Chapter One-hundred Seventy-Three: Ice Storm

Chapter 173

Ice Storm

That morning, Celeste strolled into the dining room. She wore a Kreator tank top, a denim skirt, and fishnet hose. She was hoping to see Jaxon that morning, but only saw Noah in the kitchen making breakfast.

Celeste: “Hey, Noah, where’s Jaxon?”

She asked as she sat at the table. Noah turned to her, recalling what Percy had told him.

Noah: “I’m making your favorite breakfast, Madame.”

He smiled. Celeste hugged her legs. Fabien rushed in. He wore a “Nuklear Intoxikation Sucks” shirt, jeans, and flip-flops.

Fabien: “Hey, girl, what’s wrong?”

He sat with her.

Celeste: “Jaxon didn’t come home.”

Fabien gazed at her.

Fabien: “You know, Blair posted a picture on my server. He’s holding a toy gun to his head and crying because Ashley didn’t smile at him.”

He laughed hard. Celeste looked away and frowned. Fabien heaved a deep sigh.

Fabien: “I’m sorry, hon.”

Celeste hugged Fabien close. Fabien hugged her back.

~

Deimos sat in his kitchen at his island, having his coffee while he read the newspaper. He wore an Obituary tank top, torn jeans, and cowboy boots. Monica was preparing some tea and breakfast. Jaxon sauntered downstairs after he showered. He wore a black button-up shirt with red shiny dragons, tight black jeans, and sheer black socks. Jaxon smiled and draped his arms around Deimos’s shoulders, leaning in and kissing him. Monica turned to them and raised an eyebrow. Deimos cleared his throat and patted Jaxon’s arm. Jaxon sat with him and held his hand. Deimos stroked it with his thumb. Jaxon rubbed his socked feet on Deimos’ boots. Deimos groaned and felt a tightness in his jeans. Jaxon flicked his gaze to boner and bit his bottom lip.

Jaxon’s pager buzzed. He glanced down at it and rolled his eyes.

Deimos: “Who is it?”

Jaxon: “Percy. He wants to see me.”

He rose.

Deimos: “Want me to take you?”

Jaxon: “I got this.”

He whispered and kissed him.

He put on his Chelsea boots and put his shades over his eyes.

Jaxon: “Mata ne!”

He blew a kiss and walked out.

Monica placed the plate of bacon, eggs, and homefries in front of Deimos with a look of disapproval.

Deimos: “Don’t.”

He said with hurt.

Monica: “What you did to Tristan was deplorable, Deimos. He has been with you through thick and thin. If you were dissatisfied with the relationship, work it out or leave him. He has shown you endless patience, love, and kindness.”

She said firmly. Deimos covered his eyes.

Deimos: “I know…”

He said breathlessly as his bottom lip trembled.

Monica: “Deimos, Tristan withholding something that traumatized him was never a slight against you. Please don’t make his personal turmoil about you.”

She sighed and left the kitchen. Deimos cupped his mouth.

Deimos: “What have I done?”

He whispered.

~

Jaxon arrived at Percy’s mansion. Percy sauntered out with nothing on but a robe. Jaxon rolled his eyes.

Jaxon: “What do you want?”

He strolled over to the bar. Percy leaned over.

Percy: “Why did you go to that pesky Katsaros boy and not the very man who loves you?”

He smiled. Jaxon’s heart hammered in his chest.

Jaxon: “WHAT?! WERE YOU SPYING ON US?!”

He barked and shot up from his barstool. Percy smirked.

Percy: “No, but Ivy used my transport to spy on you so she could win my ice prince, and I thwarted her little Hallmark plans.”

He fielded scathingly. Jaxon’s eyes widened, and his heart thundered in his chest.

Percy: “You are so welcome, my pepper prince!”

He bowed. Jaxon cupped his mouth.

Percy: “Numero uno, I do not want to break my ice prince’s glass heart…”

He held up his forefinger, and then held up his two fingers.

Percy: “Numero dos… You do not want to incur his wrath, darling… He is VERY powerful.”

Percy: “And lastly…, if you just fucked me, you wouldn’t have broken Tristan’s heart, and he helped you plenty with your wicked brother.”

