Jake has been a cab driver for quite a long time now, he knows New York like the back of his hand.
Some may say it's quite a boring job but, he never shared this sentiment as he wasn't doing it as a source of income -they had enough money saved from Marc's mercenary days- if anything he was doing it for the information.
See, most drivers' goals are to just get people from point A to point B but for Jake, it's the best way to gather intel without raising suspicion; he likes to drive around the shadier neighborhoods to "accidentally" pick up those who look rough around the edges yet as his alters like to remind him they've got to stay low-key, so every while he'll drive an old lady or someone equally as innocent-looking. Which was how he found himself stopping for a short kid who looks no older than eighteen.
"Hi" The kid greeted him once he got in.
"Hey, where to?" He asked glancing up at him in the rear-view mirror.
He did not expect the pale sickly thin face with tired eyes looking back at him.
"Damn he looks rough" He heard marc say to which he internally groaned. He hated when marc or steven decided to make an appearance when he's fronting, more specifically when he's working.
"Que-" The kid tensed and stopped himself looking down with a bit of a frown "Um I mean Manhattan yeah uh Midtown" He said glancing up at him again giving the full address.
"Alright" Jake said still looking at the kid. He noticed his slip up and thought it was probably a new address which could also be the reason why the kid looked like a kicked puppy.
"You should ask him if he's okay" He heard steven say in his insufferable British accent and he mentally rolled his eyes.
Marc alone is maybe a little manageable but both of them were hell.
He took another glance at the kid who was looking out the window and he noticed a yellowish bruise on his jaw.
Jake's jaw clenched he may be the ruthless one who doesn't mind getting his hands dirty but he never liked seeing a kid or a teenager hurt and not one as innocent-looking as this kid was.
"C'mon mate he's hurt" Steven said again.
"Fine" He thought.
Normally he wouldn't give in to Steven's requests this easily but knowing him he'll keep on nagging Jake to do what he wants until they end up getting a headache so he needed to shut him up.
"You alright kid?" He asked.
"Huh?" He jumped in his seat looking startled.
"You okay?" Jake asked again "You look rough" He said voicing Marc's earlier thoughts while nodding at the kid's injured jaw.
"I'm fine!" The kid squeaked quickly looking like a dear caught in the headlights.
"Just had a long day" He gave a small tired smile "Oh and um I- I tripped" He stammered.
"Hmm" Jake nodded, he called bullshit.
"This kid can't lie for shit" Marc said snorting.
"He doesn't look like the fighting type" Said Steven softly.
"Well, game recognize game" Jake thought which granted him a laugh from Marc and a 'hey!' from Steven.
He agreed with both of them though and thought about letting it go as the kid looked like the anxious type squirming in the back seat and constantly tapping his fingers on the old leather of his seat.
However it had been a slow day, he was curious and the kid looked too well-mannered to tell him to shut up besides, it's not like he was an uber driver afraid of a bad review so he might as well keep the conversation going.
"You need to work on your lying skills kid" Jake said bluntly.
"Not a kid I'm seventeen" He said in a small voice blushing.
"Exactly" Jake said smugly making the kid turn into an even darker shade.
"Name's Peter" He said changing the topic.
"Jake" He offered back.
"He's like a younger Steven with a New Yorker's accent" Jake thought.
"Me?" Steven questioned.
"Oh yeah I can see it he's too nice" Replied Marc.
"And he's got no dignity" Thought Jake which made both Americans snicker.
"Bugger off " Steven muttered back.
"So what's a kid from Midtown doing in a place like this?" He asked referring to the bad neighborhood they were in.
"I'm from Queens" He said confirming Jake's initial thoughts that he moved recently, he looked slightly annoyed then sighed realizing Jake wouldn't falter "I was taking my GED test"
"Yeah? How would that go?" Jake normally wouldn't ask all that or keep the conversation going for so long if it's of no use to him partly because the passenger would probably tell him it's none of his business and mostly because he didn't care.
