didn't think you'd actually want to hear…" He said quietly. Jake really never thought things through, then again, he also knew no one ever heard him out.
"Just a small favor…" He said, avoiding looking at the other make in the room. A sudden heaviness and sick feeling turned in Jake's stomach. Although it may not look like it, Jake was not used to getting his way. You would think he would have learned to not get in trouble at this point, but he felt the need to be as ridiculous as he possibly could. It was the only way he had ever heard his father laugh and praise him. Jake prided himself on being low maintenance in some areas and making others laugh- those were his best attributes he had been told and he clung to that ever since. He rarely asked for anything.
"Maybe, well- I was wondering-" Jake looked at the ceiling, then to the side, like he couldn't make up his mind. "Uhhh…" He gave a nervous laugh, it looked like his head was spiraling. "Are you free? Like, one of these days? Preferably at night, not that it has to be at night, but the nighttime is really nice. I'm not sure if you drink or not, we could go somewhere else, not a hotel though, that's not what I was implying-" Jake seemed to ramble on. It was one of the few times he had been asked what he wanted and he didn't quite know how to say what he wanted, or even if it wasn't something that was going to happen, wondering if he was just being teased.

@Anxietyfilledcinnamonroll

Alaska laughed at Jake. “Sure buddy.” It was Alaska’s only comment about the fact they debriefed him. He closed his book, doing away with the interrogation. Nothing will come of it. Not the information he needed. He huffed, watching Jake out of the corner of his eye. “Any animal could smell you a mile away. Your bright red face says it all.” Alaska was impartial to Jake’s feelings. He might date such a cute guy, for sure. But his perception of Jake was soiled. He made Alaska’s job harder than it had to be. Once he stood, he arched his back. He needed a good stretch after dealing with Jake. While Alaska was tempted to leave Jake chained to the chair, it wouldn’t be a sufficient punishment. Jake needed a place to rest his head, and Alaska was glad to offer. He sauntered over, his steps more lengthy and slow, ready to release Jake. That wasn’t until Jake begged.

Alaska turned his head, Jake’s insolent voice filling the space. His clear blue eyes, similar to those of a husky, regarded Jake with an interesting light. “What are you suggesting?” His tone still had an edge to it, but it got softer. His face bloomed with blush as Jake looked away from him. He could speculate as to the other’s thoughts. He ought to spend at least one night with Jake. If he had someone to monitor him, the man may become less irritating. The debate was harsh about whether Alaska should or should not humor Jake’s idea of a date. His face twisted with guilt. He seemed lonely. After all, no one else from Nexus followed Jake along. It was only him. At least for now. Alaska lifted an eyebrow, waiting for Jake to finish. With a defeated sigh, he nodded his head. “You can find me on Monday night in my office. It’s the door on the other side of detainment. We cane take a walk around the property. I can tell you more about the organization.” Monday nights were the least busy. Today was a Saturday, Jake’s second day as a transfer. Amity had sent him out with Jax to test what Nexus had taught him. Obviously, she found it insufficient.

Silence floated around two. Alaska grabbed his notebook, stuffing it in the pocket of his jacket. He stepped over to Jake, fished a key out of his pocket, and released him from the reinforced handcuffs. He took the pair and stuff them in the pocket of his pants. As he escorted Jake out of detainment, he gave Bane the notebook, who was hanging by the door. “You need some rest. I’m going to take you to your dorm.” Alaska led Jake into the main room of the security wing. He let him up the short hallway, back to the now desolate main floor. He’s led Jake up the wooden stairs, his first time getting a glance at the second floor. The second floor appeared to be like the main floor from what Jake could see before Alaska took him down a connecting passage to the dorms. There were three notable rooms. One was a director’s office, which has large windows, letting you see inside. The library was another room with enormous windows, so you could see inside. The third was a door that had an above-it emblem formed of weaponry. This was the armory where Laz spent his time. The war room, however, was another noteworthy space on this floor. The door leading to it had swords crossed over crescent moons.

Alaska led Jake into a hallway that conjoined the main building and a separate building. The long hallway stretched over grass. Before being spat into a separate building, tiny windows allowed everyone to view the surroundings. The floor they were on was numbered 20-29. A set of stairs led down to rooms 1-19 and up to rooms 30-100. Each room was akin to an apartment. It housed up to 4 people. Alaska led Jake to his assigned room, number 26. He clicked open the dorm room, looking around. It was empty. Jake got a private space. After entering, there were bedrooms to the left and right, each with two full-sized beds. There was a tiny kitchen and living area as well. If agents were going to live here their entire lives, they were going to live comfortably. Alaska let Jake inside, nodding his head. “Get some sleep. You’ll have to be up at 6 tomorrow.” Then he walked out the door and departed.

@Dayzed

At Alaska's laugh, Jake froze. Was he getting made fun of? Did he think it was a joke? Jake swallowed and smiled at that, but looked away. Right, because who would believe him with the way he acted?
When Alaska came over, his eyes softened as well, instead of being wide and alert. Although Alaska offered a time and place, even a topic, Jake couldn't look at Alaska anymore. Something seemed to have quickly shifted in his mood, but the reason was unclear.
Jake allowed Alaska to uncuff him, nodding to his words. He stood, also stretching, a wide smile on his face as he was free, though Jake didn't look quite the same as the moment before. He followed the male, his heart beating a little quicker when he saw Bane. Jake didn't say anything and simply walked, falling a little behind when they were out of that particular wing.

