#jared owens

[luckyacid]

Jared Owens 111 #6, 2022 Mixed media, burlap, soil from prison yard at Fairington F.C.I. 48 in. x 48 in.

[bellysoupset]

This takes place directly after the last installment of Chasers of The Sun.  If you haven't read it, I recommend, but honestly not that needed.

------ Jared takes care of a suddenly ill Nik -----

Jared sniffed the air and hugged himself, cringing when he could smell perfectly the lady who was down the street and wearing way too much perfume, hear the couple who was fucking inside the gas station's bathroom and hear, just as well, the sound of Mr. Le Fay's engine purring, a street away still.

He'd never get used to this vampire businesses, he thought with a snort. It had been a little over a week since he had drunkenly stumbled into Mr. Le Fay's hotel and made a fool of himself by trying to eat one of his guests. Jared's phone was blown up with texts from Archer, ranging from desperate to angry and anything and everything in between.

He missed his best friend, he really did and Jared wasn't a resentful person. Sure, Archer had royally fucked up by keeping the supernatural a secret from him and even further messed it up by implying he hadn't told Jay because his friend was a "sensitive man" due to his struggle with addiction, not because Arch himself was a pussy, but end of the day... Jared couldn't hold a grudge. He missed his brother and he wanted to talk with him about all the weird stuff he was going through.

Hence why he had asked for the other man's help.

Maybe Jared was overstepping... Alright, he was definitely overstepping and taking more than he was given. Mr. Le Fay had shown him kindness in a dire moment and Jared had imprinted on him so hard it wasn't even funny. He was aware the other man was probably just too polite to tell him to fuck off yet, but while he figured that out... Jay would take what he could get.

The royal blue Mustang '67 pulled up to a stop and Jared opened a huge smile. Of course Mr. Le Fay drove a flashy car, it went hand in hand with his floral suits that Jay had already witnessed a handful of times.

Tonight he was wearing a deep red double breasted suit, but the blazer was fully open and showing a lanky dark grey Pink Floyd wifebeater. It was the most casual Jared had ever seen him.

"You have tattoos?" Jay commented, letting his eyes take in the other man slowly. It was hard, maybe because he was so flashy, all Jared first saw was the colors. Then the black tattoos under his tank top and then... The man’s face looked pale, eyes sunken in and his normally pushed back hair was falling slightly over his face, “Man, you look like shit.”

“Thank you, Jared,” Mr. Le Fay scoffed, leaning over the driver’s seat to push the passenger’s door open, “come on in.”

Jared rolled his eyes, entering the car and openly staring at his maybe-friend, “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing is wrong,” the fae man lied and Jared gave him some credit. Even if he looked like death, at least his voice didn’t waver, it was just as smooth as always. 

“I don’t need my new super vampire senses to tell you feel like shit,” Jay scoffed, “We can postpone this, Archer isn’t going anywhere.” 

“Absolutely not,” The other man wrinkled his face and started driving away, “I never miss an appointment.”

“It’s not an appointment, it’s Archer. Who was an ass and kept in the dark for seven months, may I remind you, so he can wait a couple days for answers, it’s fine,” Jared bit back, reaching and surprising himself with how fast he was. Vampire perks, uh? He planted his hand on the other man’s forehead, but then let out a grumble. Everything felt overly warm to his new cold-dead touch.

Mr. Le Fay looked amused, his blue crystalline eyes sparkling, “are you quite done, Jared?”

“Why do you always makes me feel like a baby?” Jared pouted, “Can fairies get sick? Is it like a super demon cold?”

The man snorted, in a very uncharacteristic way, and his cheeks dusted with pink. He kept his eyes ahead, “we’re not immune to sickness, no. Nevertheless, human germs... They’re simply pathetic against our immune systems. It happens once in a blue moon, though.”

Jay opened a cheeky smile, “guess it must be a blue moon?”

“I’m not sick, Jared.”

“Keep telling me that, I might believe, Mr. Le-”

“Nikander,” he turned his head to glare at Jared, the black pupils in his eyes suddenly slanted like a cat’s, “Call me Nikander.”

“...Alright,” Jared bit the inside of his cheek. It was weird calling the other man Nikander, as if he didn’t talk all weird and wasn’t a million years older, even with the baby face. 

They drove in silence for a couple more minutes, but Jay could tell his fellow friend was feeling more and more uncomfortable by the minute. If not by his sullen silence, then because Jared’s super-hearing picked up very easily on the groans and sloshes coming from the man’s stomach. 

The car slowly made out of the crowded center and into the more rural area and Jared let out a sigh, rolling down the window, “What do fairies even eat?” 

The question startled the other man, who seemed to have been lost in thought, and he whipped his head to look at Jared. Now his pupils were blown out of proportion by the spook and Jared had to stop himself from “awwing” at the sight of puss-in-boots eyes. 

Nikander blinked quickly, eyes going back to their normal piercing state and looked away, “Pardon me?”

“What do fairies eat? Like, I can still eat steak, which by the way, thank fucking God, I’d kill myself if I couldn’t,” Jared started to blab, “but it doesn’t really sustain me. Only the blood bags, you so kindly packed me with... Are you the same? Can you eat human food? Do you only eat, I don’t know, mice?”

“Mice?” Mr. Le Fay sounded offended, “you think I’d eat mice?”

“I don’t know,” Jared shrugged, “your eyes do the cat thing, I figured...?” 

“I’m not a cat,” He glared at Jay, “Fairies eat anything. Everything. We normally prefer salads,” the last word came out a little strained and he tried to mask a wince, but Jared caught on it. Nothing got past his senses now.

“Salads, uh? Like Caesars or-”

As he expected, Nikander paled just a shade further and his stomach gurgled ominously in response. 

“Any type-”

“But you have fangs. I’ve seen them.”

“They’re for attacking, not for...” Now he interrupted himself, squeezing his eyes closed. His throat bobbed dangerously. 

“Okay, let’s not hurl in your relic car,” Jared sighed, “pull over.”

“I’m fi-”

“Pull over or I’ll make you pull over. And you may be stronger, but I’m not about to hurl, so I think I’d win this round,” Jared’s voice dropped the friendliness just a bit. What a stubborn man.

Nikander seemed to be weighing his options, considering if he should take the threat seriously or not. His stomach made the decision for him, sending up a gurgle that Jared would’ve been able to hear even without super-hearing and causing his cheeks to blow up with a wet belch. It rolled past his lips, sick and nasty, and the man scrambled to press a fist to his mouth. 

