"I can't believe you broke your phone."
"I didn't break it!"
"You literally submerged it in the ocean."
"That's not breaking it!"
"Haven't you ever heard the term water damage!?"
"No- Ouch!" Jasper jumped in place, turning his attention from the white haired boy over to the scruffy suited man currently cleaning out the cuts on his hands. He glared and got an apologetic look in return. Apparently the man was a teenager but Jasper absolutely did not believe it. And if he hadn't been bullied by the other two children in the exam, he definitely would not be doing this. "Besides there's no proof that it went in the water," he finished with a growl.
He disliked being so exposed to curious eyes. Without his robe there to hide him away, it felt like everyone was staring and it was making him very grumpy and snappy.
"You're covered in salt. Your belongings are covered in salt. There's even salt in your hair! Obviously you took a jump into the ocean."
Before Jasper could snap back, the older man spoke up. "It's a good thing you did. Whatever caused this reaction on your hands seems to have been affected by the salt. I think it has started healing it… More saltwater might help."
"So, you're saying it's a good thing I broke my phone," he growled.
"Ha! You admit it," Whitey crowed. It was a nickname he was quick to stick to the boy, though he'd yet to call him that outloud.
"I admit nothing!"
"Killua, must you antagonize him," the older man complained, knocking his glasses askew as he rubbed an eye with the heel of his palm.
"Pfft. Duh. Nutty's too easy to work up." There was a sparkle in the blue eyes staring at him and Jasper was about ready to strangle this kid with his garotte wire.
"What did you call me?"
"Open your ears midget! I said Nut-ty! Need me to repeat it again?"
"Oh, that's it!"
"Hey I'm not done wrapping your- Hey! Watch the family jewels, you little demons!"
"Do you feel any better now?"
Jasper blinked in surprise and glanced over at the other boy who was laid out on the ground just like Jasper, taking in his scowl and forward facing eyes. There was hardly any sign of exertion which irked him a little. Jasper himself was panting up a storm. "What?"
"Don't make me repeat myself."
Rude. But… yeah. Jasper did feel a little better even despite his physical fatigue. The frustration and paranoia that had been building had settled down, letting him think clearly. He didn't know whether he should say as much, though. Whitey had explained, with a long suffering look on his face, and with Greenie's help, exactly what they were to him. Or what they thought they were to him. He didn't see himself ever having friends. He'd always been alone.
Well, okay, that was a bit of a lie considering he used to have his family. But after that… he was pretty sure it had just been him. He made it this far on his own, so what use was baggage now except to help him pass this exam? But… but Whitey- Killua as he kept insisting once he'd finally snapped out his nickname during their tussle (and there was a mention of a bet in there but it hadn't been expounded upon)- had actually helped him calm down. It felt nice.
They'd wrestled for a good long while before the drab doctor business suit guy had finally thrown his hands up and stomped off. Then the fighting had ramped up, his mouth had made quite the bloody indent on Killua's wrist and the kid's nails had somehow made several small slashes across Jasper's nose. Then parts of the room had started to be incorporated and it had seemed more about who had the most creative weapon than who could hurt the other more at that point. (Killua won with a tissue. He had no idea one could be used like that.)
Who knew that fighting could be so therapeutic?
"I guess I do," he eventually muttered grudgingly.
"Good. Then you can stop sulking and go talk to Gon. He's been off too and I'm sure you speaking to him will make you both feel better. I'm gonna go grab a bite to eat."
Without so much as a by-your-leave, Whitey rolled onto his feet, snatching up the board that he'd whacked into Jasper's torso earlier and sauntered out the door, leaving Jasper there blinking in bewilderment. That was it? No more questions? He just said yes and it was accepted? That's not- that's not how it works…? Right?
Ugh… Whatever.
Jasper turned his eyes back to the ceiling, contemplating if he should actually get up and go seek out Greenie...er, Gon. He was never going to remember their names without his phone. He had… no idea what he was going to do without his phone actually. It was surprising that he wasn't freaking out about it more. Instead, his thoughts were revolving around Gon's promise and Killua's surprise intervention.. Should he really claim them as friends?
"In a while the president will receive you for a conversation. When your number is called, please make your way to the reception room."
He glared at the speakers in the room for interrupting his thoughts. Then the full meaning of the words processed and he jolted up with an unhappy breath. His belly felt bruised dammit… More importantly, though… What was his number and where was the reception room?
Who retains the most of your attention?
Um… I don't really know numbers but the other two about my age.
Who do you want to fight the least?
Everyone? I guess I'll fight if I have to, though. In that case it could be anyone.
