Disclaimer: I do not own Better Days/Original Life, or any of their characters. I make no money from this.
A/N: Time for another chapter, my avid readers. This one has a ton of angst in it, as Jason finds himself beginning to bonds with the others.
The Chronicles of Jason
From the Ashes: Chapter 8
/
After putting away Zane's trophy in Nikki's car, the group decided on getting lunch together, after one stop Zane needed to make. Neither the boy, Nikki, or Kie'sel seemed too enthusiastic to talk about where they were going, so Jason just shrugged and went along with them while Angela went off to a cafe they all quickly decided to meet at for lunch. As he sat in the backseat of Nikki's car, Zane beside him and playing on a laptop, Jason briefly thought about asking where they were going, but decided against it. The boy didn't seem in the mood, and if there was one thing Jason understood about people, it was their moods.
Once they arrived at the cemetery though, Jason wished he had asked. It was odd, Jason thought, to see the young boy pick his way between the headstones, not sparing the ones he walked past any attention. It was obvious that Zane and Nikki were familiar with the cemetery from the first moment the group got there, though why the female Hyena simply stayed with Jason and let Zane go on ahead was a mystery, just like the reason why they were there in the first place.
As if sensing the questions on his mind, Nikki moved beside him and placed a hand on his shoulder. "Zane's father was in the armed forces. Too busy and not really making enough to support a family, so I never said anything to the man and transferred as soon as I could."
"But why a cemetery? Did his father die?"
Nikki took a moment to answer, and when she did Jason thought he detected something…regretful in her voice. "Zane has never met his father, so to him his father is as good as dead. After every tournament he wins, or important test he passes, he comes here and 'dedicates' it to dead strangers." Nikki fell silent after this. Even though he still had questions, such as why Zane never met his father, how this morbid tradition began, and what was meant by dedicate, Jason chose not to push it. Afterall, there were plenty of questions he would not answer if asked.
Minutes passed, and in the silence that could only be found in a place of death Jason began to think. The cemetery brought back to Jason's mind memories of when he had been the same age as Zane. Of how his life had been, and how he had also been intimately familiar with graveyards…
/
The Past…
Hot tears ran down Jason's face in streams, matting his dark fur to his skin better than the freezing rain ever could. Above him, the dark sky crackled and boomed with lightning and thunder. Around him silent adults stood as a still, black mass, heads bowed as one as they all listened to the priest. At the center of the crowd, the focus of all their attention, sat a small coffin; the right size for a child. Mary Bentham, his friend.
The elderly priest spoke to them all of how this was not the end of the girl, only of her time here on this earth. That she had gone on to a better place. But to Jason's ears it all sounded like hollow, useless words; insipid nonsense that had no bearing on his feelings. Heaven…Hell…angels…what did they matter in the face of real life? How could death at such a young age ever be justified, or explained? How could that preacher go on like that, how could she even be allowed to die?
These thoughts swirled within Jason's young mind, until he felt like he would die himself if he did not voice them. He looked up at his father beside him, standing cold and upright, the very picture of detachment from the proceedings, and whispered as loudly as he dared. "D-Dad, why did Mary have to die?"
Dardanos Lorre's response came slowly, but when it came it was as cold and direct as the man himself. "She is dead…because as fell into the river, you froze up. You stood and watched as the girl drowned. You failed your friend, and I am very disappointed in you."
By this point Jason's shoulders shook, his vision blurred by his tears. He took a step away from his father's frowning face, and then another, and before he realized it he was running…
/
"Maybe he's lucky…not having a father…"
Nikki snapped her thoughtful gaze down at Jason, confusion evident in her features. "What did you say?"
Jason hadn't even known he had said that out loud, and so when Nikki spoke back he flinched and looked away. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to…I just…when I was your son's age, I always dreamed about not having a dad. What he's doing, it's just…not something I can relate to."
A moment later Jason felt a hand softly touch his shoulder, and he looked up to Nikki smiling wistfully down at him. "If it makes you feel any better, I can relate to not wanting a dad. Most people just don't get to choose their parents though; or at least, no one I know has ever gotten to."
Silence fell between them then, Jason feeling all of a sudden alone, and foolish. His head turned and his eyes traced over the headstones surrounding them. He wondered what his headstone would look like when he was dead, and if anyone would ever visit him. It was a morbid train of thought; one Jason wished he hadn't begun on.
