Hello :P It is Wednesday and I am actually back with a new chapter. I wasn't really into uploading any of them looking at this list to upload but settling on this and reading it through, I was surprised. It flows better than I expected. This chapter focuses on James and his son, Justin, when he's 12 and following an unexpected and menacing visit from Giovanni, who years later is still bitter that Jessie and James left the team. The scene with James and Justin in the garage was inspired by a particular scene in "The Brave". It's such a touching scene on screen so I hope I captured the same love and sentiment in my writing :P I hope you enjoy!
Ages:
Justin: 12
James: 33
Disclaimer: I own Justin :P
My nails dug into James' shoulder and I took a sharp intake of breath as the lavender haired male gritted his teeth and continued running as fast as he could up his driveway. I couldn't even pause and take the time to study his face as my heart was pounding so intensely it made my head and my brain feel as fuzzy as an old TV.
He let out a quiet noise – not a whimper or a groan – just a noise showing nothing in particular as he didn't even take a few seconds to take the key out of his pocket and unlock his front door. Time seemed to slow down and I gulped roughly as James gritted his teeth before not hesitating for a moment and kicking the door down.
He was not a huge man or a violent one but the adrenaline made him capable of such things. He seemed to not even pause for breath as he sprinted into his house and running into each and every room, calling out his eldest son's name in a loud but numb voice.
It was like he was moving at the pace of a humming bird but I was a turtle. I had time to think. I had time to reflect. James had been fitting Ash at head office for an outfit to wear to a major TV appearance when Meowth rang his old friend, informing him that Giovanni had found him working at his noodle shop and was intent on tracking the lavender haired male and his family down. That's not something you want to hear at all. Chaos broke down and Ash and I had split, my best friend serving as a distraction purpose and me helping James bring his family to safety.
It was James' last day at work before taking the summer off to spend with his family and he was going to be done fitting Ash in less than an hour and free to do whatever. He knew he could handle sorting Ash out and told his wife to stay at home with the children, getting precious time with them before her husband could join them. Such good times for us all. Such good times had been ruined by a violent and bitter man seeking revenge to two of his secretly favourite human agents quitting a long time ago to raise their children.
I didn't have the time to reflect on Jessie and James and their decision to quit for a better life for their children when I was bought back to reality. James had sprinted up yet another flight of stairs and he was shaking with exhaustion and adrenaline when my full attention went back to him.
He gritted his teeth and used his hand to help tug himself up the stairs using the banister and he paused for a second bit of breath before checking out all of the rooms on the next level.
"Justin!" he called out with all of his might before gritting his teeth once again, this time at annoyance at himself that this might not be a smart move. He couldn't know for sure that Giovanni had left their private property. The gardener informed him he saw him leave but you couldn't be too sure. He wouldn't give up that easily, especially as each year passed he got more bitter and dark.
I knew James wouldn't notice but I patted his shoulder gently and I felt better for it myself. Everybody in our group loved and respected one and other endlessly. We would not let anybody get hurt. And especially not our children and the other's children. I breathed out as, like I suspected, James didn't react to my tiny gesture of comfort and reassurance.
He suddenly stopped in the middle of the hall of the middle floor after checking each and every room, his hands going to his hair and seeming to clutch it with all of his might. He didn't break down in tears but his body clenched and shook like inside he was cracking and crying. I furrowed my brow and was about to open my mouth and offer comforting words when he suddenly mustered up strength and breathed in sharply, using all the power in his legs to sprint back down the stairs. I had to dig my nails into his shoulder not to fall off and to my surprise, James responded to this absent minded action. He turned to give me a slight weary smirk as he sprinted back out of the house and ran down the garden path. I blinked in confusion and slight fear but he seemed to know what he was doing.
"Justin!" he went back to calling, his voice feeble at first but mustering up the strength and energy to call louder with each and every breath. "Justin! Justin, Justin, Justin!"
He said his son's name one last time before slamming his hand onto the button of the garage door that would open up.
He was normally a very patient man but this time, like my best friend, he hopped from one foot to the other and waiting for it to open. I didn't blame him. Once the garage door swung up and left a gap just big enough for a child to climb through, James went for it and he dived into the garden room, not caring that he almost beheaded me.
The lavender haired male swallowed as much as he could and took a deep breath, his eyes blurring slightly from exhaustion as he scanned the room. I felt his body tense up for a fraction of a second before suddenly going weak and his feet walked him to the other side of the garage. Before I could even see him myself or smell him, I knew James had found his son.
