"There's reports of a new facility.. Want to check it out?" Jasper asked, phone in hand.
"Absolutely. I have a lot to make up for."
"Team is already meeting outside." Jasper grabbed his jacket and checked his weapons.
Magnus waited, his eyes closed.
"Come on." Jasper slid the jacket on and headed for the door. He paused for a moment for Magnus to catch up then kissed him on the cheek.
Magnus blushed.
Jasper smiled and led him out to the others. After giving orders, they crowded into a couple of vans and headed off. They arrived quickly, heading toward the building. Jasper was the first to enter, heading in, gun drawn. After taking out a few guards, he pointed down two halls. The team split between them and began releasing prisoners. Jasper continued into the main hall.
Magnus stayed close behind, his eyes darting around as his hands clenched.
"Release experiment 26." Jasper heard, looking down the hall at a scientist. A few more scientists came out of a room followed by a tall figure. Jasper froze and shook his head.
The figure pulled out a pair of swords and walked toward Jasper.
++Jasper finally caught his breath and spoke to Magnus. "Try to take them down without killing."
Magnus growled, then nodded reluctantly as he summoned his ice and began attacking the scientists.
"If you want, kill the scientists, just not them." Jasper added.
"Don't want to kill an old friend, do you, Jazz?" The figure smirked, long blond hair flowing behind them.
"What have they done to you?"
"Just improved a few things."
"Come back home then.." Jasper said softly.
"This is my home now." The blond attacked, swinging the swords at the leader.
Jasper barely dodged before pulling out a knife. It then clanged against one sword as he blocked.
"Jasper!" Magnus began heading for the blond, the scientists unconscious on the floor.
"Oh, got yourself a friend, huh?"
"Leave him alone!" Jasper yelled. The blond laughed and slashed at Jasper again. One sword was blocked while the other sliced through his jacket sleeve to his arm.
Jasper winced then his eyes glazed over for a few moments. While he was vulnerable, the blond swung a sword at his leg, leaving a large gash.
Jasper fell to the floor before his eyes slightly cleared. He yelled at Magnus, "Go to room 18! There's a machine. Destroy it!" He blocked another hit with his knife, then rolled as the blond went to stab at him.
"They'll kill you!"
"I'll deal! Just go!"
Magnus snarled at the blond. "Back off! If I come back and he's dead, you are." He turned and ran into room 18.
Jasper struggled to fight back, trying to get to his feet.
The blond smirked and ran at Jasper. He dropped to the floor at the last second, the swords lodging into the wall.
After attempting to pull them out with no success, the blond reached down and grabbed Jasper by the throat.
When Magnus arrived back into the hall, the blond was holding their head and looking confused. Jasper was on the floor, semi-conscious.
"Jasper!" Magnus knelt beside him.
"Don't hurt.. Zeph.."
"Why not? How do you know them?"
"Remember.. friend taken..?" Jasper held his chest as he struggled to breathe. "Two years..ago."
"Damn...Kinda wanted to turn them into an ice cube."
"Jazz..?" The blond looked like they wanted to approach but was afraid.
"Zeph..yr.."
The blond then sighed and looked Jasper over. They slowly approached and knelt down, then carefully picked up Jasper's knife and held it out to Magnus. "I know you don't trust me, so I'll let you do it. Cut his binder open because he's a dumbass who doesn't listen and wears it to fights." They looked at Jasper, "I know you're losing blood and I choked you but the binder isn't helping anything either."
"Idiot." Magnus cut the binder free, then asked "Will you last long enough to get to Callie?"
"I'm fine.." Jasper stated, trying to push himself up.
Zephyr rolled their eyes and swept Jasper up. They looked at Magnus, "Lead the way?"
"Follow me." Magnus looked unhappy, but headed for the door.
By the time they got to the base, Jasper was unconscious.
Zephyr laid him in a seat gently. "I'm surprised he's still alive honestly, between his stupidity with wearing a binder and charging into battle and his illness.."
"What illness?!"
Zephyr frowned, "He hasn't told you? Maybe they finally found a way to cure it?" They glanced out the window, "His parents tried to poison him when he was young. It didn't work right though. Wrecked his body up pretty good but didn't kill him. Doctors say his life span is greatly diminished by it but I know he was still looking for a way to fix it."
"Uh..We haven't known each other long. But I'm definitely killing me a set of "parents.""
Zephyr laughed. "Let me watch." They then looked Magnus over. "So, you his boyfriend? Or is he not your type?"
"I am not answering that." Arriving at the base, Magnus motioned Callie over before rubbing his arms.
