will-never-be-a-swan:

nightmare-in-violet:

Violet’s brows rose. While she’d heard some of that part of Six’s past, she didn’t know all the details, and the observatory would never have occurred to her (in her own dimension, two hits from an orbital death ray had long since assured that the entire cliff point was gone).

“I guess he could have. It can’t hurt to take a look, right?”

She got up from the couch, but turned to Katelynn. “You’d better stay behind for now. I know you wanna apologize, but, well, it’s better if me and Alice talk to him first.” She could have said more – that the two of them were closer to Six than she was, and that he probably wouldn’t want to see Katelynn right now – but she kept her thoughts to herself.

A glance at the obviously unhappy Jack made her bite her lip. “And I think Jack needs you here.”

She had been prepared to go with them, wishing to help find Six, wishing to help but she realized Violet was right.

Looking at Jack, she bit her lip and blushed, realizing they still had to talk things over from their fight. Or had it even been a fight? She wasn’t sure but she needed to let Six cool down. He probably didn’t want to see her right now.

And to think that hurt a lot.

Sighing, she nodded in defeat. “Can you..text me when you find him..? And let him know I’m sorry..? Please?”

Jack had kept quiet as the girls decided who was going where, and what was going to be done. A part of him felt relief beyond anything at the fact Katelynn should stay. She had barely been home these past two days and, honestly, they had to talk. He moved over to her, since she had moved towards the door before, and took her hand into his.

“D-don’t worry.” he whispered softly. “It’ll work… work out.”

will-never-be-a-swan:

scorched-dragonfly:

nightmare-in-violet:

It was noble of Katelynn not to tell Six’s secrets without his permission. Unfortunately for her, it was also pointless – she did the psychic equivalent of wearing her heart on her sleeve, and it only took a faint touch for Violet to pick up thoughts of “the facility” from her mind.

Violet gave an irritated groan, rubbing her temples. For fuck’s sake, more stupid secrets? Why can’t people just goddamn say what they’re feeling?! It’d save a hell of a lot of pain if they’d just get things out in the open!

“It’s got to do with his Minion, doesn’t it? And that place where he used to live.” We’re all Six’s friends, we all know at least some of his past. It’s gonna come out in the end anyway – might as well save time.

“He went back there, didn’t he? And … you went with him. Something bad happened. He found out something, and … that’s what set him off, and made him leave.”

She didn’t feel at all guilty about taking Katelynn’s secret from her. She folded her arms across her chest, and made no move to follow Katelynn to the door as she waited to see what the others would say.

[Alice’s jaw had clenched when Katelynn flat out refused to tell them what had happened. Not that she didn’t respect her wanting to protect Six’s privacy, but couldn’t she see how worried they were? And that fact only made it worse, making Alice that much more on edge. She could see the guilt written all over Katelynn’s face and still she wouldn’t tell them? Even if it was to help? She had been about to speak up again when Violet beat her to the punch.

Her lips parted in surprise. Minion? The Facility? he’d gone back again?!  No wonder he was so upset! What had happened? What did they find!? It was probably tearing him up inside. …why hadn’t he told her…? the thought stung though the better part of her knew it was probably just something he didn’t want to talk about, something better left alone. Apparently Katelynn hadn’t done that.

Alice sighed deeply, trying to push the aggravation back, not wanting to make things even worse than they already were. She couldn’t stop the furrowing of her brow through and put a hand to her forehead, covering her eyes so she could calm down.] Crap dang it… [She muttered.]

Violet sharing the information in her mind, getting it out in the open had Katelynn looking at Violet in shock, eyes wide. A-A mind reader? She’s a super? There was no way she would have known about Minion unless Katelynn or Six told her and by the fact that they didn’t know the information until that moment, plus the poking presence of something in her mind, something that had felt like what Six had done to her months ago, it was definitely shocking. Violet..I’m sorry… she tried whispering to the newly revealed mind reader.

But though she trembled, though she stood there wishing she could just hide from it all, Katelynn tried to stand as tall as she could, looking at both Alice and Violet, her guilt only intensifying now that it was all out on the table sort of speak.

“Something bad happened..because I was stupid enough to go back..I wanted to help him..to figure out..if the spirit of his mentor was trapped down there and try to free his spirit. But I found out it was his long dead Minion’s spirit instead…”

She lowered her head a bit, hands lacing together. “I tried to talk to him..to see if he would go back with me to free his Minion’s spirit but he didn’t believe me and only got upset that I went back alone..because that place..the spirits there..they’re not quiet..Minion protected me for a time from them..”

