So Dead

[François Laffont]

Franck was so dead. He promised Jasper he’d meet with him. Over two hours ago. Franck didn’t think he would be that late. When he realised he might not be here quite on time, he texted the boy to warn him but he sure didn’t expect it would take that long before he could head back to school and meet with him. Jasper was going to kill him. If he was still there to greet him, that is. Franck didn’t know him as someone very patient and the many other texts Franck sent him to say he was sorry and coming soon didn’t get any answer. No doubt he was going to pay for it.


This was why he chose to do as much as possible to minimize the damage. He bought a large pizza and a box of éclairs for dessert. Food, it had to calm him down a little no? If not... well Franck didn’t want to think too much about the other thing he considered but he was not against doing that just to have Jasper not mad at him. First thing first though, he had to head back to Bellefonte and have him actually want to talk to him.

His father drove him to school and Franck promised to call him when he’ll need to go back home. He didn’t tell the man he was going to see his lover of course. This was a study session. Not that hard to believe since the exams were soon. He didn’t like lying, this was not like him, but he wasn’t sure his father would totally approve the state he was into because of his boyfriend.

Franck greatly hesitated at the door though. Would Jasper be there? And, more importantly, will he be alone? He was not talking of Casper, he could take having him around, he was more afraid that he chose to invite someone else over, as some sort of payback. He didn’t want to think that Jasper could do such a thing but he wouldn’t be surprised either. The fact he was not answering his text messages did nothing to calm him. He took a deep breath. Only one way to find out. Franck knocked on the door, hoping only the twins were in there and no one else.

[Casper & Jasper Emory]

Franck had texted that they could meet up later and after the brothers sent a response back; it had been over two hours. Over two hours! They both felt like they had been lied to and since they were already in a bad mood, that did not help out at all. Especially with Jasper who had been looking forward to seeing if Franck lost the bet while he was away so they could have some fun. Jasper lost that mood at about the fifteen minute mark and by the time it got to an hour he and his brother both stopped caring.

They even went to do a few other things, getting a nice long hot shower being at the top of the list. Long hot showers were great in terms of helping them calm down and helped out a lot with how often their bodies got sore. Then the two brothers just settled down with a few snacks in Casper's room and were just hanging out. Reading some manga, watching some anime, and playing a few video games and forgetting about their little meeting with Franck. So when he started to text them and apologizes for running so late, they ignored the text and did not respond back.

The knock at the door got their attention and a rock-paper-and scissors match happened to see who was going to be the one to get the door. Jasper left the room and answered the door, giving Franck a displeased look when he saw that it was him. He did step back and allow space for Franck to come in as his arms went across his chest. He noticed the food, but he was not going to give into that just yet, cause 'grrr, angry'. "Hours late and tries to bring food to cheer me up. It might work in a little bit but I need an explanation as to why you are so late." Jasper said as he let out a deep sigh, still not in the best of moods.

[François Laffont]

Franck was not expecting the food to be enough but he thought it was a start. Jasper loved to eat, it would put him in good enough disposition to hear him out and perhaps forgive him for making him wait for so long. He was even expecting them not to answer him or perhaps close the door at his sight. Well, Casper might open the door for him, he was not really the one waiting for Franck as much as Jasper was. But he was still worried. His boyfriend had very little patience and he tested that right now.

The door didn’t immediately slam on his face when he saw one of the brothers. Franck had grown to tell them apart but it still required some time. Judging by the level of displeasure, he assumed it was Jasper. And the fact he was giving him a cold shoulder, something that was not working very well with Franck since he tended to want to be closet o someone even more when he felt like they were mad at him. He just wanted to get all over Jasper until the boy was no longer pissed at him. But he doubted that was going to happen. The arms folded across his chest proved him as much.

He still stepped in first and looked around. He could hear the TV on. “Yes, I know, I’m sorry. I was spending some time with my father but then we had t buy something for the yard and it took a lot more time than I expected,” he said. He wasn’t spending that much time with his father, most of his days taken by school and his friends. He would probably still be with the man had the twins not texted him, tempting Franck to come and see them.

He raised the bag in which he had the box of éclairs with a sheepish expression. “I also brought dessert?” That was probably not enough and he sighed, still looking at him with a face that would suit a lost puppy in need of a home. “Look, I’m sorry. I really wanted to come over. Please don’t be upset.”

