Chapter 31 "Jade Wolf: Part II"

Chapter 31
Jade Wolf
Part II

“Ah, it feels so good coming back home. Even if it’s just a spaceship,” Sky collapses on the couch where Jade is sitting. “It’s been a long three years… you think Knapp is too hard headed? Oh please. Have you ever tried working with Tezuka?”

Zack laughs at Sky’s misery. “I wonder how Tezuka and Ryu will get along with Knapp? Tezuka hates Asians… and Ryu hates Knapp for abandoning him and their mother.”

“Well, it’s time for Knapp to face them by himself,” Jade takes a sip of the cup of tea. “It’s been crazy lately though so all of them will have to get over it sooner or later. No more secrets between us.”

“Right. For the sake of the universe!” Sky sits up. “As long as Tezuka and Ryu have the powers of Dark and Light Gods, we can still fight back.”

“Don’t you think they will be angry at you for not telling them who you are in the first place?” Jade raises an eyebrow at him.

“Please don’t remind me!” Sky laughs nervously.

“Well, good luck,” Jade gets up and leaves the crew’s quarters. He is about to head for his room only to be stopped by Zack.

“Hey, Jade. Just wanted to check on you to see if you’re ok? I know so many things happened recently, and… I want to make sure everyone is doing ok,” Zack says.

Jade gives a long sigh before he turns to him. “I’m fine. I’m the one who should be asking that question. You’ve been working with Danielle more closely and longer than us.”

An unusual sorrow appears on Zack’s face. “She was alone ever since she joined the military. I… and also her comrades always wanted to make her feel like she’s one of us…”

Jade waits patiently for Zack to say something more. To be honest, he is unsure how to react. Danielle recently died, and all Jade can feel is envy. He had been an assassin for half of his life until the Universe Warrior recruited him into the Dark Team. When he first met Zack, he was not sure why he was having a fluttery feeling in his stomach. Why his heart was skipping beats. Why his hands were sweaty. It was the first time he ever felt this way about him.

Zack runs his hand through his black hair. “I should have seen it coming. I… I wonder if I shouldn’t have mentioned Colonel Alvarez’s disappearances, which made her suspicious of him?”

“It’s not your fault,” Jade says. “We all miss Danielle…”

“Yeah…”

Should I just tell him how I feel…? Jade thinks. It’s possibly now or never. “Zack… I--”

Sudden loud angry footsteps are approaching closer and closer. They glance at where the noise came from. It is Tezuka stomping in rage, followed by Ryu.

“Hi, Tezuka! How did the meeting with Knapp go--” Zack starts but stops talking when he notices that Tezuka is holding his Army’s knife.

As soon as the door to the crew’s quarters opens, Sky turns around to see his comrades and says cheerfully, “Wow, you took forever! How was -- Ack!”

As Zack gets distracted by the loud commotion between Tezuka and Sky, Jade shakes his head. He will just confess his feelings eventually.

Unfortunately, he did not realize that it would be too late.

~*~

Jade wakes up with the sunlight directed at his face. He groans pitifully as he covers his face with his pillow. Damn… Why did I dream that…?

He stands up from his bed to stretch out his arms. He is staying in one of the hotel rooms. One of the fancy ones in the city, thanks to Rosalie. It’s been one month since Knapp defeated Nyx. Without a spaceship, they cannot leave the planet unless they build a new one.

He puts on a simple black shirt with dark blue jeans before heading outside. He first stops by at the homeless shelter only to find that they have plenty of volunteers to help out. Instead, they send him to another shelter.

On the way, he runs into Clear. Of course, out of all people, it has to be her…

“Why are you giving me a weird look?!” Clear yells at Jade, who carelessly shrugs his shoulders. She grabs his hand. “Well, are you hungry? I’m going to get some breakfast.”

Jade raises an eyebrow. “But I am going --”

“No but!” Clear starts dragging him. 

~*~

“Finally… It's been a while since I can eat with someone. Everyone has been too busy lately,” Clear says before taking a bite of a french toast. “Hmm! This tastes heavenly!”

