Jasper Bloodstone & Jan Saur in Eorzea
Chapter 5
Dinah woke up to Jan's snores and knew that he must have stayed out late last night. She shook her head in annoyance. She'd waited up for him and he hadn't come. She knew for a fact that he was avoiding her. Was it so wrong to want to have sex with the man she planned on spending the rest of her life with? He'd done so much for her so she wanted to repay him, but it seemed almost impossible. He always wanted to make sure that she was happy and he focused on how to achieve this every day. But who was looking out for his happiness? Sometimes he made it seem like a crime for anyone to do such a thing for him.
She recalled what he had told her about his life growing up. He'd been trying to please other people with little regard for himself for most of his life it seemed. He was quite good at being this way and was probably one of the reasons she had fallen for him so easily all those years ago.
She climbed out of bed that day having decided what she would do for herself. She'd been debating with herself for weeks whether she should do this or not, but her mind kept going back to that dungeon she had been forced to run through with Jan and Jasper. Had she been less of a deadweight, they might have gotten out a lot quicker and a lot smoother. The chances of that ever happening again did seem low in her opinion—she didn't expect to be going back to that place again. But she could never be sure. Jan was part of the Immortal Flames. He was on call even now and they could have him going to God knows where and she'd be unable to follow. The thought depressed her. She didn't like the chances of being separated from Jan for an indefinite amount of time. She had decided that she would remedy the situation. She would learn how to defend herself.
The Pugilist Guild that Jan had grown up in was just around the corner. She didn't want to ask Jan to train her for fear of his denial. He'd most certainly try to talk her out of it and she just didn't want to hear it. Besides, she was also doing this for herself. She wanted to be able to defend herself so that she didn't have to depend on Jan so heavily—he did enough for her as it was.
She washed off and put on some form fitting clothes and deemed herself ready. She glanced back over at Jan to see if he was even aware and was satisfied with what she saw. With this, she left the manor as early as possible. She ate another one of Jasper's pastries and was off.
/
Malachi had a plan for today. He had a list of people he was going to piss off today and it was better to start bright and early. After putting on all his armor, he took with him five vials of Hi-potion and two vials of Ether potion. Then he was off to cause trouble just like any other day.
He didn't always know where people would be so he would roam the streets for a while. He'd check in frequented areas like the Adventures Guild and Sapphire Avenue Exchange, but today these places seemed quite abandoned and Malachi was in turn quite disappointed. Just like before, he doubt he was going to get any action today. After a while since it was still early in the day, he simply returned home with hopes dashed.
His mother was up by this time and she knew the expression he wore well and shook her head apologetically.
"Personally, I'm glad you couldn't find anyone today. People move on in this town. Rarely do they stay long," Sarah said slowly weaving a cotton shirt.
"But we've been here our whole lives."
"Correction, you've been here your whole life, but you haven't been around for so long—it's fine," she said with a smile.
"You mean, you didn't always live here?"
"Oh sure I had my house here, but when I was your age, I did get bit by the adventure bug—it's how I met your father."
"Sounds like you really miss those times."
She shook her head slowly, "Not really. Well, maybe sometimes, but it was dangerous business. Fun, but dangerous as hell."
Malachi perked up when she said dangerous. "How dangerous," he asked.
Sarah chuckled. "I knew I'd get your attention. I'd say it was a daily struggle of life and death, but it was quite exhilarating. In fact, I think it'd be right down your alley."
"That's why you said it in the first place, right Mom?"
Sarah smiled. "You got me. You've been so restless as of late. I know you want something more to do—I remember being in your shoes once wondering what I would do next. Always living in the moment. You should go register with the Adventurer's Guild. You pass it every day."
"I pass it every day because you forbade me for getting involved with that stuff."
"I was only looking out for your safety. You were too young before, but now, I think you're ready."
"But Mom, what about you? I don't want to leave you."
"I'll be fine honey. It's you that you should be worried about. Did I mention how dangerous adventuring is? But you're a fine swordsman and you know how to take care of yourself."
"But I'm not sure I want to go by myself. This place is all I've ever known."
"All these buts. You know, I pictured this conversation going a lot differently. If you're afraid to go alone, ask someone else to go with you."
"You know I don't have any friends like that, Mom."
"No, I suppose not," she said with a sigh, "especially since you've made it your life's mission to piss off all the locals."
Malachi looked at her guiltily.
"Wait a minute," she said as something donned on her. "What about those nice men who helped you out last time?"
His face brightened at the mention of them, but then saw a few things missing from that scenario. "I have no idea where they live. Besides, I don't know if they'd agree to doing something like this. They're too—
"Old?" she said with a grin.
Malachi nodded.
"You'd be surprised what people are willing to do. You just have to ask and see what happens. When I saw them that day, I sensed that they too had restless spirits. Maybe you should stop going through that list of yours and start looking for them instead."
