Another chapterrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
I don't own Yugioh 5ds
Jack kicked his bike's kickstand and walked into the dungy shop. Before he headed over to Yusei's Garage he wanted to pick up a few things. Specifically more cigarettes. This was getting to be a problem. He wouldn't admit that he was addicted even though clearly he was. He started using the hellsticks after Yusei was taken. He had spent the remainder of his days smoking, crying and drinking until Crow helped him get back on his feet. He remembered Crow's stern face telling him to stop feeling sorry for himself and pick himself up. He was probably still furious with him but he had still helped Jack and cared for him. Jack still couldn't hold down a solid job but at least he had stopped his binge drinking. Crow understood why he still smoked and only had one rule. No smoking in front of the kids. Jack could do that. They didn't make him nervous. He gripped the lighter inside his coat pocket.
The rusty bell on the door jingled and he stepped inside. There were few patrons inside at this early in the morning. Shelves were stocked with candy and toys as well as a few household items. Posters lined the white and gray cracked walls all displaying the Pro grabbed some of the candy bars and sweets from the shelves and made his way to the back counter where a busty woman in blue sat reading a magazine. She seemed to fit with the whole shop. Drab, inconspicuous and boring. She had a brand on her forehead-a line that ended in a point then a dot. He often wondered what she got branded for. Being too lazy most likely. She looked up and Jack could see in her eyes that she was on something. Perhaps that's what she got arrested for.
" Fuck, its you. What is it Jack? " She snapped.
"Lovely to see you too, Kira." Jack muttered. "I want the usual. Also is Blister around?"
She flicked a hand at him and set two packs on the countertop. "He said he's done with you. Don't want to even see you anymore. Look Jack, you haven't won a single race in a month. Why the hell would he keep you around. Especially after that little stunt with Fredrick. What were you thinking?"
Does everyone know? He wondered. "Look I just wanted to tell him, I'm done too. I don't need his contract either so from this day forth I'm cutting my ties with you arseholes."
There was a glint in Kira's eyes and she purred. "Oh? Does that mean you'll stop seeing me Jack?"
He gritted his teeth. "I was never seeing you. Don't lump me into your fantasies. Unlike you I have class." He slapped down the cash not even waiting for the change back and walked off.
As he left she called after him. "See you on the road Jackie! Blister's going to miss you!"
He slammed the door as she cackled.
He withdrew his lighter and opened one of the packs then decided against it. He would be on his runner in a few seconds and this was all he was going to get for a while. Why waste it.
He arrived at the garage in 20 minutes on the dot. He had to make a small detour towards Crows apartment to give the kids the candy. Crow's voice rang in his ears. Don't spoil them. They wouldn't eat if you keep giving them candy. He grinned.
The garage was closed today so he went in through the side entrance. The key was where Bruno had said it was-under a super old and disgusting pot with a dead plant. He let himself in. The garage was well lit. He didn't notice before but it was pretty big. There were 2 cars lined side by side. He assumed the two others outside had just been repaired. Bruno spotted him first. He was descending the stairs. "Hey Jack!"although his normal cheerfulness remained there was an air of caution surrounding his tone. "Hey Yus! Jack's here!" A grunt was heard from the second floor.
Bruno reached Jack and whispered to him. "Don't mention his hands. Or his bruises for that matter."
"Why?"Jack asked curiously.
Bruno took a tentative look towards the second floor."He doesn't like it when people worry about him. He, um, doesn't like the fact that he needs help with most things."
Jack snorted. "Sounds like the Yusei I know. Always wanting to be independent."
"Yes"Bruno agreed. "But its different. He starts freaking out and gets really cold and scary. I'm worried."
Jack looked towards the second floor. This was shocking news to him. Just what had happened to him? This is a far cry from the confident, calm Yusei he knew. But then again 3 years was a lot. "Alright. I'll be on my toes."
Bruno nodded and Yusei appeared at the top of the stairs. He was wearing the same things he wore yesterday. A black muscle tee with red decal, blue gray jeans held up by a thick brown belt and brown worn boots. His crutch was in hand. "Jack."He nodded in greeting.
Jack swallowed and nodded back. "Yusei." The air turned tense as they stared at each other not breaking eye contact.
