Things hadn’t been right, and Kieran was beginning to be scared that they never would be again. While they had a conversation and came to an agreement there was something hanging between them and Kieran knew that it was his fault. He didn’t want Jack attempting to send them back again, he was afraid of what it would do to him.
So, Kieran decided to seek some more knowledge on how the whole process worked. Professor Blackstone had been very helpful.
Kieran had asked Beth to take over earlier for the evening so that he could be in the wagon when Jack came back. When the door of the wagon he offered him a smile. “Evening love.”
Having had done the wash earlier, Jack was in his chair and in the process of folding the clean clothes and putting them away when Kieran entered. “Evenin’.” He replied back with a smile, albeit hesitant. He knew things between them hadn’t been on solid ground and he knew that was mostly his fault for not trusting that Kieran would understand his need to right his mistakes and not try to stop him.
He added a pair of trousers to the small pile- they didn’t have a lot of clothes, but it was enough that they could always have something clean and do the wash one day a week. “Almost dun here.”
Kieran removed his hat and placed it down before he walked up to Jack and pressed a chaste kiss to his lips. He ran his hands through Jack's hair and looked at him a moment. He never got tired of looking at him. Finding his way to the bed he sat and clasped his hands in his lap. “How was yer day?” He asked, grabbing some of the left over laundry to help him.
There was something about the simple kiss hello that warmed his heart. “Mah day was good.” He nodded. “Jus spent most a’it gettin’ chores done.” Jack chuckled. He’d managed to get the wagon cleaned up too, clutter put away and dusted. “This should be the last of it.”
When everything was finished Kieran got down on his knees and kneeled before Jack. He placed his hands on his legs and sent out a small wave of pain relief. It was something he’d done for so many years and it was his little way of doing something for the injury he couldn’t heal.
“I know things haven’t been right between us.” He began, getting right into it. “And I’m sorry. I’ve been selfish and I want to make it up to ye.”
He took one of Jack's hands in his and squeezed it. “I had a conversation with Professor Blackstone and he said when we go back to 1920 it will...go better if yer well practiced.” He explained, his eyes softening.
“So, he loaned me some books and I want to help ye with yer practicing.”
It hit him in a strange way that Kieran had reached out to someone about… well what was going on. It was a good thing, but unexpected. He squeezed Kieran’s hand and smiled softly. Jack was quite well versed in time magic, but not to the extreme that he was having to do it. It wasn’t strictly just manipulating time- that was the easy part. It was the duration and focus it took to make sure he got them back where they needed to be and didn’t overshoot (or undershoot as he had). “Ya do?” He asked not quite sure he heard the angel right. He definitely could use the help in focus and control for the long periods of time.
Getting them in the mess he had had been charged with adrenaline and the fear of loosing Edi. He hadn’t actually been the main source of the spell it had been the teleportation spell that he’d gotten wrapped up in. However, this time he had to be the main source, otherwise who knew what would happen to them. And that was where he needed the practice. Holding onto the raw magic for so long without losing control or focus.
A smile came to his face as he watched his lover's expression change. “Of course, I love ye.” He leaned up to press a soft kiss to his cheek and then stood. “And I mean to start right away. So, if yer ready I think we should go outside and practice.”
There was no time like the present and Jack needed the practice if he was really going to go through with this. Part of Kieran was still afraid of what it might do but sitting around and doing nothing was not an option anymore.
Jack couldn’t help but let out a small laugh at the ‘all in’ nature Kieran had. “O-okay.” He nodded.
A few moments later, they were outside and a bit away from the carnival. Jack had brought the ring that Blackstone had given him, it had a full charge on it. He didn’t like to use it a lot because he knew that in the long run it most likely did more harm than good with ‘fooling’ his body into thinking it worked again, but there were times he did need to be mobile and while that moment may not have seemed like one… having a second form of magic interacting with him would be similar to trying to cast in conjunction with the teleportation spell. It wouldn’t be exactly the same, but he couldn’t really work with the source unless he they were ready to actually go.
He wasn’t planning on actually doing any time jumping, but just holding onto the leylines and forcing them to his will for as long as he needed was something that he needed to practice. So, he slipped on the ring and slowly got out of his chair. As always, it took him a moment to find his footing.
Kieran stood close by as Jack got to his feet in case he were to fall. It was what he was already ready for, ready to help Jack in any way that he needed it. He watched closely at what Jack was doing and although he could not see it, it was clear that Jack was manipulating magic. What had the Professor said about his magic? Liquid that can’t bubble without the help of others? It was all still very foreign to him but with the reading material he’d been given he knew that he’d understand someday.
