forum Operation: Cease and Desist (o/o Closed)

Started May 07, 2023 by @Anxietyfilledcinnamonroll group

tune

Jax rolled his eyes, scoffing at the fevered man. Irresistible? Far from it. More like a pain bestowed upon him by the worst corporation in America. Now he had to deal with training the fucker and make sure he didn’t accidentally kill himself by tripping over his blade. Well, ensuring he didn't unintentionally kill himself once more. Already, Jake had succeeded in getting the blade as close to his jugular vein as he could. If Jax hadn’t intervened, the dumbass might as well be good as dead. Maybe death would be better for Jake. He bit the inside of his bottom lip. No, he couldn’t think that. He sighed, inching closer to the base of the bed.

“More like a pain in my ass.” Jax gripped the railing. God, Jake and Val were too similar. He didn’t understand why he felt this way. Val wasn’t dead, he was happily alive. “Maybe pull yourself together first, then we can talk about irresistible,” he said sternly. He was a stern man, often telling people off. There was no time to fuck around, especially when your life was on the line. He learned that early on. But Jax did have his share of tender moments. When he was able to catch his breath, his harshness subsided. It was the way the cookie crumbled.

He straightened his back. “You should also listen to me. It will prove easier for you. What point is there in having a trainer if you don’t listen? Might as well let you run out into the street all haphazardly and see how you fair,” he barked. Jax’s face got a little red, and pinpricks of tears swelled in his eyes. He choked on his spit, turning away to cough into his sleeve. Jake infuriated him so. Why did he care so much? Why? If the guy wanted to finish himself, that was his decision. Jax’s body shook slightly, and he moved away from the bed. This was bullshit.

–

Jules glanced at Jax, closing his eyes for a second. “Jax, why don’t you step out for a second? Cool yourself off and return when ready.” His voice was soft, but there was an underlying tone of strictness. He needed a quiet, calm palace to work, and Jax’s irritation wouldn’t do.

Jax stared at Jules, and nodded his head before slipping out of the infirmary. There was a notable shift in Jax’s emotional behavior. It happened when Jake arrived, and Jules desperately wished to peer into Jax’s mind. He looked over at Jake. The thermometer beeped steadily, and he slipped it out of Jake’s mouth. The witch took a look at it and frowned.

“Well,” he pressed the button, making the beeping cease, “101.5 is a fever, but not too much of a nasty one. I’ll give you medication once Artemy makes sure there are no open lacerations.” Jules always got his way. No matter what. He wanted to make sure everyone was healthy. He placed the thermometer on the bedside table.

“I’ll go fetch the medication,” Jules hummed as he walked to his medicine cabinet, pulling out a few herbs and tablets. Thankfully, he had already prepared a wolfsbane mixture earlier this week. He carried the handful of medicines over to Jake, looking at the wound Artemy asked about. “That is a werewolf bite. They are nasty wounds filled with a DNA-changing virus. Sometimes, they are lethal.” He placed the things down on the bedside table. “Alaska must have bitten him the previous night. Unfortunately, this bite is too far progressed, but I can attempt to soothe the symptoms or potentially kill the virus.”

Jules opened the bedside drawer, pulling out a roll of bandages. He grabbed the bottle of a purple salve and opened it. He walked over to Jake, gently taking his arm to apply the salve. Jules ignored the other scars, applying the wolfsbane over the hot wound. He wrapped the wound up with bandages, sealing the salve in place. He ran off to wash his hands, and once he came back, he gave Jake some Tylenol.

“Take those and either Artemy or I will change your bandages. I suggest you stay here for at least 12 hours.” Jules pursed his lips, seemingly waiting for someone.

---

Aeron happily followed Jen to Bane’s office. He grinned the entire way, laughing as he skipped along. There were a few rouge flowers scattered in his hair. Once they arrived, he looked up at Jen. “Okay, I’ll be on my best behavior.” The kid gave Jen a toothy grin. Yeah, he was going to be up to mischief.

After a few seconds, Bane appeared in the doorway of his office. He always had the door open, listening and monitoring. He was dressed in his usual uniform. Very dark clothes with many weapons on his belt. He nodded to Jen.

“We have to make a quick detour before we start your assessment. I will say to prepare yourself. Don’t want you attacking a certain someone again,” he huffed. Bane started on his way, walking toward the main room and away from the security wing. Aeron followed him, hopping happily behind the large hound. Bane led them to the medical wing, clearly making his way to the infirmary. A person was standing outside the double glass doors, swiping furiously at their face. The hound recognized Jax, finding this sight odd. He approached Jax.

