Jacob loved the witching hour, even before he knew witches really existed. The world was just more bloody malleable in the wee hours of the morning. People were simpler. Streets were emptier. Sneaking into places was easier. He’d planned their little escapade for three in the morning because all of his reconnaissance so far had led to the conclusion that they’d have the best luck between during this particular three hour window.
He hopped a fence with the ease of someone who had hopped a great many fences in his life. “Alright, let’s see that fence-climbing training at work,” he whispered through the metal wiring. “There’s pointy bits at the top. Don’t snag anything important down below.” With that warning, he glanced around the mock up rescue site, with its half-burned buildings, broken stairs, and peeled paint. The moon gave them some light to work by, but left large swathes of landscape in shadow. He turned back to Serefin. “This place really should have better security.”
Months ago, Serefin might have balked at the idea of climbing a fence. But as he watched Jacob climb so effortlessly over this one, and with weeks of training under his own belt, Serefin was determined not to snag anything on the pointy bits. He grinned ferociously at Jacob through the links in the fence, before crawling up and over—not as gracefully, but not a disaster, and surprisingly, equally quiet. His attention had been turned to the more physical training as of late. He needed to climb more fences, clearly.
"If it had better security," Serefin whispered, landing exceptionally close to Jacob, body knocking purposely into him, "this would be a very short trip. It is not every day I trespass in the early hours of the morning for the sole purpose of seeing you in action."
He canted his head to one side to look at Jacob, all stark lines and sharp contrasts in the moonlight. It was little moments like this that Serefin reveled in, inordinately pleased to have someone, have him, to spend time with and provide much needed distractions. Serefin wanted to kiss him against this fence until all the shadows melted away, but they were here with a purpose. They could do that later.
Serefin turned his focus back to the smattering of practice buildings. "Point me where you need me to go, and I will wait draped over a balcony for your daring rescue."
That sharp grin of Serefin’s brought a matching one to Jacob’s face. There’d been less of those lately - reasonably so, of course - and he was quietly pleased to encourage every single one. He grabbed for Serefin’s hips as he banged into him, eager to pull him close even though he knew they had to get moving away from the fence line as soon as possible.
“You have to understand, I’m allowed to be torn here. I’ve gone and fallen into the hole of caring about my job. It’s terrible!” Jacob squeezed Serefin’s hips and then jogged off into the rescue simulator. It was a joke, but not entirely. He usually cared about his work a lot more than he let on. But he especially cared about being a firefighter. Which felt ridiculous at times, but he couldn’t deny that having a purpose he chose for himself was intoxicating.
He led Serefin towards a ring of buildings with balconies and rickety looking ladders that led up to them. He stared up into the fire escape with eagle vision, hoping it would give him an edge if this were the real deal. It did highlight a few cracks in the metal above but nothing looked dangerous.
“Have you used up what climbing you’re willing to do or can you get yourself up those ladders there?” he asked over his shoulder.
"Ah, caring. Miserable business," Serefin teased in that lazy way of his. What he liked most was that when Jacob put his interest in something, his whole demeanor was different. Serefin was more than happy to take the opportunity to keep that good mood going, even if it was something ridiculous and reckless, like rescuing people out of burning buildings. Serefin didn't understand the appeal, but if Jacob wanted this, Serefin wanted it for him too.
He followed Jacob toward the building, and stared up the ladders, the balconies, and the fire escape. He hummed in agreement. Serefin had stamina now. A strange concept when a month ago he wouldn't have cared, he had magic to fill in the gaps where he was lacking.
"I believe I can manage a little more for you, in the interest of training," Serefin said, sliding a hand down Jacob's arm with intent before disappearing into the building. He was up one of the ladders—albeit with a little apprehension when it creaked unexpectedly—and wandered out onto one of the balconies.
It was only one floor up, but when Serefin looked down to Jacob from the spot, he said just loud enough for his voice to carry, "I hope you do not expect me to jump."
While Serefin inspected the building, Jacob inspected Serefin. His thoughtful gaze followed him until he had to switch back to eagle vision to keep an eye trained on his progress. He knew these buildings were safer than they appeared - that was the whole point, after all, to practice where it was safer to recreate a scenario. And without the fire, they were hampered yet again in the danger level. But he was surprisingly keen not to risk Serefin for anything.
