Jason walked through the abyss. Dark and damp. Quiet and cold. Only his quiet and slow footsteps echoed through the void. He walked toward the only source of faint light in the distance. As he neared it he saw something on the ground.
Jason kept his slow and steady walking pace. The light shone directly down on something - or rather someone on the cold concrete floor.
It was Thea. Beaten and bruised. Shaking and quivering. Tears streaming from her eyes, down her face. A knife stuck in her side. Blood and ink pooled on the ground. Her eyes looked empty, void of any life. But still sad and lost.
The figure that once was Thea shakily reached out her hand to Jason. Jason began to reach down to her. Then he felt something in his back. He heard the disgusting sound of tearing flesh and the worst pain he had ever felt pain shot through his body. His legs buckled and he dropped to his knees.
Looking down, Jason saw the pointy end of a knife exiting through his chest. The pain was unbearable. The sounds of screaming filled his ears. Sinister laughter. An evil presence. It felt like his head was going to explode.
Jason fell over but missed the ground. He fell through the floor and continued down into the darkness. And he kept falling. And falling. And falling.
"GAHUG!" Jason jolted awake in the hospital bed. The sharp and sudden movement made his chest and arm hurt like crazy. He winced at the pain and tried to rid his mind of the horrible nightmare. It was the worst one he'd ever had. It was the first one he'd had in a long time. His heart was racing and he tried to slow his quick breathing. "Oh my Cod! Oh my Cod!" he whispered to himself. "It was just a dream! It was just a dream!"
Jason looked out the window and saw it was still dark outside. He checked the clock on one of the monitors in the room. 2:38. He'd only been asleep for a couple of hours. The room was still dim and the hospital was quieter in the early morning hours.
Jason groaned in frustration. He really wanted some decent sleep. Now he was scared of having nightmares again, even if they weren't real. He ran his good hand down his face, feeling where his bandages were. He eyed the IV line running from his hand to a bag suspended above him. They were, unfortunately, very real and were going to be there for a while.
Jason gazed around the dark room and nearly jumped out of his skin when he saw Thea. She was sleeping in a chair close to the bed. A blanket wrapped her up to her shoulders. Her snoring was barely audible so Jason wouldn't have known she was there if he hadn't looked. He calmed down when he didn't see any knives and that she was fine. Just sleeping peacefully.
Jason just lay in bed, thinking, and watching Thea sleep. Why was she here and not with Arthur? Is she ok? Was she worried about him? How could she? She had almost lost her friend. Jason would've been worried too. Jason really cared for her and she cared about him. He had feelings for her and he was beginning to suspect she did too.
Jason thought about that last part. When he had first met Thea he was a nervous wreck. He was constantly worried about saying something offensive or doing something wrong. He had always been that way around girls was almost ready to just accept it. He'd just never have someone to love. But that changed when he was forced out of his comfort zone. Well, no one had actually forced him to do it. Guilt forced him to take Thea back home, and to care for her, and help her adjust to her new life above ground.
But Jason knew that his motivation for helping Thea had changed over time. At first, it was guilt and gut instinct. Then it was his good nature, his heart compelling him to help someone in need. Then, as he grew closer to Thea, he wanted to be a good friend. Someone she could trust and look to for guidance and companionship. Jason wanted to see her grow and begin a new life among the surface dwellers. He wanted her to get over her traumatic past and look to a bright future. Then, in his blind anger, he stupidly put his life on the line to avenge her scars, mental and physical. He saved her life a second time, but nearly at the cost of his own.
Thea stirred again in the chair, readjusting herself under the blanket. Jason watched her adorable, peaceful face. He smiled to himself at the Octoling. He knew in his heart there was a new longing. A new motivation. He was scared of it, excited and worried about it. Hundreds of scenarios ran through his head as he tried to think of what to do about it. All the possible events, outcomes, and consequences.
Jason shook his head to clear his thoughts. That hurt. It wasn't a good hour of the night to think too hard. Not when recovering from severe injuries. But he did want to know why she was here and not with Arthur. "Thea?" he whispered. She didn't respond. Jason tried again, louder. "Thea?"
Thea leaped up in the chair, eyes wide. "Ahh! I'm up, I'm up!"
