Chapter 16 #3
Jackson gets into his car and slowly pulls away from the spot blocking the alley, weaving through police cruisers.
He has calmed down significantly, his mana receding from the shadows of the city.
The last thing he finds in his shadows is the image of Eddie leading Hakeem into the apartment building, holding him close.
He’s safe, they both are.
Jackson has to remind himself on the drive back that Hakeem is safe. Eddie had found him in time and taken him home. The man responsible is in custody, albeit traumatized. Still, he needs to get home and see for himself regardless, to see them both safe.
* * *
Jackson steps into the apartment, careful not to slam the door at risk of shaking up Hakeem further.
He spots Hakeem on the couch, wrapped up in blankets and a cup of hot tea in hand.
Eddie is sitting a seat away, giving him space but within arms reach.
Hakeem and Eddie turn to face Jackson at the door, eyes wide with fear and rage in anticipation.
“It’s just me. I came home as soon as I could after I heard.” Jackson places his hands up, showing he means no harm. “And I have good news, they caught the guy.”
Hakeem’s face is wide with shock as Eddie jumps up from the couch. “They did? That fast?”
Jackson can’t hide his smug expression, gesturing to himself. “With a little help from yours truly. I put Hakeem’s lessons to use and my shadows did the rest.”
Hakeem puts the cup down on the coffee table, easing himself out of the nest of blankets.
Eddie and Jackson turn towards him, concern flooding their faces, as he walks timidly over to the door.
He’s shaking slightly, hands clasped over his chest, eyes glossy as he slowly makes his way to Jackson.
Hakeem’s voice trembles as he speaks, “Is it true? You found him? And your magic listened to you?”
Jackson cups Hakeem’s face in his hand, a gentle touch he doesn’t think about when he does it.
Hakeem holds onto his wrist, telling him with his eyes not to pull away.
“Yeah, bud, I did. Your lessons really paid off. My shadows scoured the whole city to find the bastard, I was in control the entire time. The police have him and he will be dealt with. You have my word as heir to the Nocturne family. More importantly, as your friend.”
Hakeem’s knees give out, he falls into Jackson and wraps his arms tightly around Jackson’s slender frame.
Overwhelmed by emotion, he finds himself once more crying in Jackson’s embrace.
Not tears of joy this time, but tears of sorrow, fear and relief.
“Thank you, both of you. You both kept me safe, I owe you everything.” He hiccups through tears, breathing uneven as Jackson holds him tighter.
Jackson wouldn’t dare let go.
Eddie comes up from behind, rubbing small circles on Hakeem’s back.
“You owe us nothing. If it wasn’t you it could’ve been someone else, cultists can’t be allowed to roam the city.
More importantly, we did it because you’re our friend, of course we’d get mad on your behalf for what that creep was doing.
” Jackson nods in agreement, Eddie echoed the words filling his mind almost exactly.
“We watch out for each other, that’s what friends do. And I’ve grown really close to you both in the short time we’ve been together. I’m glad I found you guys.” Eddie continues to rub circles on Hakeem’s back as he speaks, eyes locking with Jackson.
Jackson can feel the tears forming, heart filling with warmth at Eddie’s words. “I couldn’t have said it better myself, Eddie.” A small smile quirks up from both of them as Hakeem’s breathing steadies out.
“I’m so lucky I found you guys. Thank you for all of this, truly.”
Eddie wraps his long arms around both men, muscles radiating a comforting warmth. His forehead rests on Jackson’s head, whose own chin rests upon Hakeem’s fluff of brown curls. They are all home and safe. They know they could count on each other to make sure none of them felt this way again.
* * *
Hakeem gets led up to bed, promptly collapsing on his mattress the moment he reaches it.
A gentle tendril of shadow slips his glasses off and throws a blanket over the mage.
Eddie closes the door carefully behind him, before turning to Jackson, who’s leaning on one foot against the wall, arms crossed over his chest. “So how much did Wendy tell you?” He asks in a defeated exhale.
“When I called I asked her to recount all of what she saw, which seemed to include your odd behavior.”