“I’m still learning what this is all about but I’m here for whatever you need.” Water was on standby in case Jack wore himself out along with a bottle full of medicine in case it got really bad.
The use of the ring was something they frightened him too and Kieran took mental note of that. Surely there were some medical procedures done that could help Jack so that he didn’t have to use the ring anymore.
Rarely did Jack ever ‘touch’ leylines without casting something, but the spell he had to cast needed him to channel a lot of magic, so if he could hold onto the power for a long time and then just release it… maybe he wouldn’t mess up again. “Just be my anchor.” He told Kieran, taking his hand in his. “Make sure I don’t like, explode or anything.” He teased. “It not a possibility.” He assured Kieran before the other man could freak out.
Jack closed his eyes and focused. When he opened them again he could see the leylines flowing around them. Zion always happened to sit at a convergence of them so there were always so many around, big ones, smaller ones and of course a bright and shiny ball of them as they all met up and passed through each other in the center of Zion. He reached out his other hand and ‘took hold’ of a line, he just needed to touch it, but the gesture of ‘holding’ it always helped his concentration. As he started to draw the power into him, those colorful string like wings flowed out of his back, hanging loose.
He watched in fascination as Jack's wings flowed out. He never quite got used to seeing them though he had been privy a few times. When Jack was dealing with his mother's death he couldn’t seem to put them away but he handled them much easier now.
“Yer doing good.” He said as he squeezed Jack's hand lightly. He didn’t want to disturb the other man but he wanted Jack to know he was there to support him.
The magics flowed through him. He could see what Kieran could not, the pure essence of the leyline entering him and gathering in his torso, the power was strong. And Kieran was there to support him. Why hadn’t he trusted the angel to be there for him before? Had he thought so little about their relationship at the time that he couldn’t trust him? Any why? It wasn’t like the man hadn’t been there for so much of his life supporting him. Maybe it was because he was worried the love he felt, they had, was fleeting and that he’d get hurt if he let him in too much.
His thoughts spiraled a bit and he felt the magic start to become unstable. He let out a breath he didn’t realize he’d been holding and let all the excess magic go. As it released, while no spell was cast one could feel a stirring in the air around them, it displayed differently for everyone. A chill, hair standing on end, a warm feeling, the sudden urge to laugh. Raw magic that hadn’t had a direction could react with a person in a number of ways, especially after being gathered up as it had been.
Jack seemed to stagger back slightly as he closed his eyes. His hand and arm were shaking a bit from the exertion.
The truth was that Jack did have reason to mistrust Kieran in that regard. He would have tried to talk him out of it and for that, Kieran was atoning. Far be it from Kieran to ever hold Jack back from something so brave, and perhaps that was one of the things Kieran admired most about him. It killed him to think that he could have held him back had he not left Kieran in the dark.
When he saw Jack stumble Kieran was quick to move his arm around his back to catch him. It was something he’d done once or twice, handling Jack's entire body. “Oi, careful careful.” He said and guided Jack back to his wheelchair if only so that he could sit a spell.
He let him sit there for a moment before leaning down next to him and brushing his hair across his forehead. “Ye alright, love?”
Jack nodded. “Jus’ like holdin a paper over a window t’keep the wind out in a tornado.” He tried to explain. “Really easy to lose grip an’ then it all jus’ slips away. But if your not careful it’ll take down th’whole house as it goes.” He looked up to Kieran, his arm was still shaking a bit, but not as obviously. “Not channeling it int’anythin’ kinda like tryin t’cook soup over a fire without a pot.” He was using a lot of metaphors, but when talking about magic to someone who couldn’t do exactly what you could… that’s pretty much all you had.
Kieran thought on this a moment and then looked back to Jack. “Well I’m here. Perhaps ye could use me to channel yer energy into?” He was in this to help Jack and any use he could be he would. He wasn’t quite sure what he could do to help but he was sure Jack would have some ideas.
“Honestly, not even sure how I’d do that.” He said, reaching up to caress Kieran’s face. “But havin’ ya here is nice.” Jack stood back up slowly and met his lips to the other mans as he rose. His wings, that had intwined with the chair wheels when he sat, passed through the wooden spokes with ease. “Havin’ your support is… I can’ even find th’words t’say how much it means.”
