Chapter One-hundred Twenty-Eight: Unlikely Alliance

Chapter 128

Unlikely Alliance

That night, Yvette was in her bedroom. She was at her computer desk on her computer on Fu’s Feet Links and just purchased the “Tachibana Brothers Tickling Ransom” video. She rolled her giant Varg foot mouse over the Varg mouse pad with its massive feet sticking out of it. She clicked the button and giddily beamed with excitement.

Yvette: “OOOOH! Two in one! What a good deal!”

She beamed and spun around in her chair. Then, whamming her hand onto the keyboard shaped like a giant foot, she pressed play. She leaned forward with eager anticipation, licking her lips as she locked her eyes, glued onto the screen. A gasp escaped her lips when it showed the two men’s feet close to the screen.

Yvette: “OHHH! GOLLY! I NEED MY VARGRATOR!”

She exclaimed, grabbing a vibrator in the shape of a giant foot with Varg’s goofy face on its stem. It whirled and played the Varg The Viking theme music, and she imagined the two men in loincloths and beards.

~

In a fancy restaurant in Neo-Kobe, Shin-Yamato, Nobuyuki Nakamura sat alongside Yvette and across from Stefano Sarsarelli. He wore a pink American-cut suit with a black bowtie. Nobuyuki wore a blue yukata, and Yvette wore a red kimono with Varg riding his foot Viking boat on the hem.

Stefano: “Nice to meet you, Nakamura-san! I have some wonderful news concerning your adorable daughter, Noriko-chan!”

He grinned at Yvette. Yvette grinned widely. Nobukuki put his hand on her shoulder protectively.

Nobuyuki: “You will NOT harm her! What do you want? Tell me.”

He commanded.

Yvette: “It’s okay, Daddy, Varg will protect me!”

She beamed. Nobuyuki smiled and patted her head.

Stefano reached into his jacket and withdrew a sheet of paper.

Stefano: “Well, you see, Ichiro was supposed to marry Noriko-chan before the late Chiyo Tachibana passed away at her wedding to Jaxon—I mean, Jiro.”

He stammered. Nobuyuki raised an eyebrow and sneered, thinking of how Jiro ran away twice from Noriko. Yvette’s jaw dropped.

Yvette: “Wh-What?!”

She gasped, looking outraged.

The waitress entered the room with their food. She placed sukiyaki, karaage chicken, salmon rolls, tuna nigiri, miso soup, shiitake udon soup, takoyaki, wagyu steak, tempura, and fugu sashimi in front of Stefano. He eyed the meal with delight. Nobuyuki used his chopsticks to eat some of his fugu sashimi.

Nobuyuki: “Ichiro is a married man with a family, is he not?”

He raised an eyebrow. Stefano shook his head.

Stefano: “Oh, he lied about that. Ichiro never married in his life… and never dated.”

He feigned shock as he shoveled food into his face. Nobuyuki harrumphed.

Nobuyuki: “Hiroto asked for my assistance in helping him cover up his extramarital affairs. It seems the entire family is bad news.”

He said gruffly. Yvette shot up from her seat, panting with outrage.

Yvette: “WHAT?!”

She shrieked.

Yvette: “You’re telling me…”

She paused and panted.

Yvette: “I WAS SUPPOSED TO GET A TWO IN ONE THIS WHOLE TIME?!”

She gasped. Stefano gaped at her with noodles in his mouth.

Stefano: “I don’t know. I guess the old lady wanted you to marry Jax—I mean, Jiro, instead, and Hiroto and Mayumi went along with it.”

He shrugged and drank the broth from his udon soup.

Yvette: “NO! I want what I was promised and entitled to! I want my two-in-one deal! I want my harem!”

She exclaimed, pounding the table.

Stefano put the bowl on the table.

Stefano: “So you want… Ichiro and Jiro…? You want both?”

He asked her slowly.

Yvette: “YES!”

She pounded on the table again.

Stefano: “Even though… Ja—Jiro is taken by an American girl, and Ichiro is smitten with the same girl?”

He grinned. Nobuyuki grimaced, thinking of that brash American girl, and to think Ichiro wants her, too?! He pondered. Yvette’s face crumpled, and her bottom lip trembled.

Yvette: “NO! NO! NO! He’s MINE! She cast evil spells on them and stole them from me!”

She wailed and sobbed.

Nobuyuki gasped and put his arms over Yvette.

Nobuyuki: “Don’t cry, Princess! Daddy will get them for you and for your birthday, too!”

He crooned. Yvette’s crying stopped as if someone had shut off a tap.

