beloved of grace

Chapter 35 - Faraway Glimmers

"Young Master Hong, sorry I'm late." Jay's guard who acted as a butler stated as he drove up to the warehouse in an ambulance, "There was traffic. And you asked for an ambulance, right? This is exactly the same make and model as the ambulances used by that clinic. It was purchased legally, so you don't need to worry about a thing."

"Holy shit. . ." Vin trailed off, wide-eyed and stumped. Hudson glanced at the van, "Impressive. . ."

"Thank you, Jay." You offered the blond a simple smile, not at all sophisticated and simply filled with gratitude. As always, Jay nodded vigorously with a beaming smile, patting the ambulance he had bought for Allied to get into Workers. Upon your request for Jihan to ask Alexander certain questions, he had promptly got to work and provided you with your answers.

"Young Master." The butler approached the two of you, a fairly long velvet box in his hands. Politely and respectfully, he presented it to the blond, "I brought the item."

With a beam typical to him, Jay hurriedly gave it to you, nodding along to the seemingly one-sided conversation, ". . ."

"What? I should open it?"

Vigorous nods, ". . ."

"It's from Sophia?" The blonde woman you've met on several occasions crossed your mind.

"Alright." And so, you lifted the box open, silently observing the sleek sword, shorter than a meter but longer than a dagger, carefully draped within the cushion, "Is this a replacement for my staff?"

". . ." As always, he gave you a beam. A gentle smile, and twinkling eyes behind golden hair. You took it out of it's case, placing it on your holster by your firearm, where it had been empty for a while now, "Right, thank you."

"I thought this might happen so I prepared the uniforms in advance." Jace outstretched a vest of an first responder to you. You took the vest as he started distributing more to your comrades, "Thank you, Jace."

"Wow, you're a genius!"

"That's amazing, Jace!"

"What? Like it's hard? Anyone who isn't an absolute moron would've thought of it." Jace huffed out. Zack put on his vest, "You pay him a few compliments and he immediately becomes insufferable."

"Don't talk crap about Jace." Vasco defended. Wordlessly, you turned to Jibeom and followed him as he got into the driver's seat, Jay's supposed guard having left in another vehicle, "Thank you for doing this."

"I can drive! I have tons of experience! I play so much Grand Theft Automobile!" That was most definitely Zack.

He let out a laugh, "It's alright! Our brother asked us to help you!"

". . . Right," you forced a smile, a bit too aware of your sinking heart, "thank you."

With that you turned on your heel and approached Big Deal's leader who was waiting for you by the ambulance. Your voices were silent as you spoke, like clear and illuminated whispers amidst the day, "Jake, are you ready?"

A humoured chuckle as he stuffed his hands in his pockets, "Are you here to tuck me in?"

"Seriously. . ." You shook your head with a sigh, relenting for him anyways, "I'll wake you up when we're in the ward."

Like so, Jake opened the patient's compartment and stepped in with you behind him, easily laying down upon the stretcher and closing his eyes. For a moment, you simply stared at him before your fingers hovered over his hairline, brushing away strands of hair that fell upon his face. His opened a single eye, a hint of a smile growing on his face when you turned and took the white blanket nearby.