Juniper wasn't quite sure why he had agreed to go to talk to Ajax's father, he honestly wanted to be any where but here right now. His tail twitched nervously as the house came into view, he only knew it from the few pictures the other male had showed him, but he would know it any where. "Mom..." He muttered softly, his usual overly happy demeanor long gone by this point. He knew what was awaiting for him inside that house, repercussions for letting the madness get the better of him.
Jinx looked over to her son, shrugging from under her large coat. "You knew this was coming. I told you to prepare for it." She reached out and patted her son on the head gently, finding it sort of funny that she was so much smaller than all of her children. "I would suggest you keep preparing before his father jumps you."
The son sighed at his mother, he knew he deserved it but damn he didn't want to go through with this. All too soon they were standing at the front door, Juniper staring at it with apprehension as he slowly lifted a fist to knock - wincing as he finally set his knuckles to the wood.
Inside the house Galen frowned at the sound of knocking, he hadn't been expecting anyone and his wife had gone to visit her family with Star. "Ajax, we're you expecting any company?" He called out, knowing his son was home and spending time with his grandmother.
Ajax lifted his head from his grandmother's lap, where he had been resting and called out to his father. "No... Tempo wasn't coming over, as far as I know. I don't have any other friends aside from him..." He sat up and looked at his grandmother. "I'll be right back, okay?" Ajax offered her a sweet smile and he got to his feet to join his dad.
Galen waited until Ajax was standing beside him before opening the door an frowning. He had never seen the two standing before him but it wasn't hard to tell they were related in some manner. "Oh, hello. How can I help you?"
Juniper froze when the door opened, eyes sliding straight from the older male to Ajax. "Hey there...." He stated, voice slightly awkward as he forced himself not to slink off and hide in a bush. This wasn't going to end well.
Jinx smiled brightly, keeping a firm hold on Juniper's arm to make sure he wouldn't duck away or run. She frowned when she saw Ajax do just that, hiding behind his father. The Jackripper matriarch turned her attention to Galen and smiled a bit more somberly. "Hi there. My name is Jinx, and this is my son, Juniper. Now, I don't know how much you know, but our sons were an item once upon a time. And I would like to tell you that your son losing his eye wasn't an accident."
As soon as Ajax hid behind him Galen tensed, something wasn't right here and he was now on edge. "Excuse me...what exactly do you mean?" His tone was as serious as death, his eyes narrowed on the two in front of him. He had known that his son had gone through a break-up but he wasn't aware it had something to do with his missing eye.
Juniper decided that this would be the right moment to blurt out what had exactly happened, despite his better judgement to keep his mouth shut. "I did it....I ripped his eye out one night and.....and left him in an alley."
Ajax gripped his father's shirt and hid his face in his back. He hadn't wanted to see Juniper for a while - if ever again.
Jinx put herself a bit in front of her son. "It's exactly what he just admitted to. And that's why we're here. We came to tell you the truth and I'm going to allow you to punish my son. To be fair, I believe an eye for an eye should do the trick, and I would rather your son do it."
When the other boy spoke, Galen's body tensed - fire glowing around his finger tips as his anger started to show. "You decide now to come forward: after he suffered for months, had to deal with working around a blind spot, and most importantly be terrified about what was lurking around every ******** corner?!" Galen wasn't one to cuss, but his anger was getting the better of him - he couldn't believe the gall of these people.
Juniper's ears flicked back against his head, but he stood tall at this point - what he had needed to say was said and he was willing to accept any punishment that came his way, but he hadn't expected it to come from Ajax.
Jinx shoved Juniper forward and gave Galen a level stare. "Look. We came clean now because my son here is a p***y and was too scared to come forward. He's here to accept the punishment you wish to doll out." She shrugged nonchalantly, not the least bit threatened by Galen's tone.
The shove to his back made him stumble but he caught himself in time before he barreled into Ajax's father, eyes wide as he stared up at the male. Juniper may talk big but at the end of the day he was still young and Galen wasn't going to harm a child - no matter if that child had harmed his.