Jade gives her a very small smile, knowing that the navigator/engineer of the Dark Team is right. Johnny and Logy are in another city, helping with rebuilding with their superhuman strength. Katja and Ketsu just started attending public schools. Knapp is still somewhere cleaning up the remaining black spores that he has missed. 

“I was supposed to go to this shelter but you forced me to come here,” Jade complains as he begins to play with the scrambled eggs using his fork.

Clear takes a look at Jade’s plate. She says with deep concern, “You barely ate anything. You look like you’re losing weight. Are you ok?”

“I’m fine. I’m still full from breakfast at the hotel. That’s why I was going to the shelter to volunteer.”

Is he even telling the truth? Clear thinks. “Okay, if you already ate earlier, then that’s fine, I guess. You know, everyone has been very busy lately so I just wanted to make sure you… you know, everyone’s ok?”

“So, how’s a new spaceship going?” Jade asks, trying to change the subject.

“Oh, this team of engineers is genius! I’m grateful that they’re still alive on this planet… or else it would take me several years to build one from scratch! So, with them, it should be ready in one year.”

One year, huh? Jade takes a sip of water. I wonder how Knapp would feel about being stuck here this long.

“Oh yeah, I haven’t seen Gules in few weeks now, so if you’re not too busy, why don’t you stop by--”

“Is that why you took me here? To ask me about the pervert?” Jade asks irritatedly. I haven’t even thought about him for the past few days. Why bring him up now?

Clear giggles at him. “You should know - He has always been in love with you. I’m pretty sure he misses you. He will be happy if you just come to his place.”

“I’m done,” Jade mumbles angrily, putting down his fork. He is about to get up when what Clear says stops him.

“Is it because you still haven’t gotten over Zack yet? Or… is it because he is 100% opposite of Gules?”

Jade’s heart cannot help but pound against his chest pretty loud. He is hoping that it is not too loud for Clear to hear. He says sternly, “Shut up.” He leaves the diner.

~*~

“Gosh, it was so good to see you! I’m serious,” Rosalie exclaims as she claps his hands twice. “Damn, you look beautiful!”

Beryl is on a videophone. She is wearing the Queen's crown, which fits her perfectly. She is blushing and giggling. “Shh, my brother is there!”

Gules rolls his scarlet eyes. “How’s everything on Planet Alfur?”

“Great! Last week, we built a new school… you know the old playground we used to go to? Well, it was replaced with a newer one along with the school!”

The former prince smiles at his sister.

“That’s amazing! I wish my son and I could visit you… I totally hate that it takes 2 years for a one-way trip, but Clear has been helping us out to see if it will cut down the length of the trip, hopefully!” Rosalie says.

”Ladies, you are the world leaders. You do what you need,” Gules says with a light chuckle. “I’ll join Rosalie once she decides to visit you.”

“Oh, what about the Dark Team?” Beryl asks in confusion.

”I… I-I’m not sure if I’ll stay with them. I’ve had my fun but I think it’s time for me to go back where I belong.”

”Oh, fucking hell no!” Beryl yells, startling both Rosalie and Gules. “Amen… Rosalie, can you please excuse us?”

”S-sure,” Rosalie says before she leaves the room.

”Gules. You’re either leaving with the Dark Team or staying on Planet Rosa,” Beryl says bluntly. “I’m not welcoming you back.”

”What the hell are you talking about?” Gules snaps. “I mean, once Planet Rosa is in good hands, I’ll go back. The Dark Team doesn’t need me.”

”Why not? You’re their healer and fire user. That’s exactly who the Dark Team needs. Have you seen how a few of them almost died if it weren’t for you when we were fighting against Ezekial? They need you.”

”I…” Gules sighs as he covers his face with his own hand. “Too many people died. I might have saved one or two but there was nothing else I could do for the rest. And…”

”And what?” Beryl presses.

”Nothing happened between me and Jade. I was told that he lost someone he loved while fighting for Earth. How could I match against someone who doesn’t even exist anymore?” 

“So is this really about Jade? Is he the sole reason why you’re leaving the Dark Team? Have you ever considered his feelings?”

