Ji Ho and Jack set up a hot tub to heal Jack's pain so he can avoid the Temple and to free Jack from Kiyoshi's 'demonic influence' (that's how Jack calls it at least...)
Jack: "Let's jump right in and let the healing begin!"
But Ji Ho hesitated. Of course he felt how hurt Vlad was when he saw him massaging Jack.
Jack: "Oh my, he really has a thin skin when it comes to you. Alright, I'll call him to join us."
Vlad's room is right nearby.
Jack: "Vlad! Come over!"
(Vlad was just playing 'Sims Forever'. Also with a hot tub scene! This game!)
As always, it's awkward.
For both of them.
But what a stunning view they have from here!
The last time they'd been in a hot tub together is over a year ago. It was at the Temple in Mount Komorebi when Kiyoshi prepared them before they tightened their bond.
And they also still remember that embarrassing incident at the Tavern when Vlad attacked Ji Ho after he found him in the hot tub together with Jeb...
Vlad undressed and Ji Ho lowered his gaze omg. After all the times they'd seen each other naked ^^'
Jack tries to nudge them: "Let's change places."
Ji Ho: "Ok."
Jack: "You could give Vlad a massage. You haven't charged the Bond for a while." ('Subtle' is not Jack's middle name hahaha).
Vlad: "What? No!" (We all know what Ji Ho's massages do to Vlad...)
Jack: "I'll close my eyes ;)"
As if this makes it less awkward ^^'
Vlad is even more comfortable when Jack is around because he feels so lost when he's alone with Ji Ho.
Ji Ho: "Turn around."
Vlad: "Um - ok."
Of course Jack didn't keep his eyes closed ^^'
He thinks of the time he's been in a hot tub together with Kiyoshi at the Jedi Temple... (Omg Jack, how are you supposed to heal if you can't get over Kiyoshi! But healing is a rocky, winding road. A back and forth. And even if you think you've made no progress at all by going one step forward and two steps back. You do.)
'I've kept it inside much too long There's no relief
Carry it around just like a stone Too heavy for me
I have paid the price of standing On the outside looking in
It's time to let the healing begin
A boy is strung out he's going through hell His mother weeps
His spirit is broken and there's nothing left Just a terrible need
And the days are marked by the heaviness of the heart
It never mends Until the healing begins
And the tension prowels the streets like an animal
The people stay behind their locks and chains It's a shame
When so many are trying their best to live as one
And the smoke from the fires covers up the sun
A young girl is lying in the dirt Her dreams ended there
Caught in the crossfire on somebody's turf Hatred in the air
It's a voice that never sings A winter without the spring
It never ends Time to let the healing begin'
Joe Cocker - Let the healing begin
(Link above leads to the MV on youtube. It's such an amazing song and the MV is worth a watch. He sings about his painful past.)
From the Beginning ~ Underwater Love ~ Latest
🛺 'Home happy Home' from the beginning ▶️ here
📚 Previous Chapters:
Chapters: 1-6 ~ 7-12 ~ 13-16 ~ 17-22 ~ 23-28
Secrets he'd take to his grave a second time if he had to.
But to think one of those secrets would be about the fact he had a secret family.
And the only reason the Batfam found out was because apparently their secret (grand)daughter/sister-in-law Jazz/Jasmine was in labor and their (great)grandson/nephews Danny (Daniel) and Dan (Dante) called him while on a Red Hood job with the rest of the Batfam to panicky tell him their baby sister Ellie was on the way early.
Red Hood books it away from the fam to his bike while asking to put Kori or Roy on the phone.
Just a fun little in-between moment cause I wanted to write some DnD stuff.
The way I see it, they’ve continued their old college campaign but Maddie updated it to include some 5e rules. The boys however kept their old character sheets, so they’re a little outdated but they hold sentimental value to them.
<<First < Previous Next >
(Weirdly enough, trying to come up with names and classes for them was real difficult, cause DnD for me is very personal and I put a ALOT of care to my own characters. So giving Vlad and Jack their own characters felt like I was overstepping? Maybe it’s cause in their own world Vlad and Jack might as well be DnD character lol)
I had either the pleasure or misfortune of walking into a Purple mattress store with my friend today for funsies, both of us broke as hell and neither looking for a new mattress but wanting to pretend for a little while that we had money in this big touristy outlet mall. And I need you to tell me something awful about these beds because the only thing I could say as we left was "I need to win the lottery." The salesman had us lay on the soft bed (per my preference) and then showed us the adjustable settings and the vibration mode. The pillows alone are like 250 but I don't think I have ever been so comfortable in my life. Please ruin this picture perfect out of budget bed for me. Or at least give me hope that I can find something just as comfy at a better cost once I look to replace my mattress with a new one.
Do you want to know a secret? When your bed is old and broken down almost every bed should feel amazing to you. Because it is new and still functioning as a bed.
Purple is not remotely in the ballpark of what I consider good bang for buck in general terms. For one major reason: they come in a box. Why?? Why compress a luxury bed into a box!? It just degrades the support.
I’ve made my peace with selling Purple and if it were not compressed with the gel grid I’d say they’re a top contender but as it stands I have reservations about their longevity.
A hurt Lex looks at his intern and lets him get touched by the healing staff, and before the eyes of the heroes, villains, civilians, and Brainiac, he is healed like he was never hurt.
Danny:" You own me more than a raise, and don't get hurt."