"Well, I have nothing better to do."
"That's right. Oh, Malachi, you have no idea how happy I am to hear you doing something mildly productive today. Now get out there while the day is still young."
So Malachi left at the behest of his mother, but he doubted he was simply going to run into either Jasper or Jan that day. He went to the Adventure's Guild first to see if they might be there. It was highly unlikely but worth a try nonetheless. Then he began to look through the main streets and came up empty. At some point, he simply sat down and wondered what exactly they would typically be doing. Jasper was an accomplished Conjurer, but as far as he knew there was no guild that catered to that form of magic around there. Jan, however, seemed more like a local. He practiced Pugilism perhaps he might find him there. It was worth a try anyways.
He continued his trek down Emerald Avenue towards the Pugilist Guild. When he reached it, his nose was hit with a wall of sweat and blood. There were already many people training there. Shouts could be heard throughout. He looked around realizing that he'd never once stepped foot in the place before. He'd never held any interest in pugilism. For as long as he could remember, he always wanted to wield a sword. Now as he looked at the people sparring against each other in the arena, he realized that pugilism was no less glorious than being a gladiator. It was far more personal using one's fists. He found himself mesmerized by the intensity in which they fought. It was the same kind of intensity he'd witnessed in Jan.
Jan wasn't there, but Malachi thought he'd stay a while and watch what was happening. There were those off to the side rooting for one or the other to win the spar. Malachi, on the other hand, was impressed by it all. But one of them did seem to have the upper hand. The sweet pain of fist meeting flesh was enchanting to Malachi.
"Like what you see, son?"
Malachi, startled out of his reverie, turned to the old man who had spoken to him. "Oh, don't mind me, I was only watching."
"But you have the look of a man who's enjoying himself," the old man continued. "I'm Hamon Holyfist, the guildmaster."
"Oh," Malachi said a little caught off guard. He tried to straighten himself up.
The old man laughed. "Relax, kid, you're not on trial. I always have an eye out for new recruits, though."
"No," Malachi said shaking his head. "Maybe later, but I was just looking for someone. Have you seen someone named Jan lately?"
"Jan Saur!" Hamon said loudly, "Now that's a Pugilist for ya! A chip off the ol' block if you ask me. No, I haven't seen him around here lately. He's outgrown this place anyway. Nothing more I can teach him."
Just then a Mi'quote woman stepped in through the front.
"Oh, Hamon! I've done it! I taught those wooden dummies a thing or two about Bootshine."
She was so loud that she was hard to miss. She looked quite lovely with her shimmery dark purple hair and shapely figure. Malachi thought he'd fallen in love instantly, but she paid him no mind as she approached Hamon and further discussed her recent accomplishments. Her voice was silky smooth like butter and he couldn't take her eyes off of her. He felt privileged to be standing so close to such a lovely woman. Needless to say, he hadn't been following their conversation so when Hamon turned to him and asked if he might accompany her on her next task, he was completely at a loss of words.
"Now don't be shy, son—Usually, I like my pugilists to go it alone, but she's a special case. I'll have to put her on weight training after this. I just need someone to make sure everything goes fine," Hamon said to Malachi.
"I don't need a babysitter," Dinah argued back to the old man. "I can take care of myself."
"Eventually, you'll be able to take care of yourself. Now trust me, you'll need someone to have your back for the time being—who better than an idle gladiator," Hamon said turning to Malachi.
"I'd love to help out," Malachi said finally. "Really, it's no problem."
Dinah turned to the youth and gave him a murderous look and he shrank back. He wondered if he'd managed to say the wrong thing.
"Alright then, it's settled. Now it's time to practice on your combos. Don't get carried away—I just need you try it out on a few Qiqirn shellsweepers. They're an agile bunch. If you can pull it off right on them, then you're all set for the time being."
Dinah sighed exasperatedly, "Alright, my ever wise guildmaster. C'mon, kid, before I leave you behind."
She'd already turned from Hamon and was on her way out of the Platinum Mirage. Malachi had to run to catch up.
"So what's your name, kid?"
"Malachi," he said immediately. He already found himself blushing.
She grinned at this. "Dinah. You know, you remind me of someone."
"I hope that's a good thing."
"Oh, it's a very good thing. I like him a lot."
The two of them made their way out into the desert and took their time looking around for the right target. Neither of them had mounts so it took them longer than usual and quite a bit of sprinting. By the time they found the Qiqirins, Dinah found that she was a bit out of breath and had to wait before she actually attacked.
"I'm such a newb," she complained. "Who tires themselves out before they get to their targets? I bet Jan never has to deal with this kind of stuff."
"We all have to start somewhere," Malachi said, but then he paused when his mind caught on to something she had just said. "Wait a minute, who's Jan?"
She smiled at him. "Sorry, kid, he's my boyfriend and a damn good one."
