Chapter 32.2

"We'll be taking our leave," Raphael coughed as he, Michelle, and Junco prepared to leave but not before the latter thanked Jason for informing her about Raphael. Raphael was surprised when he saw that they were in contact with each other. He couldn't help but feel envious when he saw them chatting together, his ears rang and his mind went blank as a feeling of rage almost overwhelmed him.

As he walked away lost in his thoughts, Raphael stopped and turned back to Jason. He tried grabbing the money which Jason still had in his grasp but the latter pulled his hand away childishly. A moment later, Jason flinched and relented, returning the money to Raphael when he saw Silvia glaring at him while whipping her teacher's pointer. Satisfied, Raphael left with Michelle while Junco chatted with the latter and Silvia excused herself and began elegantly making her way back to the Academy.

"So," Katherine said, breaking the awkward silence that descended on the group. "Wanna grab some ice cream and drinks?"

"We're busy," Jason said curtly, his attitude taking a hundred and eighty degree change now that they were alone.

"That's alright," Katherine shrugged Jason's rudeness away. "Maybe tomorrow then?"

"Can I talk to you?" Jason ignored her and turned to Selena while using his head to gesture towards an empty spot. Selena sighed and nodded, and the two moved away while Katherine turned to Alina.

"He doesn't like me, does he?" she asked Alina. Katherine felt down since Jason was the closest thing to a brother to her; in a way, she felt envious of Alina's and Jason's relationship.

"Sorry about that," Alina said. "No offense but, uh, maybe it's 'cause you're acting so …"

"Friendly?" suggested Katherine.

"Close, I was gonna say close" Alina replied. "And why do you keep mentioning you're family? Maybe you're related to me, but not Jason."

"Well, if he's adopted by your family, then isn't he technically my cousin brother?" Katherine asked back. She watched Jason from the corner of her eyes as she continued speaking. "Besides, he … reminds me of someone. A good friend of mine who's long gone, from the looks of it."

"Oh right, I forgot about that," Alina muttered. She was so used to Jason, she forgot how he was adopted and not her real brother. Alina fidgeted her shoes as she watched Katherine, unsure of what to say about losing her friend. "So … uh, nice hair?"

"Thanks," Katherine said. Her roots were black but slowly turned brown, then reddish-orange, before finally ending in yellow. Alina admired Katherine's flaming hair but she couldn't dream of doing that to her own hair. As Alina fell silent again, Katherine placed a hand on her shoulder.

"I'm sorry about your parents," she said, carefully weighing her words. "I wish things were different …"

If I just returned faster, Katherine thought sadly.

"Don't we all?" Alina muttered bitterly before smiling forlornly. "But thank you."

Alina felt that Katherine was truly sympathetic: she was not pretending like most others and she truly felt sorry for Alina's loss.

***

"Sir, there's something I want to ask," Junco turned to Raphael and spoke. The two were lagging slightly behind Michelle, who was walking quickly to the car so the latter two could spend some time alone.

"What is it?" Raphael asked.

"Weren't you saying Jason was a threat? Why were you …" Junco was confused. She heard Watson mention how Raphael wasn't in good terms with Jason, it was the reason why Watson sent her here in the first place. Luckily, Jason texted her too, giving her the perfect alibi while ensuring Raphael was unaware of her true intention for coming.

"So pissed?" Raphael finished.

"No," Junco shook her head, bemused. "You two were acting like friends. In a manner of speaking."

Raphael sighed and stopped walking. He looked up at the skies before looking back at Junco. "Junco, I said he's crazy, but that doesn't mean he's bad."

"I'm not sure I understand," Junco said slowly after contemplating for a moment.

"His heart's in the right place," Raphael replied. "It's not like he kills everyone discriminately. No, he doesn't do that anymore, but I can't trust someone so ... unstable to protect this city or have free rein to do whatever he wishes. What he needs is help, help in getting over his trauma. And hate."

Raphael turned and stared at the Academy. From this distance, he could still see a figure watching everything from a window. Her yellowish eyes stared back at him as he made eye contact with the figure before sighing once again and turning away.

"They all need help," Raphael muttered before he and Junco entered the car.

***

"What were you thinking?" Jason asked Selena once they were away.

"I told you that I'd be telling Katherine about Alina," Selena shrugged.

"Uh-huh, but a head's up wouldn't be so bad," Jason said. He looked over and noticed Alina smiling and chatting with Katherine. "I needed time to prepare. Myself."

"Prepare? Oh…" Selena was confused about what Jason meant for a moment before realizing his meaning; Katherine's reason for coming to Sanctuary was Alina and it was possible that, as her family member, she could take the latter away too. "I'm … I'm sorry. I didn't think about ...."

"I'm not blaming you," Jason said quietly. "Just … with Alice here, I could use all the help I could get. And Alina …"

"You just want her to stay and help babysit your daughter?" Selena asked gloomily. She was annoyed at this part of him, the part that would always evade admitting the truth.

"Yeah, yeah, that's exactly it," Jason answered with a nod. He then saw Selena's glare and relented. "Ok, maybe that's an excuse. It's just - it's been so many years and she's - Allie brought me back from the brink of disaster. I was so close to losing my ... humanity. I was ready to just keep on killing and not - not even give living a try until she showed up. And I don't - I don't want to lose her, not again."

"Sounds like you're just making her an excuse for trying to live a normal life," Selena replied harshly. "You can't just keep her to yourself, Jason. She'll grow up and live her own life and be her own person."

"You don't understand," Jason said quietly as he walked back. "You wouldn't understand. If you did ..."

I'd have to kill you, Jason finished in his mind. To him, Alina, and now Alice, were a priority. It didn't matter who it was that tried to interfere, he'd kill them. Even if it broke his blackened heart.

A chill passed down Selena as she realized that Jason wasn't joking and he really did threaten her despite not finishing his sentence. What made her unnerved was the fact that Jason smiled and acted casually with the others as soon as he joined up. It was as if he had a normal conversation with her about something banal.

Right. But to him, it was a normal conversation, Selena thought with a heavy heart. He's so charming and … I always forget that he's a killer - a mercenary, at heart.

And despite knowing this, Selena still couldn't overcome the feelings she had for him. He was so dangerous, but so exotic that she couldn't help but have feelings for him.