Chapter 27
27
L iving with Cass and Desi feels like a dream. If it is, though, then JJ never wants to wake up.
It’s only been four days since Cass broke JJ out of the Sanctum’s prison, but it already feels like a different lifetime. After all, it’s difficult to imagine being cold, hungry, and scared when Cass and Desi have apparently made it their business to keep him warm, well fed, and safe. No hunters looking down their noses at him, no anxiously trying to impress the Council, no constantly waiting for the next assignment to arrive??—
Even though he and Cass agreed that it’s safest not to leave the house for a week or two, JJ still feels freer than he ever did back at the Sanctum.
The only thread tying him back to his old life is Roma. Cass gave JJ a new burner phone with her number programmed in two days ago, and JJ has been texting her ever since. Not too frequently, of course?—he can’t look at his screen for too long without Desi appearing with a new distraction for them to share?—but enough to hold a conversation every day.
It looks like she’s having some trouble adjusting to the “monotony” of civilian life, but on the bright side, JJ was able to convince her to start watching Wyvern Academy. She has strong opinions on whether Snowstorm should end up with Firelight or Amethyst. JJ doesn’t have the heart to tell her that she ends up with Borealis in Season Seven.
Hopefully, they’ll be able to discuss it in person soon. They agreed that it’s best not to be in the same vicinity just yet, not when the Sanctum is probably trying to track them both. But JJ is excited to see the apartment safe house Obie set up for Roma, and Roma seems especially keen to finally meet Desi and tour JJ’s new home.
For now, though, JJ is content exactly where he is.
Content, and?—if he’s being honest?—a little restless. He’s not used to relaxing for days at a time, and he’s taken to subtly trying to help out with chores, putting away toys and loading dishes into the dishwasher and setting the table before meals. Cass has much less subtly taken to telling JJ that he can start helping out around the house next week, not this week.
JJ was surprised with himself for not immediately wanting to argue. His worst fear back at the Sanctum was being deemed useless or incompetent, so he’s used to going above and beyond to be helpful, even when he’s not acknowledged for it.
Especially when he’s not acknowledged for it. Frankly, he usually wasn’t.
But Cass doesn’t make him feel inept. He isn’t dismissing JJ’s concerns or belittling his contributions; he’s just holding JJ to a reasonable time frame to rest and recover before taking on any household responsibilities. It’s actually kind of… nice.
It’s been a long time since anyone made it a point to take care of JJ. Not treating him like he’s broken or fragile, but just treating him like he matters.
If nothing else, it makes JJ’s mild obsession with Cass feel much more justified.
The one thing Cass does let JJ do, though, is take care of Desi. It’s a job that JJ tackles with gusto, as always. “But Hana!” JJ exclaims, holding Herman the Wyvern in front of him. “If we don’t have any cake, then how will we celebrate Tybalt’s birthday party?”
Desi looks equally aghast at this proclamation. “We’ll have to find something else yummy for the baby dragons!” she says firmly, nodding Hana’s head up and down in agreement. “How about strawberries?”
“Oh, I think we can go more unhealthy than that,” JJ says seriously. Behind him, he hears Cass snort with amusement from his spot on the couch. “How about cupcakes?”
Desi’s eyes light up. “How about strawberry cupcakes? And s’mores!”
“Strawberry cupcakes and s’mores?” JJ repeats. “That’s a lot of sugar for the baby dragons, Hana. We’ll need some fun activities to tire them out. We don’t want them to be awake past their bedtime, after all.”
Desi ponders this latest conundrum, hugging Hana to her chest as she thinks, and JJ fights back a smile. It’s only been about twenty minutes since Desi announced that today is Tybalt’s birthday, but JJ thinks they’ve done a stellar job of planning a surprise party for the dragon plushie so far.
The only person who’s not involved in the current festivities is Cass. JJ shoots a guilty look at where Cass is wrinkling his nose down at his laptop. After they tucked Desi in last night, Cass explained that he’s been working on covertly setting up new identities for JJ and Desi?—and admitted that it’s a lot harder now that everything has a digital footprint.
JJ asked what he could do to help. Cass asked him to distract Desi for a few hours.
And JJ is trying not to think too hard about the fact that Cass is choosing to sit out here with them while he works instead of escaping to his bedroom, where it would be infinitely quieter. If there’s one thing JJ can never doubt, it’s that Cass adores Desi more than life in itself.
He hopes that Cass is pretty fond of JJ by this point, too.
“Dancing!” Desi says triumphantly, making JJ start with surprise. “JJ, we should have a dance party!”
JJ grins. “A dance party with all the dragons?”
“Yes! It’ll be so much fun!”
“Well, if we’re going to have a dance party,” Cass says, grabbing his cell phone from the cushion next to him and sliding it across the floor towards JJ, “then we’re going to need some music. I should have the Wyvern Academy soundtrack downloaded in my music app.”
Warmth curls through JJ’s chest as he picks it up. “It won’t bother you?”
“Not at all. I might even join you. Modern technology is such a drag compared to dragon dance parties.” Cass nods at the phone. “Passcode is 1776, by the way.”
