chapter word count: 476
noir heart: fifty-five
"Possession of a controlled substance is a misdemeanour, which means one year in Arendelle Correctional" he states flatly, but can't resist moving his head so he can wink at Calhoun without being seen. Possession as a juvenile meant Sid would only see community service, tagging, maybe house arrest...but not jail. However, Sid doesn't know that, so while it might be evil, Jack sees it as an opportunity to scare him straight.
The poor boy predictably freaks out. "Please! Please don't send me to jail!" he blurts in a panic, his face white as a sheet. Jack's eyes return to his wide orbs, and tries so hard not to smirk.
"Make you a deal. You tell me where I can find this J-Gun, and Calhoun and I will forget this ever happened. I'll still have to talk to Callaghan about it, but I'm pretty sure he'll be on board-"
"Thank you!" Sid gasps in relief.
"-but there's one condition." Jack pauses, and cocks his head to Calhoun whilst staring at the boy, "Coach, what are Sid's grades like?"
"From what I hear? Awful." comes the clipped, rather blunt reply.
"Here's the condition: you have to work on your grades. You've got two years left before you graduate, if I don't hear you've got at least C's by then, I will be coming back." Jack finishes, adding the last part as an unnecessary threat.
It works, though. "I'll get B's, I promise!" he enthuses, and for a moment Jack is swept up in the relieved excitement. Even if the morning started bad, and got worse with the mind games thanks to Mrs Elsa Black, at least he's managed to save one kid from a downward spiral.
"Good," Jack says pointedly, "make sure you do, 'cause I'll know if you don't. You see, Coach Calhoun will be watching you," he pauses, cocking his head to the intimidating woman whilst keeping his eyes firmly fixed upon Sid, "won't you, Coach?"
"Like a goddamn hawk." she practically growls her agreement, folding her arms while watching him, indeed, like the predatory bird.
Jack claps his hands together, and says in an uncharacteristically jovial voice, "Great! I'll take that," he reaches over to retrieve the small bag, "and fill Callaghan in. Nice seeing you again, Coach, and remember what I said, Sid. Don't fuck it up."
Sid nods vigorously, and rapidly gives Jack the location of J-Gun before he sprints back the way he came, and mercifully no further words are exchanged between Jack and his once-coach before he turns to leave - except for her distant yell of "All right, listen up, 'cause I'm only gonna say this once! 'Fear' is a four-letter word, ladies! You wanna go pee-pee in your big-boy slacks, keep it to yourself! It's 'make your mamas proud' time!" to the football squad.
Eleven years on, and she still hasn't changed that line.
Not long now, then Elsa pops up again. Yes I am missing writing her, and her interaction with Jack. Noircorda - the theme of love and people's perceptions of it runs through this fic. Elsa's perception of it is...nihilistic, to a degree.
special thanks to: doomstone, oninoko, scottydog, heartonfire, hornedgoddess, jpbake, stefalove and noircorda for the reviews! *waves to zulka*