Jasper woke up, kissing Magnus before trying to push himself up. He frowned as he felt his left hand tingling. He shook it a bit, trying to get the feeling back but it continued to just tingle. He sighed and went to stand. He felt a wave of dizziness making him fall back onto the bed.
"Jasper? Baby, are you alright?"
"Fine.." Jasper answered slowly. He finally got to his feet but looked really unsteady.
"You should rest. I'll go get Callie."
"I'll be alright," Jasper said quietly, getting his outfit picked out.
"Baby, it's not weak to need help."
Jasper sighed and tried to get dressed. He ended up getting his shirt on fine then struggled with his pants. He let out a small frustrated noise before sitting on the edge of the bed and laying back. "I don't want to need help.. I just want to be okay. Nausea I can handle, but dizziness and numbness..."
"It's okay. Do you just want to rest? Or do you want Callie?"
Jasper tried to move further onto the bed, "I'll just rest a few minutes, then maybe I'll be feeling better.. I'm supposed to train you more today.."
"It can wait." Magnus kissed him, then dressed and left the room.
Jasper curled up in bed, hugging the blanket tight.
"Morning," Zephyr greeted Magnus.
"Morning. Jasper is sick again."
Zephyr shook their head, "He goes through rough patches then improves, but I'm afraid he doesn't have a lot of rough patches left.. He was supposed to be dead three years ago.." He looked thoughtful, "Almost four years now. His birthday is coming up. Had a huge party on his twenty-first to celebrate him surviving the odds.. Maybe we should throw him another one?"
"How about in the throne room?"
"Maybe," Zephyr nodded. "So, how are you doing?"
"I'm okay. I'm also completely serious. This war needs to end. I want to stage a coup."
"Alright.. I'll help you with whatever you need, but keep Jazz involved, he does run this place."
"Just need your speed. Get me to the castle, then leave."
"I'm not just leaving you," Zephyr answered. "But I can get you there."
"If it goes wrong, Jasper will need someone to keep them safe." Magnus sipped his coffee.
Zephyr frowned and was about to answer when they heard a loud group in the hall.
"What the hell?"
Zephyr poked their head out of the kitchen and frowned, "The defense guards are grouping. There must be an attack.."
"Commander Zephyr, there's a small group of enemies outside," One guard informed.
"Commander Phoenix somehow knew they were here and already headed out." A second added.
"Dammit!" Magnus took off at a run.
Zephyr passed him quickly. By the time the speedster got outside, Jasper was already in combat, shooting at three men. He swung his hand over, small rocks flying up and pelting the enemies.
Zephyr pulled out his swords and prepared to attack.
The man in the middle of the group laughed as he dodged a majority of Jasper's attacks. "You always were weak. I'm surprised you're still alive, honestly. Thought I killed you before, you pathetic excuse for a human."
Magnus arrived in time to hear the statement, snarling wolfishly. He began to approach before his eyes landed on the man's companions. He blanched, his body trembling violently. "Zephyr...get Jasper inside…"
Zephyr sighed and began approaching Jasper slowly.
The man looked at Zephyr and smirked, then waved the companions forward.
"NO!" Magnus sped forward, calling a flood of water to his fingertips too late.
Fire suddenly swirled around Jasper. He let out a small scream as the fire licked at his skin. It faded away, char marks and embers littering Jasper's clothes.
"You have two choices, come back to the prison or feel the heat until you die." The man in the middle smiled coldly. "We'd welcome you back to your cell with open arms. You were always a favorite of the guards and I.."
Magnus howled in fury, water splashing onto Jasper quickly before he called a cyclone of ice.
"Always knew you two were bastards, but this is low even for you."
One of them smirked. "You jealous, Jack Frost?"
Magnus threw the ice toward the three, only for one of the companions to melt it with a sustained burst of fire.
"Don't you remember what happened last time?" The smirking one asked before both poured fire onto Magnus.
The cryokinetic began to scream, the flames eating at his clothes and skin. He fell to the ground thrashing violently.
Zephyr ran forward, slashing at the two as Jasper began throwing larger rocks at the three.