He sighed with pain in his eyes. Jaxon looked away with hurt.

Jaxon: “I just wanted to feel loved! I don’t feel loved by Celeste!”

He cried. Percy clicked his tongue and shook his head.

Percy: “And I don’t do that for you?”

He laughed. Jaxon rolled his eyes.

Jaxon: “I’m nothing but a piece of ass to you.”

He huffed. Percy drew back as if he were walloped.

Percy: “Excuse moi?! I bailed you out of every mess you got into! I bought you that condo, and you fucked that up! I let you stay here and gave you your ethereal prowess so you could be on par with your little friends! I am there behind you, cleaning up your little messes, and you dare to tell me that?!”

He laughed bitterly.

He drummed his fingers on the counter.

Percy: “As for Celeste, you knew she was never relationship material, but you wanted her and you got her. This is the price that comes with someone like her, but you have to chase that high, as you always do, don’t you?”

He laughed and spread his arms out. Jaxon looked away with hurt.

Jaxon: “I don’t owe you a relationship or ANYTHING!”

He snapped with tears in his eyes.

Percy: “Perhaps, but you owe Tristan loyalty for what he did for you.”

He said firmly.

Jaxon: “Maybe Tristan hasn’t been loving Deimos either!”

He bawled.

Percy: “Can you blame him? He’s not Miss Piggie.”

He scoffed.

Jaxon: “You don’t have to throw this up in my face, Percy! I don’t want to go to you because I want to feel loved and held, and you don’t do that! You’re just a dickhead who uses me!”

He snapped. Percy’s face contorted with rage.

Percy: “You ungrateful little bitch!”

He delivered a hard slap to Jaxon’s face, and Jaxon crashed to the floor in tears. Percy straightened his robe. Jaxon embraced himself and wailed loudly. Percy looked away and sighed as his eyelids dipped.

Percy: “...Nevertheless, you should stay here until this blows over.”

He sighed.

Jaxon: “SO YOU CAN KEEP ME AS YOUR PRISONER?! AS YOU ALWAYS DO!?”

He cried. Percy looked away.

Percy: “Darling, when Tristan gets wind of this, it’s not going to be pretty, and I don’t want you caught in the crossfire.”

He swallowed hard and nodded.

Percy: “Despite what you did and said, I am looking out for you.”

He said earnestly.

Jaxon: “I’m NOT your fucking prisoner!”

He snapped through hot tears.

Percy: “Do you think you could take on Tristan during a blind rage?”

He challenged him. Jaxon looked away, wracked with guilt.

~

Tristan was in the backyard patio that afternoon, reading and smoking. He wore a blue button-down shirt, chinos, and boater shoes. Deimos entered the patio and froze when he saw Tristan. He slowly crept to him, and Tristan raised his head to lock his gaze onto Deimos.

Tristan: “Hello, Deimos.”

He said evenly. Deimos paused and looked away.

Tristan: “Have fun last night?”

He smiled a bit. Deimos’ heart hammered in his chest.

Deimos: “I just saw a horror movie.”

Tristan smiled tightly. Deimos hung his head.

Tristan: “You’re not looking at me. You know you can tell me if something is bothering you.”

He said coolly.

Deimos: “I guess the only one who can keep secrets is you.”

He blurted. Tristan gazed at him, retaining his smile.

Tristan: “One of us is good at it.”

Deimos shifted his eyes.

Tristan crushed his cigarette in his ashtray and closed his book.

Tristan: “My apologies for not wanting to discuss an event that traumatized me with you. I do forget that I have to disclose every life detail with you. You have to pull me up on this.”

He said wryly. Deimos looked away with anger. Tristan cupped his mouth and glared at him.

Tristan: “You’d be wise not to anger me at a time like this, Deimos.”

He said icily. Deimos looked away.

Tristan: “I am going to figure out what you did, so save us both the time and tell me what you did.”

He said as his voice rose.

Deimos: “What about YOU, Tristan?! Why don’t YOU look in the mirror!? You hate it when your brother and father point out you’re like Charlotte, but YOU ARE LIKE HER!”

He barked. A circle of ice formed around Tristan and exploded into icicles, pointing at Deimos as Tristan glared coldly at him.