Yvette: “R-Really?! Thank you, Daddy, you are the best!”

She beamed and hugged him. Nobuyuki put his arms around his daughter and glared at Stefano.

Nobuyuki: “Get Ichiro and Jiro here immediately. She will NOT be disappointed for her birthday!”

He growled.

Stefano: “Understood. I’ll get them here, little miss, don’t you cry now.”

He said tenderly.

Yvette: “YAAAAY!”

She beamed and jumped up and down excitedly.

Stefano finished his meal and rose.

Stefano: “All right, I shall get on that. Good day to you both.”

He nodded and left the room. The waitress returned with the bill, which amounted to over eighty thousand yen. Nobuyuki’s eyes widened at the amount it came to and the amount of food Stefano ate.

~

Jaxon was passed out in a guest bedroom in the Nakamura manor. He wore a black button-up shirt with a red and orange ombre paisley pattern, with the buttons undone to expose his dragon chest tattoo, tight black leather pants, and Chelsea boots. His eyes fluttered. His head pounded, and he had a migraine. A red glow surrounded him as he healed himself. He shot up and looked around to see that he was in the same guest bedroom where he was held when Noriko forced him to marry her.

He rose to open the window and paced around the room, wondering how he got here. He recalled going outside to get the grocery delivery into the house, someone stuck something in his neck, and he ended up here. Is there another teleporter like that fucking fat nerd? He wondered.

The door knob turned. Jaxon braced himself to run or fight or whatever it took to escape. I hope my Green Queen knows I’m here, he thought. The door swung open, and three burly men in suits wearing plush Burger Berserker heads entered. Jaxon gaped at them.

Jaxon: “What the fuck?!”

Before he could react, one of them picked him up and carried him over their shoulder.

Jaxon: “HEY! PUT ME DOWN! I CAN WALK!”

He snapped.

He froze when he saw another set of men in suits wearing Burger Berserker heads carrying Ichiro over their shoulders. Ichiro wore a black Italian-cut suit, a dark red pressed shirt, a black tie, and black wingtip Oxfords.

Ichiro: “Why am I here?! And why is Jiro here?! What is this nonsense?!”

He hissed.

The men carried the two brothers into a tatami room where Nobuyuki knelt before a chabudai with Yvette beside him. They threw the two men on the floor and knelt to remove their shoes.

Jaxon: “HEY!”

He snapped as they unzipped his Chelsea boots, removing them and revealing his sheer, socked feet. They also removed Ichiro’s shoes, revealing his socked feet. They placed their shoes outside the room and slid the door shut.

Jaxon: “What the Hell am I doing here?! I don’t WANT to be here!”

He snapped.

Yvette held her hand up to her mouth and cackled like an anime villain.

Yvette: “I got my two in one!”

She beamed. Nobuyuki glared at Jaxon and Ichiro. He rose and grabbed the back of Jaxon’s and Ichiro’s heads, slammed them down, shoved their faces on the floor, and forced the two brothers into a dogeza bow.

Nobuyuki: “This is how you apologize to her.”

He growled. Jaxon’s and Ichiro’s faces were slammed against the floor, and they groaned.

Yvette glanced down at them, lifting her bare foot and gently rubbing it against their heads. Jaxon glared hatefully at her. Ichiro groused.

Yvette: “Say you're sorry!”

She commanded.

Jaxon: “I’m sorry…”

He began.

Jaxon: “Sorry, I’m being forced to marry you!”

He glared at her hatefully and bared his teeth.

Ichiro: “I’m not marrying YOU! Get your dirty, smelly feet off me!”

He hissed. Yvette furrowed her eyes at them both and shoved her foot into Ichiro’s mouth.

Yvette: “SHH! NAUGHTY! You will be PUNISHED!”

She snapped at them. Ichiro gagged when her foot was inserted into his mouth. Jaxon laughed a bit.

Jaxon: “HA! Serves you right, Bitchy-ro!”

He blew him a raspberry. Ichiro glared at Jaxon with fury and gagged. God, I want to die, he thought.

Nobuyuki grabbed their heads and lifted the two brothers to sit across from him. They winced and scratched the backs of their heads. He turned on the TV to show them Hiroto and Vanessa in a hotel room together with Hiroto slapping her ass.

Hiroto: “Take that, my Italian pet.”

He chuckled.

Jaxon’s face contorted with disgust, and he put his hands up.

Jaxon: “NOPE!”

Ichiro glowered at the screen. I thought I dealt with that idiot accordingly, he thought. Nobuyuki grabbed Jaxon’s hands and turned his head to look at the screen.

