Who: Jakob & Ezra What: Getting to know each other. When: October 11, 2019 [backdated] Where: Kyrie’s House Rating: Mild Status: Complete!
Everything was going well. Kyrie was feeding him info- nothing of substance as of yet, but he didn’t let on that it wasn’t. He made sure she thought she was doing ‘good’. After their evening of intimacy, things on that front has been good. Despite his job, he did like Kyrie. Just had to keep keeping things from her. And if it came down to his loyalties being split, the government he worked for- that he saved him and gave him purpose would win out. However, for the time, they were in a good place.
Jake was looking to sort of surprise Kyrie, show up to take her out for a walk along the beach. He was wearing a pair of jeans and a grey t-shirt with a dark overcoat covering his inked arms. As he approached the door he smoothed his coat and knocked on Kyrie’s door. He’d gotten out of training early and it appeared that Roman was appreciating his work- or at least he hadn’t been disciplined for doing bad or enough- yet. He really hoped his gamble with Kyrie would pay out.
Once the door opened he blinked, seeing another man. For a moment he almost saw a flare of red fueled jealousy. It was unexpected. But then he recalled Kyrie mentioning her cousin Levi on the island and decided to make that connection. “You must be Levi.” Jake smiled. “Is Kyrie home?”
—
Ezra divided his time between Kyrie’s home and his government issued apartment. Today he was at the house, cooking up small meals from his rations so Kyrie and Fitz had something to eat when they came home.
Hearing the knock, Ezra turned off the stove and made his way over to the door. He was wearing his trainers, a black pair of jogging pants, and a dark gray t-shirt. He opened the door and saw a man he didn’t recognize. A smile spread across his lips as he looked Jakob over and listened to him. “And you must be Jakob?” He asked. “No, no she’s out. Would you like to come in and wait for her?” Ezra offered as he opened the door widely.
---
She was out. Waiting for a proper introduction to Kyrie’s cousin was probably best, and going into her house with another man in her life that would probably give him the ‘big brother’ talk like Ben was always a risk. However, a normal boyfriend would t think twice about it. And not entering could have caused more suspicions.
Jakob nodded. “Yes, and thank you.” He entered the house with a small bow of the head as he moved clear of the door. “Do you know when you’re expecting her back?”
—
“You’re welcome,” Ezra replied. So this was Jakob, the man Kyrie had wanted him to meet. Pretty much perhaps.
“I think she’ll be back in a couple of hours. She had some things to do. Mmm, forgive my poor manners. I’m Levi, Kyrie’s cousin.” Ezra said as he stopped in the living area and offered his right hand.
---
Jakob took the man’s hand and shook it. “Kyrie has talked about you a little.” Not a lot of details, but enough to know that his being there meant a lot to Kyrie as they’d not seen each other in a long time. “And In Jakob- which you know. Kyrie’s boyfriend.” He used the title with ease, no hesitation. It was a role he was comfortable in playing. Probably the most ‘normal morning he’d felt in a while.
“You’ve just recently arrived on the island, right? This month?” He inquired, checking the information he had. It would be good to get to know the new person close to his asset.
—
“That’s good.” All Ezra had heard was a bit here and there about Jakob. “Yes, I know. Kyrie talks about you.” It was a little ambiguous and that was how he wanted it. Protective, he was gauging the other man by actions, words, and deeds.
“Recently yes. Interesting place. Not much here, but it seems lively.” Ezra didn’t flinch at the what information Jakob asked. How did this man treat his sister? “Would you like to sit?” he offered, gesturing at the sofa.
---
“Good things I hope.” He smirked nodding at the offer of a seat.
Jake pulled his coat off, revealing his tattoo filled arms as he took a seat. “Thank you. I’ve found the island goes through waves. You’ll have days or weeks of the mundane followed by a series of events all one right after another where you feel you don’t have time to rest. But so long as you have people you like to spend the time with- everything is tolerable.”
—
Ezra smiled back, watching Jake. He noted the other man’s arms and the tattoos. Quite interesting. “You’re welcome. I agree on having people to spend time with. Very scenic is places.” He circled the sofa and sat down. “What do you do on the island..if I may ask?”
---
His backstory was well established. “I work at the facility.” Jakob said with a small shrug. He did go to the facility most days, just like as if he were working. However, he went into a section you needed a keycard for and was typically out through training. Unless he was needed for a job. Even if someone saw him go into the area though, his cover would stand. “I’m a janitor.” He said simply. Every area needed cleaning. “Not a lot of jobs available here and if you want some extra spending money, you take what you can get- especially if you don’t have any special skills.”
—
“Oh, that’s interesting. It’s a good thing you found one of those jobs. I doubt photography would be a valuable skill here. But I do like to cook,” Ezra smiled. He was usually a friendly, easy-going guy. His military training wasn’t something he relied upon, but he liked observing people.
---
He nodded. “Yea, might have some trouble there. But people are always looking for help with cooking. Personally I’m not the best, so I tend to dine out more than I should.” He chuckled. “Thankfully I can trade most of my rations so they don’t go to waste.” Jakob smirked. “And I got lucky. Didn’t mind dealing with trash and they had an opening.”
He considered Levi. The man seemed genuine enough, the question was; would he inhibit his relationship with Kyrie or not.
