With tears in my eyes, I explained everything that’d just happened to Eliza. My voice was monotone, lacking any emotion. She played with my hair as I did this, twirling it in her fingers but I didn’t mind one bit. Actually I found it rather soothing.

“Oh Alex. Don’t believe him, not for one second. You are not useless, you are the only person in the world who I feel completely safe with. You are not stupid because you’ve managed to survive your whole life in a camp and then live here. You are not ugly. You aren’t. I don’t even know where he came up with that because even though you’re my brother, I can still see how beautiful you are. And finally, you are not worthless. You’re my only friend, that’s worth something right?”

I sighed and nodded.

“Good. Now that we’ve got that rubbish cleared up, I’ll be right back.” She said with a newfound confidence in her voice.

I let get up and walk out the door, wondering what she was doing.

---

I took a deep breath and knocked on the Master’s door. I knew what I was doing would probably get me killed, I didn’t have the immunity Alex has anymore but I didn’t care. I was too angry that Jack would even think those things about him. He didn’t answer but I didn’t let that stop me from opening the door and barging in. Jack was stood infant of a canvas painting furiously.

“Go apologize.” I snapped, my tone bringing back old memories of our past.
“No.” He spat, ignoring me in all other ways.
“Go apologize.” I persisted.

He glared at me.

“No.”

“I have lived in fear of you, watching you abuse every servant that comes through here but I’m drawing the line at Alex. You can’t touch him.” I replied.

I was terrified, yes. But I felt alive.

“I’ve already touched him.” He rounded on me, his dark eyes gleaming. “I’ve already touched and kissed and hovered over every part of him.”

He was saying this to try to break my heart, he knew I loved him. But he didn’t know that the second he hurt Alex, I was over him. I was just done.

“Fine. Then go do it again out of love, not out of lust.” I replied.

A glint of surprise was in his eyes when he realized I wasn’t one of his little toys anymore. I then realized that Alex had reawoken something I’d repressed a long time ago. He’d reawakon my fire, my will, my courage to say the thing that would get me killed.

“You know me, I’m not capable of love.” He spat.
“Then how is it that Alex isn’t dead? Don’t say he’s rare, it’s not like he’s the only angel left in the world. He’s alive because you care about him.” I persisted.

Jack put up a good mask but I’d been with him long enough to know better. I’d seen him cruel and I’d seen him kind. But I’d never seen him like he was when he was with Alex. When he got Alex, it was like he’d become another person. He seemed less angry and more centered and in control and his just general vibe was different. If you were in the same room as him, you didn’t feel like you were inches from death. Yeah he was still dangerous, but he was different.

“I don’t care about him. I’ve never cared about him. I will never care about him. He is nothing. He is just a tiny speck that I will not remember.” He snarled, his eyes flashing.
“You have to convince yourself of that before you try to convince anyone else.” I replied cooly.
“What do you mean? I am convinced.” He said.
“Then why are you painting instead of hurting someone?” I asked.

I watched him realize what was in his hand and look down.

“You went straight to painting instead of hurting someone because you know that if you hurt someone, he’d be angry with you. You claim not to care, and yet your actions prove otherwise.”

Notes

Title cred: I Don't Care - Fall Out Boy