Hey readers! Sorry for the long wait! With homework and studying and jobs, I'm a little busy at the moment. Also, I'm practicing how to drive :) I'm probably going to take the test some time this month. Anyway, thanks to all that commented and followed. Also, does anyone know of a beta I can ask for?
I hope you like this chapter. I personally think it's a little iffy. The action will occur in New Orleans!
Disclaimer: Same as always.
Unexpected Sidekick
Chapter 6: Conversations and Meetings
Jack Wilder wasn't afraid to say that he had a messed up life. Born to a poor family in Brooklyn, he had to make a name for himself early in his life, without the help of his parents (if you could call them that).
Which was hard, he realized, since his name was Jack.
Ever since he was a little boy, watching the other kids play with video games and yo-yos while he nursed his "mysterious" bruises in his spare time, Jack dreamed of living up to his namesake. Because everyone named Jack was awesome. It was just a fact in life.
He wanted to be like Captain Jack Sparrow, or Jack from Titanic(he never caught his last name), Jack Napier( that man affected him the most despite being an evil clown), Jack Frost( a recent one he learned after being forced to watch the animation with Dana one day) and even Jack the Ripper. No matter what they did, they had a reputation of being fearless and charismatic and awe-inspiring.
And he was just Jack Wilder.
Maybe that's why he was so keen on being the best. After running away from his parents' place, he quickly made three rules from himself. Number one, always be the nice guy. Jack's had nice manners and was loved by society. Number two, don't steal from someone who actually needs the money because that was just crossing a line. And number three, live up to the name Jack.
The Nice Guy. Yeah right.
Because Jack wasn't always so nice. He had a temper, fostered from years of child abuse and neglect and rage that he bottled up and kept in a slow cooker for many years. He had a firm grasp on his control most of the time (he had to, because who likes a scowling magician?), but his temper often appeared when he was angry or scared.
And Jack was afraid.
Because Jack had a mission, to never be neglected again. And in the back of his mind he believed that being the best magician in the world was going to prevent that. And when he saw that trick, a trick he had never seen anywhere in his years of studying magic, something broke within him. A sense of hopelessness filled him and quickly turned to rage. He HAD to know how Dana did it. It wasn't just a curiosity but a NEED, vital to his survival and imperative to his soul.
"Doing that isn't that difficult," Daniel's smug voice pierced through the air as he headed toward Tressler on the plane. He quickly explained the gist of Merritt's so-called tricks and proceeded trying to figure out Tressler's account information.
Jack didn't pay much attention to the proceedings and closed his eyes, his hands turning into fists. He could vaguely hear the other's careful laughter at Daniel's over the top brilliance, but he just didn't care.
His temper was always his weakest point, and his greed, as Dana mentioned, was overwhelming.
And it made him almost lose his best friend.
The key word was almost. He still had a chance to fix the mess he created.
Because he wasn't just a Jack. He was Jack Wilder, magician extraordinaire and most importantly, Dana Down's protector.
"Stupid Jack," Dana muttered as she vainly tried to pull down the short skirt that she stole to get on the plane. Apparently, every female server on Tressler's private jet had to be either a cheerleader or Kim Possible. And there was no way that she was going to show her midriff. Nu uh.
"Stupid skirt, stupid plane, stupid show, stupid MAGIC, stupid, stupid, stupid," she mumbled, causing some of the other girls look at her. Dana glared at them, causing the girls to twitter and look away, and sighed.
She felt guilty for her outburst already, because it wasn't in her nature to be mad at Jack for long.
It was Jack, after all.
And that's what made her angry, the fact that the men in her life had the power to just evaporate her anger. She couldn't even stay mad at Daniel for long anymore. It was their, she hate to admit it, devilishly handsome looks that got her in the end. "Stupid BOYS!"
"I agree completely," entered a rogue voice, one that caused the multiple of girls in the room to start chattering like preadolescent Beliebers. "Boys are idiots. Luckily, I am not one."
Dana snorted, "Then what are you?"
