Two Warriors as One

Jacqui Joins SF

I'd really like to sway that I was confident about joining SF, I really do. But the opposite went through my mind when I told Uncle Johnny I really wanted to join.

It was my sophomore year of college and I was working to get a degree in engineering. It provided me with a challenge, and something that I was really proud of doing. But I didn't feel like it was what I wanted to do. Cass was already working for SF. She had to because Auntie Sonya wanted her there. But Dad never really talked to me about military unless it was to help me learn self defense. Even then it wasn't much.

I didn't even mean to talk to Uncle Johnny about it. I had just wanted to ask him for a favor to help me get a textbook for one of my classes and it was really really expensive. It just kinda slipped out. But he took it upon himself to tell Dad that I was joining.

"Hey Jacqui, punkin, what can I help you with? It's not all the time that you get a visit from your favorite niece." Uncle Johnny always had played favorites with me...
I was in his condo, the man cave as he liked to call it. It wasn't a surprise visit though. I had told him I was coming over a few days earlier.

"Nothing much Uncle Johnny. I came over to see if any of the clubs around here we're hiring. I kinda need some extra income for my textbooks."

At the time, I couldn't call Dad or Mom because my university was way out in the city and I didn't want to risk Dad leaving the farm. But Dad wasn't one to let me on my own, so he told me to go to Uncle Johnny if I needed anything. Occasionally I stopped by, so he knew I was okay, but I'd never known he was willing to go so far for me.

"Pfft, a job? No. I'll get you that textbook. A gift if you must," he said with that smug ass smirk.

I guess I looked down or did something to hint that I was upset but I did my best not to and said. "Uncle Johnny, you don't need to-"

"Jacqui" he cut me off. "What's up? You look really upset." He has a face that no one really sees, where he furrows his brows and he bites his bottom lip a bit. It's hard to ignore it at that point. You know he cares.

"I'm just...having college blues. I kinda had a different idea as to what I'd be doing at this age.."
"Well tell me, what did you see yourself doing at this time? I see you doing a lot of things that really fit your hard-working spirit." 

You see, with Uncle Johnny, I can't really lie to him. It would hurt his heart and his feelings, but was I really willing to let myself out like that? 
Fuck it. 

"I kinda saw myself working for S.F at this point. You know, like Dad and Auntie Sonya..." 

Uncle Johnny was quiet for a few minutes and then smiled back at me. "I'm glad that you told me that Kiddo. I can get you started in S.F if you can get your semester done in time for the next recruitment, but you have to know that it's a lot of hard work and that you have to prove yourself. It wasn't even easy for me to get in." 

I couldn't believe it. Uncle Johnny was going to get me in. I just had to finish the semester..
"But what about Dad?" 

"Jac, don't worry about it okay? Your dad and I have been friends for years and if anyone should break the news to him, it should be me." 

I feel like Uncle Johnny knew that he was gonna get beat and have his jaw broken and if anything he let it happen. After all, he had defeated an elder god. But what I wonder is if I'll ever be as brave as he was that day.