Jackson places his glasses on the coffee table and absentmindedly brushes curls that had fallen across Hakeem’s forehead from his eyes. Jackson pulls his hand back, clutching it to his chest. He shouldn’t act so familiar, it hasn’t even been two months since they moved in together. He doesn’t know the man well enough to be doting over him as he slept.
Sure he knew he danced while he cooked, humming made up songs along the way. He knew that he had a brilliant academic mind, that he was loved by magic as displayed by how its secrets were open to him. That Hakeem loves cheesy romance novels, ones that had descriptive smut scenes scattered throughout. He loved to share food with people he cared for. Loved teaching people about magic and its history. He adored classic sitcoms, ones that he would watch with Jackson and Eddie when they all had time on late weekend nights. He knew his smile filled his cheeks when it was genuine. How his eyes shone like the full moon on a clear night. Jackson knew how Hakeem would laugh so hard no sound would come out at the worst of Eddie and Jackson’s jokes.
Wait…wait wait wait. When did Jackson learn so much about Hakeem? He never paid attention to other people like this, not since…
It’s a matter of proximity, that’s all.
If he truly knew anything about the men he lived with he would know that Eddie switched to Korean when speaking to his mother on the phone, but only spoke the odd Korean phrase if he was on call with his siblings. Jackson would know Eddie fills his cheeks like a squirrel when eating his favorite foods. That when he would cook with Hakeem, both of them jokingly kept Jackson out of the kitchen, only letting him in to be their tastetester. He would know Eddie squeezed a pillow when watching dramatic or tense moments on TV, how he would lean with all his body when playing video games. All the sports trivia that swam through that head of wavy black hair. How he’d clutch his sides when he laughed so hard he would snort. How he was insecure over his lack of a wolf and low magic that he pushed his body to the limit to at least be strong physically. He would know what time he left every morning for a run and his favorite protein drink, a mix of both strawberry and vanilla protein powder in full fat milk.
Shit, when did Jackson get so close to both of them?
After years of being closed off from the world, nearly six decades, he didn’t expect to open up to Eddie and Hakeem in less than a two month time frame. He had lost so much, had experienced so much heartache, he didn’t think such a feat was possible.
Was it a result of his bond with Hakeem, between mana matches? Then what was happening with him and Eddie? What was drawing them together so fervently? Why were both men starting to feel…..like home?
“He looks so peaceful, doesn’t he?” Jackson snaps out of his trance, those were becoming far too common for his liking. Eddie leans against the back of the couch, arms crossed under him. He looks down at Hakeem with such softness in his eyes, the same tenderness he offered Jackson a moment ago when he was freaking out. “Hopefully he sleeps better than last night.”
Jackson looks at Hakeem asleep on the couch, his breathing even, eyes closed so lightly he worried he’d wake at the slightest sound. He hadn’t though, when Jackson erupted earlier. He watches the slight rise and fall of his chest, arms tucked in close. He indeed looks peaceful, as if yesterday never happened. Jackson wishes that were true. If the lingering curse was what was troubling Hakeem, then he would truly be better by the time he woke.
“He should. Sister Estrea knew what she was doing.” Jackson stands up slowly, as not to disturb Hakeem. Jackson crosses over to Eddie, hand finding his arm. “How about we order in for lunch? Something hearty to get our strength up.”
Eddie smiles and places a hand on the small of Jackson’s back, goosebumps traveling up his spine, breath hitching for a moment. “Sounds good, I got some assignments to work on in the meanwhile. I’ll take the island while I work, that okay?”
“Yeah, yeah. I can work on my computer on the love seat.” They knew he’d be okay, but neither man wanted to stray far from Hakeem’s side.
* * *
Hakeem wakes a few hours later, roused from a deep sleep by the rumble of his stomach. His fluffy curls are flat on one side from where he slept. He rubs his eyes and stretches out his arms. Eddie and Jackson both turn at the adorable noises he makes as he stretches his arms over his head, twisting his back from side to side to brush off the tiredness. Hakeem reaches for his glasses on the coffee table, blinking his eyes to focus his vision.