Merritt lifted an eyebrow and said very seriously, "Princess, I'm a MAN," before taking a seat next to her. "And men take care of their women. Now tell the professional all your problems and we'll fix your sorrows up by morning." He sat next to her, not bothering to ask if the seat was taken and waited.
Dana shifted uncomfortably at Merritt's scrutinizing gaze, guessing what flaws in her demeanor he was cataloging, "Have you been watching Dr. Phil lately, Merritt?"
"Ah Ha! You're deflecting, honey," he said, tapping his temple, "Come on, you can do better than that. My brain is ready."
Dana crossed her arms, "I don't feel like playing your mind games today."
"Good," Merritt said, turning toward her, "Because I'm not playin'. What is wrong, sweety? Something's on your mind."
"Since when did you care?" Dana asked, focusing on her gaze at the women seated in front of them, who were all straining to listen in on their conversation.
"Well, my darling Princess," Merritt said, "In case you didn't know yet, I care a lot for my women."
"And I'm 'your woman'?" she asked, her tone laced with sarcasm.
"Yes."
"Look, do we really have to have this conversation here?" Dana stressed, glancing at the pairs of eyes and ears around the room.
"Nu uh. You are not getting off that easily," Merritt suddenly said, "Bullshit."
Dana rolled her eyes as the every single one of the women stood up and began playing various instruments in the air. Most people would have stared in awe at the feat, but Dana wasn't most people.
Plus, she's seen it a bunch of times. Been a victim in others. Merritt constantly mentioned it during dinner.
"When did you have the time to do that?" she asked nonchalantly, despite feeling the exact opposite.
Merritt waved his hands, "It's not important. Look Kit-Kat, I've got one scowling ball of Atlas and one angsty teenager sulking upstairs. Not that I care about what those two hooligans will do, but even Tressler's noticing. We need to step it up and unfortunately, we have no time for these silly relationship issues, savy?"
"Thanks," Dana said dryly, "Let me just go up there and apologize for being a girl. I'm sure that will clear things up nicely."
Merritt tilted his large hat back on his head, "Look, I'm not saying to apologize to them. What they did-whatever that is-I'm sure they're completely wrong and you are completely right."
Merritt gave her a look that just screamed his sarcasm and Dana couldn't help but laugh. Merritt continued, "But I'm just asking to be a little nicer to them, that's all. They are, after all, not as fully developed as you and I are, right?"
"That's a little too much fluff for me," Dana replied, although her eyes were shining in amusement. "Trying to butter me up with compliments won't work."
"It's not buttering when it's the truth, cupcake," Merritt said, clicking his tongue."Boys are just jars filled with testosterone, greed, blood and emotion. Between you and me, I think I've seen them cry in Titanic more than I can count."
"No!"
"Yup," Merritt popped the 'p' with a loud smack.
Dana's lips twitched, and she turned away to hide the growing smile. Dang it! She's supposed to be angry! Even Merritt was slowly getting under her skin.
This was not good. Not good at all.
"Dana-pie? You in there?"
Dana snapped her eyes upward and asked, "Just how many pastries are you going to call me by the end of this thing?"
"Too many for you to count," Merritt said seriously, before grinning a bit when he saw Dana's scowl, "Come now, cream puff, it's my way to show affection."
"So you call Henley 'cream puff' on a daily basis too?" Dana asked slyly.
"What are you-" Merritt asked, looking very confused, before his face relaxed," OHHHH. Caught on have you? I thought we were subtle enough, but I guess you're just one smart cookie."
"So...you and Henley..."
Merritt nodded, "Have a plan to rile up Atlas. He is such a fun man to play with. He wears his emotions on his sleeve and...what's wrong?"
Dana's face was turning a various shade of red as she heard Merritt's answer, "Wait...you and Henley...don't like each other?"
Merritt blinked once, before laughing heartedly, "You can't be serious! You fell for that! You actually thought that.."Merritt laughed more loudly, clutching his stomach as if in pain, "Me...and germaphobe...were actually...oh, that's a good one. Can't believe you, of all people. I would have thought Atlas, and maybe even Jack but YOU! Oh my..."
Dana blushed and tucked her arms closer to her body, "I was a little bit distracted,"
"A little?" Merritt asked, still laughing.
