Music. It was one of few things that Malakiah constantly had playing in his home. Regardless of whether he was home alone or hanging out with people. Something was always blasting over his speakers. Currently Rebel, Rebel by David Bowie was the soundtrack ringing in his home. Which was suiting because he had been spending the evening with Jack. They’d already downed a few drinks and enjoyed more than one Pixie cupcake that Kia had thrown together. He was making them some food when the idea of inviting Jasper over to join them popped into his head. The red head had enjoyed his cooking before and the cupcakes were actually for him. He had promised to make them after all.
After sending a quick text off to Jasper, Kia put his phone down and went back to cooking. “Hey!” He yelled over the music. “Jasper is swinging by. You know him yet?” Kia asked as he moved around the grilled cheese in the pan. Yeah, it wasn’t the most spectacular meal but he had the muchies that only butter, bread, and cheese could cure. “Pretty sure you two will get alone like a house on fire. Plus he’s hot as fuck. Super easy to look at.” He added with a lopsided smile.
Stepping away from the stove, Malakiah pulled up his joggers a bit and leaned back. His wings stretched out as he looked at Jack. “Bring me the brandie would ya?” Kia asked pointing to the coffee table in his living room. He hadn’t bothered putting on a shirt as he hated to wear one in his own home. It’s not like Jack and Jasper hadn’t seen him naked before. Why be uncomfortable when he could just relax and enjoy the night with two of his favorite people.
Josh lowers his voice to ask Jack, “you’re not drinking, are you?” He hadn’t planned to say it- it sort of just slips out now the man is in his space, his demeanour having changed in the short time he’d disappeared.
"No, of course I'm fucking not." He snaps back, not bothering to lower his voice like Josh had. He’d got nothing to hide. "Where’d you get off, asking shit like that?" How fucking dare he.
Flinching slightly, Josh frowns as he takes a step back just as Elijah presses a hand to Jack’s chest. “Woah, back off,” E says as he pushes Jack a few paces back. Stella instinctively reaches out to steady Jack- as the other man goes on to ask, “what’s wrong with you?”
“You've been back for five fucking minutes,” he spits, looking right past Elijah who tells him to calm down as his glare remains on Josh. He’s visibly angry, but he makes no move to approach Josh, his arms crossed over his chest defensively now. Stella nudges Jack, giving him a look.
“I didn’t mean it like that,” Josh says. God, he really hadn’t meant to say it at all. The switch in Jack’s mood doesn’t help his case, but he wouldn’t dream of saying that now he’s seen how defensive he is about the subject. “I just—”
“I’m trying to have a good time.” Jack shrugs.
The small group falls into a tense silence: Elijah’s standing a fraction in front of Josh; Eric looks totally lost with what’s happening, not knowing whose side to be on; Jack and Josh don’t break their eye contact, although both of their faces begin to soften as they realise the short scene they’d made
“Maybe we should talk,” Josh suggests eventually.
Clearing his throat, Jack feels a little shaky as he straightens up and gives a stiff nod. "Probably, yeah."
Elijah looks hesitant as Josh’s shoulder brushes his own, stepping out from the arm Elijah had thought was necessary to guard him with. Still, though, he visibly relaxes, shoulders dropping as his gaze darts between the two of them
“We’re gonna...” Josh mutters vaguely and, without another word, he’s quick to lead the path away from the group, eager to get out from under their stares.
“We'll go into the back,” Jack finishes for him before he rushes to follow the man. The club is at its peak volume at this time of night, and it’s a task in itself to get through the crowd, but after a short while of weaving through the masses, Jack catches Josh’s arm as he almost passes the staff door. “Here,” he tells him as he punches in the code and presses it open. The lights in the corridor are bright enough to make Jack squint as he adjusts to the change.
Meanwhile, Josh gets the odd feeling that he’s in trouble as Jack unlocks another door, practically dragging his feet as the man holds it open for him to enter, still silent. He lingers near the door as Jack releases it and drags his hand through his hair as he makes his way toward the desk. He leans against it with his arms folded again, and Josh gets the hint that he’ll be the one breaking the silence.
“I wasn’t trying to be a jerk.”
Jack waits for the door to click shut before he says, "I just didn't expect for you to use it against me so soon," he admits, "it's been a long time Josh, a lot has changed."
Josh leans against the door, mirroring Jack as he folds his arms. “Not everything,” he mumbles, mouth betraying him once again.
