Chapter Sixty-Six: Celeste's Mural

Chapter 66

Celeste’s Mural

The next day, The Pink Top Daily was hot off the press early in the morning. The front page had the picture of Jaxon wearing the Varg the Viking costume with Nariko and a smaller picture of Gus covered in bruises, a swollen eye, and a broken nose. The header read, “Jaxon’s dirty little secrets.” The subheader read, “He is just the dark version of Maxxy Malone.” 

Inside there were pictures of Jaxon’s pre-wedding pictures with Nariko stating he left her at the altar to pursue the hedonistic pleasures Pink Top City has to offer. There was a picture of him screaming at Celeste and Victor in his condo’s mall. The article explained he ripped off Celeste’s robe and threw it over the ledge because she refused to have sex with him. He also threw a tantrum when she said his feet stink and offered him Funny Feet foot deodorizer.

The next article was a picture of Gus with bruises on his face, a swollen eye, and a broken nose. The article read Gus brought Jaxon a bottle of Coke when he wanted Cocaine, so he beat him up. 

The following article had Jaxon stepping out of Tristan’s office, Rufus and Tristan watching them outside, looking like he wanted to cry. The article read that Jaxon’s manager, Rufus Hancock, bribed Tristan with one million dollars to take Jaxon’s case, and Jaxon brought a bottle of whiskey to the mediation, which was a trashy move. 

Rufus sat in his kitchen in a daze after what he read. He sat at the table in the kitchen. His kitchen had black and white checkered tiles, pale teal cupboards, a white stove, and an old 1950s fridge. The kitchen had old peeling flower wallpaper. It looked as if it hadn’t been updated since he was a child. 

An older white overweight elderly woman sat at the kitchen table with him. Green cat-eye glasses hung over her nose. Her red hair was styled in Victory rolls and she wore a teal and white checkered dress. She was his mother, Ruth Hancock. 

Storming into the kitchen was his wife, Charlotte. She was a pale, ordinary-looking white woman with shoulder-length blonde hair and dull gray eyes. She was rail thin and had a diamond-shaped face and a pointed nose. She was dressed in the blandest and most unflattering beige t-shirts and jeans from a discount retail store with cheap sneakers that squeaked like her voice. She started screaming at Rufus. His mother rose to scream at Charlotte and the two argued. Rufus sat there zoning them out. 

~

Tristan drove through downtown Pink Top City on his way to work. Oliver was in the passenger’s seat. He wore a three-piece Italian-cut burgundy suit, black pressed shirt, black tie, and black wingtip Oxfords. He read the tabloid before Deimos awoke from bed. He flicked on his signal light and made a right hand turn into his office’s parking lot. He parked his car in his designated spot next to Rosemary’s car. He drew a long breath, shut off his car, got his briefcase, held Oliver in his other hand, and got out of the car. 

He entered his office to see Rosemary at the secretary’s desk. He approached her.

Tristan: “Rosemary, if either Jaxon or his manager contacts me to represent or help him…”

He pursed his lips. 

Tristan: “Firmly but politely tell him I am no longer accepting any more cases from him. He can contact us with his new lawyer and I will gladly forward his file to them.” 

He said firmly. She smiled and nodded. 

Rosemary: “Of course, Tristan.” 

He went upstairs to his office. 

~

Fabien made breakfast for himself and Craig. He made sausages, bacon, scrambled eggs, and pancakes. He wore a green plaid short sleeve shirt and jean shorts. Gus sat at the table eating cereal with milk out of Craig’s stinky gym sneaker. Fabien picked up the tabloid and read it to Craig while laughing. 

Fabien: “Oh man, I would LOVE to see the look on that twerp’s face when he sees this!”

He slapped the tabloid. 

Craig: “WAHAHAHA, please tell me you put a baby monitor in his house, too!”

Fabien shifted his eyes. 

Fabien: “...Not yet!” 

He heard the baby monitor for Jaclyn’s house. 

Hector: “Oh, boy, I can’t wait for my Queen Bee’s mural to be done! This is going to be GREAT!”

Fabien: “Mural?”