"Okay, fine. I missed a lot, happy?" Dana gave in, looking rejected. She was supposed to be good a reading people, for goodness sakes! One emotional attack and all her abilities were just washed away. Jeeze!
"Look kid," Merritt said, seeing Dana's face, "It was just one mistake. It happens. Don't get too worked up on it. And as for the other problem...same advise. Don't get stressed and it will all work out in the end."
"And if it doesn't?" Dana asked, her voice suddenly becoming smaller, "I was a little harsh..."
"Jack is a man now, sidekick," Merritt said, standing up and tapping her shoulder, "He can take a bit of harsh words. But I think the plane is going to land soon. I should get back."
If Dana was paying attention, she would have been surprised at the sudden show of affection Merritt gave her. Merritt wasn't a touchy-feely kind of guy, and a tap on the shoulder meant much for him. But Dana was caught by another expression, one she never heard before.
"What did you just call me?" Dana asked, worried that she might have heard wrong.
Merritt frowned in contemplation, before his face set with a determined look, "Sidekick. "
"Why did you call me that?"
"Because that's what you are, aren't you?" Merritt answered, amused."You are part of the team, Dana, whether you like it or not. We wouldn't be able to do anything without you."
Sidekick. Dana whispered in her head as she watched Merritt go back upstairs. It was the first time one of the magicians actually acknowledged her as part of them, rather than just an assistant. She was a group member now, a fifth horseman( despite now ridiculously that statement was) and for the first time, Dana felt as if she belonged.
Magic hater or not, she had a job to do.
And no fight was going to change her ability to do so.
After managing to sweet talk a couple of security guards, wrestle out of her tiny outfit and grab her luggage, Dana quickly exiting the plane as it landed in New Orleans. Before anyone could notice her face, she made a U-turn from the airplane hanger and somehow managed to meet the four horsemen at the opening gates, making it look as if she was waiting for them all along.
"Oh, Dana! You're here! I was worried when I didn't see you!" Henley spoke first, spotting Dana in the crowd of colorful people.
Dana managed to break through the crowd and smiled brightly at Henley, "Hey! Sorry I was late! I didn't anticipate the Mardi Gras happening so soon."
"Honey, it's always Mardi Gras in New Orleans," Merritt commented, sending a wink at her. He, after all, knew that she arrived on the same plane and acknowledged the almost magical trick she pulled.
Who said that tricks had to be extravagant? Most tricks were subtle, illusions that barely received any notice.
"Who's this?" Tressler asked, turning toward Dana with a scrutinizing look of a businessman. Dana couldn't help but feel her skin crawl at the thought that this man held the souls of literally millions of people. Oh, she did her research.
She didn't just sign up to financially murder someone just for kicks.
"This is Dana Downs, Mr. Tressler," Henley replied, bringing one arm around Dana's shoulder.
"OH!" Tressler's eyes lit up in recognition. "You are that fifth horseman! I have been asking about you, but your friends are very secretive. But everything about you is secretive, isn't it?"
Dana winced at the term, but smiled widely, "Good to finally meet you Mr. Tressler. I would have met you sooner, but I had last minute preparations for the show to finish. And I'm sorry about all the secrets, sir. I have carry a lot of information about the show, and I'm afraid that my friends are a little paranoid that their act will be revealed."
"NEVER!" Daniel said, pushing Henley's arm off Dana's shoulder and putting his instead, "I one hundred percent believe in Dana's abilities. In fact I would-"
"Anyway," Dana said, rolling her eyes and leaning forward the shake Mr. Tressler's hand, "If you have any further questions about how tricks are done, please feel free to ask after the show. I'm afraid I will be quite busy before hand, though."
"Quite alright, Ms. Downs," Tressler said, his eyes twinkling in excitement. "I look forward to seeing it. Magicians these days are so secretive; it is difficult to ask."
Dana sent a wink of her own at her friends before saying, "Indeed."
"Well, here is our ride," Tressler said just as a parade of black cars entered the driveway. "I am sure that you all would want a car together for small talk and preparations. I just have to go to a business meeting before hand. I trust you will get to your hotel without any help?"
