He turned his head to look into my eyes, his black eyes slowly beginning to transition to red as his black magic circles began to appear.
"Eventually, they found the organization who held her captive, but it was so well guarded, even their top Mage Warriors couldn't infiltrate it. They finally found two individuals who could," Nixon admitted.
It finally clicked, and I gawked at him. "Don't...you're not saying..."
"Your dad's mission was to help save my Mom. They were still experimenting, but individuals who are keys have a special connection with each other. Even if they're a half key, someone with a power like your dad or yourself could be able to handle teleporting that individual out of their restraints. A bit harder, but not impossible. The only problem was that when they created the new restraints, they used my mom's blood and magic to make them," Nixon confessed. He looked down at his hands and sighed.
"Ironically, you're suffering because of my family. Sad right? I used to have dreams about my mom. I'd see her in a dungeon, locked in these chains and appearing so exhausted. I didn't know I'd obtain her ability. The same ability you have, Jinn. I could have gotten her out, but I had no idea how."
He lifted his head to stare at the ceiling, blinking his eyes that were becoming glossy with tears. "When your nightmares shifted from Gabriel to your dad, I knew what you were, right away. I felt it, but I didn't want to bring you into this hidden world if you were only a half. I don't even think Logan realizes he's a key either. Or the others who feel like half keys."
"You...know who’s a key and who's not?" I asked, still stunned by his words.
"Ya. That's why they want me. Well, they did. Essentially, I had to disappear, in order to lose them. You see, after your father was trapped, they wanted to make more of the metal and assumed your father's blood, and magic could do the same. But it failed. They had no choice but to take as much from my mom as they could, but they weren't giving her food or water to replenish her blood supply. So...day by day she was slowly dying, until they took her last drops of blood," he whispered.
Nixon lowered his head to take a deep breath, allowing his build-up of tears to drop to his spread-out hands.
"The night she died, I'd dreamed of the same place, but I felt in my heart that it would be my last. I knew she'd die. Her pale skin that was sinking in. Her sunken eyes, blue lips, brittle hair. Her body was like a skeleton compared to my beautiful mother that I remembered. That was when I had the strong urge to save her. I didn't care what it took, I'd save her and get her help."
He blinked a few times and smiled. "I'd given her a hug and told her how much I loved her. She said how proud she was, pointing out how I looked like my dad but had her eyes and nose. She gave me the best hug she could, and said she loved me, but whatever happened, I'd have to hide. She told me that Meredith would know how to help me. Just when she said that the door opened and these men in white suites held some type of gun or weapon. I didn't wait for them to shoot before I felt something deep inside of me burst. Like an energy I never really knew was there."
He raised his hands up. "Poof," he said as he spread his hands out to make an arch in the air. "Just like that, we were in the safe house I'd been staying at. Help was called, and they rushed my mom to the medical center...but it was far too late. No magic could possibly shove enough blood into her before death came to take her away."
"Nixon....I...I'm sorry," I whispered. I didn't think my selfish words of frustration would bring forth such a traumatic past from Nixon. It made sense now. His words during Zane and Kage's argument. He'd had to live with the thought he could have saved his mom, and because they were special, they were killed for it.
"No, I should apologize on behalf of our family. I know it may not be enough seeing as I'm basically the only Rose of our family left living, but um....I'm sorry that your dad's been trapped because of my family." He bowed his head.
"Nixon! You...no. You're a victim in this too. Why should I get an apology for something that’s out of your control?!" I exclaimed.
"But I indirectly hurt you," he admitted.
"You did no such thing, Nixon. I know my father and how kind he is. If he chose that mission to save your mother, that was his decision to make. No one else could take credit for that. I hate that he's stuck and trapped, but no way should you apologize for it. Thanks to this fucking organization, your parents are gone. You had to live in isolation until it was safe enough for you to be able to live life again. Dammit, Nixon....why the hell are you so kind?" I huffed, tears welling in my eyes.
