AN (No, like seriously long author note coming up):  Firstly I just want to apologize. I'm sorry to those that were reading this. I'm sorry that I haven't updated in so long. It's been six flipping months since I've updated and that is just ridiculous. I have my reasons of course, but none of them are good enough to have kept you waiting as long as I have. So I just want to apologize. (Goodness that was dramatic but I wanted to be sincere, you know...) Secondly I want to say that I don't know how often (if ever) I can post. I really love this story and I want to write it, but life just won't let me. However, I have at least half of the story planned and sloppily drafted. I say this because I want to know if you guys would want to me to just post that. If I never finish this story and you guys are interested in where it was going I can post that so you guy can still get the 'epic' adventure you signed up for. Let me know (if you're still here) if you want something like that. Even if I post the chart and draft it doesn't mean that I won't still finish. As I said, I really want to write this. So let me know in the comments (but that's even if you still care). Anyway on to the chapter. *By the way I have another 'chart' story if you're curious of how it would look*

The car settled into a comfortable silence soon after pulling off. There were many questions to be asked but for now they let the engine’s hum fill the silence, calming the passengers after their eventful day. Jinyoung still sat in the back, his legs still near the gear shift despite the tingles that ran along them. He could feel Mark’s arm where it rested on top of his shins, the man’s still bloody fingers playing with the gear as his other hand steered the car. Jaebum’s elbow was nudged into his right calf, the dragoon’s thighs near his toes. The man laid his exhausted head on the headrest as his dark hair blew wildly in his sharp eyes. Finally in Jinyoung’s lap rested the head of his savior, Jackson. The blonde had his eyes closed, soft breaths coming from his once very active mouth. Jinyoung carded his fingers through the blonde’s hair as he dug himself deeper into the leather of his seat. He closed his eyes as well and as his eyes fell shut Jinyoung couldn’t help but notice that he was surrounded by strangers, yet he felt so comfortable. He felt as though he belonged and that was a feeling he hasn’t felt in a very long time.

“So,” Mark began. He shifted in his seat, making a spark run up Jinyoung’s leg as their magic pushed against one another. They both shivered. It was still strange for Jinyoung to feel another that could dispel raw magic in the abundance that he could. It was rare but then again so was Mark. “What’s out here,” he asked, “Because we’ve been driving for hours and there’s been nothing but trees.”

“Just keep going south,” Jaebum said. His head was still lying on the headrest, his eyes closed and relaxed. It was rare to see Jaebum like this, Jinyoung noticed. It was even more so when there were strangers around. His lance was safely stashed away in the trunk, far from his reach, and the top half of his armor was gone. For the first time since Jinyoung met him, he looked human. “There’s a town near here. We can rest up there and recoup,” the dragoon finished. He voice was easy despite his leading and Jinyoung could somewhat understand why people would follow him.

Mark nodded, falling in line like people tend to do when Jaebum gave orders, but Jackson shifted in Jinyoung’s lap. A frown tugged on his lips, his face thoughtful. “A town,” he questioned. He moved again, pulling Jinyoung’s arm from his hair to across his chest so he could turn towards Jaebum. “What town?” Jaebum opened an eye, obviously put off. Not many people questioned his decisions. While Jinyoung challenged them – or even ignore them – he didn’t ask the dragoon for details. Jackson wanted to discuss Jaebum’s orders before following them and that was new. Jinyoung figured that the other would get offended, allow his temper to show its ugly head. However the other just turned and looked Jackson in the eye, frowning as well. “No,” Jackson said to Jaebum’s silent response, “Not Windale. Are you trying to get us killed?”

“It’ll be fine,” Jaebum countered. He lay back once again, resting his head back on the headrest. The discussion was over. Jackson frown deepened but he still flopped back down. Jinyoung wasn’t expecting the easy surrender. Jackson seemed like the type to push and rebel but he too followed eventually. Jinyoung frowned, disappointed, but he still accepted the injured swordsman and entangled his fingers through the man’s hair once again.

Jinyoung sighed. If no one was going to challenge Jaebum then he will. “So what’s Windale and why is Jackson so upset about it,” he asked. Jinyoung watched Jaebum as he sighed tiredly and twitched in his seat. Jinyoung knew that reaction. The dragoon wanted him to blindly agree. However Jinyoung was never very good at falling in line. The black mage felt a smirk twitch at the corner of his lips. No matter how things changed and how many people are added to their dynamic, he still loved taking Jaebum down a peg. “So, what stupidity are you about to spit out this time,” he teased.