"You can count on me, sir," Merritt said, before ushering the other four into one of the cars, "Come on kids."
Dana entered the car and sighed as she found herself squished between Daniel and Jack, again. Usually, she wouldn't have minded, (who wouldn't mind?) but she had a heavy duty apologizing mantra to go on, and this position was slightly embarrassing as well as awkward.
After a very long pause, Dana released a breath she didn't know she was holding and tried to speak the first words of the long speech she prepared during the last couple of minutes in the plane.
What came out instead was, "Hey Daniel. Did you check in everyone on your phone yet? I think you should do it before the show, because it's going to get a little hectic..."
Startled at the sudden sound, Daniel said, cautiously, still remember the weird episode back at Las Vegas, "Er...yeah. Of course. I still have some stragglers left though."
"Right," Dana said, the conversation slowly dying off. She cleared her throat, wincing at the loud sound.
Well this was awkward.
What Dana didn't know was that Jack was feeling the exact same.
Finally, Dana just rolled her eyes and said, "Hey, Jack?"
"Yes?" Jack quickly said, before mentally berating himself. Oh my god. Did I sound needy? Was that ok? What the hell am I supposed to do now?
"Um..." Dana wanted to scratch the back of her neck but her arms were pinned to Daniel's waist."Look..."
"Yes?"
Dana sighed, and looked up at Jack's eyes, "I'm...sorry, for shouting at you at the airport. It was...horrible for me to do that to you and I hope you'll forgive me."
Jack stared at her slack-jawed. She thought that it was her fault? "What?"
Dana winced, "I mean...if you're mad, I completely understand..."
"Are you kidding?" Jack said, completely surprised, "I should be the one to apologize."
"What?" it was Dana's turn to be surprised. "Why? I'm the one who yelled."
"But I hurt you..." Jack said abruptly, looking down in shame.
"WHAT?" Daniel shouted, causing Merritt to give him a sharp look. "YOU'RE THE ONE WHO GAVE HER BRUISES?"
"WHAT?" Henley shouted from Jack's side. "Did you guys have a fight?"
"BRUISES?" Merritt asked loudly from shot-gun, not actually knowing what all the details were. "CUPCAKE? BRUISES?"
"Oops?" Dana answered weakly, burying into her seat. "Forgot to mention it?"
Merritt snorted, "More like lied."
"I didn't l-"
"SHE DIDN'T LIE!" Jack interrupted Dana, shouting angrily. "Dana doesn't lie. So watch your mouth you little-"
"You're one to talk," Daniel said abruptly, turning to Jack with an angry look usually never graced the magician's features, "You hurt her. Look at it!" Daniel grabbed Dana's wrists gently and pointed them at Jack.
Jack's face contorted, turning rainbow colors, before settling on guilt, "I know."
Seeing the look on Jack's face, Dana quickly shook her wrists away from Daniel and grabbed Jack's hands, "Jack. Don't. Just forget about it. It was just a misunderstanding, that's all. Just one big misunderstanding. I was being a jerk. And I was on my period and you know how emotional I get..." Dana wasn't anywhere near having her period, but the boys didn't know that.
Henley, who did know this, just send her an admonishing look but didn't say anything.
"But Dana-"
"Just a misunderstanding," Dana shot out, interrupting Daniel. She turned back to Jack, "So...we're cool?"
Jack glanced at Dana before sighing. He was a little cautious about the whole thing and it was the first ever fight he had with his best friend. Granted, a huge fight. Their little spats in the past was nothing.
"We're cool," he said, before smiling a bit. Dana mirrored him and giggled, causing the two to burst out in relief filled laughter.
For the first time in hours, Jack finally managed to relax. Instead of trying desperately to avoid body contact, Jack leaned into Dana's side, earning him a gentle squeeze on his knee. Jack smiled put his own hand around hers.
Suddenly, Jack's phone rang, signaling a text message. He used his right hand to pull it out of his jeans pocket and quickly turned it on, not wanting to remove the hand occupying Dana's.
She might have forgiven you, but I haven't. Watch your back.- Atlas