I leaped down from James' shoulder and sat on the pool table, breathing out my own sigh of relieve when I saw the deep purple haired young male. I could see he was sat down and almost curled up into a ball with his legs pulled to his chest but at least he was safe. He winced when he saw his father and his expression didn't give away much but I assumed he was scared and didn't want to be found by anyone. He felt like he couldn't trust anyone.
I watched as James automatically went down to crouch in front of his 12 year old son, his hand reaching out to stroke his long hair.
James had been strong and composed before but now he could see his biggest boy with his own orbs, they quickly filled with tears and he smiled emotionally at him. He didn't say anything but the way his fingers combed through his hair and pulled his head to his chest said everything. Justin and Jazmyn had given James a sense of life and purpose the day they were born and the thought that they might be hurt because of his old connections killed him. His kids were his heart. And he definitely couldn't live without his heart.
Justin breathed out and shut his eyes when his own green tinted teal orbs filled with tears and he seemed to relax against his father for a moment before inhaling sharply and moving his head away.
James didn't bother to wipe the own tears in the corners of his eyes and swallowed, automatically looking over his son for any bumps or bruises.
The pre-teen furrowed his brow and shook his head quite violently for the introverted male and he even reached to shove his father's hands away. James didn't even need to blink at his son nor look confused for a moment because he knew him very well. And Justin was also very similar to his father and he knew himself pretty well too. Thanks to everyone around him who he loved and whom loved him.
James breathed out sadly and swallowed any tears that were going to threaten to fall and looked at his son, his hand reaching out to brush the hair from his eyes. He didn't say anything but Justin knew his father understood and he sniffed sadly at him before looking down at the ground.
"I failed, dad, I failed." He mumbled sadly, his shoulders slumping and the fact that his head was bowed down could show James the fresh and developing bruise between his eye and his temple.
I watched as James clenched his jaw and his heart with anger as he knew who had done this to his boy but I was in awe of him of the fact he didn't show it. He was just focusing on listening to his son and making him feel safe again. The lavender haired male shook his head at Justin's previous statement, reaching to press a kiss to his head.
"No you didn't fail, believe me, Justin, you didn't fail. I'm so proud of you. Meowth told me what you did. You made sure everyone got to the car safe and looked after them better than I could. You've done well, my boy."
I swallowed the lump in my throat as it was clear how proud James was and well he and his wife had raised their son but the pre-teen boy shook his head all the more fiercely, his eyes pooling with upset tears as he denied this.
"No I didn't do well, dad, I did terribly."
James watched as this was all his son could muster before he paused for quite some time, looking down at the floor and hoping to muster up some strength to tell his father. After a long silence and patience from James and courage from Justin, he looked right at his father. He didn't have tears in his eyes this time but he didn't need them to show just how in pain and regretful he was.
"You said when you're not around; I'm the man of the house. And I failed. I couldn't make him go away. I couldn't. He wouldn't listen to me."
"He won't listen to anyone." James was quick to inform his son, stroking his hair again and giving him a small, tearful smile. "Giovanni won't listen to anyone. And you're a big someone so of course he wouldn't listen to you-"
"I let him hit mom." Justin suddenly admitted in as strong a voice as he could but his body and his voice was shaking and his eyes were pricking with tears. "I managed to take a hit before he got Jaxon but I couldn't stop him from doing it to mom. I'm sorry dad. I'm sorry."
These words were like a slap to the face for James and he froze for quite a long time, just staring at his son with distant eyes. I could almost feel the coldness of his skin and the pounding of his heart from the position of the pool table. He was reflecting everything. His past. His choices. How if he had decided to let all his children come to work with he and his wife that day, none of this would have happened. James mustered the bravery to let his pain go for the time being when Justin sniffed and looked at him with more guilty eyes.
The lavender haired male breathed out achingly but pressed another kiss to his son's head before stroking his bruise as carefully as he could.
"The fact you took his blow for your little brother shows that you are the man of the house when I'm not around. You are such a little man. And I am proud of you for that. I know it's wrong and it must hurt you so much to see what he did to your mother but trust me, she could probably take it better than even I could. You got courage and strength from her, after all."
James gave his son a brave and comical smile to which Justin smirked in return before resting his hand on his father's shoulder. They shared their moment of bravery together and when James reached to rest his hand on his son's hand that was on his shoulder, they shared a joint moment of pain and aching weakness.
I breathed out silently and shut my eyes, resting my paws of the soft grass of the pool table and wished I could hold them in my arms and give them the strength from my own heart. James and his wife had done stupid stuff in the past but that truly went behind them when they had kids and realised who they really were. They didn't deserve this pain. Nobody did. But they didn't especially.
It sounds big headed but when I took a deep breath in myself and opened my eyes, James seemed to inhale himself and find some new found strength. I hoped it was from my thoughts because he deserved it, not because I was amazing enough to cure everybody's pain.