Tired eyes scanned the place, though, nothing seemed to stick to Jake's memory. When they stopped at a door and it was opened Jake peered inside from behind Alaska, eyes a little wide, looking a little shocked. Even though he had been here prior to dropping off his things, it always pulled the same reaction out of Jake. He walked in to touch the soft sheets that were on the bed. He seemed speechless, not really knowing what to say to this.
When Alaska turned to go, Jake opened his mouth in an attempt to say something, anything, maybe a thank you, but nothing came out.
The door closed and Jake was left in the room alone. Silence surrounded him. Jake turned to the bed, something like regret overtook him. He wanted to go back. Maybe this was his ultimate punishment instead of anything they could throw at him. The solitude he felt had always been there, but at least at Nexus, he was surrounded by people who he knew, even if they didn't treat him right. He wasn't sure what caused more pain, working in the place he used to have friends at, or working in a new place where everyone was a stranger to him. Jake had always felt alienated, but now he had nothing.
Jake flopped onto the bed and grabbed the fluffy white pillow from the bed, covering his head with it, and burying his face into the mattress.
You've cried enough today. Jake thought to himself, but that didn't seem to stop him as the tears slipped from his eyes. He might as well get comfortable here.

@Anxietyfilledcinnamonroll

Sunlight shone through the windows, shining golden rays upon Jake. A flock of birds sung their bewitching tune. Ravishing colors lit up the sky, a multitude of blues, oranges, and pinks. Noise filled the air, the shuffle of people bringing life to the still building. The sun came up over the horizon, bringing warm temperatures to warm up life. Nothing could compare to the sunrise outside the city. It was glorious, almost like a watercolorist dragging their brush across the lightning sky. Blackwood switched from auxiliary power to primary. Most people made breakfast in their kitchens, while others ate in the city. A mess hall wasn’t needed, but provided. By now, the city was awake. Dog barking in the distance and morning traffic disturbed some — but not all. If anything, being surrounded by forest and rolling fields blocked out city traffic. If it weren’t for a certain agent, Jake would sleep through the morning.

Jax gotten himself dress and ready to go around 5:30 sharp. He was up before everyone. He liked it this way. Jax’d make a cup of tea, watching the sunrise out a window. Even if Gwen and he were engaged, they still opted to stay with friends. They still had their own room. But now he had a mission. By the time six rolled around, he was out the door. Jax promising Amity, Gwen, and Val to ask if Jake wanted to join for breakfast. They insisted Amity more than others. Jax’s dorm was number 34, meaning he’d have to walk down a flight of stairs. He walked down the decrepit hallway, reaching the stairwell. He descended it, reaching the second floor. Jax walked down the dimly lit walk, finding dorm 26 rather easily. He knocked before entry, receiving no answer — so he wasn’t up. Jax let himself inside. Walking inside, he checked both bedrooms, finding Jake sleeping on the right. He stood in the doorway, knocking his knuckles against the frame. “Jake. You need to get up.” His tone was gentle. “If you want time to eat, maybe join my friends and I, you need to get up.” Jax tried his best to get the man to wake up, unsure if he heard him.

@Dayzed

It had been a long night for Jake, he had stayed up writing in his notebook until he reminded himself of the straps he had to set up for the night. This wasn't usual for Jake since back at his house with his father, everything was the way he wanted it to be. Jake had silently thanked the people who had given him brand new ones- his old ones were uncomfortable and dug into his wrists while he slept, leaving red marks around them- these would too, but it would be less severe. He had to bind them tight or else he would find his way out of them, he knew this from experience.
Soon it had reached four am and while Jake was very tired and wanted to sleep, he found that he could not. His soul ached in a new way he didn't understand. It's like there was a void inside of him trying to swallow him up and it was driving him insane. That night had been nothing but silent crying until sleep overtook him. He hadn't taken a shower and he hadn't changed clothes, too many emotions exhausting him. This was the first time in a long time that he had allowed himself to feel everything that had happened since he was eighteen. Aristide wasn't here to yell at him for showing emotions and Nexus personnel wasn't here to look down on him- well. These new people seemed to do a pretty job of that already. He'd fit right in.

And of course, Jake wasn't awake by six am. The knock, however, did wake him, but he made no effort to move from the position he was in. He felt a little more depressed today than the days before and he just wanted to sleep. But Jake knew that would not be possible with his new schedule. No more night work, instead, he had to switch to a morning routine.
"Fucking get up." Jake could hear his father snapping at him as Jax made his presence known and gently tried talking to him. He appreciated that, but Jake was in no mood. He opened his eyes slightly, only to look at Jax. A small tired smile made its way onto his lips, the best he could do right now.
"That's alright, I don't eat breakfast and I'd rather sleep until I have to really get up, thank you though" A small soft laugh left his throat, but he was drastically different than when he had first arrived.

@Anxietyfilledcinnamonroll

The knock was soft. Jax looked at Jake, squinting his eyes from the sun’s rays. The man was in a precarious situation, one he didn’t quite understand. Regardless, he stood in the doorway waiting for the other. He had large circles under his eyes, his face paler than before. His eyes were red, eyelids drooping. Jax appeared heavily sleep-deprived. It was a mystery how he rose at six. “I wish I could let you sleep, but you really have to get up. It’s six in the morning, our call time. Getting washed up and having breakfast with us might make you feel better.” The room was plain, nothing but the cream-colored walls and a wooded floor. Two beds in the room. One to the right and left. Next to them were oak nightstands, each with a lamp. There was a small wardrobe, letting people hang their clothes. It also contained blankets. Jax moved into the room, standing by the end of the bed. The comforter was white, contrasting against the blue sheets. He hesitated, taking a deep breath before sitting on the edge of the bed. He didn’t want to intrude upon Jake’s space. “Look, I know it’s rough. Some days, you won’t want to get up. But you have to. It gets easier eventually.” Jax pushed his bottom lip out with his tongue. What should he say? What could he say? He put his hands on his lap, looking at Jake. Exhaustion stole the show. His eyes rimmed red, absent from their spectacular glow — they were nothing but bleak.

