tushanshu | 14 ❄ ( VIDEO )

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14 ❄ ( VIDEO )

[ Guess whose internal almanac confirmed that today is officially the first day of Autumn? That's right, this guy! Who's currently bouncing around his treehouse like an over-caffeinated grasshopper while Baby Tooth peeks in the corner of the console screen with an expression like welp that's Jack for you. Whether viewers can perceive them, especially the newer arrivals, will remain to be seen. ]

WHOOOHOOO! Goodbye Summer, goodbye! Have a good vacation! Don't hurry back!

[ And then with a final whoop of joy, the feed turns off! Yeah, that's all he wanted to share. ]

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Mm, well...

[ He paused in his sewing for a moment, deciding where to start. ]

After Finnick and I became friends and, well, after he was able to see me properly, he mentioned that he wanted to open a fishing business because that's what he was most familiar with at home. And I wanted to help him because...

[ Because he was damaged and I thought it would help him, was where he'd been going. Even though he trusted Zatanna implicitly though, some things were not his purview to share. ]

He... needed something to focus on. So I lent him the money I'd made from doing deliveries so he could get everything started. He insisted it was half mine because of that, but he ran it and did everything and as long as he was happy with it, I didn't mind if it was all his. Traci and Korra started working for him too.

But then he went home and I didn't want it to close, or for the others to lose their job. So I said I would keep it open.

[Consider how much she knew about Jack that she'd never told anyone else, it was a safe bet to assume Zatanna understood about keeping other's secrets. She didn't pry. Not even a curious eyebrow raise.]

[The part about Traci and Korra working with him was...surprising, to say the least. Most because neither girl had even mentioned it before, but partially because of Korra's...well...Korra-ness. She was almost tempted to ask if Korra was still working there after everything that had happened. But then that would bring up the fact that she and Korra were still fighting. And had nearly come to blows at Bianca and Jaime's party.]

[...though the less than subtle look on her face at the mentioning of the Avatar might've given at least some of that away.]

That was pretty cool of you to do, Jack.

You like getting to run your own business?

[ Jack did indeed notice the expression Zatanna was wearing, the calm one on his simultaneously inviting her to speak what was on her mind if she wanted but also not pressing because, there was little else to say on it from his side of things. ]

I don't know, it's a little strange. I guess I'm not used to having anyone relying on me. With the deliveries, I was the only one who was affected if they didn't get done. If the store doesn't do well...

...you're worried about the others.

[How very...Jack.]

[Zee wasn't sure if she was flattered or exasperated by the fact that Jack picked up on her nonverbal cues so easily. The former was mostly directed at herself, though, for being so obvious.]

It's...kind of a long story. Ish. Fortunately, you already know a good part of it.

Of course. Even though the kedan aren't openly hostile to us right now, they didn't give us much warning last time.

[ a slow blink in her direction ]

Shouldn't take me long to get caught up then.

[Lips pressing together in deep thought, she glanced away.]

I...um...well, we were talking at that movie night I hosted. Mostly about needing a night off for fun times and...you know...not thinking about things that happened in those two Realms. [She didn't need to specify. Jack knew all too well what she meant.] I made a comment about things being complicated, between you and Robin and Dick and everything else.

Korra didn't take it well.

[ He definitely knew what she meant. ]

She doesn't take most things very well.

[ It wasn't an accusation, just a statement of fact. ]

But then, you didn't take it the greatest at the time either.

[ Though, he suspected, the way Zatanna had recused herself from his Dream had probably been with infinite more grace than what he thought Korra might have been likely to do. Baby Tooth seems to be half-watching the two of them while Jack continued to sew, as though needing something to occupy his hands for the duration of this conversation. ]

[Yeah, hearing about the similarities between herself and the Avatar was not something she really wanted at that particular moment. Particularly since what Jack said was true.]

...in my defense, I didn't start yelling at you and blaming you for things that weren't your fault.

I didn't say you did.

[ The counter is easy, tame and accompanied by a look that invited her to continue. ]

No, but she did.

She basically blamed me for everything...or, at least, that's what it felt like. Either because I didn't tell her, or because she hated the thought of you liking someone who wasn't her or...honestly, I don't even know. I told her it shouldn't matter, since she has a boyfriend of her own and I have Dick...but it's like she didn't even care.

[ Jack blew out a slightly frustrated breath, misting the air in front of him. ]

I don't know why, when she's the one who told me-- I just didn't want to... make things worse for people. That's why I told Mako that her kissing me had been my fault.

['Told you what, exactly?']

[The question was on the tip of her tongue, when Jack's next statement caused her to visibly frown.]

You did what?

['Ugh']

Jack, you should't've done that. It wasn't your fault. At all. I'm all for getting your friend's back, but she's basically being a brat and you're letting her get away with it.

[ Jack looked up and fixed Zatanna with an even look. ]

Maybe, but that was my choice to make. They were fighting because of this mess and now they're not, so it's fine. I don't need permission to do what I think was the right call.

[Having no desire to fight with him over this--she'd had enough fighting already--she keeps her look and voice equally even.]

I never said you did.

But I also don't need permission to have an opinion on it. And my opinion is that you've had too many people get mad at you for no reason to risk adding another to the list when Korra should be the one dealing with her own mistakes.

[She wasn't worried, per say, but she still didn't think it was right.]

[ simply: ] She has something to lose... I don't. That makes it pretty clear to me.

[She tried to maintain the even look a little longer...but, despite herself, a faint smile appeared.]

Has anyone ever told you you're too nice for your own good?

It's a gift, I guess.

[ He's glad she's not angry. He wouldn't have changed what he did, but it's nice to not be heckled for it. ]

[Slightly annoyed. Or frustrated. But not angry, and even if she was, definitely not at him.]

And so modest, too.

Cut it out. You're making the rest of us look bad.

[ He snorted quietly. ]

Never been accused of that one before.

It's true, though. You do all these amazing things, and it's like you rarely ever get the credit for it. Half the time, because you don't tell anyone.

[ Jack scoffs a little at that, shaking his head. ]

Come on, 'amazing'? I haven't done anything amazing, trust me. I just try not to mess up and ruin things.

[It took her a moment to realize he was serious. Her smile melted away into a faint look of surprise, brows raised.]

You...really believe that, don't you?

[ Her surprise only deepened his own at her reaction. ]

What do you mean?

Jack...

[Well, this wasn't going to do at all. Pushing herself off the counter, she crossed the room to close the space between them, gently taking both of his hands in hers. Ignoring the sting of cold that came with it. Some things are more important.]

Listen closely, because I'm going to say this once, alright? You, Mister Spirit of Winter...Spirit of Fun...are easily one of those most amazing people I've met here. You've made so many people happy just by being you, and that doesn't even include the times you go above and beyond to make sure your friends are okay.

[ He smiled a little at her demonstration, knowing it was heartfelt and well intentioned... just, hard to believe. ]

Thank you, Zatanna. That's... no one's ever said something like that to me before.

14 ❄ ( VIDEO )

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