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54- Thea & Jack

Here's another chapter. Hope you like it :)

Music: I am Merida (Disney* Pixar's Brave)        A Storm is Coming (LOTR 3: Return of the King)

Edit: I'll get one up eventually, but my school does not exactly have a suitable connection to Pinterest.  

Chapter Fifty-Three

~Nobody's POV~

Thea doesn't sleep that night. She tries to keep quiet, but when she drifts to sleep a couple times, she wakes up whimpering, her face plastered in tears.

One time, at around three in the morning, she feels hands on her shoulders. "Thea?"

The voice is soft, boyish, and hesitant.

She doesn't say anything, squeezing her eyes shut and hoping he'll go aw-

"I know you're awake."

Thea realizes it's worthless to try to pretend otherwise. Wiping her eyes, she mutters, "Did I wake you up?"

"Sort of," says Jack, "But it's okay."

"No it's not. I'll be quiet," she mutters, "Go back to sleep."

"Hey. Thea. Thea!"

"What?" she finally turns around on her side to face him. Jack is surprised at how scared, how distraught she looks.

"Er, do you want to talk about it?" asks Jack.

Thea doesn't say anything.

"You can tell me," he says, "You really can."

Thea pauses, Jack's green eyes encouraging her on. Then, she says, her voice trembling, "I dream of blood every night."

Jack's brow furrows, but he doesn't say anything.

"I dream..." Thea stammers, "I dream of waking up, every morning. And...And there's...there's blood everywhere, and everyone's...everyone is dead. Everyone's dead, Jack!" Tears are streaming down her face now, "Jack, I see you dead. On the ground, with your eyes open, but you're not seeing anything, and you won't move, no matter how much I push you! Kyle's dead, Max is dead, Loki's dead, Nat's dead, all dead, Jack, every night, they're all dead!"

"Thea..." says Jack softly, reaching forward and taking her hand. "I'm so sorry."

"I can't sleep," she whispers in a broken voice, "I can't, not without seeing that. And...Vi- he's there too, laughing at everything, taunting, because I dream...I dream I've killed everyone! I'm a murderer, Jack, I killed my sister, I'm a monster, I-"

"Thea," Jack's interruption is sharp, "Thea, you are not a monster. Please, please don't ever think that."

Thea's face grows angry, "What if you had killed Ariana? What would you think of yourself then?"

"If I had killed her on purpose, it's one thing, but Thea, you didn't kill Leah out of spite, or out of anger! Your sister is dead because of evil, and you're not evil."

"I'm not evil?" Thea implores, "Jack...I have monster blood in my veins. I've killed monsters. I've taken lives. And now...now I've killed..." she breaks off, "I'm rebellious. I don't care what people think. I shun Jane. I provoke Loki. I ignore Max. I pushed away Leah! The only reason we are all here is because of me! I...I just don't know!"

"Thea, you are many things, but you are not evil," says Jack, "You shun Jane because you do not want another mother to replace the one you've lost. You provoke Loki...well, you provoke him because he provokes you and because he's an ass. You ignore Max because you want to figure things out by yourself. You pushed away Leah because you were jealous of the innocence she still possessed."

"What am I going to do?" asks Thea mournfully, "I...I can't...I can't do this anymore! I should have killed myself while I still had the courage to back in-"

"No!"

Thea is startled by Jack's harsh tone.

"No, Thea. Never ever think that, do you hear me? Are you listening?" Jack shakes Thea's shoulder, "I speak for us all- well, the majority of us. We can't lose you, Thea. We've all come on this journey for a reason. We all love you, Thea. You're my best friend! I don't know what I would do if something...if..." Jack stammers with his words, "Now don't ever think like that again, or even let it cross your mind, or I swear, I will tell Loki."

Thea is silent.

Jack sighs, "Look, Thea, this isn't over yet. This is going to take a lot of courage from all of us. I got myself chomped on by some bloody maniac. Kyle almost died from said bloody maniac. You nearly drove yourself into insanity-"

"I did not," Thea whispers, but she isn't very certain of her words.

"-and...c'mon, Thea, do you really want Leah's death to be for vain?"

Thea shakes her head.

"I know you don't. It's why you want to kill Videl."

"How did you-"

"It's not rocket science, Thea. But promise me that you won't get yourself killed. He's not worth it. None of this is worth your life." He holds out his pinky, "Pinky swear?"

Thea smiles a tiny smile, and then links her pinky with his. But when she tries to pull it back, he tightens his hold on it, "And also swear that you'll remember how much your life is worth, and to never wish it away." He smiles.

"I promise," Thea says, "This time, I really truly promise."

"Good," says Jack softly, then leans forward and kisses her cheek, "Let it stay that way."

Thea, with a sigh of contentment, lies back down on Jack's chest. For some reason, chills run up and down her arms as he runs his fingers through her hair, and then moves his thumb softly up and down her cheek.

