:JCA: Love's Ambition - Ch.3

The Healer

A full week passed and Light Valmont was now being released from the hospital. He still looked as terrible as the day he was admitted and his wounds still needed to be cared for. Valmont was no longer in a life-threatening state in accordance to the hospital, but to Jackie he was being released from the safety of that building. Valmont's Yin had not been spotted by anyone since the incident at Uncle's shop, but he was still a threat. With that in mind Jackie thought it best that Light V stayed under Section 13's supervision.

"What are you doing here?" Jade said when she found the wanted criminal sitting alone in Jackie's room.

"Hello Jade," Valmont said with a broken smile.

'Oh, right!' Jade thought as she remembered Valmont had used the Tiger Talisman.

"Oh! I'll be right back!" Jade ran out of the room with an epiphany.

She returned just as quickly and handed Valmont another talisman.

"Jade! You shouldn't take things that don't belong to you."

Jackie came into the room a few moments later.

"They didn't find much but I brought what they could find at your...Bwah!" Jackie said, dropping the suitcase he was holding.

Jade and Valmont had stopped quarreling over the talisman when he entered the room. Jackie was sure that it was Dark V who was staring back at him for there wasn't a single scratch on him.

"Hand over the talisman!" Jackie warned him, ready to attack.

"Wait! Jackie!" Jade jumped from her spot.

Valmont cautiously put forth his hand towards Chan, the Horse Talisman in his palm.

"I told her she shouldn't be taking the talismans from the vault," he said sheepishly.

Jackie calmly retrieved the talisman realizing that it was still Light Valmont. The bruises left his skin and even though the bandage remained wrapped around his arm Jackie figured that his cuts had healed as well.

"He's right, Jade," Jackie said, "You shouldn't be taking the talismans from the vault."

"But I just did you a favor!"

"I know you ment well, but I could have hurt him. For a moment there I thought he was the darker side."

Jade was to return the talisman and to not bother Valmont too much in the future.

"I don't mind her company," Valmont was still seated on the extra bed that had been put in the room earlier that day.

This time it was Jackie who was thrown off by the passive behavior Light V displayed.

"Your men brought your things," Jackie returned to what he meant to say at first.

Valmont browsed through the inside of the small suitcase. It didn't contain much, there were mostly personal necessities. A few articles of clothing were packed as well and all of them looked as tattered and worn out as his suit. Jackie feared that they might be his best if not his only possessions. Jackie searched through his own clothing trying to find anything Valmont could borrow. He didn't own many collared shirts so it was a challenge trying to find one. There was probably a reason why Valmont never wore white, so a deep burgundy shirt would have to do. Lending one of his shirts didn't bother Jackie, but he kind of hoped that he wouldn't have to do the same with one of his pants. An image of the Brit wearing a pair of his own pants in a suggestive pose flashed in Jackie's mind. The color rushed to his face as he tried to get rid od the sudden thought.

'He'll just have to keep them,' Jackie decided.

He returned to the bedroom and found that Valmont had disappeared from his spot on the bed.

"Valmont?" Jackie searched the area for the missing man.

Jackie spotted him through the half-open door of the bathroom. Light V stood infront of the mirror, now shirtless and unwrapping the bandage on his arm. Jackie quickly hid behind the door embarrassed by the close encounter.

"Jackie?" Valmont peeked from the other side of the door, "I wanted to wash up if it's alright."

"Sure. Go ahead," Jackie couldn't help but stare in a rather awkward way, "You can borrow these."

"Thanks," the blonde took the neatly folded pile of clothes then looked back at Jackie who was still staring, "Is something wrong?"

"No! Everything's fine!" Jackie said rather quickly.

"OK then," Valmont said before shutting the door.

Jackie slid against the wall, sinking to the floor.

'That was too close' his mind raced.

He was caught in a state where all unrestrained and uncensored thoughts were near impossible to expel. Jackie couldn't see himself but he was sure that his face was flush all over. His breath was deep but silent as he tried to calm his panic-stricken heart. Jackie was thankful Jade didn't see him in this strange condition. He wanted to get up and preoccupy himslef with a chore. But the sound of the falling water from the shower beckoned his to stay. Jackie successfully calmed himself, all of himself, after a few minutes had passed. But when the water had stopped he felt the anxiety start again. This time Jackie got up, not wanting to be caught in the same spot after so long.

"Hey Jackie," Jade called from behind her uncle.

"Bwah!" Jackie jumped in alarm, patting his chest.

"Are you OK?"

"You just scared me is all," he turned to face her.

Except when he did so Jade looked past him.

"Are you wearing jeans?"

Jackie turned back to see Valmont was out of the bathroom. His platinum hair was still damp and had left some wet spots on the shoulders and back of the burgundy shirt. His face was also cleanly shaved. Valmont looked down at his new wardrobe and said, "Well I don't think khaki would match this shirt."

"Those are Jackie's clothes?" Jade shouted.

Jackie felt that he could die right then and there.

"It's only temporary," the Chinese man tried to redeem himself.