“I’m so sorry- How rude-”

“Stop the damn car,” Jared cut him off, rolling his eyes. The road was thankfully empty at this late at night and the mustang pulled over. Jay jumped out the moment it did and sped to the other side, pulling the door open. 

His friend - he decided they were friends now -, was still hunched over the steering wheel, eyes firmly closed as he swallowed down the urge to throw up.

Jared sighed, “why do I only attract thick headed idiots?” he asked to nobody in particular, grabbing the man’s bicep and pulling him out of the car, “you’re alright, I got you.”

Nikander turned away from him, leaning over the car, arms pressed on the metal and forehead on his forearm, panting. He spread his legs and spat on the dirt, “Please excuse me.”

“Oh my fucking God!” Jared snorted, patting the man’s back, “It’s alright, baby, your stomach’s all upset. Just get it out.”

He didn’t miss the way an even stronger blush crawled up Nikander’s neck and cheeks. Another loud, squelching gurgle and he gagged weakly. Then again- Then threw up a large gush of green sludge. 

Jared grimaced, jumping back out of the splash zone and stopped rubbing Nikander’s back, instead planting a hand firmly on his shoulder, ready to catch him in case his knees decided to give in. 

It went on for a minute, the man panting in the dead night and then bringing up another round and then, finally, burping wetly and turning away from the puddle. 

He still had his eyes closed as he reached inside his coat with shaky hands, pulling out a handkerchief. 

Jared grinned, “do you feel better, Nik?”

Nik panted still, pressing the folded fabric to his lips and muffling a disgusting burp, “I’m so sorry you had to-”

“I didn’t have to anything,” Jared rolled his eyes and reached in before he could stop himself, planting his cold hands on the man’s face and pushing back his perfectly dark hair. He didn’t miss how Nikander’s wince eased up at the relief of the cold. 

He opened his eyes, cleaned his mouth, “Still, I apologize.”

“Sure, you can apologize by moving your ass to the passenger side and letting me drive you back to the Hotel,” Jared sighed, realizing it was a lost fight. it would take more than one night to undo all of Nikander’s gentlemen’s manners. 

Nik chewed on his lip, “what about your appointment with your friend? I’m sure he’s very worried about you, Jared, it’s been a whole week-”

“Archer can and will wait,” Jared said strongly, moving his hand down to the man’s neck and gently guiding him around the car, “you on the other hand, need to be in your super fancy bathroom, not hurling on the side of the road. C’mon.”

Nikander flushed again, “I suppose I could use some rest.”

“I suppose you could,” Jared rolled his eyes, planting him on the passenger seat and reaching in before he could stop it, kissing the top of his head. Once again Nikander pulled back, pupils blown wide. 

“What was that for?”

“Stop talking now, will you?” Jared mumbled, his own cheeks heating up, “and let me know if I need to pull over again.”

[bellysoupset]

Chasers of The Sun - Part 2

tl;dr of the previous part: a vampire biker gang arrived in town and has declare they’ll go out of their way to eat the witch Caleb’s pack was protecting, aka Ella. She doesn’t know about this yet. 

 Ella wasn’t sure of how to say no when Jared had called her during her day off. She had been fully expecting to stay home and baby Archer back to health when he came home, because she knew his full-moon hangover wouldn’t have gotten any better, not with Caleb forcing him to go out for whatever reason. 

However, when Jay had called saying “Ella, can I go over? Or you come here? We have to talk”, she knew it was something serious. None of his usual humor, no nicknames. It was serious. 

Her first thought, while driving to Hillford, was that it had something to do with Jay’s sobriety. He had been in and out of rehab for the past years, dealing with alcohol addiction, and Ella felt terrible just thinking of the possibility he might’ve relapsed again. It had seemed this time around things were going to work out. Really. 

This thought was quickly replaced when Ella went through their brief conversation over and over. He had been sober, very sober. The previous relapses he had been a mess, two of them had ended only when Archer stepped in and the most recent one Jared had been the one to take the initiative to sign up for rehab, but he still had been a drunk mess regardless. This situation now... It wasn’t a relapse. 

So what was it? 

“Ella, hi!” Jared was standing in front of his fancy apartment building, leaning on his car. He had seen her the second she parked, his whole face lighting up. Ella let out a little sigh of relief. It didn’t matter how serious the subject was... It wasn’t that serious.

“Hi, Jay-” she let him pull her on a tight hug and Ella let out an uncomfortable grunt. She hated being squeezed and touched, but both her boyfriend and his bestie were incredibly tactile people. 

“Thank you for coming” He pulled back, towering over her and guiding Ella toward his car, “I was thinking we could have dinner? I’m starving.” 

Okay, so he wanted to small talk. 

“Sure” Ella nodded, getting in the passenger side, “but you’re paying.” 

He agreed, opening a bright, large smile that she had seen all over magazines but never reached his eyes. 

In the stuffed car, she started to feel jittery. Ella clutched the door handle, looking out of the window. The streets were crowded - it was a Satuday evening in Hillford, after all - but Jared was slowly guiding them out of the main center. 

“So, how’s Sarah?” 

“Who?” Ella frowned, turning to look at him. Jared kept looking forward. 

“Sarah... Your cancer patient?” 

“I don’t- I don’t work on hospitals, you know this, Jay...” Ella said before she could stop herself. He raised his eyebrows and she knew immediately she had said something wrong, “Ah! Sarah! Oh yeah, she’s o-”

“Cut the crap, Ella” Jared scoffed, squeezing the steering wheel, “you don’t do charity work. It’s not your profile.”

“Ouch?” Ella wrinkled her nose, turning on the seat, “Who told you I did...?”

“Archer. Lying to my face, as per usual. He wanted one of my vests for a cancer patient who’s my fan, can you believe?”

Her confusion was genuine, “your vest...? When? Why?”

“I don’t know why. Today, a couple hours ago. Showed up to my court looking like death warmed over and asking for a vest”, Jared sounded furious and Ella recoiled a little. She didn’t want to say too much and throw Archer under the bus. 

“I’m sure he had his reasons-”

“Yeah, same reasons he had when he lied to me a month ago? About having to leave my party to go after you and then you called asking where he was? Why’s he looking always a little sick, El? Is Archer...” he lowered his voice, “He says you two are cool. That you know what’s going on with him. At least that’s what he said when I split my skull a couple months ago, he thinks I don’t remember. So are you? Are you two okay?”