[Casper & Jasper Emory]

Jasper had been tempted to close the door; after taking the food, but he figured he let the other boy explain why he was late. They got the text that he was going to be a little late and responded back, but after that they were done. Too much time had passed and both of the siblings just did not have the patience to wait for someone forever. Jasper's limit was at max a half hour and his brothers tended to be up to an hour. Franck had shown up over two hours late, so they were pretty much done with him. "Too long." Jasper said, still not taking the excuse.

A dad kept him up? He lived with the man, why did he need to spend so much time with him? Franck had to make the journey to the school and vice versa because Franck lived at home instead of on campus. He should have had plenty of his stupid dad time and should have been there on time or not have said that he was coming at all. They had to adjust their seclude for him, change around what they had planned for the day, for him.

Jasper looked at the éclairs for a moment and didn't say anything. Yes, food with a treat after was very tempting. He was still pissed however and wanted to see Franck beg. He wanted to see the boy look really sorry for having made him wait for so long. "You can set the food on the table." Jasper said, keeping his arms crossed and then turned to go over to his own room to pick up another stack of manga’s to take over to Casper's room, dropping then in the process since he was grumpily moving and picking up things.

[François Laffont]

It was really hard to stand there, facing Jasper. He could sense how upset the boy was because of him and it was so hard on the poor boy. All he wanted was to get over Jasper and ask him what he could do to make amend. But he knew Jasper was more likely to push him away and that would hurt a lot more. Jasper couldn’t even start to understand how much that would hurt. He’d just come back, a few days later, as if it was nothing and Franck would pretend that it was nothing indeed, but inside the pain would still be there, because he had been rejected by him.

“I know,” he let out, his tone as sorry as one could be. He really seemed conflicted as to what to do. He did not dare say he was glad that jasper still happened to be there and, more importantly, without someone else. He would not put it pass Jasper, the boy was able to do that just to make him pay. All of this because he was with his father. Because no, he didn’t think he was seeing his father enough already. They didn’t have what he’d call ‘quality time’ together. The man happened to drive him to school on occasions but Franck often used the bus. And most of his time was spent here, at Bellefonte, between classes and his friends. And when he happened to be home with his dad, they had dinner together before they were on their own reading, watching television or working. Still, it took longer than expected and now he was paying the price.

He probably looked miserable as he set the food on the table as Jasper told him. It was so painful to get a cold shoulder like this. “I, I wasn’t sure what was your favourite pizza so I guessed. I expected your brother to be around too so I took enough for him as well,” he told Jasper but he was not sure if the boy heard him as he left. Franck looked at him expectantly before following him to his brother’s room. “Hi,” he said on so soft a tone, it was almost a whisper, raising a hand to Casper. He then waited there, not daring to enter the room in case they wanted him gone, hoping they wanted him to stay.

[Casper & Jasper Emory]

Neither of the siblings could understand just how much they were hurting someone, unless the person spoke up about it. Like with Alex she had pointed out to them how some things they did came off in a bad way, so they sort of adjusted but only for her. If they were hurting Franck, he was either going to have to tell them or make it obvious. Still, due to their mood it would be easy enough for him to be met with more hostility, it really all just depended. Jasper didn't respond to Franck, it was good that the boy knew.

Now hopefully he learned his lesson about what happened when he was late, and for them this was them being nice. They had not told him to leave, didn’t close the door on his face, and were not saying hurtful things to him. It was probably because they did like him, and the fact that he was still Jasper's boyfriend. Jasper didn't know the details between Franck and his father, and he currently didn't care because Franck was late. Hours late after he said he would be there, he kept them waiting and they were already in a bad mood so it was not helping anyone.

"We are not picky about most foods and Casper is here." Jasper said as he gathered up the manga, carried it off to his brother's room and dropped it one the floor before sitting next to his brother. "Hi." Casper responded back as he looked up to Franck when the boy stood in his doorway of his bedroom. He looked to his brother, then to Franck, and then took a deep breath before standing up and heading out to grab the pizza box, some plates, and some soda, balancing it on top of the box before going back into his room.

"You can come in Franck. You would not be in our room if we didn’t want you in one of our bedrooms." Casper pointed out as he set things down on his carpet and got comfortable on the floor again. He gave his brother a quick elbow in his side, which caused Jasper to grumble before patting the spot next to him for Franck to come sit near him. For now.

