"No, no, no! I, no!" Anti laughed, drinking another shot, "I could've gone against him! I coulda! You don't know!"

"Pfffft" Jackie grinned, "Bullshite! Not the way I saw it! You were SCREWED without me!"

"Whatever, Fuck-face!"

They were giggling in the booth together, clearly drunk off their asses. They were having fun bullshitting and getting to know each other better.

Anti was still a little miffed that he had put that tracker on him and looked through his private stuff but he understood where he was coming from. Or at least, Jackie's excuse.

"Heeeeh" Anti sighed heavily, "You're not so bad, Blood-streak . . . .Had to admit. . . I've been weary of you for a while"

Jackie snorted, "Why? I thought I've been pretty upfront."

Anti blinked but chose not to address the tracker, "You took my journal. I saw from the security cameras I have in my apartment"

Jackie paled slightly, "Ah . . ." he put the shot down a little wobbly, "I see. Sorry . . . like I said before th-though . . . Just wanted to know more about YOU. . . . Your family's just as fucked as mine, it seems-"

"THEY ARE NOT MY FAMILY!" Anti glitched violently all of a sudden, slamming his fist on the table.

His sudden outburst alerted a few people around them but Jackie wasn't perturbed.

"They're not? But you guys are created from the person, huh? Right?" he tried to feign ignorance, "Just tryna get it straight"

Anti calmed before biting his lip and taking another shot. Their waitress came over only to briskly drop off a few more and run off, clearly scared by Anti's shout, having not seen his actual glitching.

Finally after a few moments, Anti replied, "That part's right, I guess . . . . . but I don't . . .. I've already done too much to . . . I really don't deserve it. Never did. Not that I care. Fuck them. Fuck Sean and fuck the Septics. Fuck 'em"

"Why?"

"Hmmmmm . . . . . " He drank another shot, looking ready to puke or something. His eyes were bloodshot and he still looked like hell, "Sean abandoned me . . . . le-left me in the dark to drift away like a . . . bad idea. Mistake. . .uh . . .." he breathed out heavily, "Huuuuuh" he vibrated his lips together, "They all look at me that way too. . . .I guess, so . . . Pft. I'll use 'em to my. . . advanta-. . .benefit.. . whatever the word is. . . you know"

Jackie was drunk but he still saw what he was saying, "You want control . .. right? That's what?"

Anti didn't respond but Jackie knew the answer.

Jackie drank another shot and shook Anti's shoulder, "I like you, too, you know. . . Y-you" he hiccupped a little, trying to get through what he wanted to say, "You remind me of one of my b-brothers. . . . . . . . To me . . .. you're my brother, man"

Anti knew it had to be the alcohol but he couldn't help but to feel emotional and smiled a little, "Really?"

Jackie grinned, still mindful of his mask that covered half his face, "Really, man"

". . . . . . Thanks. . . . . you too" it was vague but Jackie knew what he meant.

Jameson watched the scene from the window right outside the club. He peered silently, listening to their drunk chatter.

He had overheard Chase, Marvin and Henrik's conversation at the clinic earlier in the shadows. He was there to check up on Henrik to see how he was doing after his little break. He felt bad for Henrik, knowing it was a hard time for him.

It was just last year his kids died in a car accident. He was gone to visit their graves and Jameson knew that this anniversary would be tough on him. Everyone knew but then again they also knew that Henrik didn't want them to make a huge thing about it.

Jameson knew that Henrik blamed himself but if only he knew. . . Jameson blamed himself, too.

If he had been there, he could have stopped it.

But after hearing Marvin's words, he couldn't bring himself to come up to them.

The mute man knew something was wrong with how the magician phrased his words.

'I know that Jackie was going undercover to see if Anti had Marvin's glove. Pretty odd how Marvin didn't mention that tidbit that it is HIS weapon. And also. . . . If Jackie was being controlled by Anti, he'd be a zombie. I'd know from experience'

Jameson swallowed thickly, watching as Anti and Jackie laughed together, pretty close to puking up their guts and crying but still having a great time.

'Never seen Anti so happy before. . . . . Even if he doesn't know it's Jackie. . . I'm glad he has someone who understands him if only a little. I'd like to think I know Anti more than the others having been in his head before. . . . but Jackie . . .. seems to have broke through his shell. He'd have never trusted me like that'

A part of him felt sad that he never tried more but he was also a coward, afraid of Anti's violent threats.

He still had one over him. If the others knew Jameson took that money from Anti to start up his business . . .

'I'm starting to sound just like Marvin now' he thought to himself and sighed.

Jameson pulled out his pocket watch to look at the time.

'It's nearing midnight and Chase already just left here. Better turn the hands back so no one catches me'

With that, Jameson swiftly moved around the hands on his pocket watch and in an instant, he was gone.

A few hours later when Chase left the bar again, Jameson didn't ask what had happened and just left, leaving him to tuck his kids in.

And Chase was none the wiser.

