Reaching Out (Closed)

[Jesse Adams]

Vincent was very much correct in his assumption. Jesse had been trained by who he considered the best in terms of self defense. He could handle a gun without blinking. He could verbally defend himself and inflict damage. But... not now. If push came to shove with his father, he’d try to fight back, but he’d be severely hindered by the knowledge that he never won, and his chances now were likely slim. Regardless of the fact he had put on muscle since leaving home, in his mind his father would always be stronger.

He half heartedly helped out with the sheets, feeling only a small bit of guilt for putting his trainer out like this. But if he’d stayed in his dorms he would have driven himself up the walls and back down again, and by Monday would probably be on edge worse than ever before. At the instruction, he just waved his hand in dismissal and perched on the edge of the couch. “Yeah, yeah, fine.” He probably wouldn’t be allowed to have what he really wanted, even if he found it. Underage drinking was usually frowned upon by adults. At least he was still allowed his cigarettes. He’d just have to be careful as to where he did that particular habit.

As dinner went on in the other room, Jesse pawed through the backpack he’d grabbed. All he’d thrown in had been one change of clothes, and nothing really warm at that, and a few things from his classes. And his journal, which was wedged in the bottom. He didn’t have... anything, really. It made him feel a little stripped down. Especially with his phone in Vincent’s hands, though truthfully, it had reduced his stress level a surprising amount.

He was surprised by the nighttime greetings of the girls (or, at least, Cassi), and managed an awkward wave as they ran off. Blinking after them, his gaze turned back to Vincent and he shrugged. “Okay.” He had no idea what he was going to do with himself, especially with his phone confiscated. He should have brought his laptop with him. “What do you want me to do?” He didn’t want to step on any toes, but he didn’t want to be left alone with his own thoughts, either. He needed a distraction.

[Vincent Meian]

Jesse was absolutely right - while drinking in Japan was allowed at age twenty (along with smoking and many other adult things, Vincent had taken great care in looking over various age laws to be very sure of what was allowed. Ages for drinking alcohol, smoking, owning vehicle licenses, voting, military enlistment, work, even age of consent (which was the bafflingly low thirteen in his native country, yet was a more appropriate if not comforting sixteen in the state of Vermont) - he'd looked up them all. While his student was old enough for the majority of these things, alcohol was still out of his reach for now. And Vincent would enforce that law considerably in his house not because it was the law, but because he knew the effects of alcohol on a fearful or depressed mind. Jesse was out of luck here.

As for what to do...

"You are welcome to borrow a book from the study," the trainer offered. "We have a small selection in English, though they are comprised mostly of novels. If you would prefer something less engaging, there is also a small selection of movies, though I must apologize as the majority are solely Japanese." The cartoons would be easy enough to understand, but the few live-action dramas would be very difficult without subtitles or a translator. "We do not often have guests overnight who do not sleep."

Nakia would be home in less than four hours, though - he was sure Jesse could find a way to occupy that time if he so wished.

[Jesse Adams]

Sadly, Jesse hadn’t always adhered to those laws. In particular, his time with Gabriel had encouraged all manner of law breaking, underage drinking being the least of them. What he wouldn’t have given for just a few shots of something strong to take the edge off. Sadly, it wasn’t going to happen. He’d have to deal with sucking it up and downing Red Bull when it arrived.

The blond mulled his choices for a few moments before sighing. Neither one sounded hugely appealing, but in the end he decided on a book and slunk into the study. It took a few moments of looking over titles and summaries, but he finally pulled one out to take back to the couch. If at all possible, he wanted to stay out of the way.

Once he was back on the couch, he burrowed his feet under the blankets and curled into a slight ball. Reading was almost mind numbing, and he found it fairly easy to get lost in the words, losing track of time.

So, when the door unlocked, he started and dropped the book on the floor, heart pounding in his chest as he stared at the entry. Yes, it was probably just Vincent’s wife, but still. It was too bad, too. He’d actually started to calm down a little.

[Dr. Nik Kenjutsushi]

Jesse was, of course, correct. Granted, he had no idea that he'd already met the woman coming through that door, nor that he'd already made quite the impression of her.

Days at the school were long, though for Nik it wasn't a terribly big deal. Most days were calm with relatively little going on, and about once a week there was some major training accident or the like. Each season had its common illnesses ranging from the common cold and hay fever to various strains of influenza or pertussis (which was going around again, so she sent out immunization notices to parents and staff). Today, the only major concern she'd had was scheduling an appointment for one of the students to get an ear infection taken care of at the local hospital. It'd been a same-day procedure, and the boy had been back in time for supper, but she still needed to notify the boy's trainer about the minor surgery.