She bit her lip and nodded, timidly. Jared hit his hand against the steering wheel, making Ella jump on her seat. 

“Then what’s going on Eleanor?! Is Archer using something? I want to know!” 

She saw right through his anger, guilt washing up her as she recognized the brotherly concern, “He’s not using anything, Jay.” 

“Then what is it? I’m his best friend and he won’t tell me- Archie thinks he can treat me with kid gloves and I won’t notice?” Jared zeroed her and Ella shrugged, uncomfortable.

She knew why Archer did it, but it didn’t mean she agreed to it. Months prior she had babied him, kept secrets from him. It had blown up on her face when he got bit by a werewolf, because of her. This with Jared... It couldn’t end well. 

“I can’t tell you, Jared. It’s not my- JAY, WATCH OUT!” She interrupted herself, squealing and Jared looked ahead in time to see a motorcycle coming straight at them. He hit the brakes and sprung his right arm out of instinct, shoving Ella back on her seat instead of flying through the windshield. 

For a second Ella heard nothing, heart racing so much that there was a buzzing in her ear. Then she crashed back, panting. 

“You’re okay?” Ella asked, worriedly turning to Jared. Unlike her, he had been wearing his seat belt. And also unlike her, he was already reacting. 

Jared’s face was contorted with anger, the sudden panic of the nearly avoided car accident curdling quickly. He undid his seat belt and opened the door, while Ella clung to his shirt in a childish manner. 

“Jared-”

“What the fuck was that?!” He yelled, pushing her hands away from his shirt and jumping out of the car, raising his arms. 

The biker had stopped too, the motorcycle’s front wheel missing Jared’s front lantern by mere inches. He had jumped out, taken off the helmet and sunglasses, which caused Ella to snort. Sunglasses after the sunset? 

The man was really tall, almost as tall as Jared - quite a feat considering Jay’s 6′7 height. He was incredibly pale and looked sickly when in contrast with Jared’s dark skin; blond long hair reaching his shoulders. 

“Hey, I’m talking with you!” Jay snapped his fingers in front of the man’s eyes and Ella felt dread start creeping over her. Something was wrong, really wrong. 

Jay could handle anyone in a fight, especially some skinny twig like the man before them, but she wasn’t worried about that. 

“Jay-” She circled the car, grabbing the back of his shirt, “Jared, c’mon, let’s go.” 

“Uhmm” the man finally spoke, breathing in deeply as if he was feeling some amazing perfume. He looked straight at her, pale blue eyes that almost blended in with his corneas. 

“I have to say, I pictured you taller” He said and Jared stepped fully in front of her, shoving Ella behind him. 

“What the fuck is your problem, man?”

“Jared, enough” Ella tugged on the back of his dark jeans with all her force, managing a step back, “Let’s go.” 

The biker licked his red lips, looking at them curiously. He was wearing a leather vest, with a patch on it’s front saying “V.P” and on the opposite side there was a cute little sun patch, with two of it’s cartoonish rays embroidered red. 

Jared turned to her, “El, get back in the car-”

“You get back in the car!” She cut him off, feeling more and more panicked. The man wasn’t blinking, not even breathing, only staring at them in amusement, “Jared, let’s go.” 

“No, it’s okay-” 

“You can have a head start” The biker said and Ella pulled Jared more desperately, “I like the chase.” 

This finally seemed to get through Jared’s flight or fright response, because he frowned and glanced back to Ella, unsure. 

She felt him stop fighting her to stand still, instead taking a small step backwards. Ella’s back hit Jared’s sedan and she reached behind her without thinking, pulling the driver’s door open. 

“C’mon, Jay” she mumbled feverishly, wanting nothing more than to get out of there. 

Jared pushed her inside first and Ella rolled over the handbrake, wincing when it dug on her hip, but barely noticing it. He got in soon after and slammed the door closed, hitting the lock button. 

“Let’s get out of here” Ella whispered, squeezing her hands together. There was a familiar itching on the palm of her hands, her magic almost jumping and she wasn’t sure if it was the panic doing that or the man before them. 

He was still standing right in front of the car, looking straight at her, with a sardonic smile painted on. 

Jared turned on the car, looking ahead too “What the fuck, what the fuck-” 

Then the man’s eyes turned from pale, milky blue to a bright red and Ella jumped, squeezing the leather of her seat. 

“JAY!?” 

He put the car on the reverse and hit the accelerator, then changed the gear and turned it around, pressing the gas pedal. 

Ella turned around on her seat as Jared switched lanes, watching the man get on his Harley Davidson and sit there, getting smaller and smaller... 

Then the lantern of the bike appeared in the darkness and she realized what he meant about a head start. 

“He’s chasing us.”

“I know” Jared nodded, taking a sharp curve, “You, seat belt.” 

Ella obeyed without thinking, cranking her neck to look at the back. Next to her, Jay cursed silently. 

“Do you know that guy?!”

“No, of course not!” 

“He talked with you!” Jared bit back, “Directly at you.” 

“I don’t fucking know hi-” inside her purse, her phone started ringing, startling them both. Ella turned back on the seat and dived in, grabbing it with shaky hands. Archer’s face was displayed across her screen.

“Arch?!”

“Ella? Where are you? I’ve been calling you but it’s going straight to voice-mail- Where are you? You need to come to Caleb’s place, ba-”

“Caleb’s?”

“Who’s Caleb?” Jared asked anxiously next to her and Ella raised a finger to shut him up. 

“Yes! Ella, don’t go home, you hear me?” Archer said, his voice getting out all distorted as she was losing signal, “don’t go home. There’s a vampire gang in town-”

“A vampire gang?” She repeated, incredulously and was about to say something else when the sound of the Harley Davidson’s engine got louder. Incredibly louder. She looked right, out of her closed window and let out a yell as she saw a bike coming right at them. 

“ELLA?!” Archer was yelling on the phone, fallen on her lap. She looked left, back to Jared and grabbed the steering wheel in time to keep them on the main road, as a large bat flew straight at them and hit Jared’s window with all force, cracking the glass a little. 

“What the FUCK!?” He yelled, taking the steering wheel again and glancing at her, “Shit-” he pulled her away from the door as a motorcycle hit on her side, making a piercing noise of metal crushing metal. 

