Jackson reaches out to Hakeem, collecting the mage in his arms. “Ow,” squeaks Hakeem.
Jackson flinches away, “Sorry.”
Hakeem smiles weakly at him, “I’m fine. Just sore.” His head turns to the wolf, his brows furrowed in concern. “Is Eddie-is he?”
Tears threaten to spill once more before Jackson wipes Hakeem’s eyes. “Hey, no, he’s okay. The scrimmage on the way down and the fall knockedhim out. I’m lucky I had my fill today. My magic healed me up and left me conscious, barely.”
Hakeem falls into Jackson’s arms, burying his face in the elf’s ruined shirt, clutching desperately at the fabric. “I’m sorry. I was just in the way, maybe I should’ve stayed behind.”
Jackson shushes him, wrapping his arms around him and placing a gentle kiss on his head. “None of that. I couldn’t overpower Eddie’s wolf. We out maneuvered him the best we could, together. And you got us back up here after we fell off the cliff. Why is there always a cliff during these types of things?”
Hakeem chuckles weakly, “The universe has a twisted sense of humor, that’s why.”
The werewolf groans beside them, a familiar voice following. “Jack-son. Ha-keem.”
The boys turn towards the weak voice, shouting out in unison, “Eddie!”
Jackson helps Hakeem towards Eddie, one man on either side of the whimpering beast.
“I’m-sorry. I-couldn’t-control-it.” Eddie’s voice is clipped, tears filling his ocean blue eyes, no longer looking soulless and empty.
Jackson strokes Eddie’s fur, voice soft and tender. “Hey now, it’s alright, my darling. We got you back now, that’s all that matters.”
Hakeem cups Eddie’s cheek, turning his snout towards him. A relieved smile fills his cheeks, “Jackson is right. We’re sorry we were so rough with you. We had to tire your wolf out.”
Tears roll down Eddie’s cheek as both boys move in closer. “I’m supposed to protect you two. I put everyone in danger. I don’t deserve you.” His voice hitches as he notices the bruises on Hakeem’s arms, the dark circles under Jackson’s eyes from overuse of magic and the dirt covering both of them.
Hakeem and Jackson rest their heads on Eddie’s chest, even after all that fighting his fur is so plush. “I will never judge you for losing control, it would make me the realm’s biggest hypocrite. You had no way of knowing the power you would awaken,” says Jackson.
“It will only get easier from here, you have so many people willing to support you through the next steps,” whispers Hakeem.
They nuzzle in closer as they feel Eddie’s form begin to shrink as he changes back. Their heads now lay on a bare chest, with a tattered shirt hanging off hard muscle. Even Eddie’s pants are half torn, it seems his werewolf form was too much even for LaLune brand enchanted clothing.
Eddie wraps his sore arms around his boyfriends, sniffing as tears roll across his muddied cheeks. “I’m sorry I scared you both. I’m sorry I pushed you both so far. Thank you for stopping me, for keeping me from hurting anyone else. I will spend my whole life making it up to you two.”
Hakeem sniffs back his own tears, “You were always there for us, Eddie.”
“It was our turn to be there for you,” continues Jackson, fondly.
Eddie can’t hold back a sob as pain and relief flood through his body, “I love you both so much.”
Hakeem and Jackson smile the widest smiles their aching bodies would allow. “We love you too,” they say in unison.
Hakeem’s eyes go glossy as he hiccups. “Uh ohs. Me thinks my mana use was a liiiiiitle too much,” he giggles against Eddie’s chest.
Jackson sighs fondly, “It’s no shock. Your body may have gotten used to using more mana, but tonight was especially trying.”
At that moment, Eddie tightens his hold on them both and chuckles, a bit too manically for Jackson’s comfort. “Darling?”
Eddie words slur as he replies, “I feel weird, guys.”
Jackson rolls his eyes as he hits his forehead against Eddie’s chest; who nuzzles into his dark hair. “Of course. Your body is used to physical exertion, not overwhelming mana.”
Eddie and Hakeem let loose mana drunk giggles as they lay on the ground, bodies left immobile from exhaustion.
Jackson’s ear catches a voice in the distance, his father’s. “Father! Over here. We’re okay but cannot move right now.”
His father and mother, accompanied by Christopher LaLune, emerge from the tree line. “Boys!” They all exclaim.
