『Chapter Fifty-Six』
『the feeling of unsettling boredom』

⋅⋆✯✼⋆⋅

To say that Jace was living in slight hell would be an understatement. The rest of the Guardians had left Jace behind for his apparent health, saying how his body had been through something traumatic therefore he had to stay behind. He hated it. Jace wanted to fight with them, it was his job. Instead, he was stuck within the Benatar with both Kain and Adrian. Not that was a bad thing, it was just that he really wished to be involved with the fight. Kain ended up having to sit on Jace to prevent him from leaving with the others, which resulted in Jace tickling the prince to get him off.

As much as Jace knew that he would've found it amusing to be on the ship while basically everyone else was away, there was still this large part of him that felt as if he should be involved. He didn't care that his body might still be healing, all that he wanted to do was help. It was all that he wanted more than anything else. He was part Asgardian, right? Shouldn't that mean something? He supposed that it didn't, not that Jace cared much.

After some time, Jace—despite his complaints and Kain telling him to shut up—found himself working on a small weapon. Considering that he wasn't allowed in this fight, he thought that he might as well try and build things for the next fight—if they let him join that is. Even if they didn't, he'd still find a way to join. The only reason as to why he hadn't gone out and joined them now was because of Kain.

His back was resting against the wall, one leg was propped up and the other crossed over, his elbows digging into his stomach as he worked, his hands fiddling with a small shrapnel bomb he was working on. There was just this one little part of the bomb that was pissing him off, he couldn't get some wires to stay down and connected no matter how much he tried.

Out of the corner of his eye, Jace took notice of how Kain came walking—well, limping—over towards him, Kain placed a hand on his leg which was enough to bring Jace out of his thoughts. Kain sent him a small smile which Jace happily returned as the prince then sat down beside him. It was then that Kain gestured whether or not it was okay to lean against him while he worked which Jace nodded; so Kain ended up leaning his head against Jace's shoulder, watching as Jace fiddled with the wires that were annoying him.

Kain had always loved watching Jace work, he wasn't exactly sure why but he did. He never really understood as to what Jace was doing, but Kain loved the way which Jace's mind worked in order to make these kind of things. Plus, the face which Jace pulled whenever he made these kind of things was always adorable for Kain to stare at—which was probably why Kain loved to watch Jace. Kain always called it Jace's work pout.

Kain's eyes shut slightly, hugging into Jace's arm. He could feel the movement of Jace's arm under his head, though he hadn't expected to feel a small kiss being placed on his head. It made him grin in a small way. His head moved to look up at Jace—who in turn, was looking down at him with a small smile. Kain moved a little to kiss Jace quickly.

Jace always loved the feeling of Kain's lips on his, it made him feel weak, like he needed to cave into his own desires that consist of Kain. When Kain moved away, Jace couldn't help but grin, he always grinned when their kiss broke, he couldn't help it, there was always a small part of him that just needed more.

Jace noticed the look on Kain's face, as if he was confused for a moment, though it took Jace a moment to realise that Kain might be questioning his sitting position. Jace would try and justify it, though it was comfortable enough for him when it came to working on his weaponry. He noticed the way that Kain looked around as if he was looking for someone, though after a moment, Jace felt the way that Kain's hand dipped under Jace's pants.

Jace lightly gasped, giving him a look. "Kai, again? You're still limping from before."

Kain returned the look, there was a small smug smile on his face. "When you tease me, I get you back. And no, before you get any ideas."

Jace pouted. "Bitch." He then moved to wrap his arm around Kain while the prince played with him.

The half-breed hummed slightly, closing his eyes. His head rolled back as a light moan left his lips, he ended up biting down on his lip to stop himself from making any noise. There was a part of Jace which wondered how the hell Kain manages to keep silent half the time. His eyes drifted to Kain, the prince's face was printed with a smirk as his hand played with Jace, his eyes were half closed yet even at this angle Kain was stunning to look at.

Jace's finger hooked under Kain's chin, making Kain look at him. A small smile tugged onto Jace's lips before he then kissed Kain. Jace ended up on top of Kain, their kiss never broke even when slight pleasure flooded Jace's body—all Jace could think about was Kain's lips on his. Though their kiss only parted when Jace moved to stare at Kain. His eyes studied Kain's face.

The blue of Kain's eyes was something which always caught Jace's attention, even when they first met, Jace had always loved Kain's eyes. His jawline was something which Jace always low-key loved about Kain, it was always something which Jace always ran his finger across. Kain's hair was something which Jace always liked to play with whenever he had the chance, it was always soft to touch. The silver star birthmark on Kain's temple was something that made Kain stand out a lot more than anything else. Though, what had always made Jace love Kain more—past how attractive he was—was Kain's personality.