Bruno interrupted them. "Um alright! Yus should I take Jack to the back? He could help me bring in the motor oil we got a while back. We'll have to clean this place up too."
Jack made a face. "Manual labor? I didn't sign up for this."
"Stop complaining Jack. And you did sign up for this,"Yusei said. "Yeah. I'll call you guys in a few so we can go over a few designs and take measurements."
Bruno grinned and saluted comically. "Roger that boss."
Yusei cracked a smile.
As Jack followed Bruno into a side room he glanced towards the stairs. Yusei was limping down them leaning heavily on his crutch and the railing.
Bruno put him through the ringer. They moved boxes in and out of the storeroom. The replaced the pipes and hoses with new ones which involved Jack dangling upside down from the ceiling. They cleaned and tidied the workspace itself, with Lady Gaga wailing in the background. Apparently Poker Face was Bruno's favorite song and he insisted on playing it on repeat. Just when Jack was about to lose his mind, Yusei called them over.
"Hey guys! I'm done. Come check this out!"
"Oh thank god."Jack sobbed. His arms were sore. He had grease stains on his tank top and face, he had discarded his jacket a while back and his pants were stained with something green. "Remind me never to wear anything nice here again. Or better yet kill me now, I still have another week of this."
Bruno laughed."You get used to it, don't worry. Your shirt will wash nicely, your pants not so much. Trust me I have alot of experience with this."
"I don't want to get used to this. That would mean that I would stay sane when you play Lady Gaga on repeat. "
"Hey Lady Gaga is a goddess!"
They joined Yusei near the computers in the back. He pulled a large sheet of paper from under a few stacks of papers and books. He clicked a few files and a 3d rendition of the model on the paper popped up.
Jack's jaw dropped. "Yusei it looks like a donut."
Yusei shot him a look. "This isn't half as stupid as all the other runners on the road. I built Crow one that glides, if he takes off from the right height. Runners are getting more and more advanced."
"I see and the balance is equally distributed due to its shape. Its the perfect design for Jack."Bruno nodded and placed a hand on the back of Yusei's chair grinning at him. Yusei grinned right back. Jack looked at the two of them and his heart sank a little. Are they? No they couldn't be…. But he just didn't know. They seemed compatible. They matched.
He pushed those thoughts to the side. They discussed the newest features and upgrades. This new runner would have a faster system, better power distribution and more.
There was a small lull in the conversation when Yusei said suddenly. "Bruno, did you do your homework? You have school tomorrow."
Bruno smacked his forehead with his hand growing pale. "Oh my god I forgot! My professors are going to kill me! "
"Bruno!"
"I'm sorry! I honestly did forget!"He clasped his hands in front of him."Oh and I've got an essay that I haven't started yet..."
"Bruno, our agreement was that you only get to help if you stayed on top of your schoolwork."
"Homework's overrated."Jack snorted.
"Not when you're the number one student in the Engineering department."Bruno said glumly.
"Go do it now."Yusei said. "Don't worry I can brief you later. Anyway you already heard the majority of it."
Bruno glanced at him ."But are you sure?"
"I'm good. I've got Jack."He pointed a thumb at the blonde man.
"Okay but please don't do anything strenuous."
"Bruno..."Yusei said warningly.
"Okay okay!" Bruno ran up the stairs and a few seconds later a door slammed.
Jack was left alone with Yusei. The dark haired man stretched. "Honestly, the only reason he still goes to school is because of me. Kids these days."
"Aren't you younger than him?"Jack asked.
" a few months though." Yusei's features were soft at the thought of Bruno and the uneasy feeling crawled up Jack's back.
"Um so...what now?"
"Hmm I guess we can get to work on the frame or I can just finish up the cars then get to work..."
"Doesn't that count as strenuous?"Jack asked, then immediately wished he could take that back.
A myriad of expressions flashed across Yusei's face. "I'm fine."He spat out. "I don't need you guys protecting me."He rose and grabbed his crutch. "Come on. Let's work on the cars first. They'll be done quicker."
He started limping towards an SUV that sat in the corner. Next to it was a messed up Jaguar. He grabbed a toolbox on his way and Jack followed closely behind. He noticed something with a jolt. Yusei's bad leg seemed like it was dead. It didn't look like it could move and just dragged behind Yusei like a large heavy doll. He could see Yusei try and move it occasionally but nothing.