Jaxon: “I don’t want to watch my father with THAT!”

He snapped.

Nobuyuki: “You two boys get the idea.”

Ichiro rolled his eyes and shook his head.

Ichiro: “What idea? Father will call me to deal with the problem, and I always do. Why are you showing this to us?”

Jaxon: “To torture me?”

He huffed.

Nobuyuki: “If you want this taken care of, you two will agree to marry Noriko-chan for her birthday.”

He nodded. Ichiro and Jaxon narrowed their eyes at him.

Ichiro: “No. I’ve taken care of father’s problems from day one. I don’t need your help.”

Jaxon: “And I don’t care. Let him ruin himself.”

He huffed and looked away with hurt.

Jaxon: “I’m not marrying Noriko.”

He glared at Yvette with hatred.

Ichiro: “Neither am I. Can we go?”

He smirked. Yvette trembled and gaped at them.

Yvette: “YES YOU ARE!”

She pulled out her feather sword, pointing it at them. Jaxon gasped and quivered.

Yvette: “OR ELSE!”

She pointed towards a dungeon door. Jaxon’s eyes slowly turned to the dungeon door.

Jaxon: “N-NO! D-Don’t!”

He trembled and embraced himself, recalling being tickled for hours in that Iron Varg Maiden.

Ichiro: “You still have that stupid feather sword, Noriko? I thought or hoped you would have grown out of that stupid toddler show, but silly me for having high hopes for a brainlet like you.”

He scoffed. Yvette’s eyes lit up with burning fury, and she snapped her fingers.

Yvette: “TAKE THEM TO THE DUNGEON!”

She commanded her Burger Berserker muscle.

Jaxon scrambled to his feet to escape, but a man grabbed him and slammed him to the floor.

Jaxon: “HEY! LET ME GO!”

He roared. They seized Ichiro and pulled both of their socks.

Jaxon: “NO!”

He whined.

Ichiro: “I hope my green queen comes to save me.”

He groaned.

Jaxon: “HEY! FUCK OFF! SHE’S MY GREEN QUEEN!”

He bellowed as he tried to pry himself away. The men carried the two brothers over their shoulders and off to the Viking Torture Chamber. Yvette merrily skipped after them and followed them into the chamber.

~

They led him down the stairs to the ground floor. It had stone walls with lit candles on the walls illuminating the cold darkness. It resembled a medieval torture chamber dungeon with an “Iron Maiden” shaped like Varg the Viking. Inside, it was twirling feathers in place of spikes. There was a table at the center of the room with chains and handcuffs. A giant wheel with feathers on each spoke was planted at the foot of the table.

Jaxon turned pale as a ghost seeing those again.

Ichiro: “You spent all this money to tickle Jiro’s feet. My green queen does it for free… I don’t renege on saying you’re a brainlet.”

He laughed.

Ichiro: “But… Celeste can tickle my feet.”

He reddened and grinned. Jaxon glared at Ichiro.

Jaxon: “Then you get in!”

He snapped. Yvette glared at them both. She snapped her fingers and pointed at Ichiro.

Yvette: “PUT HIM IN THE IRON VARG MAIDEN NOW!”

She snapped at Ichiro.

The men surrounded him. Ichiro glared at them. They began undressing him.

Ichiro: “HEY! HEY!!”

He screamed and reddened as they loosened his tie, pulled off his suit jacket, and shirt, unbuckling his pants and pulling them down with his briefs too, baring his naked body to Yvette. Ichiro’s face was red with humiliation as he glared at Yvette with hatred and trembled. The men shoved him inside the maiden and slammed the lid shut.

Yvette grinned at him and pressed the big foot button, turning on the whirling feathers inside the Iron Varg Maiden.

Ichiro: “NOHOHOHOHOHO AHAHA HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! NOHOHOHOHO!!”

He rasped between laughter as the feathers tickled all over his naked body. A screen on the wall said “VargCam,” which showed Ichiro being tickled inside the maiden. Yvette watched intensely, cackling inanely like a cartoon super villain.

Yvette: “NOT LOUD ENOUGH! TURN IT UP!”

She twisted the knob, making the feathers tickle him harder and faster.

Ichiro: “NOHOHOHOHOHOHO ARRRRRRGHHH!! AHAHA AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAA!!”

He laughed loudly inside the maiden.

Jaxon swallowed hard and started to back away to escape, but he slammed into a big, burly man in a Burger Berserker head and fell to the floor. Yvette snapped her attention to the commotion and flicked her wild gaze to Jaxon.

Yvette: “Don't worry, Jiro-Kun! You're not missing out!”