Jack squeezes his eyes shut, rubbing two fingers over the lid as he searches his brain for a response - doesn't remember Josh being this cocky, but then… “You’ve got it all wrong.”
It’s a wonder Jack hasn’t said that sooner. When Josh had messaged him to tell him that Kevin would be taking over on his side, Jack hadn’t even responded. Josh had figured he was too busy to reply, probably at the dinner by then – the one Spencer was so angry he’d forgotten about.
“After everything you did to me, you’re still stuck to him - after all this time. And I heard what he said - about letting it go, I mean I—What do you think this is?”
He huffs. “A business partnership, Josh,” Jack stresses. Spencer and his big mouth. Suddenly everybody thinks Jack is pining over Josh except for Jack himself. "Spencer and I aren't like that anymore,” he says instead of begging the man to believe him. Not that it's anything to do with you, he thinks.
His drinking habits and his sex life: two things that Josh thinks he has any say in, and two things he knows nothing about at all.
"Look, it's really not how you think. He's been a good friend in the city, nothing more,” he reiterates. Jack knows that Josh really has no reason to trust his word and he feels wired as he scours his brain for a better explanation. "I know Spencer's half the reason everything went to shit - but he's also one of the reasons I got out of it. You haven't been around long enough to see."
It’s probably wrong of Josh to feel such bitterness, listening to Jack tell him about how Spencer has helped him, but he forces his own feelings about the man aside to say, “I’m glad.” He’s still not sure just how much he believes him, but Josh isn’t sure he’s allowed to care enough to press either. With that thought in mind, Josh is sure to tell him, “I’ve moved on. I’m happy.” He looks down at his hands, shrugging. “But it’d still hurt, you know?”
“I know,” Jack says simply.
“Cutting you off was childish,” Josh admits then. “And I’m sorry.”
Jack regrets not putting up more of a fight when Josh had handed everything over to Kevin. He just feared that, if he did, it’d be a lifetime of back and forth. “Me too,” he admits. “But it was nice, the two of us getting along like that. It’s good to see you happy. Though it’s hard for me too, you know.”
Josh nods hurriedly, just glad to be having a pleasant conversation with him again. “I know. You seem happy too, though.”
“Yeah, I suppose.” he agrees, though normally he doesn’t really have a chance to think about that, “it’s crazy, huh”
Josh nods again, slower this time. “It is. Life is suddenly happening so fast.”
"For the past couple of years I've put my whole life into this place," Jack digresses. “I live for it. I love my job,” he tells him honestly, smiling now just to make his point as he taps his heel against the ground. “Nights like this make me excited!"
“I believe you, Jack,” he insists, the man’s sudden burst of energy bringing a smile to his own face.
"Great, I've just got to work on the other parts now." Just has to find a way to prove that Spencer is nothing to him but a pain in his ass. "If you'll give me chance after tonight?"
Josh hadn’t really considered that they’d have much reason to meet again after tonight. At friendly gatherings sure, but nothing worth Jack having to prove himself to Josh in order to clear the air. Still, he says, “Sure.” Let’s just... Start fresh.”
Now smiling up at the man Jack says, cockily "How about we keep the sex bit?" and before he has a chance to think maybe he's pushed his luck, he adds. "Right, get back out there. I bet Elijah's looking for you."
“Y-“ He scoffs, really trying not to laugh, his face heating up suddenly. “You think you’re funny.” He rolls his eyes as he hauls the heavy door open, still smiling as he steps back into the hallway and walks away from the room as the door swings shut behind him.
Jack chuckles as the man slips out of the room. He moves to sit at his desk, shaking the mouse until the screen lights up. After tapping in his password, Jack clicks to open a folder on his computer "Think? I am funny." he mutters to himself.
***
“There’s a pizza place right across the road,” Josh is telling Arthur over the music as they reach the bottom of the stairs, arms linked again, before his attention switches to Elijah who’s walking just a few steps behind them. “I need to catch up with Jack before I leave,” he calls over his shoulder. “I’ll be there over there in five minutes, though.”
He breaks away from the group and heads towards the main bar where he knows Trisha will be hovering. Josh is right: she’s leant against the bar, looking bored as she stares down at her phone, likely having run out of things to do now the club is only minutes from closing.
“Hey, you seen Jack?” He asks, leaning an elbow against the other side of the surface.