Soon enough Zane slowly began making his way back to them. His head was held up and his mismatched eyes were clear, and already Jason could tell that the strange mood he had been in had passed. Soon the group was back in the car and away from that morbid place to lunch. Jason sat in the back, next to Zane as the boy once again did something on a laptop. Several times Jason saw from the corner of his eye Zane pause in his typing and glance over at him, as if wanting to ask a question. He never did though, and so the car went on in silence to the restaurant.
The restaurant was a medium-sized bistro-like establishment, the kind to serve mostly cheap but plentiful food in a relaxed, friendly setting. As Jason wheeled himself in he let the calm atmosphere wash over him like a breeze, a small smile gracing his face. They quickly found Angela sitting near the far-back corner, beside a window and looking out. As they drew closer she looked over at them and smiled.
"Hey, I was wondering when you guys would get here!"
Jason moved the chair to her left out of the way and set himself there, Nikki to his left and Zane right across from him. Kie'sel squeezed in next to Angela, a task not too difficult due to their similar body types. Once they were all seated and the waitress had come by to get their orders the group settled into small talk; Kie'sel, Angel, and Nikki did most of the talking, with Zane merely sitting and watching the others talk. Jason felt oddly relaxed in this situation, as unusual for him as it was. Back when he and Angela had been Company agents, chances for relaxation with friends and coworkers had been depressingly few and far between, and almost always spent in bars or each others' houses. Along with this, or perhaps because of it, they usually met at night, when the bars would be open.
Jason felt something stir then, as if half-realizing something huge, life-altering. It wasn't until the waitress returned with their drinks and Jason began to take a sip of his ice-cold lager did it hit him.
He was no longer a member of the Company. He was no longer comrades and coworkers with Fisk, Ana, Leo, or Ryan. No longer bleed with them, fight with them; trust them to have his back just as he had theirs. All his life for the last four years was now as good as gone, and he had nothing to show for it but a ruined body and an evil family. He didn't know whether to feel lost, or relieved.
"Hey, Wheelchair Prime, what was it like in the military?"
All conversation going on at the table ground to a shocked silence, all eyes turning to the speaker. Jason felt annoyance at the nickname bubble up in his chest, quickly forcing it back down as he tried to grin at Zane and wave away the question. "And what makes you think I was ever in the military, boy, my body?"
At this Zane seemed to feel a bit of embarrassment from the question, but before his mother could scold him he ventured on. "No, not that. I mean, not all that. You remind me of my principal; he lost an arm in the service, and is the grumpiest bastard ever."
"Zane, watch your language!" Nikki wacked her son on the head, earning a scowl from the boy, and then looked over at Jason. "I'm really sorry, he's usually more polite than this to most people. I just don't know what's gotten into the little firecracker."
Jason simply waved away her apology, instead continuing to grin at his "offender" on the other side of the table. "Oh, don't worry, I've heard way better insults than getting indirectly called a grumpy bastard. I doubt your little 'firecracker' could even register as a blip on my annoyance radar." A moment later, as Jason predicted, the boy rose to the bait.
"Yeah, well, with that metal thing you call a jaw, I'm not surprised you have radar installed too!"
Several chortles came from Angela and Kie'sel at this, while Nikki just looked like she wanted to crawl somewhere and hide. Jason however just grinned broadly. He was beginning to enjoy this conversation, and from the similar grin on Zane's face, he was too. This didn't mean Jason planned on letting that comment go.
"Your mom's nickname for you seems to be firecracker. What kind, cherry bomb?"
Jason watched with a satisfied grin as Zane's face went red. The boy opened his mouth to retort; only to shut it as their food arrived, ending the little battle of wits for the moment. This was just fine for Jason; in all honesty, he wasn't sure if he would have managed a win. The kid was good.
Shrugging this thought off Jayden went to grab his ham sandwich, only for Nikki to quickly slap it away and look at him pointedly. She then folded her hands in front of her, followed by Zane, Kie'sel and Angela; Jason sighed and just placed his single hand in his lap, after which Nikki smiled and closed her eyes.
"Thank you, Heavenly Father, for your generous blessings. For the delicious food set before us, and the bonds of love, family, and friendship between us. Thank you for our health, and make it so that we may live according to your will. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen."
