A/N: Rating changed to M. Jade mentions that she had a brother on theSlap. I'll put the ages as the chapter selection titles so that you readers know the general order this happens in.
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
The only time you won anything with Cat, it was over your little brother. You could tell that she was getting bored, there was this look she got in her eye. When this happened you always got a bit of a reprieve from whatever she had planned and that terrified you. You stayed because she was more or less all you had. Your parents didn't care about you. Your father was always away on some trip or another. Your mother didn't care, she loved your brother more. But at least Cat cared. She there for you since you met, and you owed her for caring about worthless you. Something she reminded you of often.
"Jade," she would whisper in your ear. "Even though no one else cares for you, I'll always be here."
She never really abandoned you and maybe that's why you stayed, at first. Why you keep coming back. She's not your father, who has no idea what to do with a daughter, and she's not your mother who abandoned you. And your brother looks up to you, and there are moments like this when you are ashamed because you never want him to see you like this.
She tugs on your hand to get your attention, and pulls back away from you.
"Maybe I'll go after your brother next," she says. Her smile is cruel, one that you are all too used to on her face, and yet seems foreign on one who acts so innocent. But your brother is off limits, she can do whatever she wants to you. She isn't allowed to touch him. You push her against the wall to threaten her. Her smile widens. And that's all it takes for you to figure it out.
She wanted a challenge, but not one that she wasn't going to win. She wanted a game where she didn't make all the rules but still was on top. Ok, you could do this, if only to keep her away from your brother. What little affection that didn't belong to her, was still tied to him. And it was your job to protect him, it was. Older siblings always protect their younger ones, even against their friends. You could do this. You could challenge her. You weren't that far gone yet, right?
Right?
She bites your ear and draws blood, causing you to back off. You wonder if it will scar but you're more interested in the smile on her face. The one that you simultaneously love, hate, adore, and fear is there. And you know that, for now your brother was safe. And even though you shouldn't care for him, you do, he is your younger brother. You find some happiness that you can protect someone, help someone for once, and maybe that will ease the guilt you feel growing each time you concede to her wishes. If you keep her focused on you, then she won't go after anyone else. If only you had been able to figure that out before Robbie.