Author's Note:
Quick thing I wanna say here: I did some new artwork, the link is on my profile page, it's Jet, he's shirtless and it's hot so go look.
Eat Your Vegetables World: Part 1
Jet steadied himself as his feet touched the ground, his heart still racing and his breath still coming in sharper than he'd like. His mind was stuck and his trembling fingers slowly reached up to touch his lips, still warm and damp from Sam's mouth.
He let out a slow breath and closed his eyes, part of him just wanting to stand there and take in what had happened, really revel in it. The rest of him knew he couldn't exactly do that, there wasn't a lot of time and he had no real idea of where he was. Jet licked his lips and looked around himself, the area was peaceful, it was a bright sunny day, warm weather and a cool breeze. It was nice, nothing about it felt threatening at all. He considered the rift and whether or not it would have sent them to another world with Void presence in it. Jet had no way of knowing, so instead of fretting he started to look for the reason he was there.
Each world had its own group, as far as he'd seen and they always ended up close to someone that was relevant. In the case of the gigas they'd ended up close to the monster instead but that didn't matter, mostly, because he couldn't see any monsters roaming about at that moment. Jet folded his arms behind his head and walked around what he came to realize was a school playground. He was on the other side of the fence at least, but the kids were all outside which made him look creepy as hell. Not to mention some of them were making some extremely excited noises; they'd seen him appear out of nothing.
"Hey!" One dark haired kid shouted at him, he couldn't have been that old, maybe thirteen, twelve. "You! Guy! Hey guy!"
Jet sighed and turned around, an eyebrow raised slightly at the teen he sort of recognized. Except this kid was pale as hell, skinny too, didn't quite look like anyone that came to mind. "What's up, kid?"
The boy's face lit up slightly when Jet turned to him, "Jet?!"
'Ah fuck…' He furrowed his brow and walked over to the fence, "Yeah?"
"You look… different. How'd you do that?"
"What?"
"The-the thing you just did, how did you appear here like that?" His eyes were bright and curious, a pale bluish green that was starting to bug him. Jet thought as hard as he could, who had he met recently that had eyes like that?
"Michael," he said aloud when it finally hit him.
"Yeah?" The kid answered immediately which only made Jet want to clench his fist and do a victory pose. Maybe in his head.
"I didn't do anything like that." He waved it off casually as if he truly hadn't. Jet knew somewhere in his head that this kid was probably his link to the others, but he couldn't exactly take Michael out of class, it was like kidnapping. "Shush up about it, 'kay little man?"
"You got it!" Michael gave him a wink and stuck his fist out. Jet bumped it lightly as a grin spread across his face.
"That's my boy." He shoved his hands into his pockets and continued on his way, figuring maybe coming back later would be better for him. As he walked he came across the playground for the younger kids, like kindergarten level and five year olds. It was kind of cute to watch them run around on their stubby little legs; Jet wasn't listening to them in any kind of depth, just the general noise of kids at play. He remembered being at playgrounds, being the kid with all the scrapes and clumsy movements. His clothes never fit, he never had any snack or lunch with him, and his shoes fell off whenever he lifted his foot out of them. It wasn't really a fond memory for him, not the first part anyway. He'd met Dean in the second term after Christmas.
Jet hurried into the school as fast as he could, his sneakers had holes in them and the snow they had gotten was too cold for his feet. He thought maybe he'd lost his toes but was too scared to take his shoes off to check. If there was a rattling sound he'd probably lose his shit, but so far so good. Jet rubbed his arms quickly and blew on his red hands hoping to get some heat into them, winter was his least favourite time of year, it was so cold and he never had warm clothes like all the other kids. Some of the teachers tried to help him out, some of them looked at him like the rat he appeared to be. Jet didn't notice that much, but he did notice how the other kids didn't talk to him or let him play with them. It hurt his feelings but he didn't know how to say that, instead he took what he wanted, and he took it forcefully if there was any resistance.
He wanted to play with the toy cars they had, those big plastic things that kids had to use their feet to move like from the Flinstones. They were all occupied already so he went to one with a small blond kid in it, "I want a turn." He insisted, holding the vehicle still. "Get out."
Big green eyes looked up at him, such a girly little face studying his own in those passing seconds. "We can share." He said.
Jet blinked a few times, surprised at what he'd heard. "You… mean it?" No one had ever played with him before.
"Yeah," the boy smiled and shuffled over to the passenger side, "Get in!"