He raised an eyebrow. He then realized Jaclyn hadn’t been around. She must have been at a hotel or away while this was being painted. 

~

Rufus sat in his copper 1987 BMW in the underground parking lot of Jaxon’s condo. He sat in his car for two hours staring blankly off into space. He drew a long breath and climbed out of his car, ready to face the music and try to do damage control. 

~

Rufus knocked on Jaxon’s condo door. Noah opened the door and forced a smile. He stepped aside to let him in. Rufus saw the damaged island, holes in the wall, and the other mess. He was numb to it all. He didn’t ask or want to know. 

Noah: “Do you want me to get Jaxon or shall we wait until he wakes up?”

Rufus blinked. 

Rufus: “Whatever you feel is best, Noah. I don’t know what to do anymore.”

He went to the couch to sit down and sank into his seat. Noah gazed at him. 

Noah: “Well…, you do what you can.”

He smiled. Rufus closed his eyes and sighed. 

Rufus: “What if it’s not enough? Sometimes I feel like I’m drowning. I can only fix so much and do so much damage control but something else comes up.”

He threw his hands up. Noah pursed his lips and smiled at Rufus. 

Noah: “You do what you can do and the best you can.” 

Rufus picked up his cell phone to call Tristan’s office. Rosemary picked up the phone. 

Rosemary: “Good afternoon, you reached Trémaux Law Offices, this is Rosemary speaking. How can I help you?”

Rufus: “Hello, Rosemary. This is Rufus Hancock, Jaxon’s manager. I need to speak with Tristan about something.”

She paused.

Rosemary: “I’m sorry, Mr. Hancock. Tristan is no longer wanting to accept any more cases from your client.”

Rufus bowed his head and looked like he wanted to cry. He understood but it still frustrated him. 

Rufus: “A-All right.”

Rosemary: “If you get a new lawyer for him, I will forward his case file to him or her.”

Rufus: “Thank you, Rosemary. Sorry for your trouble. Have a good day.”

He hung up the phone and buried his hands into his face. Noah surveyed him. He sat by him and patted his back. 

Noah: “One step at a time.”

He reassured him. Rufus forced a smile and meekly nodded. 

Noah: “I made some freshly squeezed orange juice! Would you care for some?”

Rufus brightened and nodded.

Rufus: “I’d love that.”

Noah smiled and poured him a glass.

Jaxon’s door swung open as he emerged from his bedroom, dressed in the tightest leather red pants and a torn black tank top.

Jaxon: “Hey! Where the hell is my breakfast?!”

He huffed. No please or thank you, Rufus thought. Just like my lovely wife, he thought bitterly. 

Noah: “My apologies, sir, with limited counter space, I couldn’t make anything for you.”

He said coolly. 

Noah: “I have some freshly squeezed Palm Tree State orange juice made.”

He smiled tightly. 

Jaxon: “Orange juice? Really? That’s it?”

He gaped at him. Noah cleared his throat.

Noah: “Yes, sorry, sir. Your counters were destroyed so until they’re repaired, I cannot make anything for you. My apologies.”

He said genially. 

Jaxon: “So? You could have bought me breakfast from Voyage Burger or something!”

He whined.

Jaxon: “But all I get is an orange juice… I hate orange… orange like that clown’s skin.”

He huffed, swiping it off the table. The glass smashed all over the floor, getting orange juice all over it.

Jaxon: “Clean that up! I need to get outta here and have some fun! Hotties are waiting!”

He huffed, pointing at the mess on the floor and heading towards the door.

Noah: “...I am so sorry, sir. I will bear this in mind for the future.”

He forced a smile. Rufus sat on the couch staring at the wall. I hope Percy comes and kills me, makes it quick, Rufus thought. 

Jaxon: “There better be dinner on that table when I get back!”

He said before leaving. 

Noah watched him go. Rufus drained his glass of orange juice. 

Rufus: “That was… lovely orange juice, Noah. That… hit the spot.”

He nodded. Noah gave him a friendly smile. He drew a long breath and started to clean up the mess Jaxon left behind. 