"He wouldn't happen to be friends with an Elezen named Jasper, would he?"
"Yeah," she said a little surprised. "How'd you know that?"
"Well, small world. I was looking for Jan, but I had no idea how to find him."
"What you needed to ask him?"
Malachi then sat down beside her. "I don't know—it was something stupid anyway. I mean, he'd never agree to it—he has you to worry about."
"Will you stop speaking in riddles?"
"I was thinking about…registering at the adventurer's guild, but I wanted someone to do it with me."
"You mean you want to ask Jan to go adventuring with you?"
Malachi nodded.
Dinah smiled at this. "Something tells me he'd jump at the chance."
"Really? But what about you?"
"What about me? Well, I'd come with you guys, of course! Why do you think I'm learning pugilism?"
"You were bored?"
"I want to learn how to protect myself. And this would be a good reason to learn how. In fact, I think this is a great idea, Malachi. Jan, he's been a bit distant as of late, restless even."
"Oh, has he?" Malachi said trying to sound genuinely surprised. But in the back of his mind, he thought of the conversation he had had with Jan all those nights before.
Jan hadn't told him everything. Malachi had no idea that he was already dating someone else while still harboring feelings for his best friend. The plot thickened a little too quickly for Malachi and he wondered if he should be getting involved with them. The situation didn't exactly feel ideal.
"Yeah," she said with a sigh, "But I guess I shouldn't be sharing my problems with you like this. I don't think staying in one place for a long period of time is something Jan is used to. I think this would be a great distraction for him. And maybe…Well, nevermind. I'll take you to him once we're finished with these Qiqirins."
"Alright, sounds like a plan," Malachi replied almost thoughtfully. Jan had a lot of explaining to do if he was going to consider asking him to accompany him.
/
Malachi walked with Dinah back to Jasper's place. He was amazed at how big his residence was. It seemed the Elezen was quite rich, though it was odd for him to have such a large house and so few occupants. Dinah had already informed him that he was very single and rather liked it that way. Malachi shook his head at all the irony. Trouble was brewing, he could tell and once again he wondered if he should get himself involved…
"Jan!" Dinah yelled out loud and clear. "Malachi's here to see you!"
It wasn't customary to yell all through the house, but it got the job done. Jan came sauntering downstairs having obviously just showered.
"Malachi," Jan said invitingly upon seeing him. He hadn't skipped a beat. Didn't even blink twice seeing Malachi with Dinah and knowing that Malachi must have known something was up. "Fancy seeing you today. Staying out of trouble, I hope."
"I try," Malachi said with a shrug. "Sometimes it's unavoidable."
"Now Malachi has something to ask you," Dinah said chiming in on their conversation.
"I do…but I'd like to speak with Jan alone. If you don't mind," Jan said looking at Dinah.
"Fine," she said with a sigh. "If you need me, I'll be out in the back weight training."
"Weight train—" Jan began with a perplexed expression but was stopped by Dinah's not-now look.
She left in a hurry obviously anxious to get on with her training. Jan watched her the entire way and might have considered following had Malachi not stopped him.
"We need to talk," he said getting the other's attention.
"Malachi, do you have any idea what she's doing?"
"She didn't tell you? She's training to be a Pugilist—like you."
"Well then, why didn't she ask me to help?" He was clearly perplexed. "And why now all of sudden?"
Malachi shrugged not wanting to say anything about it.
"Alright," he said turning to Malachi. "What did you want to talk about?"
"Isn't it obvious?" he asked looking at the other evenly.
"Let's sit," he said avoiding the other's gaze.
They took a seat in the living room.
"On second thought, let's take a seat in the guest room," Jan said looking around the openness of the living room and the thought of Jasper's sharp ears.
Jan only let his guard down when he was able to close and lock the door. He hadn't even turned back to look at the boy.
"I was looking for you at the Pugilist guild—I had no idea how to find you. That's how I ran into your supposed girlfriend. She is your girlfriend, right?"
"Yes," he said still not willing to look at the other.
"And you haven't told her, have you?"
"No," he said steadily. "And I don't plan to." Then he turned to Malachi. "And I swear to God if you tell her, you'll be more than bruised up when I'm finished with you."
"Jesus, Jan, is that a death threat?"
"I thought you'd get excited about it seeing as you like pain so much."
"Jan, you have to make a choice, right here, right now. Jasper or Dinah," Malachi continued unperturbed.
"I don't have to do anything, boy," Jan said finally taking a seat. "I can't just…turn off my feelings for someone even if I know that it'll never be reciprocated."
"You have no idea how Jasper would react."
"Oh, but I do. I've been thinking about this. I don't think I'd want to be in a relationship with Jasper even it were possible. The thought of having relations with another man disgusts me."
"Disgusts you? Then why in the world do you even have feelings for him."