Stifling a yawn, Jax studied Jake’s face. Signs of exhaustion ruined his youthful face, like how it ruined Jax’s. Maybe he could say something. “You know, between us, I only get one to four hours of sleep per night.” Tears moved to fill his dry eyes, memories of sleepless nights infesting his head. “The nightmares make it hard. They say I thrash, scream, cry. They say it got worse after my brother died.” Why was he telling Jake this? He never opened up to people before — not about his nightmares or condition. Jax’s body shook, fear overtaking all function. He swallowed harshly, pushing through it. “Will you try? Take care of yourself, eat, and do the morning’s tasks? If you cannot, I will ask to shift your schedule. There is a resting period from twelve to five pm. Can you try to last the six - seven hours?” He stood and turned to face Jake before proceeding to the door. “Then, following rest, we work into the evening until twelve am.” In hopes the other would agree, Jax awaited Jake’s response.

@Dayzed

Jake listened to Jax talk and gritted his teeth. He immediately grabbed his pillow and put himself in the same position he had last night. He didn't want to hear this, he didn't want to hear this. Jake's face was red at this point, he felt embarrassed to be told such words. They were wasted on him.
He soon felt Jax's weight on the edge of the bed, his face heated up and tears pooled in his eyes. Oh for fucks sake, it was too early to be crying. Still, he listened to the rest Jax had to say before bolting to sit up on the bed, he had a bitter look on his face like he was angry, but in reality, he was just trying to not cry, he eyed Jax. Jake's hair was a puffy mess and he looks so so very tired as well. He went to crawl by Jax's side but was rudely stopped by his restraints. He scowled, sitting there for a second undoing them. It took a minute since they were tight. When they were off, there was a slight redness around Jake's wrists, he massaged them lightly, trying to get the feeling off of him. Jake had deep cut marks on his arms that looked like they had been done intentionally, though, no one ever saw them because they were covered by hand warmers that went up to his elbows. He kept them on at all times, except when he slept.

"That sounds really shitty…" Jake murmured at last, hearing Jax only got a few hours of sleep at night. Jake got plenty of sleep, even though it was restless. Last night had just been an outlier- like when an animal was taken out of his natural habitat and given over to an artificial setting, sometimes succumbing to the gloom they felt when taken away from everything they knew. Jake refused to become that though. Nexus was dead wrong if they thought Jake wouldn't last here. He'd make them eat their words.
Jake watched as Jax shook slightly, he also swallowed hard. He knew some people didn't like to be touched- Jake was like that sometimes so he simply leaned against Jax, careful not to put his full weight on him in case he didn't like that. Jake was like that, always using physical touch to get his intentions across, though, he only got really annoying when Jake fully accepted the other. Right now, he really liked Jax, but there was still some hesitance there.

When Jax moved to stand, Jake also moved away. Jake closed his eyes and frowned, taking in a deep breath, before he opened his eyes again and gave Jax his classic wide grin.
"Yeah, alright, since you personally came to wake me" Jake boasted, acting all high and mighty. There was a reason Jake didn't want to get up, because every time he did he slipped the mask back on and it would be another long day of pretending.
"But do I really have to get up at six am?" He complained loudly. "Like, you're insane for getting up at this time- I'll die!" He said dramatically, falling back onto the bed to huff loudly. Fuck. Now he actually had to get up and shower and eat. He had to acquire a healthy schedule. His face distorted in distaste at the thought.

@Anxietyfilledcinnamonroll

Jax frowned, watching Jake hide. He didn’t need to hide. There’s nothing to be ashamed of. He was trying to help him, not harm him. Static grew in his ears, the room dead silent. He wasn’t sure what to say, or if anything could really make it better. No, nothing could fix it. No words, no nothing. Jax would do his best to soothe the recruit. He sat on the edge of the bed, fidgeting with his hands. His nails were short, bitten until pain deterred him. He waited, watching Jake like a hawk. Jax sat there, offering support while the man had his moment. He played with his raven black hair, fixing it into shape and puffing it up slightly. It has been damp from a cold shower. Jax took one to wake himself up. It was unbearable but a method. He had resorted to staring blankly at the wall, his mind blank. Until he wiped his head around to stare at Jake. He thought this odd at first until remembered it was management for thrashing. A management Jax wasn’t pleased with when given the option. He wanted to grab Jake’s wrists and rub away the pain. But he figured it crossed a boundary never set. He gazed over Jake’s arm, staring at the deep wounds. Jax said nothing.

Jax cleared his throat, shifting his glance away from Jake. “You get used to it.” It was true. His circadian rhythm was so fuck, his body functioned better with four hours of sleep than with nine. Exhaustion habit is his body 24/7, drowning out the drowsiness. Adrenaline was fighting to take control of his body as sleep barely pressed at the back of his eyes. His roommates were perplexed how he found the energy to work. It had been this way for eight years. On the same schedule, with the same amount of sleep, starting when he was thirteen. Jax flinched as Jake leaned on him. It was nothing against Jake, just an involuntary response. He appreciated the gesture, his shaking ceasing. It was hard to control his emotion once thoughts of his condition infiltrated. He sniffled, letting Jake lean into him further. Jax checked his watch, suddenly startled by the time. If his friends were going to meet Jake, they would have to be quick.