Jet's eyes were brimming with tears as he got in, small hands coming up to wipe at his face. As he wiped the tears away the make up that had been put on him went with it.
"I'm Dean- WHOA! What happened to your face?" The other boy leaned forward and moved Jet's shaking hand. "Let me see it."
Jet's heart nearly stopped, no one was supposed to see the bruises. "Shh, be quiet." He hissed and tried to wipe the make up back on, of course he was a kid and had no idea that it wouldn't quite work that way.
"You hurt your arms too," Dean pointed out softer this time, looking at the dark marks on Jet's arms leading into his sleeves.
"It was an accident." Jet looked away and that was the last Dean had mentioned it to him.
"Do you know how to drive?"
"What?" Jet sniffled and turned back.
"Driving, do you know how?"
Jet nodded quickly, "Yeah, obviously."
Jet continued on past the schools with that memory tucked away in his head. First meeting Dean, it was probably one of the best moments of his life, something he'd never change even if he had the chance to relive it. Dean was his best friend and like a brother to him, hell, maybe someday Dean would be a brother in-law for real. Jet smiled, the feeling of Sam on his lips still tingling. Love was a heavy-handed word but Jet was willing to say it, every part of him wanted to but something told him Sam already knew. How could he not? It was in everything Jet did, said, he loved Sam. It had always been there but only in the last while had it grown from the caretaker into something more romanticized. Jet wasn't positive on Sam's reciprocation but it felt real enough.
As he strolled down the street with those thoughts in mind he found himself at the entrance to a mall. Jet looked at it thoughtfully and shrugged, he never knew where he'd find the others so what could it hurt? It'd been a while since he'd wandered in a mall anyway.
After 45 minutes he realized why it'd been so long; malls were boring as hell when you had no money. Jet sighed and dropped onto a bench, hands shoved deep into his pockets as he showed the world how bad his posture could be. He puckered his lips and blew his air out in a low whistle, all he could think was 'What the hell am I doing?'
That question evaporated in the cloud of his thoughts when he heard a small voice crying very close by. Jet sat up and looked about five feet to his righta toddler was bawling his eyes out. Jet furrowed his brow and scanned for an inattentive parent in his immediate vicinity. To his dismay there was no one. "Seriously?" he groaned pulled himself up to walk over to the kid's side. The boy was covering his eyes, hands wiping away at his face and not noticing the young man standing behind him. "What's your name, kiddo?" Jet asked softly, hands still fiddling with the lint in his pockets.
Without looking the boy sobbed and shook his head first then sniffled as he tried to hide his face entirely. "Vincent." He was so soft spoken and timid, Jet knelt down to be a little more on the kid's level.
"What's wrong, Vincent?" He was shocked at his own tone of voice, he'd never really made a point of talking to kids, hell he kind of thought he hated kids.
"I-I'm scare, I wanna go home." He whined and looked up at Jet's face and for a moment he thought he might be Santa Clause the kid was so happy. Tears had stopped instantly as the boy stared at him, and likewise he was a little in awe of the boy too. He was cute, adorable and the weird little giggle that came out of him made Jet smile in the weirdest way. "Daddy! Daddy you found me!" Vincent squealed with joy and jumped into Jet's entirely unsuspecting arms. "I'm so sorry, daddy! I won't run away again, I won't, I won't!"
"Whoa, whoa now!" Jet wrapped the kid up in a hug instinctively, his ears were burning and his heart just about leapt out of his mouth. "Slow down, little man." Had he heard that right? "I'm your daddy?"
Vincent nodded rapidly with the cutest little laugh, Jet's heart almost melted on the spot. "Of course you are!" The enthusiasm with this one was through the roof. "Can I come home now?"
Jet was pretty sure that word would be the death of him. He couldn't explain he was from a different world to a freakin' toddler! How old was this kid? Christ. "Of course, Vince. Let's... get you home." He scooped the kid up and propped him up on his shoulder, Jet glanced around hoping maybe Vincent had run away very recently and the other Jet would appear.
That didn't happen.
"So pop quiz, Vinny, where do we live?" It was worth a shot.
Vincent put a tiny finger to his chin, 'hmm'ed and 'hah'ed really hard before he shook his head. "Don't know."
