Actions Speak Louder [November-ish] Jake had never been punched in the face before, and while he was often a fan of new experiences, he had to say, this one was simply not one of his favorites. His hand migrated to his wounded jaw, and he moved his tongue through his mouth once, tasting blood the whole way across. His neck hurt too, twisted by the momentum of the fist that had connected with his skull just moments before. It was all in all a very unpleasant experience indeed, and one he did not wish to ever have again.
Despite the pulsing agony in his jaw, Jake straightened himself to his full, unimposing height. There were some involuntary tears in his eyes, but his voice was mostly level. “Why did you just do that?” he asked. He was just confused.
“That was for Eden,” spat back his assailant. “So fuck you.”
Asher was not confused. He wasn’t thinking clearly, but it wasn’t confusion that blurred his vision like Jake. It was rage - pure and simple - that had compelled his clenched fist into his younger brother’s head. He hadn’t meant to hit Jake, really. He hadn’t even meant to engage him. But when he came looking for Desiree in the apartment she shared with their youngest brother, the fury and anger he felt had simply overcome him. He had acted rashly and, yes, violently - to his understanding, it was a family trait, a Manger trait - but felt no regret. Jake Manger had earned this, and so much worse.
“Oh.”
“ ‘Oh’?” Asher repeated, his rage audible and increasing, if it were possible. “That’s it? That’s all you have to say? ‘Oh’?”
“Look, I didn’t… I didn’t mean to… to….” Jake fumbled. And now the tears came, which only hurt his jaw worse, but it was just all so much. Yes, he’d shot their father, and yes, he’d killed him, and yes, he’d taken him away from Eden. But if there was any concept foreign to Jake, it was malice. Guilt, however, was one with which he was quite familiar by now.
“It’s bad enough… what you did,” Asher said in a low growl that built as he went on. “Letting Arnold take the fall like that, letting Eden hate him for this. But you’re so close to her. You… you replaced her father! Our father! You’re manipulating her, and she’s just a fucking kid!” His voice broke. “She’s just a kid.”
Jake’s head drooped. His tears rolled on, silent and infinite. “I know.”
Here, perhaps Asher should have felt pity. But he didn’t. He placed a hand on Jake’s bony shoulder. “Tell her the truth, or I will.”