Jackie held Anti in his arms tight. They were both shivering from the cold AND what just happened.

The hero was both pissed off and highly concerned. This was all his fault. If he hadn't cut off Anti's lease, he wouldn't have felt he need to run away, right? Or was it his plan anyway?

It doesn't matter. Jackie was not only angry with himself for that but also that he hadn't taken his disappearance extremely serious as he would anyone else. He took Anti's glitching into account, not thinking it could be taken away again.

And now here was a traumatized kid in his arms still crying from almost getting raped by a gang of sick freaks.

'This is all my fault' he held Anti even tighter, leaping from roof to roof.

All he could do was just get home as fast as possible and hope that Chase and the others could make Anti feel somewhat better.

At least a little safe.

Finally at the edge of town, Jackie landed into the grass and went into a run towards the house.

Just a few more blocks.

'Shit, I guess I didn't even check to see if he was hurt' slowing down a little, Jackie muttered to him softly.

"Are you hurt? Did they cut or stab you? Shoot you?"

Anti held onto him tightly still but shook his head lightly, "Th-they hit m-me" he sniffled loudly.

"Okay. It's okay. Marvin has some bruise salves. You still got some burn balm, too, right? From burning your hands from the brownie pan? Silly kid. Always getting into trouble hehehe" he thought chuckling about it would help put Anti more at ease.

He was wrong.

"I-I'm s-s-sorry" the kid whimpered brokenly.

Jackie swallowed, running faster again. He wasn't exactly comfortable talking to Anti like this but he couldn't do NOTHING.

"It's okay, kid. You're not in trouble. You did nothing wrong."

Anti whimpered against his chest, ". . .I a-always d-do everything w-wrong"

"Anti . . . ." he shook his head but couldn't think of anything to say.

They were coming up to the house but Jackie felt a sign of relief as Chase ran out, seeing them.

"HEY! YOU FOUND HIM!" Chase bolted over to them but grew more worried the closer he got.

Seeing Anti tightly wrapped around Jackie like he was a safety blanket. . .

"What happened?"

Jackie didn't want to explain it more than once and especially not in FRONT of Anti, "Let's go inside first. Kid's cold and hungry and I'm sure Kallie and Sammy were worried about him, too"

Chase nodded, still sneaking peeks of Anti, "They go home with Stacey in the morning. They were afraid they wouldn't get to say good-bye to their 'cousin'" he chuckled lightly but knew the situation was way worse than Jackie was letting on.

Chase led the way inside, too afraid to even touch Anti in fear that he'd break, he was shivering so much.

He didn't look blue, though, from the cold so that was good.

Everyone was in front of Anti immediately including the kids were up in his face asking him all sorts of questions and he HATED it.

All he wanted was to go to bed but of course he couldn't so long as the kids were there, too, to bug him.

Jackie seemed to pity him. Anti didn't want that but it wasn't as if he could stop him. What happened tonight was . . . well . . . . he didn't ever want to talk about it ever again.

"Vhat happened, Anti?" Henrik leaned on the ground in front of him, "You have bruises and . . you're shivering?"

It wasn't hard to put together that Anti had been through the ringer. Jameson tapped Henrik's shoulder, 'Perhaps we could talk about that later. He looks tired'

Chase nodded, "Hey kids, maybe you could go in the living room for a bit? Anti will join ya in a bit, okay? Turn on the TV"

They looked hesitant to leave their new friend but knew it was serious by the look on Jackie's face.

Sammy just nodded and held his sister's hand, "Okay . . . You can pick what we watch when you come in, Andy"

Kallie kissed his cheek sweetly and hugged him before walking into the living room with her brother.

The kids didn't see how tense Anti was at the hug but the adults did.

Chase swallowed, "Anti? . . . Are you seriously hurt? Do you need anyth-" he went to move his hair away from his eyes but Anti jumped back with a high pitched noise that seemed to tremble.

Anti didn't even realize he had jumped back to grab hold of Jackie's leg.

"Anti?" they were all certainly surprised. No one knew quite what to say. What happened to him?

Finally to break away from the awkward silence, Jackie pat Anti's back lightly, "M-Marvin . . you got any bruise salve? Anti was beat pretty good. And more burn salve, too, if you could."

Marvin looked over Anti again but the bruises must have been under his clothes, "S-sure . . no problem"

Marvin disappeared to go get the stuff. Henrik wanted to check him over himself but this looked to be more of a sensitive case. He wanted to ask so many questions but knew it wouldn't be for the patient's best interest if his sudden jumpy nature was any sign.

Jackie kept him close, too, which was another sign. Something terrible had happened if Jackie wasn't even pushing him away . . .

Scratch that, something terrible had happened if Anti felt safe remotely CLOSE to Jackie.

When Marvin returned, he had the salves in this hands, "Here we go! Anti? D-do you want to do it yourself or do you need help?"

Still gripping Jackie's leg, Anti looked up at the hero. Not sure why.