Or not so surprisingly. He supposed he might be the only one still surprised by his own stupid heart.
“I don’t expect nor want you do anything even resembling a jump,” Jacob called back. He wasn’t supposed to climb the fire escape in quite the way he would’ve at home, so he started halfway up the first ladder and peered up at Serefin. “Pretend you’re in distress. There’s a wall of fire in that room behind you and you’re in desperate need of a rescuer, yeah?”
Serefin had settled into a casual pose, arms folded over the railing of the balcony, and chin in hand. Just for a moment, just to watch Jacob go through the motions of climbing up to him in a very un-assassin-like way. The smile he gave Jacob was soft, delicate, almost a little confused—as if he was suddenly realizing where he was and what he was doing. It would seem ridiculous to anyone else, but in the context of their relationship, it was fitting. Perfect, even.
"I am in distress," Serefin said, sounding like the absolute antithesis of distress, repeating the words back in a slow drawl, lacking all manner of urgency. "There is a fire behind me, and there is nowhere to go. I need you to save me before I—" Serefin, in probably the most convincing acting job he ever managed to pull off, interrupted himself by grabbing at his chest with a terrifyingly authentic gasp. He swore in Tranavian, spinning frantically around to look into the nothingness behind him.
It was all for show, of course. But he hoped he played the part believable enough to light a metaphorical fire under Jacob to climb faster.
Jacob kept climbing and Serefin’s deadpan drawl made huffs of laughter tangle with huffs for breath with all the climbing. Eventually he neared the top and he glanced over his shoulder just in time to see Serefin’s dramatic performance.
“Stay calm, mister,” Jacob called out in an overly enunciated demand. “I’m with the fire department and I’m going to get you out of here.” His sharkish grin was a little counterpoint, but oh well. He hopped over from the fire escape to the balcony and tore off his jacket. Underneath was his favored suspenders but instead of his usual button down, there was a black t-shirt with the words Volunteer Fire & Rescue in bold red writing on his chest.
“Here, take this. You might be in shock,” he said somberly as he held the jacket out drape over Serefin’s shoulders.
Serefin couldn't keep up the ruse. And he had been doing so well too, watching Jacob move with ease between the fire escape and the balcony, pretending to be afraid of the non-existent fire. That was until Jacob took off his jacket.
"Oh, this is—" Serefin was so easily distracted, his attention focused on the shirt underneath, and how it clung to Jacob differently than his usual attire. Serefin lifted a hand, an unconscious gesture, to touch. Yes, he was in shock. But not because of any real fire, just the one churning in the stomach, in his chest.
He stepped into the offered jacket, allowing it to fall heavily on his shoulders, before he took a deep breath, shaking it off. Right, he was supposed to be in distress, in need of a rescue.
"Sir," Serefin said, giving Jacob the most pitiful look. He hated to admit he was rather good at this weak, helpless sort. How many times had given similar looks to Ostyia and Kacper to do something for him because he was too drunk to do it himself? He was pulling from experience. "I am deathly afraid of heights. I am uncertain if I could make it down by myself. You might have to—" Serefin crowded into Jacob's space. "Carry me down."
Serefin’s distraction pleased Jacob an embarrassing amount and it showed in the dangerous glint in his eyes and how he inched closer, slipping his hands up under the jacket to press against Serefin’s ribs. He snorted at the acting, even though it likely would’ve caused all kinds of problems if this were a real rescue and the first time they were meeting. Even still, he got a little distracted and ended up pressing Serefin against the balcony railing.
“I’ve got you,” he murmured warmly. A smile teased at his mouth. “You have nothing to fear. Just keep your eyes on me…” He leaned in to press a kiss to Serefin’s jawline and then trailed another one up underneath it. “...And don’t look down.” The urge to linger here was overwhelming, as it always was when he got Serefin alone and held close. His arms tightened of their own accord.
Serefin tried. He tried so hard to keep his eyes on Jacob, and to not look down. Honestly it wasn't difficult to focus wholly on Jacob when Serefin was being slowly pressed against the balcony, and Jacob was saying things like I've got you. Serefin knew he meant about the 'fire', all in the script, but it struck a chord in other ways. Serefin was incredibly aware of all the ways physically, mentally, and emotionally that Jacob had him.
