Shadow‘s Reach (Halloween Noir) - 16. Ewww! He Touched Your Junk?

The air in the locker room was heavy with heat and the scent of their exertion. Alex scrambled back up to his feet again and leaned over the sink, his chest rising and falling, fogging the mirror with each labored exhale. His hands gripped the edge of the counter, the cool stone a stark contrast to the fire still simmering in his veins. Behind him, Jacques also dragged himself up from the floor and pressed his bare skin against Alex’s back, still slick and warm. His arms wrapped loosely around Alex’s waist, holding him steady.

“I think,” Alex panted, a teasing edge creeping into his voice, “if mirrors could talk, this one would file a restraining order.”

Jacques’ low chuckle rumbled in his chest. He dipped his head, brushing his lips along Alex’s damp shoulder. “Restraints, huh? Didn’t peg you as the type, but hey, I’m game.”

Alex laughed despite himself, shaking his head. “You’re insufferable. I think that’s more Solomon’s thing.”

“Yeah, but you like it too,” Jacques shot back, a lazy grin spreading across his face as he caught Alex’s eyes in the mirror.

Their gazes locked. For a moment, neither spoke. The mirror, streaked with condensation, framed them in a hazy glow: Alex, flushed and vulnerable, and Jacques, his dark eyes soft and warm.

“When I looked at us in that thing…” Alex’s voice dropped, his breath hitching slightly. He hesitated, then pushed forward. “I didn’t just see… this.” He gestured vaguely to their sweat-slicked bodies. “I saw everything I’ve been through. All the weakness. The pain. And for the first time, it didn’t feel like it was swallowing me whole. I felt… solid. Like I could actually stand on my own.”

Jacques’ grin faded, replaced by something quieter, deeper. His eyes didn’t waver as he spoke. “That’s because you can, Alex. You’re not weak—not by a long shot. You never were. But now?” He tightened his arms around Alex, his voice dropping to a warm murmur. “Now you can see the amazing and beautiful guy I’ve seen all along.”

Alex blinked rapidly, a soft laugh breaking through his unsteady breath. “God, you ruin everything by being soppy, you know that?”

Jacques pressed a playful kiss to Alex’s temple. “It’s a gift.”

Before Alex C was able to reply, the faint blue symbols flared up across his skin and began to flicker. He froze, his breath hitching as the symbols pulsed one last time, brighter than ever. A sharp chill prickled over his body, goosebumps rising in their wake. His chest tightened as if the air had been sucked out of the room. His fingers trembled as they hovered over his skin. The glowing symbols dissolved into the air like mist fading in sunlight, leaving behind nothing but smooth, unmarked flesh.

“They’re gone,” Alex whispered, his voice hollow and tight. He ran a hand down his arm, the soft drag of his fingertips catching on the bumps of his raised skin. “I didn’t realize how much they made me feel safe.” A shiver coursed through him, and he hugged his arms to his chest, his reflection staring back at him, a vulnerable figure haunted by the absence of something he hadn’t known he needed so badly.

Jacques turned Alex gently to face him, his hands firm on his hips. “They weren’t your safety net, Alex. They were a stepping stone. They got you here, but if they are gone now, you don’t need them anymore.” He leaned in, his grin softening into something more earnest. “You’re stronger than you think. You are you now, as you were meant to be. And if anything tries to knock you down…” He smirked, his voice lightening. “Well, that’s why I’m here. You’ve got me. Pretty decent trade, huh?”

Alex’s lips twitched into a reluctant smile. “You’re insufferable,” he repeated, but his voice was softer this time, the words tinged with gratitude as he ran a finger down Jacques‘ treasure trail.

“And you love it,” Jacques replied, his grin breaking wide.

The moment of levity was broken when Jacques’ fingers brushed lightly over Alex’s arms, tracing over the goosebumps where the symbols had once glowed. He leaned toward Alex and …without warning, his body stiffened, his breath catching. His eyes, dark and warm just a moment ago, lit with a reddish-golden glow, like sunlight reflecting off amber.

“Jacques?” Alex’s voice trembled as he steadied him.

Jacques didn’t respond immediately. His head tilted slightly, his gaze distant, as if seeing something far away. When he spoke, his voice was calm but detached, almost dreamlike. “Marie’s laughing. Solomon’s there too… holding a tea cup. They’re in the dining room, waiting for us.”