Jackie knew why, "It's okay, Anti. You can go in the bathroom if you want. Marvin can help you if you'd like? He won't hurt you. You know that"

Anti looked back over to Marvin but still seemed distrustful, "I-I'll do it"

He took the salves and they all watched as he slowly made his way towards the bathroom upstairs.

When he was out of earshot, Chase finally broke, "What the FUCK is going on, Jackie?!"

"I've never seen him so . . . submissive?" Henrik sighed lightly, "Did he get attacked?"

"Of course he did" Marvin rolled his eyes, "And it must have really gotten to him if he's that jumpy"

Jackie swallowed, "Well if you guys would let me explain . . I guess I don't have long until he comes back down. Fine but you guys have to promise not to bombard him with questions. Just leave him be the rest of the night, alright?"

'Just tell us what happened!' Jameson signed violently.

"We promise, Jackie" Chase started tapping his foot. He needed answers NOW, "Just spill it already"

"Fine" he started, "When I found him, a gang had him cornered. Anti had been beat and overpowered. I think there were five men."

"Geez" Marvin groaned sympathetically, "Poor kid . . . wouldn't think that'd be enough to freak him out like that, though"

Jackie halted. He really didn't want to explain what else happened but he felt as if it were in Anti's best interests if he did.

Henrik seemed to notice him thinking, "Vhat else happened, Jackie? There is more, isn't there?"

"Y. ..yeah. The men were preparing to . . . rape Anti"

A silence overcame the kitchen.

Chase's instincts wanted to destroy the nearest thing next to him but he tried his best to keep it cool. It wasn't working.

"WHAT?!"

"Calm down, Chase" Jackie spoke softly, "I already beat all of them. . . .nearly killed them all, actually. All I could feel was . . . . fucking anger. I WANTED to kill them all. But Anti was more important at the time. Needed to get him out."

More silence followed.

Marvin nodded, "You did the right thing, Jackie."

"We'll find and kill them all later" Chase clenched his fists.

"I already threatened the leader" Jackie shrugged, "He's probably out of town by now"

'Then we'll find them later and make them all pay' Jameson nodded.

Henrik pat Jameson's shoulder, "Yes, we vill"

"Point is" Jackie cracked a smile before getting serious again, "Anti's still more important right now. Those pigs can wait."

"I agree" Chase was biting his lip, " . . . that's why he flinched away from me, huh? . . . . those scumbags. . . touched him"

"Once again, don't talk to him about it. He'll talk when he's ready. Which might not be for a long while." Jackie tried to get them to understand. It wasn't as if Anti was one to talk about his feelings anyway.

Marvin sighed heavily, "I'm gonna go check on him. See if he needs help"

"I'll go with you" Chase tried to butt in but Jackie stopped him.

"I'll go. You stay with your kids. Let them know to not be asking Anti any questions. We don't want Anti to panic. Kid's probably tired"

That hurt Chase but he knew Jackie was right. Since when did Jackie care so much about Anti's feelings?

This was knew but Chase just agreed again, "Alright. . . . okay"

Anti was on the floor in the bathroom hugging himself. He didn't want to take his shirt off. That was where it hurt since they punched and kicked him there but he felt . . better with his shirt on.

'Maybe they're not so bad. I don't need the salves. . . I'll be fine without them'

They burned and ached, though.

He was in turmoil with what he should do. He was taking too long. They others would be knocking on the door soon to check on him.

Speaking of, a knock sounded on the bathroom door.

"Hey Anti . . it's Marv! Can I come in?"

"N-no! I'll be out in a minute"

"Are you sure? I can help if you need it"

"Leave me alone!" he tried to sound tough, "I'm almost done as it is!"

"I know you're lying, Anti" Jackie's voice sounded behind the door, "I'm gonna come in, kid"

"I-what. . wait!"

The door opened and the two looked down to see kid Anti on the floor looking . .. well . . .. sad and scared.

"Here, we can help-" Marvin tried to come in but Anti sunk further into a corner in the room.

Jackie stopped the magician, "Actually, . .. How about I just help him? Wait out here?"

Marvin seemed a bit taken aback but wasn't about to argue. Jackie WAS the one to rescue Anti, after all.

Shutting the door behind him, Jackie walked in and sat next to his former enemy, noticing how he hadn't flinched at him.

Was Anti not afraid of HIM?

"You didn't even try to help yourself" Jackie mumbled to him, "The salves . . . can you get your shirt off?"

". . . . .. I don't want to"

"Hm . . . ." Jackie understood why. From what he saw in that alley, "I understand. . . they touched you. You want to feel safe"

Anti didn't argue.

"You're safe here, Anti. No one will hurt you"

Anti sniffled softly beside him, "I know that . . ." Jackie looked down to see him tearing up.

Was this really happening?

But instead of hounding him on the salves, Jackie tried to be the hero he was supposed to be. He had to help and it didn't matter if it was Anti. Right now, he was the person who needed him the most and he wasn't about to push him away.

"I won't hurt you . . . you know I'll protect you . . . right?"

Anti hugged his knees. He tried to keep all his emotions bottled up inside but it was getting increasingly difficult with Jackie talking like this.