JJ pauses halfway through typing it in, glancing up at him. “Like the year?”
“Mm-hm.”
“Is that…?” JJ hesitates. “Is that the year you were summoned?”
He desperately hopes it isn’t impolite to ask. He knows that most demons have a complicated relationship with the circumstances of their summoning, that their first few years on Earth can be devastating at best and traumatic at worst, and the last thing he wants to do is force Cass to relive bad memories.
Not when Cass has been so careful not to pressure JJ into talking about his own.
To JJ’s relief, though, Cass just shakes his head. “No, I was actually summoned in 1775. But 1776 was the year we won the war, so.” He shrugs. “Seemed fitting.”
A tendril of interest lights up in the back of JJ’s mind. He abstractly knew that Cass was summoned during the American Revolution and was a key player in turning the tide of the war, but somehow, he never actually thought about that in context. “So you’ve been in the United States since it was founded?”
Cass’s eyebrows pull together. “Well, I’ve spent years at a time on campaigns in different parts of the world, but generally speaking, yeah. Why?”
“Who was your favorite president?Since you’ve lived through all of them?”
Cass doesn’t miss a beat. “General Washington. We haven’t had a good president since General Washington.”
JJ squints at him. “Really? You didn’t like any of the others? Not even??—??”
“General Washington,” Cass insists. “Don’t even get me started, JJ. I can and will rant for days about the pros and cons of each individual president. I have an hour dedicated to Harrison alone. Don’t test me.”
Curiosity bubbles up in JJ’s chest. Decisively, he pulls Desi into his arms, hands her Hana the Wyvern, and turns to face Cass fully. “Well, we do have a few hours. Who came after Washington? Jefferson?”
A startled grin spreads across Cass’s face. “Adams, actually. Jefferson was the third. And let me tell you, they were both??—?”
Abruptly, Cass’s phone sounds off in JJ’s hand. JJ fumbles it with surprise, clicking the screen back on. “Sorry, sorry?—let me just pass this back to you, and?—?” His brain short-circuits when he sees the caller ID. “Maggie Khan? Like, Magdalena Khan? Battle of Thermopylae Magdalena Khan?”
“Don’t be a wimp, Jackson.”
“You started World War I together!”
“Just?—?” Cass snaps his fingers impatiently. The phone flies out of JJ’s hand and into Cass’s, where he hastily swipes into the screen. “Maggie! Hello! You don’t call, you don’t write…”
A voice floats over the line, just loud enough for JJ to hear. “Well, you see, Chin, the form of communication we’re currently engaged in is referred to as a ‘phone call.’ So you’ll find that?—while I might not write?—I do, in fact, call.”
JJ stifles a snort of surprise. Cass rolls his eyes, but he’s smiling. “Touché. What’s up, Khan? Is the Chain still running you ragged?”
“As usual. Actually, that’s why I’m calling,” Maggie says. “We need to talk about December.”
JJ’s blood runs cold. Cass jerks to attention on the couch, his eyes snapping over to meet JJ’s.
How does Magdalena Khan know about Desi? How does anyone know about Desi? They may have been seen together at Lakeside, but that doesn’t mean anyone should’ve been able to identify her!
Especially since Desi changed her appearance after she met JJ. He forces the thought from his mind, making a frantic “say something!” gesture at Cass.
“December?” Cass repeats faintly, tilting his phone in JJ’s direction so he can hear better. “Well, it wasn’t a bad month, but it wasn’t the best, either. Nothing to write home about, really.”
“Ha-ha,” Maggie says, sounding thoroughly unamused. “I’m talking about the unregistered demon you’re harboring, Chin. Do I need to give you my speech about the purpose and merits of registration? I wrote it myself. It’s pretty good.”
“I’m sure it’s wonderful,” Cass hedges, “but it’s unnecessary. There aren’t any demons in need of registration in this house.”
“So you’re claiming that the unregistered demon toddler known as December isn’t currently living under your roof?”
And then, to JJ’s utter horror, Desi answers. “Hi!” she calls, waving cheerfully at the phone like Maggie can see her. “I’m Desi!”
Too late, JJ claps a hand over Desi’s mouth. “Shh!” he whispers frantically. “Not now, Desi!”
Cass looks mortified. “Um, that wasn’t?—that was just??—?”
“Hi, Desi,” Maggie cuts in, raising her voice to be heard over Cass’s sputtering. “I’m Maggie.”
“Hi, Maggie!” Desi yells past JJ’s hand. Wearily, JJ releases his grip on her.
“So you prefer ‘Desi’ over ‘December’?”
“Yeah!” Desi wrinkles her nose. “‘December’ is so long. But ‘Desi’ is short and cute! I like it!”
“It is short and cute,” Maggie agrees solemnly. “Do you spell that with an ‘s’ or a ‘z’?”
“Um…” Desi blinks at Cass. “Cass?”
“An ‘s,’” Cass says, looking resigned. “D-E-S-I. Desi. Are you going to register her?”
“Yes.”