Jason was so surprised he knocked the back of his head against the bed's backboard. "Owww!" he winced and grabbed his head with his good hand. When was he going to learn about waking Thea up?
Thea flopped back down in her chair, her face all sleepy again. The blanket had fallen to her feet. She stretched out her arms and yawned. "Jason? Are you awake?" she asked quietly.
Jason pushed through the headache, rubbed his head and grunted, "Y-yeah...I'm awake."
"What time is it?" Thea asked looking for a clock.
"It's still early in the morning. It's only been a few hours." Jason sighed.
"Oh..." Thea sighed too and rubbed her eyes. "How do you feel?"
"Everything hurts." Jason groaned, feeling the stitches in his chest.
"Should I go get a nurse?" Thea asked. She scooted her chair closer to the side of Jason's bed.
"Mmmm...Maybe later." Jason shook his head, slowly so as not to worsen the headache. He reached over to the other side of the bed to grab the cup of water and two pain relief pills. He downed them with a grunt and a sigh of relief. The cool water was soothing to his dry and raspy throat. "How are you?"
"Tired and hungry." Thea smiled a little.
"Well, you should eat something."
"Mmmm...Maybe later." Thea smirked. Jason smiled at her teasing.
"Did you sleep well?" Thea asked with an adorable, worried, little smile.
Jason shook his head sadly. "No...no I didn't."
Thea's smile disappeared. "Oh..."
Jason paused for a moment. "Thea? Do you ever have bad dreams?"
Thea huffed through her nose and turned her head away. "All the time..." she said quietly but didn't elaborate.
"Oh..." Jason frowned, not sure what to make of that.
"Why? Did you have one?" Thea questioned.
"Yeah," Jason nodded. "But I'm alright now...I think."
"Ok." Thea leaned forward in her seat. "So what happens now?"
"Now?" Jason asked. Thea nodded. "Well...now I stay here until I'm discharged. Then..." Jason rubbed his eyes and sighed. "there'll probably be a court case. We'll have to prove that Harry is the mugger with what little evidence we have and try to avoid the hefty fines or...jail time, that come with assault.
"He did confess, right?" Thea asked with a glimmer of hope.
"Yeah. But it's my word against his." Jason bit his lip. "He's older, has more experience and probably has money for a good lawyer. He's going to try to spin it on us." Jason sighed. "Then there's you."
"Me." Thea nodded, hope dwindling.
"The authorities will be very interested in you."
Thea gulped. "Yeah." She fidgeted with her fingers.
"Hey, Thea?"
"Yes?" She looked up at Jason.
"Uh...Why are you here...and not with Arthur?" Jason asked outright.
"U-Ummm..." Thea stuttered for a moment. Even in the dim light, Jason was sure he saw her face flush a little. "I-I don't..."
"Thea? Are you ok?" Jason asked, concerned.
"I-I didn't want to leave you. I was worried...about you." Thea looked down.
"But I told you not to-"
"I know, I know!" Thea said quickly. "But I still do."
"But why? I'm fine!" Jason said with a goofy smile. He pulled himself up to be upright, wincing at the pain.
"N-no! You're not!" Thea snapped back, a bit aggressively. "You're in th-th-the hospital with...with...knife wounds! You got hurt and you were asleep for hours and hours- "
"Ok, ok!" Jason tried to calm Thea down. "I'm sorry. I didn't know you were that worried. I just thought it was a bit odd that you were still here."
Thea calmed down and her face showed regret. "I'm sorry...I was just...really, really worried about you."
"And I'm very grateful that you are." Jason tried to cheer her up again, but Thea didn't say anything more.
A moment of silence fell between them "Where's Arthur?", Jason asked to change the subject.
"He went home." Thea looked up, but away from Jason. She looked out the door to the rest of the hospital. "We had something to eat at the hospital's cafeteria. He went home and I stayed."
"Ok." Jason said quietly. He had hoped that Thea would've gone with Arthur. She didn't need to see him like this. In the hospital bed, beaten and bloodied.
The two sat in awkward silence for a while longer. The atmosphere in the room was getting more and more awkward.
