*Discontinued* Tortured Love

4

"So did Jack tell you the new date?" Anti froze up the moment he heard Jackies voice and he knew. Chase frowned seeing his sudden fear but Anti simply took a deep breath, straightened himself out, and prepared for the pain. He pushed himself out of Chase's arms and into the kitchen where the other ego's were. The sudden silence was reeling. Anti grunted acknowledging there animosity towards him as he went and grabbed a cup of coffee. His stomach churned seeing how everyone glared at him. Everyone but chance and... Jamie, who looked like he wanted to cry.

"Who the fuck do you think you are?" Anti just rolled his eyes. That fireface really doesn't know how to reign in his own flame. He shouldn't be so quick to fire up and instead maybe learn to chill. Then again you can't expect lava to turn to snow. 

"Antisepticeye..." The demon spun around, cup in hand as he used the counter to stabilize himself. He wasn't entirely over his episode. "I'd say it's a pleasure to meet but honestly it's just a massive headache."

"Anti, don't antagonize him. It's just a waste of time."The demon literally growled making the doctor sigh and roll his eyes.

"Shut the fuck up, half breed." Chase just stood off the to side unsure how he was supposed to react to all this anymore. On one hand, he didn't want Anti lashing out as he will tend to do but on the other, he saw the pain the demon was in not that long ago and that fatherly side of him craved to keep the pain away... to care for another who needed help... like he longed to for his own children.

"Bro... Maybe you should step back?" Anti's eyes widened as his eyes darted to Chase who just simply smiled. "I'm not telling you to back down... just to pick your battles."

"Pick my... Jesus, Chase. It's like you don't even know me. When have I ever 'picked' my battles?" Anti groaned as he leaned back against the counter and just stared at his coffee. "It doesn't matter any, Mr. BroAverage." Chase's eyes narrowed as Anti smiled sadly. "I have learned to go along... it will burn up regardless if stoke the embers."

"You are so FUCKING PATHETIC!" Chase cringed as Jackie roared with a vengeance.

"See what I mean?"

"You destroyed Jack's recording room. His computer, monitor, sound system... EVERYTHING!" Anti's eyes darkened as he looked over to see JJ just staring at his hands. He swallowed the guilt that tore through him as he turned his attention back towards the wannabe hero. "Just because Jack hasn't kicked you out... AGAIN... does not mean ANY of us actually want you here."

"Woah now, Firecraker." Anti smirked as he felt that familiar burning in his throat. This is what he gets for letting his walls down. This is his payment for allowing himself to feel... just pain. "You gonna hurt my feelings." Anti laughed deviously with a smug look as he sipped his coffee. Henrik just scoffed as he turned back to his food.

"Demons don't have feelings." Anti froze up as Henriks eyes turned reptilian. "At least no good pure-breed dickwads such as yourself."

"Ok, that's enough now..."

"No, no it isn't Chase." Anti smiled as he set his coffee down and quirked a brow. "The mutt has something he want's to say. Might as well let him... after all thats the only way he'll ever be better than m..." Anti's eyes shot wide as JJ slammed his hands on the table and stood up. His eyes were filled with rage and hate. It was enough to spark a jolt of pain over just his glare, and Anti had to stop himself from whimpering.

'You promised me, Anti.' Anti bit his lip as JJ started to cry again. 'You told me you wouldn't do anything. That this time you would let us go. That you would let Jack take me but... You can't can you? You just can't let anyone have any semblance of joy. You just had to ruin it.'

"Bitch can't even deny it." Jackie grumbled as he rolled his eyes and clench his fist. He was right though. Anti couldn't deny it. He couldn't because he knew the moment he tried he would cry and he didn't want people to see he was weak. He had already let two people see that and he didn't want to add to it. It took everything in him to play the part of the perfect apathetic and strong demon. He couldn't let anymore see just how broken he really was.

'You promised!" Anti flinched as JJ signed angerly. "You just couldn't let Jack go!"

"JACK CAN LEAVE ALL HE WANTS!" Tears pricked at Anti's eyes as he bit down hard on the inside of his cheek praying the tears never spilled. "Jack can walk out that door right now and never come back and I wouldn't give two fucking shit. Jack isn't the problem here."

"You're right about that!" Anti froze up in a panic as he barely noticed the hero move. Suddenly Jackie was right in front of him fist poised to stick and all the air left anti in an instant. "YOU'RE THE FUCKING PROBLEM!" Anti literally fell back into the counter knocking his cup over as his struggled to catch a breath but Jackie's punch never landed. Instead, Jackie stood there seething as Chase held his fist tightly in his hand, having caught it before it could. Chase's eyes darted back to see Anti trying and failing to reign himself back in... to hind under his mask but Chase knew better. He saw the pain... and he refused to just sit back and watch Anti suffer if he could help in someway. "Chase, you son of a bitch. WHY PROTECT HIM?!"

"You don't know the whole story!" The whole room went deafly silent as Chase threw Jackies hand back and groaned. "I won't let you all cause any more damage."

"You protected ANTI!" Chase's eyes narrowed as he shook his head with a glare.

"And I'd do it again." Anti frowned as Chase turned to help him only to see the confusion on the demons face. "You're my brother Anti... and I may not know everything... but sure as hell know more than them."

"You shouldn't burn your bridges." Anti smiled as he pushed himself upright and shook his head. "I'm still a demon."

"So's Dark but that doesn't stop King from saving his ass." Anti laughed as he smiled brightly shocking Chase who had never actually seen Anti smile. "Come on... You really need to rest. After what happened..." Chase's voice had dropped to a whisper but Henrik had still heard. His eyes changed once again as he caught the subtle wince Anti did as Chase moved him. "You need sleep."

"No, I need a drink."

"I can get you some water or..." Chase from up as Anti's eyes darkened.

"Not that kind of drink, Chase." Chase just smiled as he helped Anti out of the room ignoring the confused, pissed off, and hurt expression's from the others.

"I can get you that too."