She sighed, pressing a hand to her heart at remembering the poor little fish. “I thought I was helping..but I was only making it worse..all I wanted to do was to help him though. I swear! I hope you won’t..hate me for it..I’m sorry I upset Six..I am. I want to apologize so badly..”

Jack had listened to all of this, an expression of confusion clearly plastered on his face. The facility? Minion? Spirits? Katelynn went back alone? Why couldn’t she have told him any of this? He didn’t like the sound of any of this and it clearly showed as he crossed his arms over his chest, lowering his gaze a little.

“N-now the… the main problem is where h-he would go. I. I don’t think he’d… he’d go back to the facility, do you…?” he asked no one in particular. If he had been upset by a location, by all what Katelynn just told him, he wouldn’t go there. But then again Six was made of stronger, tougher stuff than him. But even he could get upset, obviously so. 

What a mess it all was.

will-never-be-a-swan:

scorched-dragonfly:

will-never-be-a-swan:

Her hands tightened on Jack a bit, looking completely afraid for a second.

“I-I figured as much,” she whispered, shame in her eyes. “I-I don’t know where he went though after I talked to him..I didn’t mean for this to happen either..!”

She took a deep breath, trying to calm down. Now was not the time to break down. She had to be strong. She had to be.

“I’ll help you look for him though. I need to apologize to him. But I don’t know where to start looking.”

[She nodded but Her heart sank a bit. So it was something Katelynn had done. She swallowed, shaking off the feelings that were sneaking into her. She knew Katelynn would never do anything on purpose to hurt a friend.]

Katelynn.. [she said quietly,] What did you talk about? It might help if we know what set him off.

And there it was, the dreaded question, what she had been dreading with Alice and now Violet was here to hear it. Both of them were close to Six after all and now she was going to lay down the ugly truth to them.

She tried to appear brave despite the guilt eating her up inside. Perhaps it would be okay for them to know about the facility? God it was supposed to be private and her going down there was only causing the secret to be exposed.

Sighing, she avoided their eyes. “Look..it’s not something I can just share..It’s Six’s business..I know you two are close to him but I’m not the person to ask..we need to find him first…I can’t betray him like this..”

Stepping out of Jack’s arms gently, she stood to face them as bravely as she could. “If Six wants to share, he will. But just know that I said wasn’t on purpose..I was just trying to help him with his past..to get over a few things..and instead it made him upset…and I want to apologize to him. But..we should go look for him and make sure he’s okay..”

“So it’s about that thing you went missing all night over?” Jack asked, his arms feeling a bit empty when she left them but he let his hands hang down by his sides as he looked at her. “K-Katelynn… this is important. F-for all we know Six could be injured. O… or something and if y-you have even an idea as to wh-where he could be this… look at them,” he gestured to Alice and Violet. “T-they’re both worried, ho-how can you just say that? That y-you upset him but you s-still can’t tell us why? …why? Isn’t t-this more important th-than if its his business or not?” he asks.

will-never-be-a-swan:

wrapped-in-shadows:

scorched-dragonfly:

[The drive was quiet and thankfully traffic was still good. Soon they were parked at Jack’s apartment building, making their way in, and knocking on his door.]

Jack pulled the door open when they arrived, using a foot to keep the black pug and bulldog pup at bay so they wouldn’t go running out into the street. He didn’t look good; clearly worry lines marked his face and he greeted them both, holding the door open for them. The man gave one last glance outside the door; maybe hoping Katelynn was returning.

Seeing her not there, he sighs, and shuts the door after them. 

One way or another they were going to get to the bottom of this.

She had wandered the city long enough, avoided this for hours, but with how the confrontation had gone with Six she just didn’t feel mentally ready to deal with Jack yet, knowing he would be upset with her and trying to figure out how she was going to keep Six’s past to herself.

He would probably keep insisting and she knew she just couldn’t do it.

What am I going to tell him if he keeps asking? she wondered, seeing her apartment complex up ahead. Her heart pounded in her chest but she couldn’t be afraid forever. She had to face this head on and deal with it, to let him have his say. With what she had told him before she left she was hoping at the same time that he would say what he wanted, to share everything because he tended to hold back his feelings sometimes. She could just tell.

