Chapter 25 #2
“I just wanted to say,” Jackson swallows dryly, lips pulled into a thin line, as he looks up to meet Eddie’s quizzical gaze. “Thank you for understanding. I just need a little more time before I can face these events outside of Nocturne Castle.”
Eddie moves in close, brushing aside some hair that had fallen to elf’s cheek, cupping it in his large hand. “Of course, all I did was extend an invitation. It was your choice to make, not an ultimatum.” His words soothes Jackson’s mind, voice sweet in his ears.
A choice, something Jackson felt robbed from him sixty years ago, something he believed he would never truly have again.
And now, through the kindness and patience of the man before him, he feels like he truly has a say in his own life again.
Jackson knows what he wants, now it was simply a matter of finding the courage to ask for it.
* * *
Hakeem sits in a chair in his room as Charlie snips away at his hair, shaping his mess of fluffy curls for the ball tomorrow.
His cousin Nour is on video chat. “Wallah, I cannot fucking believe it. Not only did you get a gorgeous apartment,” her voice is laced with an overdramatic exasperation, “but you got not one, but two high profile and hot boyfriends. One of which is taking you to the fucking solstice ball in the spring realm.”
Charlie hums as they work, “I should have made you move out sooner. If I had known it would mean you finally get a social life instead of wasting every holiday, weekend, and summer off working and studying.”
Hakeem wants to bury his face in his hands, his cheeks burning. “Can you both stop, please! It’s just a date. A first date, mind you! And they are not my boyfriends. They’re just-”
“Just what?” Nour interrupts through the phone, her smile wide and mischievous.
“Just…sweet. And kind and funny. They make me feel safe. I feel at home here with them, almost more than I do back in La Fay.”
A smile blooms across Hakeem’s face, his eyes glistening as the memories he made with Jackson and Eddie fill his mind. Charlie cooes as they clean up the back of Hakeem’s hair, while a new voice speaks up from the phone. “Ya bro, you got it bad.”
“Mazen! Get out of my room, ya hayawan!” yells Nour.
“I wanna see Hakeem get all pretty for his boyfriends too!” argues Mazen.
“They are not my boyfriends!” snaps Hakeem.
A symphony of “Not Yet!” echoes from the phone and Charlie.
Hakeem dreads being stuck to the chair while Charlie works, he wants to hide under the covers before he literally bursts into flames from embarrassment.
It could happen, the world is magic.
He cares for Jackson and Eddie, but never dared dream they would care for him in the same way. Well, there was that one dream from months back. Hakeem tries to banish the memory, fruitless as the imagery returns to his mind.
“Shuu, what’s with all the shouting?” He hears his aunt’s voice come through the speaker next.
“Why is everyone in my room?!” Nour asks, annoyed by the consolidation of their household in her room.
“Hi, Khalto Bahera. Nour is just helping me and Charlie finalize my look for tomorrow.”
Bahera’s face peers through the phone screen, her breath catching as she sees Hakeem. “Ya habibi, you look so nice. Charlie, you did such a good job.”
Charlie has a smug smile, pridefully nodding their head as they hand Hakeem a mirror to appreciate their handiwork. “Thank you, Bahera, I do my best for our Hakeem.”
Hakeem takes a good, long look in the mirror in his hand.
His curls have been trimmed at the sides, taming the frizz.
The top of his head still has a crown of brown curls, shaped to be kept in line.
His soft face is framed by a shaven jaw and thin glasses, eyes glimmering in the light of the room.
He often hated looking too long in the mirror, always looking exhausted from long days, never paying too much mind to his appearance.
It seems, for once, he has an excuse to look his best. Would it be enough to allow him to fit in Eddie and Jackson’s world?
His hand wanders to the golden chain around his neck, “You think so? Will it be enough? It is a society event, I don’t want to embarrass Eddie.
” His nerves threaten to get the better of him, Eddie’s entire family would be there too.
His hand clutches his mother’s necklace tight.
Before he can speak again he’s called down by Jackson’s voice.
Charlie brushes off the hair from his shoulders, cleaning the hair off the floor with a flick of their wrist and spark of mana.
“Go show off my handiwork, then their reactions will put your mind at ease.” Hakeem gets up, forgetting he’s in his suit for a quick fitting, and is followed out his room by Charlie; phone with his family in their hand.
