Title: Metal Gear Solid: Elements of Destruction- Chapter 3: Moving On
Author: The Ice Goddess (FrozenBlueIce)
Fandom: Metal Gear Solid
Feedback: All feedback is welcome, whether it be negative or positive. I'm trying to improve on my writing so, please be honest: frozenblueice@yahoo.com
Pairing: The main pairing of this story is Snake/Otacon, which is obvious to anyone who knows of my fondness for Hal Emmerich, so therefore alright to disclose. There are others, but if I told you what they were, it'd ruin the story.
Series: No. There may be sequels in the future, but right now that is looking unlikely due to time constraints.
Rating: PG (this chapter only)
Disclaimer: All characters appearing in previous Metal Gear Solid video games are the property of Konami Computer Entertainment of Japan, and of their creator, Mr. Hideo Kojima. All new characters are the property of The Ice Goddess. This is a work of fanfiction, and in no way, shape, or form will I receive any monetary compensation for it. It is for entertainment purposes only.
Type: Action/Shounen-ai
Summary: This story takes place one year after the events of "The Big Shell." New information found by Otacon sends Snake back into action. (That's all I'm revealing!)
Chapter 3: Moving On
"Jack!" Rose cried, tears streaming down her face, "Where are you going?"
The man once known as Raiden pulled his clothes out of the closet, and began stacking them into the suitcases that were lying on the bed. He ignored the question, intent on leaving as quickly as possible. It was this kind of melodrama that Rose always put him through that he was running away from. He kept to the task at hand, as best as he could.
"Jack…" Rose whined again, this time more insistent.
Jack began to realize that conversation was unavoidable. If he just kept quiet, she would just get louder and more obnoxious.
"Rose," he said sighing, "don't make this more difficult than it has to be."
The first suitcase was filled to the max, and the platinum blond had a hard time closing it. It finally zipped shut, but the seams were on the verge of bursting.
Not looking up from what he was doing, Jack continued, "We've been through this already. It's just not working out."
"I don't understand," Rose said. "What have I done to make you hate me so much?"
"What hasn't she done?" Jack thought to himself. He didn't know if he quite hated her as she claimed, but he had a definite strong disliking for the woman. Her grating, whiney voice wasn't helping her case either.
Jack picked up the first suitcase and dragged it off the bed, and on to the floor with a thud. Damn. It was going to be a bitch to carry. But he knew, the fewer trips he made, the fewer confrontations, like this one, he'd have to deal with. He needed the exercise anyway.
"I told you," Jack explained for what seemed like the millionth time, "This relationship was built on lies, and I just don't think that it's a good thing to base a relationship on."
Rose looked at the floor. There was no way she could deny that she was never fully honest with her boyfriend. Though initially, Jack was just an assignment, she had come to be fond of his company.
"That's not fair," she defended, "I already told you that I'm sorry. You already forgave me. What more do you want out of me?"
"My freedom," Jack retorted. "And yes, I forgave you, but I haven't forgotten." All of those lies, and he still gave their relationship another chance because he loved the woman he had first met. But continuing the relationship with Rose after everything was uncovered was like starting a relationship with someone totally new. He soon found this out the hard way.
"Jack," the young woman pleaded, "Please, if you must go, at least tell me where you're going."
He sighed deeply. "I just need to be on my own to think awhile, that's all."
The faint sound of a baby crying in the room next to them caught Jack's attention. It was Iroquois, their son, named after and alternate alias of someone he respected greatly. Iroquois was born eight months after that day he and Solid Snake parted ways.
It was been a year since he tried to start over with a new life, but he found himself doubting his worth. Snake and Otacon were strong people, fighting for a cause, fighting for the future. Now, more than ever, was that important to Jack, and he thought often about whether or not the two men would ever be successful in their endeavors.
He went to Iroquois' room and picked up his son. He cradled him gently, soothing his tears away. Iroquois stopped crying and rested his head on his Daddy's shoulder. He was the spitting image of Jack: blond hair on the borderline of white and frosty blue eyes.
Whenever he looked into his son's eyes, it got Jack thinking about things. Finally, today, he decided what it was he needed to do for him, and his son. He would seek out Solid Snake and join Philanthropy's efforts in creating a secure future for Iroquois, and all of the children of the world to live in. Only then could Jack find his worth; not sitting here feeling sorry for himself, waiting for others to do the job for him. He would make use of what he had learned in his dark past as a child soldier, and use it to leave it all behind.
Heading into the kitchen, with the baby still half asleep on his shoulder, Jack opened up the fridge. He pulled out a fresh bottle of breast milk, sitting it on the counter. He filled up a bowl with hot water and placed the bottle in it to warm its contents up. Iroquois reached his fingers out lazily and began to tug lightly on his father's hair. It hurt a bit, but Jack let him continue. It would be a little while before he'd see his son again, and he cherished the time he was spending with him.
Rose stepped into the kitchen, her face red, puffy, and streaked with wetness. She stood there, staring at him as he began feeding their four month old baby boy. Not wanting to disturb father and son time, she remained silent.
Iroquois finished the last ounce of milk with a slurp, and Jack pulled the bottle away before he had time to suck air into his stomach. He placed his son back up on his shoulders, patting his back lightly. Iroquois let out a soft burp, then contented, fell right back to sleep, nuzzling his cheek into the curve of his Daddy's neck.
He reluctantly placed the baby back in his cradle, not wanting to let go of him. Jack paused to admire him as he slept. Iroquois looked like an angel.
He carefully shut the door to the nursery, making sure it didn't make any noise, and then headed back to his bedroom to finish packing. His eyes met Rose's calmly, then looked away.
"Will you abandon your son too?"
The question sounded ludicrous to Jack at first, but after awhile, he began to wonder if he really would. Not intentionally of course, but if he were to die out there in a fight, he would, in a sense, be leaving Iroquois behind. But this was something he just had to do. Sneaking in a bit of half-truth he replied, "No, I would never do that."
Jack closed up the last of his suitcases. His next question was hopeful, and he prayed that Rose would answer in a positive manner.
"If I go, will you stop me from seeing my baby?"
"Roses tears welled up in her eyes again. "No," she sobbed, "I could never deny Iroquois his father. Jack, he needs you. That's why you can't go. I need you too!" Rose began pleading once more.
Pulling the last of his important belongings out of the closet, Jack made sure to grab the sword that had been a gift to him. He gazed at the hilt thoughtfully, then strapped it to his back.
"Thank you for not taking my little boy away from me. I'll be back soon to see him."
"I hope that when you do come back, it'll be for good," Rose expressed to him.
"I wouldn't count on it," he replied, grabbing his suitcases.
Without another word, he left. Jack had already rented out a small studio apartment about 2 miles away. "It'll be nice to spend a night on my own for once," he thought.
Though his suitcases were really heavy, Jack decided to take it on foot. It would give him time to clear his head, and think about how he was going to go about finding Solid Snake.
***
Rose paced the apartment, nervously biting her nails. She heard a familiar buzzing in her ear. It was her codec, and the woman knew exactly who was calling.
She answered it. "Rose here."
The voice on the other end spoke to her.
"Yes. I had to let him leave," she replied, "otherwise he would've gotten suspicious. But don't worry, he'll be back. He would never abandon his child, just as you said he wouldn't."
Author's Notes:
I couldn't think of a better way to emphasize Jack's worship of Snake than to have him give his son a name in tribute to him.