Suddenly, the hospital's PA system buzzed from outside the room, in the hallway. An alarmed voice came over the intercom. Jason couldn't make out what it said, but he knew it wasn't good. The sound of rushed footsteps and loud, frantic chatter filled the hallway. Jason saw the figures of doctors and nurses moving quickly past the doorway.
Someone must've been in serious trouble to cause such a big commotion. "I hope they're ok." Jason commented on it. H then noticed Thea. She was shaking a bit, even the relatively warm room. She fidgeted with her fingers and her eyes glanced back and forth between the doorway and the floor.
Jason had a hunch. "Thea? You don't really like hospitals, do you?"
Thea winced. Painful memories. Memories that she had fought so hard to suppress were brought back up again. She shuddered a little but still didn't say anything. "I-I don't..." she stuttered, trying to avoid the question.
"Thea. I know you hate it here." Jason insisted. "Even when we first met you didn't want to go to the hospital." Thea bit her lip and closed her eyes. Jason pressed on. "They could've helped you. They could've taken care of you. But you didn't want to. You seemed scared of the hospital. I see even now that you're uncomfortable here."
Thea continued to stare at the ground. Jason saw her swallow hard. She was fighting back the emotions. Jason knew he was pushing it but he knew he needed to know. "You said it was a personal thing and I know I'm pushing it..."
Jason stopped himself. He had to watch his words. This was something that Thea really didn't want to talk about. He couldn't be too invasive of her privacy. But Jason had a hunch, and he was sure that this was for Thea's good.
"You were so hesitant to go to the hospital before. You were scared. And yet you don't want to leave now. Why? What's changed?"
Thea's eyes threatened to water again. She shivered a bit and shifted in her seat. She looked up at Jason with tears in her eyes. Jason was getting sick of seeing her sad all the time. But...maybe...
"Thea...please." Jason pleaded softly. "Please tell me. What happened?"
"Ok." Thea said softly with a broken voice. She coughed a little to clear her throat. "Ok. You remember when I said that my mum died in the hospital?"
Jason nodded. "You told us at my birthday dinner. You said she died of a sickness."
Thea shook her head. "No. No, she didn't die because she was sick." She took a deep breath before continuing. "I didn't tell you the whole truth. As bad as her condition was, she was actually getting much better. She was probably only a few days from getting out."
Jason raised an eyebrow. "Then...how?"
"D-did you ever hear about the Inkling attack on dome 12B?" Thea asked, sniffing.
Jason thought for a moment. "Uhhhh...yes...I read about that one. It was during the war. One of the worst battles in civilian territor-Oh...oh." Jason paused. He was starting to connect the dots.
Thea nodded slightly. "The Inkling invasion came to cut off the military supply chain that ran through the dome. The town's defense force was too small to handle such a large and quick invasion. They were slaughtered." Thea's eyes finally gave in. Tears ran down her face and she wiped them away. She took another deep breath before continuing. "A few surviving soldiers fled to the small, crumbling hospital. The Inkling soldiers followed them...then bombed the hospital."
Jason's eyes went wide. "O-oh my Cod, Thea. I-I'm...so sorry." he said sympathetically.
"The whole building went down. I wasn't in the hospital. I didn't get hurt badly, but mum was killed." Thea's voice was breaking up. "The Inkling invaders left and I was alone. I was found by the Octarian military and they took me in." Thea leaned back in her seat, shaking.
"Thea...I-I don't know what to say..."Jason shook his head in disbelief, mouth agape." I-I had no idea...that my people..." A wave of anger washed over Jason's face. His fists tightened and his jaw clenched. "...could do something like this!"
Thea shook her head. "No, it wasn't their fault. Is your army taught to read Octarian?"
"...No." Jason calmed down. Thea had a point.
"Mm-mm..." Thea sniffed. "The Inkling soldiers couldn't have known it was a hospital. They couldn't have read the signs. They just saw a run-down building with enemy soldiers hiding in it."
"But surely they saw the civilians! The innocent people in the hospital!" Jason was getting worked up again.
"No." Thea sadly shook her head again. "Everyone in the hospital was in hiding during the invasion. They wouldn't have seen them. They saw targets enter a building and figured the easiest way to clear it...was to blow them up." Thea covered her face and cried into her hands.
Jason was still furious. "No! This is a war crime! They killed innocent civilians, in a hospital! For fish's sake! I just...I just-gahhhh!" Jason threw his hand up. He took a deep breath to calm down.