Hakeem leans against the banister outside his room, peering down at Jackson and Eddie who seems to have returned when Jackson went to grab his package. “Hey Eddie, welcome back.” Eddie and Jackson both turn to greet him, and stop in their tracks.
Hakeem is dressed in a simple suit. Silver jacket, like his eyes.
A black vest and white shirt. The material has a sheen in the light, it clings to every curve of his waist just right.
As Hakeem makes his way down to them, they see how the black pants hug his thighs in all the right places, the jacket framing his broad shoulders.
His hair, once a frizz of curls, now laid gently across his head.
They are staring far too much for Hakeem’s comfort, their eyes lingering on all parts of him.
“Do I look that weird?” Hakeem’s voice is sheepish as he approaches them, his arms out to display the suit.
Jackson and Eddie’s expressions soften, they share a quick glance between each other. Jackson steps forward, placing the box down on the coffee table before taking Hakeem by the shoulders and giving him a proper look.
“Hmm, no, I would say you look fantastic. Charlie!” Jackson calls up to the doppelganger looking down at them from the second floor banister, head resting on their crossed arms. “You are a fantastic stylist.”
“But of course, monsieur.” Charlie gives a self gratifying nod, sly grin spread across their currently-pale skin.
Jackson’s gaze returns to Hakeem, who is frozen under his touch, “Eddie is a lucky man to have you as his date.”
“I really am.” Eddie makes his way over, Jackson bowing out gracefully to give him room to admire his companion for tomorrow’s festivities. “You look amazing, Hakeem.”
Hakeem can’t hide the crimson invading his cheeks, full with a shy grin that escapes his lips. “Really? Thank you, both of you. I’m sure you’ll look amazing in your suit too.”
“One can hope. I have to look good to deserve having you on my arm.”
Hakeem’s brain is frying, his words failing him. Was Eddie always such a charmer? Even Jackson and Charlie are fighting the blush forming on their cheeks.
“So,” Hakeem squeaks out when he finds his voice, “Jackson, did you call for me?”
Jackson clears his throat and goes to retrieve the box from the coffee table, “Yes, right. I may have done some optimistic shopping. I have something for you both. After all, you can’t go to a masquerade ball,” he opens the box to reveal three intricately designed objects, “without a mask.”
Jackson pulls out two masks made to cover the upper half of one’s face, a silver wolf with green vines threading through the polished surface, which he hands to Eddie.
The second he hands Hakeem, a green rabbit with blue stars, moon, and suns studded across it.
The third mask, a blue bat with swirls of silver dancing across the material, lays in the box still, the lid abruptly shut over it.
“I didn’t know if either of you had one for the ball, perhaps you did, but excitement got the better of me.
You don’t have to wear them, it was just a silly idea mixed with the impulsivity of the wealthy.
” Jackson can’t look at either of them, ashamed to offer them the masks after denying his want to go.
“Jackson, these are amazing!” His attention is drawn by the praise. Hakeem and Eddie try on the masks, the joy apparent in their voices.
Eddie turns to Jackson, ocean blue staring back at him through the wolf mask. “This was very thoughtful, the design and color are perfect. How did you pull this off so soon?”
“I have my ways,” Jackson replies, with a nonchalant shrug. “This way you have all you need for tomorrow.”
As the boys admire the masks gifted by Jackson, Charlie returns their attention to the ongoing call on the phone in their hand, “I think our boy will be just fine.”
“Great. Now can everyone get out of my room!” Calls Nour’s annoyed voice over the phone.
* * *
The next night Eddie and Hakeem get dressed in their rooms. Sarah was arriving soon to pick them up in her car, and was very excited to hear she would give both Eddie and his date a lift.
Eddie emerges from his room, bow tie still undone around his neck.
Jackson, who was in pajama shorts and a loose t-shirt, looks up from his spot on the couch to see Eddie rush down the stairs to the mirror beside the door.
“You okay, Eddie?” Jackson asks as he crosses the room to stand behind Eddie.
“Yeah, it’s just this bow tie. I could never get it right and was getting frustrated in my room trying to figure it out.”
Jackson taps him on his shoulder, gesturing to him to turn around.
“Here, let me.” Jackson reaches up and fixes Eddie’s bowtie, making sure it’s neat and straight.
He brushes a loose strand of black hair that had fallen to Eddie’s face, fingers grazing a strong jaw.
Satisfied, Jackson offers a small smile “There, you look quite handsome. I’m sure Hakeem would agree. ”