“What happened?” Bane's voice softened slightly. He stared into Jax’s red, tear-streaked face. Jax flinched, seemingly started by the hound. He made a choking sound, shaking his head.

“It’s not important,” Jax whispered. He guarded himself well, trying to get Bane to leave. It was his stupid emotions.

Bane raised an eyebrow, smelling the raw emotion on Jax. “Go clean yourself up and take a break. If anyone asked, I excused you.” He didn’t know how to handle people like Jax. If it were Jules, he’d be soothing and singing to him, but this was not Jules. Jax and he didn’t have much of a relationship to start. He just nodded to the other, pushing the glass doors open.

"Haha keep sweet-talking me, maybe then I'll leave you alone" Jake mused, knowing Jax wasn't a huge fan of his presence.

Jax's next words brought a more gentle yet thin-lipped smile to Jake's face. Pull yourself together.
"I'll pull myself together" Came Jake's answer. He wasn't sure what that implied. Was he supposed to get through this moment? Or was he talking about his entire life? His bad habits and pessimistic thinking? Maybe his unserious nature? He knew it was problematic, it was the reason he acted the way he did. Maybe if he acted like a hindrance they'd ship him back faster.
Jake's eyes dropped to the floor when he let Jules take the thermometer out, now listening to Jax tell him off.
Listen to me. Easier for you.
He'd heard those words since before he could talk.

He swallowed harshly at the implications of that. He had a bad track record with listening to people, he wasn't a dog, but most people seemed to treat him that way. Or well, those in the place he worked at did. Here? He wasn't sure. They weren't bad people and hadn't taken advantage of Jake in any form. Maybe that's why he wanted to leave. Because instead of hurting him, they took care of him.

At the subtle mention of his suicidal nature, Jake gritted his teeth a little, grinding down on them as he tried not to pull a face. He looked up at Jax when he had finished talking, noting the flushed look on him and how distressed he had become.
I'm sorry. I'll do better. I'll listen. He wanted to say.

"Well hey, maybe I should do us both a favor huh? " Jake joked, a slanted smile painting his lips as if to brush off Jax's words and concern. Jake knew Jax cared. The guy tried not to show it, but it was all over the place.
However, Jake had never been known to make other's lives easier, quite the opposite in fact and he couldn't stop. He didn't know how to stop. What else was he supposed to do? Let words and actions hurt him? Break down in front of everyone? He couldn't. He'd be waiting for the moment they used it against him every waking second of his life. It was a bone-chilling thought for Jake. He'd rather do anything else. He couldn't risk it.

Jules ordering Jax out of the room, threw Jake into a state of turmoil. His eyes once again dropped to the floor with a fake smile plastered on his face, if you couldn't even call it a smile with how regretful it looked.

"I'll live," Jake said once Jules mentioned the number of his fever, now watching as he grabbed a few things, placing them on the table by the bed. The talk about the virus transmitted to him being lethal drew no reaction from Jake, it however drew a large one from Artemy, a horrified panicked look on his face now.
Artemy immediately snapped his attention to Alaska when he was mentioned, a slight frown on his face, maybe even a bit of bitterness too.

Jake allowed Jules to treat him, his eyes looking away to avoid looking at the man and the care he gave him. It was something Jake had started to do every time he was brought into the infirmary, knowing he couldn't say no.
Once he was done, Jake took the Tylenol from him, his eyes widening slightly when Jules mentioned staying in the place for twelve hours.
"What?! You're joking!" Jake bolted. "I'm fine! See?" And as soon as he had said those words, he looked like he was about to fall over, his hand grabbing onto the railing of the bed and slowly sitting back down.
"Fuck."

---

Jen smiled and nodded to Aeron as if in acknowledgment.

When Bane appeared and mentioned a detour, Jen seemed a bit confused, yet the warning given to him made his whole body heat up slightly with a twinge of anger. Still, he gave Bane a reluctant nod.

All the way to the infirmary Jen repeated soothing and reassuring words to himself under his breath. It's fine. It's fine. What's done is done, nothing will change that. Pull it together.
But once there- or well, nearly there, Jen's angstyness grew, now fidgeting with the worry stone in his pocket. He tried to shove the fire down, his eyes now landing on Jax and looking curiously at the guy who was trying to pretend like he hadn't just been crying. That he was fine. There seemed to be a lot of that going on around here.