He shrugged. "Wish I knew, but some say it's a quality from my mom." He smiled.
I reached out and pulled him into a hug, patting his back a few times before I whispered, "No matter what happened...I'm glad you're still here. I'm sorry for being angry before. I'm just frustrated. I don't want to be in the same predicament or get any of you hurt. I just want to get my dad back, especially now that I know he's alive. It was stupid for me to think it would be so simple."
I pulled back and Nixon nodded, using the back of his free hand to wipe his tears. "I think they want you because you're a female, and they could use your blood to make the weapons. Those could make billions of dollars and help them catch more Mage Warriors, specifically female ones. Even if they aren't necessarily keys, they could potentially help them make lower resistant weapons. That's what I've talked about with Meredith while you were recovering."
"I have a question though. How would they know I'm a female? Mother applied with me as a male and with the name Jinn Starfire. Are they assuming that because I'm a relative of a Starfire that I'd be a good candidate or something?" I asked.
"Brax asked the same thing after I'd explained everything to them. I think we're being watched by Lark Huntly’s brother, Joey. The one you blinded on the tower," Nixon revealed.
"Wait, why would Joey or even Lark be involved with any of this?" I asked.
"Meredith looked into their history, and their dad used to work with one of the organizations. I don't know how Lark got involved, but he must have found out that your father was connected with Gabriel and we believe that was the reason why Lark pushed your brother. It wasn't over a mere dispute. It was to get rid of Gabriel just in case he was a key and had the same ability as your dad."
"I'm still confused. I could connect to my dad and teleport to him, but that would be a useless thing to do because he’s wearing those special locks, right? How could I, or even Gabriel, be able to get him out?" I asked.
"Meredith believes because you inherited the ability from your dad, it's already at the same level. However, you're powerful like your mom, maybe even more so. The combination can essentially be like two keys. You'd be able to override those locks and get him out."
"So, Lark found out somehow, and because Gabriel was already excelling in multiple classes, Lark assumed Gabriel was a key and would be able to get my dad out and reveal Lark's dad was a part of whatever organization that's doing this?" I summarized.
Nixon nodded. "Bingo. Lark thought he'd get away with it, but then you interfered, and he got arrested and imprisoned. His brother, I believe, only did what he did out of spite for you. I doubt he saw the correlation of you as Jinn since you were in your female form that day."
"But...why am I still seeing Lark? He's in jail, right? Why do I see him lurking on campus when I'm there, or hiding in places like the house across the street?"
Nixon frowned, looking confused. "When did this start?"
"I don't know, like the first couple of weeks of Brighten. I told Brax about it, but with everything going on, I didn't think it would be super important. I honestly thought I was just hallucinating, especially after the incident," I confessed.
"Hmm. Maybe he's a key too? He may not have the same ability as you, but perhaps he can project his mind to where he wants to go?" Nixon suggested.
"Can I do that?" I asked.
"Yup. You should be, seeing as how your dad can," Nixon replied.
"Wait,
so that's how my dad was able to watch me? Or even how he knew you were in the pool. Actually, now that I think about it, I think he helped me even before the pool incident...maybe when I wasn't feeling well in the change rooms," I admitted.
"Change room?" Nixon asked looking confused.
I blushed at the memory and glanced away. "Nothing. My brain is just spurting nonsense at this point."
Nixon smiled, clearly catching on, but he did me the favor of not saying anything about my steamy time with Braxton. "For now, I think we'll be okay. Meredith said everyone involved in the pool incident is in custody, and if anyone asks where you are, the guys are using the excuse that you need a week off to check if your seizures have stabilized."
"When having seizures benefits you," I huffed and rolled my eyes.
"Sorry. I know it's an annoying excuse to use, and we don't like trying to give you a label just because you have occasional seizures. It was the only excuse we think people wouldn't question. Simply saying you’re sick is too suspicious when it comes to Brighten protocol, or that's the word going around," Nixon apologized.