Jax jumped off the bed, giving Jake a weary smile. It would be all right. They would survive the day. He could tell something was off. Something about Jake seemed artificial. Jax put on his own mask so he couldn’t blame the other. Contrary to popular belief, he wasn’t as icy. Just a persona. A way to hide. “I would hope you would at least try, given that I wasted my time coming to wake you up.” His smile grew. Jax was poking fun at Jake’s insolent whining. Unfortunately, if Jake was going to stay here, he would have to work like an agent. It was the way the cookie crumbled. “Yes, you must rise at six a.m. It has been my daily routine since 12-years-old. I think a 21-year-old can stomach it.” He moved out of the room, turning to raise an eyebrow at Jake. This man has been neglected, hasn’t he? He’d never seen someone whine about a healthy schedule — except himself. “I’ll be waiting for you outside the dorm. Some of my friends went to meet you.” Jax exited the dorm, standing out in the hall, waiting for Jake to shower and pamper himself.

@Dayzed

Jake didn't notice Jax staring at his arms, he was so used to not paying them any attention since they were hidden that he had forgotten.
When he felt Jax flinch underneath him Jake seemed to freeze slightly, that was until Jax seemed to calm down. Jake also relaxed a little bit, but there was still a sort of edge there to him.

At the comment of wasting his time, Jake immediately sat back up, his jaw dropping dramatically like he had been irreversibly hurt.
"Ouch," Jake said loudly, also hopping off the bed and stretching when he stood up. "I don't know how you do it, it's too much. At twelve??" Jake said, giving a heavy sigh. "It's a miracle to know how you ever survived" Jake teased back, now going over to his backpack that had some of his clothes inside. Beside the backpack, there was a violin case that leaned against the bed. Jake never left the house without it, he took it everywhere he went, it had to be close to him, safe- just like he never took off the pastel charm around his neck, the words "piss off" written on the flat circular charm in small letters. After grabbing some of his clothes he stood back up and turned to Jax when he announced his friends wanted to meet him. A shaky smile appeared on his face.
"W..wait, I don't think-" But Jax was already leaving and Jake stood there horrified, dread consuming him.

It didn't take long for Jake to shower since he had showered the day before, and the day before that, and the day- alright, he had been consistent with his hygiene these past few days. Sometimes it switched on him, not being able to take care of himself when he needed to, but the pressure of making a semi-good impression for these guys had been there and he had tried to look his best, despite everything he said or did. It was subtle things like this that went unnoticed because of Jake's rowdiness and general unpleasant nature. It took him thirty minutes to finish up and change into fresh new clothes. He quickly got everything he needed on him and went out to join Jax. Jake's face seemed a little more red than usual, the reason being that Jake took hot showers, almost to the point where they were unbearable, but Jake wouldn't have it any other way. It felt really nice to him.
"Listen, I know you said you wanted me to meet your friends but-" Jake seemed to bounce on feet a little, seeming nervous. "I don't know if that's a good idea," He said honestly, giving Jax a nervous smile. "Not that I don't think they're great people! I'm sure they are…" He said trailing off. There was something Jake wasn't saying, but it seemed he could not find the words to speak about it, so instead he just gave up and dropped it.

@Anxietyfilledcinnamonroll

Jax had calmed down under Jake’s weight. Feeling the weight — the body heat of another person — made him forget. It was soothing, something his brother learned early on. The first, he wasn’t concerned about time, only wanting another to soothe him. Sure, he had his fiancée. But she wasn’t here at the moment. His breathing slowed. It was nice. However, Jax checked his watch. They were running late. By 7:00, they needed to be doing work. “Oh, get over yourself.” He waved playfully. Looking around, he noticed a few things Jake brought with him. A backpack with clothes and a violin case. He didn’t know Jake played violin. He thought it was interesting. The man didn’t seem the type to have that hobby. He shook his head, letting Jake grab clothes out of his backpack. Jake would soon find out there was a uniform code. Jax didn’t think he’d be happy. Stifling a yawn, he strolled to the doorway.

Jax’s friends. He didn’t think his friends were that bad. But Jake’s face said otherwise. He had gone pale, paler than in his sleep-deprived state. “You’ll be okay. They don’t bite. Val is my best friend. We’ve known each other since we were 15. I’ve known Amity since I was 12. She welcomed me when I first arrived. And Gwen is my fiancée. Nothing will happen to your little head.” He seemed sure of it, nodding his head confidently. With a cheeky smile, he left the dorm, waiting outside for Jake to finish. He checked his watch. They could get upstairs by 6:40 if Jake took 5 years. He tapped his foot, keeping his body busy. It helped distract his mind. The hall was silent, not a single buzz or shout to be heard. Just dead silence. He didn’t know how long he could bear it before going crazy. But Jax’s suffering ended. Jake had emerged from the dorm looking as if he had a fever. How high did this man crank the shower temperature? Maybe Jack should have given him the idea of taking a cold shower to shock his system. Although Jules told him that wasn’t a good idea, Jax barely listened. He might have respected Jules, but he did what work for him.

Jax crossed his arms. His friends insisted. “Listen, Jake, I know you may feel uncomfortable, but they wanted the transition here to be easier. There is nothing to fear. I’ve known them all my life — well, two.” He waved off his mistake, leading Jake to the end of the hall. They climbed up the stairs leading to the third floor. He led Jake down the hall, almost to the end. Jax stopped in front of dorm 34. It’s where he spent most of his life. Clicking up the door, he led Jake inside. Leading him into the little kitchen, there were three other people. An Auburn-haired girl with striking brown eyes. She was just strangely compared to the others, twin swords strapped to her back. There was a red-haired man with brilliant green eyes. He seemed a little eccentric. The last was a brunette-haired girl with gray eyes. She seems quite reserved. “Jake, this is Amity, Val, and Gwen.” Jax gestured towards them.

@Dayzed

Jake smiled at that.
"Well, then I look forward to meeting this Val guy if you like him so much, and your fiance," He said before he watched Jax leave.