Jacques remained silent for a moment. He tilted his head further, his expression tightening as though a shadow had crossed his thoughts. Then, with a scowl, he muttered, “Les Enfants. They’re planning something urgent.”

Jacques’s hold on Alex tightened, his arms pulling him closer as though anchoring himself to the moment. Alex's brow furrowed, his hands clutching Jacques’ arms. “What are you—”

Jacques did not hear him. His tone shifted, full of wonder now. “Wind. Wings… cutting through the mist over the river. The air’s cold, sharp. The mass of water stretches below…” He faltered, his breath hitched as his hands trembled and his head jerked sideways. “Hunger… claws flexing. Scurrying feet and a faint heartbeat in the dark. It’s—”

His body slumped suddenly, and Alex caught him, guiding him to lean against the sink. Jacques’ breath came in ragged gasps, the glow in his eyes fading.

“Jacques, what the hell just happened?” Alex demanded, his voice edged with alarm.

Jacques shook his head, his hands gripping the edge of the counter as he steadied himself. “I saw them—Marie, Solomon. Les Enfants. It was like looking through a window. Distant.” He paused, his voice quieter now. “But the animals… that was different. I wasn’t only watching. I was inside them.”

He looked up at Alex, his voice filled with an almost reverent confusion. “The bird—I felt the wind cutting past its wings, the lift as the cold air rushed by. And the other one... a cat maybe… its hunger wasn’t just instinct. It was… everything. I was both of them.”

Alex’s unease softened into something more curious. “You mean… you controlled them?”

Jacques hesitated, shaking his head. “Not controlled. Not… yet. But maybe I could’ve. I felt it. Like I was them, could’ve pushed them, myself, to act.”

Alex exhaled slowly, gripping Jacques’ shoulders firmly. “If Marie’s in the dining room, she’ll know what’s going on. Let’s go.”

Jacques nodded, his usual smirk returning faintly as he straightened. “Yeah. Time for the professionals to weigh in.”

They dressed quickly, the air between them charged with the unspoken weight of what had just happened. Before they left, Alex gave Jacques a quick kiss. As he glanced back at the mirror, the fog had cleared, leaving their reflections sharp and unfiltered: two men, changed and bound by something neither could fully understand.

“Ready?” Jacques asked, his voice steady now.

Alex nodded. “Yeah. Let’s go.”

***

The dining room of Maison Noir was steeped in a muted, golden glow as the November afternoon light waned beyond the windows. The flickering chandelier overhead sent ripples of light across the dark wood-paneled walls, their delicate patterns shifting and coming alive under the unsteady glow.

Heavy drapes hung at the windows, blocking most of the fading sunlight and leaving the room cloaked in an intimate stillness. The long oak table was largely bare, save for a porcelain teacup and a small pot of tea near Solomon’s hand, the delicate china gleaming faintly under the chandelier’s flickering light. His silvering hair was immaculately combed, though his sharp eyes betrayed a trace of weariness.

Opposite him, Madame Marie lounged with casual elegance, one leg crossed over the other. She donned her dark headscarf again and her laughter filled the room, rich and melodious, as Solomon muttered something under his breath.

The air was thick with unspoken tension, as Jacques strode in with his usual swagger. His practised smirk was firmly in place despite the tension still simmering under his skin. Alex followed, his movements more tentative, but no less determined.

“Ah, here they are,” Solomon said, his tone as smooth as aged bourbon. “The conquering heroes.”

Madame Marie arched a brow, her lips curling into a knowing smile. “You’ve both certainly been… busy.”

Alex flushed, his gaze darting to the floor. Jacques, unbothered, plopped into a chair and leaned back, arms crossed behind his head. “What can I say? We believe in, uh, hands-on training around here.”

Before anyone could respond, Marcus strutted in, the heels of his shoes clunking loudly against the floor. The amused gleam in his eyes betrayed his awareness of the tension in the room. “Well, this is cozy,” he drawled, and then sniffed the air exaggeratedly. “But seriously, do none of you know what a shower is? My, my, you’ve been busy.”