The man in charge ran forward toward Jasper, grabbing onto him roughly. He began pulling, Jasper fighting to get free. Dizziness rushed over him and he swayed. The man got one of Jasper's wrists into handcuffs before Jasper had the focus to keep fighting.
Zephyr stabbed at one of the men, hitting them in the arm before trying to get to Jasper.
The two moved to block Zephyr from getting to Jasper and the warden as the warden began dragging Jasper away.
Magnus staggered to his feet, a single huge shard of ice materializing. He shakily threw it at the warden before crumpling.
The ice lodged itself into the warden's arm, allowing Jasper to pull free. Still in cuffs, he struggled to attack, but was soon grabbed by the throat with the warden's other hand.
Zephyr tried to get through to him, swinging violently at the other two.
Zephyr finally got them knocked down, then rushed forward and drove a sword into the warden's back.
Jasper fell to the ground, barely conscious.
The guards took the two fire users to a cell as Zephyr helped get Jasper up.
Jasper moved slowly, collapsing to the ground beside Magnus. He looked him over, tears streaking his face.
"I'll get Callie.." Zephyr said softly.
Jasper didn't answer, just continued crying weakly.
Magnus' skin was charred nearly black in some places, blistered heavily in others. His clothes had been turned to ash.
Jasper sobbed, struggling to breathe until he passed out.
Jasper finally woke, still feeling pretty weak. He looked around quickly, eyes landing on Magnus who was bandaged up and lying in a bed.
Jasper quickly stumbled to him, cradling the other man and sobbing.
"I did what I could, but he is very weak and I'll be surprised if he makes it to morning.." Callie said sadly.
The statement made Jasper cry harder, wrapping Magnus tightly in his arms. He continued to cry for a while until he wore himself out, then collapsed, half on the bed.
Callie sighed and connected the two medical beds so they could be together still.
"Don't..let him-" Magnus' voice was almost inaudible.
"Just rest," Callie said softly before heading to the office.
Jasper was out for a long time, finally waking again when the light from the window shined on his face. He struggled to turn, looking at Magnus with worry.
He was struggling to speak, his eyes hazy with pain.
"Magnus.." Jasper whispered. "Stay alive.. I can't lose you.."
"Don't..don't kill them..save them. Please…" Magnus gripped Jasper's hand weakly.
"Whatever you want love, I'll try.."
"I..I love y-" His eyes slid closed, his hand releasing Jasper's.
Jasper let out a sob and held Magnus close.
Zephyr visited once and listened to Jasper about not killing the two prisoners but they mostly left Jasper alone with Magnus.
The cryokinetic was growing weaker by the hour, his skin a deep blue under the bandages.
Jasper tried to keep Magnus warm and prayed for healing. Callie kept coming to give medicine and trying to heal as well.
Zephyr came in later, "You should get up to stretch your legs and eat.."
Jasper looked at Magnus sadly before sighing, "I guess.. Help me get to the prison cells?"
Zephyr looked confused for a moment but just nodded.
Jasper got down to the cells, looking through the bars.
"Time for our executions?" One of the pyrokinetics asked quietly.
"You're not being executed." Jasper answered, leaning on Zephyr for support.
He stared up in disbelief from where he sat on the floor beside the cot. The other man was sleeping fitfully, his face soaked in sweat. "I get it..you're going to torture us." He nodded slowly. "Just me please. He's hurting enough already."
"I'm not torturing either of you."
"So we are to be locked up? I'd rather die."
"You guys are free to go back where you came from if you'd like. Or you can join us. But you're not going to be locked up much longer."
"Stop toying with me!" He hissed angrily. "We attacked you and were captured. We know what you two did to that building. You must be even more cruel to lie like this."
Zephyr growled and was about to speak when Jasper weakly held a shaky hand up.
"I did attack that building... but other than when I was escaping a prison, that's the only time I've ever killed.." Jasper admitted. "I want to let everyone live and be happy.. although I did consider hurting you guys, Magnus asked that I don't. So you're getting out of here. I don't lie." He looked away, "What pleasure would I get from keeping you here except petty revenge? You can't help Mag and you can't help me." He turned away to the door. "Guards will let you out soon and take you wherever you want to go."