”I’m sure he would be happy if I left—“

”Have you even talked to him? Did he ever tell you to leave the team? Did you think about what he… and you really want?”

Gules is now glaring at his sister. This time, his anger is not directed at her. Instead, he is angry at himself for just being a little cowardly scared prince. “Beryl, I hate it when you’re right.” 

His sister is grinning widely at him. “Then go and get him.”

~*~

“All done!” Jade takes off the latex gloves and begins to clean the empty aluminum foil plates. He has been feeding homeless families at another shelter all day.

”Thank you, Jade! Please, take this with you,” An elderly woman hands a small box to him. “You need to eat more. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you eating during lunch.”

”I must have forgotten to eat,” Jade laughs lightheartedly. “Honestly, you didn’t have to—“

”Nonsense, I’m not accepting it back,” She shakes her head as she shoves the food box onto Jade’s hands. “Honestly, I really appreciate everything you did today. We needed an extra hand today. Can you come back tomorrow?”

“Absolutely yes! See you tomorrow,” Jade waves his hand at her.

As he leaves, he almost bumps into another man. “Oh, excuse-“

He stops when he realizes that he is speaking to a familiar deaf hot guy.

“Oh, sorry, I didn’t see you,” Logy says tiredly, not using sign language.

”Not using sign language today?” Jade asks. He is more excited about using sign language after using his voice all day everyday.

”My arms are worn out. We’ve been getting rid of the debris and other damaged structure parts for days…” Logy tries to clench and unclench his hands but barely does them successfully. He glances at him. “Is that a take out?”

”Sorta… I was volunteering at that homeless shelter today, so they gave me a meal as a thank-you gift. I’m not too hungry if you want it?”

”No thanks. You earned it for working hard,” Logy smiles at him. “Don’t you need it more than me though?”

“So, Knapp isn’t with you now?” Jade asks curiously. “You don’t look too hot, you know.”

“It’s that damn power of the universe,” Logy snaps, surprising the gravity controller completely. This deaf guy rarely ever complains. “It’s overwhelming me, so Johnny sent me back here. I’m going to the hotel and will just sleep until Knapp gets back.”

”It’s not hurting you, is it?”

”No, but it’s practically sucking my soul dry. Hard to explain. All day long everyday without Knapp, his love for me is always drawing the universe energy to me.”

Jade gives him a lighthearted chuckle. “Well, at least you have someone who loves you.”

Logy raises an eyebrow and stops walking. He starts using sign language this time, “What do you mean by that?”

Shit. I’m so stupid. Why did I say that? Jade sighs. “I mean, you’re not alone anymore. You have all Knapp’s attention now.”

”And you are alone?”

Jade flinches at Logy’s question. He looks down at the floor, not waiting to see Logy’s curious eyes. “Well… I… Never mind. You know I’m always with the Dark Team. I don’t know why I think I’m alone.”

”Is it because of Zack?”

Is it with everyone who always thinks how I feel has something to do with Zack? Jade scowls at Logy’s question. “It doesn’t matter anymore. He’s gone now. There’s nothing we can do to bring him back.”

”Of course I know. It’s been years since his death. The deaths of Danielle, Zack, Sybil, Sky… They affected all of us,” Logy starts to walk, being followed by Jade. “Knapp got the worst out of all of us. He felt powerless but he managed to persuade somehow. He continued living for the sake of the universe.”

”I’m not Knapp—“

“Of course not. But the universe lives on. So we must do the same. There’s Gules. Don’t you like him?”

”No,” Jade scoffs. Why am I still talking to him? I should just leave like I did Clear earlier today.

“I don’t understand you,” Logy says as he shakes his head. “Gules had been literally going crazy over you for the last two years. Ever since we got here, you both haven't seen each other yet. If you just go and see him, I’m sure he will go over the moon for you.”

Jade begins to feel the warmth on his face, knowing that it’s turning red. He is thankful that Logy is deaf because he would have heard his heart beating against his chest pretty loud.

“Unless you’re afraid you will get hurt? Just like Zack’s death did…?” Logy asks softly.

“Shut up!” Jade yells. He turns around to start walking away--

“Zack would’ve wanted you to move on.”