Who, fortunately enough, was her husband.

The case in her hand was small - only a four-pack, considering that she didn't know how long Jesse was going to stay with them. She could always pick up more in the morning, or Vincent could when he bought groceries for the holidays. Still, it'd be enough to get just about anyone through the night, and there was coffee in either case. Slipping her key into the door and turning it with an audible click, the pale woman entered and called out her Japanese greeting to her husband, knowing he'd still be awake. "Tadaima!"

There was a thud from the living room, and having slipped off her shoes, Nik walked around the corner, puzzled as Vincent came out to greet her as well. She locked eyes with Jesse for a moment, bewildered as to what startled him, before looking back to her husband with a smile. "I brought those drinks you asked for."

[Vincent Meian]

Upon hearing the door unlock and open (and the thud of the book dropping to the floor in the living room), the trainer had stood from his nearly completed work and went to the study door, calling back when he heard the habitual greeting. "Okaeri." It was a long habit for the couple, growing up in a different country than this one, but it was no different from any American couple. I'm home - Welcome back.

Walking out, the tall man took the small pack of drinks and the cool hand the held them, kissing the latter lightly with a warm smile. "Thank you," he replied, his tone just as loving as when he'd been speaking to the blonde about his daughters earlier. "I will put them away - you have had a long day." Glancing over to Jesse, he added, "These will be in the refrigerator, should you need them."

And then, he simply left, walking into the kitchen and doing exactly what he'd said he was going to do, rearranging a few things so the pack would be easily visible when the door opened.

[Jesse Adams]

Jesse blinked at the pale woman that appeared, realizing after a beat that he knew her. A little too well for his liking, but he knew her. He just stared for a moment, letting it sink in. And then Vincent was back, and...

And what in the hell was going on? The last time he had seen the two adults, they had been fighting. Over him, but still. They had been fighting. That, he didn't question much. But this... this affection in private. It was completely backwards to everything he'd ever known in his own home. Okay, yes, he figured that Vincent wasn't like his father, but still. This was... weird. It made him shiver slightly and burrow further under the blanket, green eyes still on the adults.

"Yeah, thanks." The reply was almost robotic. Now Dr Nik was here, he felt even more displaced. Especially because, as bad as he'd behaved for Vincent in the past year, he didn't think anything came close to how he had been with Nakia, even though she was only trying to help. He wanted to kick himself now.

It was going to be a very, very long night.

[Dr. Nik Kenjutsushi]

The kiss on her hand was met with a warm, throaty chuckle, and blue eyes seemed to sparkle at the contact. Though it was their tradition, the greeting never felt stale or forced - it was just how Vincent was, both sweet and gentlemanly without needing to be chivalrous. It was a unique thing, just theirs, and it always made her feel like she was twenty-something again. Without all the worries and unsure times and school debts, of course; just the memory of being young and in love, when the memory was still a reality today.

"You're welcome," she answered, watching the trainer leave before looking back to Jesse, who was little more than a mop of blonde hair and green eyes poking above the back of the couch. Quirking an eyebrow showed her curiosity, but the doctor didn't comment on the behavior. Instead, she smiled back warmly. "It's good to see you a bit more relaxed, Jesse. Forgive me for not welcoming you properly, but Vincent's right - it's been a long day. Hope you sleep well; I'll probably see you in the morning."

Stifling a yawn, Nik walked back into the hall, heading straight for the back bedroom. Her husband would be back eventually, but she really was too tired to wait. These later shifts always did that to her.

[Vincent Meian]

Returning from the kitchen in time to see Nik disappear into the back bedroom, Vincent looked to his student with a nod. "I will be sleeping as well," he informed the teen. "Should you need anything, do not hesitate to ask - I wake easily."

He turned to go, but paused and glanced over again after turning out the kitchen light. "Please try to sleep. You are safe here." With his reminder given, the tall man walked back, turning off the lights as he went and leaving Jesse alone in the living room with his book and his thoughts. It had been a long day for everyone, and he was looking forward to sleep as well.


((The next morning - 6:00 am))


Waking early as he often did, Vincent was surprised to find the house quiet. Granted, this was simply from listening and not leaving the bedroom, but the trainer still couldn't hear anyone up and moving around. So, giving his sleeping bride a kiss, he slipped from the bed and usual and began his morning routine - showering, shaving, dressing in his normal day wear, pulling his wet hair back into a ponytail. All in all, it took him just over half an hour.