Tristan: “Don’t compare me to that thing to avoid what you did to me, Deimos.”

He hissed and rose.

The two gazed into each other’s eyes for a moment. Deimos looked away.

Deimos: “I hurt you badly.”

He blurted.

Deimos: “I don’t feel loved by you!”

He added. Tristan stared at him.

Tristan: “You don’t feel loved by me? When you were hurting me over and over due to your insecurities? And I stayed with you and supported you regardless?”

He asked sharply.

Tristan: “No one has loved you or put up with your bullshit more than I did, so that is an excuse and you KNOW IT!”

He screamed and slashed his hand through the air, creating a wave of ice. Deimos bowed his head.

Deimos paused and looked away.

Deimos: “I don’t know why I did it, Tristan. I got caught up in the heat of the moment and wanted to be the protector for once.”

He sighed. Tristan gaped at him and laughed a hollow laugh.

Tristan: “The irony of you wanting to protect me but also hurting me.”

He looked away and cupped his mouth. Deimos looked away.

Deimos: “I never planned for this. It happened. Jaxon doesn’t feel loved by Celeste, and he is so vulnerable.”

He muttered. Tristan gaped at him and furrowed his eyebrows.

Tristan: “Of course, you put a stop to that and urged him to work it out with Celeste, correct?”

Deimos looked away.

Deimos: “...No.”

Tristan pursed his lips.

Tristan: “So when he was vulnerable, you took advantage of him.”

He stated. Deimos looked away with pain.

Tristan: “My God, Deimos! He came to you hurt that Celeste is invalidating his trauma, and he feels neglected by her, and instead of consoling him or imploring him to try to mend the wounds, YOU FUCKING SLEPT WITH HIM!”

He screamed, and pillars of ice shot from the ground. Deimos’s bottom lip trembled.

Tristan: “When Jordi came here last night to console me when you weren’t there for me, he never tried to make moves on me or sleep with me! He consoled me, and that is what you should have done for Jaxon, but you couldn’t help yourself! You allowed your personal feelings and insecurities with me to guide you to BETRAYING ME!”

He bawled as a whirlwind of ice surrounded him. Deimos sobbed.

Deimos: “I’m sorry, Tristan! I love you so much, and this proves I cannot be the man for you!”

He cried.

Tristan: “YOU BETRAYED ME BECAUSE YOU’RE INSECURE, DEIMOS!”

He bawled and stomped the ground, forming a sheet of ice over the patio and freezing the pool over. The backyard formed a sheet of ice over it, and the fountain in the front yard froze over.

Tristan: “YOU CUT ME TO THE CORE BECAUSE YOU CAN’T HANDLE SOMEONE BEING BETTER THAN YOU IN SOMETHING! YOU WANT A DOORMAT WHO WORSHIPS YOU JUST LIKE YOUR BROTHER DOES!”

He cried, and icicles shot down from the sky. Deimos gasped and slid on the ice as he dodged them.

Deimos: “I’m sorry, Tristan! I love you!”

He cried. A ball of ice slammed into Deimos, sending him crashing to the ground. Deimos winced in pain, and a purple glow surrounded him as he healed himself.

Tristan: “SHUT UP! YOU NEVER LOVED ME!”

He barked through hot tears, and ice balls shot down from the sky. Deimos rushed and slipped on the ice, trying to dodge. Tristan shot a blast of ice at him, and Deimos screamed as he flew back. Ice formed over him, and a purple glow surrounded him as he healed himself.

Deimos: “I don’t deserve you!”

He cried.

Tristan: “You deserve NOTHING, Deimos!”

He snapped through his tears as ice formed over Deimos.

Deimos: “Tristan, please!”

He cried. Tristan stared down at him coldly.

Suddenly, someone wrapped their arms around him, and Tristan froze, shattering the ice that formed over Deimos. Deimos saw Jordi hugging Tristan and immediately saw red.

Jordi: “Tristan, it’s okay, I’m here for you. He’s not worth it!”

He said tenderly. Tears streamed down Tristan’s cheeks as he felt Jordi’s embrace. Deimos angrily rose and brushed the ice off him.

Deimos: “Get your fucking hands off him!”

He snapped. Tristan turned to Deimos.

