(Untitled)

[timeagent_john]

He hated New Tokyo, couldn't for the life of him work out why Jack liked it so bloody much. Every few nights or so, he'd find himself being walked down the lamp-lit streets, and eventually sitting in some restaurant, owned by some bird that Jack knew. Not always the same restaurant or the same bird, mind you, but those two things always came into

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[more_flexible]

Jack shrugged him off and said dismissively, "You'll do what I tell you to, tonight. But if you do better tonight than last time...maybe." Everything was always maybe, mostly because it could be. Jack had gotten John's agreement regarding this arrangement and he was as devoted to his pet as he was to anything or anyone else. More, at the moment. John just needed so much work.

He had no doubt that John would break long before he did. He lost his patience at times, but that was nothing a hard fuck followed by tossing the agent into a cage couldn't fix.

To counter his dismissive tone, Jack lifted his hand and stroked the short hair at the nape of John's neck before he dug his nails into the skin. He didn't mean to completely put him off, he was just distracted as he kept most of his attention directed at two men in the corner who had no reason to be in his city instead on Oubliee where they belonged.

[blackhole_heart]

For a long time, I sit across the room, just watching them. Watching their body language. The way they touch. Can't hear what they're saying, but it doesn't matter. Probably couldn't over the rush of blood in my ears anyhow. John Hart, alive and well, having a grand fucking time, no matter how short a leash Harkness has him on.

I'm fucking livid. Alone, but I don't care. I'm on my feet and slipping into the seat across from them, smirk on my face and looking just as smug as always. "Well, look who it is." I think maybe if I had a gun, I'd shoot the fucker right now.

[timeagent_john]

John bared his teeth when Jack dug his nails in, clearly ready to react in the most volatile way possible, until he noticed they were no longer alone.

Eyes settling on the boy, it took him a long moment to make the connection as to who it was. He couldn't remember the name, but he remembered other things, and his whole demeanor seemed to change as his snarl became a toothy smirk.

"Miss me?" he asked sweetly.

[more_flexible]

Jack split his attention between his mark and their new guest. One finger curled under the back of John's collar, just as a reminder, and he gave Neil a tight smile.

"Look who it is," he repeated. "You want a drink, Neil? It's been a while."

[blackhole_heart]

"Think I wouldn't mind stayin' sober, if it's all the same to you," I say, words directed at Jack, but my eyes never leaving John, meeting that nasty smirk of his with one of my own. It's bullshit. I'm no threat to him, not physically and not right now. He knows that, but that sure as hell isn't enough to stop me.

"Here, I was thinkin' maybe you'd been pushed out of an airlock, someplace. Guess you really can't always get what you want."

[timeagent_john]

John sat back a little when Jack held onto his collar, eying the boy curiously as he quirked a brow.

"And here I was thinking we'd had such a good time together, you and I. You sure you won't have a drink with us? Jack's treat. Or mine," he said, putting a wallet down on the table that wasn't his.

"Or, well, it's Joseph Kessler's treat, actually, but I'm sure he won't mind," he said, flipping it open to see just who he'd robbed.

He made no connection in his mind to Neil and Jack's little friend, it didn't even occur to him that one might have something to do with the other, despite having seen them together at least once. It just wasn't important enough to him to have stuck. Not what he'd done, not who they were, none of it.

[more_flexible]

"He's not going out an airlock, Neil," Jack said evenly. That was all he had to say before he turned his face to John. "And you ..."

He curled his finger tighter so that the metal dug into John's throat, just to help him make his point.

"...Get to be Joseph tonight. So go get some drinks, and don't make me have to hurt you. Best behavior." He smiled and let go, then nudged him to get up and go to the bar.

With that look in Neil's eyes, he figured they might as well have a minute alone to talk.

[blackhole_heart]

My eyes flicker over John's neck, Jack's aggressive hold on him, and my face twists up in unguarded annoyance, watching their little exchange but keeping my mouth shut until John's out of earshot.

"What the fuck is that all about?"

[more_flexible]

"What, him?" he asked casually. "Nothing much. Why?"

He figured everyone Logan knew had to know by now. His little runner had been feeding data to the Rose once a week when she returned to the Echolls house, so he was more informed than he'd ever let on. It would have been unwise to let on, though. To anyone.

[blackhole_heart]

"You're a piece of fuckin' work, you know that?" I laugh, leaning forward over the table, voice pitched low, "Don't bullshit me, I know what happened. And what? This is you taking care of it? This is what he wanted all along, isn't it?"

[more_flexible]

"I don't have to explain anything to you, Neil," Jack replied. "He's mine to worry about, so just calm down."

[blackhole_heart]

"No he's not, Jack. Not anymore. And I don't trust you to keep him on a short enough leash just because you say you're gonna," I say, cutting a look over to where he's leering at the bartender.

[more_flexible]

He folded his hands together and leaned forward, the picture of calm. "Neil, I don't give a shit if you trust me or not. I know John, I know what I'm doing, and I don't need to be second guessed by someone like you. I'm good at what I do."

[blackhole_heart]

"It's not just your problem. You can't just make it your problem because you fucking say so," I hiss, "I don't give a fuck what kind of game you two are playing, its your own fuckin' business, but you dragged Logan into it, and he could've gotten himself killed, and yeah, I'm sorry, but it fucking pisses me off that it looks like your little whipping boy over there got off with a good, hard spanking."

[timeagent_john]

Sliding back into the booth, John seemed unaware of what they'd been talking about, though the smirk that played on his lips as he slid a glass of water over to Neil and a beer over to Jack, said otherwise.

Sipping his beer, he leaned forward, his elbows on the table as he met Neil's eyes with his own. There was no remorse there, no apology. Nothing. Just a sparkle and an edge of danger.

"Little boy, don't you think it's past you bedtime?" he asked, his voice low, uncaring as to how Jack might react to what he said next. "Those streets you walk are very dark at night, you never know what might be lurking in the shadows. I'd hate to see on the news tomorrow, that someone decided to paint the city with your insides. Not that it couldn't do with a new look, and I'm sure your guts are very pretty... I just think you'd be such a huge loss to society. Really. I'm sure someone, somewhere, might even get a bit damp 'round the eyes."

[more_flexible]

Jack hardly moved. Just a bit of a twitch of his thumb and his wrist strap popped open and he pressed a button, ignoring the instantaneous reaction from the man next to him. That chip in his arm was better than any collar could possibly be.

He kept talking as if completely unaware how the all-consuming pain effected John.

"It's more than a spanking, Neil. Be pissed. Be whatever you want. The only reason Logan and the girl got involved is because he knew it'd bother me. If I spent more time with you?" He paused and tilted his head. "Well...you heard his idea of a fun night with you."