Duskwood: Unrecognisable

Part 29

A/N: Trigger warning - Heavy alcohol use including pressured intoxication.

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Sitting up, Jake ran his fingers through his wet hair while laughing, "I have to give you credit for that one, Jessica. You saved a man's life tonight."

Jessy sprayed Jake again, "My name is Jessy! Jess-y! Get it right!"

"You mean she saved your life," Dan corrected while wiping his forehead dry. "I had you."

"In your dreams, Anderson," Jake stood up and shook out his arms. "You could never kill me."

"Maybe you haven't heard. I shot a legend," Dan boasted. "I can handle a freak like you."

"But you didn't kill him. If you had done your job properly, well, we wouldn't be in the position we are in now, would we?" Jake glared. "And, maybe you haven't heard, I'm the train terror! I kill anyone who gets in my way. Police, civilians, doesn't matter."

"Jake, why would you say that?" I interrupted. "He's lying! The news reports are wrong! He didn't kill any innocents! The police shot at us first into a crowd! They're the ones who killed the civilians."

“See? I told you guys they didn’t do it!” Lilly grinned.

"MC, you’re ruining my image," Jake frowned at me. "But I am getting cold and I would appreciate a change of clothes."

"I left our bag in the bathroom. You should go get changed," I motioned towards the bathroom.

Jake pushed past Dan, giving him a smug look. Dan grunted in response. As Jake passed me, he kissed me briefly, but lovingly, then continued to the bathroom.

"If you're all done fighting amongst yourselves," Angela said sarcastically. "Clean up my kitchen. Now." She shook her head with disgust, then retreated back to her bedroom.

Jessy sighed and put the hose away while Cleo and Lilly tossed towels at Dan and Thomas. Then the three girls sat back down at the table, giving sharp looks at the boys to take responsibility for the mess.

"Hey, how come he gets away with it?" Dan protested.

"He's not the one who started it!" Cleo reminded him. "You overreacted!"

"Figures," Dan mumbled as he crouched down to wipe the floor. "Guys like me always get blamed."

"Aw, did you want me to get you a tissue?" I teased.

"You know I have your best interest at heart, right?" He looked up at me.

"Yes, I know, but you need to have a little more faith in me," I replied. "Maybe you haven't heard, I exposed a legend."

Dan threw his towel at me for mocking him. Giggling while I dodged, I left him to go pick up my whiskey bottle from the table. I took a swig then carried it with me as I went to check on Jake. I found him shirtless as he was about to put the dry one on.

"Hey," he smirked at me entering the bathroom.

"Don’t 'hey' me," I pointed the bottle at him while leaning against the vanity. "You nearly lost control back there."

"Oh, you noticed," his expression soured.

I rolled my eyes, "Yes, I noticed."

"As I said, it's been a long day," he avoided eye contact as he put his shirt on. "I'm not going to apologise though. They were absolutely out of line."

"Well, Thomas did swing first, but don't think I didn’t notice you baiting him," I glared.

"So maybe I did, " he shrugged and stepped in front of me leaning against the vanity. "What are you going to do about it?" He took the bottle from my hands and chugged.