Tears roll down Hakeem’s soft, tan cheeks, voice cracking as he says his name, overwhelmed with joy and relief as panic rushes out of him.
Eddie lowers his gaze, face softening as soon as he meets Hakeem’s. A gentle smile forms on his face as he sighs with relief. “I’m here, you’re okay.” The aura in the room shifts and people stagger, as though taking a breath after being submerged in deep waters.
Eddie squeezes Donnie’s shoulder harder, the man squeaks under the pressure. He lowers himself to Donnie’s ear, voice laced with warning, loud enough for only his target. “Get the fuck out of my sight, and never, ever. Touch. Him. Again.” A snarl fills the air of the cafe, acting as a punctuation to his threat. “Do I make myself clear?”
Donnie can only nod frantically as Eddie shoves him forcefully to the side, and scrambles out of the cafe. He runs as fast as he can away from the scene, away from Eddie.
* * *
Wendy stares in awe, what just happened?
Charlie emerges from the back room dazed, did they miss something?
Hakeem timidly turns the corner, emerging from behind the counter. Eddie turns to face him, his usual toothy smile returning. “Hey, you alright?”
Hakeem doesn’t say anything, his body betraying him. Instead it makes him run to Eddie, throwing his arms around Eddie’s wide frame. He clings on tightly, as his breath hitches in a shuddering sob, tears falling down his face soaking Eddie’s shirt. Eddie wraps his arm around Hakeem, lowering himself to shield the crying man from the world. “I got you, it’s okay. I got you.”
Used to being the one cared for and coddled when he was a child, Eddie holds onto Hakeem with everything he has. The overwhelming urge to never let him go. Donnie was smart to run. The only other thing Eddie wants to do right now is hunt him down for what he did.
* * *
In the depth of the anxiety and dread crashing into him, threatening to drown Hakeem within his own mind, Eddie is an anchor. A light in the malicious storm.
Sanctuary.
Hakeem explains everything to Charlie. Donnie being a cultist, the spell, Eddie saving him. Charlie covers their mouth with both hands, eyes glossing with tears. “Oh, Hakeem, I’m sorry. I should have never made that wish, this is all my fault.”
Hakeem has his arms wrapped around himself, Eddie’s hands on his shoulders as a grounding presence. Shaking his head, he attempts to reassure his friend. “Charlie, I said it would be okay. Cultists aren’t a normal presence in the city, no one could have seen this coming. Please don’t blame yourself. I’m just glad Eddie showed up when he did.”
Hakeem looks up at Eddie and offers a weak smile, eyes red and cheeks flushed from crying. Eddie gives his shoulders a gentle squeeze, a reminder he’s still here. Charlie wipes their eyes with their wrist and sniffles, “Yes, Eddie, thank you. Hakeem, I’ll be okay here, go home and rest.”
“But-”
“No buts, mister. I’ll call you a cab. This happened on my watch and I’m making sure you get home safe. In fact, I’ll close the cafe till the night shiftgets here. I’ll text them that I’m with you and to let themselves in with their keys.”
Eddie takes the moment to interject. “I’ll take him home, Charlie. You stay here. Wendy is calling the police and they might need to check your security footage.”
Wendy is on the phone with Solomon City emergency services dispatch, explaining the situation. “Don’t I need to stay here till then too? And the lab! Eddie, you have work you can’t just leave!” Hakeem argues frantically, his head turned to where Wendy is talking on the phone.
Eddie turns the mage’s body to face his own, head lowered to meet Hakeem’s tearful expression. “I’ll wait for you here till the police arrive. You’ll give a statement and then I’m taking you home. Work will be fine. You’re more important.”
Eddie’s words hold a finality. Hakeem can’t argue, he doesn’t want to. He wants to go home and be safe within the walls of the Alexandria. He wants to be near the two strongest men he knows, the one who saved him and the one whose magic feels like home, feels safe, unlike the dark mana haunting his skin where Donnie had him. He wants Eddie and Jackson to keep him safe, a heavy guilt knotting his stomach at feeling that burden placed upon them. But he’s too shaken up to feel anything else. All he can do is nod solemnly, lips drawn in a thin line, and wait for the police with Eddie.
Eddie calls work, explaining the situation. Seamus dismisses him for the day immediately, caffeine be damned. Wendy walks over to where he and Hakeem are seated, the cafe closed while the police conducted their investigation. “You two get home safe, I owe you both drinks next time I come by.”
Eddie’s hand is atop of Hakeem’s, whose knee is bouncing at about a mile a minute. “I’m sure Seamus will appreciate that. Thank you, Wendy.”
Eddie takes Hakeem home on his bike, his gym bag forgotten till later. The smaller mage clings tightly onto Eddie’s leather jacket, a lifeline in the sea of anxiety flooding his entire being.
Wendy’s phone lights up with a call. ‘Jackson Nocturne’ is the name thatpops up on her display. She answers and places the phone to her ear, ready to explain her tardiness. “Hey, Jackson sor-” She’s cut off as a familiar dread freezes her in place again. Rage, pouring out of the phone, commands her to still.
“Wendy,” Jackson’s voice is icy through the speaker, “I hope you’re alright, but something is wrong. Can you pop down to ‘Shape of Brew’, I just have a bad feeling that’s been nagging at my gut for the past fifteen minutes.”
Wendy gulps, her voice trembling as she replies. “F-f-funny you mention that.”
Jackson’s voice lowers, Wendy’s blood freezes in her veins. She can tell he’s not mad at her, but like with Eddie, her body reacts on its own. “Wendy, what happened?”
* * *