James continued smiling bravely at his son and stroked his hair gently; careful not to hurt his bruise and rested his other hand on his shoulder as he caressed him.
"You did a brave thing, okay? Justin, you did such a brave thing and I am proud of you."
When James said these words, it was like the purple haired young male was hearing them for the first time and he sniffed at his father, looking at him with doubtful eyes. James nodded and smiled back at his son, urging with his eyes and the stroke of his hand for him to believe them. I saw Justin nod his head a fraction in return and he let his father soothe him with his touch, letting out a few gentle sobs and sniffs here and there.
It was breaking James' heart left right and centre seeing his boy like this but he was done showing it. Justin may be the man of the Morgan household when James wasn't around but James was very much around so he was going to take care of his son.
The lavender haired male kneeled down in front of Justin and reached for something that was balanced on the corner of a nearby amplifier. He let it sit on his lap for a few moments while he paused to smooth down his son's hair and tidy it up a little bit. The young boy wrinkled his nose and tilted his head on one side at this but James didn't respond. Instead he reached down and picked his black fedora hat off his lap and held it out towards his son before placing it on his head.
It had been James' hat before but it was Justin's now. James smiled with pride as he fixed it to the correct angle before reaching to wipe his tears with his fingers and moving back to look at his son.
Justin blushed slightly with pride and understanding of the gesture and looked back at his father with innocent yet mature eyes as the lavender haired male nodded his head.
He smiled once again and held onto his son's face as he spoke to him.
"Yes, just as I thought. You're a man now, my boy, you're a man."
The moment was touching and it filled my heart with a new found sense of belief and positivity but Justin was a pre teenager after all and an introverted male so he didn't know quite how to express with words the gratitude towards his father. Instead of speaking, he said it with a smile and a twinkle in his eyes and James nodded his head again, clearly accepting his son's inward words.
James continued holding onto his son's face and looking at him with pride and looking at him as if the whole universe had taken a human form and it was right in front of him. Justin smiled shyly back and rested one hand on his father's shoulder and the other on his cheek.
Although his tears had been wiped away a while ago and they both had new found strength, when Justin spoke, he spoke with vulnerability and hurt in his voice.
"Go beat the hell out of him, Pops."
James wasn't expecting this from perhaps his quietest son and moved further back to study his face properly, tilting his head on one side. When Justin's expression didn't give away any indication of whether he was serious or not, James breathed out quietly and looked down at his lap. I couldn't help but breathe out fondly, although of course it wasn't really the right moment. I was just proud of the fact that James really would do anything for his children and one way or another; someone would never get away with hurting his family.
After going quiet and thoughtful for a moment, James breathed out a second breath and tilted his head on the opposite side than before. He reached out and tucked his son's hair behind one ear and fixed his hat once again before speaking.
"Do you really want me to do that, Justin?" he asked him solemnly, causing me to smile slightly and realise he was asking advice from the next Morgan man in line.
Justin wrinkled his nose, thinking for a moment and was about to open his mouth and persuade his father not to with words when he smirked. I thought he was leaning forward to hug James for a minute but instead he reached behind him and picked up his guitar.
He shook his head and smiled at his father, doing a quick riff on it before giving his father a proper smirk, full of pride, courage and bravery.
"Nah." Was all he said at first, gesturing for his father to pick up his own guitar and waited until his father had his guitar by the neck before saying what he really wanted to say. "Let's jam."
And that's exactly what they did. For just a few short minutes before heading off to James' grandparents' house for safety and to reunite with everybody, they played some tunes. It may have been a simple and maybe comical moment in such a serious time but I felt as though it really summed up the truth to James and his son's relationship.
They didn't need to do anything extravagant, as long as they were together. They didn't need to spend time having long winded and heavy conversations. All they had to do was sit with each other and play together and that's how they got out everything they wanted to say. Some things about them were very similar. Some things about them were very different. But aside from their shared hobby of their guitars, they had a shared respect for one and others hearts. And that bond reassured them both that there was nothing they could say or admit to each other that would change the way they felt about one and other. And even if something did get awkward between them at some time, they both knew in the end they would both be jamming out together. They really did know how to blow the cobwebs away.
The End.
There you go! Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoyed :3 I wrote another coming out one from Justin recently and thought to myself that I really need and want to develop his character aside from his preference. Finding this now, I think I did that but of course I want to do more. Like his father, he really values his family and as he grows older, it becomes deeply important to him to have a family of his own :3 Thanks again and I will be back next Wednesday so see you then!
AmyBieberKetchum signing out :3