half_a_soul | Negotiations [Locked to future alt!verse Jackson]

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Negotiations [Locked to future alt!verse Jackson]

Jono had known it was likely to happen at some point. He'd been far too deep into Jackson's mind to not know why exactly he had run to the Nexus and why he was so insistent on not going back. Not, mind, that Jono wouldn't have tried talking him out of returning to his world, but it was easier that he didn't want to.

And, after about six months with nothing happening, Jono started to relax, as well.

The first one, he met in the Nexus, asking questions about Jackson. The second one he met there as well, though she was more subtle. Both wore the same sort of clothing Jackson had arrived in. Normal grunts, nothing more. Dangerous enough, he supposed, but mostly poor sods who were in the same bad position Jackson had been in.

He sent them home with no memory of Jackson, the Nexus or their mission. He'd been foolish enough to believe that would be enough.

The third one actually made it to his apartment, luckily while Jackson was out. While Jono had been out, too, but he arrived home first from practice to find the soldier--more advanced and better trained than the first two--pointing a gun at him and demanding to know where Jackson was. He'd probably have gotten off lightly if he hadn't shot Jono's guitar to make a point.

Jono made a point right back. Even with future medical advancements, it would take a long time to heal from first degree burns over most of the body. And then they'd have to straighten out his mind. It was possible the soldier could recover from the mental fucking Jono'd given him, but he'd embedded a message for the first telepath that looked at him to find. Jackson was under his protection.

He'd thought that had been the end of it. It certainly seemed to be for about a month. Then Jono woke up to a strange mental signature in the flat. He slipped out of bed, trying not to wake Jackson before putting on a pair of pajama pants and heading for the living room. Where he had to stop for a moment and stare at the man with white-blond hair and what could, maybe, have passed for the uniform of a Redcoat. Maybe. Once upon a time. And the wide leather wristband he knew held a vortex manipulator.

Time Agent.

Jono let out an explosive breath, hands on his hips. "Don't you bloody fools know when t' give up already?"

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The idea that they'll be back shortly makes him sick, but Jackson agrees silently and forces himself to stand up. He can't act like this, not in front of Jono and not if they're facing the feds, but it's difficult to not be afraid. While he might not be quite so insane as he would have been on a failed psych eval, he deserted his post and Jono has telepathically attacked a Time Agent. This can't end well.

Once on his feet, Jackson moves reluctantly back to the bedroom to dress, rubbing as his eyes with the heels of both hands in an effort to wake up and dry his tears.

Jono was going to telepathically attack a lot more than a Time Agent if things went badly. So far it was just some slightly higher grunt that he'd really taken out, but Jono had no problem at all going through everyone they threw at him.

He stood and followed Jackson into the bedroom, wrapping his arms around the other man from behind. "We'll get through this," he replied, nuzzling the back of Jackson's shoulder.

He pauses, resting his hands on Jono's arms and sighing softly at the nuzzle. It's definitely a comfort, but his stomach is still in nervous knots. "Yeah," he says again, though he might not be entirely convinced. "I hope so."

It's understandable. Jackson's knots are contributing to Jono's, though, and Jono really doesn't need that right now. Not when he needs to keep himself together for both their sakes. "Come on. Reckon we should do our part for the environment?" Which was his way of asking if they should share a shower. It would relax them both.

Jackson wants to ask if Jono thinks they'll be back soon, but he doesn't want to admit that he's afraid of the possibility. Which is ridiculous, since Jono can probably feel the very real fear coming off him in waves. He's trying to stay calm, though. He's really trying. "Yeah," Jackson agrees, knowing he won't be able to go back to sleep now. Or, potentially, ever.

Instead of standing rooted as he fears he might, Jackson moves toward the en-suite, guiding Jono along with him.

Of course he can feel the fear. Which is part of the reason he's suggested the shower. If nothing else, they can't meet the bastards without having a good clean. And, hopefully, it'll help them both.

He pushes up into a kiss, hands on the back of Jackson's head. Protective. Knows he's throwing off the vibe all over the place but he doesn't care. Jackson needs to know he's loved and cared for, so he puts as much of that into the kiss and his own projections as possible.

That ... Jackson sighs softly and melts a little into the kiss, almost overwhelmed by the projected feeling from Jono. The one that blankets his uncertainty and fear with something nice, something he's not known much of in his life. Maybe it isn't a tragedy that they followed him here, that this has all been dumped on Jono's doorstep. Maybe everything will be all right. Maybe ... yeah, maybe it's okay. He can believe that.

It will be okay. Jono plans to make certain of that. He's not really up for much of anything other than a shower and some rest. And hopefully the higher ups that Hart went to talk to have better manners, but he's not taking bets. For now, he's just going to enjoy the shower and being with Jackson. Things will sort themselves out in time.

The only thing he could possibly stomach right now is a shower and, maybe, more sleep. If he can manage. He's tired, but too on edge to think about sleep until after he's been relaxed by a warm shower and indulging in Jono's comforting presence. From now on, as much as he hates it, Jackson will be anticipating feds around every corner.

One good thing about being with a telepath, they're usually good about being able to tell what you need. Which means Jono works to hit all the high notes, especially because this is kind of his fault. If he'd not pussyfooted around and had, instead, gone straight to the top from the beginning, they might not be in this situation.

Then again, they might be in a worse one.

Eventually, though, Jono draws Jackson back to bed, curling up with the other man and trying to lull him back to sleep. It's going to be a difficult few days while they have to wait.

When he's drawn back to bed after the relaxing shower, Jackson isn't eager to sleep, but lets Jono try his best to get him there. After long minutes of trying not to think about it, Jackson succumbs to the pull of sleep only because he's too tired to keep his eyes open any longer. The next few days will be harder than any he's hard after leaving his universe, afraid of what's to come and how everything will play out.