~

Jaxon strutted through the Pink Flamingo mall, scanning for his next “hottie.” He spotted a blond woman with big hair in a tight white dress, drinking a smoothie from Peg’s Fruitique.

Jaxon: “Hey there, sexy lady—”

He purred. The woman threw her drink in his face.

Jaxon: “HEY! What was that for?!”

He gasped.

Woman: “Stay AWAY from me, womaniser!”

She huffed and stomped off. 

Jaxon: “Pfft, the hell was her problem?”

He scoffed and shook his head. He heard a man calling out to him.

Man: “BOO! YOU SUCK, JAXON! You beat up my weed dealer!”

He hollered at him from the escalators.

Jaxon: “Hey, fuck you, baldy!”

He fired back at him, flipping the bird. 

Suddenly, he was doused with several drinks from above his head. He looked up and saw a group of teenagers laughing at him, high-fiving each other.

Teen boy: “Score! You got the Maxxy wannabe, dude!”

He laughed. 

Jaxon: “...Maxxy wannabe?!”

He rasped. 

Teen girl: “No, he’s a big-foot Viking cartoon!”

She laughed at him. Jaxon’s heart sank.

Jaxon: “WHAT?!”

Teen boy: “VARG THE VIKING!”

He taunted him, pointing at him. 

Jaxon: “...What the fuck is going on?!”

He gasped and frantically looked around at all the jeering people, laughing and glaring at him. 

Then, he spotted it. The magazine vendor had a long queue of people reading the latest tabloid.

Jaxon: “GIVE ME THAT!”

He growled, grabbing it from someone.

Man: “HEY!”

Jaxon’s heart sank when he saw the tabloid of today.

Jaxon: “NO, NO, NO, NO!”

He shrieked, running through the queue, grabbing people’s tabloid magazines.

Jaxon: “DON’T READ THAT! IT’S ALL LIES!”

He cried. People laughed at him and took photos of him.

Jaxon: “EVERYONE! STOP READING THAT MAGAZINE!”

He shrieked, grabbing the rack of tabloid magazines in his hands. 

Two large security guards approached him.

Security Guard: “Excuse me sir, you’re going to have to leave.”

He said firmly, towering over Jaxon.

Jaxon: “WHAT?! DON’T YOU KNOW WHO I AM?!”

He screamed.

Security Guard: “Yep, you’re that asshole who tore off that pretty lady’s clothes.”

The crowd booed at Jaxon, throwing cups and bottles at him. Jaxon recoiled and ducked.

Jaxon: “No, no! You got it all wrong! This is bullshit! I’M the victim here! I’M the one being attacked here!”

He cried. The security guards grabbed him and dragged him out of the mall. The crowd cheered and laughed, taking photos of him.

Jaxon: “NOOOOOOOOOO!”

He screamed as he was hauled off. 

~

When he was thrown out, Craig, Fabien, and Deimos were there watching him. Craig was on the ground, struggling to breathe from laughing so hard. Deimos relished in all of this. Fabien smiled smugly. 

Craig: “Oh fuck, mate, you’re gonna give me a fuckin’ heart attack. That was amazing!”

He wheezed.

Deimos: “Checkmate, Jaxhole.”

He spat. Jaxon glared at them.

Jaxon: “YOU! YOU SET ME UP, DIDN’T YOU?!”

He rasped at them. 

Fabien: “Yeah, Deimos and I did.”

He wagged his head. 

Fabien: “He gave me the photos Tristan found and I did the rest.”

He smiled smugly. 

Fabien: “Also, Celeste didn’t pick you. Cry more.”

He ground his fists over his eyes. 

Craig: “WAHAHAHAHA! Have a cry, sooky cunt!”

He taunted him.

Jaxon: “You assholes are going to PAY for this!”

He rasped. 

Deimos: “How will you do that, Jaxon? Sing some forgettable songs about us as you did Maxx? Like him or hate him, you’re not going to forget Maxx’s bullshit or ‘Fatley’s XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXL Underwear’.”

He said noncommittally. 