Lex:" Yeah, double the price."
+
While battle
Legion of Doom members who fought the robots: "You had a damn healer all the time!"
Lex. "He is not a hero or villain; I am friends with his family. And he needed a summer job."
The rest of them look at Lex. What! Lex is really friend with Jack and Maddie who he meet thanks to Vlad.
Lex:" So I gave him a good job and paid him; others would want him to heal for free. But that way, it's better; he gets money for the summer before returning home."
For the rest it was " He hide a healer, used him as a personal healer, and didn't let them get healed!!
+
A/N
Danny is a brat to Lex and people who he heals more then once. You won't have no idea how many times he had to heal him!
Like try to not get hurt for Pariah's sake! Like at least for 1 week!
Vlad and Jack arrived at the temple to seek relief for Jack's pain.
They greeted Arturo, the servant at this Temple, Chán's partner.
Jack thought it would be honest to tell Arturo in advance that they don't have much money before he makes any effort to help him.
But Arturo reassured him. This Temple helps anyone in need.
Arturo: "You know, our diety once was a temple servant too. He put his duty for his diety and his studies for the temple over everything. Even over his loved one. As a result, he lost his love. His diety was furious and banned him. So he sat under this tree here to reflect and eventually became one with the tree.
This reminds us that we are here to serve the people and our loved ones before anything else."
Arturo: "The tree cares for us. We pot his saplings and sell them. They have the tree's healing powers too. The income just from the saplings is enough to run the temple. So don't worry about money, hm?"
Jack: "I see. Thank you. This place is really amazing."
Arturo: "It is. I consider myself very lucky to be allowed to serve here. The tree is picky ^^' He allows not just anybody around him and touch his precious saplings and soil."
Arturo took them inside to see what he can do for Jack. And Jack told him about his searing pain after he left his fated mate.
Arturo: "Oh I never met someone who left his fated mate. It's a wonder you are still alive! How did it happen?"
Jack: "He kept claiming that we were fated mates but I never felt it.
I ... had a very difficult past and I'm... damaged, you know? He had his obligations, urged me to keep our relationship a secret, was barely there - all this stacked and drove me just deeper into my madness. It was too much for me to keep going. My life and sanity - or our love. I chose life. I guess fate makes mistakes sometimes too. If I only were 'normal' - I could have endured it and..."
Vlad: "No Jack. No one should have to 'endure' anything when it comes to love. That's also the reason why I want to cut the bond. I love Ji Ho too much to let him 'endure' me and the Bond."
Arturo: "But Jack, you just gave you the answer yourself!"
Jack: "What do you mean?"
Arturo: "Follow me."
They offered fruit and incense at the shrine in silence.
Arturo. "You are damaged and your fated mated couldn't protect you and even caused you more pain. So you protected yourself - from him and your love for him. Subconsciously. That's why you couldn't feel it.
As you said. Going on with him and deepen your relationship - giving in being fated mates - would only have caused you more and more pain. So your subconscious stopped you from feeling it. You have to heal first."
Jack: "How can I heal?"
Arturo: "It takes time and treatment. Like healing any other wound. The pain in your soul and heart already reached your body. It was about time you came here. The tree can ease your pain and pave a path for you. But you'll have to walk it yourself."
Jack: "I will."
Arturo: "Let's go then!"
Arturo: "Meditaion is important on your way to healing. You need a certain state of mindfulness and awareness to listen to and care for the needs of your soul and your heart. Come join us, Vlad!"
When Arturo took Jack to the massage, Vlad didn't join them ^^'
Arturo: "I will be very careful to not touch your rash. But your body needs this to relax. To be able to deal with the pain. You'll feel so much better this evening, you'll see."
Jack: "I really hope so..."
Arturo: "And when it's getting worse again, don't hesitate to come back, hear me? I'm here to help."
Jack: "Ok ^^' "
Vlad went over to the kitchen to prepare a meal for them. That's the least he can do for Arturo for helping Jack.
To be continued...
(If you have an idea about the tree, you might be right ö.Ö'
But please do not spoil ;)
This was a very mindblowing episode for me. I never knew why Jack never felt 'the fated mates thing' until this night! And what Arturo said is also very important for my own healing. Thank you, Arturo!
From the Beginning ~ Underwater Love ~ Latest
🛺 'Home crappy Home' from the beginning ▶️ here
📚 Previous Chapters:
🌴 'The Expedition' from the beginning ▶️ here
🎤 'Putting the Boys Back together' from the beginning ▶️ here
🥀 'Disbandment of the Group' from the beginning ▶️ here
SO HYPED!!! Please go check out healing the wounds we hid by @underforeversgrace!! And of course read the whole series if you haven't already read it! Such an amazing story and I'm so glad I got to contribute my art to it!! :D @invisobang
UnderForeversGrace's tumblr post
Saxonroa's wonderful art!
Below the cut are some additional sketches I made for the fic that are too cute to leave out, plus the first sketch of my stargazing art!
But fr I’ve been getting better day by day so I thank my lucky stars that it isn’t super horrible, but I haven’t been able to properly draw or do anything of late…
Emphasis on properly
It turns out if I take my time and rest a lot I can do small doodles, and I have my whole left hand
So behold what I have been working on for the past couple of days
I put my whole Ghostussy into this-
It’s not perfect, but it is mine
I tried my best and I can be proud of that
I hope you guys enjoy it as much as I did :) I had a lot of fun making this