It's not like it's that easy for Jono, either. It's not just his own worries that he has to deal with but the ones he can feel off of Jackson. It's not comfortable in the least, for either of them. And it leads to more fights and snapping at one another. Enough so that Jono, at least, is relieved when his PINpoint chirps. He grabs for it, flipping it on and standing. "Starsmore."

He listens for a few moments, glancing to Jackson with a nod. "Aye. Give us half an hour." He wasn't dressed for company. Neither of them were. "Then we'll meet you in the Nexus. You don't set foot in our home again, got it?"

Snapping is something he hates to do, but there's too much stress in this situation to be worried about a bad attitude. Jackson will apologize later, when all this is over, and that's being optimistic. If he was as deathly afraid as he should be, he'd apologize at every turn because he's hate for the last conversation they ever have to be an argument.

When the PIN goes off, his heart practically stops and he listens with detachment as Jono speaks to whoever it is he's speaking to. After the call ends, he swallows past the lump in his throat and shakes his head. "It's probably a trap."

Jono nods, clicking the phone off. "Aye," he agrees softly. "Probably is. Partly why I wanted it in a public spot where they ain't got control. An' maybe they don' know 'bout the AVF." Which was one of the few things they had going for them, honestly. As long as the bad guys don't know about the anti-violence field, they may have a bit of an advantage.

He looks around the flat, a bit blankly. "I'm not sure what all t' take with us, honestly."

Part of him wants to suggest that Jono just let him go, but Jackson knows that's a ridiculous suggestion, that Jono will never go for it, and that he doesn't actually want to face the feds by himself. He should want to, he should be brave and stand up for himself and fight, but ... he's not like that. Sadly, maybe.

"I need my guns," he decides, scrubbing a hand over his face.

Like Jono would ever have allowed that. If Jackson could give him a good reason, maybe, but right now he doesn't see a good reason.

Jono licks his lips, then nods. "Awroight." He's not a fan of guns, but that's mostly upbringing. "Jus' remember, let 'em make the first move. They come after us, they're sittin' ducks." You didn't offer violence in the Nexus until it was offered to you. Best way to handle it.

"Mostly just for show of force," Jackson explains, thinking about their strategy. Apart from 'don't freak out' and 'don't shoot first,' he's not sure what their strategy is comprised of. "What are we going to tell them?"

He really doesn't want to tell Jackson this, but it's not really fair not to, either. "I don' roightly know," he says, making his way to the bedroom. "Sorta been playin' it by ear the entire time." It's a lot easier to do that when you can read your opponent's mind, but he can't guarantee that this time.

That is severely disconcerting, even from someone that he would (and now does) trust with his life. Jackson follows him to the bedroom, needing to change and locate his boots. "I guess I can play it by ear, too," he agrees, though he really is just a dumb grunt. Without direct orders, it's ... kind of hard, actually.

He can hear that thought, Jackson. He turns away from grabbing his dress trousers to go and take his arm. "Jackson. You ain't dumb, okay? Know they didn' appreciate you, but there's nobody I'd rather 'ave at me back roight now."

He reaches up, cupping Jackson's cheek. "You need to know where t' go with this? Make sure the bastards ain't tryin' to get 'round behind us, aye?"

Jackson nods, something like a smile curving his lips at the touch. "I can do that," he promises, confident in that much, at least. "I'll watch your back." And he knows that Jono will watch his.

And his front. And their sides. Jono trusts Jackson to do what needs to be done. Because right now, they both need that.

"Good," he agrees, leaning up to press a kiss to Jackson's lips. "Now come on. Wouldn' do t' keep 'em waiting, roight?"

"Right," he agrees, though that doesn't seem to stop him from sliding one arm around Jono's waist and threading his fingers through the other man's hair to draw him closer still for another kiss. This one is slower, deeper, and with a hint of desperation that will no doubt feel like he wants to kiss Jono just in case it's the last time. It won't be, it can't be, but one can never be too careful about things like this. About people you love and situations that are more dangerous than they can be properly given credit for.

When he draws back, it's with a small smile. "Okay. I'm ready now."

Jono curls his fingers into Jackson's shirt, holding him closer. He's had too many people in his life taken from him before he was ready. No way is he allowing Jackson to be another. "I've got a call t' make, too, 'fore we go." It can't hurt to have Josh on standby. Just in case the only way they'll let Jackson leave is dead.

He finally pulls away with another peck to Jackson's mouth before he lets go, needing to get dressed before they go anywhere. And to make that call.

It takes nearly the full half hour before they get to the Nexus, both of their PINpoints recalibrated. Jackson's panic button will take him to the island mutant nation, where Josh can help or the X-Men can take on any comers. Jono's panic button is set for an old nuclear test island in the middle of the Pacific. Far enough away from anybody who could be hurt that he can completely let go with his powers if he has to.

Jono reaches back, catching Jackson's hand with his for a quick squeeze before they move forward, trusting Jackson to tell him when the people they likely need to see appear.

By ready, of course, Jackson means mentally; for the next half an hour he does dress and locate his weapons, strapping the handgun to his hip and shouldering the rifle after checking both are active and usable (even after just six months).

Once in the Nexus, he somehow manages to be all business. Apart from the quick squeeze he gives Jono's hand, that is.

After a long stretch of minutes, watching and waiting for the arrival of the feds, Jackson sucks in a slow breath and inclines his head slightly forward, indicating the small, but heavily armed, group of federal escorts surrounding a highly decorated officer. Several of them are Time Agents, if only by the vortex manipulators they wear. (And in the very back, though Jackson will fail to recognize him, is a much older Gray.)

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