Jaxon: “Your boyfriend is my lawyer, so I’ll get him to deal with it then.”

He smirked at Deimos, rubbing it in his face, thinking he had something there. Deimos gazed at him and a smile tugged at his lips.

Deimos: “...Someone didn’t get the notice. Whatever. If you say so.”

He waved his hand at him. 

Fabien: “What will Tristan do about it? The same thing your manager bribed him to when you took advantage of that girl?”

He challenged him. 

Jaxon: “I’ll just get Rufus to bribe him again.”

He scoffed and shrugged. 

Deimos: “Good luck with that.”

He said flatly. 

Fabien: “You’re still not getting Celeste.”

He laughed. 

Craig: “YEAH! You ain’t gettin’ our stray cat!”

He added.

Craig: “You aint’ gettin’ my sister either. If you EVER go near her or Fab again, you’ll be gettin’ Mummy Metal Volume Two!”

He grabbed him by the collar and held his fist in his face. 

Jaxon: “Pfft, I don’t want your sister, dumbass.”

He huffed, yanking himself away from him. Fabien cupped his chin. He’s silent when I mention Celeste but not Makayla, huh? He wondered.

Fabien: “Why not?”

He asked. 

Jaxon: “Because I can get a better piece of ass.”

He huffed. Craig glared at him.

Deimos: “Where is Celeste anyway? She wasn’t at my place or Tristan’s.”

He asked Fabien. 

Fabien: “Oh, she’s next door. She’s painting a mural for my neighbor, so she had breakfast with us.”

He replied and stumbled over a laugh. Craig burst out laughing.

Craig: “I’M FUCKIN’ EXCITED!”

He laughed. Jaxon huffed.

Jaxon: “Seriously? She was hanging around you losers?”

He pouted. 

Fabien: “Yeah? Sometimes, she snuggles my feet when I sleep!”

He stuck his tongue out at him. Jaxon glared at him.

Deimos: “Did you know Celeste does art, Jaxon?”

He glared at him. 

Jaxon: “Of course I did. She’s an amazing artist! So very talented.”

He scoffed and grinned. Fabien turned away and snorted. Deimos gaped at him. He’s sucking up or he never saw her art, he thought. Craig laughed.

Craig: “Fuckin’ oath she is! She’s fuckin’ amazing!”

He burst out laughing. 

~

Jaxon arrived at Hector’s place to go see Celeste. Hector sat on the patio swing outside and waved at Jaxon. 

Hector: “HIIIII!”

He had a flute in his nose and rushed up to Jaxon. 

Hector: “Did you know worms are eaten by lots of animals?! Also, worms breathe through their skin! I am starting my own worm farm! Wanna see?”

He smiled and knelt in a bed of dirt, grabbing clumps of soil in his hands with worms. 

Hector: “Worms also help drain water through soil and give air to the soil!” 

Jaxon: “Hey! I don’t care!”

He smiled and laughed.

Jaxon: “Where’s Celeste?”

He asked, looking around for her. Hector looked a bit hurt. 

Hector: “She’s in my Queen Bee’s bedroom painting her mural!”

He brightened. 

Hector: “Wanna see it so far?! I can’t until my Queen Bee sees it!”

His eyes sparkled and he clasped his hands. 

Jaxon: “Sure.”

He grinned. 

Hector galloped to his house, and opened the door for Jaxon. He ran like a dog upstairs and they went into the hall. He opened Jaclyn’s bedroom to see Celeste adding the finishing touches to the mural and stepped back to marvel at it. Celeste wore an old white off-shoulder shirt, tied at the waist, and old Daisy Duke shorts. She had paint on her shirt and legs. Jaxon eyed her lustfully and beamed.

Jaxon: “Hello, there.”

Celeste wasn’t paying attention. Hector gasped when he saw the mural. 

It was a poorly drawn mural of Jaclyn sitting on a grassy field with her big, stinky feet up and a green stink cloud scribble emitting from them. Jaclyn had a big grin on her face and her bob hair looked like a helmet. There was a pile of dead people and animals that looked like sack dolls, the trees had no leaves on them, and were messy strokes. The clouds were also messy strokes and in the corner the sun was dead. 

