Aftermath [ Locked to Jackson]

[half_a_soul]

Once it was decided, things moved on fairly quickly. Contacting the Starjammers had been the hardest part, but once Corsair heard why, it wasn't hard to convince him. After all, he'd lost a lifetime with his two sons, thanks to aliens attacking them, and lost his wife to those same aliens later. He was willing to help, even if he didn't understand everything about how they'd manage to get there.

Which was something Jono took care of, anyway. It had required a larger PINpoint than usual, but it did the trick. From there, it was a case of following the trails laid down. And avoiding the Federal military patrols. Avoiding because the Colonial Program that ran everything out their direction seemed perfectly happy to let the aliens keep raiding the colonies so long as they could plausibly ignore that it was happening.

It pissed Jono off like few things ever had and he had nowhere to work it off. Sex, even zero G sex, could only do so much to take his mind from it, though he tried not to let it show too much when Jackson was with him. But, then, it was easier to ignore when Jackson was with him.

And then they found the planet.

A lot of what happened there was fuzzy in Jono's mind, even several days later. They got the prisoners out and he thought that the aliens would probably think twice or three times before going after humans again. But there had been a lot of fighting. A lot of it and Jono had been smack dab in the middle, psionic flames and telepathy used to devastating effectiveness.

Once they'd gotten the former prisoners onto the ship, Jono'd pulled away, going to his quarters with an apology to Jackson. He'd used up so much in the fighting that he needed time to recover and get his mind recentered. The ship was heading to Boshane, under Jackson's instructions. Now that he felt more normal, Jono slipped out of his room, casting about to find Jackson. Who was near Gray, just as Jono thought he might be. He headed that direction, brushing his mind against Jackson's in greeting before he got there.

Comments

[psi-flames.livejournal.com]

How much is there that is still Gray is questionable, but they'll figure it out once they get him to a doctor. Yeah, me too. Kin'a afraid of what yer mum'll make of me. Not like he's had much luck with that. Though Mrs. Guthrie liked him well enough.

[not-skywalker.livejournal.com]

It must say something about Jackson's state of mind that he hadn't actually considered what his mother would say about Jono. He gives a soft little laugh, something almost muffled by the hug, and shakes his head. "Don't be. She'll love you." There's absolutely no reason for her not to, especially considering Jono helped with this whole daring rescue. (And, you know, how happy he makes Jackson.)

[psi-flames.livejournal.com]

(Well, how happy he makes Jackson when he isn't going all Flaming Death at people. Or non-humans, at least.)

He slides his hand down Jackson's back, stroking gently. Mmm. I'll believe it when I met 'er.

[not-skywalker.livejournal.com]

(Yes, that.)

The longer he lingers in the embrace, the more relaxed he becomes. This is his Jono, this is what he's used to and what he's needed. "You'll see," he murmurs, resting his head on Jono's shoulder. After a quiet moment, Jackson adds in a whisper, "Thanks."

[psi-flames.livejournal.com]

Jono bends his head, pressing his nose into Jackson's hair. Yer welcome, he murmurs, just holding him close for a few more moments. An' I'm sorry. Fer scarin' you.

[not-skywalker.livejournal.com]

"It's okay," he answers softly, tightening his arms around Jono. "I'd just ... I don't know. I didn't expect that." Somehow. He has no idea what he'd been anticipating, though, where Jono's powers are concerned.

[psi-flames.livejournal.com]

'S not...an easy thing t' see, I been tol'. He shakes his head slowly. I didn' wanna scare you but...what was 'appenin' there was jus'...it got me real angry, mush. An' normally I got better control 'an 'at, but...

[not-skywalker.livejournal.com]

"It's okay," Jackson murmurs in an attempt to soothe Jono, brushing his fingertips down his boyfriend's back gently. "It's over now and I never would've been able to do it without you."

[psi-flames.livejournal.com]

Still, he wished that Jackson hadn't had to see that. An' 'e'll be fine, he added, knowing that Jackson had to be worrying about that, too. Know it's a lot t' convince yerself of at the moment, but 'e will be.

[not-skywalker.livejournal.com]

That's all Jackson wants right now: for Gray to be okay. He nods, suddenly hugging himself tightly against Jono. "I hope so," he says quietly.

[psi-flames.livejournal.com]

There were things Jono could do. Things he'd never done without Professor Xavier sitting over his 'shoulder' and watching, but he'd done them. But he wasn't going to offer until they knew how bad it was going to be. Instead, he just held onto Jackson a little tighter, too.

[not-skywalker.livejournal.com]

And Jackson trusts Jono for that, he always will, but he'll always want to proceed with caution where Gray is concerned, too. After a moment or two, Jackson nuzzles against Jono's shoulder. "I think I need to lay down." A few hours sleep is better that none and he's more likely to get some now that he's relaxed a little.