Walking down the hall, the tall man sat in the study and finished the little bit of paperwork he left for the morning. It was done in a few minutes, and once the folders were stacked again properly, he moved out of the room to the kitchen, where half a pot of coffee still sat on the warmer. It seemed fresh, so he took a cup for himself, ate a pastry from earlier in the week with it, then checked in the living room for his student.

Surprisingly, Jesse was still awake. Barely, and he looked like he was half-dead, but awake. "Good morning," Vincent greeted, pulling his jacket off the nearby hook and shrugging it on. "I will be leaving shortly, but I will return-" he glanced at the clock in the kitchen, "-before eight o'clock. Nakia should be awake before I return."

[Jesse Adams]

Nakia and Vincent’s kindness and willingness to even harbor him for a night should have been appreciated. And it was, in a small, subtle way. He wasn’t being as biting as he normally was, and most of that stemmed from a strange sense of gratitude. Vincent had offered him a safe haven. Had he been left in the dorms, he would have been much worse off. Still, Nakia was met with little more than a stiff nod before she was down the hall.

His green eyes shifted to Vincent as he spoke, and he simply shrugged. “I’ll be fine.” As for the reassurance, he just rolled his eyes and slid back down on the couch. Huddled in the blanket, he glanced down at the book. He still had enough light to read for a while.

And that was what he did. He alternated between reading until his eyes blurred, and simply sitting and staring at the ceiling, letting his thoughts run wild. Around 2:00 am he went for his first can of Red Bull, and by 4:30 he was on his third to keep himself awake. Anxiety and caffeine had never been a good mix, and he ended up trembling despite his blanket as the two went to war inside him. Maybe it was time to switch to coffee.

By 6:00 am, he was contemplating the merits of energy drinks versus coffee when he heard stirring noises from the hall. He stayed quiet, the shaking finally under control. Part of it was being overtired, and he knew that, but it didn’t stop him from wanting to keep the nightmares at bay. ... Hell, maybe he’d talk to Nakia about the stupid blood testing for the stupid dream medication Dr Neville had proposed. If nothing else, maybe it would take the edge off.

Bleary green eyes stared at Vincent, only slightly unfocused as he spoke to him. The notion that he’d be, for lack of a better word... unprotected for an hour made him snap into a somewhat more awake state. “Do you have to?” ... Well, that came out sounding a little more desperate than he wanted it. He tried again. “.... Y’know. I just...” He couldn’t come up with an alternate. Maybe he was a lot more tired than he really wanted to let on.

[Vincent Meian]

The older man lifted an eyebrow, curious but not startled. Jesse was jumpier than he'd expected after a night here, though that could be explained by the caffeine jitters combining with absolutely no sleep. He knew to expect resistance from their conversation last night, but the desperation was still a little surprising when viewed at face value.

"Yes," he answered simply. "I need to communicate with one of my other students and return my documents to my office. It will not take long." He paused for a moment, considering, then added, "If you believe that you can do so, you are welcome to return with me and recover anything you require from your dorm."

He could also pick that up himself, of course - everyone in Jesse's dorm room was a student of his (surprisingly), thus they all knew him. Trusted was a little more in debate, but Vincent's sudden appearance at the room would likely not cause any real sort of alarm. Unless Clement was feeling particularly skittish, which was always possible.

[Jesse Adams]

Jesse was jittery due to a combination of exhaustion and caffeine, combined with his own thoughts running wild throughout the night. His anxiety was running high, even though he was in a safe place for now. It didn't change the fact that he felt threatened. It was worse because he didn't know exactly he was supposed to be scared of. His dad, whoever he'd hired to find out all about him... this was probably exactly what his father wanted. To send him into a little frenzy of panic over nothing, in the end.

He considered the offer for a moment. He didn't really want to go anywhere, even if Vincent was with him. Besides, he didn't fully trust his motor skills for the moment. Not without more coffee in his system, at least. "I don't want to go," he finally said, hunching himself over. "But can you bring my laptop back? It's on my desk with the charger. ... And make sure Ty's alive?" He'd mentioned the rabbit before, so he didn't feel the need to elaborate.

He'd be okay for an hour or two. Really, he'd be fine. ... He'd just need a little more coffee in his system first.