Hector: “Oh my… This is… AMAZING!!”

He sang as his eyes sparkled with delight. Jaxon groused at it.

Jaxon: “Ugh, why did you let some kid scribble in here when Celeste was supposed to paint it?!”

He scolded Hector. Celeste turned and her expression darkened. 

Celeste: “I did those scribblings in here.”

She pouted. Jaxon gaped at her.

Celeste: “What do you want?”

She asked sharply. 

Jaxon: “You.”

He grinned at her. Celeste folded her arms and rolled her eyes. 

Celeste: “Why do you have food and shit on you?”

She asked. 

Jaxon: “Because someone is out there smearing me!”

He huffed. 

Celeste: “Yeah, but… you did rip my robe off me and yell at Victor because I wouldn’t sleep with you, and snapped at me because I said your feet stink!”

She snapped. 

Jaxon: “What, and you want to sleep with that old man?”

He scoffed.

Celeste: “Yeah, I lo—”

She paused and glared at him. Jaxon gave her a look.

Celeste: “Yeah, I do sleep with Vic!”

She barked. Jaxon’s heart dropped.

Jaxon: “WHAT?! You’ll fuck that old man, but you won’t fuck me!?!”

I never had sex with him, but I am not saying that to him to give him more ammo, she thought. 

Celeste: “Get lost, Jaxon. Get your ‘axion’ with someone else or get a fleshlight, seeing how no one wants you now. Whatever we had is over, like your thrill rides.”

She said acidly and pointed to the door. 

Jaxon: “You know what? I thought you were different, but you’re just like everyone else!”

He huffed and sulked, leaving his pride behind.  

Celeste: “Yeah, you liked me when I kissed your ass but now that I ain’t, you do this. You can’t take criticism and you do the same crap everyday, not getting bored.”

She rolled her eyes. Jaxon gaped at her.

Jaxon walked into Jaclyn, who stood at the doorway. 

Jaclyn: “Ugh, get out of my way, you Maxwell fan! I don’t have the time for peasants like you!”

She flipped her hair. 

Jaxon: “Maxwell fan?! Pfft, who do you think you are, lady? I’d never fuck you.”

He scoffed back at her.

Hector: “MY QUEEN BEE!”

He rushed upstairs. Jaxon gaped at the tall, skinny, redhead with the mentally challenged manchild. 

Jaxon: “The fuck is wrong with this world.”

He shook his head, went downstairs, and headed for his car.

Jaclyn: “I would never have sex with the likes of a fan of Maxwell anyway.”

She scoffed. 

Jaclyn: “Where is my mural, Hector?”

She tapped her foot. Hector grinned and led her to her bedroom where he presented it to her. 

Hector: “TA-DA!”

He sang. Jaclyn’s jaw dropped at what she saw before her, covering the left half of her wall. 

Celeste: “Hey. The stink clouds from your feet took me three or four hours. It’s the best drawing I ever did.”

She drawled. 

Hector: “Sh-She… SHE LOVES IT!”

He squealed. 

Jaclyn’s face flamed red as she bared her teeth and clenched her fists into tight balls. 

Jaclyn: “WHAT IS THIS HIDEOUS EYESORE?! I HATE IT, I HATE IT, I HATE IT!”

She bellowed and threw her purse down. Hector’s smile faded and his bottom lip trembled. Celeste smiled at her. 

Jaclyn: “IS THAT SUPPOSED TO BE ME?! MY HAIR IS NOT LIKE A HELMET AND MY FEET DO NOT STINK! THIS LOOKS LIKE A CHILD’S DRAWING, A HIDEOUS PAINTING BY A TODDLER NOT A MURAL SHOWING ME AS THE GODDESS I AM!”

She jumped around stomping her feet. 

Jaclyn: “I WANT THIS TRASH WALLPAPERED NOW, NOW, NOW!!”

She flailed her arms as she screamed. The tears dripped down Hector’s cheeks. 

Jaclyn: “I WANTED YOU TO BUY ME THAT DRESS, YOU MORON, I DIDN’T WANT THIS!”