Walking up to Jack’s apartment, her hand shook as she put the key in the door, opening it and immediately being greeted by the last two people she wanted in the room.

Oh god, Violet and Alice are here?

Her stomach churned, feeling her nerves increase as she looked from all of their faces and towards Jack last, seeing the worry on his face.

“….H-Hi…” she whispered, having closed the door behind her and leaning back against it.

Oh what what are they going to think about what I did? They’re going to hate me…

Jack had just been setting out some tea for the two girls, as well as himself. Something to calm his nerves. Roxy and Stella were keenly sitting around them; luckily in the time since Katelynn had moved in Jack had gotten two more bean bags so there wasn’t just one any more. Something for people to sit on when visiting. He looked up when he saw the door open and his eyes widened when he saw her. “Katelynn!” he gasped, rushing over to her and threw his arms around her tightly. “O-oh my God Katelynn!” he sounded relieved; because he was. How could he not be? “I-I’ve been so worried! W-we all h-have been!” granted, for different reasons but yes. They’d all been worried. He pulled back, looking at her, concern on his face.

nightmare-in-violet:

scorched-dragonfly:

[Alice could hear the stuttering in Jack’s voice from this side of the phone, and she frowned, her brow pinching in concern. She was missing Six and he was worried sick over Katelynn… She turned the key, starting the car.]

What do you say we go visit him? [She asked Violet quietly since she was still on the phone.]

That thought hadn’t occurred to Violet. But, now that Alice had brought it up, she agreed it was a good idea. Although they’d only met once, she liked Jack a lot, and she didn’t want to leave him alone like this. Plus, he might have more answers than he realizes.

“Hey, it’s gonna be okay.” She tried to sound soothing. “Listen, Alice Heartly and I are gonna drop by your place, if that’s okay? Just to say hi, maybe hang out. We’re all in the same searching boat, after all,” she attempted to joke (badly).

Jack rubbed a hand over the back of his head, nodding, though she couldn’t see it. “O-okay… su-sure.. I, I’ll be waiting… s-see you both soon…” he answered before hanging up and tried, again, for Katelynn’s number. And, as always, it went to voice mail.

scorched-dragonfly:

nightmare-in-violet:

“… Last night?” Violet shot a glance at Alice, wanting to make sure she was listening in. “What happened last night, if I may ask?”

[Alice nodded to show she was listening, as best she could at least. Something had happened?]

“S-she, Katelynn went out. She left a note sa-saying it was somewhere Six knew about. T-to not worry but then she didn’t come home! Sh-she was out all night and when I woke up she w-wasn’t back so I c-called Six even if sh-she said not to,” Jack explained as he walked to the window and looked outside, at the darkened streets below. “A-and then he b-brought her back but sh-she was asleep. He di-didn’t tell me where s-she’d been and when I ask-asked her she e-even said she couldn’t t-tell me!”

He turned away from the window, and looked down at Roxy and Stella who were asleep on his beanbag. “N-nobody tells me anything! Sh-she went out, s-saying she had to talk to Six but sh-she’s been gone all day again! I-I’ve called her, a-and Six b-but nobody’s answering and I-I think, s-should I call the police I don’t know..!”

nightmare-in-violet:

wrapped-in-shadows:

It was answered on the first ring.

“Hello?” Jack’s voice sounded nothing like he did when Violet met him; he sounded worried. Which only probably went to further feed her own concern.

“Mr. Maple? Hey, it’s Violet Morgan.” She did her best to keep her voice calm and friendly. “Listen, is Katelynn around? I’m kinda looking for her.”

“N-no she isn’t around. She said she’d be back at twelve b-but she never came back. I’ve been calling her–she’s not answering. Oh Jesus,” Jack sounded as worried as he felt, not one to try to hide his feelings like most guys would. “This is just like last night…!”

nightmare-in-violet:

scorched-dragonfly:

[She wasn’t surprised katelynn hadn’t answered, it just confirmed what she had suspected. She shrugged.] It’s worth a shot.

“Then I’m on it.” She flipped her phone open, and dialed Jack Maple’s number. Come on, one blue guy please answer the phone today …

It was answered on the first ring.

“Hello?” Jack’s voice sounded nothing like he did when Violet met him; he sounded worried. Which only probably went to further feed her own concern.