"No. If you are looking to redeem yourself in some twisted way you can leave. I will not harm your son and you can bet that my Ajax is better than hurting someone who hurt him." He kept his dark grey eyes trained on Jinx, unsure of how a parent could offer up their child to suffer.
Jinx shrugged. "Listen. My family and I are professional murderers and we all suffer some level of insanity. I'm only offering the chance to punish him because I'm disappointed that he let himself lose control and attack the one he loves. I have few rules and one is never attack the one you love."
Ajax peeked out from behind his father and glared at Juniper. "I bet grandma would hurt him... Or maybe I will. Mrs. Jackripper is right, dad. An eye for an eye..."
"And I'm a doctor, I heal not harm." Came Galen's response, though hearing that Juniper loved Ajax made him lift a brow curiously. When his son spoke he turned his attention on him, frowning slightly. "Your grandmother wouldn't have the strength to hurt him, but if you want to take the responsibility of doing to him what he did to you I will not stop you. You're old enough to to make your own decisions, Ajax - but you have to live with your choices."
Juniper looked from Galen to the male he loved, the glare hitting him right in the gut. He didn't want Ajax to hate him, and if this would help then he would do it.
Ajax stepped forward and frowned at Juniper. "I want to hear it from you and not your mom. Why did you come here? You know full well I do not want to see you, not for a while, if ever again. If you know that, why? I want to hear you say it. Do you feel sorry for what you did to me? Are you just feeling guilty and you want freedom from it so you can move on? Because if you want forgiveness so you don't feel guilty, you better leave right ******** now. But if you're truly sorry, I'll hear you out."
Just hearing how Ajax now felt about him made the other male tear up, but he forced himself to speak because he wanted Ajax to know how he felt now. "I'm here to apologize....I'm here because I love you." He felt the tears starting to fall and he didn't care that his mother or Galen could see him - he meant every word that passed by his lips. "I should have told you about me - should have trusted you with that, but instead I was selfish and because of that I hurt you - left you to suffer....I didn't mean it, Ajax - I'm sorry." He shifted his gaze down to his feet for a moment before flicking them up at the two on the stoop, hoping how he felt was visable.
Just hearing how Ajax now felt about him made the other male tear up, but he forced himself to speak because he wanted Ajax to know how he felt now. "I'm here to apologize....I'm here because I love you." He felt the tears starting to fall and he didn't care that his mother or Galen could see him - he meant every word that passed by his lips. "I should have told you about me - should have trusted you with that, but instead I was selfish and because of that I hurt you - left you to suffer....I didn't mean it, Ajax - I'm sorry." He shifted his gaze down to his feet for a moment before flicking them up at the two on the stoop, hoping how he felt was visable.
Ajax stared down at his feet and swallowed. He listened to Juniper and the moments that followed the Jackripper's words were unbearably silent. Finally, the redhead turned his attention to the pair in front of him - but mainly at Juniper. "Then... I will be willing to forgive you... I want to try and give you another chance, but no more secrets that would end up hurting either of us, okay?"
Juniper was stunned, and it showed through his entire body as he stared up at Ajax. "Of course...no more secrets. I don't want to lose you again." For the first time since learning that he had to face the other male he was actually happy, slowly returning to his usual personality - a smile forming on his lips.
Galen looked from Ajax to Juniper and then finally to Jinx, he was still terribly confused and a little upset but if Ajax was willing for forgive him then Galen had no reason to hold ill will. "I'm not sure if your family has a safe place to go to if any of you are injured with your....line of work but...you know where I live and know I am a doctor. Feel free to stop by if you need medical assistance."
Ajax smiled shyly and reached out to Juniper, indicating that he wanted the other to hold his hand. Internally, his thoughts were a jumbled mess, but he would sort through them later. It wasn't important yet.
Jinx smiled at Galen and bowed her head. "Thank you, I appreciate the offer. I'll be sure to inform you of any other unpleasantness should it arise."
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