Written after the shocking discovery that there is only ONE Assad/Jack fanfiction on all of this site. This is blasphemy I tell you! BLASHPHEMY!!!
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Like most things in Jack's life, their interaction was rough and brutal. He knew they both wanted the same thing, and that they would have to deal with the other long enough to get it, even if it meant threats and death. He regarded the other with a cool head filled with prejudice, unwilling to see a near copy standing right in front of him. But Jack saw the small glint of admiration in the ex-terrorist's eyes and grudgingly realized he felt the same.
Like most things in Jack's life, their moments fell in and out of time. Jack barely knew the man for four hours, but for all that happened in that span of time it could have been four months, or four years. Assad had seen him his strongest, simply acting like his old self, to his weakest, glancing over his marred back with terrified eyes. It was the near hurt and disbelief he saw in Assad's eyes that made him stop and shuffle into another room to finish changing. He couldn't forget the man's eyes, and for the first and only time in his mad life he wished he was a healer, and not a destroyer.
Like most things in Jack's life, their time together was full of a love/hate complex. The man would infuriate him and intrigue him all in the same instant. For every moment of icy clarity where he saw a perfect companion—someone willing to act and think like him—there was another moment where Jack couldn't stand the man. After telling himself he didn't give a damn, that Assad would soon be gone—be it thanks to CTU or by bullet—the tightening in his chest would tell him otherwise.
Like most things in Jack's life, their relationship was a power struggle. Jack's entire life was about people obeying him, getting what he wanted when he wanted it, and he was willing to go over the fine line into illegal and immoral if need be. Assad scoffs to Jack that he expects the same thing, and that he doesn't see such a line anymore.
And like all things in Jack's life, their love wasn't meant to last. Both were too self-destructive, willing to take leaps from the cliff, only to notice they had been falling after they had landed. Jack kept telling himself that it was only temporary, only necessary, that he could let go and let Assad fall anytime he wanted. He mentioned this to Assad once, who smirked and replied, "And I would enjoy dragging you down with me."
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Yeah, I know they had about 4 episodes together, and that Assad barely survived half a season. Humor me.
And leave a review. They're good for my soul! (What's left of it, anyways).