'I should do something. . . . . I know I should. . . . . Marvin can't get away with this.'

They were leaning on each other, heading back to Anti's apartment.

It had been a good night but now it was time to call it.

They drank and talked and even danced together on the floor of the club. It was almost too much fun and Jackie couldn't remember the last time he felt this way. He hadn't even been this happy for a while around the other Septic egos. And this time, Jackie didn't care if it was supposed to feel wrong.

They couldn't drive and they had no money on hand to pay for an Uber so unfortunately, it was quite the long walk.

A wobbly one.

But it wasn't long until they made it back to Anti's apartment, busting through the door laughing.

"I've never had so much fooking fun in my life!"

"Eheheheahah!" Jackie laughed at him, "I believe it! You're so stubborn and angry all the time!"

Anti shoved him lightly off of him, "Shut up~" he grinned, hobbling over into his kitchen for a glass of water.

Jackie just chuckled again, leaning on the wall. He had to agree with Anti, though. Tonight had been a lot of fun.

"Hey" Anti sauntered back over to him with two glasses of water, "Wanna spend the night?"

Jackie snorted, "You don't have a couch!"

Anti giggled, "I know"

A red flag went off in Jackie's head, "Wha-?"

Anti gulped, still smiling, "You're . . . . . I know we haven't known each other long. . . feels like we've been best friends for years though, ya know?"

"I guess it kinda does, yeah" Jackie grinned but wasn't prepared for Anti to shove up his mask to his nose, "Whoa, what are you-"

"Easy there, easy." Anti ran a hand through Jackie's beard.

Yeah, definitely red flags.

"You can't drink water with a mask like that on. . . . . "

"I guess you're right there" Jackie still felt something was off, though.

Anti stared up at him, "What color are your eyes?"

"Uh . . .Blue"

"Blue" Anti repeated, "You know uh . . ..would it really be so bad if I saw your face? I mean we're friends now, right?"

"Well yeah but-"

"Show me?"

"Anti, I can't. I -"

"Why not? Don't you trust me? What are you hiding from me? Don't you like me at all?"

"Anti, of course I like you, it's just-"

Anti gripped his shoulders and tried to lean forward, and Jackie shoved him away gently but firm. He just reacted the only way he thought was right emotionally and morally for the both of them.

Anti didn't think so, though, of course. He looked up at him, seemingly crushed, "I . . . . I thought-"

"I love you like a brother, Anti"

"Oh. . .. " Anti nodded, suddenly slamming on a fake smile, "Of course, yeah. . . sorry. I uh . . I don't know where that came from, you know? I must be extremely fucking hammered hehe" he cleared his throat and itched the back of his neck, "I guess. . . hey you better go, man"

Jackie agreed completely, "Yeah . . . . we're okay? You're my brother now . . . that's how I . . . I don't want anything to hurt that-"

"Yeah. . . " Anti stopped him and smiled. This one seemed a bit more genuine as if he believed him on that, "We're okay. Get out of here. Don't get beat up on your way home, fuck-face"

Jackie felt a bit calmer and nodded, "Yeah . . . sleep good, brat. I'll see ya sometime later"

Anti waved him off and Jackie walked out.

Now a lot more sober after that encounter, Jackie breathed out all the air from his lungs, 'God damn that was close. I feel kinda bad but. . . . ugh. . .I couldn't let that happen. He really IS my brother, after all.'

He felt close to puking and shuddered, 'I think he understands, though. He's drunk and emotional right now PLUS he doesn't know I'm actually . . .. Jackie. Not his fault for acting like that. I especially don't blame him after everything he's told me tonight'

Jackie trudged along home, completely unaware that someone was keeping an eye on him.

'BANG BANG BANG!'

Jackie flinched awake, "Ugh, what the-?"

"JACKIE! OPEN THE DOOR, NOW! JACKIE!"

Jackie groaned and pushed himself up off his bed, wiping stray drool from his face.

"Fuck, it's Chase"

Jackie sniffled and looked towards the clock blearily, trying to make out what it said, "Seven am. The fuck? He should be at work"

Shaking his head and readying himself for a shouting match, Jackie was almost to the door, "I'm coming, I'm coming! Fucking-"

He opened the door and Chase stopped mid-knock.

Chase just. . . . stared at him, clearly taken aback and Jackie didn't know why.

"What?"

"The fuck are you wearing, bro?" Chase looked him up and down, kind of horrified.

And that's when Jackie realized it. He was in his Blood-streak suit!

Jackie gulped and looked down at himself, silently cursing, "It's uh . . .. Chase. . . It's not what it looks like"

"I'm not surprised"

"Look, I- . . . Wait, what?"

Chase shook his head, "I'm not . . . . You gonna explain to me why I saw you last night in a bar drinking with Anti in this shit costume?"

He was frozen.

Chase knew? How did he know? How did he know it was him at the bar?

'I had my suit on'

Jackie licked his lips, trying to think of what he could say, "I'm working on something. A mission"

"Oh yeah?!" Chase shoved him suddenly, "A mission that involves working with Anti to destroy the whole fucking city!? Have you lost your fucking mind!?"

