A/N: I don't own "The Apology Song" - Diego Luna/ Gustavo Santaolalla from The Book of Life


"Why? Why do you stay inside of me?! What else is there?! Why can't you fucking die!?" He yelled at the reflection's face, having been tired of dealing with him for the weeks that had become months.

"As I said before. I am you Jack. I'm that little part of you that you wish didn't exist. The part that wants to see the Guardians dead. The part that enjoyed that little torture session... though somehow you still managed to stop that even without your memory of who you were before."

"Shut up! Leave me alone! Just shut up!" Jack whined, he began to break into silent sobs that wracked his body; he couldn't take the dark's truths.

"Surely you remember it... or shall I refresh your memory?" Angel asked, simply watching. Ombric was silent the entire time... he had warned Jack after all... Jack held his head.

"Stop." He didn't want to remember, he didn't want to remember Jamie's hopelessness. He didn't want to remember how he'd killed and nearly killed the Guardians; he didn't want to remember any of it at all. Angel shook his head.

"I guess you don't... oh but you simply must remember this one... Although perhaps it would have been more fun if he'd participated." Angel remarked, the memory clearly of when Death had first taken control after the mind wipe and had Jack whip Jamie, nearly breaking the boy completely. Jack groaned, remembering the whipping he'd given Jamie.

"STOP!"

"What's the matter? Can't handle the truth?" Angel smirked.

"That you enjoyed it for a while?" Meanwhile, Jamie wandered the near familiar streets. The town... village? ... wasn't that big really and he'd circled the place. He didn't think much on the fact that it was nearly dark now. He never felt like this... wanting so badly to just cling to Jack... but on the other hand he also just wanted to run off, to get away from all of this. He was so sick of things being... so... well, there wasn't really a word he could think up that described it enough or what he felt. None of this was really even close to what he'd once dreamed of... of what he'd worked so hard for... In the end... All he felt, all he'd tried to do, was shame and failure. Nothing seemed to work. None of it seemed to matter... he wondered, briefly, if this was what Jack had felt like all those years ago before Jamie's determination to see him had paid off. Jack winced.

"Please, just stop." He was begging now and Jamie could sense that he was talking to his counterpart, because he laughed in Jamie's mind.

"Looks like you're losing your Jackie. Well, you'll still be a good fuck once I take over." He laughed. Jamie winced at that, shuddering at the thought; he couldn't do that... he shuddered in fear. Jack held his head, his love for Jamie harmed Angel.

"BASTARD! I WON'T LET YOU TOUCH HIM!" Light flooded Jamie's mind and body, Jack's light, warmth and love caused Angel to double back. Jamie stumbled from surprise, he settled against a building before he fell over something.

"Jack..." Angel scowled at him from the mirror.

"You can't keep this up forever, we both know it." Jack glared.

"I will and I will fight you no matter what Angel... I won't give up. JAMIE IS MY LIGHT! AND NOTHING WILL EVER CHANGE THAT!" The words echoed over the bond as Jack's light healed Jamie's scrapes and love filled him, it was gentle.

"SO SHOVE IT UP YOUR ASS!"

"No doubt about that... but where is your little light now? Hmm?" Jamie wasn't sure what to say, simply embracing the feeling before getting to his feet again. Jack loved him. He'd needed that reminder and he headed back to the house; Jack needed him, he had failed in a few things maybe, but the one thing he would never fail at was to be at Jack's side... no matter what that meant. Jack winced at that, feeling sadness slowly consume him.

"I-i ... don't know." He said, biting his lips as Angel smiled at the feelings that consumed Jack yet again.

"Jamie... I'm sorry." A tear fell, realizing that he'd driven Jamie away, it drove him crazy; he fell to his knees in pain as Angel took that chance to attack, to try and persuade Jack to let go and go to sleep. Jamie reached over the bond even as he opened the front door of the house.

"I'm here Jack... I always will be... remember?"

"J-jamie..." It was all he managed to choke out as the poisonous words from Angel ate at him; he almost went to sleep just to end the pain. Ombric simply watched from the corner of the room as Jamie searched the house for him, murmuring over the bond.

"Jack... stay with me. I love you."

"Jamie..." It was that which was keeping him up, Jamie was his light.

"J-jamie... upstairs..." Jamie didn't bother climbing, he flew up the steps and searched the rooms until he found the right one. Ombric didn't say anything, Jamie didn't even seem to notice the other was there as he went over to Jack and put his arms and wings around him.

"Jack." His tone was quiet, gentle, and full of his love. Angel growled, forcing Jack's body to make him push Jamie from him as Jack shook, standing.

"J-jamie... I..." It was all he could get out before Angel began to take over yet again.

"Jamie, he was right. I can't fight him anymore. Just remember I love you w-with all my heart." He stuttered in pain at the end. Jamie reached over the bond for him again; he wasn't giving up without a fight.

"Jack..." He tried reaching for him again, he needed Jack in his life...

"I don't care what that monster says... it's you I love... that I need..."

Jamie... Jack reached out, he pushed against Angel who pushed Jamie away, smiling and a dark chuckle came from his as hair covered his features a moment. Angel laughed.

