MLII C2, P12- "Black And White"

"Black And White" is the twelveth Part of "Miracula Luxia II" 's second Chapter. It was released on 15.11.2020.
== Plot ==
Although the biggest problem has been eradicated, Jared still has to deal with the consequences that happened during the war. The consequences which are still worrying him, even when the world is at peace thanks to his brave deeds.
Now, he has to come face to face with the harsh reality and decide what to do next.
== Story ==
Jared goes into the nearby hospital. After being told where his father is, he goes to his room and finds him unconscious.
He gently pats his shoulder, but there is no response.
He sighs.
"He has suffered as much as I have, maybe even more."- He says to himself- "Poor dad. Is there ever going to be a moment of peace for him?"
He holds his father's arm. It is still warm to the touch.
However, this does not put Jared's mind at ease. Worse, it makes him even more worried.
"If dad is always in this condition, how am I going to move on without his guidance? How am I going to see the world... without him?"- He wonders.
Then, he shakes his head.
"No, I must be positive!"- He says to himself- "Even when dad isn't around, I mustn't let my feelings drag me down. Everyone is still counting on me and I mustn't let them down."
Instead of going outside, Jared decides to spend some time with his father, even if he isn't able to acknowledge his presence.
While doing that, he thinks about the times he and his father spent in Avernum.
Despite all the failures that he showed as a father back then, he was still caring for Jared's safety and encouraging him to be a hero, helping him realize how much people actually valued him- both in the past and in the present.
He realizes that he carries the legacy of the Kaos family now. As the lead hero of the family, he must do his best not to taint its name with his mistakes.
Having regained his purpose in life, Jared gets up and nods to his father.
"Dad, I know that you are probably not listening to what I am saying, but know that I am ready to fight for what is right... once again. I am ready!"- He says- "Stay here and rest assured that I will make you proud!"
He salutes his father, turns around and leaves the hospital.
After leaving, he remembers that he left Annie at the other hospital and decides to visit her, so he can see whether she has regained consciousness or not.
Upon entering the other hospital, he notices his grandfather sitting in the waiting room.
"Grandpa, is Annie awake?"- He asks him.
Lethal smiles. 
"See for yourself, child."- He says- "Don't let me stop you."
Jared's eyes light up. He smiles and quickly heads towards Annie's room.
Upon opening the door, he sees her laying on the bed. Her eyes are wide open.
When she sees him, she tries to get up. and greet him. However, she is unable to do so due to the fact that she is still too weak. She simply watches him and smiles warmly as he approaches her.
Having gotten close enough to his friend, Jared hugs her.
"I knew that you would make it!"- He says confidently- "I knew that we could save you!"
Annie nods.
"The doctors gave me a prosthetic arm to replace the arm that you cut off."- She says- "But it doesn't matter. It still feels like a real one. And it's great!"
Jared sighs and shakes his head, tears rolling down from his eyes.
"I am so sorry for putting you though this."- He says- "Cutting your arm off without your consent in an attempt to save your life, it was a big mistake. It must have been painful. And I am very sorry about that."
Annie smiles and holds his arm in her remaining one.
"You shouldn't be."- She responds- "After all, you were the one who saved my life! Without you, I would be lying dead in a cold graveyard. Jared, I owe you my life for the selflessness that you showed back there, how you gave up on being happy about your well-deserved victory and decided that you should save my life instead of watching me slowly waste away. That you should honor the mutual wish of our friends- to keep me alive at all costs, even if it means doing something that would leave me scarred for life."
"You are a hero, Jared. And you should know that well, because it's true."
Jared wipes a tear from his eye and hugs Annie again.
"Life would never be the same without you, Annie."- He says- "I have always been taught that every life of an innocent person is important, that it matters a lot. Especially the one of a dear friend of mine."
Annie nods.
"Thank you... for caring about me."
She looks up at him.
"I can see the tension rising in your eyes."- She adds- "There's something that you want to tell me, right?"
Jared nods slowly. Then, he gets closer to her and stares into her eyes, his own eyes radiating warmth and care.
Annie blushes.
"J-Jared?"- She stutters- "W-what? What is it?"
Jared sighs.
"Do you remember the moment when you confessed to me after you divorced with John?"- He says quietly- "Well, I have been thinking about how to respond to your love ever since. Loving another person... it is very difficult. And I know that I am not the perfect boy for you. I know that John deserves you much more than I do. I know that I will only let you down. Nothing more than an indecisive person who does not know how to love."
He sighs again.