Jace always loved the jokey side of Kain, or even how much he cared for someone. Jace loved the amount Kain loved no matter who it was, Kain's love for something never seemed to fade. Jace loved that Kain seemed to have the biggest heart, Jace loved that no matter what, Kain was there. The way that Kain didn't care when it came to putting certain people in their place was undeniably hot, though it was something that Jace rarely saw. Everything about Kain, Jace loved.

Kain's hand was at Jace's cheek, his thumb rubbing his cheek. A small smile was planted on Kain's face as he stared at Jace. That goddamn smile always sent a warm feeling in Jace, making him fall for Kain more and more. Everything within Jace was telling him that he needed to be angry given the small betrayal that Kain did towards him, but to look at Kain like this made Jace almost forget about everything, there was always something so captivating about Kain. Jace found himself lowering to kiss Kain once more—only this time more harshly.

Jace moved to kiss Kain along his jaw and neck, biting ever so slightly. He could feel the way which Kain's hand ran through his hair and grasped at it whenever Jace bit down on his sweet spot. He enjoyed the way that Kain touched him, as if it captivated him more, as if he never wanted it to stop, like all he craved was Kain's touch. Eventually, Jace went back to kiss Kain's lips only to realise that Kain had gone stiff. The half-breed pouted before he noticed where Kain was looking.

Adrian had appeared in the room, looking almost uncomfortable. Jace grinned as he then kissed Kain once more before sitting up. Kain slowly sat up, crossing his legs under him, and had placed his hands at Jace's thighs. Adrian somewhat cleared his throat, though his eyes were mainly on Jace. A part of Jace had smirked, noticing the look across Adrian's face before he then kissed Kain once more.

"He's watching," Kain tried to point out between the kisses. His hand still grasping at Jace's hair.

"So?"

Jace cupped Kain's face just as his lips met Kain's once again. Though even so, Adrian's voice cut them off—which annoyed Jace. "Jace, can I speak to you? Alone."

Jace groaned slightly and pouted. His eyes moved to Adrian who now had his arms crossed, his expressions were now unreadable. There was a part of Jace which wanted to get to know Adrian enough to be able to read him without having to ask. Though, even still, there was a part of him that was annoyed that Adrian was dragging him away from Kain, all Jace wanted to do was stay here with Kain and just kiss him until he's sick of it.

Jace stared at Adrian, taking in the assassin's appearance, his eyes mainly focused on Adrian's face; the stubble which marked itself across Adrian's jaw made it look sharper—something which looked attractive—his eyes were dark, yet it always looked as if there was something going on behind them. His hair was something which always looked nice, slicked back and out of his face, and a part of Jace always thought that hot.

The way which Adrian presented himself as if he meant to intimidate, yet not once did it strike intimidation through Jace, in a way the half-breed found it cute. There was just something about Adrian which Jace never found intimidating no matter how harsh the look was, or even how hard Adrian tried. There was always something amusing by how hard he tried to intimidate Jace, there was nothing intimidating about him.

Yes, okay, he should be intimidated by the fact that Adrian Sanguis is this mass-murdering assassin for hire, but there was just something which never struck fear into him. Though there was always something which made Jace want to tease Adrian, he wasn't sure as to why, but the need to tease Adrian was high—though he couldn't work out what kind of teasing. He was sure that Peter felt the same way when it came to Gamora, though that was something that he wouldn't want to ask.

"Jace, go," Kain muttered when he noticed Jace's somewhat longing gaze towards Adrian.

Jace didn't say anything, he gave Kain a small kiss before he then went towards Adrian. The assassin then moved slightly, a little lost, so—considering that Adrian wanted to talk in silence—Jace had slipped his hand into the assassins' and had dragged him away to somewhere private.

Jace dragged the pair into one of the sleeping quarters, he saw Adrian's confusion though ignored it. Jace closed the door behind them before then letting go of Adrian's hand. He threw himself across the bed, staring at Adrian, waiting for him to say something. Though Jace was only met with silence.

He knew that he shouldn't be in a room alone with Adrian given his reputation, though it was something that Jace didn't care much about. He knew that whatever Adrian wanted to say was best said without any prying eyes, not that Kain would care what they would talk about, but Jace just thought that whatever Adrian wanted to talk about was best said in private.

"Well?" Jace somewhat demanded. He couldn't stand the silence between them.

