if you must mourn, don't do it alone (Jactavia)

Part 2, Chapter 2

In the Med Bay, with Monty sitting on a chair just staring at Jasper and saying nothing while Octavia paced and one of the med students named Brad patched Jasper up (Riley just needed his nose put back in place), Kane stared down at the two of them like a disappointed father.

"What in the name of Polaris was that?" He demanded finally.

"We got into a disagreement," Jasper said, deadpanned. He wasn't about to tell Kane that they had previously, and drunkenly, agreed to a suicide pact involving jobi nuts and hated everything he and Jaha stood for and were going to convince a group of teens to go along with them. That wouldn't go over well.

"That seemed like a little more than a 'disagreement'." Kane said, staring deep at Jasper. Jasper understood why he was in politics, one gaze from him was uncomfortable and made Jasper want to spill everything.

"Well, it really started when Riley made a not so nice comment about Octavia," Jasper admitted grudgingly.

"What?" Octavia snarled, and Monty leapt up to hold her back immediately, "What did you say, worm?" Octavia demanded, lips curled back. Jasper was really glad all her weapons were back in the canoe, although he was sure she could make a weapon out of anything in this room, if she wanted.

"Not worth repeating," Jasper shook his head, "And don't worry, your honor has been protected by me." Jasper added quite matter-o-factly, "So...no need to hit him again," He said, although that's exactly what Jasper wanted to do.

"The last thing we need is another 'disagreement'," Kane said, which might have almost been a joke, but with that guy, Jasper couldn't quite tell.

"Won't happen again, sir." Jasper said, saluting Kane. Riley made a gagging noise, shaking his head. Kane narrowed his eyes.

"This kind of shenanigans won't be happening right before we leave, you hear me? Especially not there, Jordan."

"Noted." Jasper said. Kane left, grabbing Riley in case, dragging the boy out of the med bay with him, as Jasper was still being attended to.

"What's the damage, Green?" Jasper asked, looking at Monty out of the side of his eyes.

"You look like a gorilla, Jasper." Monty snorted, holding up a cracked mirror. Jasper's whole face was marred with cuts, and lots of places were already bloating. His fingers hovered above his face hesitantly, and when he moved he felt the ache on the top of his skin.

"I'm no doctor, but I think those are gunna leave some nasty bruises," Jasper said, shaking his head.

"You think?" Brad quibbled, as though having to actually do his job was annoying.

"Whatta ya say, Doc-in-training? Will my face ever be back to it's handsome self?" Jasper asked.

"Wasn't all that great looking to begin with." Brad said bluntly, finishing up and taking off his latex gloves with a snap, "Now, if you excuse me, I had a girl that was flirting with me before all that."

"I don't think I've ever heard him talk so much," Monty said, staring after his retreating figure.

He turned to Jasper, biting his lip.

"Out with it, Monty. I can see that look on your face, dying to yell at me." Jasper leaned back, crossing his arms behind his head. The infuriated look on Monty's face told Jasper that was exactly what he was trying to decide if he should do or not.

"You've back back less than a day, Jasper," Monty dragged his hand down his face, "And then this happens?"

"I never liked Riley, just saying." Octavia added, "He's always been kinda smarmy to me, not just because I know he hates all grounders. I mean, I get it, almost."