Kagaku Ninja-Tai Gatchaman Fan Fiction ❯ Bruise of the Week ❯ Chapter 4

It was the chirping of Mark's bracelet that galvanised the three of them. Jason was, however, amused to notice that he kept Princess tucked firmly against him as he raised his arm to answer.

 

“Anderson here, Mark. I've just read through your medical report from the mission. My office. Now.”

 

“Told you he'd find out,” said the soft voice of Princess. “You're in for it now.”

 

“It's just bruising. Nothing's broken. I've been hurt worse sparring with Jason.”

 

“Actually,” drawled Jason, “that's the reason I came here. Tiny mentioned something about your ribs and bruises. You've been hiding injuries again, Mark. Probably why Anderson's pissed. I was.”

 

Mark stretched. “You're always pissed off at something, Jason,” he said and stood up. For the first time, Jason saw his ribs and could understand why Tiny and Anderson where concerned.

 

“Shit, Mark! That's not from the turbulence. That looks like something tried to squeeze you to death.”

 

“It's nothing,” came the clipped reply. “Just bruising. It'll heal.”

 

“Mark…”

 

“Keep out of this, Princess. We've had this discussion.”

 

“We're worried, Mark. You're taking a while to heal, and I'm concerned.”

 

“Keep your concern to yourself,” said Mark harshly, turning his back on her hurt expression.

 

Mark was dried and dressing by this time, and both Jason and Princess could tell that his temper was rising. Jason's eyes narrowed. That wasn't a good sign. Mark's temper usually only flared like that when he knew he'd made some mistake that could affect the team. He looked at Princess, who's face mirrored the concern he felt and more. She'd obviously known about this for some time. Jason quickly started to fasten his jeans and vaulted out of the tub, grabbing Mark's arm.

 

“Don't take it out on her, Mark,” he hissed. “If there's something wrong with you, she's got the right to know. I've got the right to know.”

 

“You? What the hell makes you think that either of you have any right to know if I've got any medical problems?”

 

Princess was sobbing quietly now, but Jason wasn't about to give up. “Let's forget that fact that you and Prin are lovers and have been for some time,” said Jason, now just as angry as Mark. “Let's focus instead on G-Force. I'm your Second. If you're incapacitated, it's me who has to wear it. If there's something wrong with you, it's Princess and I who have to carry that extra on the team. I think that we have the right to know, Mark.”

 

“There's nothing wrong with me. I've just got bruised ribs. Like I said, you've given me worse in training.”

“How long, Mark? How long have you had those bruises?”

 

Mark pulled his arm away. “Fuck you, Jason.” He slammed out of the room and Jason turned to Princess who was now sitting huddled in a towel on one of the benches around the room.

 

She wasn't the vixen who'd played withhim any more. She was the girl he'd grown up with, and she was hurting. He sat down and opened his arms and she crawled into his embrace, sobbing. He tightened his arms around her, rocking her back and forward.

 

“What's going on, Prin? How long has Mark had those bruises?” Her response was to sob harder and cling to him. “Speak to me, sweetheart.”

 

She sniffed, and looked up. “Long time since you've called me that,” she said softly.

 

“Long time since I've needed to,” he replied. “What's up with Mark? I know that attitude of his. There's something wrong, and he's trying to hide it.”

 

“I know. He's had those bruises for three weeks now. Since he was last caught by Zoltar.”

 

“Three weeks! I would have sworn they were less than three days old! Are you sure?”

 

“Jason, I've seen Mark naked every day in the last three weeks. Those bruises have been like that since about twelve hours after he got away. He's been dodging medical's since the first one and the one yesterday where he couldn't slip away. I saw the look that Doc gave him when he saw the bruising. Doc knows. He saw that they were the same ones.

 

“Mark's frightened, Jase. You know his mother died of leukaemia. I think that he's frightened that he's got it. He's desperately frightened.”

 

Jason looked at her. “Has he been taking his temper out on you?”

 

She shrugged. “No more than you would, Jase.”

 

He flushed, that was a hit. But it told him that Princess was bearing the brunt of Mark's fears. It was a bad habit that he and Mark had - using Princess as their emotional punching bag. And they'd both beaten each other up for doing that.

 

It was more serious now. Mark and Princess were lovers; and, like it or not, their inclusion of him in their game gave him a stake in this as well.

 

Totally aside from the fact that he was Mark's Second.

 

“We're gonna get to the bottom of this, Prin. He's not gonna use you like this.” His cuddled her close and she squeaked in indignation.

 

“Pot, kettle, black. Ribs.”

 

“Sorry.” Then he did something he always wanted to do, and kissed her. “Thank you, by the way.”

 

She squirmed free and started to get dressed, grinning cheekily at him. “Don't think we're finished with you yet, Jason. And I still haven't seen your bruise.”

 

He stood up and moved to unfasten his jeans. He stopped him, placing her hand over his on his belt. “No, Jason. Mark and I promised each other - if we played, then we played together.”

 

Jason shook his head. “Is that all this is to you both? Playing?” Then what she said penetrated. “Please don't tell me you pair have done this before? I don't think my heart could take that sort of shock.”

 

She laughed and hugged him. “We've not done this before, but we've talked about it. Lots.” Her hand cupped his cheek. “And you're not a plaything Jason. Never. We both care too much about you to use you like that.”

 

“Bet Mark doesn't now.”

 

“He does. He's frightened and he's angry. Exactly like a certain other bird I could name, Mr Condor. You know what he's like. When he calms down, he'll apologise to both of us. The Chief will make him get checked over. That'll give him a certainty when he gets medical results. Then we can deal with that together.”

 

He shook his head wonderingly. “And once again, you'll provide the emotional punching bag for the team. I don't know how you do it.”

 

She moved towards the door. “It's easy. I have these wonderfully supportive friends.” She smiled and left Jason in the room. He stripped off, rubbing himself down with a towel (being careful not to press too hard on his bruise) and then wrapping the towel around him, heading for the lockers and dry clothes.

 

He hoped to hell that she was right. If Mark really was ill, then they had a lot of work in front of them. The threat of the Eagle was one of their greatest weapons, and if it ever got out that he wasn't 100% fit, then there would be problems.

 

But more perturbing was the hint given to him by Princess that she and Mark had plans for him. Plans that, if he was honest, were more than a little exciting. He wasn't sure if he was ready to have his perception of them changed that much, so quickly.

 

But then, he wasn't about to give up what they were offering either.