Jim's Folly

Angel, you're a darling reviewer. I love your enthusiasm.

Chapter Eleven

Jim was long gone when Raven decided to finally leave the shack. As she opened the door, she came face to face with Rowan. Freezing in fear, she watched as his shocked expression turned into a snarl of hatred. "What are you doing here?" he demanded, entering the room and blocking the way out.

"I-uh…" Raven couldn't find her tongue. Where were her words? Where had the brave, authoritarian figure gone? Rowan sauntered up to her, getting into her personal space. "Look, lady. I don't want you in here. You know we have problems with each other in the first place." Rowan stopped close enough for her to feel his breath on her face. He smelled awful. He smelled like…death.

"I know you're here for Jimmy, but he ain't here…obviously. Unless…he left first. Did he leave you behind, Captain? Were you…rejected?" Rowan's eyes were lit with fire. He was treading on thin ice and Raven was preparing to defend herself. She knew the crude comments would spill off of Rowan's tongue at any moment.

"So that's typical of Jimmy anyway…he's gotten so tied up to his love of the good stuff…you know, drugs…women are just his play toys. When he's done with them he usually leaves for his next fix. Y'know, as only Jim can do."

Raven was disgusted. To think that Rowan was telling the truth…was despicable.

She wouldn't have it.

"Rowan, I am sick of your vile language. I am sick of your manipulative nature towards Jim. I am sick of your ways." She met his eyes, her expression hard. "Your words are poison."

She turned to leave in a huff but not before Rowan grabbed her tightly by the wrist. His nails dug into her skin and she tried not to squirm in his grasp, but her reflexes left her no choice.

"Rowan, let go of me!" she commanded. Rowan frowned, determination darkening his face.

"Look, Captain," he said, getting too close for her comfort. "I'm sick of a few of your ways, too. I'm sick of your manipulative nature towards Jimmy…it's his choice. He'll do what he wants. And you'll stay out of it. Got it, Cap?" His yellow eyes pierced her and she felt fear enter her, swimming through her veins. She was terrified by this young man, a creature who couldn't have been much older than her!

"Let go of me, Rowan," she said again, calmly. Though her voice was calm, she couldn't hide her choppy breathing. Her heartbeat was erratic.

He smiled, baring his pointed teeth. He could kill with those teeth. And he was terrifyingly close to her.

"Leave us alone," he told her, angrily, his face dropping to an expression that darkened her soul. She frowned. "There is hope for you yet," she whispered.

He smiled faintly, getting closer to her. Taking her face delicately in his free hand, he kissed her hard, much to her distaste. "Maybe for me," he whispered when he pulled away. He drew her into a tight embrace and grinned, playing with her hair as he whispered into her ear, "but not for Jimmy."

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Andrew couldn't shake off the feeling that something was wrong with his mom. Something was happening to her and he couldn't figure out what it was. He cried a little, trying to suck it up like a big boy should. He took his pet into his arms and cradled it as he cried, thinking about his mother. As he looked out the window, he saw the boy who would often walk down that street below with a blue man. The boy was alone and looking very tired. He even stumbled a little as he walked. Andrew watched the boy as he walked into a small, dirty looking house in a shabbier part of the town down the street. Raven had told Andrew to stay away from that part of town, no matter how old he was. There were dangerous people down there.

Andrew hoped that wasn't where his mommy was. He knew she couldn't be. She wouldn't do what she told him not to do, right? That was what he knew to be called being a 'hippo-crite'. He didn't want his mommy to be a 'hippo-crite.' She was smart. She didn't do things like that.

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Jim opened the door to the shack to see Rowan holding Raven in his arms. Raven, as was apparent, did not want to be there.

Jim stood momentarily, taking in the scene. Rowan was sitting on the grungy bed, holding Raven tightly against him, her hands bound by his tail as his arms were around her, his face nuzzling her hair. When Jim entered, Rowan smiled, looking up at him.

"Ah, Jimmy, you're home." Raven squirmed, trying to get out of Rowan's grasp.

Jim scowled. "Rowan, what are you doing with the captain?"

Rowan shrugged. "I'll ask you the same thing. Interested?"

Jim frowned, allowing Rowan's proposition to mean something to him. The meaning hit him and he scowled. He didn't think of her this way. As he stared at her, he looked at her terrified expression, the tears sparkling in her eyes, how helpless she seemed. He wanted to help her.

"Rowan, give her to me."
"Y'got some plans, Jimmy?" Rowan asked, smiling again. His smile was nowhere near pleasant. It was as seductive and suggestive as before.

Jim nodded. "Yeah. I got plans. Now let go. She's mine to deal with."

"You got it, Jimmy-boy. Have fun!" Rowan stood, still holding onto Raven. Looking her in the eyes, he gave her a sinister grin. He hesitated before kissing her again, lighter than the previous kiss had been. "Bye, Babe. It's been fun."
Raven narrowed her eyes and spat on his face. He snarled, and rose his fist to strike her. Jim caught Rowan's wrist and stopped him, knocking him to the ground. Rowan struggled as Jim sat on top of him, holding him down.

Rowan growled, having released Raven, who had backed into a corner in fear. Rowan overtook Jim and took his turn sitting on the younger boy. His claws were against Jim's neck, one in particular next to it. "Jim, I'd watch myself if I were you," he hissed, his fangs hideously close to Jim's face. Jim looked up, not phased as he glared back at the blue-skinned creature. Rowan frowned. "Such a rebel, you pretty boy…" Rowan bit his lip as he dug his claws into Jim's neck.

Jim cried out as the nails pierced his skin, drawing blood. "Hey! Rowan! Knock it off!"

Rowan smirked. "Jim, you're so boring."

Jim watched in silence as Rowan got off of him and left the shack, muttering crude comments about Raven under his breath.

As soon as Rowan was gone, Raven looked down at Jim with tired eyes. He was sober. She could see it. He smiled apologetically as he stood and opened his arms.

Without hesitation, she accepted his offer and fell into his embrace, not caring that she was getting his blood on her. He held her for a long while, his heart breaking as she sobbed against him. His stroked her hair, telling her over and over how safe she was, here with him.

"Cap, I'm so sorry you had to go through that," he whispered, letting her cry. Her hands clenched his shirt tightly in her grip. "Jim," she sobbed. "My name is Raven."

He smiled faintly, and didn't let her go.

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