She smiled at him. Jaxon froze in his tracks and glowered at her.

Yvette: “You get to ride on the wheel of feetune!”

She beamed and jumped with glee. She snapped her fingers, ordering one of the goons to put him in.

The men surrounded Jaxon. Jaxon glared at them, baring his teeth.

Jaxon: “My Green Queen will chop you up when she finds me!”

He rasped. They began undressing him.

Jaxon: “HEY!”

He snapped as they unbuttoned his shirt, pulling it off him, unbuckling his leather pants, pulling them down along with his boxer briefs, and baring his naked body to Yvette. Jaxon reddened with embarrassment and frustration as his arms were held behind his back. Yvette’s face lit up at the sight of his nude body before her eyes.

Yvette: “Oooh, yummy!”

She squealed and rushed up to him, swiping his chest with her feather sword blade. Jaxon laughed and trembled.

Jaxon: “AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! NOHOHOHOHOHO!”

He squirmed and laughed.

The men laid him on the table, shackling his wrists and ankles with chains, and the base of the wheel was at his feet. Yvette spun the wheel, swiping her sword against his bare soles as the wheel of feathers circled over his feet. Jaxon screamed with laughter.

Jaxon: “WAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAA! AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAA!! FUCK YOU! HAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!”

He laughed hard and struggled against his bonds as the wheel’s base circled over his feet. Yvette grabbed an electric Varg toothbrush and scrubbed it over his feet. Jaxon’s screams filled the chamber.

Jaxon: “AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAA!! ARGHHHHH!!! NOHOHOHOHOHOHOHOHO!! WAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAA!! STAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAP!! AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!”

He laughed loudly and thrashed around, tears dripping down his cheeks, and his face was red as a beet. Yvette grinned widely, as his laughter was like music to her ears. Jaxon’s laughter was much louder and more hysterical than Ichiro’s, and she loved that.

~

In Pink Top City in the Megalos Tower, Minerva met with Jordi in her office, her feet resting on a soldier. Alfie was beside Minerva. Jordi wore his black suit with a white pressed shirt, tie, gloves, and zip-up boots.

Minerva: “So Jiro is missing, but Ichiro has missed work. This is very unlike Ichiro.”

She stated. Jordi pursed his lips and nodded.

Minerva: “Well, Stefano is unaccounted for, but this is typical for him, and I couldn’t care less if that blob drops dead.”

She laughed. Jordi forced a smile.

Minerva: “Find Jiro for me, Jordi, and Ichiro. If you want that bonus, you will do as you’re told.”

She smirked at him. Jordi inhaled sharply and nodded.

Minerva: “Doesn’t your grandfather need replacement oxygen tanks?”

Jordi froze and turned to her, nodding slowly.

Jordi: “...That’s right.”

Minerva: “Be a good boy and do your job if you want to help your ailing grandfather.”

She purred. Jordi hung his head and sighed.

Jordi: “Of course, ma’am. I’m on it.”

He said with a strained smile. He left her office.

~

Jordi sat in a daze in the employee break room, smoking a cigarette. Desiree is back in the infirmary with a paid vacation, and Minverva promised me a bonus if I found Jaxon and Ichiro, but mainly Jaxon, he thought.

Vasilos waltzed in with a big grin on his face.

Vasilos: “Hellooooo, Jordi! How’s life treating you? Shitty? Well, you look shitty!”

He laughed. Jordi forced a smile.

Jordi: “How was the wedding, Vasilos?”

He said through a strained smile, knowing what had happened. Vasilos glared at him.

Vasilos: “How do you think the wedding went, jackass?! Why else would I be here in this hellhole talking to a cretin like you and not on my honeymoon?!”

He barked at him. Jordi shrugged.

Jordi: “I thought you liked me, I guess.”

He said wryly. Vasilos glared at him.

Vasilos: “Fuck you!”

He hissed.

Jordi: “It puzzles me why Andrew would leave you.”

He shot back.

Vasilos: “Because he has NO TASTE!”

He fired back, pounding the table with every syllable.

Jordi: “That explains everything.”

He said dryly.

Vasilos sat at the table putting his feet up.

Vasilos: “I ought to tell my old man about how crappy this room is. Look at the vending machine. That fat fuck, Stefano, cleaned it!”

He laughed. Jordi glanced at it, and it was empty. He never noticed it because he never used it.

Vasilos kicked off his loafers, and Jordi scrunched his nose at the sweaty, vinegary odor emitting from his feet. He squeezed his nose.

Vasilos: “Hey, Jordi, rub my feet.”

Jordi: “Maybe you should invest in some foot deodorizer!”