The SUV needed a tire change and an engine repair. Yusei started setting up all his equipment. His fingers were bandaged and his bruises were fading but the brand was glaringly,insultingly bright.. How did you get to this point Yusei? All these injuries… But Jack knew. It was because of him.
Yusei caught him looking and his expression became guarded. "What?"
"Yusei, can I ask you something?"
"You just did. " He began fiddling with the hood of the car and pulled it up. One arm braced him steadily against the car.
"What happened to you? What did they do to you?"
Yusei stopped. The memories flashed before his eyes. "Why do you want to know?" He retorted.
Jack swallowed thickly. He didn't have an answer nor the right to make demands.
The black haired man made his mind up. "Pass me the flathead. After the race I was thrown into the back of a Security truck. They shipped me to the facility and threw me in a cell for a week. Once they came back for me, they took me to a room and strapped me down to a table. The reason the sentence is so short is because they make sure you can't ride ever again. I was on that table for a while, no anesthetic, and they severed all of the nerves in my leg." He clutched his pants and lifted his leg slightly. "I can't feel it at all. It feels like a huge weight attached to my torso. Other than that I suffered two broken ribs and my wrist was shattered. Oh yeah and a pretty big head injury. Theres a clot in the back of my brain."
"There has to be something the doctors could do."Jack mumbled.
"Branded remember? I'm not even allowed on the premise of the hospital much less inside it. If I was able to, I get it amputated, then I could make myself a nice prosthetic. They could toss me back in. I'm not going through that hell again." He let out a bitter laugh. "We weren't even humans to them. They treated us like animals. They did whatever they wanted with us. One of my roommates was whipped to death. But I don't want to be angry about it. I want to let go of that time." Yusei looked at Jack. "I don't blame you but right now I can't forgive you. Not yet. I'm sorry."
"Yusei." Jack placed a hand over Yuseis' gently. "I'm so sorry. If only I had-if only I-"
Yusei shook his head. "They were waiting for us Jack. Even if you hadn't done what you did, we would have gotten caught eventually."
Their faces were close only a few inches away, Jack could see his reflection in Yusei's eyes, the deep royal sapphire color, the light tan, the grease stains he hadn't managed to get out, the bags under his eyes. Yusei turned away quickly but not before Jack saw a light flush grace his features. Jack leaned away too although his blush was less pronounced.
"A-Anyway."Yusei cleared his throat several times. "What were we talking about?"
"Oh um..."Jack's mind went blank.
I-I'll go grab a few things from the desk over there. I just need a few cables and um, stuff..."Yusei babbled out. He attempted to run or at least speed walk away but instead stumbled forward and fell. He crashed to the ground heavily, the wind knocked out of him. His good leg crashed into the side of the SUV and he clutched it. "Argh!"
"Yusei!" Jack tried to reach for Yusei, but the younger man held up a finger.
"Don't touch me, I'm fine." Clearly he was not.
"Let me help you up."
"No!"Yusei shouted. "I don't need your help. I can get up on my own..."
He tired and his arms wobbled as he tried to hoist himself up by grabbing the SUV.
"Yus-"
"Jack shut up. I can do this. Don't treat me like I'm crippled! I can do this on my own!"
Jack was shocked. Is this why Yusei didn't want anyone to worry about him? He didn't want to feel like anything was different.
Yusei managed to get up but he clutched the car tightly. He glared at Jack. "Don't look at me like that Jack. I can still do things. I'm not useless." It seemed like he was reassuring himself more than Jack.
"I know you're not Yus."Jack whispered. "But it's fine to ask for a little help. You have to face facts, you're not well. You're scared of feeling useless, I get that but that's not the Yusei I know."
"The Yusei you knew died when he lost his leg." Yusei turned away. "You should go. We're done for the day." He grabbed his crutch and started limping towards the computers. "I'll get to work on your runner. But after I'm done with it, I never want to see you ever again."
Jack was left feeling empty. The warm closeness he had felt with him before had disappeared in a blink of an eye. His heart ached for Yusei but he didn't know why.
Please drop a review! I like a little R & R!