"I fell in love with the thought of him of always having him around. I could kiss him, I'd be fine. I could make love to him and I'd be fine, but anything further," his face scrunched up at the thought. "Anything further and I wouldn't be. I just wish that he had been born a woman and not a man. Malachi, the point is, it wouldn't work with him. It wouldn't be fulfilling."
"Then the decision is easy."
"I've already made that decision."
"You told me before that you had feelings for Jasper, but what about Dinah? Do you even like her?"
"Of course I do. I love her."
Malachi looked at him with an unconvinced expression. "Is that a fact?"
"It is or else I wouldn't have said it."
Malachi shook his head. "I guess I'll just have to take your word for it. If you want to pretend like everything's alright, then I suppose I can go with the flow."
"What is this? A therapy session? I love Dinah. I'm glad that she sees something in me worth loving. She's been through a lot and I just want to protect her even from me. I want to support her in everything she does. I want to be responsible for her happiness."
"That sounds more like obligations than love."
"They're one in the same, kid. You're too young to understand."
"Oh, don't play that card with me. I think I'm quite mature for my age."
"Going out to get yourself drunk after not finding a good fight is not mature. And I'm pretty sure that wasn't the first time you did that kind of thing. Pissing people off for the heck of it is the least mature thing a kid your age could do. I can 'play' that card whenever I like."
"You don't even know me and you're trying to lecture me about maturity. You just won't drop it, will ya? I told you—that's just what I like. I like pain."
"Malachi, you do know that's not normal."
Malachi stood up. "I'm no fool. I know that. I told you that because I thought I could trust you."
"You can trust me," Jan said with a sigh. "But look at where we are. You're sitting there, well, I guess standing now, telling me about my love life. These are things that you can't help me with—I have to deal with it myself."
"If you could really deal with it on your own, you wouldn't have needed to beat the tar out of me last time, you wouldn't have needed to talk to me in the first place. You want a second opinion and I'm giving it to you, like it or not. You can't just pretend to not like someone anymore just because you think such feelings would lead to nothing. You have to confront them, you have to tell Jasper—you can't just hope they vanish into thin air."
"I told you before—he would not understand. I don't want to lose my friendship with him over something as stupid as this."
"Why do you think your feelings are stupid? Unworthy of being shared. Maybe you're just like me. Maybe you think pain is alright and you're fine with bearing it all."
"What pain? There is no pain. There are just some things that are better left unsaid. I don't plan on ever disclosing such information to Jasper and that's the end of it."
"Meanwhile, you pretend like you love Dinah 100%."
"I do."
"Well, you're doing a poor job at showing it. Just today she was talking about how distant you were."
"She did? What else did she say?" Jan said suddenly interested.
"Just that she thought you were restless—not used to staying in one spot for long."
"Maybe she's right."
"You know she isn't. How could she? She doesn't even know the full story."
"I'm getting tired of discussing this with you," Jan said with a heavy sigh. "You wanted to ask me something. Get on with it already."
"I came home today and Mom suggested that I do something interesting with my life. It was another day where I couldn't find anyone to piss off—and I was depressed. Oh, don't give me that look."
"What you do? Drink yourself into a stupor?"
"I'm not a damn drunk or anything. I don't do that every time."
"Just most of the time."
"Whatever," Malachi said exasperatedly. "Mom suggested that I register with the Adventurer's Guild, but I told her I had no interest in adventuring on my own. I wanted someone to do it with me."
"And you thought of me."
Malachi nodded.
"I…don't know if that would be a good idea for me. I mean, what about Dinah?"
"She told me you'd jump at the chance. She completely supported me."
"Really?" Jan asked surprised.
"Yeah."
"But I can't just leave. I have her to take care of."
"She'd want to come with you obviously."
Jan was having problems picturing the scenario. "Come…with me? Dinah? She barely wants to walk down the street let alone traveling for long distance."
"Trust me. She seemed pretty excited about the prospects."
"And Jasper…"
"What about him?"
"I can't just abandon him."
"Jan, do you hear yourself right now? Jasper is a grown man with the means to support himself quite easily. You're in excess of really."
"But what will he do on his own? No, hear me out," Jan said as Malachi gave him an annoyed look. "It isn't safe for him to be left alone like that. You've seen him for yourself. If no one pushes him to do anything, he won't. He's content to stay locked away in some small room with his damn books and be done with life altogether. I can't let him do that."
"You can't solve everyone's problems."
"I don't plan to. Jasper is my friend, I can't let him self-destruct."
"So you want to take him with you."
Jan nodded.
"And once again he's still in your orbit."
"Malachi, it isn't even about that. To hell with my feelings for him. I'd be less than a friend if I simply let things go as they are."
"You're the one who wants to make this hard on yourself."
"It isn't about me."
"Yes it is. I'm asking you if you want to accompany me and you're the only one who would want to bring Jasper along."
"And how do you know Dinah wouldn't agree with me?"