“ELLA, WHAT’S GOING ON!?” Archer said in the phone and she grabbed it, fingers shaking. 

“Come get us!” 

“Where are you!?” 

Ella looked at Jared, mind blank with panic. Where were they?!

“Main Hillford Av-” he was interrupted as a motorcycle hit their back, making the car jerk. 

Ella let her phone drop, panic now turning to something else. Archer had said they were vampires, right?

“Jared, stop the car.”

“What?! NO!” He yelled, then another bat hit the windshield, leaving a trace of red on it and a dip, filled with little cracks, but not breaking it. 

“JARED, STOP THE CAR!” 

He shook his head, vehemently, “El, I know you’re scared-”

She let out a frustrated scoff and pulled the handbrake with all her force. They immediately were sent forward, then back on the seat while the car turned around on the street, tires screeching, finally stopping. 

“ARE YOU CRAZY!? WHY DID YOU DO THAT-” 

“Close your eyes” Ella said, closing hers and reaching out blindly to grab Jay’s hand. 

He batted her hands away and the door next to her knee considerably sunk in as a motorcycle hit it with full speed. She bit her tongue when sent to the side and spat blood down on the mat under her feet. 

Ella’s hand grabbed Jay’s and she dug her nails into his skin, “Shut up and close your eyes.”

“NO! Ella, we’re being fucking-”

She turned around her seat, head spinning as the warm feeling started to take her over. 

“Jared” Ella repeated, cupping his face and looking him in the eyes, “Trust me. Close your eyes.” 

He opened his mouth to fight her and a bat hit the windshield again, this time almost managing to get through it. Jay tried to look at it, but she squeezed his cheeks, keeping them facing each other. 

“Close your eyes. Please.” 

Jared nodded, timidly and took a deep breath, closing his eyes and lowering his head. 

Ella opened hers, looking straight forward, out of the windshield. Two different motorcycles had parked right in front of them and the bikers had jumped out. Dressed the same, in vests sporting the little sun. 

Vampires, she repeated to herself, letting her eyes roll back. They were vampires and wore sunglasses after sunset. 

“Burn” Ella whispered and the warmth burst in her chest, bright, blinding light filling up the car and then exploding out of it. 

She heard their screams first, then the noise of something burning and motorcycles speeding out. 

Then Esther’s voice in her head, saying “Eleanor, what are you doing? what are youdoingwhatareyoudoing-”

“Ella?”

She collapsed back on her seat, panting. There was something humid covering her shirt and she blinked rapidly, finally bringing the world back in focus. Blood, it was blood covering her shirt and mouth, still rushing out of her nose and leaking out the corner of her eyes. 

“El? Ella-” Jared had opened his eyes and was grabbing her face, patting her cheek and trying to stank the bleeding, “Stay with me- Ella, hey!” he shook her, but the black dots painting her vision multiplied and then she blacked out. 

[bellysoupset]

Chasers of the Sun P.3

Hello! I know you guys must be sick of plot-fics by now, but I really gotta get through these major plot points before reaching another valley to write sickfics. Next part we introduce the new character! There's some gratuitous emeto at the end of this one, but not much.

"Ella- Please, please wake up-” Jared whispered feverishly, patting Ella’s clammy cheeks. She was incredibly pale, heavy dark circles around her eyes and most importantly, covered in her own blood. The nosebleed had finally stopped, but the mess was still there. Jared shook her harder, “C’mon, c’mon, Ella- We have to get out of here, El...”

Jay was well aware that the only reason he was still holding up was the adrenaline cursing through his veins. He knew he’d collapse soon, but he had to get them somewhere safe. Somewhere rabid bats and bikers with red eyes weren’t crashing straight into his car.

Vampires, he though, but pushed the thought away. If he welled too much into it, he’d only manage to panic even more.

“Ella!” He shook her aggressively, something all the first-aid classes he had been forced to attend said was the worst possible move. Her head lolled forward and Ella let out a groan.

“Oh thank goodness” Jared whispered, a panicked chuckle slipping past his lip. He unbuckled her seat belt, catching Ella by the shoulders when she slumped forward like a broken doll, folding in half, “Stay awake, Ella- Hey-” he shook her again, forcing Ella’s icy-blue eyes to open, “stay with me, okay? We need to get out of here.”

“I’msleepy-”

“Yeah, that’s what burning bright light out of your eyes and mouth does to a person” he said, maneuvering Ella over the handbrake and getting out of the car, putting her on the driver’s seat, “fucking x-men...”

“I did... Didn’t...” she slurred and Jared was about to pick her up and carry her out of the car when he froze. There was a growl to his left, coming from the tall bushes surrounding the empty avenue, between two old houses.

Jared shoved Ella back into the car, slamming the door closed and she let out a whine inside of it, planting a bloody hand on his window, trying to put words together to ask him what was going on.

“C’mon!” Jay yelled, hitting on the car’s door, “I’m not fucking scared of you!”

He waited for the attack, still listening the growling and then seeing two violet eyes shining in the dark. Jared's breath came out in little puffs in front of his face and he wanted to flee, but a little voice on the back of his mind told him it would be okay. He'd be okay.

The person stepped out of the shadow and Jared pressed himself even more against the car. It was a tall man, blonde hair turning grey on the sides, with his face all contorted into a wolf muzzle. His face had contorted to give space to a set of large fangs, that didn't fit inside his mouth, poking out even when his lips were closed. His eyes were glowing violet.

The man took another step forward and then suddenly someone was touching Jared's shoulder. He whipped to the side, shoving whoever was it and trying to break free, but Archer grabbed his shoulders.

"Jay! Jay, calm down!" Archer yelled, holding him strongly and Jared ceased the fight.

He looked between his best friend and the blond man, jumping a little when he realized the man no longer was sporting the wolf face, instead looking like an average guy, hands on his pockets.

"What- Archie!? What's going on- There were bats and Ella-" he gestured in front of his face to exemplify what he had seen once the bright light had started to fade, beams coming out of her mouth and eyes "and there's so much blood-"

"Shit" Archer cursed, pushing Jared out of the way of the front door and unlocking it. He grabbed his girlfriend by the shoulders, supporting her sitting up, "El? Ella, wake up-"

"She was awake just now, I think she's just passed out" Jared offered, eyes still glued on the blond man, "who the fuck are you?"

"Hi" He offered him a tight lip smile, "I'm Caleb."