“It’s not stupidity if it’s our only option,” Jaebum returned sharply. He was the commander again, his voice cold and offering no room for arguments. Jinyoung just raised an unimpressed eyebrow. It would take a stronger man than Jaebum to make him bow down. “Mark is covered in blood and Jackson,” Jaebum continued just as coldly, “Despite acting as though he’s fine is most likely in a lot of pain. We have to find somewhere for them to rest.” Jinyoung’s smirk fell from his face. That caught his attention.

However, Jackson just huffed in annoyance. “I’m a big boy,” Jackson sassed, “I don’t need you to monitor me and I can rest just fine right here.” He raised his hand in order to gesture at Jinyoung but paused and hissed as he pulled at his stitches. The black mage gently took the swordsman’s hand and laid it back across his chest, but the gesture just made the man more upset. “Look,” he leveled, “We’re not stopping in Windale just because I’m sore. I’ll be fine.”

Mark sighed angrily before he pulled the car over. He turned completely around in his seat and leveled his friend with a stern stare. “You are not fine,” he said emphasizing every word. Jackson opened his mouth to speak but Mark stopped him with a raised hand. His brows were creased in anger and Jinyoung was reminded of the wounded man he saw earlier in Ferin. “No,” he said, “You’re not fine! You just took a Behemoth spike to the chest! You had a crater in your chest before I healed you! I thought that you were gonna-” He stopped and took ragged breaths through his nose as he tried to calm down before he suddenly deflated. He turned around and flopped back into his seat before starting the engine again and turning to Jaebum. “Now,” he said, “Where’s Windale?”

“You don’t get it, Mark,” Jackson argued back, “Windale’s not safe for us.” Mark paused then, looking back as he waited for Jackson to continue. “Windale is an Imperial city,” he said, “If we go there we’ll never even make it to Riel.”

“What is he talking about,” Mark questioned. He parked the car again as he turned accusatory eyes to Jaebum. “Are you leading us to the Imperials?” He hands were clutching the steering wheel, his knuckles turning white. “Are you still working for them?”

The dragoon looked taken aback by the accusation, then angered by it. He returned the stare, danger radiating off of him even without his golden lance and legendary blood red armor He clutched at his ruby medallion, the jewel hanging dully from his neck. “I have my own bone to pick with the Imperials,” he said, “I would never lead you to them unless it is to lead you against them.”

“Then why are you sending us to an Imperial city,” Mark rebutted. He wasn’t convinced if the spike in magic was any indicator. The pressure within the car started to become heavier and the gentle tingles that ran along Jinyoung’s leg was quickly turning into painful currents digging into his skin.

“Calm down, Red Mage,” Jinyoung advised from his seat. “You may be powerful but Jaebum is not someone you should trifle with, even without his dragon.” Mark huffed and then turned his angered eyes to Jinyoung. “Neither am I,” the black mage warned. The red kept his glare but followed Jinyoung’s advice. He knew who the stronger of them were. The air returned to normal as the mage settled back into his seat, breathing deeply. Now that Mark was calm, Jinyoung turned to Jaebum. He wanted answers as well. “Now, explain yourself, Jaebum,” Jinyoung said to the dragoon, “Because I don’t want to go back to that hell and I don’t want to make you my enemy.”

The anger melted off Jaebum’s face after the black mage spoke and pain flickered briefly in his eyes. Jinyoung knew that Jaebum was thinking of the labs he inadvertently brought the mage to. He could tell from Jaebum’s face that the former soldier would feel the guilt of his mistake for the rest of his life. “I don’t want you back there either, Jinyoung,” he finally and said. He turned towards the mage and his sharp eyes were rounded by sincerity, his voice softened by desperation. “I would never take you back to the Imperials again,” he said, “Any of you.” He then turned and leaned back onto the headrest, resting a wary hand across his forehead. The sigh that followed was tired and his eyes were closed again but he began to explain. “Look, Windale is an undercover Imperial city,” he started robotically, as if he was reciting from a distant memory, “It’s where they force their scientists to live in order to keep them far enough away from civilization that they can’t spill any company secrets or get killed.” He paused then and wiped his resting hand across his face. Jinyoung could see the guilt in his reflection in the windshield. “I used to them there,” he said sadly. He paused again and breathed deep, forcing the guilt from his expression. He voice was robotic again when he continued, back to business. “There aren’t any guards,” he said, “The King thought that the seclusion would be enough to keep them safe.”