[François Laffont]

The hardest part for Franck was that he could tell Jasper was being nice right now. He had seen, and heard, many a tale about what the twins were able to do to people, the good but mostly the bad. Jasper being the one with the least control over his emotions, the fact he was greeted with only a cold shoulder, a very cold one, should be considered as nice. Still, it was hard for Franck. He was not used to being disliked like this and every time it ever happened in the past, he tried so hard to get them to like him. That was what he wanted to do right now but being a good boy was not something Jasper would care about. He was the physical type. Franck could have been ready to be more physical just to get Jasper no longer mad at him but he had also been told that, when in that mood, Jasper hated to be touched. It made it all so complicated.

“I figured as much,” he admitted with a little nod. He didn’t think the boys would mind pepperoni and vegetables on their pizza. The situation when Franck went to their room was more than awkward. They were all looking at each other without a word, except for Jasper who was making sure not to look at anyone. Finally, when Casper chose to stand up and get the pizza and everything, Franck helped out.

Casper invited him in but it still looked forced on Jasper’s part. The hostility he could get from him made Franck very uncomfortable and for once he actually sat closer to Casper than he would his brother. “How was the survival camping trip?” he asked in the hope to get something out of Jasper. “I’m glad you liked my gift. I was looking forward to spend some time with you.” Despite the fact he seemed to be talking to the both of them, there was still something in his voice, and the fact he was looking at the boy, that made it clear he was mostly talking to Jasper.

[Casper & Jasper Emory]

It was a good thing that Franck had remembered that Jasper didn't like to be touched when he was in a bad mood. It would have been bad if Franck had tried to get all cuddly or physical with him while he was in this mood, because he would have likely shoved Franck away or ended up hurting him. Jasper didn't get why anyone wanted to be touched when they were in a bad mood. Casper didn't like to be touched but he would at least warn you to get away from him, where Jasper would just react. "We don't like raisins. Or really anything that is dried out fruit." Jasper spoke up.

The stuff was just too sweet then, and the texture was just really odd to the siblings. Other than that, the boys pretty much ate anything, or at least were willing to try just about anything. Casper went and got the pizza then, not minding Franck helping out at all. He then put some slices on a plate for his brother, some for himself, and even gave a plate to Franck. He didn't know if they boy had already eaten or not, but if he had it would not been that hard to just put the slices back in the box. The brothers were already starting to eat, not planning on really saying anything, but did look at Franck as he spoke up.

"It sucked. I hated it. Would have been fine if other students besides the bad ones were allowed to go." Jasper quickly responded. He then looked away and went back to eating his pizza. Casper then slowly mouthed to Franck, "Stay away from that subject." He even made sure to write it down on the lid of the pizza box with a nearby pen, just in case Franck had missed reading his lips. Then talk about the gift, and Franck being all looking forward to spending time with them. Specifically Jasper, which was pretty obvious to both of the brothers. "Got to poop." Casper said as he got up and headed into his bathroom.

He didn't really have to poop, but went into his bathroom all the same, and closed the door behind him. Now it was just Franck and one of the twins sitting there in the silence, and Jasper just munched away on his pizza.

[François Laffont]

It was hard for Franck to keep himself from Jasper. This time, he wanted to be all over him for a whole different reason though. He wanted to quiet down the anger Jasper felt towards him so much that he wanted to smother it away with hugs and kisses and pretty much everything he could possibly use. But he knew he should not, otherwise it might get worse. Right now, Franck was just shaken because Jasper was giving him the cold shoulder, if he pushed him away, he’d be hurt for good. “Dried fruits’ kind of a bad gift to give. I prefer pizza.” He sure wouldn’t think he’d ever give them raisins but it was something to remember.

Casper seemed to be paying closer attention so perhaps he noticed the state Franck was in but the Frenchman had no idea if any of them understood why he was like this. He was silent as they brought everything to their room. He kept eyeing towards Jasper now and then and even frowned as he said he hated the camping trip. He would have expected more but Casper was already trying to warn him not to ask for any detail. So he cleared his throat, visibly embarrassed that his topic met such a short end. “Well, I’m glad I didn’t go. Last camping trip, I kept freaking out at every sound outside and we were in cabins, you imagine what I would have looked like then?”

