The room is dark except for the glow of moonlight entering through the window. Bren eases Jax onto the bed and moves to get a change of clothes. He tells Jax he will be back in a minute but gets no response. He walks off to the bathroom and decides he can’t leave Jax alone in his current state tonight.

When he returns to his bedroom, Jax is still sitting where he left him, his features seem almost ghostly in the light. He sits down on the bed and turns his head to look at Jax. He slowly strokes his white hair as it glistens like metallic thread in the moonlight. Jax turns his face to look at Bren and looks like he wants to say something but swallows hard and looks away. Bren gently pulls Jax’s face back up to look at him and searches his face for some hint of what he might be thinking.

Jax tears up and says, “I’m sorry”. Bren shifts his hand to the side of Jax’s face, caressing his pale skin. Jax presses his face desperately back into Bren’s hand embracing his touch. Bren leans forward and places a soft kiss upon his lips and pulls back. His hand moves to the back of Jax’s neck and he looks into Jax’s eyes looking for a reaction. The young man traces his lips with his shaking fingertips as if in deep thought. Only seconds pass before he pulls himself back up to Bren’s lips into another soft kiss. Bren is taken by surprise by it and eagerly returns it with a more passionate kiss and pulls Jax closer. Bren lays back pulling Jax with him as they continue to kiss and let their hands wander across each other’s body. Reaching for the edges of Jax’s shirt he manages to work it over his head. His hands explore Jax’s now bare upper body. Bren’s attention is drawn to the myriad of scars that cover his body. He can’t imagine what Jax experienced and can’t help but feel it is good he has blocked most of his memories from the event. He places a hand on Jax’s chest and can feel his rapid heartbeat. He knows that if he didn’t stop them now he wouldn’t be able to.

Bren kisses Jax’s lips again but with less intensity, while whispering, “it's late, lets get some sleep.” Jax shifts his body off of Bren and grabs a pillow to cover his face. Bren pulls the pillow off of Jax’s pouting face but can’t help but chuckle as he thinks it’s cute.

Jax pushes an arm over his eyes and says, “My scars disgust you, don’t they?”

Bren runs his fingers over one of Jax’s deepest scars making him tremble from his touch. He says “I think you are beautiful. Even with your scars.“

Jax places his hand on Bren’s and asks, “Then did I do something wrong?”.

Bren says “No, you didn’t do anything wrong! I just think we should wait.” He lays back down and pulls Jax into his arms again. Jax lays his head on Bren's chest. After only a couple of minutes Jax sits up again and places a hand over his mouth.

He looks at Bren in a panic and says, “why can’t I hear your heart beating?”

Bren sits up and chuckles. He reaches for Jax’s hands and pulls them away from his face and says, “Calm down, I’m fine! I forgot you didn’t know. Almost five years ago I was working undercover as a cop and got shot.” He rubbed his hand over his chest, ”my heart was damaged badly. They gave me less than a month to live. While in the hospital I was visited by several doctors, one of which was Fuchsia. They did a sort of interview with me and then offered me an experimental surgery. I thought about it for a couple of days and finally agreed to their rules and opted for the surgery. The surgery was a success and now I have this cybernetic heart. My heart doesn’t beat, and I have no pulse. But I am still here.”

Jax places a hand on Bren’s chest and looks up at him. Bren smiles and lays back down again pulling Jax back into his arms and says, “We have to get up early, so we have to sleep now!”

***

Bren woke up to Jax’s phone vibrating. It was still dark outside and Jax looked like he was sleeping deeply. He picked the phone up to find out what was buzzing. The words Lance glowed neon green. He looked over at Jax and then back at the phone. He pressed the glowing box and the message opened.

Two Days Ago

Lance: Let me know when you finish the delivery.

Lance: I want you to head back to my place. We need to discuss how you are going to pay me back for the advance on your drug, Sweetheart.

Lance: You better not be making a run for it! Come see me tomorrow or I will come find you!

Yesterday

Lance: What the hell have you done? Creso and two of his muscles trashed my place. I gave them your address so expect a visit.

Today

Lance: Where the hell are you? They just beat the crap out of most of my men. They have been shaking this whole city up trying to get information about you. If you survive this, the cost of your drug has tripled.

Bren became agitated as he thought about Lance and his messages to Jax. If he ever saw the guy, he would probably beat the shit out of him. He threw the phone to the nightstand and started trying to wake Jax up. He needed to pack so they could leave as soon as possible.