He groused. Vasilos glared at him.

Vasilos: “How dare you speak to me this way! I come in here and offer you an opportunity to worship my feet, and you tell me that?!”

He snapped at him.

Jordi: “Why, did Andrew tell you that too?”

He huffed.

Jordi ran out of the break room with Vasilos’ shoes flying at him.

Vasilos: “GET THE FUCK OUT OF MY SIGHT!”

He bellowed at him, running down the foyer.

~

Celeste paced around her house, and Tristan and Deimos sat on the sofa.

Celeste: “He was outside unloading the groceries we had delivered by Trevor, and then he vanished! I heard no struggle or anything!”

She vented angrily with worry as her heart hammered in her chest. Tristan heaved a deep sigh. Deimos patted Tristan’s back.

Tristan: “Do you think this is Minerva’s doing again?”

Celeste threw her arms up.

Celeste: “I don’t know?! I don’t know if it’s that witch, Dougal, Ichiro, or someone else!”

She said in a high-pitched squawk.

Tristan: “It’s unlikely to be Dougal; he isn’t the most discreet person, and how would he get Jaxon away without a trace? The same applies to Minerva unless she hires a teleporter. This isn’t Ichiro’s pattern. He kidnaps you and never kidnapped his brother, so he being the culprit is highly unlikely.”

He pondered and cupped his mouth, deep in thought.

Tristan: “And he left nothing behind… I could have Francis try to touch one of the grocery bags and have Papa decipher his whereabouts.”

He offered. Celeste spun on her heel so fast she almost toppled over.

Celeste: “Yeah, do that, Tristan! And I’ll get Trevor here to teleport us wherever that witch took him…”

She clenched her fist into a tight ball and growled.

Tristan: “All right, Deimos and I will get Papa and Francis here, and you go get Trevor.”

He nodded to her as Deimos and Tristan rose.

Celeste: “You got it.”

~

Jordi arrived home early. He saw an ad on a utility pole with a picture of Ashley holding up a tray of baked goods with a number and address to reach them. Jordi called them earlier in the week to pay them to make healthy snacks his grandfather would eat that wouldn’t worsen his health. He saw Ashley approach his house with a basket and got out of his car. He waved to them. Ashley greeted them with a warm smile and a wave. They were dressed in an orange flare-sleeved shirt with sun faces and brown velvet flared pants.

Ashley: “Hello! I got your snacks for you!”

They chirped, presenting him with a basket that had a purple bow tied around it.

Jordi: “Thank you, come on in!”

He ran up to his door and opened it to let Ashley in. Ashley slipped off their sandals at the door before entering.

When he opened the door, food was on the floor, and Hannah was crying in the corner of the living room. Ashley raised their hand to their mouth.

Ashley: “Oh dear! What happened? Are you okay?”

They knit their eyebrows. Jordi put his hand up to Ashley.

Jordi: “It’s okay, I got this.”

He knelt to Hannah.

Jordi: “What’s wrong?”

He asked gently.

Hannah: “I can’t do this anymore, Jordi! I tried to make him some salad from fresh vegetables I bought at the supermarket, but he threw the apple juice in my face and the salad on the floor!”

She cupped her mouth,h crying.

Ashley: “Oh, I’m so sorry! That’s terrible!”

They patted her back.

Hannah turned her head to Ashley and rose.

Hannah: “Oh, you must be the lady Jordi called to make snacks for Abraham!”

She wiped her eyes.

Ashley: “Oh, I’m not a lady, haha! And yes, that’s me!”

They smiled.

Jordi: “Yes, Hannah, they’re nonbinary.”

Hannah cupped her mouth.

Hannah: “Oh, I’m sorry!”

Ashley: “It’s totally cool!”

They assured her, waving their hand.

Ashley: “I’m sorry he did this to you.”

They offered and worried about him doing the same to them.

Jordi: “What snacks do you have, Ashley?”

He smiled, wanting to change the topic. Ashley placed the basket down on the table with an excited smile.

Ashley: “I made some custard apple slices with peanut butter and walnuts! I loooove custard apple! It’s nature’s pudding!”

They explained with glee.

Ashley: “I also made some dragon fruit cheesecake!”

They said, presenting him with magenta cheesecake slices.

Ashley: “And some freshly made banana bread, too!”

They added. The smell of freshly baked goods permeated the kitchen as Ashley laid them on the table. Jordi and Hannah eyed the desserts with delight.

Jordi: “They look delectable, Ashley.”

He nodded.

Hannah: “Abraham will love them! Right now, he’s napping, but I will give these to him after his nap.”