Jared shook his head, trying to show that meant nothing to him.

"He's a friend- Kay, a hand?" Archer said and Caleb moved forward, making Jared step protectively between his best friends and the guy.

"No. You looked like a fucking demon-"

"Jay, now's not the time!" Archer whipped around, "He's a friend and we need to get the hell out of here before those vampires come back with back up."

"Vampires?!"

"I think she's waking up" Caleb said, ignoring their little spat and pointing Ella.

She was stirring and reached out to them, planting a bloody hand on Archer's bicep, "Archer?"

"It's me-" he said anxiously, maneuvering her out of the car. Ella looked around, confused and then her eyes landed on Jared and she let out a gasp.

"The vampires!"

"Yes, vampires. Ella's an x-men and there were biker vampires chasing us and that man's a fucking demon-" Jared scoffed, making Caleb snort, amused.

"I'm a werewolf, Jared, so is Archer. And if we stay here, we'll all die. Shall we get moving?"

***

This was how Jared found himself in the backseat of a truck, driving to someplace he didn't know. He must have lost it, Jay concluded, Ella had just shone light out of her mouth and he somehow he was still trusting Archer blindly.

The werewolf-guy was driving, incredibly calm through everything. Archer was on the passenger's side, Ella on his arms, head tucked under his chin while he rubbed her back and whispered sweet nothings, consumed by worry.

Archer hadn't even looked back at him, Jay noticed, hugging himself consciously. Was this secret the reason that Archer had been act like a lunatic for the last couple months? Would things go back to normal now that Jared knew? ...Was there a normal to go back to?

His stomach churned and Jay's limbs got heavy. He let his head lean back on the seat, looking at the truck's ceiling. There were claw marks on it, faded and masked away by a knife scrapping it, but still visible.

Fuck, he needed a drink.

Jared a rubbed a hand over his face and his whole body jerked left as the car made a sharp turn. He rested his face against the window and looked at Archer in the front seat.

They had known each other since... Ever, really. Jared couldn't remember a moment in his life where Archer hadn't been his best friend. In truth, Jared realized with a groan, he couldn't picture his life without Arch in it.

It didn't matter if his best friend was some flesh-eating demon, they were brothers and it didn't matter how much of a fight he put up now or what Archer had done or what trouble he was going to cause... Jared couldn't leave him.

"Jay?" Archer glanced at the backseat and Jared moved his knee out of his brother's touch. Archer recoiled his hand as if it had been burnt, placing it back on Ella's waist, still looking at him with those puppy eyes that had always pulled Jared from the edge, "We're almost at Caleb's... Then I'll explain everything. I promise."

Jared rolled his eyes, which was a bad idea, because the world got blurry and twirled around for a good handful of seconds. He grabbed on the door, glaring at Archer, "You promise a lot."

"I- I couldn't tell you..." Arch whispered, looking down "You have to understand-"

"I don't have to understand anything, Archer" Jared spat, crossing his arms and looking out of the window.

A couple minutes later the car came to a stop and he silently thanked the Heaves. His stomach was acting up, locked in a car that smelt like blood and where the atmosphere was so heavy he could cut it with a knife.

He jumped out first, looking around and pointedly ignoring Archer talking with Caleb, placing Ella on the other man's arms.

They were in a large farm, in the middle of the night. The air was clean and cold and he could hear crickets on the background. The night was starry and the full moon had just happened the night before, but the moon still looked round and bright.

"Jay" Archer placed a hand on his shoulder, making him jump and raise a fist out of instinct. The younger man raised his hands as if in surrender, "Hey, it's me. I'm not gonna hurt you-"

Jared snorted, "I don't know if I believe you, your little friend just turned into a demon in front of me. Your girlfriend burned a handful of men to death."

"Vampires, not men. Vampires who were trying to kill you" Archer stressed, offended on Ella's behalf.

Jared frowned, "So they're vampires and I shouldn't care she just toasted them, but I should still care about you even though you're some other beast?" he argued, knowing it was a low blow and that he didn't really mean it, but wanting to hurt Archer.

"I- I'm not-" Archer opened and closed his mouth, taken back, "They were trying to kill you! I'm not!"

"No, all you did was lie to me, keep this giant secret and now Ella's half dead and my car's totaled and-" his stomach heaved and Jared swallowed against it, now was not the time for an adrenaline crash.

"I was trying to protect you!" Arch scoffed and shoved a finger on Jared's chest, "I'm constantly trying to protect you, Jay, since we were thirteen! From abusive coaches, from greedy managers and lawyers, from yourself!"

That was a low blow, Jared thought, slapping Archer's hand away from his chest.

"I don't need fucking protection, I need to know what's going on! I'm not a child!"

"Then stop behaving like one!" Archer yelled back, "You think I didn't want to tell you? Of course I did! I was terrified when I got bit-"

"You got bitten?" Jared's concern overwhelmed his anger and he mentally cursed himself. Archer didn't catch on it, though, too caught up in his own anger and kept ranting.

"Yes! I got bitten, convulsed and almost died, Jared. Then the next full moon I turned into this giant blood thirsty monster and I couldn't tell you, because you were fresh out of rehab again!"

"So what?!" Jared cried out, shocked, "You think I'm going to relapse because- Vampires are real?"

"I don't know, you relapse over anything!"

It felt like a slap. The words hang in the air and there was no sound but Archer panting, face all flushed red.

He took a deep breath, looked at Jared's face, and then his shoulders sagged, "I didn't mea-"

"Oh you did" Jared said quietly, glaring at him, "You did. You meant every single word."

"No, Jay" Archer shook his head, "I'm sorry-"

"I don't want to hear it" Jared raised a hand to shut him up, "actually, I don't want to hear you ever again. You're right, you've been doing too much for me. Pulling me from the edge time and time again. You shouldn't have to do it again-"

"Jared, please-"

"-and you won't. We're done, Archer", he spat the words out, turned around to not look at Archer's face for a second more and kept walking.

"Where are you going!? There are vampires out there, Jay! Jared, stop!" Archer yelled, footsteps hurrying to catch up with him.

"I'm not a fucking dog" Jared hissed, turning around and shoving Archer's chest with all his force, making the shorter man fall on his ass on the grass "and I don't care about the vampires, neither should you. We're not friends anymore. Leave me the fuck alone."

"This is stupid! It's another stupid decision!" Archer yelled, "stop!"