That said, something about this kid was different he was too willing to answer his questions almost like he wanted someone to ask him and share his day with, and sure some people have a normal bubbly personality and tend to overshare but he prided himself on his ability to read most people and something told him that this shy anxious is not like that, it was more as if he was just lonely.
"I aced it!" He said excitedly then turned a little red "I mean uh yeah hopefully I did well enough"
"God he's like an overexcited puppy" Marc groaned.
"Seems like quite a smart lad" Steven remarked.
"That sounds great" Said Jake chuckling at the kid's contagious enthusiasm "And no need to act humble if you did well you did well there's nothing to be embarrassed about" He added in a gentler tone.
"Thank you" Peter replied with a small smile and started fiddling with his phone.
"Blimey! Did Jake just chatter with someone he's giving a lift to? I must be going bonkers" Steven exclaimed in a sarcastic tone.
"I think the kid broke him" Replied Marc smugly.
"See? I also can take the piss out of you. It's not that hard" Steven shot at Jake.
"You know what Psycho Colonel Sanders?" Thought Jake glancing at the chocolate bar on the passenger seat then at Peter.
"Hey, Peter" He called out.
"Yeah?" He looked up from his phone.
"You happen to like vegan chocolate?" He asked smiling innocently as he Marc started laughing in his head.
"Um yeah, I guess it's okay" He nodded.
"No! What are you doing?!" Steven gaped.
"Well, this passenger before you forgot his chocolate bar and personally I can never tolerate this vegan stuff" He said grabbing the bar and waving in front of peter to see.
"You arse you know it's mine! I had been searching for this particular one for days" Steven whined.
"So how about some celebratory chocolate?" Jake asked glancing at Peter's thin figure and bruised jaw.
"Oh, Are you sure?" Peter hesitated "I mean you don't have to give it to me you know? And um I like vegan chocolate as much as the next guy but I'm not vegan so like maybe you wanna give it to someone who will want it more?" He started rambling.
"He doesn't even like it" Steven scoffed.
"Not that I don't appreciate it of course but like-" Peter continued.
"I'm sure kid" Jake cut him off before he can spiral any further. "I want you to have it" He reassured him as the kid seemed like the type to overthink everything.
"Oh um thanks" He said quietly looking down at the chocolate bar in his hands.
"Aren't you the one who's always telling me I need to be nicer?" Jake asked mockingly at Steven.
"Well, why do I have to deal with the consequences of YOUR actions?" Steven complained
"Guys.." Marc started
"Cause life isn’t fair Stevie" Said Jake tauntingly.
"I hate you"
"GUYS" He shouted at them to which they both replied with a loud "WHAT"
"The kid" Was all he said and then they heard it. A sniffle.
Jake tensed "Did I talk to them out loud and freak the kid?" He thought.
"No, you didn't" Assured Marc "But I'm not sure what happened"
"I mean it’s quite obvious” Said Steven causing both of them to stare at him dumbfounded.
”Do you two nitwits not understand basic human emotions?" He gauged "He's had a bad day and is probably feeling overwhelmed after taking such an important test" He started explaining " He didn't have anyone to share the good news with then you came and interrogated him for all the wrong reasons but he's bloody lonely so he took it nicely and is tearing up cause someone cared enough to ask and gave him something to celebrate his win with when he probably didn't plan anything" He finished heavily.
Fuck. Jake realized that Steven was talking from experience. He's not good with emotions and now he's got two people whom he should probably say something to.
"Oh, wow yeah that makes sense” Said Marc gently "We're glad we've got you, we would have definitely been screwed up without you" Jake nodded slowly.
"Thanks" Steven whispered softly.
Jake suddenly realized that despite his earlier thoughts he's actually glad Marc is here, he was always better with emotions and with Steven generally than Jake was. He briefly thought about giving him control of the body and letting him talk to the kid but then thought Peter seemed smart enough to notice the difference and also he needed to be the one to do this.
