Chapter 24
Hakeem wakes up in a daze, momentarily confused by his surroundings. Eddie decides not to bring up the ball until morning and helps Hakeem up from his spot on the couch.
“I hope you enjoyed my little display, gentlemen,” says Hakeem with a tired fondness in his voice as he fights a yawn whilst settling into a stool by the kitchen island. “I know the spot cleared in the sky wasn’t huge but the shooting stars should’ve been visible.”
Eddie fills three plates for the boys as he and Jackson exchange confused looks. At first the clearing in the clouds was indeed small, but it burst into a massive hole, miles wide, when Hakeem…collapsed.
Oh.
Eddie places the plates of food down in front of Jackson, Hakeem and his spot before asking the weary mage how much he recalls of his spell.
“Hm? Well my head is still a bit fuzzy, but after the rain slowed the sky should have opened up to reveal a hole in the cloud cover. Approximate diameter should have been about a quarter of a mile if I did the spell right. I think I remember seeing the shooting stars trace across the sky, so that means it worked, didn’t it? ”
Eddie rubs the back of his neck with his hand. “Oh it definitely worked, maybe more than you expected. Maybe it’s because you got mana drunk near the end that you don’t recall exactly what happened.”
Hakeem’s brows furrow in concern. “What do you mean what exactly happened?” He turns to Jackson, now slightly panicked. “Jackson?”
Jackson’s head throbs slightly from the excitement of the evening, and the apparent boldness of his housemates.
If Hakeem doesn’t remember clearly after the sky cleared, did he not remember the stolen kiss?
Massaging his temple, Jackson peeks an eye open to look at Hakeem.
“You know how you said you might get loopy from spells so grand?”
“Yeah?”
“Well, you collapsed and got loopy, as predicted, after you cleared about five miles of storm clouds over Wychwood park, filling the entirety of the newly cleared night sky with shooting stars. Point taken, by the way. I’ll be easier on myself.” Jackson allows himself a small smile. “As promised.”
Hakeem grows pale as panic overwhelms all sense of exhaustion and any aches his body was feeling.
Another fleeting memory looms at the back of his mind, something he did while mana drunk that he really wishes is just a loopy daydream.
He pushes aside the lingering memory of warm lips against his own as the realization of the spell’s scale hits him.
“Oh my gods, this is bad. This is really bad. I was so sure I calculated the spell’s mana requirements right.
It should have only cleared a quarter mile of cloud cover.
Not FIVE miles!” Hakeem looks between Eddie and Jackson in a panic, hand grasping at his curls, “The whole city probably saw the meteor shower.
“And the storm, although nasty, shouldn’t have been stopped by just one caster.
There are laws about altering the weather.
A quarter mile diameter maximum, second class mage certification required and never to cause supernatural disasters.
Okay that last one seems obvious, and I do have my first class certification actually since I assumed it would be useful for my desired line of work, BUT!
Five miles is twenty times the legal limit. ”
Hakeem plops his head down on the island, with a thud, in defeat, “My mana signature will be all over this incident. I was just trying to do a nice thing, not break the law. What am I gonna do?” He grumbles into the countertop.
He glances up when he feels Jackson’s patting him gently on his back.
“Our mana signature, you mean, my dear perfect mana match.” Hakeem chuckles shyly, a blush warming his cheeks at the correction.
“I will explain the situation if an investigation arises. This was for my sake, and I won’t let any of the blame fall on you. ”
“But-” Hakeem is cut off by a finger booping his nose, further disarmed by how Jackson looks at him.
Jackson leans down onto the island to match their eye levels, an adoring warmth spilling from his forest green gaze.
Hakeem begins to suspect that memory of kissing Jackson was not a daydream after all.
“You can join me in answering any questions that arise. You did no harm and maybe even saved the city from further damage from the storm.” When it looks like Hakeem is going to argue further when he jolts up, Jackson grips him by the chin, forcing their eyes to meet.
“That is my compromise and I’ll hear no more on the matter.
Does that sound fair?” Hakeem can only offer a squeak of agreement, his mind occupied in the dimple forming on Jackson’s cheek from the smile blooming from his lips, and the way he is firmly holding onto his chin. “Good.”