“How the hell would you know?!”

“How would I know if I could read Zack’s mind?!” This time Logy yells back, making a few other large and tall elves stare at them. He grabs Jade’s shoulders. “He… He loved you!”

Tears begin to come out of Jade’s purple eyes and are flowing freely down his face. He couldn’t form a single word with his trembling lips or even shaking hands.

Logy continues, “He wanted to tell you, but he couldn’t. We… We were all preoccupied with the Locker. You know, the secrets and us hiding from the Big Five. There was no time for romance and feelings. He talked to me right before his final mission. Even though he knew the risks, he said he wanted us to move on in case anything happened to him. But at that time when I was reading his mind, he was thinking only about you. Only you.”

Jade drops to his knees, pulling Logy down with him. He stuffs his face into Logy’s chest as he can’t stop his loud sobbing. The deaf warrior wraps his arms around the gravity controller’s shoulders.

~*~

What should I say? Gules is holding up a fist, about to knock on a door. He hopes nobody notices but he knows his face is feeling a little warm. Should I just say that I like him? No… Should I say something cool? Or poetic? 

He takes off his long black coat and then places it over his arm. It just started snowing outside but he has been inside the hotel in front of Jade’s room for several minutes. Probably ten minutes or so.

He begins to remember all rejections from Jade for the past two years. Obviously, he did not say that to his twin sister because she wanted him to stay with the Dark Team which was a dream of his but he did not have any heart to tell her about dozens of rejections. 

I can just come back tomorrow. He is about to turn around when the door suddenly opens. He freezes at the sight of Jade.

“Gules? What are you doing here?” Jade asks, also surprised to see him. Gules notices that he is also wearing a jacket.

I wasn’t prepared! Gules scratches the back of his head nervously. He shifts his scarlet eyes away from him. “I… I just wanted to see you.”

Jade blushes a little at Gules’s words. “M-me too. I was going to see you too.”

“Really?” The former elf prince asks, trying to hold back his excitement. Normally Jade would’ve told him to go away by now.

“Come in… now that you’re already here,” Jade says, taking off his jacket and tossing it on his bed. He is a little too quiet that Gules almost did not catch what he just said.

“Okay.”

“Do you want a drink? I have… water and orange juice,” Jade asks as he opens his small fridge. “Oh, I also have tea.”

“No, I’m good. Thanks for asking,” Gules smiles. He decides to take a seat on a computer chair rather than on Jade’s bed. 

Damn, why is he even hotter? Jade licks his lips as he takes in Gules’s body. The former prince is wearing a dark green sleeveless sports shirt and black pants with a green belt. It seems like the elf has gained some muscle mass in the past two years. His bare upper arms clearly show that.

“So… Why…” Gules starts to question but stops himself. He should explain first before starting firing off questions at Jade. “I mean… I talked to my sister earlier today. I was going to quit the Dark Team.”

Jade is about to open his mouth but Gules beats him.

“I thought I wasn’t good enough,” the red-haired prince continues. “Some people died that day. I understand what exactly you all were going through, but I was afraid to face all of you because you would think that I couldn’t handle it. And you out of all… I’m most afraid of.”

“Me?” Jade asks. Not Knapp? 

“Yes,” Gules gets up from the chair and walks closer to Jade. To his surprise, the gravity controller has not moved away from him. He is really itching to touch him… his pale ivory face. His fine and soft hair. His ears with pink blushing tips. And… his thin yet delicious-looking lips.

He barely stops himself when Jade says, “Gules, did I ever tell you that I had a sister?”

“No…” Gules says, pausing to let Jade continue talking.

“I became an assassin for a big corporation because I needed money to pay off my sister’s hospital bills. Some people were dying of cancer, and she was one of them. My home planet was pretty toxic so I was surprised I didn’t get sick from it.” Jade turns away from Gules, not wanting to show any emotion on his face. “Being an assassin meant I had to get rid of emotions. Since then I’ve always struggled with expressing how I feel.”

“You were trained not to show any emotions. It’s none of your fault,” Gules says. “It finally explains why you always had… the walls up. Avoiding and running away when the conversations get too difficult… they won’t resolve anything.”