Jason stared at the wall past Thea. He had no idea Thea's past was this horrific. He couldn't even imagine losing both his parents and serving under a corrupt and cruel military for two, long years. Then risking his life to escape only to be hunted by his own people, and the only refuge being in a foreign city. Then being homeless and almost losing his life to a psychopath. It was all just too much. Too much for one person to do alone. It brought tears to his eyes.
Jason finally understood. This was the reason Thea hated the hospital. This was why she stayed with Jason instead. If it wasn't for that attack, Thea never would've been recruited, she would've never come to Inkopolis to be mugged, and they would never have met.
Jason took another deep breath to compose himself. He tried to think of something smart to say to comfort Thea. He sat up straighter against the backboard of the bed. "Thea, I don't know everything about what you've been through. But I know some pretty horrible things have happened to you. A-and I don't believe in fate or destiny. But...I do think people can change their lives for the better."
"I know you wish those things didn't happen to you, I do too. And things may have turned out better if they didn't. But accidents happen and people do things that are out of our control. Sometimes, we make mistakes that seem obvious in hindsight. But often, we don't know all the consequences a tough decision will bring."
Thea uncovered her face and wiped away her tears. She sat up a little to listen to Jason.
"You may not like what has happened in your past and where your decisions have brought you, but here you are. And what's most important is what you do now, here, in the present. To better yourself. To better your situation. To better the people around you."
Thea sniffed and swallowed the limp in her throat. "I've said that I want to move on from...everything in my past. I want to forget. I've tried. I've tried so many times. But the memories, the emotions...the nightmares, they just keep coming back again. It makes it really hard to go on."
Jason's head snapped up. "Is that why you wake up with a fright every morning? Because I'm waking you up from a nightmare?" Thea didn't look at him but nodded silently. "I-I'm sorry. I had no idea. You seemed so...peaceful when you were sleeping."
"I know." Thea nodded. "I usually forget them right after I wake up. That's why I seem so normal afterward. Sometimes I remember them and that's how I know."
"I'm sorry, Thea." Jason shook his head sadly.
Thea shook her head. "No. I'm sorry for not telling you. I didn't want you to worry. Instead I've made it worse."
"What are the nightmares about?"
"Usually, I relive something from my life underground." Thea visibly shivered. "My mum's death. Or training in the military."
Jason sighed. At least that mystery was solved. "Well, you can't always suppress memories. Sometimes it's better to talk about them or to come to terms with them. You can't change the past...You can only control your future..." Jason realized how useless he was being. All this philosophical talk. That's not what Thea needed. She needed a friend's comfort and some time to think.
"Umm...Well, what I'm trying to say is...Uh..." Jason ran his hand down his face and groaned in frustration. "Cod, I'm sorry, Thea. I'm not good with words."
Thea drew a shaky breath and sniffed. "It's fine." She took the golden toothpick from her tentacles and held it in her hands. "The last time I ever spoke to my mum...She gave me her golden toothpick. She said it had been passed down through our family for generations." Thea held the beautiful ornament to her chest. Tears fell from her face into her lap. "And it was finally my time to have it. It was the one thing of her that I got to keep."
Jason rubbed the tears out of his eyes. "How did you lose it?"
"I-I don't know." Thea wiped her face. "I just realized one day, in the training facility, that it was gone. I usually left it in my dorm. It wasn't in it's place one day. I looked all over for it and it was nowhere to be seen."
Thea drew another shaky breath. She held the golden toothpick in her hands. Its shiny and polished surface reflected a warm, golden light in the dim hospital room. Thea gave a weak smile. "And...that's why I'm so thankful for this one."
Jason's eyes snapped back to Thea. Thea looked up at Jason and both of their teary eyes locked. "And that's why I'm here." she said.
"Hmm?" Jason furrowed his brow and cocked his head slightly.
Thea moved her chair a bit closer to Jason. "Jason, I have no family left." She spoke with more determination in her voice. "I was imprisoned in a military base for two years. I sacrificed everything to escape, only to find that I was homeless. I came to your city for help and was turned down. Left to roam the streets and alleyways. I was cold, and starving, and just about ready to give up. Then to top it all off, I was assaulted by a crazy cook with a fancy engraved knife!"
