*Discontinued* Tortured Love

22

"So since Jackie isn't asking... Has Jack given you a new date for your trip?" JJ tensed as he quickly shook his head only to see Anti slowly walk in. His heart broke seeing him again. He knew his dream wasn't a dream. He'd never gone back in time before. Wilford never told him how it would work but he knew he had. He had gone back to save Anti... and Jack. 

Mainly Anti.

"Wow. Don't go silent on my account." Anti smirked as he leaned against the counter sipping his coffee. "I know I'm everyone's favorite Ego but you all don't have to revere me like royalty."

"Anti, don't antagonize. 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." Anti winced slightly making Jackie and JJ both tense up as the demon growled again. 

"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."

"Anti, maybe you should lay down?" Anti's eyes shot up as Jackie smiled supportively from the other side of the room. "You look tired." Henrik frowned in confusion as he glanced around. Everyone seemed to be watching Anti with this worried look. Even JJ, who Henrik had assumed would have been hurt. 

"You aren't screaming." Jackie's eyes flashed as Anti's eyes darted about with suspicion. "Why aren't you screaming? You never keep you chill. Your always the first to attack me."

"Things change." Anti shook his head as he laughed.

"Not like this they don't. What... Why aren't you pissed?" Anti growled as he gripped his cup tightly. "You should be pissed. Someone should be pissed." Jackie frowned with a sad sigh as Anti's eyes flashed. "I destroyed Jack's recording room. His computer, light, the sound system.... everything. Why aren't you guys upset?"

"Well if Jackie won't do it." Henrik stood himself up making Anti stumble back a bit in fear. "Then I guess I will." Henrik's eyes shifted reptilian as he held his fist up to strike. Anti flinched dropping his coffee fully expecting it hurt but the punch never landed. His eyes peeked open to see Chace standing in front of him blocking him as Jack held Henrik's arm back. 

"You touch him... and I will burn you." Jackie growled as Henrik glanced back to see the anger in the hero. "I know... I'm protecting the demon. Shocking, ain't it? There's a reason... so don't touch him."

"Who the fuck are you and what did you do with the firetruck?" Jack laughed as he looked over to see Anti's eyes wide in shock. "Cuz I know fireface wouldn't actually help me... not that I needed it."

"Oh, you needed it." Anti rolled his eyes as shook his head. 

"It was just Henrik. That half bread can't do shit to me..."

"That wasn't what you told me last time." JJ jumped up in shock as Jackie frowned. "Forget it. Just... You look tired and I don't want you lashing out right now."

"Oh, I see. That's why you helped me." Anti scoffed as he shoved his way through the group. "You just didn't want anyone else getting hurt." Jackie stood there watching as Anti walked out and he deflated. 

"That... That felt wrong. Did that feel wrong to anyone else? Why did that feel wrong?" Jackie hugged himself as he tried to work through his thoughts. "Forget it. I know why it felt wrong. I just don't want to admit it."

"Well, maybe you can admit to me... Why you stopped me?" Jackie spun around and punched Henrik right in the cheek making the other real back. Jackie's eyes went wide in shock as he quickly stepped back holding his shaking fist. "What the fuck was that for?"

"I uh... I don't... I just um..." Jackie's eyes flashed as he stepped back again and tensed. "I have to go."

"Jackie, wait!" Chase yelled out as Jackie ran out not even bothering to wave goodbye. JJ sighed as he helped Henrik back into his chair who growled as he wiped the blood off his face. 

"Does anyone care to tell me what the fuck is going on with you? This is not how this morning would have gone." JJ flinched as he nodded as he frowned. "JJ what is going on?"

"I... I have to check on Anti." Chace mumbled as he started for the door only to freeze as a scalpel stuck into the wall just missing his face. "Henrik?"

"What is going on? I want answers NOW!" Henrik watched as Chases face filled with anxiety. His eyes darted about before resting on the floor. "Anti winced. Jackie defended him. And neither of you are explaining why you aren't upset. JJ..." Henrik frowned as his worry grew, even more, seeing how deflated JJ was. "Please explain to me what is going on?"

'I'm not 100% sure but... Henrik, we can't worry about what happened with Anti.' Henrik's eyes darkened as JJ shook slightly with nerves. 'We all need to talk. Something happened... something really really bad but... I just... I don't really know how to explain it.'

"So we have a family meeting." JJ nodded as Henrik ran a hand through his hair with an exasperated groan. "We'll have a meeting and we'll talk about this. ALL of this... Anti too."

"That's not up to us." Chase frowned as he glanced back over at the door the two others had stormed out of. "The only one who can explain what's going on with Anti is Anti himself or Jack."

'Anti won't have a choice, Chase.' JJ's eyes grew dark as he clenched his fists tightly. 'He's going to tell me what the hell is going on with him. I am going to hear it from him this time.'

"This time?" JJ shook his head ignoring Henrik's question as he sighed. "Fine... let's just go round everyone up."

"What about Jackie?" Henrik frowned as his eyes darted to Chase seeing his worry clear as day. "Shouldn't he be here for the meeting?"

"Something is telling me Jackie might be a while."