When he went out to meet Jax again, Jake shoved his hands into his pockets as Jax spoke about his friends. There was a curious glint in Jake's eyes as he followed the guy to the end of the hall. He really talked about these people highly. A smile crept onto his face. That was nice. It was good that Jax wasn't so alone, little did Jake know what he was in for.
"Well if you say so. If there's nothing to fear I'll take your word for it" Jake snickered, scrunching up his nose playfully, his freckles shifting slightly as he did so. Jake was so very nervous, but at the same time, excitement filled him? He hadn't had a solid friend group for a while now and while he wasn't sure if he'd stick with these people, it wouldn't hurt to hear Jax out.

As Jax led him into the room, Jake looked around, humming a little. He got a little distracted taking in the place, but soon went after Jax when he went into the kitchen. Jake still had his hands in his pockets when he presented himself, his eyes had briefly been trained to the floor, watching the back of Jax's shoes as he walked. When Jax introduced him to his friends, Jake scanned their faces, going over Amity first, then moving on to Val. Then he stopped. His eyes didn't move to see the last person, Gwen.
Jake swallowed hard as his eyes landed on Val. They didn't look too similar- they were two different people after all but- there was enough there to unsettle him. Jake turned to look at Jax, he looked like he had seen a ghost.
Don't run. Don't run. Don't be a coward. What will they think?! Jake seemed to tense as he was introduced to the group. His eyes finally moved onto Gwen. He dipped his head slightly in a bowing motion.
"It's very nice to meet you all" Jake tried saying confidently, but his voice wavered- shook and it was apparent something was going on. He was certainly taller, this wasn't him. It just wasn't, but everything was there- right in front of him.
"Do I sit beside you?" Jake asked Jax, avoiding looking at the others, his eyes silently begged Jax to let him sit beside him away from everyone.

@Anxietyfilledcinnamonroll

Jax laughed to himself, flashing while flashing. “Although Valerian is an idiot, he is my idiot. He and I have been companions for six years and counting. Val is my best friend, which is why I like him. He helped me through tough times.” He closed his eyes, fatigue forcing behind them. “Gwen is a sweet girl, too. I have the deepest love for her.” He swooned. He looked about while he waited for Jake in the hallway. Nothing. Nobody is visible. Good. He had a sense of being on a covert mission. Leading Jake up the stairway, Jax nodded. He depended on them. They served as his savors and his lifeline. His regards were high, and his eyes sparkled. The stairs were unnervingly ominous. These flights of stairs were made of stone, as opposed to the staircases inside the main building. The walls amplified every sound. Jax had detested it since he was little. When they reached the third story, he sighed. A grin appeared on his face as his shoulders relaxed.

Opening the dorm door, he stepped in. It was familiar. His residence. There wasn’t much to the simple, boring decor. Like Jake’s dorm, the walls were a plain beige color. There were divots on the wooden flooring. This dorm has a past, however, just four individuals shared rooms there. There were two bedrooms, one on each side of the entrance. They shut both doors, preventing anyone from peeping inside. The couch and a few other chairs were dispersed across the living room, and a rug connected everything. Jax crossed the welcome rug to lead Jake into the little kitchen. Three people surrounded an oak table, sipping coffee or tea. They didn’t look as tired as Jax. In fact, their eyes were bright. Amity looked up, smiling briefly, before looking at her watch. Her jacket stood out. Unlike the rest, the shoulders had golden accents. She waved with two fingers, taking a sip out of her mug. Val smiled, waving a small hello. Though, his brows furrowed, perplexed by Jake’s reaction. Had he done something wrong? The man grew white as a sheet — but Val could never figure why. Jax gazed at Jake, biting his lip. Something was wrong. Very wrong. Gwen said her hellos, smiling widely.

Jax tensed, his eyes conveying worry. Taking in a deep breath, he nodded. “Come, sit here.” He walked around the table. There were two open chairs between Gwen and Amity. He gestured for Jake to take the seat next to Amity, sinking into the chair next to Gwen. Gwen patted his to-be husband’s shoulder, identifying his worry. What could be wrong? Val wasn’t scary or did anything inherently wrong. A lump formed in his throat, conversation continuing around him. Every voice blurred together, almost forming into his name. Jax. Jax. Jaxon! He shook his head, sitting up as Val leaned over the table to gather his attention? Clearly, the ginger wanted something. The intense buzzing in his ear made it hard to focus. “What Valerian?” Jax’s voice was dull, almost annoyed.

Val snickered, knowing he annoyed his best friend. “I have to go soon. Autumn wants me to help Laz in the armory. I’m not sure what he needs it for, but a request from my sister — is a job for me.” His voice was light and clear. It made him approachable. Jax nodded, wishing Val luck on his day. “Did you think I was leaving yet?” The ginger interrupted.

Jax sighed, shaking his head. “What do you really want?”

Val’s mouth fell agape. He mockingly looked hurt. “Have you’ve forgotten the morning tradition? We’ve hugged each other as a send-off for years!” He placed his hand over his heart, dramatically leaning his head back. Jax stared at Val, getting up from his seat. He walked around the table, giving Val a small hug. The ginger smiled, pulling away. “You never break tradition.” He scolded, turning toward the front door. “See you four at the meeting. I can’t wait to drum up plans on how to deal with Nathaniel.” He walked down the hallway, his boots heavy against the floor. Val disappeared quickly, leaving Amity, Gwen, Jax, and Jake.

Amity rose, nodding to Jake. “I will see you later, Mr. Satori.” She bowed her head. “We have a meeting taking place in the war room. You’ll get to experience something fun.” She smiled, following Val out the door. She was dressed in her gear, meaning she had an important task. Jax sighed, sitting back down in the chair next to his fiancée. She patted Jax’s back, attempting to soothe him. Gwen smiled at Jake, shrugging her shoulders. “We get little time to talking in the mornings. Nice to meet you, Jake. I’m sure you and Jax have some training to do. It’s been on his schedule in advance.” Jax groaned, putting his face in his hands. Training. More of it.