Jen tore his eyes away from Jax, now following Bane inside, only to see Jake interacting with Artemy.
"Ten, I could fit ten" Jake challenged Artemy who had pursed his lips.
"You can't fit ten marshmallows in your mouth, that's impossible" He argued.
"Wanna watch me?" Jake gave him a huge grin to which Artemy eyed him suspiciously. Jake was making some pretty bold claims.

"Artemy!!" Jen snapped, his anger getting the best of him and eyes lighting up dangerously like embers from a dead fire.
Artemy nearly jumped out of his skin at hearing Jen's voice, his head whipping around as Jake's own smile faded, now looking to Jen.

Jen's lips trembled a little at seeing how good of a time the two were having and how it had been gone in an instant.
Because of him.
Artemy stared at Jen, expectantly, waiting for him to say something else.
Jen swallowed harshly.
"N…Nothing. Just, good morning, you didn't say anything before you left.." Jen looked away, seeming defeated as he moved to stand next to the door as Bane did the things he needed to do. He didn't want to complicate things more so his best bet was to keep his distance.

Bane stepped into the infirmary, assessing the scene. What the hell were they doing in here? Jules ran about wildly, Alaska nested in a mountain of blankets, and Jake… well, he always looked like hell. He came here to do one thing and one thing only. He crossed his arms and walked over to Alaska. Bane poked the man in the back, looming over him. Alaska’s face streaked with tears. Within the hour of Jake being here, there had been a report. And a request. He could see why. Alaska didn’t move, so Bane took his shoulder and rolled him over. The man blinked as the light hit his face.

“What happened?” The hound demanded. He stared into the face of a desolate man. The soulless eyes spoke of damnation and trauma. Bane sat on a bed opposite Alaska. The two sat in silence for a bit. Alaska played with his fingers, his throat tightening. The werewolf twitched as Jen snapped at Artemy. Bane ignored it.

“She hit me.” He finally muttered. Alaska looked up at Bane, watching the man’s fiery eyes soften. “She yelled at me and broke my nose. I-I…” His voice drifted, tears gathering at the corner of his eyes. Nothing had felt real. None of this felt real. “It was a mistake.” Had it been a mistake? Maybe he had wanted to turn Jake into a werewolf. Maybe he didn’t desire to be alone anymore, absent of a person who understood. Eris didn’t understand. She thought she knew it all. No reason to understand when you already know everything. Alaska sighed. His heartbeat pounded against his chest. Eris was going to get into big trouble.

Bane nodded his head. He had grabbed a pen and pad, writing down Alaska’s testimony. He put the pad down and reached out for Alaska’s hand. The hounds didn’t show his empathy often, but there were moments when a person’s case touched him. One wouldn’t think someone so close to them would hurt them. “I understand. Did you do everything you're supposed to do during a full moon?”

Alaska nodded.

“Then it was a mistake of the circumstance. Jake had requested for you to stay with him. I’ll have you moved in with him in the meanwhile. I’ll investigate the case. You’re excused for today. Rest up.” Bane let go of Alaska’s hand and stood. He gathered his pen and pad, stuffing them into one of his jacket’s inner pockets. He walked over to Jake, eyeing Jules. Bane needed Jake to go on a mission with Jax. The two could keep each other in check, and Jax needed it. He beckoned Jules over, looking down at the fevered man.

“Give him some meds to lower the fever. I need him for a mission. It’s only a werewolf bite, nothing a little ibuprofen wouldn’t take care of. Send him my way once you’re done.” Bane turned to leave. Jules opened his mouth, ready to say something, but dropped it. He couldn’t argue. Jake would be fine now the wound had been treated and wrapped. The witch ran to his medicine cabinet and fetched a bottle of ibuprofen. He shook out two pills and handed them to Jake.

Bane walked toward the double glass doors, nodding for Jen and Aeron to follow. He pushed the doors open and left.

---

Aeron practically jumped out of his skin in excitement. He followed his dad, clinging to him. He could sense Jen’s anger. It unsettled him. Aeron grasped Jen’s arm, trying to calm Jen down. He didn’t want to see his father upset. Once they were in the infirmary, the little hound beamed. He saw his big brother. He bounced on his heels, waving frantically at Artemy. If that didn’t catch the older boy’s attention, he’d flag him down and tackle him. Aeron didn’t recognize the other man near Artemy, but it didn’t matter. This was his big brother they were talking about! He made a few chirping sounds, ready to tackle Artemy. He got ready to run and pounce on Artemy when Jen snapped.