He stood along with Jack from where he kneeled on the floor and graciously accepted the kiss. It was rare for Jack to be able to meet him at his level like this and Kieran suddenly remembered how Jack was just a little bit taller than him. “My support will always be here for ye, I’m sorry if it wasn’t before. I was selfish and I just wanted ye to be safe.”
He still wanted that, more than anything but he’d push past those feelings to let Jack come into his own. There was nothing he could do to stop the razor fast passing of time that was his life, but he could try to assist Jack into coming into his full potential.
“I ain't gonna do anythin’ dangerous- unless it’s t’help someone else.” He assured Kieran. “An there weren’t another choice.” Jack smiled softly. “Took me long enough t’get ya. I’m not gonna be leavin’ any time soon, soes long as I can help it.”
He kissed his lover again, this time a bit longer. As much as he’d come to accept the chair as his reality, it was always something to have the ring that Blackstone had made him. To be able to be close to Kieran in such a way. “Let’s try not t’fight for as long okay? I miss ya when we’re at odds.”
Kieran nodded at that and pressed a quick chaste kiss to Jacks lips after their previous kiss had ended. “I promise.” He wished he could say for as long as they both should live but that could be an eternity for Kieran.
“Are ye too tired to do more?” He didn’t want to over exert Jack's magic for fear of how it would affect his body.
He shook his head. “I’m okay. Just need another moment until…” Jack held up his hand, the tremor was still there, but it was very slight. “The buzzin’s almost gone. Never really held ont’the line without castin’ somethin’ before.” He admitted to Kieran.
There was something about Kieran, he was a good man at heart, and attractive to boot. Jack found himself wishing he could look into his eyes all day. “Y’know I still love you right? An’even though it might not have seemed like it, I do trust you.” He never wanted to keep a secret from Kieran because he didn’t trust him to keep it, he just knew the man and didn’t want to disappoint him by doing something he’d disapprove of.
His head leaned forward to push against Jack’s. “I never doubted it for a second.” He replied, leaning forward to press a quick kiss to Jack's lips. Love was hard, Kieran knew it. He’d fallen in love many times in his life and each death had hurt him more than he could say but that feeling of caring about someone like that was irreplaceable and even after Jack was gone, he’d leave his heart open for it to happen again.
He leaned back to regard the taller man. “Why don’t we go back to the wagon and relax for the rest of the night, eh? I think that’s enough magic for one night.”
“One more.” Jack said with a grin. He’d been practicing his space more. It still wasn’t perfect, but that’s what practice was for. They were also standing on a point where two leylines crossed. His wings twitched slightly as he focused and pictured their wagon, he held on tightly to Kieran’s hand and grabbed the arm of his chair with the other. Space magic was one of those that seemed simple, but at the same time it required the ability to think in the abstract. It for example, the act of moving from one place to another. It wasn’t as simple as just being here, then being there. It required one to actually connect two points in space that don’t normally connect so you can move into the new space in a single step. It may work differently with others, how they learn, how they perceive the world. That’s what made a Magi so powerful, there were so many ways to manipulate the magic around you, just so long as you stayed within the ‘rules’.
So, that’s what Jack did. He pulled a point in their wagon to their current point and then ‘dropped’ the two of them and his chair off inside. From an outside perspective, and an inside one, the mind can’t really process what happens. It does appear that someone just stops existing in one spot and starts in the other. The fold of space is something the mind just can’t grasp and so it tends to not perceive it- at least to save the person from going crazy.
He could feel the power still coursing through him, he’d pulled a lot more in than he needed to move them. He had to practice holding a lot of energy at once still, right? It actually felt good, and making such a large move was a bit intense, but not bad. “Home… now what?” He asked, brushing his hand over Kieran’s cheek.
He smirked at Jack as he pulled them from outside to inside their wagon and then smirked more at Jack's question. “Is there something ye had in mind love?” He asked flirtatiously. It wasn’t often that Jack initiated anything but Kieran was always game when it came to being intimate with the other man. They shared a deep connection and a chemistry that was unrivaled.
It wasn’t often he felt so confident about things. “Well, this ring still has a bit of a charge left. Might as well not waste it.” Jack’s hands moved between them and started to undo Kieran’s trousers. He did always feel a bit inadequate in bed. Sure, they’d found ways to work with his disability, but it didn’t mean the feelings he was more trouble than it was worth sometimes wasn’t still there. Also, things they’d want to do that always came off a bit awkward because they had to compensate for Jack not being able to be on his knees or that Kieran often had to do most of the work.