@Dayzed

May 17, 2023

"Although Valerian is an idiot, he is my idiot…Val is my best friend, which is why I like him. He helped me through tough times.”
Jake seemed to stay quiet at that, only humming slightly, as if he was indicating that he was in fact still paying attention. He wouldn't show Jax how he really felt about it all, he didn't deserve that. At seeing Jax swoon a huge smile cracked Jake's face, snickering slightly.
"What a loverboy," Jake said, the smile still on his face, though fading slightly afterward.

Inside the room, Jake looked over everything, the place seemed to be inhabited well. As each person greeted Jake, Jake returned the greeting as well. Jake gave a half-hearted wave to Val, forcing a small smile onto his face. Jake caught onto the worried look on Jax's face and his features seemed to soften at that. Ah. That face. He missed that face. Jake hadn't seen that in a hot while and it made his heart expand. He swallowed nervously. These were Jax's friends and he was already causing concerns.

He followed Jax when he motioned for him to sit beside Amity. He sat, but Jake looked like he was in a sort of fog at the moment, also spacing out from the others around him.
Oh….
Jake's eyes seemed to sadden. It hurt a lot. His eyes seemed to be fixated on the table as everyone spoke, only looking up to catch the tail end of the conversation and Val leaving. He had seen the hug, and the entire time since Val announced he was leaving, Jake had kept his eyes on the man. It's like Jake couldn't get enough of looking at him.

When Amity rose, Jake turned his attention to her instead of Val. His heart sped up at being called Mr. Satori.
"O-oh, uhm," Jake seemed to stutter. "You don't have to call me that, Jake's fine really- in fact I prefer it" He gave a gentle smile in return. He watched the two leave, his eyes looking at Gwen tiredly.
"Yes, it's very nice to meet you too," He said politely, an uncertain smile on his face, and for the first time in all of Jake's life, a bright smile hit his face at the mention of training. Jake was never a fan of training, but it was something to distract him, take his mind off things, and Jax would be there with him too. Win-win.

@Anxietyfilledcinnamonroll

Jax leaned his head against the rough wood of the chair. Maybe today wouldn’t be too bad, it could be a light day, rest, then the meeting. Everything would be alright. He leaned into Gwen’s touch, letting his body melt into his fiancée. A yawn left his mouth, eyeing Jake. He guessed the other could use more training. He lifted himself up, faintly smiling at Jake. “Gwen is right. Some more training is in order.” A twitch ran from his cheek up to his eye. Exhaustion still stole his features, his face still pale. Blood pooled into places like his cheeks and nose, but others remained pale. The dark circles under his eyes made him appear dead. But Jax didn’t let his exhaustion stop him from doing his job. He stood, the chair scratching against the floor. He gave Gwen a kiss on her forehead. “See you later today.” Gwen smiled, holding her mug closer. He nodded his head to Jake, encouraging him to follow. “We’ve got training to do.” Jax stalked to the front door, letting Jake out before shutting it.

Jax practically ran down the stairs down to the second floor, hoping Jake would follow. He crossed the brick tunnel, bridging the two buildings, his hair fluffing up. The air was frosty, almost static. None of it bothered Jax. He seemed to like it. It brushed against his skin, being blood to every area of his face. No longer did he look pale — he was a man on a mission. His footsteps were heavy, the boots emphasizing each step. He stuffed his hands into the pockets of his jacket, reaching the end of the tunnel. Jax stepped forth onto the second floor. It was busy, but a presence or two was missing. He knew who was missing, but it didn’t matter. He raced down the wooden stairs onto the main floor. Jax didn’t look to see if he had lost Jake. He waited at the foot of the stairs, tapping his foot. He waited for Jake before disappearing into the second training room. Jax’s behavior seemed unusual for him. For him, he needed a good session to get thoughts out of his head.

Amity’s face was consumed with a frown. This needed to end — especially with innocent lives at stake. This was the agent’s territory, no other. But it didn’t stop people from trying to take care of their problems. Summer invaded the city. Cherry blossoms planted around bloomed with gracious pink petals. The sun’s heat beat down on her and the other two agents’ skin. It brought a great deal of warmth. The sun had peaked above the horizon, showing itself from hiding. A multitude of pinks, oranges, and light blues painted the sky, the swelling like a paint palette of entropy. Despite the warm sun, cold still nipped the morning air. With her, she had two agents she trusted. Sonia Awbray and Autumn Havenfrost. Amity always brought them along, almost like personal bodyguards. Streetlamps blinked off, conveying the city was about to bustle. Why had he chosen the morning? It was quite odd for him. Did he want to make a show out of guards? She hoped not. The group’s boots struck against the pavement, showing their arrival. Nathaniel liked to meet in alleyways, vaguely shielding themselves from human eyes. Amity was relieved when he still chose the same location.

Amity, Autumn, and Sonia arrived at the point, staring down the alleyway. Shadows still overtook, hiding any supernatural presents. Unfortunately, Nathaniel wasn’t hidden from the girls. He glared at them, his blue eyes glowing against shadows. The demon kept out of his hiding spot, a mysterious smile plastered against his face. He was planning something. This man always wore suits, no matter the occasion. It was always the same black suit with a red dress shirt and purple tie. He had his combat boots, allowing him to move quicker than in dress shoes. Was he planning an altercation? With a nefarious laugh, he pushed his blonde hair back, smirking at Amity. “Isn’t it the glorious director herself?” A twisted smile etched his face, the burn scar twisting his features. Letting go, his blond hair flopped in his face. Blood splattered his face and clothes — oh, what a mess! “How naïve of you to think I’d stop after one war, one meeting, ONE DIRECTER’S DEATH! Years of ridicule don’t disappear after 2 months of peace.” Amity tensed. So much for defusing the situation. She kept her eyes on the man, reaching to draw her twin swords. Autumn and Sonia stood straight, Sonia extending her bow. She pressed a button on him on her watch, her eyes glowing a slight red.

