The soft opening and closing of the backroom door caught Kieran's attention. He glanced over as Jack quickly headed his way, eyes darting over every surface and lingering on the customers scattered through the shop. It appeared as if his promise for a proper morning greeting hadn't been forgotten after all.

Jack leaned in close, eyes still on a small group of nearby customers. "Hey…"

Kieran captured Jack's lips in a light kiss, delighted that it lasted for a moment longer than he'd expected. It was nice to know that the customers weren't as much of a deterrent for affection as he'd been expecting.

Jack twisted his earring as he slowly pulled away, eyes glued to the counter. "Tommy's dead again." He frowned and mouthed the words once more.

"Tommy… Thomas?" Kieran stood and looked to the backroom door, his good cheer dashed upon the mention of that name. He wasn't ready. "M-my Thomas?"

"Yeah, he's in the stairwell, bleeding everywhere. Like, a lot," Jack said lowly as he looked around, eyeing a small group of customers who were looking through a case of cheap jewelry near the front of the store. "I'm not doin' too good. At least it's…incorporeal? I think that's the word I'm looking for. There and not there."

Kieran looked back at Jack in time to see him pale, staring out into the store with unfocused eyes. He came out from behind the counter and lightly touched Jack's cheek. He never should have wiped the memory from Jack's mind. "It's alright, sweet thing. I'll deal with him."

Jack gave a sharp, jerky nod.

A dark shadow broke off from behind a bookshelf and solidified. "Woah, wait. Tommy's here?" Lindsey frowned as her eyes unfocused, and she shook her head. "Oh, that feels weird. That's not a normal manifestation."

"Lindsey…" Kieran looked from Lindsey to the customers. They were being fairly self-sufficient for once, most looking for last minute knickknacks. He could spare five minutes. "Watch the register."

She looked from the register to the backdoor, biting her lip. She then looked at the group of customers longingly. "You're not gonna run him off, right?"

"I assure you, now that he's made his presence known, he'll likely return. Often. We won't be rid of him for at least five years," Kieran said, glaring at the backdoor. He hoped the prospect wouldn't anger Jack too much. He would at least put his foot down against Thomas setting up shop in the basement. The last thing he needed was an impromptu drug den on the property.

Lindsey broke out in a smile before quickly covering it with an annoyed huff. "Fine. But I want my phone. And his number."

Kieran shook his head, considering digging out a rotary phone. He doubted it would be as inconvenient to Lindsey as he hoped. He stalked to the backroom, Jack trailing behind him. He looked around expectantly, searching for any sign of Thomas hiding among the boxes.

"He was on the stairs," Jack said as he closed the door. He looked over and let out a relieved sigh at the empty stairs.

"Thomas!" Kieran called out, his eyes going over every inch of the stairwell. The landing felt cooler than the rest of the room, but it could simply be a draft. He hoped it was a draft. "Where are you? Show yourself!"

A hand stuck up through the stairs before Thomas sat up. "Hey, Daddy-O. Been a while."

Kieran stepped back and blanched at the bloodied ghost of Thomas. He had grown accustomed to finding Thomas deceased from overdosing and overdrinking. However, it was a rare sight to find him covered in blood. Worry and grief was quickly replaced by annoyance. "How are you able to keep showing up here?"

"Why do you still have my mother's grandfather clock?" Thomas countered. "And, most importantly, why's it still have my old hooch in it?"

"I'll move the clock later," Kieran said to Jack. He eyed the old grandfather clock in question. He should move it to a storage unit. He hoped Jack would be alright with it being in the basement for the time being. "He should have a low range whenever he shows up. I think. I hope. The most he should be able to do is drop the temperature."

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Jack watched as Thomas happily nodded along. "And there's no way to exorcize him whenever he pops up?"

"I…" Kieran's stomach dropped. Was that expected of him?

"I'm special," Thomas said, placing a hand on his chest. "By the way, Daddy, my clock looks nice. Almost didn't recognize it. Mother would be so proud." His smile dropped, and he sneered. "Of someone else."

Kieran grimaced and sent Jack an apologetic frown before facing Thomas. "Please don't call me that."

"Augustin gets to call Renaud 'Mother,' why can't I do the same?" Thomas asked defensively. He struggled to sit up and clenched his eyes shut, quickly shaking his head.