"I doubt it. She didn't even mention the guy's name when I suggested the whole idea."
"And what do you think, Malachi? Do you think it wise to leave behind such an accomplished healer?"
"I can do without healers. They take away the pain that I love so much."
Jan shook his head. "You know what? Your opinion doesn't count."
"What?" Malachi said surprised.
"That was the craziest thing I've heard you say yet. Don't bring the healer because he takes away pain? Are you serious? We're liable to die out there, Malachi. Are you really willing to take that risk?"
"I don't plan on dying."
"Good. Then if I'm to accompany you, I'm bringing Jasper—
"If he even agrees, that stiff."
"Yes, if he agrees and he will. And Dinah will come with me."
"So everyone's coming. I wasn't expecting so many people."
"It's only four people, Malachi. Barely enough to get by."
"Alright, but nothing's set in stone. We have to make sure everyone's on the same page."
"Way ahead of you, son."
"And don't call me son."
"Well, sorry," Jan replied a little put off.
"No, it's not you…It's just…Well, I'm not your son and I don't want anyone to get confused."
"Say no more, kid."
/
Jasper tossed and turned in his bed. Flashes of moments he could not recall came back to him in an undecipherable speed. All of it, however, had to do with Jan. He found peace later on in the night, but he remained disturbed by what he had seen or thought he saw. When morning came, he found he had no desire to get up. Of course, there was always thaumaturgy, but he wasn't in the mood right then. In his solitude, he thought of what his future might hold or if it even held anything at all. Maybe he should stop living right now. Then again, suicide went against everything he stood for. Not that he was seriously thinking about it. However, it had become a reoccurring theme when his thoughts became idle. It didn't scare him in the least. He supposed it was natural. Having nothing to look forward to in life was a depressing thing for a living creature.
He thought of Malachi's mother and her crooked leg. He thought of how he could probably fix her with a bit of work if she was willing. Not only did he think of her leg, he thought of her in general—the only other woman he'd made contact with for weeks. He used to think of himself as a loner, but he found lately that he disliked being alone for so long. He found that he craved intimacy more than anything else. The strip club would probably be the highlight of the year. Naked woman of any kind never ceased to interest him. Being a healer had often given him a good excuse to see bare woman and many times in the past he had abused such authority, at least in the sense that he saw far more naked women than what was proper for a healer at his caliber. He felt no remorse for such things. He simply wanted what he wanted.
Then his thoughts returned to Sarah—an older lady, who was more than a bit overweight. That didn't really deter him. She was still a woman and so still alluring in his eyes. She'd seemed lonely as well. Her house looked extremely tidy, far more tidy than his own and the place had a very homely feel. She must have spent most of her time at the house always worrying about her obnoxious or perhaps even insane son. He'd clearly sensed the built up stress within her—a typical condition of a caring mother. She probably looked more aged than she should as she had to take care of a child all on her own and who knew the circumstances as to why the father was not around.
Jasper turned on his side and stared idly at his sheets. He probably needed to wash those, but he certainly didn't feel like doing that today. No, there was only one thing he felt like doing today and it was not tagging along with Jan to whatever he liked to do. When he finally got out of bed that day, half the day had already passed by, but it was all very well for him. At least he didn't have to worry about coming over to someone's house too early.
He took a very thorough shower and used soap that he thought gave him a nice subtle scent without being too overpowering. He trimmed his facial hair a bit with his electric razor so that it could look nice and shaped up. He brushed his hair a bit more than usual and used a different band to tie back his hair. Checking himself in the mirror seeing if it looked like he was trying too hard, he was quite satisfied with what he saw.
He walked downstairs and was met with no one so he simply left the house and traversed over to Sarah's. He took his time. It was a nice day after all. He was coming up on the Pugilist Guild and noted Dinah and Malachi walking out of it together. That was a puzzling matter in itself, but he had no motivation as to figuring out what it was. He wondered if Jan had anything to do with it, but he soon shook his head and kept his distance. He knew Dinah to be the kind of girl who did exactly what she wanted to do and if that was the case more power to her. At least Malachi would be keeping her safe—however safe a wayward teen could keep someone. At the very least, he knew that Malachi was out of the house which was a plus. Jasper figured that he would be so he was not surprised.
He knocked on the door when he arrived and waited patiently for Sarah to open the door. She did so after a bit of waiting. He knew it must have been a bit of hard work making her way to the door with her leg. She opened the door and was quite surprised to see him.
"Oh, Jasper! What a pleasant surprise. What brings you here today? Did my son get into more trouble?"
"Well, I certainly hope not. I came here for you, Sarah, if you don't mind. I just thought that you might want the company."
"Of course, I want the company. Come on in," she said stepping aside and letting him enter. "Take a seat in the living room with me."
He entered the living room waiting for her to take a seat first. She locked the door and limped her way over. He noted where she sat and then took one right next to her. If she was a bit surprised by this, she didn't show it on her face.
