* * *
Jackson is working at his desk when the papers he had stacked neatly to one side are blown away in a freak gust of wind. A tray of coffee is slammed down on his desk by a very out of breath sylph brandishing a wicked smile. “Wendy,” Jackson doesn’t even look up from his computer as he reaches for his drink, “you are far too kind. Tell me, did you have a good sparring session with Eddie?” He takes a sip of the brew, surprised it was still full despite Wendy’s apparent rush to return. “Ah, nothing like coffee a la Hakeem to pick one up.”
“Jackson Nocturne,” Wendy breathes heavily, her face flushed as her expression remains that of crazed excitement, “you absolute scoundrel.”
Jackson idly works and sips coffee, fighting the smirk trying to grow from his lips. “Yes, I am Jackson Nocturne, but I do not believe I have earned the title of scoundrel in any of my recent adventures in this fine city.”
Wendy laughs maniacally at this point. “Don’t play coy.”
“Oh, but how I do adore the games we play.” Replies Jackson, coyly.
Wendy composes herself, breathes in deeply then out, straightens her skirt and fixes her posture. She and Jackson are friends, but the fact remains that this is a professional environment. “So, when were you going to tell me?”
“Tell you what, exactly, my dear?” He asks with a raised brow.
Oh he wants to play this game does he? That’s fine. Wendy has all thepieces to the puzzle she had dared dream to have.
“Hakeem was the cause of the break in the storm and summoned the meteor shower last night, wasn’t he?”
“Do you know anyone else as brilliant, who has access to mana that is as bountiful as mine?”
“Somehow he worked up the nerve to kiss you, didn’t he?”
Oh. Jackson was sure she hadn’t picked up on that, but no harm done. “He might have found some unseen courage after lighting up the sky to show me how he saw me.”
Finally, some new information! Jackson is just playing with Wendy, not hiding behind shifting topics.
“Eddie asked him to be his date to the ball.”
“Oh, did he?” Jackson’s smile is soft and filled with fondness at the idea, his tone hopeful. “He had mentioned wanting to. Any idea if Hakeem said yes?”
“He most definitely did.” Jackson would probably hear about this later, knowing now is just a bonus. “Did they also mention how much they would like for you to be there with them?”
Jackson’s smile fades, a tightness wrapping around his heart. “It was mentioned, I said I would think about it.”
Wendy’s composure slips away as excitement creeps its way back in, “And did you?”
Jackson rests his chin on his knuckles as he props his elbow onto his desk, his expression growing distant. “I did.”
Wendy leans in, clutching her own coffee. “And?” She widens her eyes, imploring her to go on.
Biting his cheek, Jackson avoids looking at her directly. “And what?”
Wendy huffs, “Oh for goodness-Jackson Nocturne! A lady needs time to prepare for these things. So, if i am to be the beautiful belle of the ball on your arm before you go snatch up your men I need to know. So, are we going?!”
Jackson hates to do this to his friend, but she can’t get in without the main invitation holder. “I thought about it. I’m not going after all. It’s forthe best that I don’t intrude on their evening.”
Wendy inhales sharply, her expression not one of betrayal or hurt, but of disbelief and shock. “What? What do you mean you’re not going?”
“Does not going have any other meanings?”
Wendy can’t believe what she’s hearing. “You’re aware they both want you there, right?”
“I am.” Jackson’s expression is solemn, his gaze void of the light it had been filled with mere moments ago.
“Do you not want to go with them?”
“On the contrary, I’ve wanted nothing more in decades.”