There was this look in Adrian's eyes as if he was conflicted about something. It only lasted a moment before it left, replaced with a wall of nothingness, as if Adrian didn't wish for his emotions to be read by anyone. Jace wondered whether Adrian had always been like this, but everyone was too blind to see it, though that was something that Jace realised that he didn't care much about.

"You said that the next time we land that you'll run away with me to Asgard," Adrian bluntly spoke. "Well, we've landed, we have time. Let's go."

Jace shifted to sit up and stare at Adrian. A part of him had already forgotten about the conversation that he had, there was a part of him that hoped that he'd at least have some more time before he had to leave, he would've wanted to say a somewhat goodbye to his friends before he left. "First of all, it was you who suggested for you to hack into your ship from here. I might have agreed but I need more time to be completely sure that I want to leave everyone I care about behind."

"We don't have time!" Adrian snapped. "We could have an entire fleet of Asgardian warriors after us and you want us to stay put while that happens. Just so you can go at it again with him? Honestly, now that we've landed, wouldn't it be safer to just leave?"

Jace clenched his jaw. "I'm aware that there might be a fleet after us," he commented. "But understand that it's difficult just to pack up and leave everyone I care about." Jace's face then scrunched slightly. "Actually no, you wouldn't understand, you've had no one to care for."

Adrian just stared at Jace, giving the half-breed a look. There was just something about how Jace spoke which hurt him—there was a part of Adrian which was hurt by the assumption, yet he knew that it was true. He had no one to care for or anyone who cared for him, he was alone in this universe and all he had was himself for that's all that he needed. Jace simply gave Adrian a somewhat smug look, feeling as if he hit a nerve.

"I would say the same for you, orphan boy," Adrian muttered. "But I suppose mummy and daddy dearest got themselves killed before they could properly care for you. Though I wonder if they set it up for their murder, so they wouldn't have to deal with you."

Jace stiffened, his jaw set. There was something in him which had wanted to attack Adrian for what he had said, yet another part of himself had held him back. Getting into a fight wouldn't help anyone, but the fact that Adrian had brought up his parents—had brought up the exact reason why he cussed at the universe for making him an orphan in this life.

Adrian just had to bring up the exact reason why he spent so many nights unable to sleep because the memory of his parents' lifeless body was still fresh in his mind. The assassin had to bring up the memory of why he panicked so much when he was in a vehicle as it crashed—why he couldn't think straight when he remembered that his parents were never going to come back, that they were dead.

As much as Jace knew that he brought this onto himself, he hated that Adrian picked such a sore spot for him. He hated that Adrian knew something about his parents, he hated that Adrian could use it against him whenever he wanted to. Jace done everything in his power to not hit Adrian in the slightest.

Jace moved from the bed, stalking over to Adrian—not once did the assassin move. Jace ended up gripping the labels of Adrian's collar giving him nothing more than a harsh look. Adrian held a somewhat smug look which faltered slightly, yet even so it took so much effort for Jace to not attack in any way. There was anger, which was building up within Jace, he hated the fact that Adrian brought up his parents.

There was a small part of Jace that wanted to burn Adrian right here just for bringing up the memories of his parents. He wanted nothing more than to hear the way that Adrian would yell out from the pain of being burned. As tempting as it was, he tried to keep his temper down as much as he could. Today wouldn't be the day that he killed the assassin in front of him.

"You're such an asshole," Jace hissed. "And you wonder why everyone refuses to get close to you. You act like this absolute dickhead who doesn't need anyone, someone who embraces the fact that everyone is scared of you. You have no one to turn to when things get tough. You bring up something traumatising and expect people to willingly join you," he then pulled a face, "no wonder why you're alone. You disgust me." Jace couldn't help the disgust in his voice when he spoke.

Adrian gave Jace a harsh look, there was this look in Adrian's eye that Jace didn't care to look into. Jace tried his best to keep his anger under control, though just looking at Adrian's face—despite how pretty he looked—disgusted him more than he thought it would. This was the man who took Jace's opportunity away to learn about what he was, this was the man who not only attempted to kill Kain but also kissed him, this was the man who just insulted everything that Jace went through when he was nothing but a child.

All Jace ever wanted within this moment was to show Adrian just how much he was holding back, that he didn't appreciate anything that Adrian had done ever since he came into Jace's life. He could feel the way that his hands burned up, all that Jace wanted more than anything was to burn Adrian where he stood, though he tried his best to contain every single piece of anger inside of himself, knowing that now wasn't the time nor place for such a thing.

