Hakeem swallows the bite of the delicious meal he had taken before turning to face Jackson with bewilderment across his face. “Yes- I mean no! I mean- technically, but I’m fine till I can get a new one. Please, Jackson, you’ve done too much already. Helping me move, the food, I wouldn’t feel right accepting anything else from you.”
Jackson looks Hakeem up and down once, eyebrow arched and a hand on his hip, before turning on his heels and making his way up the stairs. “I think I have a solution that will satisfy us both. Do you mind following me to your room?” He gestures with a finger.
* * *
Hakeem obliges and follows Jackson to the open door of his room, where he stands just at the threshold. Peeking inside, he finds a king size bed on a wooden bed frame, new sheets and pillows in satin cases laid carefully down, surrounded by the boxes of his belongings.
“Jackson,” Hakeem sucks in a breathe, “this is very kind of you but i can’t accept -”
Before he could finish, Hakeem finds his back to the door frame as Jackson leans over him, one hand placed firmly on the frame above his head. Jackson has a blank expression on his face, holding Hakeem’s gaze with unwavering green eyes. “Then consider this an advance payment, a bed for something I suspect only you can help me with.”
Jackson is close, too close. Hakeem’s face is turning red at the proximity. He smells like an evergreen forest on a clear night, eyes glowing even in the shadow of his face. The light of the next room encases him in a soft glow, making him look gorgeous. Hakeem swallows around the lump that has formed in his throat, something that seems far too common around the elven man, and tries to control the tremble in his voice.
“Wh-wh-what did you, uuuh, have in mind?”
Jackson offers a kind smile. Hakeem didn’t notice his dimples before, really wishes he wasn’t noticing them now. “During your free time, couldI be so rude as to ask for your help in controlling my magic? It responds to you, Hakeem. It sought you out this afternoon like a lost pup calling out to its mother. I believe with your help I can make use of this troublesome power of mine. So, what do you say, lessons for a bed?”
Hakeem could scream right now. This is an amazing deal, he was more excited about exploring Jackson’s magic with him than the new bed. “Yes! I mean, yeah sure.”
Hakeem tries to hide his excitement which only earns another chuckle from Jackson, he definitely wasn’t getting hooked on that sound. “If you’ll have me, I’ll get my material from the labs Monday and we can start then. I don’t have a lot of my texts on the basics and there is no better place to start. Is…is that ok, Jackson?”
Jackson leans back, Hakeem releases a breath he didn’t know he was holding in. “That sounds fantastic, shall we shake on it?” Jackson extends his hand to the bashful mage, who shakes it with a firm grasp. “Come on. let’s finish eating, we wouldn’t want to waste Jean-Paul’s food now would we?” Jackson nods his head in the direction of the kitchen.
Hakeem offers a smile that fills his cheeks and makes his eyes shine, Jackson most definitely wasn’t getting used to that look. “No, we would not.”
* * *
Later that night, after the Jeans have taken their leave, Hakeem lets his body fully relax into his new bed, happy at the trade.
* * *
In Jackson’s room, he eases into bed and stares at the ceiling. He’s found an interesting roommate, and is one step closer to fulfilling the requirements of the will. Hakeem fascinates him, and might be essential in taming his magic. A sliver of shadows curls around his finger. For once, he looks at the magic in curiosity instead of frustration, imagining silver eyes shiningin the dark, before shaking his hand, dispelling the mist.
Jackson tosses and turns, pushing unwelcome thoughts from his head. Hakeem is a means to end, for the sake of controlling his wayward powers.
Nothing more.
Chapter 9
January 4th, Gregorian year 2030
Jackson wakes up early the following morning. Another day of showings, hopefully the last. If he could find someone to take the third room today, someone he could hopefully stand living in the same apartment for eighteen months with, he could return to classes Monday with a clear head. He was starting to regret not doing his degrees years ago, the follies of longevity he supposes. The sound of cabinets opening and closing from downstairs catches Jackson’s attention; someone is trying, and failing, to be quiet. He prepares for the worst, shadows swirling around tense fingers, when the memory of an awkward young man fills his mind, Hakeem. He lets out a breath to ease the tension in his shoulders and heads downstairs to get this day over with.
* * *
Jean-Paul left the boys with a small stockpile of coffee, tea and snacks. Jackson told Hakeem to help himself, and with a little encouragement that it was fine to partake, he was thankful for the prospect of a cup of tea after yesterday. Now he just had to remember where all the bits and pieces were, and hopefully not wake Jackson up in the process.
“Any luck finding the coffee?”
Hakeem yelps and jumps at the question, turning to find an amused looking Jackson-hair unfairly perfect for so early in the morning-at the bottom of the stairs.
That smirk and dimple should be illegal.
“I’m sorry, did I wake you? I know Jean-Paul left some supplies but I really can’t remember where anything is.”
Jackson elegantly strolls over to the kitchen, tightening the ruby sash of the robe of midnight silk that hugs his slender frame, the top of his chest peeking through the top, and opens up the cabinet to Hakeem’s left, pulling out a container of coffee grounds and a jar of loose leaf tea. “I was already up when I heard the struggle. It’s your first day, don’t worry.”
Jackson offers Hakeem a cordial smile as he hands him the tea and coffee, who offers a bashful nod in return. Hakeem heads over to the coffee corner, where the boys have a coffee pot, tea kettle, and a little espresso machine. “Shall I brew a pot for you? I need tea to get me up in the morning, coffee for you? Maybe a large pot of tea? What’s your poison? I’m rambling aren’t I?” Hakeem tries to hide his face, a blush working its way up his neck.