She startles slightly, apologising before pointing him over to the far side, where he spots the man sat on one of the tables along the outskirts of the room, feet propped up as he stares at his own phone. It takes him a moment, but he next spots Kevin, picking up glasses from the tables around Jack like he works there.
“Kev,” he calls with a frown as he crosses the now-empty space between them. “Is he paying you now?” He muses, glancing at Jack just as the man raises his head, his voice having stirred him from his trance.
Kev just shrugs, mumbling, “just keepin’ good.”
“Well we’re getting pizza across the road,” Josh offers as he takes the glasses from his friend's hands. “I’ve got these. Gotta catch up,” he explains, nodding towards Jack who is on his feet and stretching now.
“Neh, it’s fine, I’ll—”
“You head off, Kev,” Jack calls as he moves to join them. “You’ve helped enough,” he then adds as he rests a hand on the man’s shoulder. “Thanks so much.”
Kev releases the glasses that Josh has a grip of, seeming to hesitate a little. “Are you sure? I- I mean, I thought…”
“Of course, you go. Get a bite to eat,” Jack insists, and Kev still doesn’t seem eager to leave Jack and his staff to carry on recovering the place without him, but eventually gives a brief smile and heads for the exit, throwing an, “I’ll see you over there, Josh,” over his shoulder.
He’s a little wobbly on his feet, although he’s stopped drinking up on the roof. Josh can’t help his smile as he watches the man walk away before the security shuts the door behind him.
“His jacket’s in the back,” Jack only then notes in a monotone. “I did tell him that already.”
“Of course it is,” Josh rolls his eyes, chuckling at the fact. “Hey, tonight went well, right?”
Gesturing for the man to walk alongside him, Jack nods as he says, “absolutely. I’m about to cash up with Trisha, but the footfall was crazy tonight.” He’s left his jacket over on the table he’s just left and folds his sleeves up now as he walks. Reaching the bar, he says, “come ‘round here,” as he slips behind it, nudging Trisha with his hip to get to the cash register. “Check this out,” he says as he opens the drawer.
Inside is piles of notes and coins. In a few compartments though, is a pile of orange tickets, some folded and others screwed up, and Josh recognises them right away.
“That’s how many people are staying at the hotel, huh?” He observes, taken aback by seeing a physical version of the numbers.
“Well, no,” Jack tells him as he pulls the drawer out and gestures for Josh to follow him again. He does, looking mildly disappointed until Jack goes on to explain, “this is just how many people are staying at the hotel and got their first drink at this specific bar. I still have another four to go.”
“Shit,” he mutters, smiling over to the man. “All that worrying for nothing,” he thinks aloud.
Jack hums in agreement, having known from the start that Josh needn’t worry. “So I’m gonna send all the numbers to James tonight,” he tells him. “I’d rather do it before I go home. Kinda wanna know what they are myself, honestly,” he admits. “I could text them to you though? I know you’ll be wondering.”
“Sure,” Josh nods, grateful. “God, I’m glad it played out,” he gushes. “Who’d have thought you and I would actually work well together?” He Jokes.
“Hey,” Jack cuts in. “I never had a doubt.” They reach the next bar and he leaves the drawer on the side in favour of opening the next one. “Gonna take these two in the back. I’ll get the jacket for you,” Jack offers as he taps on the screen to open the register.
Arielle knew it, she knew she had to apologize for all the stupid things she said to Jack, yet she never found the moment to do it. And that was why she was heading over his villa, to apologize for the things she said, but on her defense, she was tired, pissed, nostalgic and on top of it, it was the first time she realized Wade was not the man she thought, though now it was all resolved and they were good and together, yet that didn’t get her the right to behave like a little spoiled girl. As she reached Jack’s villa, she knocked on his door biting her bottom lip, not knowing if he’d ever forgive her behavior.
A walk to the beach always left Paula hungry and since she didn’t take any food with her (she was not in the mood for cooking), she went directly to the canteen to grab a bite of whatever they could offer at that time. Once she got there, she went to the bar and ordered a soda and a sandwich. As she looked around, she spotted near her a guy she recognized from the New Year masquerade ball so she nodded and smiled at him as a greeting.