Adrian—however—could just stare at Jace, the words of what Jace said hit him more than he thought that it would. He'd obviously thought about it far too many times than he'd rather admit, yet there was just something about the way which Jace said it made Adrian somewhat sick. Adrian could see the anger in Jace's eyes, yet his words somewhat hurt him—he didn't know why. It wasn't like he had a choice in his life, yes okay, he could stop being an assassin for hire, but he wouldn't know what to do with himself.

All that he knew was to kill, how to hunt, how to hack, how to be the best assassin and huntsman that he could be. His possessive needs when it comes to a job was something which had always worked well for him, without him to focus on a job then he wouldn't know what to do—and now that he'd gotten to know Jace more, there was something within him which was slowly starting to get possessive over Jace.

He knew that it was all stupid, he knew that what Jace said was true that no one would ever love him but when he thought about it, no one ever liked him. All that Adrian knew was the fact that so many people would be aware of who he was and what he does and yet no matter where he went everyone didn't him for who he was outside of it all.

Truth be told, all that Adrian wanted was for someone to turn to, he really does, but why would anyone want to get close to someone like him? Why would women (or maybe more men than women at this point) would get close to him? He was wanted by so many people wanting to throw his ass into prison, so why would anyone want that kind of person in their life? The only people who wanted him were the police officials who just wanted him behind bars in hopes that he stops killing and hunting people.

Adrian knew that realistically, his own parents didn't want him which was how he got into the assassin program back home—if he could call where he grew up home—but that was something that he wouldn't want to admit to anyone, even the person he insulted. The last thing that Adrian ever wanted was for anyone, no matter if they were someone he somehow got an interest in, to know about.

Adrian tilted his head slightly, forcing a smirk on his face, his hand wrapped around Jace's waist. "Maybe I am everything you said that I am, but wasting your time sat here there could be an army after you. It'll be best if we left now, or would you rather have your friends, and your boy toy murdered because they decided to protect you?"

Jace was silent for a moment. In a way the position that they were in was odd, he'd originally wanted to threated Adrian for bringing his parents up, but now that Adrian had his hands round his waist it felt almost too nice. For a moment, Jace couldn't focus especially when Adrian started to lightly move his hands up and down.

Though, he managed to push down those thoughts, for they weren't something that he should really focus on. Instead, Jace tried to focus on the words that Adrain spoke. He knew that if what Adrian said was true, then the thought of an army coming after him was something that he should take into account. If what Adrian said was true, then he knew that he would need to protect the people that he cares about by going with Adrian.

And yet, there was still a part of him that was hesitant to do so, he knew that the longer he prolonged any of this that there was a chance that his friends could get hurt or killed. But at the same time, he was afraid that this king was the same king that killed his mother, he was afraid that this king would also deem him as someone to kill. And though Jace wasn't afraid to die, the thought of dying at the same hands that slaughtered his mother and ultimately his father, was something that unsettled Jace more than anything else.

Jace found himself glaring at Adrian. "I get that it would be best to go now, but just give me some time—I'll tell you when. I'll be the one to sort out the entire getting the Benatar to land somewhere and getting everyone off the ship. Just," he sighed, "I need time to realise that this might be my last time with them."

Jace noticed the way that Adrian didn't like what he'd said, though there was something else in his eyes which quickly disappeared. Adrian nodded. "Fine. But it better be before we get to Xandar, or I swear I won't hesitate to kill everyone myself." Jace scoffed to which Adrian quickly added, "Of course not you and Kain." When Jace gave him an odd look, Adrian mumbled a cuss to himself.

Jace moved away and shook his head slightly. There was something slightly different about Adrian which Jace noticed—the assassin seemed more confused about certain things, like there was this inner conflict in Adrian which made him appear as if he was a little off. Well not off, but there was definitely something different about Adrian, but Jace couldn't definitely tell what exactly it was.

Not that Jace fully cared about the inner conflicts of Adrian's mind. All that Jace seemed to care about was this entire idea that he would have to leave his friends, the very people that he cared about more than himself. Jace knew that this was something that was bound to happen with Adrian being here, but he never expected this idea of leaving his friends—his family—behind in order to protect them.

Jace moved to go out of the room though, what stopped him for a moment was feeling something warm in his hand. He paused just enough to look down to see a hand had worked itself in his. Jace looked up at Adrian who seemed to look down at an instant, the half-breed tilted his head slightly, his eyes glared at Adrian for a short while, his mind too buzzed with various other thoughts to even feel anything about thus. Jace ripped his hand out of Adrian's grasp, turning to leave Arian behind to go back into the main area of the ship.