Author's Note: I love JA so much, how could I not post my own AU story for it? This is set 3 years after the film. Hope you enjoy!
Jupiter Jones was no ordinary woman. She was destined for more than what she has now. She holds vast riches and cures within her palm. And this is only the beginning of her journey, of the extraordinary life she has only had a taste of... Of course, if asked by someone who saw her leaning over a toilet, scrubbing it.. they might say otherwise.
"Jupiter," Aleska said, heavy accent hanging to her words. "What are you doing?"
Jupiter Jones looked back towards her mother, pursing her lips. "I'm cleaning." She replied, a questioning tone edging the end of her sentence.
Her mother rolled her eyes from where she stood in the doorway of the small space. "You've already cleaned the bathroom. I watched you." She looked around where Jupiter squat in front of the toilet, scrubbing it quickly.
"Oh," she simply said before setting the scrubber to the side. "I'm just distracted, mama." Aleska's lips went into a firm line, her forehead wrinkling in concern. Jupiter was hit with just how old her mother was as she did so. The gray hairs sticking out of her ponytail popped out like neon colors to her as she looked her over. She stood, reaching out to hug her mother. A bit surprised, it took a second for Aleska to respond to the warmth of her daughter.
Aleska ran her hands through Jupiter's own ponytail, muttering something in Russian that Jupe didn't quite catch. "You are not fighting with Caine, are you?"
Jupiter smiled, pulling back to kiss her mother on the cheek. "No, mama." She reached down to pick up her cleaning supplies. "We're fine."
Her mother hummed, moving to let Jupiter pass through the doorway. "That is good. I believe Nino would be disappointed if you were." Jupiter only grinned.
She had introduced Caine to her family 7 standard earth months after her return home from the outcome with Balem. During that time she tossed back and forth between average human to space Queen for the first few months. For a cover up, she had told her family she had been offered a job in-town from a rich employer that had heard of her through Katherine. Kiza came in and posed as the client whenever her family began to waver on whether she was telling the truth or not. Jupiter knew that her mother suspected more than what she was told, but she never said anything. She 'worked with Kiza' 5 days of the week. On Wednesdays, which was today, she helped her family clean. Her free days (which were mostly reading up reports, sprawled out on Caine and drinking coffee on the couch) were Saturday.
Jupiter had bought an apartment in one of the taller buildings among the city, so it was easier to portal to her ship if an emergency ever presented itself. Caine, who stood as her bodyguard 24/7, moved in with her. Of course, Caine had first told her, head down, voice rough, how it was wrong for a Splice and a Royal to even share living quarters- let alone a bed- but a quick kiss to the lips and confirmation that that didn't matter to her, was enough for him to stop. They had been sharing a place for nearly 3 years, and their relationship grew stronger than Jupiter ever imagined. At first it was kind of awkward, with Jupiter fumbling for words and Caine trying not to deny his feelings- but it all worked out. He was her anchor, just as much she was his. Fighting against RegeneX was a difficult task, a fight she wasn't so sure she'd live out to see- if they didn't find a replacement for it.
Many other Entitled agreed with her, and joined her cause. With them as her allies, she funded many of their systems and planets. Bringing in food and medicine where needed. Same in return, for Earth, and the rest of the planets she owned. It was one of the finer things Jupiter was proud of seeing through, the humanity showing within others. Those who opposed the idea, fought with teeth and nails, even sending out assassins to silence them. But it never worked. It only made them more strong to defend their cause.
She did, however, have friends among those who disagreed with her. She had met rather polite and friendly human beings and humanoids that discussed with words, and offered her any help as long as it did not regard her opposing RegeneX. One of those would be Kalique.
It was.. strange. To be friends with someone you birthed in another life time. Jupiter had vocally shared how uncomfortable she was with being called mother, so Kalique agreed to call her by her name. Their friendship was.. strained, at times, but Jupiter couldn't deny the fact that she did enjoy their times together. There were qualities to Kalique that Jupiter did enjoy to see. Such as her bright personality and outlook on life. Though she had her grim moments, she rather looked at life as an opportunity to see more, understand more, rather than a chore, as Jupiter used to. Jupiter wondered sometimes why Seraphi and Kalique didn't get long well. It was a question she would have to ask someday.
Titus was another story. After pressing charges, and him only going under 'house-arrest' (which was him being grounded to his system for a year, a speck of time in their lifestyle), she had rarely seen or spoke to him. During festivity and royal dinners, she regarded him with dark eyes and a straight face. He in turn, only ever gave a mocking smile and a quirk of a brow. She was glad she didn't have to see him much, it put Caine on edge and growling till he could no longer smell him.
After Balem's death, all of his belongings immediately went to Jupiter since he did not write a will. She had shared a few of the planets with her alliance, one or two with Kalique, and the wealth among the alliance with herself. There, she split the money to Stinger, Kiza, and Caine.
Jupiter kept the planet Jupiter (she tried to tell herself it wasn't because she thought it would be cool to own a planet you're named after). After clearing out the catastrophe that had taken place, she used it as a base. The reconstruction took barely over an Earth month (and didn't even put a dent in her bank). There, she over saw her scientists working on a different serum that could take the place of RegeneX, the training of her guards, and meetings among her people.