"Yeah," Jet chuckled, 'Me either…' "What do you say we hang out at the mall, just you and me?" The reply was a hug to his head and an energetic nod. The boy was just really happy to be back with his 'daddy' again. Jet didn't have the heart to take that away, so instead he adjusted his shoulders and started walking around again, stopping by kid stores and looking at things. He figured it might be a bad idea to tempt the kid but what else would a toddler be interested in? He had no clue.
"Daddy," Vincent sounded close to tears again as he tugged gently on Jet's hair, "Daddy I'm hungry."
'Fucking shit I've got no money!' He thought dismally, his expression falling dramatically, "Me too, champ."
"Can we have food?" The question was so innocent and he had no idea how long Vincent had been going without food, when he ran away and all of that crap. Jet knew pretty well how awful it was to be that hungry at that age, it hurt like a bitch and nothing else mattered.
"In a minute," he replied with a smile and quickly took a look around, gauging his options. The food court was closest and he'd seen a few restaurants on his way through. There were a few things he could do, dine and dash, steal some money, pan handle, steal some food, and of course his all-time favourite; begging. 'Son of a bitch…' He thought he'd never be there again, looking for ways to feed himself while being dirt poor. Food court it was. 'Seriously, I think I should find a way to grab some money next time or something because this is getting ridiculous.' He lifted Vincent off his shoulder and sat him down at a table, "Sit tight, I'll go get us some food."
He'd turned to walk away but he felt a desperate pull on his pant leg, "No! Don't go, daddy." When he looked down Vincent's eyes were wide and welling with tears, "Please, I don't wanna be alone anymore, daddy."
"Yeah alright, don't cry little man." Jet immediately took the boy's hand, his stomach twisting in knots. "Let's go." He gave a reassuring squeeze as Vincent beamed up at him, his puffy cheeks and wide baby tooth smile shining. 'God, what am I doing?' He thought with a touch of fear in the back of his head. He was acting as this kid's dad, hell he was acting more like an older brother. How the hell do you father something? He had no freakin' clue. It wasn't like he had a role model to base it off of when he was growing up.
He didn't want to teach the boy to steal or showing that pan handling probably works somewhat, so he went with what he had. "Excuse me," he went to a place with someone who looked at least a little sympathetic. The girl looked at him, took a double take and smiled charmingly right back at him. "Hey, I just found this kid and there's no one around, he's starving and I don't really have any money. Do you think you could help me out?" He put on the most sincere expression, almost looking like a lost kid himself.
She leaned over the counter and looked at Vincent who did have the appearance as if he'd been out on his own for far too long. Her expression shifted to something he'd been banking on, that awe struck and sentimental look that led to him having a kid's meal in no time. It didn't get him fed but he didn't really care all that much, Vincent was happily chowing down at a table in the food court and Jet felt like maybe he wasn't such a screw up. Another version of him had been doing a pretty good job with this kid, though he wasn't sure what the whole running away thing was about. What he did know was that if this kid's dad ever hit him there was no way Vincent would have hugged him like that, no way in hell.
"So why'd you run?" He asked with his face propped up in his hand, watching as the toddler made a mess of just about everything.
Vincent looked at him and for a second Jet forgot he was talking to a three year old. "You said no."
"What'd I say no to?"
"I wanted a puppy but it's ok now, I don't want one no more." Vincent went back to his sandwich and all Jet could do was run a hand through his hair. This little boy thought he was his dad, there was no way in hell he could tell Vincent he wasn't, and he couldn't bring him home either because neither of them knew where Vincent lived.
'I'm about to have a very frustrating day…' He returned the smile Vincent shot him, doing his best to make sure none of his feelings showed. Jet was terrified, he'd never seen himself as father material, to teach and raise someone into a functioning adult. He was barely a functioning adult, it was impossible, how did normal parents do that every day?
"I love you daddy." Vincent had gotten up and walked under the table to hug him around his middle, a tiny, messy face nuzzling his shirt. Jet hesitated but hugged Vincent back.
"You too." He couldn't quite say it.
Author's Note2:
Hey guys, how's it going? College started for me this week so it's been awesome. I am in love with 3D stuff all over again. Anyway sorry for the delayed update, this'll probably happen a few times in the next 9 months. In the meantime please leave a review, it really makes my day. I love you all for reading this, it's a long story and I know that.
The Sam and Jet pairing has been named Jam, for those of you who didn't already know. The first time they ended up together was in the story Eat Your Vegetables if you wanted to look at that. And Drummer96, thank you for speaking up, welcome! You are too kind :D