“If you escorted them out here,” Jackson began, “They wouldn’t know about your defection.” Jaebum nodded and the two shared another look. “Wait,” he continued, “They don’t know about any of us, do they?” He sat up on his elbows, the appendages digging into Jinyoung’s thighs. He gave Jaebum an incredulous look, his voice taking on a higher octave as he asked, “How long have they been out here?”

“Years,” Jaebum answered. He voice was low and regretful, his eyes no longer able to meet Jackson’s. “Years,” he repeated. “I was still a rookie when I brought them out here,” the dragoon explained, “It was one of my first missions.” He chewed on his bottom lip, his eyes facing the car floor and glazed over as he reminisced. “I really thought that I was bringing them out here for their own protection. I separated them from their families, from their friends, and being the idiot I was I thought it was for their own good.” His face flared in anger as he shook his head at himself. “I was such a gullible fool!”

“But wasn’t it,” Jinyoung asked. He nudged the dragoon with the tip of his foot. However the motion wasn’t enough to pull the man back to the present. He turned and sat still, staring out of the window. Jinyoung sighed but still continued his question. “If it was not to keep the scientists safe then why isolate them?”

“To keep them in line,” Mark mumbled. The occupants turned to him surprised, not expecting him to speak. He was quiet for so long. “They put these scientists out here because it’s so far removed from Empire City,” he said, “Not to protect them from their enemies.” As he spoke his voice raised, disgust making his already deep voice venomous. “Think about it,” he seethed, “The King wouldn’t want such intelligent people to be near his corruption. Here they can stay uninformed and work blindly for the king they remember instead of rebelling against the king he’s become.” He clenched his eyes shut in fury but when he opened them again he was no longer angry. His eyes were downcast and his lip was between his sharp teeth. No he wasn’t angry. Jinyoung knew the other’s expression too well. He was disappointed. “It’s the perfect way to keep the country’s smartest people working for him,” he said with a dejected sigh, “It would be genius if it wasn’t so disgusting.”

“We’ll fix this,” Jackson sounded from Jinyoung’s lap. His usually boisterous voice was soft but so very determined. “Do you hear me, Markie,” he asked. He reached his hand across his wounded chest, swallowing a hiss to put his hand on Mark’s shoulder. “We’ll fix this,” he repeated, “It’s what we’re going to Riel for.” Mark nodded absently and Jackson gave the red mage’s shoulder a squeeze before returning to Jinyoung’s lap.

The raven mage looked down at the blonde as he lay with his eyes closed, breathing away his pain. He put himself through that just to comfort his friend. His words were so simple, yet so meaningful and so heroic. Jinyoung didn’t know if he admired them or thought them foolish. The world was not as simple as Jackson’s words or Mark’s anger or even Jaebum’s guilt made it out to be. “It’s not an easy fix, Jinyoung thought out-loud, “Not all of those scientists are innocent.” He removed his fingers from Jackson’s hair and the cloth above his scar instead. He could feel the ridges of his raised skin as the fabric slid across it. His fingers dipped along the grotesque mark and he could swear that he still felt the pain of it. “Some of them are monsters,” he continued, “Some of them thieves.” He toed Jaebum as he absently spoke, his heart aching for the man and his misplaced dragon. “Even kidnappers and mad men,” he finished, “Not everyone deserves rescuing.”

Jackson ran the tips of his fingers along the knuckles of Jinyoung’s hand. The mage stop the fabric above his scar as the other’s touch shook him from his thoughts. “And some of them are just people that were trapped with a bad mission,” he said. He looked at Jinyoung with sad doe eyes. Jinyoung couldn’t help but to notice that the blonde’s eyebrows were knitted in concern for a man he didn’t even know. “Not all people are bad,” Jackson whispered.

