The Closet, the Lamp and the Genie

Kairo screamed when he flew out of his sparking closet door to land, haphazardly, on his bedroom floor, aching all over.

During the vortex's shattering and reformation process, he had been healed of all wounds. Yet, the sensation of dulled senses lingered.

The vortex shrank inward until it was a shining gold orb, returning the atmosphere to mundane. An impression of Kairo’s grimoire flew out of the orb to merge with his real-life version, at the same time a version of the Star Crystal flew into Genie’s chest, who was unconscious nearby. The Star Jump orb spun and hovered about Kairo’s hand, who returned it to his spiritual sea with a thought.

"Thank God." He heaved with relief as he held Genie and checked his vitals.

Genie stirred awake in Kairo's arms. He blushed and looked around, seeing a strange room. His head ached with a heavy throbbing, and his body felt mildly numb, cold and senses dulled.

"Did we make it?" he groaned.

Kairo candidly answered, feeling himself returned to normal. "Yeah, this is my room." He stared around for the Demon King and saw he didn't pass through the portal.

Genie shook his head clear, and saw the small room with disbelief. "Are you sure? This is half the size of your walk-in-wardrobe at the villa!"

Kairo stared at him for a moment, then burst with laughter. "You go through an interstellar jump to Earth and the first thing you do is criticize the size of my room."

Genie wryly stared at his nakedness. "Um, do you have any clothes that might fit?"

Kairo flashed a wicked grin, as he pulled him closer in an embrace. "I'll need to check your sizes with my hands first."

Genie scoffed, slightly exasperated by his cockiness. He pushed Kairo's face away. "Don't get all charismatic, that's my job."

Eventually, Kairo helped Genie up and found something he could wear. His lust meter went through the roof when he saw Genie in a t-shirt and jeans. The man looked like a rock idol.

"I wonder if magic is still possible," Kairo said when they sat on his bed.

Genie smiled with glee when he could still use his magic, albeit at an elemental level.

Kairo sighed with relief when his grimoire was still around his neck. He figured he wouldn't have been able to complete the Star Jump if otherwise. He closed his eyes and entered his sea with Genie.

"Excellent! This is probably why we can still use magic." Genie laughed and ran about like an excitable little kid. He checked the star maps and nodded, feeling proud that his little lover had become so powerful.

"Oh, your things." Kairo handed Genie his clothes, weapons and storage pouches.

Genie rubbed his chin with a thought. "Didn't you once say that your kind don't fight?"

Kairo was impressed that he remembered. "Yeah, carrying weapons won't be a good idea."

"For now, I'll just use the boots, belts and storage pouch." He flashed a cheeky grin, "Besides, wearing your clothes makes me feel more connected to you."

Kairo groaned and had them exit his sea.

"Not sure where your father ended up." Kairo frowned.

"Hopefully stuck in that god-awful vortex." Genie sighed. "Somehow I doubt it. Let's cross that bridge when we reach it. For now, we need to climatize."

"Climatize?" Kairo yelped when Genie pulled him close for a kiss.

The sounds of the front door closing, and footsteps headed their way, made them pause. The bedroom door opened.

Genie saw Jan standing at the threshold. Although, he looked too casual with short hair, and his eyes were brown.

"You're alive?!" Jamie's eyes welled with tears and disbelief. He backed away, not sure to believe it.

"Dad, what do you mean, I'm alive?" Kairo hurried to his father who was about to faint with shock.

"We buried you a month ago. When you went missing and all we saw were scorch marks on the bed. We called the police who investigated and, after a lot of questioning, concluded that you had been electrocuted to the point of combustion." Kairo helped his father to his chair near the desk.

Genie sighed with understanding as he sat on the bed. "He wasn't electrocuted, he was teleported." And it seemed time moved differently to Lux where Kairo had been living as a wizard for some time.

Jamie stared at Genie, wary of the stranger. "Who are you?"

Genie smiled proudly as he rose to stand next to Kairo; he slung his arm over his shoulder, to draw him close. "Your son's mating-partner."