Nathaniel stared at Sonia, fire flickering in his eyes. Being that fire burned a kaleidoscope, broken in pieces like a record. “Now, my dear, why would you think I’d want to talk?” Waving his hand, purple smoke gave way to a scythe. He gripped the pole arm tightly, his glare shifting to Amity. Nathaniel stared daggers at her. “This city will pay in blood — but I am happy to pay with yours first.” He whispered, licking his teeth before swinging his scythe at Amity’s side.

Amity panicked, drawing her twin swords and pulling a backflip. She landed on her feet. Goddamn it. Looking around, she nodded to her agents, only to notice Sonia’s disappearance. Where could she have — right, blinking. Looking up, she spotted Sonia. The girl had her bow drawn, eyes glowing a deep red. She was waiting for something. Nathaniel moved toward Amity and Sonia let the bow go, the arrow digging itself into Nathaniel’s neck. The demon hissed, pulling out the silver arrow. That would leave a mark. Amity’s breathing picked up. She sheathed one sword. It was time to go old fashion. She rushed forward, aiming to slash the demon’s side. At the last moment, she slid across the ground, letting the edge of the blade slide across Nathaniel’s side. Amity popped up behind Nathaniel, judging him heavily. It was going well for now.

@Dayzed

Jake watched the two interact, he looked around the kitchen. He probably should go out and buy some things later on in case he wanted to make something. As soon as Jax announced that they were leaving Jake got up way too eagerly and followed Jax out the door.

He watched as Jax nearly ran down, leaving him behind. Jake wondered if that had something to do with the way he had acted, but quickly shrugged it off. He had finally caught up, looking at Jax as he stood there waiting for him. Jake ran up to him with a slight wide smile, though, when Jax moved to go into the training room, Jake paused, his smile faltering a little. He shoved the feeling down and walked in after Jax.

The door of the arcade jingled, but Artemy didn't look up to see who had come in, his attention on a letter. He was extremely busy. He had a lot of mini-side jobs to do after his shift was over. The place he mainly worked at gave them a vacation for the time being. It would only be for a week or two, but he relished in the fact that he wouldn't have to do anything strenuous for a while, though he did miss a certain cheeky face who was away for the time being. The idiot had gotten himself in trouble again. A small smile played on his face as he remembered the other's presence.
"Welcome in, have fun, and don't break my machines. I'll kill you" Artemy said firmly.
"I'm not here to play," A rough deep voice said. It was somewhat soft and seemed a little sad. Artemy's eyes immediately shot up when he recognized the voice. His eyes grew and he froze. All the blood in his system seemed to run cold.
The man looked like he was at least 6'0" and was dressed as if he had just come out of teaching a college English course. He wore a light brown sleeveless turtle neck, and a white t-shirt underneath, it was tucked into his brown checkered pants held up tightly by a belt. Casual dress shoes stopped once he was all the way inside. There was a message bag thrown over his shoulder, looking like he had just traveled from somewhere- a brown-gray heavy jacket hanging off of his right arm. Rusted brown eyes looked around to take the place in. His hair was slightly longer since the last time Artemy had seen him, though not incredibly so, he looked like he was attempting to grow out the dull dark brown hair.
"You- You're not supposed to be here-!" Artemy nearly choked on his words as he took the man in. His wide green-gold eyes in shock.

"You look well" Jen commented, his eyes finally scanning Artemy's face. Artemy opened his mouth to say something else, about to get up, but both of them froze when yelling seemed to come from outside. There was an alleyway between the arcade and the cafe next door, that alleyway was connected to a street outback, and small apartment rooms were rented behind the buildings, one of those being connected to the arcade's building. The walls were thin and sometimes you could hear voices from that apartment bleed into the arcade room and vice versa. It was quite an inconvenient place to live in with all the noise.
Artemy exchanged a look with Jen before Jen dropped his bag and dug through it. He pulled out a gun with a silencer on it, Artemy also reached underneath the desk to grab his own gun.
They both rushed out to see what was going on.
"Looks like you were never able to put down the gun" Artemy commented as they dashed out.
"Keep your thoughts to yourself," Jen said coldly as they stood in front of the alleyway and watched everything go down. Jen froze along with Artemy.
Artemy knew what Jen was going to do. It was two verses one. This wasn't a fair fight in Jen's eyes, so immediately he held up his gun and aimed at Amity as she slid behind Nathaniel, he shot. Artemy didn't know if they should have been getting involved, but he followed Jen's lead, focusing on the other one, trying to get the one being targeted out of trouble.
However, both Artemy and Jen were oblivious to the fact that there was a third on top of one of the buildings.

@Anxietyfilledcinnamonroll

Jax hesitated by the door, starting at Jake. “I’m going to be gentle with you. Don’t worry.” He swallowed, closing the door. He looked down at his watch, gritting his teeth. Jax couldn’t help this time, he had to train Jake. He put his hand on his sword, pulling it out with a ring. “Do you want to start slow or try to fight me?” He questioned. He figured Jake wouldn’t want to fight him. Jax noticed how anxious Jake became around Bane since the fight — how he hesitated when stepping foot into the room. He didn’t want Jake to be uncomfortable, but training was necessary. “Alright, how about we start slowly? I don’t want to scare you.” He gave Jax a small smile, silencing his watching. It was buzzing, driving him insane. He never silenced his watch, but he needed to focus on Jake. Sighing, he closed his eyes, smiling. “Now, let’s get on with the training.” Jax adjusted his sword, waiting for Jake to unsheathe his sword.

