rpg_palace | Jake and Sean... Jake and Marton. (Reply)

(This log takes place the same day Harry finds out about Amy... this happens around the same time Harry and Elijah are talking in Harry's office.)

Picking up his com, Sean headed for the door, yelling out to Dom who was in the storeroom that he was going downstairs. Way he figured it, he had a couple of good reasons for taking a stroll. He'd not been downstairs for ages, that was reason enough by itself. He liked roaming around Lowers, gave him a chance to talk to folk, test the waters so to speak and besides, he might accidentally run into Eric. He almost got to the door before he remembered Jake and shot back inside his office to pick up the bracelets and com unit he'd left in the drawer, just in case he saw Jake, too. This time he made it to the lifts, Sala right behind him. But Sean was almost used to that now and paid him no mind.

Jake walked out of Elijah's room and down the hall to the public com system to check and see if Sean had answered his message yet. This having to go through his father's lover in order to get a com and bracelets was making Jake crazy, especially since he'd had to be all sweetness and light to Sean. He punched in his account...*no new email.* Jake swore under his breath, and turned to go back to Elijah's empty room. Elijah was working, covering for that bastard Harry who hadn't gone into work since last Wednesday, according to Elijah. Fucking lush.

"Jake?" Sean had come around the corner and was headed for the cafeteria and coffee when he'd spotted the young man he was pretty sure was Jake. Turned out he was right as the stopped at the sound of his name and turned around. Sala stopped a few paces behind Sean at the corner and allowed him to walk over alone. "Thought it was you." he smiled "Wasn't sure, been a while. How are you?" He'd heard some of the stories about Jake, mostly related to him by Marton, but he had no personal reason to dislike the lad.

Jake stopped walking when he heard someone call his name, and made sure his ‘sincere face’ was on before turning around. Sean. Perfect. He added his ‘sincere smile of recognition’ as Sean walked up and spoke to him, and extended his hand. "It's been forever! Can't even quite remember the last time I was here. And I'm pretty good. Could be better, but things are always looking up."

Sean took the proffered hand and shook it then thought, what the hell and pulled Jake in for a brief hug. He stepped back again, smiling, and said "Long time I think. At least you were a hell of a lot shorter." He reached into his pocket and pulled out the things he bought down with him. "Got your stuff." he said.

Jake fought the instinct to pull away when Sean pulled him in for a hug and made himself go with it instead. Where with anyone else he might have tried to skim them, see if there was anything useful kicking about, he wasn't about to go there with Sean. He wasn't stupid enough to fuck around in the brain of his father's lover, and besides, there were memories and feelings there that he really didn't want to know about. "Thanks for these, Sean! It was getting really annoying being restricted to Lowers, reception, the warehouse, and intake. I just felt so stupid for leaving everything behind." Jake stashed the com in his pocket, and started to clasp on the bracelets.

"So these are coded to get me upstairs? I can go see my father now when I have a chance?"

Sean shook his head. "Sorry mate. I can't authorise them for Palace-Proper, your dad or someone needs to do it. Called him earlier but he wasn't in. Council. I can try again if you like? No problem."

Jake fumed inwardly. He had been sure that Sean would be able to authorize them for him, and he could just walk in on his father, have it be a surprise, on his terms. But he needed to talk to him before Christian and Craig and Fucking Harry got a hold of him. "Oh. I had thought you'd be able to do it. But yeah, sure... give him a call. I was just hoping it could be a surprise is all." Jake said sheepishly

"Sorry." Sean patted Jake's shoulder. "I'm good, I'm not that good." he grinned. Pulling out his own com, he pressed for Marton and was relieved to actually get him instead of voice mail. A couple of seconds of quick conversation and he put it away again, smiling at Jake. "Your dad says to come up." he told him. "I can get you up there. Ready?"

Jake nodded. "Yeah... I'm almost nervous- it's been so long since I've seen him!" Jake isn't kidding about being nervous, although it isn't for the reason he's saying. "Did he sound...how did he sound?" Jake's voice is unsure.

Sean grinned at him and lead him toward the lifts. "He sounds fine, Jake, don't worry about it. I'm sure he'll be pleased to see you." Sean wasn't at all sure of that at all, but Marton hadn't given any indication otherwise, so it was easier to come down on the positive side. The lift door closed just as Sala made it through and Sean pressed the button. "Sorry 'bout him." he hiked a thumb in Sala's direction. "My own personal protection squad." he said.

Jake smiled shakily at Sean. "Okay. Good. I hope so. God, I don't know what I'm so nervous about." He looked at Sala. The man was a fucking giant. "You didn't have him before, did you? I've noticed a lot of people walking around with shadow's lately... is it the new Palace trend or something?" Jake is pushing the nervousness, but not by much.

"Dunno about anyone else," Sean eyed Sala "but he's your father's idea. Can't get rid of the bugger no matter what I try." Sala grinned at this, the smile changing his expression from stern to sweet in an instant. Sean ignored it, choosing instead to stage whisper to Jake, "He's a whole lot faster than he looks. Ah, here we are." The lift stopped and they stepped out into Palace's foyer. Sean crossed to the private lift and used his bracelets to key it open. "After you." he invited as the doors silently opened.

Jake took mental note of Sean's statements about Sala, wondering how they applied to the other shadows he'd seen... Michael for Craig, and that new guy for Craig's fucking fiance. Nodding nervously at Sean, he wiped his hands on his pants, took a deep breath in and out, and walked through the doors.

When they reached the top floor and the doors opened, Sean held them, letting Jake go through alone. "I'll leave you to it." he said. "Your dad's around here somewhere. I'm sure you know where to look. See you later." he smiled, releasing his hold on the door. The lift doors slid closed again and Jake was on his own.

