Eddie throws his head back in a stark laugh, “I think that title will be mine to claim.”
Jackson feigns a shocked expression, “Oh, is that so? What makes you so sure?”
Eddie tilts his head back down to the man lying on his chest, “I haven’t heard any complaints from you yet.”
Jackson’s eyes widen and his cheeks flush red, “Well, you got me there.”
He hides his face in Eddie’s shirt, unable to ignore the fact that the man’s heart is beating faster than it had before. “I’m sure Hakeem will have some scientific way to prove who among us is the best to cuddle, but I hope that can wait till the morning.”
Eddie chuckles in a way that causes his stomach to bounce up and down, shaking Jackson with it. “Watch it, chuckles, some of us are trying to fall asleep. I don’t need an earthquake simulator.” Jackson’s smile betrays any annoyance he tries to place in his voice.
“Sorry, sorry. You’re just too adorable sometimes.”
Both men pause at the comment, the room falling silent save for Princess Bandits soft snores. They both turn their heads to hide the blush that has made itself home on their cheeks.
“Goodnight, Eddie. Thank you again for tonight.”
“Anything for you, Jackson. Goodnight.”
Both men fall asleep shortly after, adrenaline wearing off and exhaustion creeping into their bones. Their breathing evens out and soft snores fill the air. Eddie still has one arm draped over Jackson’s sleeping form. Jackson has one arm falling to the side, the other holding onto Eddie’s chest.
Eddie wanted to talk to Jackson about going to the ball together withHakeem, but after the heart to heart they had that evening he knew Jackson didn’t need to worry about masquerade balls and society events. All he needs are friends and people who care for him. Something Eddie hopes he and Hakeem can become for Jackson. Though that conversation would have to wait for a later time. For now, this would be enough to satisfy the feelings growing in Eddie’s heart.
Mine.
Chapter 21
Hakeem hoped everything would be okay when he got home. Jackson wasn’t answering calls or texts and Eddie was on his way back. He had to have faith everything was alright, returning his focus to the task at hand.
Dr. Arianna Widows calls him over to the test site. A large table stood in the middle of the lab, a small mana well at its center. It didn’t hold nearly as much mana as the one back home, but it served as a power source for their experiments. It’s connected to a large magic circle, inscribed with runes and sigils of arcane scripture, surrounded further by a tempered glass case for safety.
“All systems green, the spell circle is stable. Mr. Al-Najim, how are the mana reserves in the well?” Dr. Widows doesn’t look up from her notes as she addresses Hakeem, trusting him to do what is required as he has been for the past years they’ve worked together.
“Mana reserves are above required levels, we are clear to proceed, Dr. Widows.” They worked alone tonight, Hakeem had earned his spot by her side from countless years of dedicated work. “Lab test number seven for experiment eight dash two point O, remote waterspout. Beginning spell activation on your command.”
“Proceed.”
Hakeem clacks away at a keyboard opposite of where Dr. Widows stood,the mana well reacting to the input. Slowly, mana from the well’s reserves pours into the spell circle. It begins to glow with soft sapphire and emerald lights. Within the area of the spell circle a breeze begins to pick up and moisture is drawn from the air.
As the wind picks up speed and the water begins to take shape, the two elements begin to combine into one. “Waterspout formation is stable at fifty percent, Dr. Widows, increasing mana output on your signal.”
Dr. Widows let her gaze linger on the forming swirl of wind and water, the experiment proceeding as planned so far. She hopes tonight would be the night of their first success. “Proceed with an increase of mana output to seventy-five percent, Mr. Al-Najim.”
Hakeem allows more mana to flow into the circle, strengthening the spell. The wind rages and more water intertwines with its gale. A towering spiral of water forms within the containment field. At this point the spell would begin to destabilize without a caster directly controlling its flow, but tonight it seems to be holding steady. Dr. Widows can’t fight the smirk growing on her face, an expression Hakeem unconsciously copies.
“Mr. Al-Najim, how’s it looking over there?”
“All the systems are still green, Doctor. Fail-safes online.”
“Proceed with increasing output to one hundred percent, let’s see if the spell can remain stable with the modifications added.”
“Increasing output to one hundred percent,” Hakeem types away furiously on the keyboard before him. The mana well glows brighter as more mana is funneled into the spell circle, “Now.”
The waterspout grows further in size and power, the glass containing it within the spell circle’s area trembling from the force. The air in the lab grows humid and supplies begin to quiver under the power of the growing winds. “Status report, Mr. Al-Najim.”
“All systems green, fail safes online, stability levels holding, duration expected to last ten more seconds with current mana supply.”
They hold their breath, this is the farthest they have gotten with this certain spell experiment. If this worked they could move on to field testing. Dr. Widows hoped an item imbued with this spell could change the wayfires were fought in large areas. Ten. Nine. Eight. Seven. Six. Five.