But they're good chills. Chills that cause Thea's eyes to flutter and then for her body to relax. Finally, she falls asleep.

Jack looks down at her, his brow furrowing even more. He is scared for her. Finally, he with one more glance at the sleeping Thea, he closes his own eyes, and sleep overtakes him soon enough.

*

The next day, the camp is divided up amongst the four parties, including the remaining weapons. Along with this, there is a change in plans.

"Jack and Loki, go with Thea and Kyle," says Steve as everybody is shouldering their backpacks.

"What?" demands Jack.

"What?" demands Kyle.

"Do you hate me that much?" Loki asks, amused.

"I could've been talking about Thea," says Jack.

"But seeing as you weren't, I'm forced to believe that you were attempting to insult me."

"Did it work?"

Loki glances at Thea, "Tell him, kitten, am I annoyed?"

"No," says Thea, who looks thrilled that Jack is coming with her, and sullen that Loki is coming too, "When he's annoyed, he'll generally freeze and get this really murderous look and pout until he gets his way."

Loki's jaw clenches as he narrows his eyes at Thea as Jack cracks up and Kyle doesn't do much to hide his own smirk.

"Exhibit A," says Thea, pointing to Loki, "Now he's annoyed."

"Remind me again why he has to come with us," says Jack, talking to Steve, "He could just go with Max and avoid this awkward four person thing, not to mention the arguments that are bound to ensue."

"He's going with you because you're going with them, and since Kyle is the only one who can keep you in check, and Loki and Max are the only ones who can keep Thea in check, that's how it's going to go."

"See, you can just replace Loki with Max, and everything's dandy.'

"Jack." says Max.

Knowing he's lost, Jack crosses his arms, and then goes to join Thea.

*

Thea and Jack do their best to ignore Loki's existence, namely by walking ahead of him and Kyle and talking to each other.

"Oy, I'd watch that thing if I were you," says Jack, pointing to a slight gap in the ground.

"Thing?" asks Thea, lightly stepping over it, "You're not very descriptive."

Jack pushes her slightly, "And you're not very nice."

"Thank you."

"That wasn't a compliment."

"I took it as a compliment. Because I'm cool like that."

"Thea, your name and cool do not belong in the same sentence."

"I didn't say my name and cool in the same sentence, but actually 'Thea, your name and cool do not belong in the same sentence' actually puts my name and cool in the same sentence."

"You're talking in circles."

"Thank you."
"Stop saying thank you to things that are clearly not compliments."

"I will not."

"Thea, give the dude a break," Kyle calls from behind them, where he is reluctantly walking beside the reluctant (and silent) Loki, "He can only take a certain amount of intelligence before his brain explodes."

"Really?" asks Thea, peering back at him, "Then it must be genetic or something."

Kyle rolls his eyes.

*

Their goal is to reach the other side of the mountains, potentially finding Nat, Clint, and Tony, and escaping the Velah's wrath. It had been decided that after everyone was all bound together, the Pearl would be sought after. Although Thea and Jack's involvement has been brushed by airily, both the kids know that they will have to fight to fight.  

The four of them stop to rest in a clearing about midway through the day, when the sun is high in the sky. After she eats some sandwiches Kyle brought, Thea entertains herself by exploring the little glade, which possesses many beautiful, overhanging trees, a collection of small rocky walls, and a tiny shimmering pond.

After triple checking to make sure that the pond is in no way, shape or form dangerous, Thea takes off her shoes and socks, scoots over to the edge of the water, and dips her toes in. Her feet are bruised, torn, and weary, and the cool water feels heavenly. Closing her eyes, she lets the sun pour on her freckled face, filling herself with the bright light.

She listens to the sounds around her. The trickling of the water over the pebbles as it crashes onto the shore. The distant speech of Kyle, Jack, and Loki. The exotic birds in the trees. The wind circling around them.

Soon enough, she hears another sound and opening her eyes, she sees Jack sitting down beside her, letting his bare feet into the water as well.

"What are you thinking about?" he asks, swirling the water around in little circles with his toes.

"How calm it is," she says dreamily, leaning her head against his shoulder, "We don't often get peace and quiet like this."

"Good point," says Jack, playfully splashing some of the water on her ankles, "But at least we can enjoy it for a little bit."

"What do you think Peter is doing right now?" asks Thea.

"Don't know. Either languishing away in his room or walking around the city."

"You don't think he's...he became...you know, Spider-Man again, right?"

"As much as I'd love to say yes, my gut instinct is no."

Thea sighs. "I'm worried about him."

"I'm not just worried about him," says Jack, leaning back on the springy grass, "I'm worried about you too."

Thea is silent. Then, she says softly, "I'm fine Jack."

"No, Thea, Loki's right. You're not-"

"What do you mean 'Loki's right'?" asks Thea sharply.

Still on his back, his arms blocking his face from the sun, Jack says lazily, "Loki is worried about you, like about eighty percent of us."