"Y-you . . . .. my a-apartment-"

"I'm sorry, Anti. I truly am. I had NO right taking your home from you. I know now from all of this happening, you just wanted to feel safe again and I took that all away from you. I took your freedom, your home AND your form of security."

Anti's shoulders slumped just thinking about it.

"I may not be able to get your apartment back right now BUT . . we can . . start over if you'd like?" Jackie held out his hand to him, "Hm? I was an asshole to you and most of the time, you didn't deserve it." Jackie flicked his wrist, making Anti's knife flick out from his sleeve, "Here. . . you can have this back"

Anti stared at it and back up at Jackie, "I thought . . the bad guy took it?"

"He did . . " Jackie smirked, "But I beat him, broke his arm and got it back. Take it"

"I .. I can have it?"

"Yeah . . .I trust you, Anti"

The little glitch really didn't know what to do or say. He felt . . better, though.

Slowly, Anti reached out to take the knife from Jackie, actually stunned that the hero really let him take it.

Instantly, Anti felt better with it in his hand. He felt . . . less defenseless.

He looked back up at Jackie who indeed seemed to trust him.

"I . . I trust you, too"

"You do?"

He nodded.

"Well good" Jackie pat his head, slightly relieved that he didn't flinch at his touch like he had towards Chase, "We really need to get those salves on ya, Anti. It'll help, you know. You can still do it yourself if you'd like"

Anti stared at his knife and then at the salves on the floor and then back up at Jackie.

Finally, though, he took off his shirt.

Jackie wanted to kill that gang. Murder them all. Beat them and torture them. He felt dirty just thinking about it. Was this the glee Anti felt thinking about torturing someone? If so, he sort of understood it.

But also, it seemed Anti had changed pretty drastically. Would he ever feel the need to do such things after this whole curse fiasco was over?

There were many dark bruises already forming on Anti. Over his ribs and chest and arms. Hand marks on his hips and collarbone as if to help keep him quiet.

Jackie had to look away so he didn't break something.

When Anti was done, Jackie helped him put his shirt back on, noticing how he didn't want to let go of his knife. Was it really that much of a security thing? Like a teddy bear to him?

"You probably don't wanna be around the kids tonight, huh?"

Anti shook his head, "But . . I don't have anywhere else to sleep"

'Yeah . .' Jackie thought to himself, 'I forced him in the living room so we could keep a better eye on him. I locked everyone's doors so he couldn't get in and kill us in our sleep'

"We'll change that tomorrow. You can help me clean out the storage room if you want."

"Really? But I thought-"

"I told you we could start over, didn't I?" Jackie held out his hand for him, "Things are gonna change around here. Seems like this curse is gonna take a bit longer anyway." he chuckled nearly humorlessly, "Might as well make the best out of it, huh? Set up a new room, get ya new bed? Then when you turn back, we can go furniture shopping. Maybe get ya a cheap new apartment"

Anti had a hard time believing him. It was a lot to promise.

But the look in his eyes told him he could trust him.

He saved him, right?

How couldn't he trust him after that?

Jackie saved him. And after all he had been through today, he had a hard awakening at just how weak and defenseless he really was.

He NEEDED Jackie.

With that sudden new realization, Anti nodded and managed to smile a little, "Okay"

That night, Jackie set up his futon in his room. It had been the first time Anti stepped foot in his room but he really didn't care. All he wanted was to sleep.

The kids were disappointed that Anti didn't want to spend time around them but understood somewhat what Anti might have been going through. Of course the only thing they had to compare the situation to was one of Jackie's hero movies but they got it enough. Anti was feeling afraid and helpless and Jackie was his hero.

Of course after the situation, they 'knew' that Jackie was Anti's dad so OF COURSE Anti would want to be with his dad right now, right?

Jackie covered Anti up in blankets on the futon, letting him hold his knife still like an actually teddy bear. It would have been cute if it didn't look incredibly dangerous.

Chase was a little confused about the sudden development but eventually gave in. He wanted to help keep an eye on Anti but seeing how attached the kid was to the hero now, he couldn't just break him away.

Right now the only thing Anti needed was a hero. As strange as it was to all of them. . . .

Anti needed Jackie.

And even more strange than that, Jackie was all too welcoming to help him.

The figure appeared in Anti's old apartment again.

'I know he was here . . . those imbeciles said they saw someone in here through the window last night'

They had been looking for Anti everywhere and had no leads on where he could be!

'This is starting to get very annoying' he straightened his posture, 'When I find him, he's gonna have a lot to explain . . AFTER, I give him hell'

They looked around the empty apartment, 'He disappeared so quickly. No one's seen him since last week and then his apartment just suddenly gets cleared out. Something big happened, that's for sure. Especially if it was big enough that he couldn't fucking tell me'

He scoffed and snarled, 'No matter. He'll get what's coming to him either way. I'll teach him to ghost me, piece of shit glitch bitch'

He slammed the door behind him, leaving. This trail led to a bust.

Hopefully his next lead would be more promising.

He'd have to kill his last lead for giving him such USELESS information.