But what Serefin couldn't keep up was the performance. He said as such. "It is very difficult..." he sighed, a breathy little thing when Jacob kissed the underside of his jaw. "...to pretend to need a rescue when you are being, being—" Serefin trailed his hands down Jacob's chest, fingers curling fruitlessly into the fabric of his shirt. A new sort of desire lingered there.
"Unless this is part of your training? I might have the wrong idea about what it is that a firefighter does," Serefin said, with his own teasing smile and arching a brow. "Shall I go lax in your arms? All dead weight now? I've been practicing for this moment, and I admit you have made my knees weak."
A laugh burst out of Jacob and he nipped at Serefin’s collarbone before straightening back up again. “I want to joke about us being a full-service rescue but I don’t want you actually taking me seriously.”
He didn’t make a move to step away. He did glance back towards the fire escape with a careful stare and another review with his keen sight. “Most of the ways we’ve been trained to get people down a ladder are decidedly unsexy, I should warn you. There’s one that involves you riding my knee and that may sound like it has potential but I promise you, it does not.” His hands reluctantly moved from Serefin’s ribs to his hips then out from under the jacket entirely. “But I think I have an idea. Come on then, let’s see these weak knees.”
Serefin loved that laugh, he loved making Jacob laugh like that, and Serefin's answering smile made him warm all over. "You have to be careful what you say. I am entirely gullible, I would believe anything you said. Including this riding business," Serefin said, with a dismissive gesture. He didn't quite care how he was going to be carried, it didn't matter to him. And he trusted Jacob enough to put his entire self in his hands.
He missed the feel of Jacob's hands on him, and if he unconsciously stepped closer to chase after them, Serefin didn't want to say. It was a needy thing, and sometimes the want—even when they were both being ridiculous—was overwhelming. Serefin cleared his throat as a warning, and said, "catch me."
And with a dramatic flair, the back of his hand to his forehead, Serefin let out a soft sigh, let his legs wobble, and then fell heavily into Jacob. He clung helplessly to anywhere he could get his hands on him, trying to stay upright. "How was that?" Serefin whispered, as if they had an audience and needed to make it look good. "I could try again if it's not up to your standards."
Jacob caught Serefin with another laugh, this one stifled behind a smile and mostly huffed out through his nose as he kept Serefin from tumbling to the ground. “Noisy for an unconscious person, aren’t you?” he teased.
He didn’t get a lot of opportunities to show off his general strength – fighting at the club was hit and miss with how bloody good everyone was here – so he was quietly pleased at the opportunity to put Serefin over his shoulder and carry him towards the fire escape. In a genuine practice scenario, there would be other firefighters around to help get a person up over the edge and to the ladder, down to the ground and into an ambulance. But his cargo was precious and Jacob wasn’t exactly inexperienced at doing this the old fashioned way. He did wish he’d worn his gloves though.
“Alright, this is going to get awkward, sir, but I promise it’s all in the name of seeing you safely to the ground.” Once they were at the top of the ladder, Jacob set Serefin down and climbed a few rungs down. “I’m going to need to slide you down in front of me facing the ladder. Usually I’d have a hand at this part, but you’ll have to settle for being fondled by only one rescuer.”
Serefin quieted immediately, not just because Jacob teased him, but the ease in which he went over Jacob's shoulder silenced him. Surprise mixed with pleasure jolted through him, and Serefin gave little resistance. There was something thrilling about being carried by Jacob, the display of strength causing him to school his expression into something neutral. He had a job to do.
That was until Jacob told him how they were going down the ladder.
"You are asking a lot of an unconscious person," Serefin teased back. But without any other complaint, he slowly, steadily, slid in front of Jacob, facing the ladder as instructed. It was awkward, but Serefin, as promised, went back to being deadweight in Jacob's arms. They were trying to go for believability, right? It felt a little bit like being held and free-floating, and he realized how much he wanted to cling back to Jacob out of his own apprehension.
"Are you certain the riding your knee option wasn't the better alternative? If I'm only being fondled by one rescuer, I could be convinced to test out all the options, or—" Serefin closed his eye once they started to move down. "Whatever gets us to the ground faster. I imagine you would have to do this all quickly given the burning building. I should have been timing you."