Why did he have to make it so hard? Even as Casper left for a reason Franck believed to be legitimate, he was ignoring him and simply eating away the pizza. Even if Franck could really use some food, he was not that hungry, the nervousness eating away all appetite he may have. “Jay...” he began to say, only to stop in his track. He had leaned towards him but he stopped there too. He sighed heavily. “If there’s anything I can do to have you forgive me already, please tell me because right now all I can think of is getting physical and I know you don’t like being touched when you’re in that mood,” he let out. Funny, since he loved being touched during any other of his moods. He went back to his slices of pizza, grabbing it. “You might not want to believe it right now, but I had planned this date. I was waiting for you guys to have rested to come over and everything and now...” Yeah, now. That sure didn’t work the way he had planned.

[Casper & Jasper Emory]

"Agreed." Both of the brothers said in unison and left it at that. They were both in a bad mood and didn't feel like talking about things that were not important. Talking about dried fruit; something that they didn't like, it was a waste of time. They didn't want to talk about it and there was pizza to be eaten. Casper was just thankful that Franck caught on to let that subject go for the sake of not making matters worse. Jasper might have been going out with Franck, but that didn't mean that Casper didn't have some feeling towards the other boy.

It was what allowed them to not have that much of a problem when it came to trading places. Since they could understand what the other felt and felt it themselves a little bit. Nether of the brothers said anything after Franck's words about how he was happy that he didn't go. He was not a 'bad kid' so it would have made no sense for him to go. Jasper did show some irritation for the subject still by the way he tore into his pizza. Casper ended up leaving, letting the two of them get their alone time and was half tempted to text Franck through the matter and help the boy out. Yet, he had something else planned.

"That’s Casper middle name, I told you before." Jasper said quickly and a little on the mean side when Franck called him Jay. He had told Franck before and well he was just being nitpicky about pretty much everything for the time being. When Franck asked what it was that he could do to make things better, Jasper sat there in silence for a moment. He listened to what the boy was saying, even if he didn't bother to look at him. He finished another slice of pizza, taking a drink of his soda before her adjusted how he was sitting so he could rest his head on one of his legs.

"Why do you bother with us, with me? You don't really like us, right? We are just fun to mess around with, someone you can come out of your shell with and no feel bad, right?" Jasper asked; he was now looking at Franck, still resting his head on his own leg.

[François Laffont]

Franck sighed as Jasper snapped at him about calling him Jay. It came out before he could do anything about it. Jasper never seemed to really mind before but of course he never called him that while the boy was upset. Thinking of the camping trip just further angered him it seemed and now Franck was really lost as to what to do. He almost wished Casper did no hide himself in the bathroom, needing to go there or not. Jasper was purposefully ignoring him. He was not even sure if the boy listened to a thing he said. But he listened alright.

When he finally replied to him, Franck flinched. Of all the things Jasper could have said, he probably chose the most hurtful one. Doubting why he ‘bothered’ with them. More, assuming he did not like them and stayed around only for the fun ride. “How can you think that?” he let out in a whisper. He actually had some trouble breathing right due to the shock it caused him and he forced himself not to break in front of the boy and convince himself it was only the anger talking here.

“I wanted this date. I spent the whole week thinking that we should see each other when you’ll return and thinking of what to do. But I was with my dad working on the yard and catching up when you texted me and then we had to go to the mall and we couldn’t find that damn thing and the line to pay was never ending. And then I still had to go back home, help him unload the car, take a shower and change clothes before getting the pizza and the pastries before coming here so yeah I got two hours late, but I kept sending you texts that I was sorry and coming soon and you never replied to any of those so don’t go telling me that I don’t like you just because you’re a little upset I didn’t run straight to you.” Franck actually needed to take a deep breath after this and part of him was really surprised it came out like that, as he felt he was attacking the boy because of what he told him. It happened, sometimes. Rarely, as Franck usually tried to defuse the situation before it went there but he knew he could be snappy too if not a little bitchy when someone hurt him. Still, the guilt came soon after even though he considered the boy deserved to hear this. “You’re the one who’s only here for the fun ride. You keep telling me that this is just a game to you,” he retorted, visibly hurt. Even if he did not always say it in those terms, the way he acted often indicated that it was the case. And Franck never said anything because he actually liked what he had and didn’t want to lose it. He looked behind his shoulder. Couldn’t Casper come back already? He had no idea how long he had been in there and it probably wasn’t all that long to begin with, but he sort of needed him right now, before things went too far and words were said they would regret later.