A tendril of fear curls down JJ’s spine. He knows that Cass has been trying to avoid registering Desi with the Chain, but he doesn’t know if there was another reason beyond keeping her identity a secret. “What does that mean?” he whispers at Cass, trying to keep his voice as low as possible. “Is it dangerous?”
“No,” Maggie answers, and JJ nearly jumps a foot in the air. Cass facepalms. “Registration simply creates a record of her existence with the Chain, along with any pertinent contact information. It’s neither a criminal record nor an offer of employment. And as Desi has been confirmed to have the developmental age of a child under the guardianship of Cassius Chin, her contact information will consist of his cell phone number and home address.” She pauses. “Regardless of whether Cassius Chin is actually living at the address in question or not.”
JJ’s respect for Magdalena Khan ticks up a few notches. “That is a very good speech,” he offers hesitantly.
“Thank you. I’ve practiced it quite a lot. Can I assume I’m speaking with Mr. Julian Jackson?”
JJ raises his eyebrows at Cass.
“Well, you know what they say about assuming, Mags,” Cass says innocently, and he taps a button on his phone. “Although I am going to put you on speaker now. Just to make it easier for Desi and persons who may or may not be Julian Jackson to contribute to the conversation.”
“Understandable,” Maggie says. “I have Desi, D-E-S-I, as her first name. How about her last name? ‘Chin’?”
For a split second, Cass hesitates.
And then he meets JJ’s eyes. “‘Jackson-Chin,’ actually,” he says, and JJ sits bolt upright, heart stuttering. “With a hyphen between them. Desi Jackson-Chin.”
Warmth floods through JJ’s chest. He’s never really thought about Desi having a last name before, but if he’d ever been pressed, he probably would’ve said that she should have her primary caregiver’s last name?—Desi Chin.
Judging by how quickly Cass replied, though, it sounds like he’s thought about it more than once. And apparently, he considers JJ to be just as much of a parent as he is.
JJ doesn’t want to examine too closely what that does to his heart. Instead, he just gives Cass a small smile. “Thank you.”
Cass’s eyes soften. “Of course.”
“You’re not beating the ‘shacked up with a hunter’ allegations,” Maggie says flatly, and JJ hears the faint sound of typing. “All right. I’m submitting her registration now. You should receive an official letter at your address on file within five business days. Human identification documents such as a birth certificate, passport, and Social Security card will arrive within four to six weeks.”
“Sounds good,” Cass says. “Thanks, Mags.”
“Don’t thank me yet.” Maggie pauses. “I’ve also been ordered by the Chain to inquire into your whereabouts.”
To JJ’s shock, Cass hesitates. “Well??—?”
“Don’t actually tell me, you moron!” Maggie sounds scandalized. “I’ll have to notify my superiors if you do!”
“Touchy,” Cass drawls, but his shoulders visibly relax. “I was just going to say that we’re safe. You can report that back to your superiors, if you want.”
“I’m only required to notify them if I ascertain your whereabouts,” Maggie says. “Which I haven’t. Alas.”
“Alas,” Cass agrees, smiling. “Can I do anything else for you, Maggie?”
“I’m sure I’ve given you quite enough anxiety for one day,” Maggie says. “Later, Chin. Bye, Desi. Bye, unidentified third person.”
“Bye-bye!” Desi calls as Cass disconnects the line. “I like her! She’s really funny!”
“Miss Maggie is funny,” Cass says, and his eyes find JJ’s. “And she’s also a very loyal friend. She won’t tell anyone about you or Desi.”
“That’s good,” JJ says, and he winces. “But it sounded like she already knew. She guessed my name right away, at least.”
Cass grimaces. “Yeah. According to Obie, even the food truck crowd deduced our real identities after that debacle at Lakeside. We’re probably the talk of the town by now.” He lifts his chin, eyes gleaming. “But they can’t get to us here. Not the Chain, not the Sanctum. Not nosy Esteban and Lucia from Tacos Near Me. We’re safe now, JJ. I promise.”
JJ’s heart flutters. “I believe you,” he says softly. “Thank you, Cass.”
Cass’s lips twitch. “My pleasure.”
Suddenly, Desi rockets to her feet, grabbing JJ’s hands. “JJ! Cass! We almost forgot about the dance party!”
JJ gasps theatrically. “We did almost forget about the dance party! You should go wake up the baby dragons so they can join us!”
“Okay!” Desi says, and she dashes down the hall. “Baby dragons! Baby dragons! We have a surprise for you!”
Grinning, Cass decisively shuts his laptop. “That’s enough work for now, I think,” he says, standing up and stretching. “I sense a long afternoon of dancing ahead of us. I’ll see if I can rustle up the ingredients for strawberry cupcakes, too?—Nostringvadha knows we have enough strawberries.”
“And maybe you can tell me about Adams and Jefferson tonight?” JJ asks hesitantly, giving Cass an unsure smile. “After Desi goes to bed?”
Cass grins back. “There’s nothing I’d like more,” he says, and as he taps into his phone to pull up their playlist, JJ realizes that it feels like he’s accomplished more today than he ever did at the Sanctum.
Somehow, making Cass and Desi smile feels like everything he’s ever wanted.