Several amen's echoed around the table, Jason giving only a half-hearted one before once more going for his food. He was more than willing to let the taste of Cheddar and Mustard turn his thoughts away from what just happened. For this Zane proved surprisingly useful, as after about a minute of silent eating all around the table he looked up at Jason. "You know, you never answered my question. What was it like in the military?"
Jason took his time chewing the bite in his mouth, giving the question some real thought. He hadn't really thought about it in years, and the sudden reminder was making him feel nostalgic. "Yeah, I was in the military. But not just any military branch; I was in the best of the best, the U.S. Marine Corps. I joined at 17, and had the best years of my life." His gaze grew distant to the listeners as he remembered long-ago times. "Being a Marine was full of hard work and commitment to honor and courage. You learn…you learn that it's not just the country, or the government that you fight for. It's about protecting people, and the freedom to choose their own life. To the common soldier on the ground it's not about getting the most kills, or achieving some abstract political objective, but insuring the safety of their loved ones; giving them the best possible life, even if it's a life without the soldier in it. It's more a sacrifice than a job."
Jason fell silent, unable to go on as he felt overwhelmed. His eyes misted up, as he was struck by a sudden, indescribable sense. He felt Angela place a reassuring hand on his shoulder, and he reached up to grasp it firmly in his own as their eyes locked. She could understand how he felt. A second later he felt Nikki place a hand on his other shoulder, and remembered that she herself had been a member of the U.S. Army.
Zane spoke up then, ending the sudden moment between the three. "My dad was in the army…I can't, I can't help but wonder if he'd be proud of me, if he knew me."
Jason looked to Nikki to see what she would do, only for her to subtly shake her head and indicate toward the boy. It was not one of blame, or annoyance, but of a silent plea. It took Jason a moment to understand, but when he did he quickly looked over at the boy in question and took him in. A moment's hesitation passed, and then he reached out across the table and clapped his hand on Zane's shoulder. "Don't worry boy, I'm sure he would be.
/
Jason stared through the window out at Berlin. Night had just recently fallen on the city, and from the apartment Jason could see it all blaze with light, as bright as day to someone like him. But his mind was far from there; instead, his thoughts dwelled on the past. That afternoon in the restaurant, when he'd talked to the others about something he hadn't even thought about since the day he had joined the Company. And then earlier, at the cemetery, when his mind had wandered back to the fifth funeral he'd been to, and he let slip that it might be good that Zane didn't know his father…
Jason ignored the soft padding of feet on the carpet, merely grunting and leaning his head against her as Angela wrapped her arms around his neck and shoulders and leaned against him. The two stayed silent for several minutes, both looking out the same window but seeing radically different sights. Finally Angel shifted and kissed the top of his head. "Long day today, wasn't it?"
Jason nodded in agreement, still looking out. "Yeah. Yeah it was. The tournament was fun I guess, and that Todd guy was interesting." Angela made a nod in agreement but stayed silent. Both knew what she had really been meaning, and it was only a few silent minutes until Jason relented. "I feel guilty…about speaking about the Marines like I did. The past few years I haven't really lived up to them."
"Neither of us have, Jason." Angela brushed some loose strands of hair from Jason's face and kissed him again. "But that came with the job, didn't it?"
Jason frowned, before finally looking away from the view and at her. "But what kind of job was that Angela? A rogue group of assassins, operating outside all government oversight? It feels like we've pissed all over what we were taught as soldiers and become t-ter…" Jason couldn't finish, instead clenching his eyes shut and taking several deep breaths. Angela had stopped resting on him and backed up a few steps, looking down at him worriedly. Where this sudden venom towards the Company had come from?
"What's gotten into you Jason? You used to love our job, now you're making the Company sound like just a bunch of nationalistic American terrorists, or like White's group!"
Jason fell silent at her yell, a moment later turning back to look out the window. "You seem to forget, my father used to work for the company. Look what happened to him." At this Angela was struck silent; a moment later Jason sighed and rubbed his eyes tiredly. "I'm, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to yell. All I meant to say was that I was a different man in the military. And I think I want to remember that man."
He stayed quiet as Angela kneeled down at his left and turned his head to face hers, smiling gently at him. "Okay. Just don't forget that it was the Company man that I fell in love with." He grinned at her and leaned over, taking her lips in a kiss.
