Jackson’s therapist had told him something similar at the end of their last session. His file was old, though it seemed he was still dangerously similar to the broken boy that first met with them decades ago.
Steven bows his head as he returns to his seat behind the desk, “My pleasure, sir.”
As Jackson is about to head back upstairs, Eddie walks into the lobby. He greets Steven with a smile and a wave before his attention lands on Jackson by the elevators. “Well hello there,” he chuckles as he makes his way to Jackson’s side. “Did some online shopping?” Eddie asks, gesturing to the box in the elf’s hands.
The elevator arrives as Jackson replies, both of them stepping in. “Yeah, I may have gotten you and Hakeem something for the ball.”
“Oh?” Eddie’s smile is wide, his eyes darting between Jackson and the package, “Do I get to see?”
Jackson gives him a coy smile and a side eye glance, “Not until we get home.”
Eddie hums as they arrive at their floor, “Oh, alright. Keep your secretsthen.” As they step out of the elevator, Jackson grabs the end of Eddie’s leather biker jacket before he reaches their front door.
“I just wanted to say,” Jackson swallows dryly, lips pulled into a thin line, as he looks up to meet Eddie’s quizzical gaze. “Thank you for understanding. I just need a little more time before I can face these events outside of Nocturne Castle.”
Eddie moves in close, brushing aside some hair that had fallen to elf’s cheek, cupping it in his large hand. “Of course, all I did was extend an invitation. It was your choice to make, not an ultimatum.” His words soothes Jackson’s mind, voice sweet in his ears.
A choice, something Jackson felt robbed from him sixty years ago, something he believed he would never truly have again. And now, through the kindness and patience of the man before him, he feels like he truly has a say in his own life again. Jackson knows what he wants, now it was simply a matter of finding the courage to ask for it.
* * *
Hakeem sits in a chair in his room as Charlie snips away at his hair, shaping his mess of fluffy curls for the ball tomorrow. His cousin Nour is on video chat. “Wallah, I cannot fucking believe it. Not only did you get a gorgeous apartment,” her voice is laced with an overdramatic exasperation, “but you got not one, but two high profile and hot boyfriends. One of which is taking you to the fucking solstice ball in the spring realm.”
Charlie hums as they work, “I should have made you move out sooner. If I had known it would mean you finally get a social life instead of wasting every holiday, weekend, and summer off working and studying.”
Hakeem wants to bury his face in his hands, his cheeks burning. “Can you both stop, please! It’s just a date. A first date, mind you! And they are not my boyfriends. They’re just-”
“Just what?” Nour interrupts through the phone, her smile wide and mischievous.
“Just…sweet. And kind and funny. They make me feel safe. I feel athome here with them, almost more than I do back in La Fay.”
A smile blooms across Hakeem’s face, his eyes glistening as the memories he made with Jackson and Eddie fill his mind. Charlie cooes as they clean up the back of Hakeem’s hair, while a new voice speaks up from the phone. “Ya bro, you got it bad.”
“Mazen! Get out of my room, ya hayawan!” yells Nour.
“I wanna see Hakeem get all pretty for his boyfriends too!” argues Mazen.
“They are not my boyfriends!” snaps Hakeem.
A symphony of “Not Yet!” echoes from the phone and Charlie.
Hakeem dreads being stuck to the chair while Charlie works, he wants to hide under the covers before he literally bursts into flames from embarrassment.
It could happen, the world is magic.
He cares for Jackson and Eddie, but never dared dream they would care for him in the same way. Well, there was thatone dreamfrom months back. Hakeem tries to banish the memory, fruitless as the imagery returns to his mind.
“Shuu, what’s with all the shouting?” He hears his aunt’s voice come through the speaker next.
“Why is everyone in my room?!” Nour asks, annoyed by the consolidation of their household in her room.
“Hi, Khalto Bahera. Nour is just helping me and Charlie finalize my look for tomorrow.”
Bahera’s face peers through the phone screen, her breath catching as she sees Hakeem. “Ya habibi, you look so nice. Charlie, you did such a good job.”
Charlie has a smug smile, pridefully nodding their head as they hand Hakeem a mirror to appreciate their handiwork. “Thank you, Bahera, I do my best for our Hakeem.”
Hakeem takes a good, long look in the mirror in his hand. His curls have been trimmed at the sides, taming the frizz. The top of his head still has a crown of brown curls, shaped to be kept in line. His soft face is framed by a shaven jaw and thin glasses, eyes glimmering in the light of the room.He often hated looking too long in the mirror, always looking exhausted from long days, never paying too much mind to his appearance. It seems, for once, he has an excuse to look his best. Would it be enough to allow him to fit in Eddie and Jackson’s world?