Looking between Eddie and Jackson, both eyeing him with anxious expressions, mouths hanging open slightly, he offers them both a warm smile. It fills his cheeks and makes his eyes shine in the light of the afternoon sun pouring in from the glass terrace doors. “Hey, guys, did I miss anything?” His voice is still gravely from just waking up, but the warmth that had drained from it before was back in full. Hakeem is feeling like himself again, Eddie and Jackson could tell, a fact that warmed their hearts.
Jackson orders food for all three of them, Hakeem still too groggy to argue about being treated to a meal when he could just cook lunch for them. They ate pizza and wings, messy and hearty, as they gathered in the living room to watch old human realm sitcoms they had all grown used to watching together.
Eddie clings to a pillow during tense moments on screen. Hakeem laughs at the sarcasm that lined every word. Jackson has a fun fact about the actors he had met during his time in the human realm. Their banter, the comfort they felt around each other, this routine they had fallen into, it was something Hakeem and Eddie had missed being away from homefor school. It’s something Jackson thought he would never allow himself to have again, the risk of losing it too painful to consider.
He can’t go through that again, he would make sure of it.
How sure can you be, little bat?
Chapter 18
March 1st, Gregorian Year 2030
Weeks had passed since the incident at Shape of Brew. Charlie offered to lighten Hakeem’s workload—at least by a few hours—to help him get back into the swing of things, surprised and grateful their friend hadn’t been put off the café for good. Hakeem agreed to the reduction of hours for now, insisting his Friday schedule remain unchanged. It was the day Wendy dropped by for Jackson’s afternoon coffee after the gym, and the day Eddie was most likely going to do a coffee run. It was part of his routine he didn’t want to give up.
On nights he worked late at the labs—unwilling to let years of work go to waste over a third-rate criminal—Dr. Widows was more than happy to offer him a ride home if Eddie couldn’t. Turns out she passed his street on her own way home. Since the Alexandria building is in the direction opposite of ‘Shape of Brew’ it’s the first time in years Hakeem considered her offer. He insisted on passing her a portion of the meals he made as a thank you, a condition she was happy to oblige.
Eddie and Jackson were weary about leaving him with Dr. Widows at night, thinking two academics with minimal field experience could be put in the same position Hakeem was in all those weeks ago.
All their concerns were turned to dust when they saw Dr. AriannaWidows’ shifter form at the university labs. She, apparently, is a giant black widow spider shifter, a powerful one at that. Her species of shifter has a nickname when their power rivaled that of a werewolf, an Arachne. Her Arachne form is a human upper body, with the lower body of a giant black widow. Eight powerful legs ended in sharp tips; they could swear they heard metal clinking as she stepped. Jackson admitted he didn’t know as much about the good doctor as he should have. Eddie is not proud of the noise he made when she demonstrated her transformation. Hakeem would be safe with her, gods save the soul of anyone who crossed her.
Their lives were allowed to return to normal, with one noticeable change. A change Jackson was regretting indulging, it being far too early on this March morning for it to feel like a good idea.
A few days after Hakeem was back to his usual self he asked Eddie for suggestions on increasing his stamina. Even if he borrowed mana from Jackson or was using small spells, whose drain was lessened by the wand Jackson let him hold onto, the physical strain of casting spells was what caused him the most duress. If he could get his stamina up he hoped to be able to defend himself better should the need ever arise, and even become a better teacher to Jackson as they explored more complex spells.
After all, what kind of teacher would Hakeem be if he asked Jackson to perform spells from his own notes that he himself couldn’t cast—not due to lack of understanding or mana, but stamina?
Yesterday, Eddie and Hakeem had asked if Jackson wished to join them on their run through Wychwood Park, a quick lap in the morning before they left for school or work that they began to run together these past weeks. At the time Jackson agreed, the idea of spending more time together sounded appealing. Now, on a cool and crisp Friday morning, when none of them had classes nor work till the early afternoon, Jackson wanted nothing more than to crawl back into bed where it was warm. And most importantly, indoors.