Aeron froze. His eyes widened as his knees locked. He’d never heard Jen so angry before. His body started to tremble, memories of his biological dad’s rough voice attacking him. His biological father had screamed in his face, calling him names like “stupid!” and “piece of shit!”. He whimpered, tears swelling in his eyes. They rolled down his cheeks, landing on his hand. Aeron’s stomach turned. He was nauseous. The small hound clutched his stomach and fell to his knees. He threw up the content of his breakfast. Physical scars could be healed, but mental scars could not. Aeron hiccoughed, tears falling down his face. He didn’t appreciate these feelings. He didn’t like his father yelling. Aeron didn’t care if it wasn’t toward him. He stood on his knees, frozen. The energetic boy didn’t move a muscle.

Jake eyed Baned as he walked in, his eyes following the man as he stalked over to Alaska. He watched the two talk momentarily, his eyes wandering to Jen after his outburst. The guy had rushed over to the little kid who had been at his hip when he came in with Bane. Jake also didn't recognize Aeron but watching the kid lose his breakfast…
He reminded Jake a little of…well, himself. There had been a time when he'd throw up from pure anxiety, the pressure of everything on his shoulders too much for a little kid. That "quirk" of his had followed right through his teenage years up until recently. He didn't throw up anymore but instead, dissociated through anything he mentally couldn't process. It took a lot for him to get to that point and he hadn't had an episode in a very long time- which he was mostly grateful for.

Jake had been lost a little in his thoughts as if in a trance as he spaced out watching Jen and Aeron. Jen had pulled Aeron tightly into a hug and was apologizing over and over again.

So when Bane approached him Jake shook himself out of the fogged state, only to look up at the man that towered over him. A bit of light seemed to return to Jake's eyes when Bane mentioned giving him meds and sending him on his way.
"Is what I've been saying!" Jake's face lit up, an almost wide side smile slowly appearing on his face- looking a bit childish in nature at that moment. He grinned at Jules when Bane turned to go, knowing that the guy wasn't too sold on the idea.

Once Jules handed him the two pills, Jake took them, nodding politely to the man who had put up with his shit for the past few weeks and had tended to him. His heart quickened a little as he thought over something to say.
"Thanks, I-…" He looked up to Jules, his mouth going a bit dry when he tried to continue. "Thank you." He said, at last, looking away suddenly. For a while now, Jake had been meaning to say something to Jules. Maybe express how much he appreciated him not treating him like shit even when Jake was difficult. But vulnerability came hard to the man and anything he tried to say, that he knew was genuine in his heart, felt cheap on his tongue. It didn't feel like something he would say and he didn't know if it would be taken seriously either, seeing that he was well…Jake. Heartfelt words weren't for him, and everyone around him knew that too. It was reserved only for those who broke him and not a lot of people had been able to do that in his short life.

Artemy had also rushed over to Aeron when his meltdown had started, both him and Jen fussing over the small hellhound.
During that time, Jen had wiped the tears from his face with his sleeve and held him close to his chest, hauling the small kid up and carrying him when Bane motioned for them to leave.
"We'll see you later Artemy, alright? Have fun with Jules and the medicine learning. Best behavior okay?" Jen playfully warned as he placed his hand on Artemy's head in a comforting touch, still holding onto Aeron with his other arm. He really did look like a father in that moment and the only thing Jake could do was watch.
It wasn't lost on Jake how hard Jen was trying, it showed in his subtle facial expressions when his eyes passed over him and he forced the burning fire in them to calm, his eyes holding a stern look yet softening.
Jake looked away as Jen carried Aeron away, Artemy frantically asking Aeron if he was okay as he followed Jen out with Bane.

He looked over to Alaska, now slipping off his bed and sitting over with his lover.

"It's alright you know, I wouldn't mind. I don't mind-" He rephrased, reaching over to brush his hand through Alaska's hair. It was strange. A good type of strange, but still strange. The last person who he had done that to had sported a mess of curls that were tangled nine times out of ten, but with Alaska they slipped through effortlessly. It was soft and thick and Jake's eyes softened at the state of the man. He knew he blamed himself, but Jake didn't care. He didn't blame Alaska and in fact, turning into a werewolf didn't seem to bother him, no matter the fine print that came along with that title.