“Not all people are good, either,” Jinyoung countered. He then tilted his thick lips into a self-deprecating smirk. “I’m not even sure if I’m all that good.” He laughed darkly and tilted his head back. Dark memories were hidden behind his smile, gallons of blood on his hands. “No,” he continued, “I’m pretty sure that I’m one of the bad guys.”

“And yet you’re still worth saving,” Jackson added. Jinyoung looked down and snorted, shock, before returning Jackson’s smile with his most mischievous smirk. The swordsman had no idea what he was talking about but Gaia, he hoped the swordsman was right. He hoped that he really was worth saving. He really hoped that he was worth the hole that was in this good man’s chest. “We can never judge if someone’s life is worth saving or not,” he continued, “So we’ll just have to save everyone.”

Jinyoung chuckled, “I suppose so.” It was such a foolish plan, so full of hot air and naive optimism. Jinyoung couldn’t help but agree. “Then that means that we’re going to Windale,” he said, “We have to start somewhere.” He looked towards Jaebum when he spoke, the other staring out of his window. He hadn’t spoken since he shared what he knew about Windale. Jinyoung wasn’t sure if the man was even listening. He held his hand loosely under the ruby that sat in the middle of his chest. A thoughtful frown etched itself slowly onto his features as he stared blankly ahead of him, rubbing at the spot as if to ease some pain.

“Yeah,” the dragoon finally returned, “Yeah.” He laid back as the red put the car back in drive. “Just keep heading south,” Jaebum said. His raven hair whipped around him again as Mark sped along, the dark locks hiding his eyes from view. “We’ll be there soon,” he said. “And once we get there let me do all the talking, ok?”

They nodded. “I’ll trust you, for now,” Jinyoung said just as he said a year ago. Jaebum smiled satisfied with the answer and the memory it raised before hissing and rubbing at his chest again. Jinyoung looked to Jackson and saw him staring at the dragoon in concern and Jinyoung couldn’t help but to join him.

------------

The inn keeper was cheerful and young. She smiled brightly when she saw Jaebum and gushed cutely over his red armor. Jaebum returned the smile the best he could, his eyes disappearing briefly. They talked as though they were old friends. He asked about her mother and she asked about his current mission. He lied about some diplomatic meeting – a gathering of ambassadors – and she ate it up. She looked up from her behind her long lashes and said how proud she was that her king was finally mending things between the three nations. It took a look from Jackson to get Mark to hold his tongue. Jaebum, however, took it in stride and smiled truthfully as he told her of his wish for a successful journey and his hope that it’ll make a difference. She smiled again, telling him how happy she was to see him, and handed him their key. She apologized for the room, saying heroes like them deserved better than a double. Again Jaebum had just smiled and took the key. As they walked away, Jinyoung watched as Jaebum’s smile fell and his face scrunched up in disgust. As though that simple conversation was the hardest thing Jaebum ever had to do. Then again, Jinyoung supposed that lying so blatantly to a young girl probably was the hardest thing Jaebum had to do.

The room they booked was small but better than anything they’ve slept in for days. The walls were made of the wood from the many weeping willows that outlined the small town. The shower was made with marble and lined with silver. It was beautiful. Jinyoung sighed as he settled Jaebum’s lance onto one of the two beds that occupied the room. He was worried for the dragoon. He stood over to the side, his head in his palm as his fingertips rubbed at his temples. He looked sick and has been since they decided to come to Windale.

Jinyoung crossed the small room and stood next to the dragoon. He bumped shoulders with the other, smirking teasingly. He would never outwardly question his partner’s wellbeing, but he didn’t have to. Jaebum understood.

The dragoon looked down to Jinyoung before nodding. “I’m ok,” he answered, “The real question is if they are?” He nudged his head towards the beds and frowned. Jinyoung followed and frown as well. Jaebum had been right, Jackson really wasn’t doing as well as he let on. He was in a tremendous amount of pain. His bandages bled through completely and were sticking roughly against his skin. Mark tired as best as he could to cut the wrappings from his skin before he healed him again, but the other’s muffled screams caused the red to almost toss his dagger onto the bedside table and contemplate on just casting a Cura despite the wrappings. “There’s no need to rush on that,” Jaebum called to the frustrated red. Mark looked up, the golden dagger Jinyoung noticed earlier in his hand. He paused in his tearing, simply holding the jewel ridden dagger limply in his palm. He looked relieved to be told to stop. “We don’t have any new bandages to change these with, anyway,” he continued. He walked over to Mark and placed a hand on his shoulder. “Go take a shower and then clean him up,” he said, “It’ll be easier if the both of you are clean. Jinyoung and I will go out to town and get some bandages, okay?”