Alex glared at him, but Marcus only laughed, sliding into a chair across the table. “Relax, kid. We’re all friends here, some very… close friends, obviously.” He fanned the air in front of his nose.

Jacques straightened, the humor in his expression fading. “We’ve got more important things to talk about.” His voice was quieter now, the weight of his earlier experience pressing down on him.

Madame Marie tilted her head, her dark eyes glittering with interest. “Go on, Jacques. What happened?”

Jacques hesitated, glancing at Alex before speaking. “During… well, let’s call it a moment of connection between us, I felt something. It wasn’t just Alex—it was deeper. Bigger. I felt like I touched… something inside him. Or something touched me.”

Madame Marie’s expression grew serious, though she said nothing, waiting for him to continue.

“Then it was like a flood of knowledge hit me all at once,” Jacques continued. “Not thoughts, exactly, but… fragments. Visions. Knowledge. Whatever is inside Alex, it connected to both of us. It was like it dumped everything it knew into my head, but it’s not accessible yet. Like a book I need to read first.”

Alex shifted in his seat, his brow furrowed. “I felt it too. Not the same way Jacques did, but… like something shifted inside me. Like it unlocked a door I didn’t even know was there.”

Solomon set his teacup down with a soft clink. “Lucien’s hand,” he murmured.

Madame Marie tilted her head, her lips curling into a wry smile. “Lucien’s hand?” she repeated, her tone rich with curiosity and mischief. “How, pray tell, did it end up inside our dear Alex? Hmm… no. On second thought—” She held up a hand dramatically, her dark eyes sparkling with mirth. “—perhaps I don’t want to know.”

Marcus leaned forward, a wicked grin stretching across his face. “I can’t tell you how that hand ended up in our dear, innocent Alex, but, oh…. I can tell you exactly what happened earlier,” he said, his tone dripping with mockery. He jabbed a finger at Jacques, clearly enjoying himself. “Picture this: you’re all caught up in the moment, things are getting hot, and just as you’re about to, uh, deliver the goods…” He paused, his grin widening. “Your great-great-whatever-grandfather reaches out and decides to—”

“Marcus, don’t you dare—” Jacques started, his face turning pale and contorting between horror and amusement.

“—touch your junk!” Marcus finished triumphantly, throwing his hands up in mock revelation. “And BAM! You splattered your ancestor with all your slimy white gunk. Congratulations, champ!”

“Aahahaa!”

The collective groan was immediate and deafening.

“Marcus, what the hell?” Jacques exclaimed, burying his face in his hands.

“Ewww,” Alex muttered, his face bright red as he sank lower in his chair.

Even Solomon, unshakable as ever, let out a long, exasperated sigh. “I am deeply concerned about the fact that I haven’t had you thrown out of Maison Noir yet,” he muttered.

Madame Marie, however, was laughing so hard she had to wipe a tear from her eye. “Oh, Marcus,” she said between chuckles, her voice dripping with mock praise. “You truly have a gift for turning the profound into the profane.”

“Just for clarification, Alex, it there a chance that we are talking about Lucien‘s hand here?” Madame Marie said.

Alex, head down and bright red, muttered, “Well, I haven’t seen it since and I wasn’t sure where it went, but… the first night here, when I got the symbols, the blue ones on my skin, the last thing I dimly remember… Yes. It‘s the hand.”

“Aahahaa! Bet he wasn‘t too tight earlier…”

Jacques, clearly shocked, gave Marcus a scandalized look. However, he soon tried to recover, straightened in his seat and turned to the group. His tone was serious now, his usual bravado fading, as he tried to deflect attention away from Alex. “Ok, so... during… well, during the climax, I felt it. The hand.”

Everyone fell silent, their earlier amusement evaporating.

“It wasn’t just there,” Jacques continued, his voice quieter now. “It… connected to me. To Alex. It was like it reached out, intentionally waiting and picking just this moment. It touched me and… I didn’t just feel it—I felt everything. This wave of knowledge crashed into me all at once.”

Alex shifted uncomfortably in his chair, his brow furrowed. “I felt it too. Not the same way Jacques did, but… like something moved inside me. Like a door I didn’t even know existed just… opened.”