Jake went to thank Sean but the man was gone before he had a chance. He turned and walked down the hall to his father's rooms. He'd try there first, then look elsewhere. The temptation to wander around was strong, but Sean had told Marton he was coming and he didn't want to explain away lost time. Besides, he'd have proper coding on his bracelets soon and he could go wherever the fuck he wanted. Smirking a little, he stopped outside the door to Marton's room. Allowing the nervousness he'd been feeling to creep back in and take over, he knocked on the door.

Marton looked up from his paper when he heard the knock. Jake. He took a deep breath and, folding his paper, called out. "Come in." He put the news aside and got to his feet, uncomfortably nervous about seeing his son.

Jake turned the handle and pushed the door open, slowly, hunching his shoulders an lowering his head as he inched around the side of the door. He lifted his head up to look at Marton, his eyes nervous. "Father?"

"Hello Jake." Marton's smile was soft and warm. Despite everything else, this was his child and he held out his arms in invitation.

Jake walked forward slowly, as if he was sure that any moment Marton would turn away and refuse to touch him. Standing in front of him at last, he looked up, and with a shaky smile, moved into Marton's arms, burying his face in his chest.

Marton wrapped his arms around Jake and buried his face in his hair. This is what it should always be like. He just held on, willing to wait until Jake had had enough. "Missed you." he said, meaning it. Seem to have been saying that a lot lately, he reflected. He planted a kiss on the top of Jake's head.

Jake stayed in his father's arms, just enjoying being held and loved for a few moments. It had been a long time since he'd felt safe and secure like this. He smiled widely, then he heard his father speak and felt the kiss on the top of his head, and felt his contentment turning into panic. Suddenly claustrophobic, he had to fight not to struggle out of Marton's arms and run out of the room. This is not what you are here for. Stop being all fucking emotional for no reason and do something with it! Centering himself, Jake allowed his eyes to fill with tears, and he raised his head a little, looking up at Marton through his lashes, his eyes bright with unshed tears. "I missed you too."

"Then I think we've established that we're both pleased to see one another." Marton smiled. He dropped his arms and stepped back toward the couch. "Come on, sit down. Tell me what you've been up to." He resumed his seat and waited for Jake to sit down as well.

Jake followed Marton, sitting down on the couch beside him and pulling his knees up in front of him. Now how in the bloody fuck do I answer *that* question. "Well, it was kind of the same old, same old back at Dnara, so I thought I'd come here for awhile. I didn't think you'd mind. Well, I hoped you wouldn't mind." Jake ducked his head a little.

"'Course I don't mind. This is home too, you know." Marton intuited that Jake was uncomfortable and sought for another subject without success. Everything he thought of was fraught with difficulties. In the end he just said, "So, you were downstairs? I've arranged the Green Suite for you on Royal. You don't have to take it . . . I mean, if you'd rather stay where you are, but it'll stand ready." He shifted in his seat, angry that other things were already beginning to intrude, tainting this.

Jake smiled at the first part of his father's sentence, and nodded along when he asked him to come upstairs, at first missing that the room he had mentioned was on Royal. "No, I'll move up... I've been staying on Lower with this guy I met- Father, you'll really like him he's-" Jake cut off, frowning. "The Green Suite? On Royal?" Why the fuck was he being offered a suite on Royal?

"Yes, Jake." Marton said it as gently as possible but his tone left no room for discussion. "Royal. I have an entire family to think about and as much as I'd like to have everyone together and happy, it's just not like that right now. So I decided that a suite on Royal was the next option. Close by but with a built-in buffer zone. I am sorry, but that's the way it's going to be."

"But-" Jake cuts off and looks down, hiding the rage in his eyes. Someone must have beaten him to Marton. Harry must have told Orlando and that little fucker must have spilled. Or Christian. FUCK! What the shit do I do now? Fucking ROYAL? Jake forced down his rage, knowing that he couldn't destroy the fragile peace that he and his father had just created. He let his voice tremble a little bit. "But I've only just seen you for the first time now. I can't ask Sean to walk me up every time I want to see my family." Jake kept his head down, the tone in his voice bewildered.

"Jake." Marton turned in his seat and took on of Jake's hands in his own. "It's a phone call, son, just a phone call. You know I can key you up and I hope you know that I'm always here. For you. For all my kids." He looked hard at Jake, trying to convey what he felt without giving into the urge to revoke his decision. Reaching out, he slid a hand into Jake's hair. "We'll make time for one another this time, won't we? Can't we? I know I want to try." Pulling Jake toward him, he kissed him again, aware of the resistence in the lean frame and saddened by it. This was probably fruitless, but he had to try.

Jake fought to allow the touches, trying not to tense up. Think ahead, Jake... you didn't get it this time, but you're as far up as Royal, and a phone call gets you up here. One step at a time. "I'll try. But... they won't see me, Father. They all hate me. Even though they haven't seen me in years- I know nothing's changed. Craig and Orlando never talk to me, and I barely saw Christian back in Dnara. And now we're not even living in the same place. They'll never believe that I'm trying ... that I've changed." Jake leaned into Marton's chest.

"Nobody hates you, Jake. It's just . . . awkward." Marton hugged his son to his chest again. He knew what he wanted to say, but he couldn't bring himself to accuse. Instead he tried, "Things are tense. We'll wait and see, okay. Best I can do." He turned his head and rested his cheek in Jake's hair. Remember this he told himself as he enjoyed the sensation of physical closeness with his child. Remember the hugs, the kisses, the real emotions. You're going to need the memories.

Jake sank into the hug, his narrowed eyes hidden from sight. Soon...