She assured them. Ashley smiled at them.

Ashley: “Thank you! I hope he likes them and I hope you like them, too! I made plenty!”

They said to them. Jordi smiled tightly.

Jordi: “Thanks, Ashley! You’re the best. I’ll take you out and drive you home.”

He said to them as he led them out. Ashley smiled at him.

Ashley: “Thank you, Jordi! You’re so kind!”

They chirped.

Jordi stepped out of his house and put on his Ray Bans as he approached his Ferrari Testarossa. Ashley followed him out, slipping back into their sandals.

Jordi: “Sorry you had to witness that.”

He climbed into his car. Ashley climbed into the passenger’s seat.

Ashley: “It’s not your fault.”

They sighed. Jordi smiled a bit and nodded.

Jordi: “He needs replacement oxygen tanks, and my boss’s ‘crush’ is missing. I don’t know where he’s at.”

He sighed as he slid his keys into the ignition.

Ashley: “Oh no! That’s terrible! My boyfriend’s brother’s friend goes missing a lot! I had this friend who was really obsessed with him and only came here to trick me so she could find him and kidnap him!”

They rambled. Jordi paused at them and noted how this bothered them a lot.

Jordi: “Your friend used you to find this man who is your boyfriend’s brother’s friend?”

He asked as he focused on the road. Ashley sighed and nodded.

Ashley: “Yeah, I had some bad friends…”

Their voice trailed off, thinking of Maxx, Yvette, and Blair.

Ashley: “But then I met Lazaros and he showed me how I wanted to be treated!”

They smiled. Jordi smiled at them.

Jordi: “Sorry you had bad friends, but glad you met Lazaros…”

He stated. Ashley beamed at him.

Ashley: “Thank you! Me too!”

Jordi: “Who was your friend, and who did she kidnap?”

He finally asked.

Ashley: “Oh, her name was Yvette! Well, that wasn’t her real name! Her real name was Noriko! I met her back in Australia, and then she went to Shin-Yamato! She only came here to find Jaxon so she could kidnap him and tickle his feet with her feathersword!”

They explained. Jordi pulled a strained face and noticed Ashley grimaced when they drove by Voyage Burger. I guess they had a bad experience there or disliked it as much as I do, he thought. Then he realized they said something.

Jordi: “...Jaxon? Is his real name Jiro Tachibana?”

He glanced at them. Ashley turned to him.

Ashley: “Yes! That’s him! Do you know him?”

They tilted their head. Jordi bowed his head.

Jordi: “...Yeah… That’s who my boss wants me to find. If I find him for her, she will give me enough to get replacement oxygen tanks for my grandfather.”

He said with strain and shame. Ashley’s eyebrows rose.

Ashley: “Oh? Does he work for you or something? I hope you find him so you can help your grandpa!”

They assured him.

Ashley: “Yvette probably kidnapped him again to tickle his feet.”

They sighed and shook their head. Jordi froze and swallowed hard.

Jordi: “Ashley? Do you know any teleporters?”

He asked them. Ashley turned to him and tilted their head.

Ashley: “Teleporters? Oh, well, my mom teleported me once with sun goddess powers! She saved my life!”

They said softly, and they pursed their lips. Sun Goddess? He wondered.

He rolled up to their house and saw Vasilos’ purple Lamborghini parked in front. Ashley quirked an eyebrow, wondering whose car that was. Lazaros stepped out to Ashley. Ashley’s face lit up when they saw Lazaro,s and they rushed out of the car to him.

Lazaros: “Hey, Ash!”

He reached out to hug and kiss them.

Ashley: “Lazzy!”

They beamed, wrapping their arms around him and kissing him back.

Jordi: “Excuse me? Can you tell me where Jaxon lives and if you know any teleporters?”

He asked tersely. Lazaros gaped at Jordi.

Lazaros: “Is this the guy who asked you to make healthy snacks for his grandpa?”

He asked Ashley. Ashley nodded in confirmation.

Ashley: “Yes, he’s really nice! He’s looking for Jaxon, I think they work together or something?”

They scratched their head. Lazaros petted Ashley’s head.

Lazaros: “What do you want with Jaxon? Are you one of his Fu’s Feet Link Subscribers?”

He laughed.

Jordi: “No, my boss is looking for him. I need to get replacement oxygen tanks for my grandfather.”

Lazaros nodded.

Lazaros: “I’ll give you his address. As for teleporters, Trevor Hinkley usually teleports his girlfriend, my brother, and his boyfriend, and Jaxon places or teleports their groceries to them because Jaxon hates grocery shopping. How could he hate grocery shopping?!”

