Sentiment of a Witness

𝚄𝚗𝚌𝚕𝚎 𝙹𝚘𝚟𝚎

The man – Baz – gave Jupiter a perplexed look.

"It's three in the afternoon, North."

Jupiter hummed, "is it really?"

"North."

"Alright, alright," Jupiter sighed, straightening his posture and giving Baz a pointed look, "what was it that you wanted?"

"It's important."

"Well, out with it then."

Baz let out a strained mixture between a sigh and a groan as he looked at me from the corner of his eye.

"Not with the boy here."

"Why?"

The question slipped from my mouth at the same time it fell out of Jupiter's.

Jupiter turned his head slightly and grinned at me – he seemed to have enjoyed driving Baz Charlton insane – and Baz stared at the both of us in disbelief.

"I- what- Who even is this boy, North?"

I looked down at my hands, and Jupiter opened his mouth to speak, cut off as Baz raised his hand to stop him and continued on himself.

"I bet you don't know anything about this kid! You just found him somewhere and thought, 'because I'm so great and honourable, I'm going to take in another stray!' That's it, isn't it?"

Jupiter went to defend himself – and me, I suppose – before Baz cut him off again.

"Or are you going to tell me this boy is your secret love child? Or your best friend's cousin's son? Or those two idiots who work here's kid? Did they finally get together?"

Jupiter side-eyed, the hint of a grin forming on his lips, "no, Martha and Charlie did not have a child, nor did I – this is actually my nephew."

I frowned in an attempt to hide my shock and confusion.

My nephew.

Was I to spend out the rest of my days pretending to be related to this ginger headed goon?

Yes, apparently, I was.

Alright, it's not that bad – I do have to put up with shit that probably wouldn't happen if my family was normal, but no one has died yet, and I'm taking that as a sign.

Baz blinked at Jupiter before looking at me and then back again a few times, clearly not seeing the resemblance.

"..North, you don't have any siblings-"

"Don't I?" Jupiter countered with the raised of an eyebrow, "how do you know?"

Baz looked flustered, "you've never talked about them before."

Jupiter shrugged, "you just haven't been there when I have."

The moustached man crossed his arms.

"Well, you're related to this... this buffoon?"

I tried to hide my grin; I honestly did.

Jupiter gave me a look as if to say, 'this is our only shot, convince him, and I get to keep you.' Well, that's what he said it was meant to say.

I turned and looked back at Baz and nodded my head, "unfortunately."

Baz's eyes widened slightly, "oh really."

Jupiter nodded, "I'm his Uncle Jove."

His voice didn't even falter, giving no time for thought and giving me the hunch that he'd been planning this.

"Well... my condolences," Baz muttered under his breath, and I tried not to laugh as Jupiter made a face.

"Excuse me, I'm a brilliant uncle, aren't I, Jackie?"

He turned to me expectantly.

Through my shock, I managed to nod.

Again, Jupiter hadn't even hesitated as he spoke, indicating that he'd given some previous thought to the topic.

Or maybe I was just kidding myself, being too hopeful to realise that Jupiter just really didn't want to talk to this man.

Baz frowned, "well, I'd still appreciate you coming with me or your nephew leaving so we can talk in private."

Jupiter sighed, "as much as I would love to do that, I can't – I am currently spending quality, uninterrupted time with my dear nephew."

It was weird being called Jupiter's nephew. Partly because I was, in fact, not his nephew – not by blood at least. And partly because of how I wished to be accepted into his family.

"North."

"Charlton."

The two men stared at each other, rather intently if I do say, before Baz broke it, saying:

"Fine! We'll reschedule for another time – but if Elder-"

Jupiter dismissed whatever he was going to say with a wave of his hand.

"See ya then, Bazza!"

Baz looked like he was going to blow up.

"Right," he spoke with his teeth gritted.

He looked like he wanted to say something else, but turned on his heel and walked back across the lobby and out the door.

Jupiter watched him go with a satisfied smile.

Only once Baz Charlton was out of sight did Jupiter turn to me.

"So..."

"So..?" I repeated, shifting awkwardly under Jupiter's gaze.

He seemed to be searching me again.

"Would... would you like to stay here?"

I tilted my head in confusion.

"At the Deucalion," Jupiter clarified, "with me. We can continue the who uncle-nephew thing as an excuse, and you can consider the Hotel Deucalion your new home."

I couldn't stop the grin that crept onto my face, nor the stinging behind my eyes as I nodded my head.

Jupiter grinned back at me, eyes sparkling, "fantastic! Now, what do you think about the name Jack?"

If you thought my smile couldn't possibly widen any further, you were wrong.

Written: 20 August, 2021

Published: 25 August, 2021

Long story short, I wrote two versions of this chapter and ended up forgetting which one I was planning on publishing. 😅 

I hope you are enjoying the more lighthearted, fluffy stuff! There's more Jupiter and Jack moments to come, so stick around - the story's only just getting started!