Jason nodded as he thought back to their first encounter in that dark alley. Where his stupid idea to throw his groceries at said 'crazy cook' started a series of events that would lead to where they were now.
"Jason," Thea continued her rant. "In the one week I've spent with you, you've shown me more love and compassion than anyone else has for the last two years. You've given up your, food, your time, your money to help me. You cared for my wounds, you gave me new clothes, you taught me to read and write your language, you found me a job, you showed me the more fun and enjoyable side to life."
Thea took another deep breath before continuing. "You've put up with my mistakes, and some of my... more...interesting characteristics." she said with a cringe. Jason remembered her strange wake-up routine and his remarkable ability to get hurt every time. He smirked at that thought.
"You cheered me up when I was sad, you ran for hours through the city for me!" Thea said a bit louder. "You bought me the most wonderful gift, then you put your life on the line to save me, again! Well...after you stupidly tried to confront Harry alone!" Thea laughed.
Jason's face went red from embarrassment. "Y-yeah, not my smartest move."
Thea sighed now that her long-winded rant was over. "The point is, Jason, no one has ever shown me that much care before. I know that you truly do care about me..." Thea paused for a second. "And love me." she said with a shy smile.
Jason's heart jumped 5 feet in the air and the sirens and alarm bells went off in his brain. His face turned fully tomato red and averted his eyes to the ground. "Ga-I-Pfff..." he sputtered. Thea couldn't help but giggle at the poor Inkling's embarrassment.
"I-I-I'm s-sorry..." was all Jason could muster. "I-I didn't mean...I mean I...Oh my Cod!" He looked away and covered his burning face with his good hand.
"No! It's fine!" Thea laughed. Jason was so cute when he got flustered. It was like he was stuck between wanting her to know he was in love with her and not.
"But seriously!" Thea smiled at Jason. She took Jason's hand, the one in bandages, in hers. Jason was surprised and looked back at Thea. "The point is that all of this, everything you've done for me. And everything we've done together. And everything I've seen and everyone I've met. And everything we've been through together! That's why I'm here."
Jason stared at Thea, eyes wide. He gazed into her beautiful sapphire eyes. Full of tears, but tears of joy. He felt her gently squeeze his bandaged and bloodied hand in hers.
"And even though I went through some really terrible stuff to get to where I am now, I am so glad I got to meet you. You've cared for me, even when I didn't care about you. And now, when you need it the most, I care about you." Thea paused, briefly. "Because you're the one I want to be with."
Jason's eyes welled up with tears too. A turbulent wave of mixing emotions stirred in his heart. His brain was seizing up, screaming at him to figure out just 'what the shell was happening!' He was completely overwhelmed. "Wait...S-so...Y-you're saying...that...?
Thea giggled at the silly Inkling. "Yes, Jason! I love you!"
Jason's mind was blown. "I...I-I...Th-Thea!" he tripped over his words. "I-I don't...know-Ah..." He mentally kicked himself for being such a blabbering idiot.
Thea laughed again at Jason's embarrassment and shock. "Oh come on, you can say it!"
Jason took a few deep breaths to calm down. He thought about what he should say or how to say it. They always made it seem so easy in the movies. Nothing clever-sounding came to mind, so he just went with what they always say in the movies.
"O-ok." He gulped down his panic. "Uh...Thea. I...love you!" He said simply. The three words that everyone longs to hear. The three words he never thought he'd get to say to her out loud.
Thea squealed and reached over to give Jason a great big hug. She put her arms around Jason's neck and her head on his shoulder. "Owww! Ow, ow, ow!" Jason yelped from the pressure on his chest.
"Oh! Sorry!" Thea pulled back, red in the face.
Jason laughed. It was just like when she first came in to see him. "I-it's alright, I'm fine! Just need to be more careful!"
"Ok!" Thea grinned wide and resumed the hug, but was careful not to hurt Jason.
Jason, at first, didn't know what to do. He had hugged Thea before, but not like this. Eventually, he worked up the courage to put his arms around Thea's back and returned the hug. It felt amazing. The warm embrace was so comforting.
"I love you, Jason!" Thea said quietly. "Thank you so much, for everything! You've changed my life."