"Well whatever you are to him, just don't hurt him. He doesn't deserve all the shit he's been through." Zephyr said quietly.
Callie quickly threw Magnus a blanket before getting to work on healing Jasper.
Magnus gave her a grateful look, wrapping himself up before sitting down as his knees buckled.
Zephyr headed out of the room, disappearing down the hall.
Magnus knew he should follow, but he was so tired.. His eyes slid shut and his head dropped to his chest.
Callie finished healing Jasper before going to Magnus' side. She poured energy into him and warmed him up.
He gave no sign he registered her presence, his body limp.
She frowned and forced more energy in. A light flashed around him before she looked satisfied and moved away.
Jasper eventually woke, looking over at Magnus. Worry appeared on his face as he noticed the multiple blankets.
"He's doing a bit better now, but the strain is getting to him."
"Strain?"
"Cryokinetics often don't live long due to the effects of the cold. The more he uses the powers, the worse he'll get."
Jasper stared at her in shock.
"I'm trying to do research on it to help him out, so try not to worry too much."
"Guess it's just fitting.. I'm not supposed to live very long either."
"Like I said, try not to worry. I'm trying to help you out too."
"Just focus on him first. He's more important."
Callie nodded slowly, "Alright." She headed to the office and closed the door.
Jasper stared at Magnus quietly.
"I'm sorry." His eyes met Jasper's.
"For what?"
"Not telling you." Magnus slowly sat up, pulling the blankets around him.
"It's okay.. I haven't told you yet that I'm sick."
"Your friend did." Magnus looked away. "I'll leave as soon as I feel better."
Jasper looked confused and hurt, "Why..?"
"Your friend is back now. You don't need me messing up your relationship."
Jasper stared at him a moment before it clicked. "I'm not dating Zephyr, if that's what you're thinking."
Magnus looked up, startled.
"I've never dated them. But I am dating you. If you still want me.."
"Oh. Of course I want you! But I'm dying..the government has killed me." Magnus huddled in the blankets looking miserable. "The universe must be laughing at me."
"I wasn't supposed to live past twenty.. so every day is borrowed time.. seems like I'm not dying immediately but I doubt I have many more years left in me." He looked over and held out a hand. "Spend the rest of our short lives together?"
Magnus took a deep breath, then took Jasper's hand. "Absolutely."
Jasper smiled softly, "Let's go to our room. We can cuddle and maybe you'll warm up?"
"I love that idea."
Jasper pushed himself up and helped Magnus rise, then they headed to the room. After climbing in bed, Jasper wrapped his arms around Magnus. "I love you.."
"I love you too. I have a confession.." Magnus blushed slightly.
"Okay?"
"I fell in love the first time I saw you six months ago when I was first captured.."
"Falling for a captor? Sounds like Stockholm syndrome." Jasper teased.
Magnus shrugged. "Don't care. You looked damn sexy in that all black getup."
"Speaking of confessions.. Have you ever...?" Jasper blushed and looked down. "Have you done stuff before?"
"Kind of? Once. It was a disaster."
Jasper chuckled slightly.
"I couldn't..you know." He mimed, his finger rising upright.
"Wasn't your type or too afraid of consequences?"
"Not my type. She was a prostitute hired by the trainers. I ended up faking illness."
Jasper nodded.
"And after what happened when I first got there...I wasn't really interested." His hands began to shake as his eyes went far away.
Jasper raised an eyebrow but didn't say anything, just took a hand gently.
"It's why Lucien helped me hide. Not all the trainers were..professional." His voice hitched slightly.
Jasper squeezed his hand.
"I'd not even known what I was. It had never been addressed at the castle, aside from a comment about political marriage once from my father.." He froze as the words tumbled out. "Oh fuck…"
Jasper just squeezed Magnus' hand again, "It's okay."
"I shouldn't have said that.."
"It's okay," Jasper repeated.
"They disowned me when my powers manifested. They gave me to the training facility and wiped me from the royal history. Even replaced me with another boy.."
"I'm sorry," Jasper hugged him tight.
"Why did they hate me?" Magnus was on the verge of tears.
"They don't deserve you. You are such a great person, they just saw your powers and judged. It's what they do. But I love you and accept all of you. I just wish I could show them how wonderful you are."
Magnus gave him a small smile, laying his head on Jasper's shoulder. "You're much nicer now."
Jasper turned and kissed Magnus' head silently.
Magnus felt himself falling asleep, whispering "I love you."
"I love you too," Jasper said softly, closing his eyes and beginning to drift off.