"Hey Peter" He started softly offering him some tissues.
He accepted them and sniffed a little but still tried to avoid making eye contact. "How- how much will the ride be?" He asked in a desperate attempt to change the conversation.
Jake realized they were almost at the kid's house. He decided to do something he knew he would have never even thought of an hour ago but damn did this kid grow on him like a parasite.
"Here" He took a card out of his glove box and gave it to Peter.
"What's this?" Peter asked confusedly.
"I'll take a guess and be blunt enough to say you look like you don't have a lot of people so if you ever find yourself in trouble or needing to talk to someone give me a call kid" He said with a smile putting it in his hand "Oh and the ride is on me of course" He finally replied to Peter’s earlier question
"Wha- No! I can't accept this" Exclaimed Peter looking shocked.
"The card or the ride?" He raised an eyebrow.
"The ride! Both? Look thank you really I appreciate this but I can't accept it! You already gave me the chocolate which I'm really grateful for thank you it's more than enough. Plus it was a long drive and you're literally a driver it's your job! I can't just waste your time like this for nothing and you don't want some random kid messaging or calling you. You don't even know me! Or is this like something you do with everyone who rides with you cause then that's a little weird, not- not that I'm saying you're weird I'm just-"
"Kid stop spiraling, the ride is not that big of a deal it was a fun ride and I was heading this way anyway" He lied easily "Save the money and go buy yourself a sandwich or something you look like you need it"
"I don't need pity" Peter snapped.
"Good cause it's not pity it's a nice gesture and no I don't go around giving my number to everyone and you're not obliged to do anything with it. Throw it or keep it on you it's your choice but if you happen to need someone and give me a call I can be there" Jake replied.
"Wow, I did not think you had it in you" Steven broke the silence gently almost making Jake smile.
"Okay" Said Peter once they’ve finally arrived.
"Okay?" Jake tested not believing that the kid gave in this easily.
"Yeah okay thank you I’ll take the card” Said Peter “But I really can’t accept a free ride”
”Kid-“ Groaned Jake.
”No, you don’t get it I’ll feel bad all day and wont be able to think about anything else the guilt will eat me up I gotta pay you something man” He said dramatically.
“This kid’s got one hell of a guilty conscience” Said Marc.
”Like you’re one to talk” Jake thought back and now it was Steven’s turn to chuckle.
”Alright how about I give you a discount?” Started Jake.
God if you told him he’d be bargaining with a kid not to pay the cab fee, he would have called you crazy and he doesn’t like going around saying that term to anyone knowing quite well that it could be said back about him -and by him he means Marc or Steven because unlike him they are the ones who’d get affected by what other people say even if Marc likes to act nonchalant- just as easily.
”Yeah sure” Replied Peter.
”Pay me ten dollars and we’re good” Said Jake.
”Ten? That’s too little, it was a long dr-“ He started to say.
”Peter either that or it’s free no third option” He cut him off already getting tired of his stubbornness.
”Fine but don’t say I ripped you off” Replied Peter getting the ten dollars out.
”Get out” Jake said jokingly.
“You’re already tired of me” Said Peter with a sigh while shaking his head “Told you this would happen”
“If you stay here any longer I may take my card back and kick you out” He said causing Peter to chuckle.
He then locked eyes with him in the rear view mirror “Thank you” Said Peter earnestly then got out.
”No problem kid” Replied Jake “Congrats again. Go celebrate!”
“I can’t believe you gave your number to a kid maybe Steven was right and we are going bonkers” Said Marc imitating Steven’s accent causing both his alters to roll their eyes at him.
”Not sure if this will mean much but I’m proud of the way you handled this mate” Steven said with a smile.
”Yeah me too” Agreed Marc.
Jake is not an emotional person but their support did mean something and it made him smile and tip his hat a little.
”You know I may actually forgive you for giving away my chocolate after all” Said Steven.
Jake laughed out loud.