I gave him a sweet smile and chuckled. "I know. Don't need to apologize. I guess it just reminds me of my younger years, that's all," I admitted. With a sigh, I laid down on the bed, looking back up at the ceiling. Nixon followed, both of us being quiet for a moment.
"Hey, Nixon?"
"Ya?"
"Can I know more about you? I know a bit about your past, but can I know more about you as a person? What was it like growing up? Why did you decide Brighten was right for you? Just...I really want to know more about who you are." I turned my head to look at him.
He met my gaze, and a shy smile formed on his face. "Um...there isn't much. You already know I like to nap...and I, um like guys...and you. Like the girl you and the guy you. Hmm. This is hard," he admitted. His face grew beet red as he shyly looked away.
I chuckled, reaching out to turn his head to face me once more. "Just start from the beginning then. I want to hear everything, Nixon. The good and the bad. What makes you super happy or really sad? I want to know all about Nixon Rose, who is shy, powerful, loves guys, and both Jewel me and Jinn me," I whispered, leaning in till our lips barely brushed one another.
"And the Nixon who's really good at kissing." As I finished, I sealed his lips with my own. I watched Nixon close his eyes before I shut mine. His lips took control as they pressed firmly against mine.
The steamy kiss was longer than a minute but felt like seconds before we finally pulled apart, both of us panting quietly. He stared into my eyes and a small smile formed on his lips.
"Even if I'm boring?"
"I don't think you're boring," I said quietly. His smile widened, and he closed his eyes and nodded.
"Okay. Guess I'll start from the beginning."
"You did not!" I laughed so hard I had to wrap my arms around my stomach.
"I did. Read the whole chapter from my mind right to his face. Then I walked out of class, and he never dared wake me up in the middle of class again. Perfect lesson for all the professors. Still got perfect scores," Nixon declared as he laughed.
We'd been talking for an hour now, waiting for Logan to eventually come back. We ended up drinking a few beers from the fridge that Maximus had bought for everyone. We only started with one, but that ended with three cans for each of us, finishing the first pack.
Didn't know if we were allowed to be drinking, but it was doing wonders in helping me relax. With how Nixon had acted with each can of beer, I figured it was having the same effect on him.
Nixon told me everything. He told me about his childhood after his parent's death, and how he stayed with a foster family until he was sixteen. He was then allowed to live on his own, inheriting the money both his parents had left for him along with all their assets.
He didn't mind the loneliness side of living alone, but when he had nightmares once in a while, it was hard. He never tried to make friends, many people either saying he was too quiet or the common "you're too smart to hang with us" phrase.
Nixon inherited his father's ability to retain knowledge just from one read through, making school a breeze. It made sense now, why he'd sleep in class and why he enjoyed lots of naps. School life was essentially boring when you already knew everything that would be taught in the semester.
We talked about our likes and dislikes, and I went into more detail about what my childhood had been like with the mixture of hospital visits, times with Logan, and my time with my family.
Nixon explained in more detail about Logan being a key and the others half keys. He hadn't revealed it to them yet, explaining that Meredith wanted us to do a scan when the exams were over to confirm it, but it made me wonder if that was the reason we'd been paired up for our entrance test, to begin with.
Now we were talking about silly stuff and what our plans would be after Brighten. Even if I was a guaranteed Mage Warrior, I'd most likely keep my male form and alternate between Jinn and my real self as Jewel. It was weird to think about or decide, but there was something unique about being able to be a male in some situations and a female in others.
I also secretly wanted to reassure Nixon that he didn't just have to accept dating the female side of me. I think all the prejudice around the topic had made him really shy about confessing he was interested in guys more than girls.
He'd explained he never really tried dating anyone, just a few flings here and there, but it never led to the person being confident enough to be in public with him or acknowledge they were together.
