Jalph One-Shots

#5. I Care

||Summary: When Jack leaves the group, Ralph goes after him.

More fluff.

AN: If any of you guys want to do an LOTF roleplay, let me know. I'm in the mood for some Jalph roleplay. Anyway, enjoy!||

~

When nobody voted him out for chief, Ralph could see the anger and humiliation building up inside of Jack. His eyes, which were normally full of annoyance and anger, became glossy and full of embarrassment. Ralph felt bad for this. Sure, Jack Merridew was certainly no saint and he definitely wasn't any braver than himself up on that mountain. But Ralph liked him, still. Why? He didn't know.
"Fine, be that way." Said Jack. "I'm leaving. I'm tired of these silly little rules. If you want a coward for chief, then go ahead. Have one." He began to walk away. "Any of you can join me if you'd like."
No one followed except for Ralph. "Jack!"
"No!" He shouted, his voice cracking. He continued to walk, hot tears of humiliation flowing down his cheeks.
Ralph sighed and began to walk towards Jack, only to be grabbed by the arm. He looked over and saw Piggy. "Ralph, don't. We don't need no Jack Merridew."
The fair boy shook his head and wiggled his way out from Piggy's grasp. He ran after the redheaded savage, beginning to shout his name out. "Jack!" Jack was only a few feet away, so he knew that he had heard him. Ralph slowed down, beginning to walk. "Jack!" No response. "Jack!"
"Shut up!" He snapped, turning around instantly. "Go away, Ralph. I don't want you here."
Ralph took a few steps towards Jack and stopped in front of him. "Well too bad." He said, looking straight into his eyes. "We have to work together. You can't leave."
Jack snorted. "Why not? All I do is mess things up for you! I've let the fire out, I don't help with the shelters, and everyone hates me."
"They don't hate you. They're scared of you!"
"Well they don't have to be scared anymore. You can all hunt pigs on your own. I'm doing my own thing." Jack began to turn away until Ralph grabbed him by the wrist.
"You can't!"
Jack glared. "And why not?! Huh?! Are you going to force me to stay? Punish me if I don't?"
"No...But...It's just...I don't want to lose you, Jack..."
"Bullocks! You want me gone just as much as them. Then you can build your shelters and your bloody fire."
"Jack! I want you to be safe. I want all of us to go home as soon as we can. And if all we do is hunt a pig everyday, then we'll never go home!"
"We need meat! Besides, why should we go home? We have our own rules here and we don't have to worry about adults."
"But don't you want a bed? An actual home? Already cooked meals?"
Jack shook his head. "Not if that means I have to deal with..." He trailed off. "Just let me be, Ralph..."
"No. I want you to come home." He spoke, tears beginning to form in his eyes. "I...I don't want to lose you...I care about you, Jack...I..." He burst out into tears, sobbing rather harshly.
Jack froze. He didn't know how to handle a sobbing Ralph. Or anyone for that matter. The redhead sighed and stepped closer to the sniffling boy. "Fine...I'll come back. As long as you stop bugging me about the damn shelters. And the fire, too."
The fair boy nodded, wiping away the tears on his cheek with the back of his hand. "Deal." He sniffled. "Will you help a little bit with the shelters though?"
Jack nodded, smiling faintly. "Yeah. I'll do a bit before I go hunt." He stared down at Ralph. The sight of his sad, glossy eyes secretly pained Jack. He couldn't bear to see him like that. "Come here." He whispered. Ralph stepped closer and the two boys embraced. Ralph placed his head onto Jack's chest and wrapped his arms around his waist. Jack wrapped his arms around Ralph's entire body and rested his chin against the top of his head. "I care about you, too, you know..."
The blonde smiled, closing his eyes. "I know...