[psi-flames.livejournal.com]

Jono nods, looking toward the room. Wanna sleep in 'ere? Their quarters weren't that far away, but it was probably further than Jackson wanted to be.

[not-skywalker.livejournal.com]

Jackson hesitates, really uncertain. "I don't want to bother him," he finally says. "And even when I'm in there ... I'm afraid if I close my eyes, he'll be gone when I open them again."

[psi-flames.livejournal.com]

Jono nods, turning slightly to start steering Jackson back toward their room. I'll keep an 'ear' out for 'im, mush. Nobody's gonna get pas' me. And the moment Gray started waking up, he'd make sure Jackson was awake.

[not-skywalker.livejournal.com]

"Okay," he agrees, letting Jono lead him back to their quarters. Once inside the room, Jackson's grateful to kick off his boots and gravitates eagerly toward the bed, easily giving up to pull of exhaustion with the promise from Jono.

[psi-flames.livejournal.com]

Jono settles beside him easily, stretching out his legs and stroking Jackson's hair and back. He also keeps part of his mind on the young, fragile mind several rooms away. The drugs are good, though, keeping him in dreamless sleep.

[not-skywalker.livejournal.com]

Unlike his brother, however, Jackson has no such drugs to help produce a dreamless sleep. After curling up against Jono's side in the bunk, it only takes a matter of minutes for the boy to succumb to the lull of sleep, but his dreams will be plagued and nightmarish. After all, the aliens they just fought have been the stuff of nightmares for years and a part of Jackson thinks this is all too good to be true.

[psi-flames.livejournal.com]

He's too close to Jackson not to notice, of course, and Jono's powers are not inconsiderable. While still keeping an eye on Gray, he turns his mind to his boyfriend, sliding into his mind and wrapping around it. Doing his best to be quiet and soothing, to chase the nightmares away as best he can.

[not-skywalker.livejournal.com]

Even in his sleep, Jackson is aware of the all too familiar feeling of Jono's mind enveloping him. At first, it's only natural to panic just a little, everything he saw on the planet aligning with the nature of his dream, but it's only for a moment. As frightening as the display of Jono's powers had been, the warmth of his mind and the soothing nature of it now just fit with everything Jackson knows and loves about Jono. There's nothing to be afraid of.

His dreams turn into a wash of Jono's warm energy, which chases away everything else, and Jackson relaxes a little.

[psi-flames.livejournal.com]

That acceptance almost makes it harder, honestly. The only one who came even close to that sort of acceptance was Paige, and that had gone downhill less because of his powers and more because he was just lousy with relationships. So feeling it in Jackson's mind after the completely understandable panic? Jono sighs softly, relief coloring it, and settles back into the bed.

Eventually, he dozes off as well, though still 'listening' to both brothers.

[not-skywalker.livejournal.com]

Jackson is blissfully unaware of any of Jono's worry about their relationship and how it might end at any time for any number of reasons. He's kind of entirely in love with Jono and isn't the sort of guy to worry about how something could end when it's going so well. (In fact, if he knew Jono was worrying, he might wonder if it's going as well as he assumes it is.)

After sleeping lightly for at least a couple of hours, Jackson finds himself sitting up in bed with a start, confusion clouding his mind. Something is different, but he doesn't seem to realize it's the fact that the sound of the engines has changed for planetary re-entry.

[psi-flames.livejournal.com]

(It's going great. That's half the problem. Jono's just not used to things going his way!)

Jono rouses as well when Jackson sits up, the confusion letting him know something was up. He takes a moment to inquire of Rachel, then nods and reaches out for Jackson's hand. We're gettin' near Boshane. Reckon they're gonna want you up on the bridge t' talk t' anybody what'll be questionin' us. Because at least Jackson knew these people.

[not-skywalker.livejournal.com]

Grumbling a little, Jackson scrubs a hand over his face and digs the heel of his palm into one eye, trying to combat sleepiness and wake himself up after the too short nap. "Yeah," he agrees groggily, finding the edge of the bed to put his feet down. "'Kay, I'm up."

Sort of. After putting his boots back on, it takes him about thirty more seconds to actually stand, but to Jackson's credit he doesn't sit back down immediately and whine for five more minutes. Instead, he waits for Jono by the door, yawning hugely and trying to wake up fully. He'll be okay by the time they get to the bridge.

[psi-flames.livejournal.com]

Once they're on the ground and all, Jackson will be able to get more sleep. It takes another moment for Jono to get his boots on as well, then he follows Jackson to the door and takes his hand with a nod.

After that, it's less than five minutes to the bridge, where all the Starjammers are turned out. Even the few X-Men who have joined up with them for the time being, like Alex Summers/Havok and Rachel Grey-Summers/Marvel Girl.

Jono nods to them both and stays back, letting Jackson handle what needs to be done.