—
Ezra smirked. “Sounds like to each their own. Making things is something I like these days. I’ve been giving some of my rations to Kyrie. I also make her some meals in case she comes home and doesn’t want to cook.” He loved his sister and was thankful to have found her here.
Jakob seemed like an upstanding guy. But he was not completely convinced. And he wondered how he treated Kyrie.
---
“Someone’s gotta do it- and best of all… it keeps you busy.” He chuckled.
His hand scratched at his arm a little as he smiled. “So, I’m sure you have questions for me. I know Kyrie’s friend already gave me a ‘big brother’ talk.” Jake held a hand open. “I’m an open book.”
—
“I’m all for keeping busy. Keeps your mind from going anywhere else.” he nodded.
Ezra continued to casually watch Jakob. He wanted to know everything about the other man, better to gauge how beneficial he was to Kyrie. He wanted her to be happy. “I do, I do.” He hummed as he watched Jake’s hand. “I don’t know if I want to start with an easy question or a hard one.”
---
Jake laughed a little. “Well, how about I start.” His backstory was taken from his real history- up until Rikken. “My full name is Jakob Hale, I’m Twenty four, from Seattle. I never knew my parents…” he spoke as if his story was something he’d had to talk about a lot. As if he’d long become numb to the depressing facts of his life. “They were both in jail- I was actually born in prison and became a ward of the state. I was adopted when I was a baby, but I don’t remember them much they died in a car accident when I was little.” It was one of the few times he seemed a little sad during his story. The thought of how his life could have been had he been raised by the Hales.
“I grew up in foster care after that.” He continued. “Until I aged out of the system.” Jake held up a hand slightly before Levi interjected. “And before you wonder, yes I have been in jail. I was twelve and served a year for assault. My foster father was putting hands on my foster sister. But she was too scared to testify and backed up his story and I did a year in Juvie.”
—
Ezra listened to Jake intently, watching him as he spoke. Rough around the edges, an unstable life. And he was about to say something when Jake did hold his hand up. “Mmm, if anyone..put hands on Kyrie - family or otherwise - I would have done something as well.” The veteran tightened his jaw for a moment and relaxed it. Perhaps Jake was a good guy, but Ezra hoped he wasn’t hurting his sister.
“My full name is Levi Murdock, thirty-seven. I’ve lived in Seattle for the last six years. I grew up a bit in France, thus the accent. I served in the Army - Afghanistan.” Ezra began. He then pulled up on his right pant leg to show a bit of his prosthetic leg. “Despite being brought here to the island, I was glad to reconnect with Kyrie. I hadn’t seen her in years.” He was successful in not slipping and calling Kyrie his ‘sister’ as opposed to the cousin cover story.
---
Jake nodded. “She was really happy when you came to the island- or at least happy to see you again.” He nodded. “I can imagine having family here must make things easier.” Having family in general. Though it was hard to miss something you’d never had- in his case.
—
“I suppose so. Gives you a foundation so you’re not just wandering about like a fish out of water. I used to look after her when we were younger,” Ezra nodded as he lowered his pant leg. “Not to sound like a parent or the like, can I ask how you and Kyrie met?”
---
Jake smirked slightly, expecting a question like that. “Of course.” He’d leave out the part about how he’d observed her for a while before stepping up. “She was being harassed by one of the guards. Of course I’d seen her at the diner before, so I knew who she was. Anyhow, this guard looked like he might start getting a bit aggressive and I sort of stepped between them.” He shrugged slightly as if were no big. He knew it was a risk as the guards didn’t know he was on ‘their side’. “I think he figured risking a fight with me- or someone willing to stand up to him- wasn’t worth it and he backed down.”
He smiled softly. “After that I walked her home a few times- or rather teleported her so she didn’t have to risk seeing him again. Then, one day I got up the nerve to ask her to a movie.”
—
Ezra shifted a little and listened, watching Jake was he spoke. His jaw tightened a little at the idea of someone harassing his sister. But he was thankful someone helped her out. But he had thought Kyrie had probably grown up stronger and could hold her own at times.
“Thank you for looking out for her. Mmm, she seems quite happy.” He sighed.
---
“Of course. Kyrie’s… real special. Genuinely nice. I wouldn’t want anything to happen to her.” Physically at least, and he was looking to postpone any emotional hurt as long as possible. She was useful, so thus far he had no reason to hurt her.
Jake’s phone buzzed. It was ‘work’ they were calling him in for training, or maybe he’d get a mission finally. Looking at the device he made a face. “Damn, I have to go. My boss is calling me, here’s hoping it’s not bad.” He chuckled as he stood up. “Let Kyrie know I stopped by and I’ll text her later and see her at the diner later?”
--
Ezra nodded. It was good that she had at least a couple of people on the island before he arrived.
“I hope not.” He replied as he stood up. “I will. Take care, Jakob.” Ezra offered the other man his right hand.
--
Jake took his hand and shook it. “It was nice to meet you Levi. I’m glad Kyrie has family here now. I’m sure we’ll see more of each other.” He smiled as she grabbed up his coat and moved to the door. “Have a nice night.” He said before departing. Once out of view he sighed and blinked away to the facility to see why he’d been called away.