half_a_soul | 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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Jono blames Adam for plenty. And if he ever finds the man, it will not be good for him. There's more you can do to a man than just kill him, after all.

He does notice Jackson drifting from the conversation and squeezes his hand. "Reckon 'at's 'bout enough fer everyone, aye? Jackson really should be layin' down."

"That he should be." Poor Gray. Did someone warn him about the giant blue cat-like mutant who runs the infirmary? Then again, Gray's from the future so maybe it's not so weird for him. "You need to rest at least for tonight, Jackson. As Jonothon should have known."

"Yeah, well, Jonothon's fergotten a few things, not 'aving to worry 'bout circulation fer twenty-five years or so." Which is an excuse and he knows it, judging by the faint flush that comes to his cheeks. "But doc's roight. Really should be resting."

Emma nods, placing a hand on Gray's arm for a moment. "And I need to speak with Scott about room arrangements for our guest."

Dr. McCoy doesn't seem to phase Gray much, which is more due to the fact that he's used to other species that don't conform to the human norm rather than due to his now catatonic tendencies.

"My fault, Dr. McCoy," Jackson says with a small little smile. "I'll get some rest now."

Sensing that it's time to go and unsure if he'll get another opportunity, Gray finally steps closer and reaches out to place a hand on Jackson's shoulder. It's a testament to his dedication to this that the other man doesn't shrink away from the touch. When Gray leans closer, it's only to apologize for everything and that's something Jackson can easily forgive him for.

After that, well, Gray will certainly go with Emma wherever she bids. And Jackson to settle back down against the pillows, more than willing to go horizontal even if he's too uncertain about what just happened to sleep. He has to wonder if that was good. If he did okay.

Jono looks up at Hank, now that Jackson's laying down again. "Mind if I kip in 'ere tonight?" He'd take one of the guest rooms if he had to. But Jono'd really rather not. Not when Jackson's not the only one feeling a bit off kilter.

Of course, the rest of the X-Men have known for a while what Jono's only starting to understand himself. Hank nods. "I'll make sure a cot is brought in," he says, moving forward to check Jackson's IV port before taking his leave.

And Siouxsie takes that as her cue to shift up and curl on Jackson's chest. You did fine, he says after a moment, smoothing his thumb over the back of Jackson's hand. Gray's got a lot of his own healin' t' do, but might go a little easier knowin' yer okay.

And if his hand tightens a bit on the end there? Gray wasn't the only one who needed to know.

The way Jono's hand tightens around his gets the hint of a small, tired smile to quirk at the corners of Jackson's mouth. "I'm okay," he says, because he knows Jono needs to hear it (even if it's obvious, even if he already knows from logical conclusions or telepathic ability). "I've had worse." It isn't quite a lie, really, but none of his other injuries were this serious. They just hurt a whole hell of a lot more, in retrospect.

After a moment, he returns the pressure of Jono's hand. "Thanks. For everything."

It's kind of strange how that works. Jono knows Jackson's all right. Physically, at least. After all, he's laying there, but he's alive and he's talking. He knew it. But until Jackson actually said it, Jono hadn't entirely let himself believe it.

He takes a breath and lets it out slowly before snorting. "I don' think I wanna know when you had worse." It would have been a hell of a lot worse if not for Josh. Jono's not sure he wants to deal with that yet. What might have happened. Better to just ignore it and come back to it later. Much later.

Jono looks down at their hands, then leans down to kiss the back of Jackson's hand before looking up. "Yer welcome. I...yer important t' me, mush." Jackson's already had so much dropped on him today. Jono's feelings can wait.

Jackson loves Jono. Of that much, in a crazy existence such as his, he's now certain. He smiles softly at the kiss, giving Jono's hand another squeeze. "Stay?" he asks, carefully budging himself and the fire lizard over to one side of the bed, his intended invitation clear even without telepathy. It seems like such a waste for Dr. McCoy to have a cot brought in when all Jackson wants right now is to be close to Jono.

Jono frowns slightly, looking over his shoulder. He's been an X-Man for a long time and he'd really rather not annoy Hank. But after the day they've had, he really doesn't want to take a cot and be away from Jackson, either.

After a moment, he smiles, letting go of Jackson's hand so he can pull off his jacket and his boots. He doesn't want to kick Jackson by accident and hurt him more. Once he does that, he lays down on his side, taking Jackson's hand again. "Yeah. I'll stay."

Well, if Dr. McCoy has a problem with it, then Jackson will take all the blame (since he did ask). Besides, it's not like he'll die or something. He just needs rest. And he happens to rest better like this after several months of living and sleeping with Jono.

"Thank you," Jackson answers softly, settling in with ease once Jono is by his side. He closes his eyes and smiles, giving Jono's hand a little squeeze again.

He smiles back, leaning forward slightly to be able to nudge his nose against Jackson's. "Sleep, mush. Be here when you wake." Might not be entirely comfortable, but he'd manage. Because like hell was he letting Jackson go right now.

Twenty minutes later, Hank would find them curled up together on the bed, Siouxsie having moved up behind Jackson's head. The doctor, of course, hadn't brought the cot, though he could easily have grabbed one before disturbing them if either had been awake. But, truly, this would be better for both of them. And, honestly, he had to say that he approved of them. Not just in the bed, but together, period. After all, anybody who could worm their way into Jono's heart that quickly had to be someone special.

Relieved that this is the end of the past several days (or weeks, in Jono's case) of problems, it doesn't take much encouragement to get Jackson to sleep. He's exhausted and more than a little medicated, so given a moment or two he'll very gladly drop off to sleep. And possibly snore just a little, but that's more the antibiotics than anything. Really.

Negotiations [Locked to future alt!verse Jackson]

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