"So what are you knitting today?" Jasper asked noticing that she was well into a knitting project of hers, but he couldn't tell what it was.
"Oh, just a scarf for Malachi. You know, it gets cold in Ul'dah sometimes too."
Jasper grinned at this. "You really think so? Cold feels like springtime here."
"I guess you're not from around here then."
"I've lived here long enough, I suppose."
"I've lived here for most of my life."
"Most?" he asked curiously.
"There was a time when I traveled. I met my husband that way."
"He was a drifter, then."
"He was, but I tamed him, I think."
"Quite a feat."
"Yes, it is one of my crowning moments," she said with a grin. "He stayed with me here in Ul'dah for a good while. We had a child. We were a proper family."
"Sounds like it."
"Yes. But things came up."
"Like?"
"Well, I didn't really know him as well as I thought."
"He left you in the end."
"Not quite like that. There was something wrong with him, something psychologically wrong with him and I didn't discover it until much later—he did a great job at hiding it from me." Then she sighed. "I have no idea why I'm telling you this."
"Perhaps you just want someone to talk to."
Sarah looked back to her knitting. "He liked to hurt himself—he was quite self-destructive. You try to compliment him on something and he doesn't believe you. He sets himself up for failure. It's like he gets joy for being the bane of his own existence. But I loved him, you see, and I was willing to work with him. He just wouldn't believe me. He told me time and again that there was no such woman who would really want to keep him in their life. I begged to differ. I mean, I really begged."
"Then what happened?" Jasper asked when she didn't continue immediately.
"He grew to resent me because I loved him. When something becomes too good, he runs from it or tries to destroy it. I didn't quite understand. One day, he got himself really drunk and left the protection of the city walls. He engaged in battle with wild creatures outside and couldn't defend himself. He wanted to feel the pain, of course, but I'm sure he didn't want to die. He did, though. That was the consequences of his actions and there was nothing I could have done for it."
"And Malachi knows about all of this?"
She shook her head. "I couldn't tell him. He's so much like him already, they even look similar. I want to believe that my son will turn out differently. I tried not to love him too much. I never try to keep him in the house. I allow him his pain and don't make too much fuss about it—I try to at least. Maybe he won't be so destructive."
"That must be really hard for you. Wanting to help your son, but not being able to. That would drive me insane as a healer."
"You know, Conjurers have always fascinated me. I told you a little about myself. Tell me about you."
"What would you like to know?"
"Any past relationships? Any children of your own?"
Jasper smiled at the old lady. "No children of my own. I never planned on having any."
"None? But why?"
"I couldn't see myself as a father and especially not a good one. I wouldn't know the first thing."
"No one does at first. You just go with your gut feeling when you're raising a child."
"That sounds scary. There's always been a rulebook for me. My life, for the most part, has always been mapped out for me. In the beginning, at least."
"And what made you want to do Conjury?"
"To end other people's suffering. It's a bold claim, I know, but I've always been acutely aware of someone else's pain. My mother was always in an abusive relationship with my father. For as long as I can remember, it's always been that way. I never liked seeing her in pain and I always felt like there was something more I could be doing. It's silly, but sometimes I blamed myself for not being able to fix things. I left them because I didn't want to continue staring my failure in the face."
"So you learned how to heal people for your mother's sake?"
"It was all for her yet I was unable to really help her. I could only heal the surface wounds. She still remains with him. She still doesn't think she deserves anything better. Ever since then, I've been afraid."
"For her?"
He shook his head. "For me. I don't want to be responsible for another woman's sorrow."
"Jasper, you can't be afraid to take chances. You'll sit around long enough and waste your entire life having done nothing with it."
"Perhaps you're right."
"I know I'm right. You seem like a really nice guy. And let me just say this, just in case you don't know—nowhere is it written that you have to turn out just like your father."
"That's ironic coming from you. Considering Malachi."
"He's already so much more different than his father. He's able to love others. I know that he loves me and he's quite fond of Jan—he won't shut-up about him."
"Well, they're pretty similar. They both enjoy a good fight."
"See what I mean? He can enjoy himself and with other people."
"I see your point now."
"Promise me you'll do something for yourself."
"I don't like making promises I'm not certain I can keep."
"Take a chance, Jasper."
"I'll try."
"That's all I wanted to hear."
"But there's something more pressing I wanted to ask you about."
"I'm all ears."
"How did you break your leg?"
She was caught off guard by his question and looked down consciously at her twisted leg. "I…well, I fell."
"Is that all you want to tell me?"
"That's all I'm willing to tell you."
"That's fine. You fell probably from some high place and broke your leg."
She nodded.
"And you didn't get it seen by a proper healer."
"They're far too costly, Jasper."
"May I?" Jasper asked indicating that he wanted to examine her leg more closely.