"We're not friends anymore. You don't get to talk with me like this. Stay out of my way."

Jared said through clenched teeth, too furious to think straight. His stomach was churning and his head pounding, he felt as if his whole body was burning.

He turned around again and kept walking, speeding up until he was out of Caleb's property. The road wasn't made of asphalt, but dirt and it was surrounded by tall trees.

Jared kept walking, head pounding too much for him to even hear if Archer was still following him. Even when his legs nearly gave out, he kept up out of sheer willpower, trying to put as much distance as possible between the farmhouse and him.

Eventually, however, he had no choice but to stop. He bent forward, hands on his knees, and gagged. Nausea swirled in his belly, mixed with overwhelming disappointment and hurt.

Jared heaved and spat on the dirt, sinking his nails on the earth while coughing. Archer thought he was burden, a mental breakdown away from disaster all day everyday.

He gagged again and brought up part of his lunch, suffocating with it and coughing harshly. He was so dizzy... The world tilted on its axis, werewolves and vampires and witches...

A firm hand planted between his shoulder blades and Jared let out a whine without thinking. He felt awful, but he didn't want Archer to see him like this. He didn't need his pity, not an ounce more of it.

"Told you-" he burped and coughed up another mouthful of foul liquid, "... I told you to leave me alone" Jared scoffed, turning his head to glare at Arch.

However, instead of meeting his brother's soft face and worried eyes, he looked straight into crimson eyes.

The pale man opened a small smile, brushing his long blonde hair away from his face and shaking his head, "I'm afraid I can't do that, my friend. You're going to deliver a message for me."

[bellysoupset]

Seasick Jay

I half hate this, but I’ve hit a wall and I’m trying to power through. Enjoy!

“Did you take your meds?” Archer asked for the second time, parking the car before the harbor. Ella raised her eyebrows and nodded, pulling her coat tighter around her. 

“I did... Whose stupid idea was it to go sailing when it’s November?” She pouted, walking out of the car and clutching her purse as a defensive weapon. Ella absolutely hated parties, but after Archer had told her what had happened during Jared’s game - the emotional confrontation - she couldn’t help but feel guilty. Her too had isolated Jared and it wasn’t fair, he had been her friend since high school. 

“Coach Borges’, of course” Archer teased, wrapping an arm around her shoulders and pecking her in the lips, “You look gorgeous, you know?”

“Do I?” Ella grinned, stealing another kiss “You don’t look so bad yourself.” 

“What do you mean is that I look dashing” He grinned, biting her bottom lip and then kissing her forehead quickly, “Tell me if you feel sick? We’re not supposed to go far, just around the bay.” 

“Don’t worry about me, I’ll be fine.” 

And she was fine. They got on the yacht that had been rented for the celebration - Archer wasn’t even sure of what the Scorpions were celebrating -, and met up with Jared. 

He was, of course, in the center of a group of people, chatting loudly, a true social butterfly. His dark eyes lit up when he spotted the couple and he raised his glass, grinning widely “Archie! Ella-Mozzarella!”

“Oh yeah, I remember now” Ella said quietly, crossing arms, “I hate him.” 

Archer laughed and rolled his eyes, poking her, “No, you don’t. Jay!” 

They hugged and chatted animatedly, even Ella smiled a little and talked with someone other than Archer and Jared. 

Eventually, however, it died down. Archer had shifted in his party self, which meant Ella had already lost him in the crowd and she was left in a corner, nursing a warm drink and wondering how much more of this she’d have to endure before it was socially acceptable to go home. 

She was only glad she hadn’t gotten sick. Well, she hadn’t, but someone had. Outside, there was the loud, characteristic of someone losing their lunch. Curiously, Ella moved from the ball room of the yacht and peered outside. The sun was setting, but it was still light enough she could tell apart the familiar form leaning over the railing, clutching it with both hands. 

“Jay...?” Ella approached him carefully. She had only seen Jared sick twice and during both times he had been so intoxicated he hadn’t remembered his own name. Her heart squeezed in worry, hadn’t him just come back from rehab a couple months ago? 

His back tensed with another empty heave and he spat in the dark water under them, groaning “El?” 

“Hi...” She touched his back, eyeing him suspiciously, “Are you okay?”

“Peachy” Jared groaned, bracing against the rail and coughing, “Go back inside, I’ll be right back.”

“Did you drink too much?” She couldn’t avoid the question anymore and Ella was nothing if not a well of sensibility. He turned his head slowly, clearly too nauseated to snap at her, and glared. 

“No.”

“Jay-”

“I didn’t even drink!” He complained, before squeezing his eyes shut “It’s this stupid boat.” 

Oh. “You’re seasick?” Ella asked, relieved, rubbing his back, “Did you take anything for it?” 

“I didn’t-” He coughed again and said bitterly, “I didn’t know I had this thing.”

“Ah...” She pouted and looked around, nervously. He needed to be back on dry land, even though she had brought her medication stuffing it into him right now would just be a waste. 

Jared let out a low, breathy burp and groaned “My stomach feels like we’re in a storm.” 

It was an extremely calm night, but Ella could still feel the boat movements, so she was sympathetic of his plight. 

“Yeah, uhm- Just let it out...” She said, patting his back and biting her lip. With one hand she got her phone out of the small black purse and prayed that Archer had his on the max volume. 

Ella: SOS

“Ella” Jared whispered, shivering suddenly. She turned to him anxiously, a hand still on his back, and caught the exact moment his knees gave up on holding him up. 

“Bloody hell” She whispered, cradling him and making it less of a collapse on the deck and more of a controlled of controlled fall. Ella held him nervously, cupping his face, “Jay? Jay, I texted Arch, okay? We’re going to get you back on land, just- Just try breathing through it.”

His chest heaved and Jay gagged, but brought up nothing. He leaned forward and rested his forehead on her shoulder, all pretense slipping away. He wanted comfort and Ella was one of his closest friends, even if he knew she thought differently. 

“You’re okay” She whispered, hugging him to her and rubbing his back. Her entire body was stiff, a clear tell Ella hadn’t hugged anyone that wasn’t Archer in ages, but Jay didn’t mind. He felt too awful to mind. 

He muffled a burp against the sheer black fabric of her dress and whined, “Ella...”

“Shhh, close your eyes...” She was warming up to him, arms holding him closer, “Breath in- ARCH!” 