Jacob settled Serefin against the ladder with one arm under Serefin’s left armpit and one between his thighs. This would’ve been easier if he’d remembered his gloves.
“I promise having you drop rung after rung to land your crotch on my knee is not the better alternative. Unless you’re into that sort of abuse. In which case...still no.” They made it halfway down without any trouble. Then the fire escape decided to start creaking horribly. It occurred to Jacob that this training module might not be up to code anymore - and that’s why they hadn’t used this particular simulation - just as the ladder jerked roughly to the side. His grip slipped and the metal of the ladder bit into his palms. They weren’t far from the ground at that point, thankfully, but it was still a surprise as the ladder snapped and they landed in an undignified pile in the dirt.
Jacob groaned. At least he’d managed to break Serefin’s fall. He tossed the broken section of ladder aside and ran his hands over Serefin’s back. “Well that was romantic. I mean I already fell for you. Now it’s literal!”
Serefin laughed, once, at Jacob's explanation, but remained quiet for the rest of the way down. He didn't want to be distracting. Not that that mattered, when, the steadily deteriorating ladder was doing that for them instead. By the time Serefin understood what was happening, before he could even be remotely helpful tangled with Jacob, they were jerked, dropped, and Serefin was breaking his fall against Jacob.
He moved quickly when he heard Jacob groan, propping himself up on his elbows. If Jacob was still able to run a soothing hand along his back, Serefin was able to push his worry aside. The most injured part was likely their pride, but still, his eye searched Jacob's face the best he could in the moonlight for any sign of distress.
"I was not aware falling was romantic. Perhaps we should have done it before?" Serefin asked, knowing that he was missing something. There was a weight in Jacob's words that Serefin's addled mind wasn't quite picking up. He barrelled on despite the tug to unpack the phrase: I already fell for you
"I still think this was a fine rescue. And if I was truly unconscious, I would never even know this tumble happened." Serefin leaned in, kissing the corner of Jacob's mouth. "Are you hurt?"
Jacob snorted and rearranged them so he could sit up. He wasn’t exactly in a hurry to move but he needed to scan their surroundings with eagle vision to make sure no one had heard the racket and come running. Nothing seemed to be amiss.
Which meant he was safe to fall back into a small emotional hurricane about what he’d said but not said well enough.
“Probably going to have a bruise on my ribs where your elbow caught me,” he smiled, pressing a hand to his ribcage. Now that his gaze was back on Serefin, it was locked on tight. His mouth twisted with nerves. “I...I didn’t mean to say it like that. Like it’s a bloody joke. How I feel about you isn’t a joke.” Jacob looked utterly serious for a moment.
“I love you, you know?” The seriousness wavered but only so wry amusement could turn up the corners of his eyes. “Is it terrible to tell you that after dumping your arse in the dirt?”
Serefin's hand went to Jacob's ribs, as if touch could soothe the pain away. It was in an apology without saying it. So when Jacob started in again about feelings, Serefin's gaze was down, his attention on anywhere by Jacob's face. He continued trailing his fingers over the bruise he couldn't see, almost like he didn't hear the words I love you, you know?
He did know. Some part of him had allowed that realization to settle over him though he couldn't pinpoint the when or the where. Serefin wondered if he should have paid more attention, committed the moment of knowledge to memory because it was important. But much like he couldn't figure out when he knew that Jacob loved him, even before he said it, Serefin wasn't sure when he had loved Jacob back. Perhaps it was just inherent, pressed into his chest, his bones, his mind, his whole being while he slept.
When Serefin finally dragged his gaze up to Jacob and found that mixture of intense seriousness and soft amusement, it banished all the fear and bad feelings he ever had about caring and being cared for. Serefin smiled back like they were sharing a deeply intimate secret.
"It cannot be the worst declaration of love. But I hope you are not expecting me to change the story if anyone asks. I will tell them after we landed unceremoniously on the ground, and you said you loved me—" Serefin's voice barely tripped over it, a rightness settled in him. "That I leaned in, put my hand to your cheek, and said..."
Serefin leaned in, put his hand to Jacob's cheek, and said, "I know, towy nóżczko, I love you too."