“I know,” Jade mumbles.

“I don’t want to pressure you but I was told a little about Zack. Do you want to talk about him?”

Tears already begin to form in Jade’s eyes at the mention of Zack. He hastily wipes the tears with the back of his hands. “I-I… H-he… He d-died because of m-me…”

Gules gets up and then pulls him into his embrace. He can clearly feel Jade trembling but he is more surprised that he has not pulled away yet. He asks hesitantly, “Do… Did you love him?”

He instantly regrets asking the question. At the same time, he still wants to know whether he still has a chance that Jade may return his feelings, even though it is really small. After chasing and getting rejected by him for the past two years, he is ready to move on. No…

I’m lying to myself. I want him all to myself. I want him to stop thinking about that guy Zack… not even one second of him. Gules tightens his hug a little bit.

“Yes,” Jade says softly after a long silence. “U-um, you can let me go if you want to.”

”Never,” Gules whispers into Jade’s ear, feeling his light shivers. ”Not since the day I landed my eyes on you. Not even when you used your power on me.”

It takes Jade a little more effort to get out of Gules’s embrace but he is still holding the former prince’s hands. He is staring at his scarlet eyes. He asks nervously, “Even though I will probably never get over Zack?”

”I don’t care,” The curly red headed elf leans forward until his lips are barely on Jade’s, almost as if he is testing whether Jade will accept a kiss or not. He hesitates at first but carefully places his hands on the gravity welder’s face. He whispers while he is still looking into Jade’s purple eyes, “I’ve never liked anyone as much as I did you. You are the first person to treat me like a normal person. Not as a prince. I admire your strength yet gentleness. I truly wish to take down your wall as much as possible just so I can see your smile again—“

All of sudden, Jade presses his lips on Gules’s, catching his guard off completely. He mumbles, “You always talk too much.” He licks the prince’s lips, trying to probe into his mouth with his own tongue.

After kissing back, Gules easily lifts Jade by wrapping his legs around his waist and carries him to the bed. As soon as he carefully puts him on the bed, they both freeze at the sudden loud growls coming right from Jade’s stomach.

”No,” Jade whines in annoyance when Gules breaks the kiss and pulls away from him.

”Well, you need to gain weight a little bit. Let’s go out and eat. It’s my treat,” Gules gives him a little chuckle when Jade is both pouting and blushing at the same time. “We can continue afterwards. I promise.”

Whatever. Jade is pretty disappointed but at least he’s hungry. Food for now.

~*~

Knapp lightly kicks his shoes off his feet as he shuts the door close. He takes a quick look at his bed only to realize that he is not alone.

Logy is asleep on his side. His bare back is facing Knapp. His body is completely engrossed in a large amount of the universe energy. 

Knapp pulls off his black shirt and then makes his way to Logy. He points his palm at him. It takes several seconds for the universe energy to finally return, giving his deaf partner some relief. 

He slowly climbs into the bed, trying not to wake him up, but Logy soon half opens his hazel eyes. Without his hearing, all his other senses, especially touch, have pretty much doubled.

“You’re back early,” Logy says, letting himself get spooned by the Universe Warrior.

I’m surprised to see you here as well. Universe energy has been clinging to you? Knapp sends his thoughts into Logy’s head.

Logy turns over, showing a frown on his face. He nods his head along with an annoyed look, which makes Knapp chuckle lightheartedly.

“So sorry about the universe energy bothering you. You know that means I love you.” The Universe Warrior places a kiss on Logy’s forehead. 

Soon, Logy’s breathing slows down a little but Knapp has not fallen asleep yet as he pulls him into his embrace. The Universe Warrior just wants to cuddle with him a little bit longer. They haven’t seen each other for the last few days, after all. He smiles at the thought of spending more time with him.

He begins to sense that something is changing in the air. Something that doesn’t feel human yet still feels like one at the same time. And that familiar smell as well-- a vibrant scent with notes of lavender. 

He looks up over Logy to find a pair of pink eyes staring back. In boiling anger. He says softly, “Sybil…”

She is gone in an instant.