As much as she hated to admit it, Jupiter had changed.
She was no longer awkwardly rumbling through royalty, or falling as easy prey. Apart of her became Seraphi. She wondered and worried how large that part might be. She was a Queen now, and she acted as so. Her head held high, rich robes, and a strong voice, she commanded millions.
But Jupiter was .. well, Jupiter, whenever she was with the Caine. The awkward wording and playful grins. The rosy cheeks and soft touches. Firm grasps and breathless words. She was herself around him. She realized quickly that she couldn't be plain old Jupiter in space. And after shaking in Caine's arms, afraid of who she might become- she admitted to herself and him- she needed to be the person Earth needed. Even if she lost herself in the process. Caine had been solemn, but understanding. No matter what, he would lover her. Even if she woke up one day and decided she didn't love him, he would never feel resentment or anything below for her. He was hers till one of them died, and farther than that.
Jupiter sighed, feeling heavy. She looked out the window of the house she cleaned with a unguarded stare. Aleska walked up to her, and rubbed her back. "We are having Schi with Pirozhki tonight, Jupiter. You and Caine should come."
Jupiter smiled at her mother, feeling older than she was. "Yeah, I'll talk to Caine." She watched her mother nod approvingly before she left the room.
She looked at the window again, saying quietly. "Well?"
The voice was an instant response in her ear. "I'd be glad to, your Majesty." The comm Jupe received was a button behind her ear. There, she could easily communicate to her guards through different channels, and relay videos sent to her. She kept her end on whenever she was alone (more so for making Caine feel better about not being able to guard her in the same room, or at least, at an obvious point) so it was known that she was safe.
She reached up to touch the blue circle behind her ear, switching channels to reach all her guards that swarmed the building she was in. Some were further down the block, or even inside. "I should be almost done here."
"Affirmative, your highness." That was Nila. Jupiter fought to roll her eyes at 'highness'. She was the most stubborn of them all to get them to call her by her name. Nila was a young owl splice 8 earth months new to her guard. Caine was first wary of her, mostly because her lack of experience, until she proved herself by saving Jupiter from a near assassination when a meeting had gone wrong. Nila had seen the sniper before Caine had caught a whiff, and saved Jupiter from being shot by a hair. Her sharp eyes and claws made up for her non-intimidating appearance.
Jupiter was grateful. Nila's personality was a bonus she wasn't expecting. Sour, sarcastic, but determined to prove herself. And she was funny, even though she tried not to be. Not to mention, Nila seemed to warm up around Kiza. It was a friendship Jupiter enjoyed to watch bloom.
Then- why was she having such a hard time to pronounce her name?
"Thank you-" She stopped for a second, feeling like her brain dropped from beneath her before it returned. "Nila."
She switched the button from the open channel back to her private one with Caine. She crossed her arms, still holding the bucket of supplies. Feeling off, she turned to leave before Caine's voice stopped her.
"Majesty, is everything alright?"
"Yeah," She breathed, treading out. "Why?"
He hesitated. "You seem off."
"Just tired. And hungry." She thought for a moment. "I miss you."
Caine's voice was soft and quiet as he replied. "I miss you aswell."
Two years ago, Caine would have mumbled and changed the subject. Now he was much more open with his feelings. Improvement. Definite improvement if one were to ask Jupiter. She smiled, feeling her heart beat slow.
"Jupiter."
She paused. Caine usually only called her by her name when he was upset or serious about something. "Yeah?"
"Are you sure you're okay? You re-cleaned twice." He said it like he was stating something obvious.
"Uh, yeah," She frowned. "I did?"
"That's the fifth time this month."
Jupiter raised and eyebrow. "Huh." Had she really been that out of it? "I'm just thinking about space stuff."
Caine was quiet for a moment, Jupiter knew that he wasn't satisfied with her answer. "We should stop by Stinger's tomorrow, there are some things I'd like to go over with him."
"Alright," She looked around the room before switching to the open channel again. "Grethan, get a hold of Captain Tsing. Let her know we will be ready for pickup at 3 o'clock, Earth time. Stinger's place." She licked her lips as she ran down to meet up with her family. She looked around the living room where they stood, making sure everything was clean as Grethan replied.
"Already done, your majesty." His deep voice rumbled. Grethan was one of the originals of her royal guard, as were 3 other members of her protectors. He was a tiger splice, nimble and very stealthy (especially for his size). Caine wasn't fond of him at first. Jupiter thought it had to do with him being a dog and Grethan a cat. But it took less time for Caine to warm up to him than he with Nila. Grethan was experienced, almost more so than Caine. Caine respected that.
She switched back to Caine's channel so the rest of her guard wouldn't hear what was being exchanged between her and her family.
"I texted Caine, he'd be glad to join for dinner." Jupiter addressed Aleska. Nino beamed, giving a small clap. Her family adored Caine. Especially Nino. Caine's knowledge of space delighted her. Aleska was just happy that Jupiter was happy, though she was suspicious of him at first. He was very intimidating when the family first met him, but they warmed up pretty quick when they found out he was very useful around the house, and rich (props to Jupiter).
"Good," Aleska smiled, before finishing her sentence in Russian. "I will bring out extra chairs."
Author's Note: Uh, how is it so far? Really short, I know.