9

Jaxton and Johnty were sparing, the prince safely abed for the night.

Jaxton had a split lip to match his scalp wound and Johnty was sure he would not be able to see out of his left eye tomorrow if they didn't use their Agency medical kit when they were done.

"He's just a child" Johnty snarled as he swung, barely missing Jaxton's chin and Jaxton opened his mouth to gloat only to feel the knee in his crotch a moment later.

"Still letting that cleft get you into trouble" Johnty snorted, standing as he waited for Jaxton to motion that he was ready to continue.

"You saw a child, I kissed a man" Jaxton said as he looked at his partner.

"Johnny, how long have we known each other?" he asked softly, "Including the time loop, it's been almost a decade. Why would I lie about my feeling with you? You have seen every childish, temperamental, insane side of me. You know I am speaking truthfully."

"If those brashneds tell his intended of the affections between you, he could be forfeit!" Johnty tried to reason.

"Don't curse, you have a filthy enough mouth" Jaxton snapped, then reached for the bottle of water Johnty was offering.

"It doesn't change the fact that he has come from a loving, cloistered nursery to this sterile, cold place, heading for an even scarier one" Jaxton argued.

"So you think behaving like a bloody predator is the right way to help him?" Johnty flopped onto the mat and looked at the ceiling, soon to be joined by Jaxton.

"He kissed me. How many times do I have to say it?" Jaxton whispered, "I won't deny that I returned it."

"But why you!" Johnty asked, still confused at the turn of events.

"You are handsome, you are sexy and you are bloody fuckable" Jaxton assured him, "This wasn't about that."

"What was it then Jax!"

"I think he saw you as an equal, as a friend, a confidant. He saw a brother, a sibling and you are lying if you don't see the same!" Jaxton pointed out, "I am different."

"Well, I can't argue that" Johnty huffed softly as he started to see the truth of the situation, "So he saw a bit of him in me, the need for brotherhood. To belong."

"That is what placed you in my sights, remember?" Jaxton touched his hand against Johnty's thigh, "I found you so attractive, not just visually. I felt … you were smaller, more gentle back then before this bloody life jaded you. What did you see in me, darling?"

"You were so larger than life. Being even next to you made me feel safe, made me feel more … shit." Johnty sighed, "He sees you as a father figure, like I did. You gave me the strength to be more assertive, more daring."

"Goddess, and look at you now!" Jaxton laughed softly, "You see darling? He wants comfort from you, he wants strength from me. He wants both, needs both of us to get through this."

"So, I am jealous for the wrong reason" Johnty frowned as he looked at his partner.

"So what reason should it be" Jaxton prodded, teasingly.

"You! I need to be jealous because you are so …. You" Johnty growled, thumping his heels down, then drumming them in a tantrum as Jaxton laughed softly.

"Luckily, you are so you!" he soothed, "You know I have no patience for things you do. He plays Gerdrosh Rules. I saw the game pieces in his things being brought on board. You know I hate that game, everyone at the academy did, only that poor Silvertosh would play with you."

"Really?" Johnty sat up at the mention of his favorite board game, played on a three dimensional four tier board.

"Yeah" Jaxton laughed, once again amazed at how quickly Johnty changed gears.

"It's been ages since I've played" Johnty rubbed his hands together, "Do you think it's a two player model?"

"Well, I saw purple as well as green figurines" Jaxton smiled, glad he had remembered such a small thing that made his partner happy.

Maybe he was getting the hang of this partner thing.