You'll Get Used to Him

Date/Timing: 2016
Setting: Andrea's dorm, Jaeger Academy; Kodiak, USA
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Andrea huddles over a mug of peppermint tea in her dorm's lounge.
"Hey," greets Jackson. 
She jumps—splashes tea on her jumper. 
"Sorry," he mumbles, looking around for /something to—
"'s'okay," she whispers, and there is a roll of toilet paper tucked in beside her and she presses a handful against the spot. 
"May I?"
Nods, tucks her legs closer.
Jackson sits at the far end of the couch, studies his cocoa, sighs. 
Andrea dabs at her eyes. 
"It's a mess in there, yea?"
Sniffles. "'s'not a mess; he—he's /awful."
Jackson cringes. Straightens, takes a breath. "You'll get used to him."
Curls tighter around her mug. Sniffles.
Why're his trousers—right. 
"Cookie?" Wrapped in a napkin and slightly mushed /but chocolate chip. 
"Thanks." 
Jackson frown at his takeout cup. "He's never been ... He's not wired up right."
"Din't feel hu—" She shivers. "Too cold." 
"Blue-green-black." Jackson turns his eyes skyward. "I puked the first time." Glances over, smiles weakly, "'course, he did, too."
Andrea stomach flops.
Jackson winces. "Drink more of that tea."
She does. 
Jackson sips his cocoa. 
"Did he really try to kill your little brother?" she whispers.
"You saw that?"
Nods, feels definitely green. 
Jackson swallows another mouthful. "He wasn't thinking straight and mad at our mum, not Derek. Not trying to kill him, either. Doesn't have it in him."
Andrea gulps tea. 
"Uh, that—" Closes his eyes. "You don't have to—" He shudders, takes a deep breath. "He couldn't kill someone; remember that. Might help a little.""
Andrea blinks, snuffs loudly.
Jackson nudges her with an elbow. "You'll get used to him. Just don't believe /anything he says unless it's directions when you're fighting."
She shakes her head.
They sit quietly, sipping, until Andrea's mug is empty.
"Jackson?"
"Mmm?"
"What does it—?" Swallows. "What does it mean that we're—" Her eyes flutters shut. "—Compatible with him?"
"I ...." Jackson scrubs a hand over his face. "I don't know." Sags back into the cushions.
Category:Andrea has issues with her Driftmates
Category:Ficlet
Category:Jaeger Academy (setting)
Category:Andrea
Category:Jackson
Category:Derek (mention)
Category:Jones family (mention)
Category:Logan (mention)
Category:Andrea (ficlet)
Category:Jackson (ficlet)
Category:Kathleen (mention)
Category:Ficlets with images