Jasper bit his lip, glaring down at the paper in front of him. His horrifically sloppy writing was all over the lined pages. It was his own writing and he couldn't even make heads or tails of what he'd written. Who knew that copying letters could be so difficult?
He thought it would be best to write stuff down until he could get a new phone. Except… well… he couldn't write. He'd never learned with his family, preferring to sit in Daddy's lap and read instead. It just… hadn't been needed and now he was apparently paying the price.
When a knock came at his door, he threw the pen he'd been crushing in a fit of frustration. Then he popped himself to his feet and marched over, swinging it open with a scowl.
Greenie stared back at him with a large happy grin on his face. "Hey Jas! I came to see how you were doing! I was getting bored and Leorio wanted to check on you too. I figured I could do that for him and we could hang out."
The sudden onslaught of excited words killed his frustration quickly. He blinked at the boy before shuffling aside quietly. A distraction is probably what he needed. Greenie skipped past him happily, immediately checking out the space that Jasper had made into his own until the last phase. He thought it had been two days since he'd picked this room but he wasn't quite sure. Actually, now that he thought about it, Greenie being here could be a great memory refresher.
"Whoah! What's all this? Are you writing in a secret code?"
Jasper twitched. "No."
"Oh, I see. Um… are you practicing then?"
Okay, maybe having Greenie come in had been a terrible idea. He should have at least trashed his pathetics attempts at organizing and retaining his thoughts.
"No," he scoffed. "Just ignore it. You said something about hanging out?"
Greenie cast another glance at the spread of papers, his gaze quietly searching before he finally turned and grinned even brighter. "Yup! Killua said he was taking a nap, Kurapika isn't in his room, and Leorio is in the medical wing talking to the Doctors. And I haven't had a chance to hang out with you since the forest! I was too worked up on the ship and I didn't see you at all on the island!"
He stared blankly for a moment before turning around and making his way over to the couch where he plopped down with a frown. So… he was the last choice then. He had no idea what other places Greenie was talking about and while he was slightly interested in learning… he was also stuck on the fact that he was the last choice. It shouldn't make his chest twinge. They weren't close. Jasper didn't have friends.
That didn't mean he didn't want them.
Greenie was only a few steps behind him, and by the time Jasper had situated himself on the couch, Greenie had plopped on the arm rest right next to him. Like this Greenie was much taller and Jasper had to look up. A motion that felt particularly wrong even though he wasn't sure why.
"You've been in your room for two whole days! We were all waiting for you to show up in the cafeteria but then the old man said that the examiner lady from the forest had been bringing you food. Which is really cool! She must really like you!"
"Greenie-"
"Gon!"
Jasper paused at the interruption, unsure. When the other boy just stared right back at him, he quietly corrected himself and moved on. He hadn't truly noticed how amber Gon's eyes were and there was just something there that was-
Unsettling.
Like he saw too much. Too much that Jasper didn't want him to see.
"Right. Gon. You mentioned… a forest, and a ship, and an island?"
There was a long moment where no answer was forthcoming, just a gentle amber gaze. It made his chest tighten and his belly flutter unpleasantly. When he opened his mouth again to disrupt the silence, Gon finally spoke. "I sure did. I'd be happy to tell you about them. But first, you gotta answer some questions, okay? Leorio spent a lot of time making sure I'd remember them," he laughed nervously.
"Sure?"
"Great! Do you have any more itching on your palms, belly, or thighs?"
Itching? He glanced at his palms curiously and was surprised to find they were covered in a rashy looking red. No itch though, and he said as much. After that it was a few more questions about his general health ( like the last time he ate and slept if he remembered) before they moved onto storytelling time.
And what a story it was. He got to hear from an outside perspective what his bad days looked like. He got to hear about his adventures with Gon and Killua and Kurapika and Leorio. He got to hear about the adventure they had themselves and how they were reunited at the bottom of the stone tower. And then the same thing happened on an island in the middle of nowhere.
In all honesty, it sounded like one big fairytale. Something he could read in one of his Daddy's books. But the earnestness and vigor in Gon's speech was more telling of his honesty. Though the telling itself left a lot of details to be desired, instead replaced by words like whoosh and bam, he had actually had several of his questions answered. Like how they met and why, even despite being unnerved by him, Jasper felt so safe around Gon. Unfortunately, he was also left with more questions. First and foremost, a robe. Apparently, Jasper always wore one and (this is probably why he felt so exposed and ended up hiding in his chosen room) he wanted to know what happened to it and if he could get a new one.
"So, why don't you tell me about your family?"
Completely thrown by the subject change, it took him a moment to process the question. "What?"
"Well, I'd love to hear about what happened when we were separated but you don't remember, so instead I'd like to hear about your family! It's only fair after telling you so much, right?" The grin had gained a bit of a mischievous edge.