She barked at Hector who bawled uncontrollably. 

Celeste: “Come on, you know you love it.”

She teased. Jaclyn bore her hateful glare on her. 

Jaclyn: “WHAT PART OF WHAT I SAID IMPLIED I DID, YOU MORON?! GET OUT OF HERE! AND NEVER RETURN OR IT’S OFF WITH YOUR HEAD!”

She bellowed at her and angrily huffed and puffed. Celeste was indifferent to Jaclyn’s criticisms but internally laughed at her reactions. Whatever, Hector loves it and I got paid, she thought as she left. She could hear Jaclyn maniacally screaming as she left. As soon as she got a waft of Jaclyn’s footstink, she bolted out of there, shoving her feet into her leather clogs and leaving. 

~

Noah put a blanket over Rufus as he slept on Jaxon’s couch. He cleaned up the mess Jaxon made. He changed his bedsheets and mattress cover, took out the trash, and spent much of the day cleaning up his condo. He saw the door swing open and Jaxon storm in with food and drinks on him. 

Jaxon: “Dinner better be ready! I’m in NO mood!”

He huffed, storming past them to the kitchen.

Noah: “What would you like? I can call in for delivery, sir.”

Jaxon: “WHY didn’t you TELL me about the tabloids today?! WAKE UP, RUFUS!”

Rufus’ eyes fluttered. He drew a long breath and looked down to see he had fallen asleep on Jaxon’s couch. He ground his eyes with his fists and saw Jaxon. 

Rufus: “I’m sorry. I forgot.”

He said flatly. He threw the blanket off himself and sat up. What would be the use? He wondered. It’s not as if Jaxon would take whatever they said into consideration, he thought. 

Jaxon: “YOU FORGOT?!”

Rufus: “I guess I didn’t want to hurt your feelings since Celeste left you for Tristan’s father.”

He said with a hint of irritation. 

Jaxon: “DON’T!”

He cut him off, holding his hand up.

Jaxon: “I don’t WANT to hear it!” 

Rufus: “Sorry.”

He said numbly. 

Rufus: “I called Tristan.”

He began and wrung his hands. 

Rufus: “He doesn’t want to take your cases anymore.”

He hung his head. I am depressed but I don’t blame him, he thought. 

Jaxon: “WHAT?! What did you say to him to make him drop me?!”

He screamed at him. 

Rufus: “I called him and asked if he would help you. His secretary told me he is not taking your cases so I guess he saw the tabloids.”

He said robotically. 

Rufus: “What can he do, Jaxon?”

He heaved a sigh of defeat. Jaxon threw his arms up, defeatedly.

Jaxon: “We’re so FUCKED!”

He rasped.

Jaxon: “Are there any other good lawyers in this town?!”

He kicked his feet.

Rufus: “I think you need to ask if anyone will look at you and take your case.”

He laughed a hollow laugh. Jaxon glared at his laughing. 

Rufus rose and hooked his thumb in his pants. 

Rufus: “Why don’t you lay low for a bit until this blows over?”

He suggested. 

Jaxon: “Lay low? Like a coward?”

He laughed.

Rufus: “Jaxon, if you go out, it’s going to get worse. Can you please just… stay inside and reflect?”

He asked him with a pleading look in his eyes. 

Rufus: “Just… let this die down for a bit.”

He put his hands up and exhaled sharply. Jaxon poured himself a tall glass of whiskey with a bitter laugh.

He paced around and gazed up at the ceiling. 

Rufus: “Ever think of returning to Shin-Yamato and apologizing to your parents and marrying Nariko?”

He finally asked. 

Rufus: “Maybe you need structure and stability.”

Jaxon spit out his drink, glaring at him as if he had just insulted him. He stood there, wide-jawed for a moment, until he finally spoke.

Jaxon: “YOU’RE FIRED, RUFUS!”

He snapped, pointing at the door. Rufus stared blankly. He was used to this from his wife, making empty divorce threats, but she never follows through, he thought. 