"Where is he?" The man stood and approached the bars. "The man I knew would never show mercy."
"He realized your side was wrong. You kidnap people and put them in prisons. You kill." He answered, still not facing the man. "He's seen the truth and has changed. But he's in the medbay, dying."
The man winced, dropping his eyes. A moment later, he spoke again softly. "I'm sorry. We don't deserve to be freed. Or live. Please execute us."
"If Mag dies, his final wish was to save you. So no, I'm not executing you. You're going to be let out and after that, you can do what you want." Jasper paused, then sighed and turned, "You sound like him a bit.. not thinking they deserve happiness or life after the bad things they did. But I'm sure you were like him in some ways, not knowing the truth or knowing what was right."
"I'll make you kill us!" Flames flared to life, dancing on the man's fingertips.
"Zeph, go. I'll take care of this."
Zephyr looked conflicted but nodded and stepped out of the room.
"What's your plan? Attack me? I'm sick and dying anyway."
"Then what do you care if we die or not?"
"I try to help everyone I can. And like I said, it's what Magnus wanted. I tried to give him everything he wanted."
The fire winked out as the man sank to his knees, tears suddenly streaking his face. "We killed our only friend..He never tried to hurt us but we killed him.."
"I'm sorry. And he's not dead, yet at least. But like I said, it wasn't your fault."
"We did it! No one forced us! We're monsters, twisted and corrupt. We deserve death." He rose and turned his back to Jasper as he bent over the other man. A second later, he was straightening, a vial in his fist. He quickly drank it down, then gave a sad smile. "We'll apologize in person.."
Jasper forced himself to the door, telling Zephyr to get Callie.
She quickly appeared, going into the cell and sedating them before giving an antidote to what was in the vial and treating their wounds.
Jasper looked at them sadly before going to the medbay.
"Jas..per. Don't go.." Magnus was conscious, but not entirely lucid.
Jasper climbed into bed beside him. "Mag.. I love you."
"Are you real?"
Jasper looked down at himself then nodded, "I think I'm real? Figured if I was fake I'd feel better than this."
Magnus gave a shaky laugh. "You were hurt.."
"Just a bit of fire and choking. Nothing terrible." Jasper answered.
Magnus coughed. "Feel awful. What happened to the idiots?"
"Your fire idiots are being treated by Callie since they decided to try to die. Warden Asshole was taken out by Zeph."
"So I didn't get him?"
"Got him in the arm." Jasper said softly. "Thanks for helping me though."
"I wasn't about to let him take you." He closed his eyes briefly. "What do you mean, they tried to die?"
"The one that was awake drank something in a vial and gave it to the other one as well. Callie identified it as a poison and neutralized it."
"Let me guess. Blond and scary looking?"
"They don't look very scary.. but blond yeah."
"Hayato. Believe me, his temper is frightening. He flash fried a whole training group once for simply making fun of Takeshi. Are their weak points active?"
Jasper raised an eyebrow, "Weak points?"
"It's what the schools call them. It's when our powers overtake us. Pyrokinetics develop high fevers and if not treated, spontaneously combust."
"Well, Callie is taking care of them and Zeph was keeping an eye too."
"So what are you going to do with them?"
"Said they could go free and either go back where they came from or join us. Didn't believe me at first."
"They came from the school. Never been anywhere else aside from assignment. They were dropped off as toddlers. I kinda took them under my wing."
Jasper nodded. "Well, if you get well enough to leave the medbay, you can talk to them."
"Not sure that will happen."
Jasper just nodded and curled up against Magnus.
Magnus gently stroked Jasper's hair a few times before his eyes closed and he went limp.
Jasper felt it and looked up, his face falling as tears streaked his cheeks.
Callie and Zephyr came in and found Jasper lying beside Magnus sobbing.
Callie went and checked over Magnus and shook her head to Zephyr's look.
She focused energy into Magnus, a light pink coating the man. It eventually flashed and Callie swayed. Jasper looked up in confusion.
Magnus inhaled sharply, but didn't wake.
Zephyr helped Callie to a chair as Jasper wiped at his face and listened to Magnus' heartbeat.