"Who's not worried?" Thea asks shrewdly.

Jack raises his pointer finger in the air, "Excellent point. However, the actual point is that yes, Loki thinks you're going to go...er...barmy at any second."

"Fascinating," says Thea dryly.

"It's the truth!"

"I guess you eavesdropped."

"That's my specialty," he points out, "I've had some great teachers."

She rolls her eyes, "Like spies."

"Indeed. Like spies."

Thea lies back next to Jack, "I'm fine."

"Okay."

"Seriously!"

"Okay, okay!"

There's some more silence. Then, Thea says, "If I ask you a question, will you tell me the truth?"

The hesitation is so brief that Thea hardly notices that it's there, but she does.

"Shoot," says Jack.

"Did you tell someone about my dreams a couple hours before we left?"

Silence.

"...Jack..."
"Yes."

"You told Max."

"Yep."

"Who probably told Kyle, Loki, and Steve."

"Not probably. Definitely."

"It's why Steve has the four of us going together."

"Highly likely."

"And how you know that Loki is worried about me."

"This is true."

Thea groans, "Thanks a lot."

"Hey, when my best friend tells me that she's been dreaming of blood and not able to sleep, I get a bit concerned!"

"Ugh," says Thea, blinking up at the sun, her feet still in the water.

"Blimey, I thought you'd be tearing my head off by now."

Sighing, she says, "It's not worth it."

"Well thanks. And for the record, you're good at being sneaky and figuring things out."

"It's my specialty. I've had some great teachers."

"Like Loki and Kyle?"

"Like Loki and Kyle," says Thea.

*

They come upon a large stone wall two hours later. It's about fifty feet tall, straight up to a plateau that leads into the forest beyond.

"Please tell me you have rope this time," Thea says to Loki. He rolls his eyes: eye rolling is quickly becoming the normal conversation amongst the four of them.

"I have rope," says Kyle, taking the nylon cords out from his pack. "Has everyone roped before?"

"Yes," says Jack.

"No," says Thea.

"It's not hard," says Kyle, "Just find a place on the wall, put your foot on it, and go from there. Keep moving forward."

"Did you just quote Meet the Robinsons?" asks Jack.

"What are you talking about, I've never see that movie," says Kyle stonily as he divides up the rope.

"Yes you have," smirks Thea, "When I was sick last January, you watched it with me."

"Oh that movie. Where basically he runs around with his son the entire movie."

"It was a quality film!" protests Jack.

"Thank you Jack!" exclaims Thea.

"Are we going to bicker the entire time we're climbing?" asks Kyle.

"We always bicker," says Jack, "It's not like it's some revolutionary principle."

As Kyle hoists himself up onto the wall, feeling for a stable hold, he says, "I never said it was. The two of you have to be the most annoying kids on the planet."

"I second that," adds Loki, looking up from where he is fastening the metal hooks around Thea's backpack onto her rope. She is trying to pull away, having protested that she was quite capable of hooking herself to a string of rope. Keeping hold of her backpack, he adds, "And annoying is, quite frankly, a euphemism."

Thea, who doesn't know what a euphemism is, and is also vexed that Loki is insisting on helping her, says crossly, "I am not annoying."

Loki snorts, pushing her away softly after he has finished securing her hook, "Thea, darling, you and Jack are the ones who pulled continuous pranks on me back at Stark Tower."

Thea does not like to be reminded of those happy times. "I only did one of them!"

"Thanks," says Jack.

"Don't mention it."

Ignoring her, Loki says, "Don't worry. I'm fully aware that you have wanted to prank me more, but have- wisely, I might add- deemed it too dangerous."

"Rubbish," says Jack, patting Loki's arm (Loki pushes Jack's hand away), "You, hurt two adorable teenagers like us because you get all frost giant-y when we play pranks on your annoying arse? Ridiculous. Never would have thought of it."

Loki regards Jack with an air of imperialism. "Jack, you are currently displaying one of the reasons that you and Thea are annoying. Both of you tend to...ah, how shall I put it... taunt others so that they get angry for your own amusement."

"Bloody hypocrite," says Jack.

Loki pretends Jack hasn't spoken, and pulls Thea's hair, putting her off balance before she can try to trip him halfway up the wall, "So therefore, I have more evidence that you are both a bother. Quite frankly, I-"

"Legend has it that if you shut up," says Jack lazily, "You wouldn't be annoying."

Loki looks rather irritated, but Thea giggles.

"I'm still- dare I believe it- siding with Loki," says Kyle, who, not being in conflict for a long period of time, is nearly to the top of the hill. "Two of the most troublesome humans on the planet are in fact Thea and Jack."

 --------------------------

This chapter was sad and happy at the same time. Because Thea is still hiding her feelings. 

Has anyone noticed that I haven't done any first-person writing in a while? I've done that on purpose...

Poll: 

Do you like Thea & Jack better as friends or as a couple?

have a great day, and God bless!

Love, Sierra

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