Tristan: “Deimos, you are in no position to bark orders at me or anyone.”

He said coldly.

Deimos: “I wasn’t talking to you but HIM!”

He rasped and pointed to Jordi.

Tristan: “I couldn’t care less who you were addressing. You are still in no position to dictate what anyone does.”

He glared at him with coldness in his green eyes. Deimos furrowed his eyebrows. I fucking knew it, he thought.

Jordi: “I think you need to leave, Deimos.”

He said firmly.

Deimos: “Fuck you, you double-crosser.”

He spat.

Jordi: “Excuse me? You’re calling me a double-crosser?”

He laughed bitterly. Tristan stepped forward.

Tristan: “You have five minutes to leave my property or Jordi will not be able to stop me this time.”

He hissed. Deimos gazed at Tristan and shrank when he bore his cold, hateful glare on him. It was never a way Tristan ever looked at him. Deimos drew a rough breath and stormed past them and left.

The ice surrounding the property started to shatter and melt. Jordi gazed at Tristan and drew a long breath.

Jordi: “I’m sorry, Tristan.”

He wrapped his arms around him. Tristan hugged him back.

Tristan: “Thanks, Jordi. Thanks for being here for me.”

He whispered and shut his eyes tightly.

~

That evening, Lazaros sat on the patio with Ashley. He wore a long-sleeved black pressed shirt, a waistcoat with a shiny purple brocade pattern, black pants, and black loafers. Ashley was dressed in an ivory white button shirt with paisley Ruby velvet bellbottom pants and barefoot. Lazaros’ heart could have leaped out of his chest when he saw Deimos come up the steps to his house.

Lazaros: “Deimos! What a lovely surprise!”

His dark violet eyes glittered.

Deimos: “Lazaros, I am coming to you in dire times.”

He grumbled. Lazaros nodded.

Lazaros: “You want to see Ashley eat and give them tummy rubs?”

He smiled. Ashley reddened and laughed awkwardly. Deimos grimaced.

Deimos: “NO! This has nothing to do with Ashley, but I do need both of your assistance!”

He hissed and looked away. Ashley glanced up at him with a concerned look.

Ashley: “What's wrong, Deimos? What happened?”

They pressed him. Deimos looked away with shame.

Deimos: “I messed up real badly with Tristan, is all.”

He said tersely. Ashley tilted their head.

Ashley: “Oh no! What did you do?!”

They gasped.

Deimos: “I’m going to ask him to marry me!”

He declared. Lazaros’ violet eyes dazzled, and he gasped as he clasped his hands together. Ashley's eyes grew large like a kitten on Christmas.

Lazaros: “R-Really?! Yes, go for it, Deimos!”

Ashley: “Aww! Really?! I'm so happy for you guys finally getting married! You're such a sweet couple, and you're both lucky to have each other! Tristan is so good to you!”

They chirped. Deimos smiled a bit.

Lazaros: “You have my blessing, Deimos!”

He nodded.

Ashley: “And mine, too! I'm happy to bake you a nice cake!”

They beamed, clasping their hands together.

Deimos: “Thank you both. Well, I’m going to the Pink Flamingo Mall to head to the jewelers to get an engagement ring.”

He nodded.

Ashley: “Aww, how sweet!”

They beamed.

Deimos went back to his house, and Lazaros beamed, putting his arm over Ashley.

Lazaros: “He’s talking to me, Ashley.”

He sighed happily. Ashley smiled up at Lazaros and kissed his cheek.

Ashley: “I'm so happy for you, Laz!’

They said earnestly.

Lazaros: “This calls for a celebration! I’m making you my creamy chicken and spinach lasagna!”

He clapped his hands and rose from his seat to enter his house. Ashley beamed and purred, rubbing up against him like a cat.

Ashley: “I'd be delighted!”

Celeste raised her head from the tall brush of sunflowers. Ashley brightened when they spotted something green emerging from their sunflowers.

Ashley: “Ooh, it's the green snack kitty!”

They chirped and waved at her. Celeste rushed out and glomped them.

Celeste: “Ashley, do you know what Deimos did?”

She asked them. Ashley beamed and hugged her back.

Ashley: “Oh my stars! Isn't it so exciting?! He's finally proposing to Tristan!”