There hadn’t been any real doubt in Jacob’s mind - just the ghost of them, inspired by years of feeling like he wasn’t good enough - but it was still a relief to hear the words echoed back to him. He smiled brighter, a little giddy and crooked, and then wrapped his arms around Serefin to collapse them both flat against the ground again.
“You can tell whoever you like. Especially Diego. I’d like to see the eyeroll and grimace in person, if possible.” He leaned in for a kiss. His every intention was to make it a steamy one, but a question caught up to him and he broke away with an inhale. “Wait, you have to tell me what that means.” He butchered it a bit, but it still sounded pleasant in his rumbling deep voice. “Towy nóżczko.”
"Oh, we could both corner him. I am determined to see him swallow a whole bottle of those chalky bits for his indigestion," Serefin said, conspiratorially. He was feeling lighter, pulled to the ground without resistance, eagerly leaning in for a kiss that never came. Interrupted by his own language. Serefin closed his eyes, grinning.
"Why, do you think I would insult you and confess my feelings for you in the same breath?" He teased, curling his fingers around one of Jacob's suspenders—blood and bone, this was a very good look for him—and dragging him in to complete the kiss. Serefin hummed, appreciative of the effort to pronounce all the hard consonants of his native language.
"I do like the sound of Tranavian in your mouth." Serefin pressed his thumb against Jacob's lower lip, distracted. It wasn't as if anyone outside of Ostyia could speak it here. This was a good reminder to teach Jacob more, but for now, he said, "It means, plainly, little knife, or I suppose blade, something sharp. But it means more when it's said to you. It is my name for you. I would not say this to just anyone."
Jacob smiled into the kiss and the twist of his mouth only got more heated with Serefin’s thumb pressed to his lip. This wasn’t the place but he was easy and predictable and his heart still felt huge in his chest with Serefin’s words dancing around in his head. He shamelessly slid his hands up under Serefin’s shirt and hoped that his hands were warm from all the carrying and climbing. If they weren’t, Serefin would probably forgive him if he used them well anyway.
“Oh, I like that. A name that’s just mine.” He squinted for a second, jokingly suspicious. “As long as Diego isn’t the big knife anyway.” Alright, that was one too many Diego Hargreeves mentions in too short a period. Jacob rolled Serefin over onto his back and spread his hands wider across his skin. “You can teach me other things to say sometime if you want. Just don’t tell Evie I asked for lessons. I’ll never hear the end of it.”
Serefin made a small noise when Jacob's warm hands pressed against his cold skin. Then laughed at big knife. "He has a name already. I believe it involves a lengthy number of vulgarities, especially when he tells me to go one more round during training."
And then they were moving, switching places, Serefin's back against the ground and the insistent press of Jacob's hands on his ribs was stealing his breath away. He grabbed for Jacob's shoulders, fingers digging in, signaling his desire. Something had shifted between them, better, and Serefin was certain it had everything to do with knowing precisely where they stood with one another. His love for Jacob filled Serefin up in all those hollow places inside of him.
"Your secret is safe with me." That part he said in Tranavian, then continued. "But she might catch on if you start having conversations in another language she doesn't know. You will have to be a quick study." Serefin tilted his head to one side, playing innocent. "If we are done here, I might have some time to teach you a few words back at my apartment."
“Hmm. Just a second.” Jacob was preoccupied with burying his face against Serefin’s throat and scraping his teeth over the pulse there, but he was listening too. Especially to the Tranavian that sent a strange little zing up his spine. “How…do you…say…hold your horses?” He punctuated his words with kisses up Serefin’s neck and just as he was about to land the last one on his mouth, a flash of light caught his attention off near the front gate of the enclosure.
Eagle vision showed two adults with honorable intentions, so Jacob made quick work of hauling Serefin to his feet. “Actually, hold that thought,” he whispered with a feral grin. “I’m afraid the rescue’s back on, sir. I promise not to upend you this time.”
Jacob snagged Serefin by the hand and took off into the shadows between buildings. On a bad night, he’d easily have lost two rent-a-cops. On a night with a love confession under his belt, Jacob Frye would have them safely tucked away in Serefin’s apartment before those cops even found the broken ladder on the ground.