Amity breathed heavily, her sword dripping with demon blood. It dripped onto the floor in a vicious cacophony. She didn’t want to do this. She didn’t have enough backup. They were under prepared. Oh, why had she been so naïve? Amity should have brought Bane. Gritting her teeth, she unsheathed her other sword. It was time to use force. That was until she heard a gunshot. Amity turned her head around, auburn hair bouncing with fear running through her eyes. The bullet entered under Nathaniel’s rib. That could have been her. Nathaniel let out a broken laugh. No pain obscured his face. It was odd. By the time he was shot, the gash Amity made had healed — albeit nasty. The gunshot wound sealed itself, the bullet coming to the surface. Nathaniel pulled it out, throwing it on the ground. Amity stared at the two new figures, distracted. Nathaniel took his chance, raising his scythe.

Sonia’s eyes darted to Nathaniel, a shriek coming from her. “Amity, behind you! The heat signature is rising! Get the hell out of there, we cannot contain him like this!” But Sonia’s words were lost, her arrow was too late. Nathaniel barred his scythe down, knocking into Amity’s shoulder. The tip cut open the muscle. The sheer strength of the attack threw her to the ground, her head slamming into the concrete. Amity’s world was going dark, her vision growing fuzzy around the edges. She didn’t want to close her eyes, but the warmth of the trickling blood encouraged her further. She closed her eyes, her body going limp. Amity was unconscious, creating a dangerous situation for Autumn and Sonia.

Autumn bit her tongue, gripping her sword tightly. Her breathing quickened, body still. Her curly red hair fell into her eyes, obscuring her vision. She was seeing red. Adjusting her bomber jacket, she turned to Nathaniel, tears in his her eyes. “WHAT HAVE YOU DONE!” A scream came from her throat.

Nathaniel scoffed, leaning against his scythe. A wicked smile spread across his face, dispersing his scar and freckles. He searched Autumn up and down before calculating his attack. “Emotions make it impossible to focus on your job, sweetie. Your brother found out quickly.” He sighed, blinking slowly. When could he strike? Nathaniel stuck Autumn in the side, using the rib of his scythe to slam her against the wall. Blood trickled from her mouth. It went from balanced to a death sentence. An arrow hit Nathaniel in the back, causing the man to hiss and pull it out.

Sonia paced back and forth. They needed backup — and to get these idiots out of here. She pressed a button on her watch two times, alerting security. Gritting her teeth, she readied another arrow. It was safe up atop a building, but her friends were in trouble. Sonia turned her attention to Jen and Artemy. “Get the hell out of here before you get killed. Leave us here to die. It’s a risk of the job, I suppose.” She muttered, holding her breath. There wasn’t much she could do, so she readied an arrow. Drawing the bowstring back, she fired another arrow into Nathaniel. Luckily, Nathaniel released Autumn. Unluckily, she was badly injured. Now Sonia was alone. Autumn and Amity were incapacitated and backup would be too late. “I’m going to kill you.” She hissed toward Nathaniel, only gardening a laugh from the man. There was no getting out of this.

@Dayzed

At Jax's reassurance, Jake nodded, swallowing the lump that had formed in his throat. This was Jax. This was Jax. And while he still didn't know Jax well, he knew enough to trust the man.
At the question, Jake's heart sped up, worry lined his eyes as he stared at Jax.
Do your job. Do your job. He closed his eyes, trying to calm the voices in the back of his head. He lifted his head up with determination.
"I'll fight you." Jake said, his voice firm. He couldn't chicken out. He didn't get that option.
Jax didn't want to scare him, but a small part of him felt disgusted that someone was trying to protect him. He had never needed protection, it was foreign to him, but because it was coming from this man, it weighed heavily in Jake's heart. He wanted to accept those feelings towards him, but it was going to take a bit more time.
Jake unsheathes his sword without hesitation when Jax did and waited for instructions. This was giving him terrible flashbacks of fighting his old group- the one he had torn apart himself.

Jen's eyes widened slightly, a look of heavy concern on his face mixed with absolute horror. Was this person not human?! What was going on??
He watched along with Artemy as everything happened a little too quickly. Nathaniel had attacked Amity and it had knocked her out on the ground. It became really clear which side needed helping and Jen's gun turned to Nathaniel. Maybe he couldn't do more, but he could serve as a distraction. He and Jake had done that a lot, being the top two fighters of their group.

Because of the man's ruthless power against the rest, Jen's mindset immediately snapped into his old mental state. The need to survive and carry out his job compelled him to move, no time for hesitation.

"Hold your ground and if things become too much to handle. Run." Jen's eyes looked at Artemy one last time, his eyes deadly and angry. He handed Artemy his gun to duel wield.
Then Jen did the unthinkable. He rushed in. His goal wasn't to fight Nathaniel but to remove both of the girls and get them somewhere safe. He had been on a couple of rescue missions in his life and this would be no different- well. It would be slightly different.
Jen had a lot of agility and knew how to fight well, and even if he couldn't, he would do everything possible to help.
As Jen rushed in, Artemy shot from behind. It wouldn't do much but annoy the man, it was mainly up to Jen to get past the man and grab the others. With Sonia's arrow hitting Nathienel, it was enough to draw his attention and when Jen got close enough to where he knew he wouldn't be sliced down completely, he darted past Nathaniel, his senses alert to any sudden movements from him. At the slightest hint that he would attack, Jen would attempt to act quicker than the one holding the scythe.
He was good at that, thinking on a split second's notice.

@Anxietyfilledcinnamonroll