They clasped their hands together. Celeste furrowed her eyebrows.

Celeste: “Does he think that will work?”

She laughed bitterly. Ashley tilted their head.

Ashley: “Huh? Why would it not work? They love each other and have been together through so much for so many years now!”

They scratched their head.

Celeste: “Deimos never told you what he did.”

She looked away with hurt.

Ashley: “I'm sure it couldn't have been that bad. This is Deimos, he would never do something really bad!”

They knit their eyebrows.

Celeste sighed and lay on their lap.

Ashley: “Do you want some cookies? You can have any baked treats you want from me anytime!”

They offered and hugged her. She hugged them back.

Celeste: “Thanks, but I’m not hungry.”

She said flatly.

Ashley: “Oh dear! I'm so sorry! I'm here for you!”

They patted her back.

Ashley then rose and went into the kitchen to get some cookies for Celeste. Ashley looked out and saw that Celeste was gone from the patio. It was silent, and the only thing they could hear was crickets chirping.

~

Jaxon snuck out of Percy’s mansion and got into his car, starting it, and shifting into reverse. He looked behind his shoulder as he backed out. He turned into first gear and drove down the road.

He arrived back at his house that evening and parked his car in the driveway. He got out of his car and strolled into his home. When he stepped in the door, he saw Celeste on the couch staring at the blank TV in the dark. Jaxon gingerly stepped in.

Celeste: “You didn’t come home last night.”

She stated.

Jaxon: “What do you care? It gives you more time to be with Fabien, Jordi, or Tristan.”

He huffed. She turned to him.

Celeste: “I didn’t sleep with them, though.”

Jaxon looked away.

Jaxon: “So Percy told you, did he?”

She turned to him.

Celeste: “Percy knows this? Tristan told me.”

Jaxon froze.

Jaxon: “Maybe I should have stayed at Percy’s…”

He muttered.

Celeste: “Why? Tristan isn’t as angry with you. It’s not HIM you should be afraid of.”

She said flatly. Jaxon’s heart hammered in his chest.

Celeste: “You know, Tristan says Ivy is full of shit. She makes up crap she sees in her stupid Hallmark movies, but she always said you had feelings for Chelsea, and I couldn’t shake what she said, not because it was from her dumb movies but because you took her death pretty hard, Jaxon.”

Jaxon glared with rage at her.

Jaxon: “That doesn’t mean I had feelings for her! It started when Ichiro turned Kristen into a richonoid!”

He fired back at her.

Celeste: “Yeah, you sure spent months moping about her.”

She said sarcastically.

Celeste: “And then you fucked Deimos because I never made you feel loved or some crap. It’s an excuse, and you know it. Old habits die hard, eh, Jax?”

She stared vacantly at him. Jaxon’s heart hammered in his chest.

Jaxon: “I just wanted to feel loved, protected, and wanted! You would rather be with Fabien making fun of some loser! You kissed him!”

He cried.

Celeste: “It was an accidental kiss, and making fun of Blair is fun, but I never thought of sleeping with someone else.”

She said evenly. Jaxon embraced himself.

Celeste: “Remember when you got me this home, so I could feel safe and wanted? I don’t feel that now.”

She rose and picked up the camera he bought.

Celeste: “Remember when you got this?”

She crushed it in her hand and dropped the remnants on the floor. Jaxon panted as his fear soared. She lifted the huge stereo system he bought over her head.

Celeste: “Or THIS!”

She threw the stereo system against the wall, where it smashed and created a massive dent. Jaxon turned to run. She leaped in front of him to keep him from going out the door. Jaxon screamed and fell back. Celeste grabbed the TV and threw it against the wall, where it smashed through the wall. She grabbed the sofa, lifted it over her head, and threw it out the window.

Jaxon: “Celeste, STOP!”

He cried.

Celeste: “Why?! I don’t want this house anymore or YOU! You want to mope about some dead girl, and you cheated on me because you can’t come out of your depression or whatever!”

She snapped at him and punched a hole in the wall.

Jaxon: “I just wanted you to love me and understand me! It’s not about me having feelings for her! I felt unloved by you!”

He sobbed. She chopped the dining room table in half.

