Chapter Text
When the time came to decide who took Xara's place, Jesse didn't want to put their friends through that. After everything that happened, they didn't want to be responsible for other's misery.
"I want to stay here. Take them with you."
"Ridiculous. It's just a llama and a villager. I've got a better chance with you."
So Jesse simply waited until she got the message.
Eventually, she left. Leaving Jesse to sustain the traps. Jesse was sure their friends could defeat the admin. Or, as they was recently told, Romeo. Not a very fitting name.
They were used to sitting in one place. Not only because of the vast amount of paper they have to... Had to do. But they also didn't get out as much. Adventure sounds unappealing when it's just you yourself.
Jesse thought back to what had led them here. Stuck sitting in uncomfortable, torn up, scratchy clothes. Right! The sea temple. They'd just been so desperate to spend time with Petra. They could feel their friendship slipping away. So when an elaborate adventure presented itself, who were they to deny its call?
They always caught Vos looking at them. They were always on edge, perk of being a hero, they supposed. At first, they assumed it was because Jesse had saved him. But that never explained the glares at Stella. And Radar. Especially Jack, his supposed old friend. Anyone who wasn't Jesse really. Now that they knew Vos was the Admin, they felt even worse.
The look of anger Romeo had when Jesse sent Jack to get the clock. The look of betrayal. Especially since Jesse had cheated to get him in that position. Jesse nearly felt guilty for it.
Jesse was angry too. But they were willing to let everyone think it was them that was cruel if it meant every one of their friends was safe. Hopefully, anyway.
Jesse ended up just rolling on the floor like an idiot. Not like there was anyone to see anyway.
Eventually, even that got tiring. Then their gaze landed on the window. The glass window. They wondered how exhilarating it would feel to punch through it. Feel strong again. Feel less helpless than they actually were. It wasn't even a conscious decision anymore.
The shatter of the glass was painful, but definitely got their adrenaline pumping. The blood on their knuckles wasn't a good sign.
They picked up one of the shards and began snapping pieces off.
It may have been the injury getting to they, or the lack of a sense of time in there, but Jesse was exhausted. Looks like this is really happening.