"I… guess so?" There would be no harm in talking about them and he did cherish the memories he had of them. "Hm. I have my parents, five uncles, and my aunt."
"Whoa! That's a lot of uncles! You have an aunt too, just like me! That's really cool!"
He scratched the scabs on the bridge of his nose as a shy smile spread across his lips. "Is it really a lot? I wouldn't know… but all my uncles are the best! What's your aunt like?"
Gon shifted, throwing his hands up in the air and launching into a long spiel about how amazing his Aunt Mito was and how much she took care of him. It made him a little jealous. Why did he have to be the one separated from his family? Why couldn't he have grown up with them like Gon got to grow up with his?
"Oh, I'm sorry! I asked about your family and then started talking about Aunt Mito," the green clad boy laughed sheepishly.
"It's fine," Jasper murmured, waving his hand dismissively. "I asked."
"It's not fine. I made you sad again. Darn it!" Sad again? He hadn't been sad earlier, so what in the world was this boy talking about? "I shared a memory so it's your turn! You get all happy when you talk about your family so I want to hear more."
He was quiet for a moment, still confused about what Gon was talking about. But he relented eventually with a sigh. "One of my favorite memories is when I found a spider. She was really pretty, all big and black with a vivid red marking on her belly. I was really young and I could squeeze into tight holes. It used to make my family crazy with worry, I think because of how I'd get hurt. But, well, I squeezed into a hole this time because I saw something shimmering and it wasn't until I'd almost stumbled onto her web that I realized that it was her silk catching the sun.
'Pretty', I thought. I wanted to bring it back out for Ma because she sewed all the time and wouldn't it look so pretty if she sewed it onto her clothes? But when I tried to grab it, it got all sticky and broke apart. I was so upset that I cut my knee shifting around."
He frowned down at his palms, clenching and unclenching his fingers, trying to remember the feel of it. "I almost stepped on her because I couldn't see so well. She blended in really good with the darkness. But she hopped up onto my leg instead and the feel of her crawling made me stop moving. I don't know how long I sat there, just feeling her slowly work her way up to my knee, but eventually I tried to scoop her into my hands. It took a few times because she was shy and I wasn't very good at being careful.
When she sat on my palm, I couldn't help but admire her in the little sunlight that shone through where her web used to be. And then I felt bad because I'd destroyed her home without meaning to. So, I took her with me so she could start a new home."
He let out a wet chuckle, wiping at his eyes with the back of his hand. "Mom was so upset when I showed her my new friend and the cut on my knee. She never liked when I cut myself but she really didn't like my spider. Said that she was dangerous and poisonous and 'just see this mark?'. Apparently the little hourglass on her belly was a clear sign she was poisonous. I didn't get it. I didn't want to let her go.
At that point, Uncle Lin and Aunt Fei had come over and were watching. Uncle Lin tried to explain that the spider could make it's own home but I was determined to make her part of the family. They were all at a loss.
A few minutes later, Aunt Fei had left and came back with Daddy. He sat down right in front of me and smiled. He said, 'I heard we have a new family member. May I see her?'"
He stopped, brows furrowed as he pondered on the memory again. He wasn't sure why it was his favorite. He had so many bright and wonderful ones that it was hard to pinpoint the exact reason.
"So what did he do?"
Jasper turned his gaze back onto Gon, blinking himself from his daze. "Hm?"
"Your dad? What did he do?"
"Oh, right. Sorry. He took her into the house and settled her in a container after poking holes in it. Eventually, she was upgraded to a glass tank. Her name was Mimi. I loved to feed her bugs and she got really big really fast. The last I remember her she took up my whole palm."
Gon was grinning that same wide happy grin. "Your dad sounds so cool! I'd really like to meet him some day."
"You would?" The words were out of his mouth before he could stop them. He couldn't see why Gon would be around when he got back to his family. He probably wouldn't even remember the boy!
"Yea! You're my friend, Jas. And I'd be more than happy to help you look for your family after this. I'm still looking for my Dad, too but I don't have any leads just yet. I don't think you do either, so we can look together, right?"
Together?
He glanced around the room he'd been sheltering in for two days (according to Gon). There was a bed that was still made, the white sheets folded crisply and cleanly, sitting in the middle of the room. Up against the wall was the couch they were currently occupying and on the other side of the room was a big black box that looked expensive sitting on top of a dark wooden dresser. Over by the door that led to the bathroom, sat his pouch and satchel, leaning against the wall and supporting each other. Then there was the mess of papers on the floor that he'd been agonizing over. It was empty and cold, his presence only marked by his packed away belongings (not that there was very much) and his frustrating learning project.