Madame Marie leaned back in her chair, her playful smirk fading into something more thoughtful. “So the hand chose to make itself known. And in such an… intimate fashion.” She raised a brow at Jacques. “How terribly on-brand for Lucien.”

***

The tension lingered in the dining room, the weight of everything that had been said pressing down on the air. Solomon sipped his tea in contemplative silence, while Madame Marie sat poised, her sharp gaze never leaving Jacques.

Alex shifted uncomfortably in his chair, tugging at the hem of his too-tight shirt. His brow furrowed, and he finally broke the silence. “I have a question. The symbols… they’re gone.”

Madame Marie’s attention snapped to him, her dark eyes narrowing slightly. “Gone?”

Alex nodded, rubbing absently at his chest as though he could still feel their presence. “They were glowing earlier and looked like they were dissolving, and… now there’s nothing. They’ve completely vanished.”

Madame Marie leaned forward, steepling her fingers under her chin. “Interesting,” she murmured, her tone soft but thoughtful. “The symbols were guardians, Alex. A protective layer that shielded and guided you during your development and transformation. Their disappearance means their work is done.”

Alex frowned. “So… I don’t need them anymore?”

“Correct,” Madame Marie said, tilting her head slightly. “You’re stable now. You’re you. Whole. Everything is aligned, but without the symbols, you’ll have to rely on yourself—and those around you—for protection.”

Alex’s lips pressed together, his voice faltering as he spoke. “It doesn’t feel like I’ve aligned with anything,” he admitted, the words raw and heavy. “It feels like I’ve been stripped of armor I didn’t even know I had—like I’m standing out in the open, waiting for something to hit me.”

Jacques spoke up, his voice soft but unwavering, carrying an intensity that made Alex look up. “You didn’t lose anything, Alex. You’ve just grown past it.” He leaned forward, reaching across the table, his hand wrapping firmly around Alex’s. “You don’t need the symbols anymore. They were never what made you strong.”

His eyes softened, a quick flicker of golden-red glowing faintly in their depths. “I’ve seen you—truly seen you. The strength you have, the way you fight, the way you care... It’s something no magic could ever give you. It’s just you.”

Alex’s breath hitched slightly, his gaze searching Jacques’ face. Jacques leaned in, closing the space between them, and pressed a gentle kiss to Alex’s lips. It was brief, a whisper of connection, but it carried everything—love, awe, and an unspoken promise.

When Jacques pulled back, his voice was low, almost a murmur. “And whatever comes next? You’ve got me, always.”

Alex gave him a small, grateful smile, though the unease in his eyes didn’t completely fade.

Madame Marie’s gaze lingered on Alex for a moment before flicking back to Jacques. “And now, Jacques,” she said, her voice taking on a sharper edge, “let’s talk about you.”

Jacques raised a brow. “Me?”

“Yes, you,” she replied, gesturing toward him. “Your newfound powers, to be precise.”

Jacques hesitated, but finally nodded. “Right. So… earlier, when everything was happening, I saw things. First, I saw you and Solomon in this room, but it was like I was looking through a window—detached.”

Madame Marie’s expression remained sharp, her focus unwavering. “Go on.”

“Then I saw Les Enfant. They are busy planning something… but then it got much weirder,” Jacques continued. “It felt totally different. I wasn’t just seeing anymore. I was… inside things. First, a bird, flying over the river. I could feel its wings cutting through the air, the wind rushing past. Then maybe a cat, hunting in the streets. I wasn’t just watching them—I was them.”

Madame Marie’s lips pressed into a thin line, her eyes narrowing. “Borrowing,” she murmured.

Jacques nodded slowly. “I think I could’ve pushed them—made them act if I wanted to. But it was already overwhelming enough.”

For a moment, no one spoke. Then Madame Marie leaned back in her chair, her gaze assessing. “Clairvoyance is uncommon, but not unexpected in Lucien‘s family. You’ve shown signs of it all your life. Borrowing? That’s something else entirely.” She tilted her head slightly, her voice taking on a faintly reverent tone. “These gifts are extraordinarily rare, Jacques. And they’re far more powerful than my own visions. For someone who can’t wield magic…” She smiled with surprising excitement for her normally reserved nature. “They may very well be your greatest strength. We have lots to discuss. This is… amazing.”