They heard a slithery voice say, “Oh, I don’t think so, darling…” Percy stepped out from the pool room with a smirk. 

Percy: “Jackie-boy, are you forgetting who hired him to keep an eye on you and ensure you’re not too, too much of a loose canon?”

He tilted his head and planted his hands on his hips. Jaxon turned to him.

Percy: “C’est moi.”

He placed his hand on his chest. 

Percy: “I hired him for you, and I will not fire him.”

He smiled tightly and sat on his couch crossing his legs. Noah strolled with a cosmopolitan on a tray for Percy. Jaxon: “WHAT?! I’m NOT going back to Shin-Yamato with that girl!”

Percy clicked his tongue. 

Percy: “I know what it’s like to be a loose canon but I also know when it’s time to yield and I also have a brain.”

He said wryly and stuck his split tongue out wiggling it. 

Percy: “You are going to take Rufus’ advice and lay low… so you can get back into my ice prince’s good graces.”

He gave him a smirk that almost looked like a scowl. 

Percy: “And you showed up before his highness with a bottle of whiskey! How dare you disgrace my royal snow prince that way?!”

He rose and bellowed at him. 

Jaxon: “Pfft, whatever.”

He huffed. Percy zipped up to him faster than light, slammed him against the wall with his knife to his throat. Jaxon swallowed hard at the sight of the blade, shining under the light.

Percy: “Your arrogance will be your undoing, Jackie-boy… Your treatment of Rufus, Noah…”

He whispered. 

Percy: “AND MY ICE PRINCE!”

He rasped and swallowed hard. Jaxon froze like a cement block in his grip.

Percy: “—With disrespect ends now! It was amusing at first, but since you slighted my lovely ice prince, this ends now. So you apologize to Tristan and you lay low, or you can go back and marry Miss Varg the Viking, or I will send you to an early grave, so what will it be Jackie-boy?”

He said in a gravelly voice. Jaxon swallowed hard and nodded.

Jaxon: “Y-Yes, Percy!”

He stammered. 

Percy: “...What are you going to do? Hurry up, I don’t have all night.”

He whispered his hot breath on him. 

Jaxon: “Apologize to Tristan.”

He swallowed hard. Percy grinned. 

Percy: “Rufus, your phone. Dial Tristan’s cell phone number, if you would, darling.”

He smiled at him. Rufus sheepishly nodded, dialed Tristan’s cell phone number and handed the phone to Percy, who took it. 

Tristan was in his bedroom, reading a book and smoking while lounging on his couch, Frankie and Oliver were snuggled at his feet. His phone rang. Tristan raised an eyebrow and picked it up, pressing the call button. 

Tristan: “Hello?”

Percy’s toes curled in his boots, and he bit his bottom lip as he heard Tristan’s soft voice. 

Percy: “Coucou, my ice prince! It’s lovely to hear your heavenly voice.”

He moaned. Tristan froze, and his heart hammered in his chest. 

Percy: “Ahem, my apologies, mon chéri… Someone very special has something to say to you.”

He thrust the phone to Jaxon and smiled at him. Jaxon begrudgingly took the phone from him.

Jaxon: “Percy told me to say sorry, so… sorry.”

He said through clenched teeth. Tristan raised an eyebrow. 

Tristan: “Why are you sorry?”

He pressed him. 

Jaxon: “So you’ll help me.”

He shrugged. Percy glared darkly at him. In a flash, he plunged his knife into Jaxon’s upper right arm, the blade cutting through the muscles, tissues, and flesh and into the wall. The blood gushed out of the wound, dripping onto the floor. 

Jaxon: “ARRGHHHHHH!”

He rasped and let out a ghastly scream as the searing pain coursed through his body. Tristan’s jaw dropped. 

Tristan: “Jaxon?”

He cupped his mouth. Percy laughed and took the phone. 

Percy: “Désolé, mon chéri! Jaxon is such a simple-minded jester! He means he’s sorry for bringing whiskey into your mediation…!”

He growled and drove the knife deeper into Jaxon’s arm. Jaxon whimpered in pain.

Jaxon: “SORRYYYY!”