She allowed him to lift her leg and winced as he moved it to his lap. She had to turn herself on the couch so that she could get comfortable.
"It's been like that forever. I don't think anyone can fix it."
"Well, I'm not anyone."
She blushed when he ran his hand down the length of it. "Did you…find anything?"
"Oh, it's fixable, but it requires a lot of pain. I'd have to break your leg once again and then make sure it heals correctly."
Sarah looked at him with a horrified expression. "I don't know if I can go through with that."
Jasper grinned at her. "You should see your face—priceless. That's how your run of the mill healer might have to do it, but I promise that I can fix your leg without having to feel even the slightest pain."
Sarah looked at him, "Stop lying," she said jokingly.
"I'm not."
Then it donned on her that he was being completely serious. "You can really do this?"
"Yes I can."
"But I won't be able to pay you back."
"You know I don't require money for my services."
"Oh, bless you. But I can't let you do this for free. I have to repay you somehow."
"Well, since you're so insistent, I do know of a way you could repay me."
Sarah looked at him curiously, but he didn't expound. His eyes weren't on her anymore. Suddenly, her entire right leg fell asleep as if she'd been sitting on it for too long and she couldn't feel anything of what he did next. She heard her bones crack and she jolted back in fear, but still felt nothing. She calmed herself when he gave her a warning look to stay still. And then, after only a few seconds, the feeling came back in to her leg and it was as if nothing had happened. She looked at her leg and didn't know what to expect.
"Try to stand," he suggested when he saw her confused expression.
Slowly, cautiously, she placed her foot on the ground and then pressed more and more weight on it until she was standing tall.
"Now walk," he said gently.
And she did so and then almost stumbled to the ground before he caught her.
"I…I can't believe it…I expected to…I can walk normally now. Oh, it's been so long!"
She pulled away from him again and tried to walk and managed a few steps of her own. She turned to him and without a second thought kissed him chiefly on the lips. She was clearly excited.
"Now, about your repayment," he said with a grin.
And she did not complain as he pulled her closer and kissed her deeply. Before they knew it, they were falling on the couch kissing each other as if the world was going to end any second, but then Sarah stopped him.
"We can't do this out here. Malachi. Let's go to my room."
It was a difficult task, but they eventually managed to get to her room and as soon as they reached the bed, Jasper began making love to her gently and carefully.
"You smell nice today," Sarah said almost breathless.
"As do you," he replied, his voice low and sensual now.
"Lies, Elezen. I put nothing on today."
"But I can clearly smell the soap. Even the no-scent ones have scent."
"You must be…really sensitive to smell." Her body shivered pleasantly as he kissed her on her stomach.
She couldn't remember the last time anyone had done as much to her.
"What, are you in to old ladies?" she sighed.
"I'm into you. Has anyone told you how beautiful you are, lately?"
Sarah laughed at this, but she was blushing. "Not in a long time. Besides, I'm not."
"Well, that's in the eye of the beholder, isn't it?"
Eventually, when he thought she was good and ready, he slid his anxious cock into her and she moaned with obvious pleasure and they fucked each other well into the night. Jasper wore her out well past her limit, but she was only too eager to acquiesce his demands. She couldn't remember the last time she'd felt so invigorated by a man or spent so much of her energy on vigorous activity. She was only happy that he was satisfied. Even though she was tired, she watched him sleep for a while and she ran her fingers through his soft hair. Why such a fit and handsome man would want to do an old lady like her was beyond her comprehension. He didn't seem to mind anything about her and it made her feel beautiful far more than any of his words could. She touched the wrinkles on her face and found that she loved those too. Even her fatness she fell in love with at least for this night.
/
The next morning, she thought last night had surely been a figment of her imagination. Jasper hadn't really come over that night and he hadn't really fixed her limp that she'd had for more than twenty years. He didn't then ask for repayment in sex. But she looked over and saw that he was still there, sleeping rather peacefully. She looked at the time and saw that it was late morning. She was used to waking up so much more earlier. Then she heard a knock on her door.
"Mom! I need to talk to you!" Malachi said through the door.
Shocked, she then began to shake Jasper to wakefulness which was a task in itself. He might have been dead if he hadn't been breathing. His eyes opened slowly and he began to say something when he saw her face but she quickly pressed her hand firmly against his mouth. She indicated the door to the half-understanding Jasper. Then he nodded with partial understanding.
"Mom! Are you there?"
"I'll be out in a bit, Malachi. Go wait for me in the living room." Then she leaned in closely to Jasper and whispered in his ear. "I'll be back in a few. Stay here and be quiet."
Jasper watched with cloudy eyes as she left and closed the door behind her. After a moment, he sat up in his bed and then walked over to the door to hear what was being said. He listened for a while and then walked back over to the bed and waited for her return. He heard her quiet footsteps and then watched as the door was opened and closed it behind her.