Jackson releases him and pats his cheek. “Now, Eddie was kind enough to portion us some of the lovely dinner you two cooked. Before it gets any colder, I suggest we partake.”
Eddie takes in the view before him. Something claws at his insides trying to get out.
The next morning Eddie would ask Hakeem to be his date to the spring solstice masquerade ball, hoping he would say yes and that it encouraged Jackson to join them.
He didn’t have the greatest relationship experience, the thought about caring for two people simultaneously scares and thrills him.
Any doubts he has about the emotions blooming in his heart were snuffed out tonight.
Eddie knows he wants to be part of the reason the men before him smiled.
He wants to keep them safe, laugh with them, and share in their sorrows.
He wants to cook with Hakeem, have Jackson be their dedicated taste tester for endless years to come.
It didn’t even have to be in this apartment, he just wants them.
Eddie doesn’t like the idea of coaxing Jackson into attending the ball by inviting Hakeem.
For a moment, it feels as though he’s using the young mage.
The idea of taking advantage of either man sours his gut, the only reprieve being the knowledge that he truly cares for them both.
This plan is a little devious, perhaps a touch selfish.
The emotions clawing their way out of him demand he goes through with it, and in the morning, he would.
* * *
The next morning Sergeant Helena Soleil had indeed come by the apartment with questions about the mana signature lingering in the air.
She doesn’t have Sister Estrea with her this time, and doesn’t look as mad as Hakeem expected.
He and Jackson are seated on the couch while sergeant Soleil writes down her findings while taking a seat on the love seat.
“Thank you for being so accommodating so early in the morning, Jackson, Hakeem. It makes my job significantly easier.”
There is no anger in her voice yet Hakeem still visibly shrinks behind Jackson, embarrassment staining his cheeks red. “I’m sorry you had to come all this way. I really didn’t mean to cause such a stir, I just miscalculated.”
Jackson holds his hand, squeezing it gently to alleviate some of Hakeem’s anxiety.
Sergeant Soleil quirks an eyebrow and levels her gaze to the two men before her.
“Normally, I’d be more skeptical, considering it was twenty times the legal limit.
Although, taking into consideration your lack of a record, Hakeem, and the fact you do in fact have the required certification for even attempting weather magic, I’m willing to hear out how such a grand miscalculation happened.
Normally I’d ask for some privacy, but considering the mana signature matches both of you, it seems prudent I have you both present. ”
Jackson speaks up next. “I supplied Hakeem with the mana to cast the spells. I must have given him too much and it over-channeled.”
Hakeem doesn’t want Jackson to take the brunt of the blame so he quickly interjects. “The composition was all me, though. It was my miscalculation of the mana usage that broke the law.”
Before the two of them could continue to cover for the other, Sergeant Soleil clears her throat to gather their attention.
“While it is true the law states no weather manipulation can take place over an area grander than a quarter mile in diameter, I am not here to make an arrest. Our laws punish those who wish to cause harm with their magic or abuse their powers to constantly cause disturbances. I’m here to collect statements for my report and deliver a warning.
While no damage was caused, do try to not manipulate the weather again on such a grand scale.
Do I make myself clear?” She fails to hide the humor in her tone, further betrayed by the quirk of her lip.
Hakeem exhales to the point of deflating into the couch, “Well that’s a relief. And yes, I can most definitely promise not to cause any more trouble.”
Sergeant Soleil chuckles, grabbing both men’s attention.
“Funny enough, the break in the storm allowed city workers to repair the damage done to the power lines, restoring power. With the intensity of the storm dampened for the rest of the night, emergency responders had a much easier time. So off the record I’d like to thank you for the help.
On the record, don’t do it again.” Hakeem vigorously nods his head in agreement.
Sergeant Soleil thanks them for their time and gets up to leave, turning to ask Hakeem one more question.
“How did you stop the storm and summon a meteor shower anyway? It would take several first class mages to stop a storm like that, and that’s just to make up the mana needed.
I know Mr. Nocturne here has an impressive supply at his disposal, but that doesn’t mean anyone with a grimoire can do what you did, Hakeem. ”