If Kieran had the gift of hearing thoughts, he’d assure Jack that every bit of it was worth it to be with him. Alas all he felt was the slow unbuckling of his belt below him. He took a look and then back up to Jack, his eyes lidded in want. His hands came to rest on Jack's hips and he pulled the material from inside his pants to make it easier to unbutton and remove.
“My love, no moment with ye is a waste.” He whispered softly before leaning into take Jack's lips into his own.
As the two men kissed, Jack slid his hand into Kieran’s trousers, beneath his underwear. Skin was warm under his fingers as he squeezed, encouraging him to harden. But, without fully realizing it, his will and the magics he’d yet to release did the work for them. Time sped up for a brief moment in the isolated area and Kieran went from relaxed to excited in a second.
His lips turned up into a smile as he broke the kiss and slowly lowered to his knees while pulling the fabric from Kieran’s hips and to the floor. His tongue ran over his lips before he slowly took the angel into his mouth. Ask him a year ago and he’d never think he’d like the taste and sensation of another man in his mouth. Ask him to tell the truth and he’d admit he often dreamed or fantasized about it, but never thought it would happen- or that it would be as good as the fantasy. Truth be told, it was better. Knowing that the other person could feel your lips and tongue and seeing or feeling those little twitches when you hit a nice spot. Then the moans of pleasure that they let slip. That was euphoric. A hand reached around Kieran and gripped his ass to help hold him stable as he moved his head back and forth over the length between his lips.
Jacks magic never ceased to amaze Kieran and before he knew what was happening Jack was on his knees in front of Kieran, taking him in his mouth. His hand instinctively came to settle at the base of Jacks neck, looking down at how beautiful he was down there. This was always a nice surprise though he wished Jack wouldn’t use the ring so much.
Still he moaned and pressed his other hand to Jacks cheek. The sensation was incredible and he bit down on his lips to hold back the curses he’d worked so hard not to say from day to day. “Sweet Jesus..” he couldn’t quite help himself.
His eyes closed as he hummed softly. Jack didn’t care if Keiran finished by his mouth or not. He wasn’t planning on letting the evening be brief. His skin tingled at the leyline that passed through him. He could feel the power of the spell from the ring working on his legs and hips draw up his torso and into his back. Still, Jack focused on pleasing his lover, tongue twirled around the hard cock as a hand moved along the shaft with his lips rhythmically. After a moment Jack started to speed up a bit, his fingers tightened on Kieran’s lower cheek as he looked up to his face.
As Jack's movements sped up Kieran felt himself start to come to that edge, but he wasn’t ready yet so he tapped Jack on the shoulder. “Love, that feels so good. I..” be stammered as he felt himself closer and closer to the edge. He meant to say that he was going to come but in mere seconds he was spilling down the back of Jacks throat without having quite the time to say anything.
“Oh love, I’m sorry. It just..” felt so good.
His hand wiped his mouth as he chuckled, taking in a few deep breaths. Rising back to his feet he just shook his head and pulled Kieran into another passionate kiss. “Don’t be.” He said, lips parting only slightly before his hand moved into the other man’s locks and the passion continued. It was unexpected confidence spurned by the power he felt flowing through him. As the kiss continued, Jack began to pull away Kieran’s shirt, parting only to pull his undershirt off. Hands ran down the bare torso as he pushed the man back to the bed.
Standing above him, Jack reached down and ran a finger along Kieran’s dick and channeled the magic to rewind time a bit, the angel would be hard again with the memory or orgasm, but not the exhaustion that came with. “Better?”
He looked down at what Jack had just done and smirked. “That’s a nice trick ye got there Jackie Boy.” He grabbed Jack by the hands and pulled him on top of him, grasping his lips in a passionate kiss. Magic wasn’t always a thing that Jack would bring into the bedroom but Kieran wasn’t upset when he did.
He grasped at Jacks body, hands finding purchase wherever he could and finally a hand settled on Jacks erection. He languidly grazed his hand over the sensitive skin. “What’re ye going to do to me?” He asked, breathe ragged.
Jack hummed at the touch of his lover and straddled, with a leg on either side of the man, allowing him to play as they sat there. “Whatever I want.” He smiled, his fingers closing as they weaved into Kieran’s hair, tugging the strands ever so gently. His wings shimmered slightly as he felt the magic warm in his chest.
For a split second, his eyes faltered, doubt set in. He’d never really taken charge in such a way before, was Kieran okay with it? Was he being too aggressive? “If… that’s okay.” He felt the power slipping slightly as he loosened his grip on his hair and took his hand back.
