*Discontinued* Tortured Love

7

Anti frowned as he stared at the house with growing nerves. He could hear the yelling already. Literally, Jackie was yelling. Anti sighed as he slowly walked up the steps only to freeze as the door whipped open. Jackie stood there seething but shocked as Anti quickly stepped back.

"Jackie wait. You don't under..." Chase froze up seeing that Anti was there and he frowned. "Anti. You're back."

"Yes, I just wanted some air." Jackie scoffed as he rolled his eyes. "What?"

"I bet this 'air' broke pretty fast then for you to be back so soon." Anti's eyes went wide as he looked back at Chase to see him shaking his head. "What did they die or something?"

"I told you I wasn't going out to do that." Jackie just glared at the demon as if expecting him to be lying.

"You really think I'm going to believe that?" Anti didn't know what to do. 

"I don't care if you believe me or not. Now move so I can go to my room..." Jackie stepped further in his way causing Anti to freeze up in realization. "You're not going to let me in are you?"

"I don't trust you. Not one fucking bit, you psychotic demon."

"Jackie, come on..."

"NO CHASE!" Anti flinched as Jackie's firey energy blasted through the place showing just how angry he was. "You're so adamant that things are different. You fought me up and down about it but the truth is... He's given me no proof that anything is different. How am I supposed to believe this demon isn't about to kill any one of us..." Anti's eyes went wide as his hands twitched. "I need proof... or else I can't in good conscience let him back into this house."

"That isn't you're decision." Jackie tensed up as Jack's voice hit him. They all looked over to find Jack and Henrik standing there. Jack looked pissed but Henrik wouldn't take his eyes off of Anti. "I allowed him to move back in. This is my house, Jackie. I am the host."

"I am the protector, Jack. It's my job to keep everyone safe. How am I supposed to do that with him living under the same damn roof?" Anti's hand twitched more as his thoughts raged on around him. Jackie wouldn't let him back in. Jackie didn't trust him. How was he supposed to get him to trust him? Jackie's always hated him. He's hated him the most out of all of them. How...

"Anti, It's ok." Henrik frowned seeing the range of emotions passing the other demons eyes. How is it possible he's never noticed it before? 

"Oh god... Not you too Henrik." Jackie groaned as he furiously shook his head. "What is with people siding with..." Everyone froze up the moment they heard it. The familiar and haunting sound of metal being released with its leather prison. Their eyes darted back to Anti who held his knife tightly in his hands with glowing and narrowed eyes. "A-Anti... Shit see I told y..."

"Here." Jackie's eyes went impossibly wide as Anti held the knife out towards the hero, pointed towards himself. Anti's hands shook horribly as Jack tried to tell him he didn't have to but Anti wouldn't listen. "Take it, Jackie."

"No. The moment I do you're going to..." Anti forced the knife into Jackie's hand making the other tense with fear as Anti stepped back and smiled nervously. Jackie couldn't move. Meanwhile, Jack just sighed.

"You didn't have to do that, Anti." The demon just shrugged seeing the shock in the other egos. 

"It worked for you, didn't it. I had to imagine that Jackie would understand... at least the part about what giving him my knife would mean." Jackie's eyes flicked over to him as Anti stared at his knife. "I know demons don't feel things but they all have this one thing that means more to them than anything... it's usually their weapon... Dark being an exception. Jackie I didn't come back to hurt any of you. I CANNOT promise that I won't. I am a demon after all but... I can say I'll try not to."

"Wait, so..." Jackie held up the knife with a slight frown noticing right away how Anti tensed. "Sorry, I'm still kind of trying to wrap my head around the fact that I'm holding your knife."

"I was the same way." Jackie jumped as Jack placed a hand on the hero's shoulder. "I wouldn't have let him back if I there wasn't a reason, Jackie. I care about all my ego's. Things... they're going to be difficult but... the point is to still try." Anti smiled slightly as Jackie looked back over at him.

"Why the knife... why me?" Anti shrugged as Jackie slowly held it out for him to take it back again. "No, what I mean is... Why would you hand ME your knife? I understand I asked for proof and this is pretty hard proof but the fact that you not only held it out for me but forced it into y hands to prove a point..." Jackie's eyes softened as he finally noticed how... docile Anti's stance was. "It must have taken a lot of thought."

"Not really. I trust that as a hero you'd understand the importance." Jackie's eyes widened in realization as Anti carefully put it back into its holster. "You may not trust me but... I trust you. I wouldn't have given it to you otherwise."

"Seriously, and he's adamant about being a demon."

"Chase, we've been over this. I am a dem..." Anti's eyes narrowed as he looked around the group and frowned. "Where's JJ?" Jack tensed as Anti looked off to the side clearly reading the energy levels around them. "Marvins in his room... Robbie... He's sleeping." Jackie frowned as Anti's eyes narrowed even more. "JJ's not here. Jack?"

"It's ok, Anti. He just went out for a bit." Anti nodded as he swallowed that growing anxiety and smiled.

"Good. He should be able to do something. Even if the trips cancel doesn't mean he shouldn't enjoy himself." Jackie groaned in frustration over himself as he quickly pulled Anti in making the demon stumble. 

"Let's get you inside Anti. You haven't even eaten anything."