"Your love wasn't enough Bennett. He's mine now." He pulled out his scythe.

"Now, prepare to die." Jamie winced, but didn't move.

"If this is what it takes... so be it." He wasn't going to run anymore. Angel snickered.

"Poor, poor Jamie. Your love wasn't enough for Jack. Don't worry, you'll love what I have in store for you." He slashed Jamie, making him bleed before tackling him and licking his neck.

"Mm... so good." Jamie felt a bit dazed when his head smacked the floor. He stared up at Angel.

"What do you know about love?" Angel smiled.

"I know enough, that you burn for his heart yet he never showed you that love."

"Think so huh? Well you'd be wrong then." Jamie met the other's gaze steadily. Angel snickered.

"Well, no more of that then since Jack is 'gonzo.'" He picked Jamie up roughly.

"Come on, I'm taking you somewhere... how shall we say 'nice'?" Jamie was simply silent on that score, pretty sure that the other didn't have a clue what "nice" was. Ombric raised an eyebrow at the boy who just shrugged back when he finally noticed the wizard there. Angel flew out the window, not caring that Jamie could fly himself.

"Hmmm, how about a nice strip club for a bit then we can have fun later." He pulled Jamie along to a strip joint with ladies in lingerie and men who were all sorts of drunk and paying.

"Hmmm, sit here cutie. I'm getting us free rooms my lovely." He said to Jamie with a sickeningly sweet smile and lovely voice. Jamie ignored the women, a little disgusted at the men. He crossed his arms, this was pitiful... he dropped the temperature of the place deliberately after a few moments. Enough to make the people leave the place completely, but he didn't exactly move from the spot he'd been sat in.

"Thank you." Angel said as he took the keys, the man ran in fear as the other men and the working women had, only the bar keeper was around as he seemed used to this sort of crap.

"Smokie waters and a light whiskey for my friend over there." The man complied and Angel returned to the seat with the drinks, handing Jamie the whiskey.

"Drink up, we got all the time we want here." Jamie froze the drink, causing the glass to burst; he had no intentions of drinking. Angel smiled.

"Come on, calm down; relax, just enjoy yourself. I'm still Jack. I am the Jack you know... I'm just his desires and... well, his wishes." Jamie said nothing for a moment, but he didn't exactly relax either.

"I don't like alcohol. MY Jack knows that." He said pointedly. Angel only smiled.

"Awww, well, more for me then." Angel chuckled.

"Hmmm, why don't we christen that body of yours." He smiled, but Jamie frowned.

"That would require me to experience something I HAVEN'T before... pretty sure I've been through just about everything there is thank you." Angel growled in annoyance.

"Come on." He pulled Jamie along with him, kissing him forcefully and squeezing him inappropriately. Jamie pulled back from the kiss, stepping back from Angel as well; he wasn't going to hurt him, but he'd no real want for this at the moment either. Angel snickered.

"Jamie, you'll change your mind soon enough." He sighed.

"Hmmm, maybe a nice place to eat, a change of scenery will make you feel more comfortable." For a moment, icy blue eyes flickered beneath black. Jamie just shrugged, doubting Angel could manage that, but he didn't argue. Waiting to see what the other would do. Angel smiled.

"Stay here." It was about an hour later when he came to get Jamie.

"Follow me." Angel led Jamie to a tall building, at the top there was a candle-lit dinner beneath the moonlight. He looked almost angelic, or would have if the wings had been white and it was less dark. On the table was a plate of Jamie's favorites, Lord knew where he got the food; Jamie didn't say anything, though he had to admit that this was a good attempt. He settled down to eat, not having eaten anything in a while as it was; as he settled down there was a noise in the shadows.

"Augh... come on." It was a guitar. Angel moved over to the table, he looked nervous, but then he began to play beautifully a song that Jamie had heard part of once some months back.

Toro, I am humble for tonight I understand.

Your royal blood was never meant to decorate the sand.

You've suffered great injustice

So have thousands before you

I offer an apology and one long over due

I am sorry

Toro, I am sorry

Hear my song, and know I sing the truth

Although we were bred to fight

I reach for kindness in your heart tonight

And if you can forgive, and if you can forgive

Love can truly live

Toro, I am frightened, but I'll use my final breath

To tell you that I'm sorry, let us end this dance of death

Two centuries of agony, that to your heart we sent

Here and now with my amends, the senseless killing ends

I am sorry

Toro, I am sorry

Hear my song and know I sing the truth

Although we were bred to fight, I reach for kindness in your heart tonight

And if you can forgive, and if you can forgive

Love can truly live

And if you can forgive, and if you can forgive

Love... Love will truly live

The song ended with Angel looking at Jamie lovingly, as Jack had so many times. Jamie listened to the song as he ate; although he wondered a little about the choice, he'd heard it somewhere before but he couldn't recall where. Though he noticed the way Angel was looking at him... what the? Was this like some sort of an apology or something? He sighed inwardly. Well... he was a part of Jack... so he'd said. Angel put the guitar down and sat and ate his own food slowly, but glancing at Jamie every few minutes. Jamie was thoughtful once he'd finished his food.