Kieran first saw it in his eyes, the insecurity that had come seemingly out of nowhere. He sat up and pulled Jack closer to him. “Of course it’s okay. I’m yours.” He grabbed his hands and pressed little kisses to his knuckles. “Don’t ye ever forget that.”
With that he grabbed one of Jacks hand and tangled it into his hair again. He liked letting Jack have some control since he was forced to be compliant when he was not using the ring. “I’ll let ye do anything.” He promised, catching Jacks eyes with his to prove to him that he meant it.
The look of doubt turned to one of gratitude before the confidence returned. He kissed Kieran with a sense of desperation and as if to regain his strength again, sort of reset himself from the doubt.
He reached over to the night stand for some of the modern convince they’d purchased and applied some of the lubricant to Kieran’s member. He wagered they weren’t the only ones to secure some- it was actually Ben who’d advised him of the stuff. Still, it made sex a lot less painful and all the more pleasurable- especially for a man who suffered from chronic pain.
Following Jacks lead, Kieran let Jack do whatever he wanted. His hands came to rest at Jacks hips and he squeezed gently to feel the soft skin underneath. He bit down on his lip as he felt the slippery substance being coated on his cock. Wherever Jack had found this stuff, Kieran was eternally grateful.
“Mmm…” he groaned, finding the joint of Jacks neck and shoulder, sucking the skin into his mouth. There was not one part on Jacks body that he did not want to regularly devour.
With a slight grunt, he lowered himself onto Kieran. It was a position he enjoyed- probably because he didn’t get to do it a lot due to his restrictions. Hips moved, rising and lowering himself along his length as their lips found each other once again. A surprised sound slipped into their kiss as his lover grabbed his cock in his hands and started to stroke it firmly in pace with his hips. Lips moved to Keiran’s ear, “That’s good.” He breathed heavily, their cheeks supporting each other as skin continued to pleasure skin. And they continued, sweat beading as bodies collided in love, until...
His focus split ever so slightly, he’d been half focused on holding in the power while fucking his boyfriend. His focus moved to the magic of the ring, he could feel it coiled around his legs and spine. As he channeled a leyline through the ring, freezing all of time in the moment each man reached climax. Well not freezing perse, it slowed to a point it might have been frozen. He wished Kieran could see the magic swirl around him, them, through his chest, wrapping around the ring and his torso. He saw as the ring’s magic rose and gathered in his shoulders. Time was still slow, but magic could work very fast. His wings of colorful string rose up. Four segments similar to that of a butterfly stretched out, magic tendrils wrapping around the veins and acting as a membrane to hold them firm just like they did with his hips. The veins were thick enough to see, the colors shimmered and spanned the entire rainbow. The cells the veins marked that comprised his wings were empty, as if a visual representation of his lack of ability to walk. As if his injury went deeper than just the physical damage. And while normally those damaged wings hung limp, in that moment they stood strong with a roughly six foot wingspan.
Meanwhile, each second of climax was dragged out. He wasn’t even in complete control of the spell anymore, it was all powered by the moment he was in. Power flowed from him into the time slowing effect, all that magic he’d stored up was prolonging their orgasm. He wanted to fall over, but, while his physical body was slowed, still rising and falling still, covering Kieran’s hand and chest with white come, as he could feel his insides warm as they were filled. Their minds weren’t slowed. They were perceiving every drawn out second, those prolonged contractions of pleasure. It was almost maddeningly good.
When everything was done, Kieran collapsed on the bed, completely sated, again, and more tired than he was before. He chuckled to himself and looked up at Jack. “I don’t think I could ever get used to that.” With that he leaned back up again and pulled Jack into his arms tighter. They hadn’t done it this way before, with Kieran being the top and it was much better than he remembered, especially with Jack.
“I love ye.” He said lazily, breath still ragged from their activities and pressed a long kiss to Jack’s lips. As a doctor and having done a lot of modern research recently, he’d discovered that feeling of love was a hormone called oxytocin. It coursed through the blood stream during and after orgasm. To some that might seem bleak but for Kieran, it was magical and fitting that a body could do that for a person.
Jack smiled and sighed happily as the two men clung tiredly to each other. Jack could feel the spell from the ring start to wear off as his wings were the first to fall limp. “And I you.” He returned the kiss grateful for someone so perfect for him. “I think practice went well today.” They both chuckled and remained curled together as sleep found them, both having earned their exhaustion.