Jackson pushes himself off the wall and walks over to Eddie, stopping when they’re toe to toe.
He looks up to meet his gaze, forest green staring up at ocean blue.
When they are this close, chests barely an inch apart, Jackson can feel the heat of Eddie’s body warming his own.
“Something’s changed within you, Eddie. I don’t know if it’s recent or if it’s been happening gradually for ages, but there’s been a change. ”
With one hand on Eddie’s chest, over his heart, Jackson scoots in a little closer.
He can feel the blood pumping in Eddie’s chest, a wild rhythm that echoes of power.
“Are you alright?” Concern laces Jackson’s voice, he’s never heard of someone awakening a power like the one Eddie seemed to display.
Eddie places his own hand over Jackson’s, covering it entirely, giving a gentle squeeze. “I’m fine, really. What about you? How did you know to call Wendy at that moment?”
Jackson averts his gaze, withdrawing his hand from Eddie’s warmth.
“I had a bad feeling. Wendy was late, call it a hunch. And maybe….just maybe, it’s because Hakeem is my mana match.
Maybe I sensed a waver in his magic, his soul, when he was scared.
My gut was sour for fifteen minutes before I called Wendy.
“I should’ve done it sooner. Maybe then Hakeem wouldn’t have been as terrified. What if you didn’t get there fast enough? What if he was taken?”
Jackson’s thoughts began to spiral, that nagging voice rearing its ugly head.
Would you lose everything again like you did before? Would all you cared about be taken from you again? What if Eddie was hurt by the damned magic and you lost both?
Jackson’s body trembles, heart beating wildly, chest feeling as though it’s being squeezed, all air ripped from his body. He felt so in control hunting down the bastard, and now he can feel it slipping through his fingers once more.
Warmth and a grounding weight engulf Jackson’s body.
Strong muscular arms pull him close, a hard torso with a steady heartbeat beneath help ground his thoughts, a hand buries itself in his dark hair.
The scent of Eddie; warm ocean breeze, a deep masculine musk, calms his heart.
“I did get to him in time. He wasn’t taken, and you made sure the bastard was put away.
We won today, Jackson. It could have been infinitely worse, but all the cards were in our favor.
Seamus sent me with Wendy. I felt Hakeem’s call.
And we both made sure that asshole will never come near him again. ”
Jackson wraps his arms around Eddie, returning the hug in full.
“You’re right, of course you’re right.” He lets his eyes close as he focuses on Eddie in front of him and on the fact Hakeem is safe and asleep in the room beside them.
His voice is muffled in Eddie’s chest, it tickles the larger man slightly as Jackson speaks.
“How did you feel Hakeem’s panic though?
I can barely justify it by saying he’s my match. I don’t know if that’s even accurate.”
Eddie doesn’t let go, swaying gently in place as he thinks. “No idea, whatever is changing within me must have allowed it to happen. I’ll get a check up with my family physician as soon as I can. For now I’m just grateful I could when I did.”
“So am I”.
* * *
Jackson and Eddie part ways and head to their rooms for the evening, both exhausted from the day.
Jackson doesn’t know if he could ever be as in control as he was today, but is grateful he had managed it when he did.
He can’t remember the last time he had such control over his powers, only when they first rampaged.
A memory he never wants to relive, that he keeps buried deep in the darkest parts of his mind.
You can’t run forever, little bat.
* * *
Eddie lays in bed, staring at the ceiling above. What was that today? That power—it was raw. Primal and beastly. It evoked fear in those around him, trapping them in place.
He thinks back to times his father went head to head with rival families at society events gone awry, his werewolf form commanding and powerful. His opponents often found themselves stunned in the face of his change, but nothing as drastic as freezing in place, paralyzed by fear.
Would the same thing happen to Hakeem? To Jackson? Would they come to fear him too if this power goes wild again? Is this how Jackson felt about his shadows? Frustrated by a lack of control, yet left scared and feeling powerless when he couldn’t feel its call?
All Eddie knows is that he wants to harness this mysterious power, for his sake and theirs.
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