"And thank you, Thea!" Jason rubbed her back. "You've changed my life too." Suddenly, Jason pulled Thea away. He looked her right in the eyes. "And I promise, I will do everything I can to keep you here! I won't let them take you back! Not without a fight!"
Tears of joy streamed down Thea's face. "And I'll do everything I can to prove you innocent!"
The two stared into each other's eyes for a while, just savoring the moment. Jason broke the silence when his face flushed redder than ever. "Uh..." He coughed to clear his throat. "Do you wanna...um...maybe finish that moment we had in the alleyway?" He asked shyly.
Thea giggled. "I thought you'd never ask!" Immediately, she grabbed Jason's shoulders and kissed him on the lips. Jason's eyes went wide as saucepans. The sensation of euphoria and adrenaline overwhelmed his systems. Slowly, he relaxed. He closed his eyes and he returned the kiss. It was the most amazing sense of joy and happiness.
Jason didn't know how to fix the mess he'd made. He didn't know how to help Thea overcome her fears. Nor did he care at that moment. He was just happy to be right there, right then, with no one else but Thea.
They ended the kiss after a little while. "Wow!" Jason whispered then chuckled. "Since when have you wanted to do that?!"
Thea giggled. "Since that awkward moment we had in the bathroom on our first night!" Jason laughed. "How about you?" she asked.
Jason thought for a moment. "Honestly? From the moment I met you!" He pulled Thea close and the two of them shared another kiss in an intimate moment of bliss. A moment both Jason and Thea wished could last forever and ever.
"What the-!" Jason heard a familiar voice and snapped back to attention. Thea pulled away from his embrace, fell back into her seat and wiped her lips. Jason noticed the saliva dribbling down his chin and quickly wiped it away with a panic.
"Jason?" An adult Inkling couple stood in the hospital room doorway, staring at them for obvious reasons.
Jason sputtered. "M-Mom! Dad!"
Hey, guys! Long time no see!
I'm very sorry about the wait for this one. December and January were freaking hectic! Lots of things have happened. Like, a lot. I got two part-time jobs, my ice skating training has been taking up a lot of time, then there was Christmas and all the birthdays! Jeez, it was crazy. Lots more happened but I won't bore you. This A/N will be super long already!
I do constantly think about this story when I'm working or driving or something, but to translate my thoughts into words is hard. I need time to just sit down and figure out how to write things in a way that's pleasant to read and actually makes sense. I just didn't get that time for a while.
I'm also 18 today! Whoo! Making up for last year!
I've been writing this story for over a year now. What started as just a simple backstory for my OC and a practice for conversations in written form has turned into a passion for writing stories. I am committed to wrapping this story up in a neat little bow. I want to have something I can show to my friends and family with pride, not shame.
So on that note, you may have noticed a few things off in this chapter. Some character inconsistencies and such. Namely, Jason's motivations have changed. I want to flesh out his character a bit more. (Thea too, but I don't think she needs it as much.) Jason was a character I made up with the sole purpose of being the protagonist because I didn't want my OC to be the center of the story. Like, Thea has an important role, but I needed a character to progress the plot.
Unlike Thea, Jason wasn't created with much thought and planning. I need to fix that and you've seen that in this chapter. (Hopefully, you didn't notice. In which case, it's working!) I plan on going back and updating most of the older chapters to be more in line with the new cannon after I finish this story. I don't think it's that necessary to do it now, so I'll spend my time finishing the story before endlessly polishing and perfecting. (I'm a chronic perfectionist.)
So anyway, Jason and Thea are finally together! Like for real! And we know a little more about Thea's past. The fight isn't over yet though. They still have to beat Harry in court! And I wonder what Jason's parents are gonna think of what they just walked into. ;)
Plugs time! Follow me or the story for updates on new chapters. Review for M&Ms and my sanity. PM me for an invite to my humble little Discord server. It's a little more interactive than say Twitter or Instagram. (Shoutouts to Destiny, who's been waiting for this chapter for over a year, and Muzz for her FREAKING CHEESE! (That's an inside joke, don't worry about it.)) Thank you all so much for your encouragement and patience between chapters! It means the world to me!
Until next time,
Dashanerocket