The house wasn’t exactly messy, but it wasn’t as tidy as Finn would normally have it. The cold and the lack of sunshine had made some of his plants sad and were now starting to dry out, but he was confident he could save them. He had even gotten a UV light (idea courtesy of Monica) and had just finished setting it up when he saw his phone light up: a text from Jack, they were downstairs. ‘Coming,’ he texted back, though all he did was buzz them into the building and sent another text to let them know his apartment number.
It took him a couple more minutes to finish and went to open the door for his guest, not without, of course, almost tripping over wires and things he’d misplaced almost all the way to the door. When Finn opened, he was clearly agitated, flustering immediately at the sight of Jack on the other side. “Sorry. I was just– Sorry,” he chuckled. “Come in. The place is a mess, I know, please don’t judge me,” said Finn as he stepped aside, keeping the door open for the other.
It was becoming more and more apparent that Malinda was going to dive a lot deeper than just book research and a couple of first hand accounts. She didn’t really want to, she was hoping she’d be able to keep everything to herself and not involve anyone else. She sighed and started looking into families that were known for being a part of the dark arts or had any sort of connection to them at all. There were a few that she recognized in the school, but one in particular stuck out to her. It’d taken her a few days and one more trip to Knockturn Alley to find someone that could give her real information, but she was pleased when she finally went back to her dorm with a name in hand.
Thankfully, this person was someone she already knew, she didn’t really need to find a way to get in with them. Malinda put away most of her notes and books, but held onto the really important ones that were specific to the potion she was making. She’d made quite a bit of progress but was woefully unsure of how dark magic even worked, let alone what she’d need or how she’d get the ingredients she would need. Hopefully Jack would be able to help her. So she went on the hunt for him and, luckily, found him fairly quickly in the library, presumably doing homework. Malinda slid into the seat across from him and gently placed her notes neatly on the table in front of her and smiled at him. “Hey, Jack, are you busy? I’d hate to be a bother if you are, but it looked like you could use some company.” She hated lying, but she thought it would be bad form to start of strong.
Oliver didn’t want to believe it. No, this couldn’t be happening. Part of him knew that Jack wouldn’t lie about it though and when he saw the tweets start from others, he knew that this was real. It wasn’t a stupid trick that his mind was playing on him. He swore his heart dropped as soon as he realized that. Alex had really tried to do this. It didn’t take him long at all to put blame on himself. Oliver hadn’t even noticed his eyes tearing up when he felt the tears run down his face, his body trembling hard. He quickly texted Jack that he’d be to the hospital as fast as he could. He looked down at the tweet from Kendall, and slowly typed out his own tweet, before running out of his house quickly. He didn’t bother to do his regular check on the dogs first, his mind was racing too much to focus on that right now.
He got in his car and quickly drove to the hospital, no music played in his vehicle and he could hear his heartbeat racing while he bit his lip hard. “P-please be okay, please,” he begged shakily while blinking his eyes to try to rid of the tears. It didn’t take him long to get to the hospital and quickly park. Oliver rushed into the hospital in a hurry, stepping up to the counter and asking where to go. They gave him directions to the waiting room quickly and he ran frantically to the waiting room. Tears still ran down his face, trying to wipe them shakily once seeing Jack and slowly stepping over. He didn’t know what to say to him, only staring downwards shakily. “I-I’m sorry,” he whispered quietly, being the only thing he could think to say to him.
It was early evening by the time that Sammy woke up in Jessie’s bed. The day people would have already done everything they needed to but for Sammy, things were just starting. Or they should have been. He was being lazy. Sue him. He just got laid. He was back with his wifey and life was good again. Stretching out, arms above his head, Sammy let out a loud yawn before curling back up into a ball under the covers. He was supposed to start stalking a new victim today. Find out the schedule, plan away to kill and then take care of things from their.
But, dear god, did he not want to get out bed.
His neck and thighs were prickled with little pin holes and bruise marks from being drank from. The slight ache of them only made Sammy feel more like a lazy cat then he would have without them. The setting sun wasn’t helping any either. Its warm rays had started to lull Sammy back to sleep when the front door swung open. He rolled over in Jessies bed but didn’t uncover himself. Instead he just closed his eyes and waited.
It was probably Jessie, right? Either coming back for a round two or coming to tell him to fuck off. That’s just about the only thing that would get him out of that bed too. He was just too comfortable. Hell, maybe not even Jessie could get him up now and that was really saying something. For his Hubby and Wife, Sammy would do just about anything. Anything, but perhaps, get out of this bed.
