(no subject)
I haven't done this in a while.
Luke gazed into the back garden. Jane was still out there, sitting under the tree, looking so forlorn. He hated that look, and it had been on her face for weeks. Normally, blows to her emotions manifested for a week, maybe a month, but this was going on the third month, and despite all her efforts, Jane could not shake that sadness from her pretty blue eyes. She hid away at home with Luke, always her protector, but at home it was safe, and she could lick her wounds in private, and he didn't need to protect her.
Maddox came into the kitchen, and came up behind Luke to see what he saw.
"What's wrong with Jane?" he asked.
"She's been hurt again. That gutless bastard finally did what I said he'd do," Luke spat, not a bit pleased about any of this. He'd seen it coming, and warned Jane about it, and stood by while it happened, knowing that despite his knowledge and how important she was to him, Jane had to learn this for herself.
Maddox nodded grimly.
"Took her heart and shattered it, did he?" he inquired.
"Worse than that. He dazzled her, and when she looked away, he came up from behind and hamstringed her. Watched her crawl on the ground in pain, and decided it wasn't enough, but he had to poison her as well. Metaphorically speaking, of course," Luke explained, bitterly.
Maddox raised an eyebrow at his former student.
"You and your metaphors. How is she?"
Luke sighed.
"She'll mend eventually. I hear her crying at night. She's having trouble ignoring the wounds. God, I could kill that man for what he did to her!" the young Irishman shouted, slamming his hands on the counter.
"Peace, you. You'll do no such thing. You told her the risk, and she tried anyway. She's young, she'll bounce back. Besides, I think she'd rather kill him herself," Maddox said, dryly.
Luke laughed a joyless laugh.
"Something tells me she'd make it slow and painful, merciless."
Maddox shook his head and looked out again at his young student, the wind playing in her blonde hair.
"Jane never forgets her mercy. As much as she'd like to cause pain, and exact vengeance, I don't think she ever would. She's a forgiver."
"All those Batman comics," Luke observed.
"Undoubtedly."
The two of them, the teacher and the disciple, fell silent again and turned their eyes to the youngest member of their trio. Already she was more powerful than both of them, young, fair, and filled with strength. But she was fragile, vulnerable, and untrained. Her innocence was one of her greatest virtues, and also the greatest weakness. In the clutch she was unstoppable, and to threaten one of her friends was to take your life in your hands. But she was still learning, and despite her ability to protect others, she had not learned to protect herself.
"Was he human, this gutless bastard?" Maddox asked after a bit.
"Very human. Not a drop of magic in his veins. Clever, unpredictable, but human," Luke said.
"Hardly intelligent, I should guess. But then most humans aren't."
Maddox had never been good on humans. Jane was easing the tension for him, because she'd been so close with them, but she hadn't suffered as much at their hands.
"He wouldn't have been worthy of her anyway," Maddox muttered.
"Nope."
Maddox sighed, wishing there was a way to fix that hurt look on Jane's face. All the power in their possession, affairs of the heart were still beyond their skill.
"I don't like it when she's sad."
Luke shook his head, his arms cross over his chest.
"Neither do I."