"Don't worry Angel; you know I don't forget the important things…"
/
The Past…
Hot tears ran down Jason's face in streams, matting his dark fur to his skin better than the freezing rain ever could. Above him, the dark sky crackled and boomed with lightning and thunder. Around him silent adults stood as a still, black mass, heads bowed as one as they all listened to the priest. At the center of the crowd, the focus of all their attention, sat a small coffin; the right size for a child. Mary Bentham, his friend.
The elderly priest spoke to them all of how this was not the end of the girl, only of her time here on this earth. That she had gone on to a better place. But to Jason's ears it all sounded like hollow, useless words; insipid nonsense that had no bearing on his feelings. Heaven…Hell…angels…what did they matter in the face of real life? How could death at such a young age ever be justified, or explained? How could she even be allowed to die?
These thoughts swirled within Jason's young mind, until he felt like he would die himself if he did not give voice to them. He looked up at his father beside him, standing cold and upright, the very picture of detachment from the proceedings, and whispered as loudly as he dared. "D-Dad, why did Mary have to die?"
Dardanos Lorre's response came slowly, but when it came it was as cold and direct as the man himself. "She is dead…because when she fell into the river, you froze up. You stood and watched as the girl drowned. You failed your friend, and I am very disappointed in you."
By this point Jason's shoulders shook, his vision blurred by his tears. He took a step away from his father's frowning face, and then another, and before he realized it he was running. No calls to stop or come back came from behind him, spurring the boy to run faster. He could not see where he was going from the tears in his eyes, and the rain pouring down around him was now beginning to add fear to his grief.
Suddenly his foot caught on a grave marker. Unable to stop his momentum Jason let out a cry as he lurched forward, crashing hard into the ground and narrowly avoiding smashing his head against a headstone. Not that he registered coming within inches of splattering his brain; at that moment he was just trying to keep from hyperventilating. He planted his hands on the soggy ground and pushed himself up, a moment later rolling over onto his side as he curled up into a ball. His heart pounded in his chest like a hammer as his eyes flicked left and right, up and down. His body shivered but not from the cold. A pathetic whimper passed his lips and he curled in tighter. The water, it was all around him; pounding down onto his body, seeping into his ruined clothes. His chest hurt now, he felt like throwing up but couldn't seem to open his mouth. He couldn't see anything, all he could hear was the pounding of his heart as it worked to break from his chest…he tasted iron in his mouth…he coughed and began choking on the blood…
"JASON!"
Strong arms suddenly lifted him up…someone placed him on drier ground, and began doing something…but he couldn't see, he couldn't hear their voices, or the rain…or his heart…his chest stopped hurting…
A hammerblow fell on his chest, and suddenly Jason could see and hear and feel again. His mouth opened and he threw up, gasping hard as his wide eyes whirled around to find himself no longer on the ground, but laying on a bench. His eyes locked on a person bent over him worriedly, and he coughed out a name. "Da…Dalfer…"
The middle-aged Terrier suddenly pulled Jason into a bone-crushing hug, warming his left shoulder with his tears. "Oh, thank God you're okay Master Jason! We thought we'd lost you!" Another second of hugging and then the adult turned and shouted over his shoulder. "Master Castor, he's alive!"
The sound of rushing footsteps could be heard, and a moment later Jason found himself staring up into the fierce green eyes of his older brother. The 17-year old's mouth was pulled into a straight line, the black fur to making it seem to disappear. The white fur circling his eyes though was soaked, especially beneath the eyes, and with a jolt of shock Jason realized his brother had been crying.
"Damn it Jason…what's wrong with you?"
Jason whimpered and hung his head, unable to meet his brother's glare. A moment later however he was suddenly grabbed by the shoulders and shaken. "Damn it Jason, I thought you were freaking dead! I thought you had died, do you hear me! Don't you ever scare me like that again!" The boy whimpered, making Castor growl and shake him again. "Damn it Jason, promise me! Promise me!"
"I promise! I'm sorry, I promise!" Jason buried his face against his older brother's chest, crying heavy tears into the expensive funeral clothes. Castor simply wrapped his arms around the smaller boy's body and held him close. Neither spoke of that day again.
/
A/N: Well, that was fun. I hope y'all enjoyed this chapter. Some backstory on Jason, some backstory on Zane, who's developing into a much different character than I initially imagined. Also, a cookie to anyone who can find the connection between the names of Jason, his brother Castor, and their father.
