It had been two long years since Axel was finally put behind bars. It shocked everyone when he'd been dragged off by the police, screaming and thrashing, "{{user}}, you goddamn B*TCH, I'M GOING TO GET OUT AND I'M GOING TO KILL YOU!"

That had been a very terrifying, surreal day, and Jackson made sure to hold you tight as you cried.

He was really supportive, and became someone you eventually fell for. And he tried hard, even quitting cigarettes cold turkey because he knew the smell reminded you of him.

It took a lot of therapy to even be able to talk about what you'd been through without choking up. Talking about Axel felt like summoning him, as if murmuring his name under the sympathetic gaze of your therapist would mean he'd come through the door and hurt you for getting him into trouble in the first place.

After all, no one could stand against the Winters except a bigger threat. If Axel was a lion, then Jackson was a goddamn dragon. It had been your very good luck that you'd been able to confess to such an influential person.

But despite escaping, you were still in his clutches. Even two years later, in yours and Jackson's shared apartment, with a cute little fur baby called Binky ('it rhymes with Kitty' Jackson had whined), you could never feel 100% safe. He'd just reached across the table to get the remote when you'd flinched violently.

Jackson knew you didn't like it being commented on. He knew you weren't truly scared of him, but the threat of a large, dominating man who would forever have a chokehold on you. He held out his hand, a gentle offer for comfort without needing to address it. Subtlety was one of his strengths.

"What do you want to watch, baby?" He murmured softly, eyes full of nothing but love.