[Casper & Jasper Emory]

How could Jasper think that? Easy, with all the things that had happened recently he was not sure if he could trust any of their toys that they liked a lot. Jasper was about to say as much but he noticed that Franck was having an issue breathing and he wondered if Franck developed asthma or if he needed a paper bag or something. Jasper was about to move to go get his brother or something, but he remained still as Franck started to talk. It was actually pretty surprising to hear Franck defend himself and sound the way he did. Like he was so hurt and the Jasper had said the worse thing alive to the other boy.

Jasper was angry, he could not fully help what was leaving his mouth but at the same time he felt the need to say it. Everyone was their toys, not the other way around. If Franck was just playing a game with them, making them feel like he actually cared; then Jasper wanted nothing to do with him. It was plain and simple. They were having an issue with the James family and their other favorite person seemed to have betrayed them. At least that was how it felt and it was only natural for them to assume that Franck would do the same. After all, he was friends with that Artemis boy the last they heard whispers and words about it.

"It's not just because you’re late that I'm upset. There has been a lot of shit going on that is just making it hard to trust anyone! My brother almost died and I was not there to help him because I was busy fucking you!" Jasper yelled, snapping in that moment. His usually pale skin was already started to turn red from a mix of emotions and he could already feel the chemical being dumped into his body. "It is just for fun! It is just a game; an experiment, but don't you sit there and think that I don’t care about you! Don't think that I don't care about you deciding to be done dealing with me and my brother the moment you find some other guy that gives you an ounce of attention that we do!" Jasper yelled so more after Franck pointed out the whole 'it being for fun' fact.

Casper did open the bathroom door, but he stood in the doorway and didn't say anything. He just crossed his arms over his chest and looked at Franck. Both of the brothers were staring at him, waiting to see how he would react and what he would say. Everyone was teetering on a think line for the brothers, the same went for Franck, and they needed to know his true attentions. They needed to see a reaction that they could believe. "We're hurting too, Franck." Casper whispered.

[François Laffont]

Why was it so hard for Jasper to understand how much Franck cared for him? He supposed the fact he saw people as ‘toys’ was the reason behind this but to imply that the French boy only pretended to care was more than he could take. He could not have received any colder shower than this. Had Jasper simply been upset with him the way he once had been, Franck could have taken it and just waited for him to get over it. But this, to say that he was in it just for the sex, it was a hard piece to swallow.

What kind of thing could he throw back at Jasper after this! He judged it unfair to make it sound like it was his fault Casper got hurt, because Jasper was too busy being around him to prevent it. The emotions he got from Jasper were a mix of just so many things. The kind of stuff you normally get when someone kept it bottled up inside for a while and it only now blew off in your face, except that Jasper normally didn’t keep things inside. Franck had to try real hard not to let this affect him. Because, as much as he wished he could help Jasper, it resonated with something inside of him, a similar pain, and enhanced to the point that it wanted out. “I wanted to be there for Casper too. I was just as shaken when you told me for him but you both kept telling that it was fine and I should not worry about it. I want you to talk to me when you’re upset and things like that happen but you’re so used of it only being you and your brother that you don’t want to let me in.” Franck tried not to yell back as he hated to fight like this. He tended to walk away when that happened. Still, he knew his voice was louder than he wanted it to be.

He wanted to scream when Jasper claimed it was just for fun. He wanted to say it was not the case for him. And, again, he had to drag his brother, like Franck was dating the two of them or something. “When did I ever say that I was done with you?” he only said in the end. He was not done with them, or at least him, he didn’t want to. Except perhaps right now, as he could use being away from here at this moment, before the feelings took over. He was breathing deeply, trying to calm them, but t was getting harder and harder. He felt like Jasper was breaking up with him or something yet blaming him for it like he was the one leaving them instead of the other way around. That thought brought both pain and fear to him and a serious desire to run away.

He finally noticed Casper being out of the bathroom and staring at him. “I know that!” he exclaimed to him at his words. He didn’t mean to sound condescending or like he didn’t care, it was just a fact, considering he was an empath. He liked that the twins never acted as if he was one but he still was an empath. He stared at them both, alternating from one to the other. He didn’t need words, his eyes showed enough how much he didn’t like this situation and feared the outcome of it. “What have I ever done to have you doubt me? Have I not always been there? Just because someone hurt you, doesn’t mean everyone else will, you can’t judge us all alike.” His tone had lowered, he was not yelling anymore, but he still struggled at remaining calm.