All of a sudden, Jasper was hit by a wave of loneliness so hard that tears instantly sprang to his eyes and he crumpled forward trying to cover his mouth with both hands.
He wanted his parents.
He wanted to see his house lined with stacked books in the living room, with the leaky faucet in the kitchen, and the noisy creaky window of his room.
He wanted to hear Mom laugh, feel her fingers in his hair again.
He wanted-
To not be alone.
He scrubbed his face roughly, trying to will the tears away but they only fell faster. Crying was terrible and he hated it! He wanted to stop!
"Jas…"
A warm body pressed tightly to his side making him flinch. When nothing else happened except the warmth seeping into him, he allowed himself to just feel it. He accepted the presence and the warmth, desperately clinging onto the sensation that he could hardly feel in his memories. At this point, his breathing was starting to become difficult because of his stuffy nose and his eyes were burning. Why did he have to be like this?
He lifted his head to look at Gon who was staring at him with a furrowed brow.
"I d-don't want to be a-alone," he hiccuped pathetically.
And Gon's face softened in a small smile. It made his eyes practically glow with a subtle warmth and welcome. A green sleeve slowly pressed against his face making him flinch again in surprise. Gon was not deterred, gently wiping his face until finally his tears stopped out of sheer surprise. "You don't have to be. We're friends, whether you remember or not. I'll just stay by your side to keep reminding you, okay? I promise."
Of course, the waterworks started anew.
"I w-want to be friends," Jasper howled. "I want to be friends! I want to be friends!"
"Oh man! You weren't supposed to cry again," Gon squawked right before Jasper shoved himself into the boy's space, latching around his torso with all the strength he could muster.
They weren't sure how long his whole breakdown had lasted, but it was certainly long enough for Gon's tummy to start growling. Feeling exhausted and refreshed all at once, Jasper followed the brunette to the cafeteria after a little cajoling. The hallways weren't familiar even if they were pretty. With white flooring and soft gold walls, they glowed in the light of the sun streaming in through the windows. Being stuck in his room had not done him any navigational favors, so he stuck close to his new friend not wanting to get lost
"I hate crying," he mumbled, scrubbing at his face. Even though he'd splashed his face with cold water to lessen the redness, they still felt irritated and itchy.
"Crying isn't a bad thing," Gon laughed. "Aunt Mito says it's good to release your emotions! If you bottle them up then you could explode!" The green clad child was walking next to him, arms thrown behind his head casually. "Hey, Jas?"
"Yeah?"
"What's it like waking up and not remembering anything?"
Jasper blinked a few times, pulling his fist away from his face. "You ask really weird questions, you know that?"
"Well how am I supposed to know if I don't ask," he protested.
That was a fair point. Thankful for Gon's help and company, he decided to answer.
"Terrifying. Disorienting. I always feel lost, wondering what had happened. Where am I now? Have I gotten closer to my family? Am I in a dangerous situation? It's hard…" He let out a short breath, brushing some hair away from his eyes. It was getting in his way, maybe he should cut it?
"Hm. Well, that sounds pretty terrible… What about if you slept with me? Do you think that would make it easier?"
He paused, next to a window, staring out at the green trees planted in straight lines along the border of the property. Would that make it easier for him? Jasper didn't really think so. Waking up to having someone there would just make him question who they were and what they were doing near him. But… it would be really nice to fall asleep knowing that someone was there, that he wasn't alone. "No, I don't think so," he answered finally. "But… I would like to fall asleep… with my friend."
Gon's smile was as bright as ever. "Okay! We'll do that from now on!"
Gon and Jasper had only just started eating when Whitey wandered in, quick to snatch a tray and plop next to Gon. Blondie and Doctor Drab came soon after. He looked around the table, watching Gon and Whitey try to out eat each other while Blondie watched in horrified amazement. Doctor Drab had asked the exact same questions Gon had earlier and Jasper answered them easily with an amused smile. Sitting here, surrounded by people that he hardly knew and wasn't going to remember… still made him feel warm. Included. Even knowing they'd have to explain over and over they still kept him close, wanted to call him friend.
For a short moment, he felt like he was with his family again.
AN: The promise has been made and now Gon will stick to it forever lmao
Shoutouts: KrixLight- My uber amazing best reviewer, hi! Geezer was not Netero. Jasper would have had his ass whooped if it was lol. But I'm happy you appreciate the way he succeeded! As for his Uncle... they do sort of pronounce Ging and Gin the same, don't they? I never really thought about that before!
Tetractys- Not Netero and not Zeno! Though, that would have been interesting to see Killua's reaction to seeing his Gramps during the exam.
To both of you: I will give you the old man's name and it's up to you to figure out how this might affect future chapters- Bodoro. :3