[Vincent Meian]

Taking a mental note of the requests, the trainer also silently added the need for a coat, if Jesse had one - Pilot Ridge was cold, and if the boy wished to indulge in his smoking habit he'd need to do so outside. "I will do this," he answered simply, picking up the satchel hold his files and slinging it over his shoulders. "You are free to eat anything in the kitchen, or you may wait for breakfast. However, I do suggest that you eat today."

And with that, he left, taking bicycle despite the snow and ice simply because it would make the trip faster in both directions.

The house was quiet for about ten minutes more until a door down the hall opened up, closed, and another opened. Female voices came floating down, relatively quiet, and after a few more minutes the younger of the two came bounding out, her small form dressed in bright green and yellow starred fleece pajamas. Awfully energetic for just after seven am, she caught sight of Jesse awake and smiled.

"Good morning!"

[Jesse Adams]

There he went, being all fatherly again. Despite the fact that Vincent was doing something nice for him, Jesse still felt uncomfortable about the whole thing. He didn't need to care like that. "Yeah, I'll try." By which he meant that it was going to take a heavy bribe to get him anywhere near the table. Now the first wave of anxiety had nearly washed away, he was aware that he was somewhat hungry. He just didn't want to cooperate. Though after a moment he realized he wanted something else. "And my extra cigs?" He had a few in his backpack, but they weren't nearly enough. "They're in the desk drawer." He'd be grateful for it all once everything was back.

Once Vincent was gone, Jesse readjusted to the feeling of being alone. It was as he was contemplating the last can of Red Bull for breakfast when he heard the voices down the hall. Like magic, the smaller of the girls appeared, looking hopped up on sugar already. His pierced eyebrow lifted slightly at the sight of her, but even despite his anxiety and his usual biting personality, he couldn't help but offer a tiny, tentative smile back. "Hi. ... Cassiopeia, right?" Or was that the older one? He couldn't remember now.

[Appoline Meian]

Cassi was a very bouncy, bubbly, and energetic girl, even super early in the morning. On breaks, she rarely changed out of her pj's unless she had somewhere specific to be, and her hair (while still shorter than her dad's and older sister's) was almost always a crumpled, tangled black mess until later in the day. But she was boisterous enough, and always ready for a snack first thing.

"Yep, that's me!" she chirruped. "Everyone but my dad calls me Cassi, though." Glancing into the kitchen briefly, she looked back with eyes that were only a few shades darker than Vincent's but glinted just as bright in her excitement. "I'm going to grab a snack from the kitchen real quick. Be right back!"

And in a flash she was gone, the sounds of bare feet on tile and cupboard opening marking her presence in the other room.

After a moment, the older girl walked out of the hall, timidly. Unlike her sister, Appoline was not nearly as exuberant, nor much of a morning person. But she had taken the time to put in her near-invisible hearing aids, dress, and brush out her long hair before making herself present in the living room. She'd only slipped on a sweater over a knee-length dress, though, and her fair legs were bare of socks or slippers. Glancing up at Jesse, she flushed slightly. She'd almost forgotten that he'd still be here when her father left.

"Ah... g-good morning," she murmured softly, bowing slightly at the waist. "I'm s-sorry we weren't, um.... more s-sociable last night. Is... is there anything I c-can get you?"

[Jesse Adams]

Much as Jesse might have wanted to grow up like Cassi, he hadn’t had the chance. Mornings, even on weekends, he was expected to be presentable, regardless of company or not. He could only imagine what he’d think of his son now. Hair nearly down to his shoulders in the longest layers, piercings, and clothes he’d deem more ‘punk’ than anything else. Definitely not his version of presentable.

He looked even worse now, with dark shadows under his green eyes, and his hair mussed in a not-so-artful way. Not that he cared.

“O... kay.” She was fast. Or maybe his reactions were just that slow this time of morning. It happened when you ran on little sleep. At least she was friendly, and didn’t seem to mind him being there. The real test, he supposed, would be Dr. Nik. Especially after the spectacle he’d put out the last time he’d seen her.

And then there was more company. He twisted slightly to look at Vincent’s other daughter. Who seemed... somewhat more put together than her sister. And traditional, like her father. Jesse regarded her carefully before shrugging. “’S okay. Not like anyone planned it.” Least of all him. “... Sorry I took over the couch.” In an effort to keep the peace, he shifted so that he wasn’t hogging the thing anymore, pushing the blankets to the side with his feet. Her offer was met with a head shake. “No, not right now.” Try as he might, he couldn’t actually bring himself to be snarky with the girls.