Jordi: “I don’t like it either.”

He laughed awkwardly.

Lazaros: “Well, I can tell immediately who isn’t a chef!”

He laughed.

Vasilos stepped up to them and snorted at Ashley’s station wagon.

Vasilos: “Who owns that piece of shit? I ought to write him or her a check or something.”

He laughed. Ashley awkwardly shifted their eyes.

Ashley: “Me! Oh? A check for what?”

Lazaros put his arm around Ashley. Jordi rolled his eye,s and Lazaros glared at Vasilos.

Lazaros: “What are you doing here, Vasilos? Thanks for extending an invitation to your wedding to Deimos and me.”

He said dryly. Ashley turned to Lazaros and looked at Vasilos, noting the physical resemblance. Vasilos glowered at Lazaros.

Vasilos: “I don’t recall inviting losers. Anyway, the wedding didn’t happen!”

He snapped.

Jordi: “Gee, I wonder why.”

He said dryly.

Vasilos: “Working hard or hardly working, Jordi? I don’t recall Minerva paying you to drive fat chicks around town!”

He barked. Ashley drew a breath. Great, another meanie, they thought.

Lazaros: “He was driving them home to me.”

He said firmly. Ashley smiled up at Lazaros, leaning on his chest.

Vasilos: “Oh, she’s yours, Laz? I’m not shocked. Need to feed your fat pigs to keep your dick hard. Never change.”

He smirked. Ashley’s face crumpled.

Lazaros: “Yes, well, it’s not a fetish and they’re not a girl.”

He spat.

Ashley: “That’s right! I’m his and I’m not a girl!”

Vasilos: “She’s fat and stupid! Who drives that hunk of junk?! Oh wait, it’s to fit her wide load!”

He laughed.

Ashley: “Great. Another Maxx and Blair.”

They sighed.

Jordi: “Why are you here, Vasilos? You’re not going to find single, lustful men here.”

Vasilos: “Oh, I know her. She’s Maxx’s ex-girlfriend and he sings songs about how fat she is. So Laz, your lardass girlfriend is more famous than you and your lame cookbooks!”

He laughed. Ashley frowned.

Ashley: “I’m NOT his ex-girlfriend and I’m not a girl!”

Lazaros: “That is NOT true! No one cares about Maxx!”

He snapped. Ashley gripped his gloved hand.

Vasilos: “And where is Deimos? Is he still hanging around that fat old guy?”

He spat.

Lazaros: “Dougal groomed Tristan and NO! He’s not!”

He snapped.

Vasilos: “...Tristan?”

He raised an eyebrow.

Lazaros: “Maybe if you kept up with us, you’d know who Tristan is! I know your wedding didn’t go because you’re a terrible human being! How could you be so mean to Ashley!? And say I’m feeding them is a fetish when it’s NOT?!”

He snapped and cried. Ashley knit their eyebrows and held Lazaros to their chest.

Jordi: “I’m sorry, Ashley… I have to go now. Duty calls. Thanks for the help!”

He smiled and went to his car.

Ashley: “Thanks for the ride and thanks for hiring me!”

They smiled back and waved at him.

Jordi got into his car and drove off. Vasilos cupped his mouth.

Vasilos: “I thought Deimos was dating Ivy?”

Lazaros: “WHO CARES?! Deimos and Ivy broke up, and he is with Tristan now!”

He rasped. Ashley could see that Lazaros was getting more upset, and they wrapped their arm around him.

Ashley: “I think you should go now.”

They said to Vasilos, holding Lazaros.

Deimos approached his hous,e and his stomach filled with dread when he saw Vasilos and Lazaros getting hysterical with Ashley.

Deimos: “What the fuck are you doing here?”

He spat.

Vasilos: “Here to see how failing my cousins are doing! Lazaros is dating a fat chick who used to date MAXXY MALONE OF SEX BEES!”

He laughed. Ashley twisted their face.

Ashley: “I never dated Maxx!”

They protested.

Deimos: “Oh, you’re here to make the same fucking joke we heard one-hundred times before. Get a new line or get lost.”

He spat.

Deimos: “I don’t have the time or energy to deal with your bullshit. Jaxon is missing.”

He said firmly to him.

Vasilos: “Yeah, Jordi was looking for him. Minerva wants him.”

Deimos glared at him.

Deimos: “So Minerva didn’t kidnap him?”

Vasilos shrugged.

Vasilos: “I don’t keep up with Dad’s subordinates.”

He laughed.

Ashley: “Yvette’s probably tickling his feet somewhere.”