Celeste: “I just saved your ungrateful ass from Minerva and Tristan’s creepy uncle, but go off, I guess!”

She huffed and took the closet doors in the hall, yanking them off and snapping them in half.

She grabbed his Jackson bass guitar, raised it above her head, and smashed it against the floor. He trembled to his knees in a state of paralysis. He sank to the floor and sobbed.

In a flash, someone grabbed Celeste’s neck, and she fell to the floor asleep. Etsuko stood over her with Percy by her side. Percy gazed at Jaxon, who was crying and trembling in the corner.

Etsuko: “Wow, Midori Lady created quite the mess here.”

She chuckled.

Percy: “I told you not to leave my premises.”

Jaxon angrily rose and dusted himself off. He marched to go out.

Percy: “Get back here now, Jiro!”

He commanded.

Jaxon: “SCREW YOU, DICKHEAD!”

He sobbed.

Jaxon: “I am getting far away from you and going to where I will be loved! I don’t need your shit or hers!”

He snapped as he stormed out. Percy drew a long, exhausted breath.

~

Deimos was in his living room watching horror movies. He saw car headlights shine through his windows. It can’t be Tristan, he thought glumly. The lights dimmed, and there was a knock at the door. Deimos rose to answer the door and saw Jaxon there.

Jaxon: “Hey.”

He waved his fingers and entered. Deimos closed the door behind him and sat on the couch. Jaxon sat beside him and smiled.

Deimos: “What are you doing here?”

He asked him. Jaxon sighed.

Jaxon: “Celeste destroyed our house, and Percy wants me to be at his house so I can be his prisoner again, but I don’t need those two.”

He smiled and leaned on Deimos’ arm.

Deimos: “Uh, Jaxon?”

Jaxon: “Yeah?”

He looked up at him with his almond brown eyes. He reached up and brushed his fingertips against his cheek. Deimos pulled away.

Deimos: “You should go to Celeste or with Percy.”

He shifted his eyes. Jaxon knit his eyebrows.

Jaxon: “Why? What’s wrong?”

He cupped his face. Deimos yanked it away. Jaxon drew back, with hurt and confusion.

Deimos: “Because what we did was a mistake. You came to me to fix your problems with Celeste, and I want to fix what Tristan and I have.”

He stated. Jaxon blinked and pursed his lips.

Jaxon: “But all you did was complain he kept secrets, and he wasn’t loving you. What about what we shared last night, Deimos? There was passion, and you know it!”

He sobbed. Deimos looked away from him.

Deimos: “I should have told you to work it out with Celeste.”

He muttered.

Jaxon: “Then why didn’t you?!”

He bawled. Deimos bowed his head.

Deimos: “I’m meeting with a jeweler tomorrow. I’m going to get an engagement ring and propose to Tristan.”

Jaxon embraced himself and sobbed.

Jaxon: “You fucking ASSHOLE! That’s not going to fix anything!”

He snapped and threw a pillow at him. Deimos winced.

Deimos: “Well, you shouldn’t have come onto me!”

He huffed. Jaxon delivered a hard slap to his face. Deimos winced as his cheek stung.

Jaxon: “Again, with your fucking sunk cost fallacy! Nothing gets through to you! What you and Tristan have is dead now!”

He cried and pounded on Deimos’ chest. Deimos looked away.

Deimos: “No, it’s not.”

He grumbled.

Jaxon: “YES, IT IS!”

He said through clenched teeth.

Jaxon: “It was when you made love to me!”

He cried.

Deimos: “You blew me. That’s not making love.”

He huffed.

Jaxon: “You don’t just do this with anyone, Deimos! If you did, you would have made love to Ivy, and you never did!”

He cried.

Deimos: “She didn’t even arouse me.”

He rolled his eyes.

Jaxon: “You’re in denial! You and Tristan are over. Go ahead and propose to him, but fuck you, I’m not coming back, dickhead!”

He snapped and slapped him again. Deimos rubbed his sore cheek and knit his eyebrows.

Suddenly, Jaxon felt a firm grip on his hand pulling him back. Jaxon froze, and his eyes darted to Deimos. His violet eyes were full of fear and sadness.

Deimos: “Wait! Don't go…”

He pleaded with him.