“But,” Mark started. However he stopped himself, knowing his insisting wasn’t helping anyone, and finally tossed the dagger away from him. “Okay,” he agreed, “Okay.” He stood and wiped his hands down his thighs, hunching his back and lowering his shoulders. He was obviously exhausted. He most likely had been tired for hours now. “Yeah,” he said dazed, “Get a shower, maybe some food, how does sound, man?” He tapped Jackson to get a response but the other was already fast asleep. “Sleep, then shower and food,” the red amended with a humorless chuckle, “You should have told me that you were in pain, you idiot.”

“You can chew him out later, Red Mage,” Jinyoung said. He pulled the other by his elbow and dragged him to the shower. Unlike before, the other made no moves to stop and allowed himself to be pulled. “You really are tired, aren’t you,” the black mage teased. The red gave him an exasperated look before sparing the same look to his reflection. He truly looked a mess. Dried blood still lined his forehead, cheeks and throat. Flakes pooled into the dip of his collar bone and nestled into the crevices between his knuckles. His hair was still matted down by sweat and blood, the shockingly crimson locks weighed down by the splotches of maroon. “Hurry and shower,” Jinyoung said.

“If I didn’t know any better,” Mark teased, “I’d think that you’re worried about me.” The red smirked at the other, his canines peeking from behind his red lips. He looked dangerous, Jinyoung thought, and the black mage could feel a since of belonging because of it. The smirk went as quickly as it came though as the man turned to the shower and adjusted the water. “Is your friend ok,” Mark asked. Jinyoung was turning to leave but stopped at Mark’s question. “He’s doesn’t look ok, Jinyoung,” he added. He was facing Jinyoung now, a concerned frown tugging at his lips. “Plus he’s hiding something.”

Jinyoung hummed unimpressed. “You and your blonde have the tendency to worry a lot about people you don’t know,” he said. He leaned against the doorframe a frown unconsciously forming on his lips. “I honestly don’t know,” he finally answered, “I’ve never seen him like this. He’s not much into lying.”

Mark huffed as he painstakingly pulled his once white tank-top from off his chest. “Coulda fooled me,” he sassed, “The lies he was feeding that girl were too perfect to come from someone that’s ‘not into lying’.” He stuck his hands under the spray and clawed at his blood covered hands, trying to remove the flakes before he stepped into the shower. “Look,” he said as he looked over his shoulder, “I only backed down because I didn’t want to go toe to toe with you.” He then turned back around, his hands no longer scrubbing. He stared into the drain as red water dripped from his fingertips. “Plus I trust you and Jackson trusts him.” He then sighed deeply; frustrated that he couldn’t voice what he wanted to say. “Just don’t screw us over, Jinyoung.”

“To be fair,” the mage countered, “If Jaebum screws you over, he’s screwing all of us over.” Jinyoung then looked out of the bathroom door. From his vantage point he could easily see the topic of their conversation. He could see the dragoon tenderly drag a rag across his lance, cleaning the behemoth’s blood from its tip. The man seemed as though he was miles away from his task. As he wiped along its blade, the sharp edge curving like the tip of a dragon’s wing, his mind seemed elsewhere. Then he absentmindedly brought it down its handle, his hands gentle as he ducked between ruby studded crevices and champagne gilded edges. It glided along the bright gold before he twisted the deadly weapon expertly around his knuckles with a flick of his wrist and placed it on his bedside. Jinyoung knew better than anyone what Jaebum was capable of. It was that hidden power that convinced him to stay with the man to begin with. However he also knew Jaebum’s shortcomings and the man’s moral standing was his biggest. “I know him,” he said, “And treachery isn’t him. He’s a hero. He breathes it.”

“I hope you’re right,” Mark mumbled. He then pulled the door closed, leaving Jinyoung to his thoughts.

“So do I,” Jinyoung whispered to the shut door.

AN: Hoped you enjoyed!!!