"But I finally decided to tell you what I think about this. So, please listen carefully."
He touches Annie's right cheek, making her blush even more than before.
"Annie, I... I think that I love you, too. And I want to be with you as much as you do. I want us to be together, to be happy. To raise a wonderful family. To look at the world in a different way, as a couple. To live happily ever after."
He kisses her on the cheek. Her face turns ruby red within seconds.
"But then, I remembered about a dream that I had when I was resting in the pod back in Tower Colony and I realized that our love will only end with your demise. I... I do not want to watch you die in front of me. I do not want to watch you suffer. I do not want anyone to suffer because of the mistakes that I make."
"Annie, I am just an obstacle in the way of the balance that everyone wants to achieve. I am just a brick tied to you that is dragging you down. I am nothing more than that."
Annie looks at Jared, surprised.
"How dare you say that about yourself!"- She scolds him- "You've always been such an inspiration to me. Such a role model for a true hero. A young man who knows his purpose in life and succeeds in achieving his goals, whom people respect so much and see as a people that they can trust in a time like this."
"Are you just going to let all those people down? Are all of your greatest achievements going to be in vain, just because you gave up on being a hero to the people who rely on you? No, this is not the Jared that I know! This is not the Jared that I want to see!"
Jared looks down.
"My mind wants me to continue being a hero, just like I always have."- He says and smiles sadly- "But my heart says otherwise. My heart wants me to start a new life, to forget my old one and be a new boy. A person who has the freedom to do what he loves, who wishes to be enlightened by the world around him and receive knowledge that will allow him to make this world a better place to live in."
He smiles.
"But do not think that I am completely done with being a hero!"- He adds- "I will still be helping people in need. The only difference is that people won't know me that well."
Annie looks up at him. She sees his determination and decides not to interfere with his desires. She knows that his hearts tells him that it is better off if he is away from the people that he is endangering... for now. And, perhaps, it is for the best.
"Very well."- She responds- "But remember this. Wherever you go, I will always be looking for you, day and night. And when I find you, I won't let you go. I won't let you go anywhere without me."
Jared sighs and giggles.
"I know that perfectly!"- He says- "Maybe one day, we will be able to love each other. Maybe we will change and see that love is a greater force than anything else and that it cannot be avoided forever."
He stands up.
"However, until that day, I will try to become the hero of more people and show them that there is still a bright light in the darkness."
Annie smiles.
"Please be careful!"- She says- "I will never forgive myself if anything ever happened to you!"
Jared nods.
"I will try to stay out of danger... most of the time. I hope."- He responds.
He salutes his dear friend, kneels down and kisses her on the cheek again.
"Goodbye, my dear Annie."- He says- "Remember that you will always be on my mind, no matter where I go."
Annie smiles.
"And it's the same for me."- She responds- "Go get 'em! Show them how a real hero fights his enemies and don't be afraid! I'll always be right behind you, in spirit!"
Jared smiles and hugs her again.
What feels like a minute for everyone else feels much less for him. He wants to hold her in his arms... for a very long time. To keep her safe and sound.
However, he also knows that he swore an oath when he became a hero- To think of nothing other than the safety of the people and to protect them from evil. That there are people to protect and villains to defeat, still out there in the big, big world.
Having said farewell to Annie, Jared leaves the room, leaving Annie alone.
"It's been so long. So long since I felt so... nervous."- She says to herself- "Jared is really good at swiping me off my feet, hmm?"
She sighs.
"However, I know that he has his duties and that I have mine. We can't be together right now, that's for sure. He's right about that and I can't deny it at all."
She looks at a nearby window.
"But that doesn't mean that I will stop trying! Like I promised, I will look for him everywhere... and I will find him! He can't escape from the power of love. It is inevitable! We're destined to be together!"
She grins.
"Rest assured, my dearest."- She says aloud- "One day, I will make you mine. And then, our love shall be everlasting!"
She lays back on her bed, thinking about her wildest dreams and reminiscing the good times that she had with Jared, lost in thought.
== Trivia ==
* The title of the Part ("Black And White") is a reference to how Jared sees the state of his father and Annie- Black for the former (Due to the fact that he may never wake up again, leaving him unsure what to do next and how to move on without his advice) and white for the latter (Due to the fact that she is still alive and well, even after the amputation that happened in the previous Part and the infection that had already set deep into her body).
* "I am just a brick tied to you that is dragging you down." is a reference to the lyrics of a song by "Fall Out Boy" known as "The Phoenix" (Circa 2013), namely "You are a brick tied to me that's dragging me down.".