"I think it'd be best if I leave," Jasper said upon her reappearance.
"I agree. Just make sure you're quiet."
"Don't worry about me."
Malachi had gone to his room again from what he had heard. Jasper gave Sarah a quick kiss on her forehead and then made his way quickly out. It was a cool morning he noted as he made his way unhurriedly to his home. The house was quiet when he stepped in, but he didn't get far before he was stopped by Jan.
"Where have you been? I've been looking for you since yesterday. Turned off your linkshell and everything."
"I had reason to."
"Jasper, what in the world—
"It's personal. Now I'm going to take a shower."
"Alright, but there's something I want to talk to you about."
"I think I already know what that is."
Jasper didn't leave the other any time to respond as he climbed the steps to the bathroom. He took his sweet time. He really did know what Jan was going to ask him and he took the time to think on it. He'd heard Malachi's candid conversation with his mother. It seemed he was planning on registering with the Adventurer's Guild and Jan was interested in joining him in his journeying. Jasper couldn't imagine that Jan would even think of undertaking such a venture without first asking him to join. He wondered if he should join, but he knew what his answer would be when he thought of Jan out there by himself constantly in the jaws of danger. Besides, he had nothing better to do. Just yesterday morning he was lamenting how lacking his future was, pondering suicide even. He really had no reason to deny Jan if he asked. Finally decided, he turned off the shower, dried himself off and eventually met back up with Jan downstairs.
"My answer is yes," Jasper said upon seeing Jan.
"But you don't even know what I'm asking."
Jasper smiled. "I'll go with you on your silly adventures. Someone has to make sure we all survive."
Jan took a long look at the other trying to figure out how he could have known, but then gave up on it when he realized that Jasper was not going to explain himself any further. "Well, that's good—least I didn't have to convince you of anything. Dinah's coming with us."
"Just bring everyone then. It'll be like a big family vacation," Jasper said with obvious sarcasm.
Jan looked at him annoyed. "That's just how it worked out. And if you haven't noticed—we make a very convenient party."
"You know what they say, Jan. We're only as strong as our weakest link."
"And who exactly are you calling weakest link?"
"Oh, don't play dumb, Jan. Your girlfriend, of course. You can't spend two days training as a Pugilist and then actually be ready for the world."
"Wait, how do you know—
"I just know things, Jan."
"Yeah, I guess you do."
Just then there was a knock on the door and Jan did not hesitate to answer it despite it being Jasper's place.
"Malachi! Glad you came, come in."
The blond teen walked in and his attention turned to Jasper as soon as he saw him. "Guess I was wrong about you, Jasper. Thanks for helping my mom out—she's like a new woman."
"She should be," Jasper said with a grin.
But Jan knew that look well and he gave his friend a knowing look shaking his head. Luckily, Malachi wasn't turned to him so he couldn't see as he mouthed the words: "You made out with her?"
Jasper was amused with the expression on Jan's face and then despite himself gave him a barely perceptible nod. Jan's look was quite priceless.
"So, I take it Jan told you about what I plan on doing," Malachi continued completely oblivious to the silent exchange between Jasper and Jan.
"He did. I've decided I'll join you two or more like you three. It's dangerous out there—it'd be suicide to go without a healer."
"Good," Malachi said satisfied with the other's answer. "So where's Dinah?"
Malachi turned to Jan then who was only given a second to fix his expression to a more neutral one. "Oh, Dinah? She's out back weight training."
"Are you sure we should take her with us?" Malachi asked Jan.
"She won't stay here alone," Jan returned.
Then he walked off to go find her, leaving Jasper and Malachi behind.
"You know, I resent healers," Malachi said to Jasper.
"I imagine you would."
"But…I'm really thankful for you. I've never seen Mom so happy, so full of energy. I mean, all of that from just fixing a limp. I bet it must have hurt."
"Oh, no, it was quite painless. Of course, were it you, I probably wouldn't have been so conscientious."
"Look, let me make one thing clear. Don't heal me all the way, alright. I…Well, I like to feel some kind of pain just so I know I'm doing something right."
"We all know the real reason, Malachi, and you're not the first I've dealt with, with your 'unique' sentiments."
"Really?"
"But let me make this clear to you, boy. I will heal you as I heal anyone else—I will not make any exceptions. You'll just have to get used to it or kill me right now."
Malachi frowned deeply at the other. "You know I considered the alternative, but I'm sure Jan would be none too happy."
"You couldn't lay a hand on me even if you tried your utmost. Like I said, I've dealt with the likes of you before. I can defend myself just as well. Eventually, Malachi, you'll understand the wisdom of my stance. Until then, you'll just have to suffer through."
/
AN: And the initial party has formed! Doesn't it look like one happy family?
Tried to get to my usual 10,000 word count, but didn't quite make it. Just thought the ending would be far more intriguing if I left it here.
Stay tuned!