Her yell startled him and Jared sat up straight in a rush, only for vertigo to send the world whirling and the sea in his belly crash waves painfully. He gagged and cupped his mouth, unable to swallow down the drool. 

“What happened with him!?” Archer was questioning, in his best worried but calm voice, while Ella was straight up rambling. 

Jared gagged again and something gurgled in his gut, the handful of party food that hadn’t been offered back to the sea swirling, “’m gon’ be sick”, he warned, pitching forward. 

Suddenly there were hands in his armpits, hoisting him up as if he was a little toddler and not a 6′6 athlete. He frowned and tried to look at Archer, surprised, but a gentle hand kept his head facing the dark sea under them. 

It was a good thing, because soon he was coughing again, whole body shaking with exertion of throwing up. Jared was vaguely aware of Ella and Archer talking behind his back, but he was too sick to care and he knew more or less what they were chatting. Archer probably thought he was drunk and Jay couldn’t even be mad about it. 

He felt horrid, somehow this manage to be worse than when he had a concussion. The ground refused to stay still and even the smell of salt water was making his head hurt. 

“Jay”, Archer said, holding him so close that Jared crumpled against him, sinking into the warmth of his best friend’s chest. 

“Uhm...”

“Are you done?” 

“For now-” He mumbled and realized he wasn’t standing on his own. His knees didn’t seem to be working at all. 

“Okay- Ella went to talk with Borges, but we should be back home soon anyway. The renting hours are ending.” Archer said softly, before lowering them both to the floor of the ship, “You’ll be okay.”

“Arch...”

“Yeah?”

“I’m sober” It felt stupid, but equally important that he told Archer that. He was sober, one hundred percent sober. He wished he wasn’t. 

“I know, I know, don’t worry about this.” Archer whispered, rubbing his back and enveloping his arms around Jared, “Get some rest, I’ll watch over you” 

[bellysoupset]

I adore that one fic you wrote with Archer getting a concussion, so would you ever write something like that again? I’m not sure what characters, but just a confused, out of it character that’s hella dizzy and nauseous from a concussion sounds so good!

This was sooo fun to write, I love Jared a lot ok. This is set after Hella Sick Archer, because I mention Jared's party from the beginning of that one.

Dazed and Confused

When Archer had accepted Jared’s spare ticket for that night’s game, he hadn’t anticipated a particularly interesting match. It was an amicable game, hosted in Pennshaw’s court, which meant there wouldn’t be many people.

At most, Archer had expected to have some chill fun then go out to drink with his best friend and finally catch up on all the gossip Jared had about his infinite amount of love affairs, petty fights and paparazzi stalking.

He was finding out now, that there was nothing amicable about Hillford’s Scorpions. Even though the bleachers were half empty and the people only halfheartedly cheering, they were playing with blood, sweat and tears.

Arch missed it, in all honesty. He hadn’t competitively played since his high school years, having stopped playing right when he had picked law school instead of focusing on his athletic career. His parents had been so pissed, Archer thought with a tinge of pride.

Then there was a gasp from the audience and Archer snapped out of thought, focusing back on the game. He searched through the players, Scorpions’ usual black and green uniform, and realized with a leap of heart what had happened.

Jared had been doing a low crossover, when a defender had tried to steal the ball, but the poor bastard had not only lost the ball, but somehow managed to drill his elbow right on Jay’s skull, sending him to the floor, the ball jumping away.

There was a blown whistle and all players either froze and dispersed as far away from Jay as they managed to be. The reaction was enough to make Archer’s heart pick up, but it was the coach’s face that really got to him. Something was wrong.

Medics rushed in and crowded around Owens, and Arch tried to get in the court, only to be pushed back by security.

“That’s my friend!” He argued, feeling blinded and helpless. Normally, since his transformation, he could smell blood like a shark, but now there was no smell, no sound beyond the audience’s murmuring, nothing for him to see since Jay was circled.

“Stand back, Thomas.” The security guy warned him, probably recognizing him as someone who regularly picked up Jared from practices.

“Goddammit!”

It took a couple minutes, but finally the medics cleared out after checking up on Jared. He didn’t seem hurt, but he was put on the timeout anyway and replaced. The game started back up, but Archer didn’t care anymore. He was thankful he was sitting on the front row, because Arch only had to step over a couple people - apologizing the entire time - to get to the player’s area.

“Jay?” He questioned, touching his friend’s back and glaring at the coach. They were acquaintances and Coach Borges rolled eyes, before turning his attention back to the game again.

“Arch, hi-”

“How are you feeling?”

“Kinda...Kinda dizzy...” Jared blinked, as if he was unsure what was going on or where he was. He was slumped forward, cradling his forehead in his hand, elbow resting on his knee.

“What did they say? You’re not going back in the game are you?”

“I- Uhm- No, no, I’m on timeout...” He mumbled, resting his free hand on his stomach, “What are you doing here...?”

“What do you mean what I’m doing here, you invited me!” Archer glanced at the coach again, “Hey! Coach! Borges!”

“Not now, Thomas!”

“Yes, now! Jared’s hurt!”

“He hit his head, of course he’s hurt!” Borges yelled back, twisting hands and never looking away from the game, “Shut up!”

“No! Look at him!”

“Archie...” Jared said, the childish nickname rolling off his tongue even though Arch had said time and time again he hated it, “Archie, stop yelling...”

“Sorry” Arch whispered, rubbing his friend’s back, “Just- just give me a second.”

He jumped from his place in the front row, straight behind the athletes area and got in the court, rounding up the coach. Borges shot him a dirty glare.

“I’ll get you banned, Thomas, you’re a fucking pain in-”

“I’m taking Owens home. He looks like he’s about to topple over.”

“Game’s not over.”

“Sue us.” Archer bit back, glaring, “He’s in no state to substitute anyone anyways, look at him!”

Borges tore his eyes from the match with a sigh and looked at the player. Jared had wrapped both his arms around his stomach now and had his eyes closed, looking dangerously grey.

“... Fine. Get him out of here.”

“As you wish” Archer said cheekily, before returning to his friend, “C’mon, Jay, let’s get you home.”

It took a while to maneuver Jared out of the court and in the parking lot. Archer was decently tall, but Jay towered over him. Eventually they made it to Arch’s silver car and Jared slumped against the passenger’s window, eyes tightly shut.

