this is me trying (jake x f!mc - endless summer)
A/N: I've had a few people ask for more jake x mc fics and I haven't written one in years so I'm honestly really flattered people are still interested in my writing. Thank you, it means a lot. I wrote this one a while ago but figured I'd post it. I'm still working on my books. I just have a lot of stuff to balance at the moment. Hope you enjoy and if even 4 people want more, I'll write some more.
Summary: The whole group wound up in another Elysian Lodge centred on the other side of the island. Lo wakes up and notices Jake is nowhere next to her, which is odd because she remembers falling asleep on him. She gets up to find him.
She looks around the lodge that everyone was too exhausted to explore last night. Probably a mistake because anyone could have snuck up on them last night. Perhaps Lundgren’s soldiers know this was a place they could have chosen to hide in and are on their way right now.
Lo’s mind had begun to spin to negative thoughts and she tried to pull it back to the reason she got up in the first place. She walks up a big staircase and stumbles upon a hallway of suites. She passes some doors until she reaches one with an ajar door. Curiously, she enters.
Immediately, she spots Jake, sitting on a couch that’s connected to a window. He’s just staring out at the snow. Lo can’t see his eyes but she already knows he’s not looking out of peace. The door creaked slightly as she walked in and she expected Jake to turn around. But he doesn’t. His eyes remain on the outside.
Lo stays put by the door for a moment, waiting for something from Jake. Still nothing. So, she slowly walks up to him, placing a hand on his shoulder so he knows it’s her.
“Jake…” She begins. “You okay?”
Jake doesn’t say anything back or tear his gaze away from the window. All he does is move his hand to where Lo placed hers. His grasp is comfortable, as he rubs his thumb over her skin. They stay like that for a few moments, as Jake clearly isn’t in the mood to talk right now.
For the first time, he makes a noise. Even if it’s just a heavy sigh, Lo feels more hopeful for a conversation.
“Did you sleep okay?” Jake finally says, bringing some relief to Lo.
“I slept okay.” Lo answers. “Would’ve woken up better to your face though.”
Jake releases a low chuckle, a slight smile arriving on his face for a second. It disappears quickly and he sighs again. “Is that why you came looking for me?”
Lo moves to sit beside him, finally able to see his eyes. His stare still hasn’t moved from the window. “What’s so special about outside?” She asks, moving her eyes to the window as well. All she sees is a wasteland of snow, empty and hollow. One noticeable thing though is that it never seems to end.
“Nothing.” Jake mutters, hanging his head a little. “That’s why I keep looking.”
Lo tilts her head curiously at his extremely bleak comment. She leans against the wall at the other end of the seat, so she’s opposite Jake. He was right though. Something about the calm snowfall and wintery landscape screamed ordinary and perhaps that’s why Jake was so drawn to it. Nothing in their lives had been ordinary since they arrived on this island and the escape back to that normality was something they all longed for.
“It’s all my fault, Lo.” Jake suddenly mumbles, his tone completely defeated. “Lundgren found me. Somehow. I have no idea how but he did.” He hangs his head further down and his shoulders are tempted to fall with him.
Instinctively, Lo shifts closer to him, wanting to comfort him as best she could. “It’s not your fault. I think Rourke might’ve alerted him.” Of course Lo doesn’t know that but she’ll say anything to stop Jake from blaming himself.
“You say that but you don’t know.” It’s like he can read her thoughts. With that, he fixes his gaze on Lo, letting her finally see his eyes. “All of it is just insane. I finally tell you all about my past and it instantly comes back to bite me.” Jake’s words are laced with hurt and Lo can tell he’s trying his best to hide it. “Maybe they would’ve come earlier if I told you any sooner.”
At his words, Lo feels a tinge of guilt, since he’d already told her about his past much before all this. Would telling him that make him feel better or worse? She can’t decide.
“Jake…” That’s all she manages to say, while she fights with her own brain.
Jake notices her indecisive expression and simply raises an eyebrow at her. “What?”
Realising the hole she’d already dug for herself, Lo relents. “You did. You told me about it before.”
Confused, Jake scans his girlfriend’s face, trying to figure out what she means. “I did?”
“Remember the first night we got together?” Lo mutters, causing Jake to release a breathy laugh. For a moment, she swears she could see him smile.
“Of course,” is all he responds with, taking her hand in his.
Lo blushes slightly at the tender contact, feeling more confident in continuing. “You told me about your past. All of it. Then, all the shit happened with Vaaryn.” Her expression begins to fall. “That necklace took me back to where I wanted to be, but it was before that conversation so you don’t remember it.”
“Ah.” Jake lets out, dropping her hand in the process and moving his own behind his head.
Slightly saddened by the removal of his touch, Lo hesitantly continues. “I didn’t want to tell you that I knew out of respect for you. ‘Figured you would’ve told me again when you felt ready.” She sighs, realising that’s not what he did.
“I was going to.” Jake confirms, moving his hands from his head and placing them on his knees. “But there was never really a good time. With Diego getting kidnapped. The Vaanti and all that stupid bullshit. Didn’t want to add any more onto your plate.”
He hangs his head again, looking more defeated by the second. Lo shifted closer to him once again, tilting his chin with her finger so his eyes meet hers. She could tell he was growing tired of it all, even if his demeanour appeared strong and prepared in most of the danger they’d experienced. This was different. This was the first time she’d seen his eyes so full of dread.
“We both had our reasons then, I guess.” She tries to joke but it doesn’t really come out like one. Her tone starts to become just as shaky as his. However, Jake does let out a small chuckle.
“Yeah. We’re both trying.” Jake smiles again and this time it’s genuine. “I can promise you one thing though, Princess.”
“What’s that?” Lo asks, smiling back at him.
“Lundgren’s not gonna touch you. I swear on that.” Jake’s gaze becomes serious and full of intent. “No one’s dying on my watch.” He cups Lo’s face and grazes his thumb over her cheek.
“No one.” Lo repeats his words, implying for him to stay away from his own demise too. “We’re not losing anyone.” She states sternly, pointing a finger on his chest.
As a reaction, he lets out a low chuckle. “Okay. I get it. You’re not over me attempting to sacrifice myself.”
Lo moves her hands to his neck and begins to stroke the bottom of his hair. “I don’t know what you mean. Of course I want everyone to live.” She arches her eyebrows at him, making sure she’s coming off direct. “You hear me?”
Smile growing wider, Jake wraps his hands around her waist. “Yes. I hear you.” He states back, pulling her in for a meaningful kiss.