Jaxon: “Wh-What are you doing?!”

He stammered.

Deimos: “I don’t want to lose you, too…”

He pursed his lips. Jaxon turned to him as his head spun with a hurricane of emotion.

Jaxon: “What about your ‘Master Plan’ to propose to a man who hates you now?!”

He countered. Deimos bowed his head.

Deimos: “I don't deserve him…”

His bottom lip trembled.

Jaxon: “So, I’m your plan B rebound then?”

He hissed.

Jaxon: “All my life, I was always the second option. The second son. The rebound, the backup plan. Second to that idiot troll, Fabien, and second to you.”

He laughed bitterly.

Deimos looked away, feeling hurt and angry at himself.

Deimos: “I fucked everything up, Jaxon! Tristan said I took advantage of you when you were scared and vulnerable!”

He blurted. Jaxon paused, and his lip trembled.

Jaxon: “I-I’m not scared.”

He looked away.

Deimos: “Yes, you are, Jaxon! When you came to me, you were scared about losing Celeste to that fuckhead, Fabien, and I took advantage of that!”

He cried. Jaxon embraced himself and looked away.

Deimos: “Just as I was scared about losing Tristan to Jordi! Why does he need me?! He has superpowers that are more powerful than any other ‘etheressum’, and Jordi is not far behind! I just feel like I’m lagging! Yes, I know Celeste is powerful, too, but I was never in a relationship with her, so it’s not the same!”

He flared.

Deimos: “It changed when I left Tristan at the park because of that mega bitch, Ivy! I never should have reacted as I did. I noticed after that, Tristan and I were never quite the same! I would always overreact! I am not different from Lazaros! He and Ashley are perfect because Ashley’s powers are weak, and they’re a doormat who worships him!”

He cried.

Deimos: “I don’t deserve someone as superior as Tristan! He will always best me, and Jordi isn’t far behind!”

He said with bitterness.

Jaxon: “What about me?”

Deimos paused.

Deimos: “You’re like me… I feel we have a lot in common in music, in movie tastes, you bring out the best in me, and I like… being able to protect you.”

He blushed. Jaxon’s eyebrows rose, and he smiled a bit.

Jaxon: “...Really? How do I bring the best in you?”

Deimos took Jaxon’s soft hand.

Deimos: “When we were trapped in that ball of Robin’s, you encouraged me not to give up, so I thought outside the box and got us out of that ball. You encouraged me to make a band after Makayla went crazy and started working for the same company where Ichiro works.”

He cleared his throat.

Deimos: “You come with me to horror movies… and cling to me during the scary parts. I don’t know, it made me feel… manly.”

He flushed red. Jaxon looked and blushed.

Jaxon: “I haven’t felt loved or protected by Celeste in a while. She saved me from Noriko, Narcisse, Minerva, et al., but I feel it’s more like her doing a duty, like she has to do it. But with you, I felt loved and protected… and wanted.”

He said softly.

Deimos took Jaxon’s hand and kissed it.

Deimos: “Don’t go, Jaxon…”

He whispered and intertwined his fingers with his.

Jaxon: “I don’t want you to propose to Tristan.”

He said with hurt. Deimos bowed his head.

Deimos: “Yeah, I think I did irreversible damage to him, and I never felt this way in a while.”

He confessed.

He and Jaxon gazed into each other’s eyes for a while, and the two shared a deep kiss.

~

Amanda hovered over the Trémaux Château with Narcisse in her arms. Narcisse marveled at the ice damage around the premises.

Narcisse: “My, my, my, Amanda. Would you look at that? It seems I underestimated Simple Simon… He, alone, caused my naughty little nephew to unleash his true potential.”

He said in a breathy tone.

Narcisse: “He caused Tristan to do this much damage. That golden orca fatass did didley squat, except take up my time, space, and other things with his huge bottom.”

He chuckled.

Narcisse: “He could be a useful asset to us, Amanda.”

Amanda: “His powers are weak, but he did set off Tristan, so you’re right, sir.”

Narcisse saw Tristan getting undressed in his bedroom and licked his lips.

Narcisse: “And what a sight to behold. He reminds me of my darling sister, Charlotte. So powerful, so deadly…”