Jacques frowned, his jaw tightening slightly. “Why me?”

Alex shifted in his seat, his brow furrowed in thought. “Maybe it’s got something to do with the glow in your eyes,” he said suddenly, his voice hesitant but growing steadier. “When we were in the locker room and you zoned out… your eyes were glowing. Reddish-gold. It wasn’t just a trick of the light—it was like something was happening to you.”

Madame Marie tilted her head, her sharp gaze locking onto Jacques. “A reddish glow, you say?”

Alex nodded, glancing at Madame Marie. “Could that be a clue? Maybe it has something to do with why this is happening to him?”

Madame Marie’s lips curved into another smile, and she leaned back, tapping a finger against her chin. “An excellent observation, Alex. This day really keeps on giving. The glow is certainly no coincidence.” Her gaze shifted abruptly to Solomon. “The color of the soul stone, Solomon. What is it?”

Solomon didn’t miss a beat. “Green,” he replied.

Madame Marie nodded, a thoughtful expression crossing her face. “That’s right. Green for Soul. Blue for Body.” Her gaze flicked back to Jacques, and her lips curled into a knowing smirk. “And… Red for Mind. The glow in your eyes confirms my suspicions, Jacques. You’re the Mind of this trinity—the bridge that connects Soul and Body.”

Jacques let out a dry laugh, leaning back in his chair. “No pressure, huh?”

“No, not really. Think of it like this,” Madame Marie said. “Soul, Body, and Mind are a lot like the three branches of government, Legislative, Executive and Judicial. Without all three, there’s no balance. Without the Mind, the others falter. You’ve got work to do, darling, but all three are equally important.”

“Also, the blue symbols, obviously provided by the hand to you, affecting your body, are a sign of Body, which leaves you, Alex,” she turned to him with a delighted smile, “as the Soul, the law giver, enabler, the one that everything is based and powered by. A perfect fit. It’s quite obvious now.”

The room fell quiet again, the implications of her words sinking in.

“But,” Jacques started to object, “the magic I saw and fought in Bourbon Street, that was also blue… it looked like it affected the minds of people. Like mind control?”

“Good point, Jacques,” Madame Marie said, “but knowing what it did, making people want primitive, physical gratification and excess, get drunk, feel good, be horny… that’s much more physical - Body - than anything else. There must be a rather powerful artifact connected to ‘Body’ hidden around here somewhere if Les Enfants can pull off that kind of magic.”

She looked at Solomon. “I think you already suspected that?!”

He nodded.

“Well,” Solomon finally said, “at least we know where you guys fit in now. That mystery is settled.” He sat his teacup down with a deliberate clink. “It seems there’s much to process. But for now, there’s no need for everyone to linger. Madame Marie and Jacques clearly have matters to discuss and explore.”

Marcus leaned back in his chair, breaking the tension with his usual humor. “Speaking of lingering, I’m gonna need more than one shirt if I’m sticking around. Unless this over-sexed house wants me to embrace a ‘shirtless’ aesthetic and join in on all the fun?”

Solomon sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Alright, Marcus needs some clothes. And Alex…” His gaze flicked to the too-tight seams of Alex’s T-shirt. “You’ll need a whole new wardrobe that fits your new self. Come on, I’ll drive you both to the mall.”

Alex hesitated first, then nodded reluctantly.

Jacques moved to stand, but Madame Marie raised a hand to stop him. “Not you, Jacques. You and I have only scratched the surface of what’s going on with you. You’re staying with me.”

Marcus grinned as he reached the door. “Good luck surviving that, Jacques. We’ll bring you back a souvenir—maybe a big plug for Alex here. Don‘t need any more hands sneaking in, right?”

Alex groaned as he followed Marcus and Solomon out.

Once the door swung shut, Jacques turned back to Madame Marie, his expression serious. “I really should be going with them. I have a bad feeling about this in my gut.”

Her face was unreadable. “Your gut feeling is probably better than my predictions, but some paths must be taken. End of discussion.”

Resigned, Jacques conceded. “Alright, Madame. What’s next?”

Madame Marie smiled faintly, gesturing for him to follow her. “We begin, darling, by unraveling the Mind and accessing some of your new knowledge. Come along. This will be… enlightening.”