A guard entered, standing in a corner and waiting quietly.
Zephyr looked up, "What's up?"
"The prisoners have been released. They are resting in one of the rooms."
"Alright," Zephyr looked at Jasper and Magnus before heading to talk to the twins. They knocked quietly, waiting for a response.
The shorter of the two answered it, surprise on his face. "Um..are you alright?"
"Yeah, just wanted to check on you two and let you know Magnus is doing a little better."
"That's reassuring. I'm better, though Hayato is worse. You sure you're okay?"
"Just worried about some stuff," Zephyr admitted. "If Callie is feeling okay I'll send her down to help Hayato."
"Don't worry yourself on our behalf. We're thankful enough not to be dead."
"Worried about you guys. Worried about Jazz. Worried about Magnus." Zephyr sighed. "Those two are going to worry me to an early death. Though, at least then I wouldn't have to outlive them.." they trailed off then shook their head. "Anyway, I'll send Callie down to you again and hopefully she can help some."
"Early grave sounds comforting to me. Gets old caring for idiots, don't it?"
Zephyr chuckled slightly. "Yeah. Jazz doesn't seem to care when he does stupid things cause he's already lived longer than expected. Forgets there's those of us that do still care."
"Sure he isn't related to my idiot?"
Zephyr laughed, "Seems Magnus has the same line of thinking too. Almost got himself killed using his ice not too long ago. Callie's doing well at keeping him alive but how many times can she help, I wonder? Thought having each other now, Jazz and Mag would get their shit together and try to live longer, but it doesn't seem like they are."
"They seem to not want to live without each other. We must have been separated at birth. I'm Takeshi, by the way."
"I'm Zephyr."
"Nice name. What's the feeling around here?"
"Feeling? What do you mean?"
"About.." Takeshi shifted uncomfortably. "Relationships. You know..the ones the government doesn't like?"
"Welcome to the base of the Chosen resistance. As well as the base of the Freedom movement. You can date whoever is interested, be whatever gender you want to be, use your powers as long as you aren't hurting anyone." Zephyr shrugged. "Though we normally take in Chosen, we do have an area of powerless people who wanted to love freely."
"Oh." Takeshi brightened. "I mean, Hayato is straighter than a stick, but me? Not so much. And I wish I could bring my friends here."
"Well, there's nothing stopping you. Other than, you know, fighting off the government."
Takeshi laughed. "That's the part that scares me."
"Well, you don't have to fight anyone anymore. You're free. But we do often fight to protect the base and rescue people if you want to join the guards at all."
"Oh, I love to fight. Just the government is a little frightening. Especially having been on the other side and now defecting.."
"Well, Mag can give you advice if/when he pulls through."
"I'm sorry about that." Takeshi's face fell. "I was surprised not to be executed for it."
"He wanted you guys safe. And as crazy as Jazz is sometimes.. he's really a good person."
"Magnus wanted us safe?"
"Yeah," Zephyr nodded. "It's the main reason you're free. If it ended up being Mag's final wish, Jazz wanted to carry it out."
Takeshi's eyes widened.
"Doubt Jazz would have killed you anyway, but after his going nuts at the government building I can't say I know for sure what he'd do. But you're free and safe and I know Jazz isn't actually angry at you anymore. He's too worried over Mag. And I know he wasn't feeling good earlier so he's probably too weak to care much."
"But we hurt Magnus.."
"We blame the warden and the government. Not you."
Takeshi exhaled sharply. "How are you guys so forgiving?"
Zephyr shrugged, "Always have been. Well, there's some people we can't forgive, like his parents and the government of my land, but most people we can forgive pretty easily."
"Better people than me." Takeshi swayed slightly.
"You're a good person, you'll see. But my government executes Chosen and LGBT. They don't just imprison them. And his parents.. well they tried to kill him too. But it doesn't matter. You should lay down and get some rest. I'll check on you again later when you're feeling better."
"I meant, if someone tried to kill Hayato or my mate, I'd definitely kill them. I'm fi-" He began to pitch forward.
Zephyr caught him, lifting him and laying him on a bed. "I'll get Callie. Just rest."