I admitted that it pissed me off, knowing how amazing and loving Nixon was, but people would rather keep their sexuality on the low and pretend in the outside world. Nixon was shy, but if he was truly challenged on his sexuality, I knew he'd be able to say he was bisexual.
I sat up from the bed and sighed. "I need to pee. This laughter is gonna cause accidents if I don't go now."
Nixon chuckled. "Go pee. I'll clear the cans before Logan or the others get back."
I nodded and walked to the washroom. Seeing as we were both guys, I didn't care if the door was open, especially when I only needed to piss.
I pulled down my shorts and began to do my business, listening to Nixon gathering the cans, and from the sound of it, tossing them into a plastic bag.
I wonder if Logan is going to stay at Brighten tonight? He's not back yet, but I don't think he's in danger. Alice is with Koa. I doubt either of them will be back tonight. Hmm. Maybe it'll be just Nixon and me? Would be nice to snuggle with him tonight. Maybe do other things?
"Jinn?"
How do you even get freaky in the sheets as a guy with another guy? There's only one hole too...hmmm. I bet it's really pleasurable with three guys. One on the back, one on the front... but where would his cock go?
"Jinn?"
Maybe if we add four guys...two holes...wait. Does a mouth count as a hole? Oh boy, I'm gonna lose count of body parts here if we add another guy? Why isn't there a book for this stuff? A girl needs to be prepared. Oh, wait! I can solve that problem by going back as a girl, and then I have TWO HOLES! Wait...mouth...three?
"Jewel, you can't be zoning out when you're taking a piss," Nixon's seductive voice whispered in my ear. I flinched and turned my head to see Nixon right behind me. Fuck!
"W-when did you get there?" I asked.
"A minute ago. I called your name twice, so I assumed you fell asleep standing or were thinking about something that probably isn’t as complicated as you're making it seem." Nixon grinned as my cheeks burned from embarrassment.
"I....was thinking about lost body parts. NO! I mean about holes. No...oh fuck it." I huffed, giving up. "I need toilet paper,"
"Why?"
"To wipe?"
"What? Your ass?"
"My cock."
"Why would you wipe your cock?" Nixon asked, looking completely confused.
"Why not? What's wrong with wiping my cock with tissue?"
"Guys don't d
o that," Nixon pointed out.
"But you just peed."
"Ya, you just shake it a bit and call it a day," Nixon revealed.
"Um, no. You don't see women squatting and then doing the shaky dancing and calling it a day," I argued, rolling my eyes. Nixon blushed and shook his head.
"Women and men are different. Do you see toilet paper rolls next to urinals?"
"No..."
"Then? When I showed you how to aim last time, you didn't use any tissue."
"That was because...you distracted me!" I grumbled. Dammit. Why is being a guy so fucking complicated?
He pressed his body against my back, and I froze when his hand gently wrapped around my cock. "Why is that, Jinn?" he whispered, pressing his lips to my neck.
I didn't fight my moan, the deep sound reminding me that I was still Jinn. Shit. He's not going...he wouldn't.
The thought of Nixon giving me a hand job with me as a male was already making me grow hard, and from the way Nixon's hand slowly began to trail down my length, I knew he realized he was the culprit of my growing hardness.
"Nixon," I moaned with a hushed voice, unsure if he was teasing or serious.
He didn't reply; he sucked on the right side of my neck while his left hand started to move back up to the base of my cock.
I bit my lip as I tried to stay still, my female instinct to arch my back trying to kick in as he increased his pace. His tongue trailed down my right shoulder, and he gave me a firm bite. Instead of it being painful, it did the opposite, sending waves of pleasure and excitement through me as his hand began to slide down my cock again.
"Fuck! Nixon," I moaned loudly, lifting my head up. I prayed he'd do that again.
He did just that, moving closer to the nape of my neck and sinking those teeth into my feverish flesh. It sent another wave of prickling pleasure through me. He then kissed the spot so tenderly it made me shiver while my moans got louder.
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