Jack scoffed as he kept his gaze on the floor. "That's a manipulation tactic, I guarantee it."

"Eh… Halvsies, I'd wager," Thomas replied, gesturing with his hand before letting it drop into the wall.

Kieran pinched the bridge of his nose. He didn't need the reminder of Augustin. "Might I ask how long until you're feeling better?" he asked, dreading the answer. Whatever the answer, it would be too soon for him to want to deal with it.

Thomas looked down at himself and patted his chest. "Damn soon. I tripped and fell on my knife." He looked up at Jack, waving to get his attention. "Kid, don't use a carving knife to peel an apple while high."

"Not planning on it?" Jack said, his eyes flicking back to Thomas. He swallowed thickly and purposefully turned away, running a hand up and down on his bag's strap.

Kieran moved closer and crossed his arms, staring down at Thomas. "I would appreciate it if you would be physically present for this discussion."

"Ooh, setting up those healthy boundaries in person, are we?" Thomas asked, tilting his head. He gave a mean smile and continued. "That's new. No letters? No more just lying down and letting everyone walk all over you? Not exactly great for me when they think I'm the same way. I'm slumming it on purpose, and I don't appreciate people thinking I'm doing it out of solidarity. Or that I'm so desperate for redemption for having you as a sire that I'd slit a wrist."

"If anyone ever thought you'd beg for scraps, they were sorely mistaken," Kieran said, raising a doubtful brow. The refusal to bend to the demands of others was part of what initially drew him to Thomas. It was never a question of permission to do something, it was an offer to join. "Did you shoot up as they watched? That seems more appropriate for what you'd do."

Thomas looked from Kieran to Jack. "Forget the happiness, this is better." He gave Kieran a wide grin. "Prohibition-you was the best you."

"You are free to leave," Kieran said, waving to the backdoor. He winced the moment the words left his mouth. They were supposed to talk. "For now. I expect you to return. Preferably today," he reluctantly added.

"Be back in five." Thomas stroked his chest and gave his head another quick shake. "Hours."

"Please be sober for this," Kieran stressed.

Thomas waved his hand, rolling his eyes as he sank down into the stairs.

"What the fuck," Jack hissed. He looked at Kieran and pointed to the stairs, his hand shaking. "What the actual fuck?!"

"I… He's… He's a medium?" Kieran said helplessly and shook his head. Half of what came out of Thomas's drunken mouth was such unbelievable nonsense, he never expected any of it to be true. "I truly, honestly, thought he was delusional. He's either very powerful or—"

"Or he's had a lot of practice," Jack finished. "I know where I'm putting my money." He ran a hand through his hair as he looked around the room in suspicion. "Do you need me here for this?"

"Would you like to be?" Kieran could deal with Thomas on his own. He could only hope that Jack didn't want Thomas completely out of the picture. He took a steadying breath as he prepared himself for the worst. He could only hope Thomas would understand. "Do you wish for me turn him away?"

"What? No!" Jack gripped his elbows and shook his head. "He's like your son or something! Kinda-son. Not an ex. He's not trying to get into your bed. I hope."

"No, he is strictly attracted to women. I suppose I am fond of him as a father would be," Kieran admitted. A father, an older brother… "I always found his idiocy and impulsiveness amusing. It reminds me of my family."

Jack nodded in understanding. "I think he'll be fine now, but… Is it bad that I kinda wanna be his friend? For reasons? That might have to do with being vampire crack. It'd just be kinda nice to be on good terms with someone like me. Kinda like me." He shrugged as he trailed off.

"Only in that your blood is similar. I don't see you sharing his need to chase the next high. Be it adrenalin or drug induced," Kieran said. He frowned and tilted his head as Jack squirmed, looking away and chewing on the side of his thumb. "My sweet?"

"Okay, so you might wanna discourage him from hooking me up with ecstasy. 'Cuz I won't say 'no' to that." Jack sighed as he dropped his eyes to his thumb and glanced back up at Kieran. "Speaking of… You want a hit?"

Kieran laughed softly at the irreverence. He took Jack's hand and lightly swiped his tongue across where Jack had torn the skin away. Even if it was just a teasingly small taste, it was still a sign of Jack's trust in him and meant more than any amount of blood ever could.

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