The wind would draw in the flames while the water extinguished them. The moisture in the air resulting from the spell helped to deter the spread of flames. Four. Three. Two. She dedicated her life to working on many remote spells to help rescue efforts, her work has saved thousands. 1.
The spell begins to wind down, the mana well’s glow dwindling. “Mana reserves below safety level. Spell duration complete. Stability levels peaked at ninety percent, well within safety range.” The winds die down and the water evaporates. The glass containing the spell has stopped shaking, moisture clinging to its walls, but it remains standing.
“Experiment 8-2.0 lab test #7, success.”
Hakeem and Dr. Widows exhale heavily, their shoulders relaxing in tandem. She tucks a strand of her white hair that had come loose behind her ear, Hakeem wipes the moisture from his glasses. She offers him a kind smile which he wholeheartedly returns, the night was a success. “Good work tonight, Mr. Al-Najim, let’s tidy up and go home.”
The experiment results are documented and, pending review, will hopefully be cleared to begin field testing. The materials used are put away in their proper spots and Hakeem and Dr. Widows lock up the lab after it’s all cleaned up.
“Did you need a ride home tonight, Hakeem? I know the trains are still running but I certainly don’t mind since it’s on my way.”
Hakeem keeps in step with Dr. Widows as they exit the labs while checking for any updates from Eddie. “No thank you, doctor, I should be fine.”
Hakeem stops in his tracks, an icy chill creeping up his spine when he sees that there are still no new messages from Eddie or Jackson, the twisting feeling in his stomach returning with a vengeance. “Hakeem? Everything okay?” Dr. Widows raises an eyebrow as she pauses to turn and look at the man whose face has drained of all color.
Hakeem clears his throat, shaking his head to try and clear the ominous feeling. “I’m fine, doctor, I just need to get home.”
She isn’t convinced as she looks him up and down. “In that case drivingwill be faster, come on.”
Hakeem wanted to argue, feeling guilty about taking up Dr. Widows’ time even if he thanked her with home-cooked meals, but he knew he needed to get home fast. The drive went smoothly, but that didn’t stop Hakeem’s leg from bouncing a mile a minute. Something that didn’t go unnoticed by Dr. Widows.
“How are your boys treating you?”
Hakeem is caught off guard by the question, though it would do him good to focus his mind on a positive for now. “Huh? Oh! Jackson and Eddie have been good to me, we even adopted a young raccoon.”
Dr. Widow’s amusement is clear in her giggle, “Is that so? What an interesting little family you seem to have found for yourself.”
Hakeem gives a small smile, eyes gazing off into the passing view. Building lights and trees blurring by, similar to how they would look when he would ride behind Eddie on his bike. They even pass by a record shop Jackson showed him on a walk with Princess. “Yeah, it is. I’m glad I found them.”
Hakeem finds himself going on and on about the past few weeks, how every passing day the boys seemed to grow closer. He went on about how a foot-tall raccoon had them all wrapped around her paws and how they paid so much attention to him when they had magic lessons in the apartment. He hadn’t noticed the smile growing wider across his face, filling his cheeks and making his eyes shine. How caring they’ve been since the encounter and how they would laugh even when they argued over the most trivial of things.
He didn’t notice Dr. Widows pull up to the Alexandria building until she clears her throat. “Sorry to interrupt, but I think it’s time you get back to these amazing roommates of yours.” She chuckles, amused as Hakeem’s face grows red from realizing how much he had talked about Jackson and Eddie.
“Oh, sorry. Thank you again, Dr. Widows. I’ll see you later.”
“Good night, Hakeem. Oh and one more thing.”
Hakeem spins on his heel to look at her through the rolled down windowof her car. “Yes, doctor?”
Dr. Widows gave him a warm, motherly smile. “You take good care of each other, alright? What you’ve found is hard to come by.”
Hakeem turns his face, unable to look directly at Dr. Widows at the moment. “Of course, doctor, thank you again. Good night.” She waves as she pulls away and drives off.
Hakeem shakes his head and regains his focus. His hand tight on the strap of his messenger bag, Hakeem quickly adjusted his glasses and marched through the lobby toward the elevator. He needs to make sure everything is alright. Eddie hadn’t replied to any follow up messages. He had grown worried since it was much earlier than any of them would be asleep. He steps out of the elevator on the penthouse floor, readying himself for whatever waited for him behind the double doors before him.
“Oh my staaaaaaars-” Hakeem is shocked and left speechless, mouth agape. A good chunk of the apartment was indeed messed up, to put it lightly. Deep cuts scarred the floor, a railing lay destroyed, and the door to Jackson’s room looked caved in. The damage seems to have stopped just past the large couch, which is torn and tattered at the back.
On said couch is a sleeping Jackson, using Eddie’s broad chest as a pillow.
It looks comfy.
Now is not the time to appreciate how delicately Eddie’s muscular arm drapes over Jackson’s lean frame. How cute Jackson looks clinging on to Eddie’s shirt or how softly Eddie snores as Jackson is rocked further to sleep by the rise and fall of Eddie’s stomach. What Hakeem did notice was the redness of Jackson’s nose and the puffiness around his eyes. Along with two distinct marks on Eddie’s neck. The smell of dried blood catches Hakeem’s attention, eyes trailing to a cloth that had been discarded on the floor by the couch.
Princess Bandit stirs in her sleep before slowly waking. She perks up the instant she lays eyes on Hakeem, who was carefully closing the door behind him. She chitters happily and scurries to his side where she is gently swept into Hakeem’s arms. “Hi, Princess, what happened here?” All the small raccoon could do is chitter frantically and gesture widely to the damagedone and the two men sleeping on the couch.
“Guess I’ll have to wait till the morning for answers. With Jackson’s help we can fix this all up with a wish.”
Hakeem bites his lower lip in consideration as he gives Princess Bandit the scratches she was demanding. “No. I didn’t spend nearly two decades of my life studying magic to rely on wishes. Princess,” He holds the raccoon to his face, expression full of determination, “I’ll fix this tonight, myself. Then we can get the full story in the morning.”