[Casper & Jasper Emory]

The brothers could see that this was hurting Franck, the other boy might have been trying to hide his emotions but they were easy to see. The brothers were really good at reading body language and well they had been around Franck enough to get a good read on the guy. They also knew that their own emotions were probably affecting the boy, but they could not help the latter. They were hurting and they just didn't know who to trust anymore. Had they even really trusted anyone before? Not really, just Franck and Alex but the two of them had hurt them.

"It's not that I don't want to let you in, it’s just I don't see the point in it. We are used to doing things one way and I've already worked so hard and adjusting that, just work with me on it. Sixteen years it’s just been me and my brother, some things is just best if we handle it alone." Jasper pointed out, calming down a little bit or at least enough to not yell. "Plus, I was fine. You showing up would not change anything. We are the type to want to be alone when something really bothers us." Casper pointed it out.

He wanted it to be clear that it was not just because they were used to it being just one another. It was also because the kind of people they were, they really did need alone time when something bad happened. They never had been the type to lean on others for help and each other were the only exception because they were one in the same in their minds. That was all there was too it. "You didn't, I'm just...wondering when you will say it. When you will be done with us." Jasper said as she moved to stand up and move away from Franck. He needed space; he was still very much upset and was trying to hold himself back form losing it. It was a good thing that Casper came back because he needed his brother’s help.

It was interesting to see or well hear Franck actually yell, they didn't think the boy was actually capable of it. It was enough to get the two of them to settle in a way in regards to their worries about Franck ditching them. "It's hard not too...cause it’s me and my bro against the world. All other can just die. But..." Jasper said, not looking at Franck and stayed away. Casper moved closer towards Franck and gave him a small nudge. "A simple hug would be fine." He whispered to Franck, deciding to help the boy out.

[François Laffont]

Franck often tried to hide his emotions, especially when he was hurt, from others but when you could tell how everyone felt no matter the poker face they showed, it made it hard to know how to camouflage the way you felt. And when it was strong and shared with everyone else in the room, it was even harder. It was impossible for the brothers not to notice how it hurt him but Franck was not sure if they were in a state to care right now. Would Jasper ever bother to comfort him if he noticed his lover was hurt? After what he just told him, Franck started to wonder.

What he said was not helping either. Not seeing a point in letting him in? Yeah, sure, it has always been he and his brother against the world and he was trying to make some efforts for Franck, but saying that? What pained him the most was that Jasper didn’t even seem to realise that every word he said was just as many knives he dug into Franck’s heart. “And I’m the type to worry if I can’t make sure for myself that someone is fine,” he said to Casper, turning his head towards him. He was aware it led them to a problem. But since that was out and Franck had a hard time controlling anything right now, he just continued. “You think I didn’t feel bad when your brother got hurt?” he said, looking back at Jasper. The boy did say something that implied he was too busy having fun with him, like he was the one at fault because, had he not been so selfish to want to keep Jasper all for himself, the boy would have been there to protect his brother. He turned his head again to Casper. “I got angry at you because Jasper was all worried because you did not answer your phone and I was sure you were just having too much fun to bother. So when you called, I felt terrible.” He turned his head again, towards Jasper this time. “I find it great that you can handle things on your own but I’m an empath Jasper, I know when you feel bad and you’re important to me so I want to cheer you up if I can.”

Franck said that last thing on a soft tone, as if he hoped to appease Jasper with those, like it was a lullaby or something. He figured that, said like this, maybe he would understand that he didn’t have to lay all his burdens on Franck but that he could at least do so if he ever felt the need to. Plus he pointed out that Jasper mattered to him, since the boy doubted it. He still did now and Franck flinched again. It really felt to him like Jasper was trying to have Franck break up so that would not come from him. “So what? You actually want me to leave before you start caring too much?” His voice did not break and he was almost surprised of it.

At first, he refused to follow Jasper, not even with his gaze, as he walked away from him. The brothers against the world? It felt more like them against him right now. And he was not winning. All others can just die? Well, that sure helped him feel good. Franck took deep breath. If Jasper was working on breaking him, he refused to give him satisfaction. He did not hear the but he said at the end. He startled as one of them came closer and touched him. He looked at him. It took a moment for him to remember this was Casper. He blinked at his words. A hug? So now he could touch him?

He stood up and looked at them both now that he could do so without turning his head from one side to the other. He finally made a step towards Jasper. “Ja- Jasper...” he said softly, correcting himself before he called him Jay again. He wished he could feel something out of Jasper that was worth staying here but in all the emotions that had been let out inside this room, it was hard to pick up one in particular.