They sighed.

Vasilos: “Hey, Laz, Dad has an inferior who is as fat as your girlfriend! He ate everything from the vending machine. Maybe he and Fatley can do an eating contest and you can wank to it!”

He laughed harder. Ashley frowned at him and shook their head. Lazaros sank to the ground and cried.

Deimos: “How original. I never heard that joke told before.”

He said dryly. Deimos paused and turned to Ashley.

Deimos: “Yvette?”

He asked them.

Ashley: “Yeah, she’s like, obsessed with him and you guys said she kidnapped before and how she tried to kill you with sharks!”

They knit their eyebrows.

Deimos: “Wait, you mean Noriko? Jaxon’s ex-fiancée?”

He asked them. Ashley nodded in confirmation.

Ashley: “Yes, her!”

They confirmed. Deimos paused and backed away.

Deimos: “...I have to go. I’ll tango with you later, Vasilos.”

He spat at him and started running down the street to return to Jaxon and Celeste’s place.

~

Trevor was at Celeste and Jaxon’s place with Tristan and Celeste. Celeste hung her head after Francis couldn’t get a reading on Jaxon’s whereabouts. Tristan put his hand on her shoulder.

Tristan: “...What if Noriko took him?”

Celeste: “Why would THAT crazy bitch take him? He ditched her at the altar AGAIN!”

She huffed.

Tristan: “It’s a possibility to think of.”

Celeste: “Robin doesn’t have teleporters, though!”

Someone knocked on the door. Tristan went to answer it, and his jaw dropped when he saw Jordi.

Tristan: “...What are you doing here?! You’re from Minerva’s yacht!”

He gasped. Celeste stood in front of Tristan, bracing her legs apart.

Jordi: “I’m not here to fight!”

He put his hands up.

Jordi: “Can I come in?”

Tristan: “You helped us at Minerva’s yacht. For that, we’re eternally grateful.”

He stepped aside to let him in.

Jordi: “I’m Jordi Vaquero. Yes, I work for Dr. Minerva Marzilli, and yes, she wants me to find Jaxon.”

He began. Celeste marched up to him, and Tristan put his hands on her shoulders.

Tristan: “Please.”

He said gently.

Tristan: “I’m Tristan Trémaux, and she’s Celeste Marcella. She’s Jaxon’s girlfriend. What is your business here, Jordi?”

He asked firmly.

Jordi: “I drove Ashley Solegatti home to their boyfriend’s place. They told me about this ‘Yvette’ person who was obsessed with Jaxon.”

Tristan quirked an eyebrow.

Tristan: “Do you mean Noriko Nakamura?”

Jordi nodded.

Deimos stepped into the house and halted when he saw Jordi.

Deimos: “What is HE doing here!?”

He snapped.

Tristan: “He suggests Jaxon was kidnapped by Noriko. Ashley told him about her.”

He rose to him. Jordi waved his hands around.

Jordi: “I’m NOT here to fight! I don’t WANT to kidnap Jaxon for Minerva! I need to get replacement oxygen tanks for my grandfather!”

He snapped. Deimos glared at him. Tristan sighed with sympathy for his plight.

Tristan: “Why are you helping us, Jordi?”

Jordi paused.

Jordi: “I want to find him to help my grandfather.”

He reddened.

Celeste: “You tell your crazy witch boss she’s to stay away from Jaxon! If you’re going to give him to her, no dice!”

She folded her arms tightly in front of her chest. Jordi hung his head. Tristan cupped his mouth.

Tristan: “Tell you what, Jordi: if you help us, I will purchase the oxygen tanks for your grandfather.”

He said genially. Jordi’s jaw dropped. Celeste gaped at him with wide eyes.

Deimos: “What if he bails and betrays us, Tristan?! Why do you trust him?”

He asked firmly.

Tristan: “He helped us before, and he’s helping us now.”

Jordi cupped his mouth, trying not to cry. No one has ever been this kind to me before, he thought. Tristan smiled at him.

Jordi: “Thank you, Tristan.”

He smiled tightly.

Celeste: “You better not betray us ‘cause I will break every bone in your body.”

She grinned, showing her razor-sharp teeth.

Jordi: “Don’t worry, I’m not!”

Deimos: “Guys, come here! We have to get to Shin-Yamato and to the Nakamura manor NOW!”

He pointed to Yvette’s blog, which showed Jaxon shackled to the wheel of feetune. Celeste growled at the picture.

Celeste: “Come on, Trevor! Let’s MOSEY!”

Trevor: “Okay! Let’s mosey!”

He grabbed them all and teleported out of the house.