He caterwauled and cried in pain.

Percy: “SING FOR ME, JACKIE-BOY! SING FOR ME!”

He cackled maniacally and placed the phone to his ear with a sinister smile. 

Percy: “...He’s sorry for wasting your time with this nonsense and yelling at your father because he stole his princess from him!”

He cackled as he watched Jaxon in pain and marveled at the blood dripping from his wound, coating his blade, his clothes, and the wall. He yanked the knife out of his arm and licked the blood off, his tongue stroking the blade, flicking over it. 

Percy: “Mm… There is not quite like decorating my blade with the blood of a dunce… except…”

Tristan’s heart hammered in his chest. He was too stunned to speak. He could hear Jaxon’s grunting and whimpering in agony over the phone.

Percy smirked at Jaxon lying in a pool of blood, crying in pain. He slid his foot over Jaxon’s wound and pressed down. Jaxon’s screams pervaded the condo. The pain was becoming too unbearable for him. Percy spread his arms out like wings, savoring every moment. He cleared his throat and placed the phone to his ear.

Percy: “Tristan, I got carried away. Désolé. I did this for you because I love you. Love makes people do crazy things…”

He said breathlessly. Tristan swallowed hard as fear overtook him. His heart hammered in his chest. He didn’t know what to say or feel about what he heard. Oliver looked up at Tristan with his big eyes. 

Tristan’s trembling thumb pressed the “end” button. Tristan didn’t know how to process what he heard. He was conflicted; a part of him was glad Jaxon was getting his karma but he was also terrified because Percy knew no bounds and wasn’t afraid to let him know this. That and I have another insane person who claims to be “in love” with me, he thought resentfully. 

~

Percy stood over Jaxon who gasped and wheezed in between breathing as the pain coursed through his body. Rufus stood there in fear as he watched the scene unfold. He knew Percy was a dangerous man not to be crossed and this is why he mainly suggested Jaxon move back to Shin-Yamato. 

Percy rested his head against his forefinger and middle finger. He pursed his lips and smacked them. 

Percy: “Jaxon, the more trouble you’re in…, the more it reflects on moi! We can’t have that!”

He extended his arms out and inhaled the scent of blood lingering in the air. He slapped his sides and looked at the smashed in counters. 

Percy: “I think you should move in with me while the workers repair what your princess destroyed.”

His hands arced over the destruction Celeste caused, and he planted his hands on his hips and tilted his head. 

Percy: “That and it’s a good opportunity to lay low and reflect.”

He smirked and turned to Noah. 

Percy: “Carry him out and take him to my manor. He’ll stay there so the construction workers can repair the damage.”

Noah nodded and approached Jaxon, hoisting him over his shoulder. 

~

Noah carried Jaxon over his shoulder across the bridge to Percy’s manor. He carried him upstairs to a bedroom neighboring Percy’s room. It was a large bedroom with red walls and gold trim. There were large windows with a view of the backyard pond and the other house. It had black plush carpeting, a queen size bed with a red upholstered frame lit up with red neon lights, and an oriental painting behind the bed. There was a mini bar in his bedroom and he had his own bathroom. He placed Jaxon on his bed. Percy stood in the doorway. 

Percy: “Do you like it?”

He cleared his throat. 

Percy: “While you stay here…, you’re not to leave the premises…”

He pressed the tip of the knife’s blade against his forefinger. 

Percy: “You have all the amenities you need. You don’t need to go out and make this worse, darling.”

He smirked. Percy’s voice echoed around Jaxon’s head as he felt himself fading in and out of consciousness. Smokey jumped on the bed and walked on Jaxon’s chest. He curled up like a loaf. 

Percy: “Well, you have a feline companion!”

He smiled and turned to Noah. 

Percy: “Patch him up the best you can.”

Noah nodded and removed his jacket to go tend to Jaxon’s wound. Percy drummed his fingers on the doorframe and smiled tightly at Jaxon. 

Percy: “...And if things go according to plan, you can live with me permanently.” 

He sang and left the room to let Noah tend to his wounds. Jaxon’s eyes widened in horror.