"What? No! That's not what- Chase, just let me explain. Marvin and Jameson already know"

"Oh I know Marvin knows! But James? How could you involve HIM!? How could you just work with that fucking glitch-bitch!?"

"You're not listening to me, Chase! Just FUCKING LISTEN!"

"No, YOU listen!" Chas punched the wall in his anger, "You're letting Anti control you! And for WHAT!? A fucking thrill!? Because you don't feel you're needed anymore just because of what a few numbers on a piece of paper say?!"

That stung. But Jackie wasn't going to back down, hangover be damned.

"That's not what this is about."

"Marvin told me and Hen about the glove"

"Then you should know why this is so important to me!"

"HAVE YOU GONE FUCKING INSANE! HE'S GONNA KILL US ALL!"

"He hasn't yet!"

"Do I have to shoot some fucking sense into you!?"

"Oho just try it and-" Jackie sucked in a breathe of air suddenly. He felt something familiar nearby. He heard the sound of static very close, "Shit"

Jackie was fast, though, and shoved on his mask and grabbed Chase, before throwing him into a closet.

"The hell are you doing!?"

"Just shut up and don't do anything stupid! Please, for the love of god, Chase!" Jackie whisper-yelled at him.

For once, Chase listening to him and kept quiet, letting Jackie shut the door in front of him. He wasn't stupid. He sensed the danger that was afoot if he ignored his advice.

Jackie's head was pounding and his blood pressure was surely rising but he calmly ventured over to his window and slowly opened it.

He heard another fizz of static behind him, "So this is where you live"

Jackie turned quickly, obviously shocked at his appearance, "I uh . .. How did you find where I. . . um. . . I thought you'd still be sleeping off your hangover or something"

Anti nodded, "I would be. . . but you see. . . something was keeping me up all night. I uh . .. we talked a lot last night. We both did and I said a lot more about myself than you did about you. Still. I've been pretty open with you, haven't I? And yet. . . you still don't trust me."

"Anti, I trust you-"

"You never talk about yourself except for . . . brothers you have. You evade any personal questions while I've let you look through my fucking journal!" Okay, it was clear that Anti was pissed off right now.

"Anti-"

"I let you tag around me. I call you partner and we help each other but we have to TRUST each other, Blood-streak! And right now, I don't think you trust me!"

"I do!"

Anti scoffed at him and reached behind his neck to rip off something tiny. He pulled his hand back around to reveal a very small object.

"I let you track me. I knew about this on the VERY first night you put it on me. And not ONCE did I say anything. I just thought we needed more trust to build, you know? But no, you then broke into my apartment and stole my journal! Read through my most personal thoughts!"

Jackie sighed, "I'm sorry"

"You've said that. And you were about to ask a few minutes ago how I knew where you lived." he flicked the small tracker on his floor, "Tech works both ways for me, bitch. Should have thought about that."

"I don't have an excuse, Anti. . . . but doesn't this have anything also to do with last night?"

"No. . .. oh no, no, no, no." Anti shook his head vigorously but started to calm down, remembering their conversation then, ". . . . . . . . . . . you're still like a brother to me, too. We were both drunk. It's just . . . . trust goes both ways, too, you know. Right? At least . . . that's what I thought by watching 'normal' people."

He crossed his arms and glanced away, completely oblivious that Chase was hearing all of this from in Jackie's closet.

Jackie sighed, "You're like a brother to me, too, Anti. I didn't lie about that."

"I think our partnership needs a break"

Now Jackie wasn't expecting that, "What?"

Anti walked towards the window, "You never told me what you wanted out of this, really. And I mean. . that's fine. But whatever it is, if there is anything on your end. I think you'll have to find someone else for now. I need some time to think by myself"

Really, this was good for Jackie. Since he found out that Anti really doesn't have the glove and knew nothing about it before, he had no reason to stay attached to Anti the way he had been.

He had to move on as well. Find out who really took the glove.

"Okay"

Anti nodded but it was clear he was a little hurt but the glitch was quick to part ways and glitched out of the apartment.

Jackie was quiet and slowly took off the mask, hearing Chase open the closet door.

Chase shut the door behind him, "He really has you on a leash, doesn't he? Are you actually . . . . sad?" Apparently Chase hadn't really heard everything that was said. Some things must have been muffled from inside the closet.

Jackie bit his lip but he didn't have the patience for Chase's stupid words right now, "Get out of my apartment, Chase"

"Excuse me? I just-"

"GET OUT!" Jackie didn't even feel the sparks that fizzed off of him but it was clear from Chase's eyes.

Chase stared at him, stunned. He had never showed that power before. Because he's always hated that he had nearly the same abilities as Anti considering lightning and electricity.

But Jackie didn't care that Chase stared at him like that. Terrified.

He just turned away, barely even aware of the door slamming behind his . . . .

.

.

Brother?