Archer bit his lower lip, worriedly and inspected the man before him. Jared was large and tall, rough even. He didn’t look delicate, unlike Arch himself who had a puppy face. Nevertheless, Archer couldn’t help feeling his friend was made of fine china. He was only human, an elbow misplaced and his skull was as good as broken glass.

“You’re- you’re staring...” Jared mumbled, opening his eyes, head lolling like a baby’s head.

“Should I take you to a hospital? What did the medics say, Jay? I think I should take you to a hospital-”

“It’sss-usion”

“What?”

“Archhhy-” Jared frowned, as if realizing for the first his mouth wasn’t obeying him, and touched his face, “Ou’irling”

“Okay, I’m taking you to the hospital.” Archer decided, turning on the car and carefully buckling Jared, “Keep talking, Jay, I don’t think you should sleep with a broken skull.”

“Ism-izzynot’...ken” Jared slurred, pouting “Ustizzy”.

“You’re dizzy?” Arch guessed, wondering if he should pull over. Jared’s face was losing colors, his deep complexion looking awfully grey, “Jay- Jay, are you feeling sick?”

He didn’t get an answer, at least not a spoken one. Instead, his best friend responded with a gag, a hand clumsily trying to cover his mouth, but only finding his cheek.

“My God, Jared.” Archer whispered, pulling over the car and pushing the passenger’s door open, unbuckling Jared’s seat belt, “Okay, okay, you’re good-”

“Are- are you?” Jared mumbled, head hanging out of the car, his whole back tensing up with nausea.

“Me?” Arch frowned, moving on his seat so he could hoover over the passenger side and hold Jay’s head up, so he wouldn’t puke down his front or accidentally inside the car, “Of course I’m good, Jay...”

“Liaaaa-Uurghk-” He retched in the middle of the word and spat on the ground, “Archie, ‘msick...”

“Couldn’t have figured” Archer grinned, running his free hand up Jared’s back, “It’s okay Jay, just puke. It’s not like we haven’t done this routine a thousand times already.”

“Issdeefent-”

“It’s not different” He argued, patting Jared’s back very gently, like a baby’s, and producing some wet burps, “There you go-”

“Sooick”

“I know you’re sick, brother...”

“No” Jared retched again and swayed, nearly all of his weight going forward, forcing Archer to grab the back of his uniform, “Sick an’ ired, you’ve- anyies.”

“What?”

“Your- your lies-” Jared gagged again, this time bringing up a mouthful of bright green, probably his supplements or something.

Archer frowned, feeling something heavy sit on his stomach and it wasn’t just sympathy nausea. Lies? He had been lying to his best friend alright. Lying about his lycanthrope condition, about his pack, about Ella’s condition and so much more...

“I’m not lying, Jay...” He lied once again, trying to convince himself it was for Jared’s own well being. Jared struggled to deal with life as it was, he was an ex-alcoholic whose sobriety was as fragile as caramel glass, there was no way he’d be able to deal with his best friend being a blood thirsty beast.

“Sop” Jay groaned, heaving again, this time puking up a large gush and splattering some all over his sneakers, “-You n’Ella... ‘ying all the time.”

“You’re not making any sense, brother” Archer said through his teeth, “You need rest-”

“You left-” Jared accused him, sitting up straight and seeming to be done with the vomiting. He turned his head to glare at Arch, but vertigo hit him like a punch in the face and he swayed and nearly smashed his face against the car’s dashboard. Archer grabbed him and steadied him.

“I left what, Jay?” Arch asked in a timid voice, cupping his best friend’s face and looking deeply in his eyes, trying to make sense of Jared’s pupil in his dark, chocolate irises.

“The party... You said you- you were going to meet Ella-” Jared mumbled, sounding impossibly sad, “you lied.”

“My god, Jay-”

“I don’t- I don’t understand-” Jared’s shoulders jumped with an aborted empty heave and his brows furrowed, “You’re my brother, why are you lying to me?”

“I’m not, I-”

“You keep doing it and Ella is too and I- Is it something I’ve done? Is it about the booze? I’m going to the meetings, Arch, I swear, I-” He interrupted himself with a gag and his eyes lost focus, running around the car as if they had been put in a blender, before falling back on Arch’s frozen frame, “I’m sorry, I’ll do better-”

“Jay” Archer scoffed, squeezing his best friend’s cheeks, “It’s not you. Please, please stop- You’re right, I was lying. I have been lying... You didn’t do anything to cause it, it’s all on me, I swear-”

“Does Ella not like me anymore? She doesn’t want me’round you? I don’t understand- She’s never’round and-and-”

“Shhh- It’s not you. It’s nothing of that. El and I are just going through some shit, but it’s got nothing to do with you and-”

“-oughou ‘ated me”

Archer gasped as he made sense of the words and shook his head furiously, only stopping when he realized Jared seemed more nauseated by the movement.

“Fuck no, Jay- I could never hate you. Christ-”

“Urtsss...”

It hurt indeed. The mere idea his best friend, practically his brother, thought he hated him made Archer’s mouth turn sour and the air go missing in his lungs. He loved that thick headed bastard!

“I know, I- I’m so sorry...” Arch mumbled, tearing up, “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have lied, I just- I can’t tell you, Jay... I can’t. If I do you could get hurt, or you’d hate me or- Fuck, Jay, I’m so sorry-”

“Sop’ying...” Jared let his eyes slip closed “Jussttop ‘ying.”

“I’m not lying-”

“No. In- In-” He didn’t find the word, so Jared gestured clumsily ahead of him, meaning the future “Stop doin’ it”

“I don’t know if I can, I-”

“You don’t’ave to- to tell me. Jusstop lying.”

Archer nodded eagerly and reached over Jay to close the passenger’s door, slumping on the driver’s seat, “I’m sorry. I will, I promise.”

“You’re-” Jared’s whole body seized with a cough and he made a pained expression, “You’re stupid.”

A hysterical laughter tore up from Archer’s chest and he blinked off the tears, “I know- I know, I’m sorry.”

“Ssoo’upid” Jay sighed, burping against his fist “So...n’spital?”

“Oh yeah- Yeah, hang in there, I’ll get you to the hospital.” 

[play-bills]

Marking Time, Arts in the age of mass incarceration (with Jared Owens, George Anthony Morton, Gwendolyn Garth, Keith Calhoun and Chandra McCormick, Russell Craig, Mark Loughney, Gilberto Rivera, Sable Elyse Smith and Larry Cook), Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, Harlem NY (May 1 - December 4, 2023)