Eddie offers an amused grim and helps the smaller man to his feet. “Yeah it was kinda sudden, but that’s the gist of it. Are you okay to stand on your own?”
“Yes, thanks again. I should go check on Jackson, wait here a moment, okay?”
Edmund gives Hakeem a small nod as he walks up the stairs. Hakeem pauses at Jackson’s door, a hand outstretched to knock. What would he say to him? Lie and say he saw nothing? Not bring it up? What was the right move here? Should he just leave him alone and tell Edmund to leave for now? Nothing sounds right. He steels his resolve and gives the door a few light knocks.
“Jackson? Are you alright?” he asks, voice gentle. “Are you hurt? I can tell Edmund to head out for now and I can give you the apartment for a couple hours. I can take a walk while you take a chance to settle.”
* * *
Jackson hurriedly dries and gets dressed in random jeans and a tee, his anger rising within him. Why today? Why in front of Edmund and Hakeem? What could possibly come of this? Was his magic truly rebelling against him? A curse left by the spirit of his dead friend? Did he somehow wrong Brenda before she passed and this was her getting even? This made no sense and now the shadows have receded, as though they didn’t just cause him the biggest embarrassment in his century of life.
He hears Hakeem check on him from the other side of the door, it wouldbe nice to be alone. He should take his offer to send Edmund away, to take a walk and leave him alone in the apartment while his heart settles. He should be alone, it’s easier that way. But he doesn’t respond, he just stares at the door letting Hakeem wait in silence.
Jackson hears Hakeem take the stairs back down, probably to send Edmund away before heading out himself. They were meant to go shopping for groceries together, he put his plans aside to help Jackson find the third roommate, and this is how it ends up. He should let him, maybe the next set of viewings Wendy sends by won’t end as terribly. Maybe Edmund can just come back later.
But Jackson doesn’t want this to go on, desperate for this to end, he puts on his mask of formality.
He takes a deep breath and opens the door to head down stairs. He sees Edmund grabbing a bike helmet and throwing on a leather jacket. Hakeem turns to face Jackson, slight shock on his face, clearly believing the elf wouldn’t come out.
Jackson clears his throat and plasters on a fake smile, bright and perfect, the kind he saves for parties with family friends and business associates. “Sorry for the wait, guys, I hope the tour went well?”
Hakeem and Eddie exchange a quick look, an unspoken understanding quickly forming between them.
Eddie closes the distance between him and Jackson, offering his hand. Jackson gives it a firm shake, practiced and professional. “It went great, thanks for your time, Hakeem here is a great tour guide.”
Jackson meets Edmund’s eyes, deep blue and kind. A familiar feeling fills Jackson’s chest, a warm and ease, similar to what he felt when Hakeem helped him rein in his magic. The smile drops from his face, he pinches the bridge of his nose, sighing in defeat. There’s no point pretending in front of these two. Especially since Edmund would be used to being in the public eye and part of the noble circles.
“Ok, so let’s clear the air. You both got an eyeful, I can’t explain what happened and I’m sorry that it did. Edmund, you seem like a great guy, I’m sorry this is how we’re meeting for the first time. My magic tends to takeon a mind of its own, I can’t promise it won’t happen again. I genuinely hope it doesn’t. If you want the room you seem like a half decent guy to live with. You haven’t run to the tabloids to tell them how the heir of the Nocturne group flashed his new roommate and the youngest son of Christopher LaLune. I can’t say anyone else that’s come by wouldn’t have sold this story for a quick buck, will you?” Jackson arches a challenging brow, exhaling when Edmund shakes his head. “I’m going to trust my gut and say fuck it, the room is yours.”
Jackson turns to Hakeem and levels his gaze with the startled man, “That alright with you, Hakeem?”
Hakeem sobers and looks between the two men, before offering a few quick nods. “Yeah, Jackson is right. Edmund, you seem great and you caught me when I uh … .fell.” He breaks eye contact with Jackson, unwilling to think about fainting after seeing his sculpted form because“Holy Shit.”. “That is if you don’t mind a little chaos.” Hakeem rubs the back of his neck with his hand, offering an awkward chuckle.
Eddie looks between the men around him, the one who he saw almost fully naked, the other who fainted in his arms. This has been a crazy day, crazier than he ever expected. He ponders the situation for a second, tilting his head to the side, closing his eyes in contemplation, arms crossed over his chest. He smiles and chuckles to himself, this situation is crazier than he ever expected. Perhaps that’s exactly what he’s looking for. “If you’ll have me, I’d love to move in. A little chaos is a good thing, and that view is worth it.”
Jackson turns pink and averts his gaze. Christopher coughs and finds a very interesting spot on the ceiling. Realization dawns on Eddie as he realizes how that could be taken out of context, especially after what just happened. His cheeks turn bright red, he sputters, eyes widening in embarrassment. “OF THE PARK! The view of Wychwood Park. I love the view from the terrace.” Eddie pinches his brow and cringes at the whole thing. “I’m sorry, I guess I’m worse at this than you. Not that you’re bad at this!”
Jackson bursts into laughter, drawing the other two men’s attention fullyback to him. “No, I think the title of worst is mine to claim.” He brushes away a tear. “Twice now my magic has gone rampant in front of potential roommates, maybe that’s a requirement I didn’t know I had. Let’s get the lease signed. You can move in as soon as possible.”
Eddie smiles, grateful the situation has settled nicely. “Amazing, thanks. I can start moving things in today if that’s alright?”
Jackson passes him a pen and the lease. “The sooner the better, I can even get Jean-Claude to portal it over tonight.”
Hakeem shyly walks over, hands wringing together in front of him. “Sorry to interrupt, but maybe I can help? I wanna thank Edmund for catching me, so maybe I can move everything myself?”
Eddie raises an eyebrow, but before he can ask what Hakeem means, Jackson chuckles dryly. “I think I know what you mean, it can even be my way of apologizing for the…..incident. I think that’s a great idea, Hakeem. I could use the mana release anyway.”
Eddie furrows his brows in confusion, “Okay, I’m lost. Anyone want to fill me in?”
Hakeem turns to Edmund, offering a small smile. “I’m half-djinn, I can do small wishes. Moving boxes should be no problem, and Jackson can even help me with the mana needed.”
He turns to Jackson who offers a smile and nod. “We can share mana since he’s my..I’m his…we’re perfect mana matches.” Hakeem turns red, stepping back from Edmund’s questioning gaze. He has no idea why it embarrasses him so much.
Eddie regards him with amazement, he had never met a mana match pair. He heard the bond that forms between a match would be second only to a fated mate. Should he feel jealous that another set of people around him had found their one and only? They didn’t seem to be together in that way but would Eddie being here make him a third wheel? Why was that the first thought to come to mind? All these thoughts swirled in Eddie’s head making no sense.
Then something clicked.
The idea of not taking the apartment made his chest feel empty, why?The feeling of dread at not staying was clear and defined, he would have to figure out what it meant another time.
