MCSM One Shots (2018-2019)

Never Leaving You Again

Sequel to "Nothing"

Radar was devastated, to say the least. To see somebody so strong, fall into such despair, was heartbreaking. And the fact that Jesse's been going through it for months, maybe even years, without anybody knowing... It was really upsetting to him.

Radar was determined to bring back the happy Jesse that everyone knew and loved. He just hoped she was still somewhere in there. Because the woman he talked to earlier was nothing but a shell of their former-Hero In Residence.

Radar was sitting on Jesse's couch, typing away on his cellphone. He was writing an e-mail to his assistant, explaining that he would be absent from work for a few days. He was going to stay with Jesse and see what he could do for her. The fact that she was isolated from everybody else, was only making things worse.

Jesse was currently in bed. She was reluctant at first, but Radar insisted she got some rest. It was clear that she hadn't had any proper sleep in weeks.

Radar sighed, and put his cellphone down again. He looked around the empty room, wondering how awful it must have been for Jesse to be alone in there every single day.

It was obvious that she spent most of her time in the living room, reading. The couches were covered in soft blankets and pillows, and every end table had a stack of books on them. Some of the books were still brand new, with shining covers, while others were old and battered, their pages slightly yellow from age.

"I wonder exactly how long this has been going on for." Radar thought to himself.

He felt so guilty for not finding out sooner, not being there for Jesse sooner. But then again, she is Jesse. She's very good at hiding her emotions.

Radar sighed softly, before getting up. He wanted to go check on Jesse to make sure she was actually sleeping and not just sitting at her window like she apparently did every other night.

He winched slightly each time one of the wooden stairs creaked beneath his feet. The Order Hall was quite an old building after all.

Radar cautiously peered into Jesse's bedroom, careful not to wake her.

Jesse was laying on her stomach, her head facing towards the wall. Her breathing was rhythmical, if slightly stuffy from all the crying.

Radar never thought he would see her this way. So vulnerable, so... weak. Jesse was the bravest person he knew, she was always so strong.

Radar has looked up to her his entire life, even when she was treating him like any of her friends, she was his idol, his mentor. He's never imagined himself comforting her.

"How did this happen?" Radar whispered softly to himself, as he gently closed to the door and left Jesse.

--------------------------

Radar couldn't sleep that night. He was staying at the Order Hall for Jesse's sake, sleeping in one of the bedrooms.

Usually Radar hated spending the night somewhere other than his little cottage. But that wasn't what was keeping him awake that night.

It was Jesse.

Radar thought he could help her. He thought that at least his presence would counteract the loneliness she's felt.

But when they had dinner that night... He realised just how big the hole was that she had fallen in.

She didn't speak two words to him. She only stared out in front of herself, blankly. Her expression was so emotionless, her eyes dull.

Every time he asked her anything, told her anything, or just tried to spark up a general conversation, she would only nod her head in response, avoiding eye-contact.