Thomas stood and stretched. "I guess I'll be on my way," he said quietly. He turned back to Kieran. "Unless you have a spare couch? A spare basement? A job?"

"A job?" Kieran repeated with a doubtful frown. He spared Jack a quick glance.

Jack shrugged. Who Kieran hired wasn't up to him, but it would be nice to know where Thomas was, so he could pick his brain. And fight against the temptation Thomas presented. He gave Kieran a small smile of encouragement.

Kieran turned his attention back to Thomas and scowled. "And I expect you'll work for free?"

"In exchange for room and board?" Thomas said. He looked at the floor as Kieran's brows furrowed deeper.

"Pity. I'm fresh out of room."

Jack gnawed at the inside of his cheek and made a decision. "You can use my apartment," he said, lightly tapping Kieran's arm as he watched Thomas. It was impulsive, but he couldn't lose access to the only person he knew with blood like his own. And if Kieran's refusal to entertain Thomas's request was solely to protect Jack, then he needed everyone aware that he didn't need that sort of protection.

"A whole apartment?" Thomas asked. He looked Jack over, assessing. "Whatcha want? Name your poison, kiddo."

"Don't offer that," Jack said, quickly shaking his head. He grabbed his bag from the coffee table and dug through it. He pulled out his keyring and started working on freeing his apartment key. "Don't offer anything. Uh, just make a copy for me. Sam'll ask questions if I don't have my key. I'm flaky, but I usually have my keys."

He looked over in time to catch Kieran's raised brow, and embarrassment flooded him. He wasn't going to rise to the bait. He worked the key free and held it out to Thomas.

Thomas looked from Jack to Kieran and back as he cautiously approached. "I promise not to have any uninvited guests, and I won't make a mess," he said. He took the key and stared at it for a moment before pocketing it.

"It's a little late for the mess," Jack quietly admitted. "I mean, it's not as bad as it was, but it's pretty bad."

"I will clean up!" Thomas said with a wide grin. He rocked back and forth on his heels. "I'm good at cleaning up for people I like. Been staying with junkies for now, so this will be one hell of a step up."

Having his apartment cleaned up for free and without having to deal with questioning and judgmental side-eyes was going to be nice. Too bad it was for all the wrong reasons. He may as well warn Thomas that there might be a warrant out for his arrest. Or, at the very least, one particular officer with his eye out for a well-dressed redhead. "Yeah, uh, this is kinda an apology for filing a police report on you."

Thomas laughed as he winked at Jack. "Always a risk. Like I've never talked my way out of jail. Just gotta get out before someone notices that your fingerprints weren't filed. Otherwise, you gotta have at least one smooth-talker on your side when you go back to get it all wiped," he said, nodding his head to Kieran. "People don't like it when you have the same prints as a corpse. I've been shivved three whole times."

He said it like it was an accomplishment.

Jack grimaced at the reminder. "Funny. That's how my ex ended up getting outta prison. He's dead now. Like, crispy dead." Dead and gone, and he was free. Not from vampires, but free to make some sort of an attempt to live his life and heal.

"Yeah, we might need a better system," Thomas said as he stared up at the ceiling. "Maybe get a hacker on our side. Like in the movies."

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"I don't think that's how it works." Not in Jack's experience. He was a small fish in a small pond, and even that was years ago.

He frowned as he could recall every not-so-legit's contact information with perfect clarity. He'd even kept in touch with a few. There was one that was proud of him for going legit. It wasn't fair that he could remember them but not his own parents. "Fucking asshole and his fucking priorities," he said in quiet bitterness.

Kieran leaned in close and lightly stroked Jack's back. "My sweet?"

Jack shook his head. "It's… I'll tell you later," he promised.

He looked up at Thomas, ready to dash any and all hacker dreams. "It's not a big 'I'm in' moment. It's more like 'Wow, I can't believe he really clicked that link,' and then you watch solitaire for a solid hour. Or cat videos. Lots and lots of cat videos." Jack paused and looked at Kieran, giving him a small shrug. "That's how I know he's on one of those SVU type cases. I can't watch those shows."

"I don't like them either," Kieran said softly and kissed Jack's cheek. "I'll make sure Lindsey doesn't watch them when you're around."

Jack nodded, grateful for the promise.

Thomas cleared his throat and leaned forward, raising his brows at Kieran. "So about that job? It'll look good for me when I get sent to rehab. They like it when you have something lined up. And maybe let you out quicker for being responsible. If I get sent. You don't have to send me. I'm clean!"

"As if you wouldn't charm your way out," Kieran said with a harsh scoff. "Why should I hire you?"

"I'm bored,"Thomas said with an easy shrug. "But, uh… I'm personable. I'm great with people, and my fake smile is miles ahead of yours."

Kieran narrowed his eyes as he stood. He stared down at Thomas. "Oh? I'm told my smile is rather charming."

"No, that's the accent," Thomas said with a dismissive wave. "People love BritBox."

"I'm hardly the only person here with a notable accent."

"About that…"

Jack's phone pinged, and he reluctantly pulled his attention away to check the text.

Since you're missing 🎄🎅🎄🎅🎄🎅 don't forget 🥂🍾🥂🍾🕙🕚🕛🎆🎆🎆 Mom's hoping you'll be there 😻😻

ill think abt it

He received a series of thumbs up emojis. Too many. Way too many to trust. What did Sam have in mind? What strings had been pulled? Should he be worried? He had Kieran as an excuse to stay home. Home with Kieran. In Kieran's home. Even if Sam and Candy had a fireplace that was perfect for taking pictures in front of.

He looked over to see Kieran wearing a sharp grin. He had missed something. "What? What's going on?"

Kieran's grin slipped. "No, I really shouldn't sabotage what progress I've made with Colette."

"I'll leave her alone and only bug Sweet Widdle Augustin. I promise." Thomas frowned to himself as he looked out the window then pursed his lips in thought. "I'll have to familiarize myself with the house anyway, so that'll take some time. Oh, and Beau. I need to mess with Beau. I'll just move his shit around."

Jack tucked his phone away. "Are we talking about a haunting?"

"A little one," Thomas said, pinching his fingers together. "Temporary. It'll be fun and make for great memories." He rolled his eyes as Kieran crossed his arms. "I can always look in the phonebook. Online. Wherever they put that stuff now. It can't be that hard to find them."

Jack gave Kirean a fleeting glance before leaning his elbows on his knees. "I have her address."

Kieran sighed and looked down at Jack in worry. "My sweet Jack, if he gets found out—"

"I'll take the heat. Promise," Jack quickly said. "I want Augie to… Well, not suffer, but… Y'know? Think things through a little more?"

"I like him," Thomas said, giving Kieran a smile and an expectant look.

Kieran stared silently for a moment before slowly closing his eyes. "No. And I would appreciate it if you did not help."

Jack looked between the two. What was he missing this time? An offer to hang out? That would be nice.

Immortality?

Maybe not as nice. How could he tell either vampire that the thought had already crossed his mind, but he wanted a few years to figure himself out and find out if he and Kieran were going to be solid. He was too fucked up to deal with an eternity of writing notes to himself.

image [https://i.imgur.com/eZY0YUq.png]