OTA - Good as New?

[prince_of_nymphs]

Less than three hours ago Tevaughn had come crashing into his life. He should have been reeling from it still, and yet- No, not so much. If anything, the world seemed a bit more stable now. Things that had seemed strange or unexplained now made sense. The troubles of his past had a new context, and Fin- Fin found himself feeling more like himself than he had ever had before. 

He was no longer cold, and though his heart was still filigree and enchanted, it no longer beat at random- It was steady, rhythmic and calm. The hate in his gut had been destroyed, and all seemed well. ...Everything had a price though, and this time the price had been something he was supposed to have surrendered a long time ago. Finlay Flynn was no longer mortal, undead or otherwise. Finlay Flynn was fae. Had always been fae- Only lost, then damaged, then nearly destroyed. 

His skin was warm to the touch now, though it was still ever so faintly blue in certain lights, as were the whites of his eyes. He seemed taller now too, as though his bones had been stretched out slightly, everything sharper, less delicate.

The strangest thing, however, was the buzzing feeling in his blood. Magic, Tevaughn had said. Too weak now to do anything, but something that would grow in time. It might take weeks, possibly years,  to come through, but- It was there. It was there, and it felt- It felt wonderful. It was like having something returned to him that he'd never even known he'd lost.

He knew he ought to go directly to Will, to hunt him down and tell him everything he'd missed- But for the first time in years, everything in the world just felt right, and Fin found himself sitting outside a cafe instead. No cigarette in hand, no pills or poisons, just a cup of coffee and an understanding that the world as he knew it was about to change quite drastically.

Comments

[willysilver]

"Should I be upset?" he asked. "I see no reason to be. This answers many questions I have never given voice to, and yet it changes nothing. I love you and would be bound to you. This may be a blessing. Together we will have incredible power. Even now your magic is singing to me as it never has before."

[prince_of_nymphs]

"Tevaughn said he wasn't sure how long it would take for my magic to come through. ..I can feel it though. It's in there. ...It's strange. ...Has it always been there?" Fin asked.

[willysilver]

"If it has, I am unaware," he said, giving Fin's hand a squeeze. "But I think we can both agree I am not the most attentive fae," he added, giving Fin a smile.

[prince_of_nymphs]

"You are when you need to be," Fin smiled, slowly letting go and returning to his coffee.

"God, I left the flat such a wreck, Meg will be furious. We should bring a cake home or something."

[willysilver]

"A very good idea. When we finish here we will go to the bakery...and then to buy spirits. She is fond of amaretto and we could soak the cake in that. Then she will love us regardless," Willy replied. He felt a bit naughty saying so, and even naughtier that he would exploit such a weakness, but it was that or lose their Brownie and he could not let that happen. He wasn't about to clean up after himself.

[prince_of_nymphs]

"I'm all for buttering her up," Fin smiled. "We'll do that then, as soon as you finish your tea," he added, polishing off his coffee.

[willysilver]

Willy took one more sip and then put his cup down.

"No need to wait. There is tea a-plenty at home," he said. He got up, his lazy slouch making him look terribly relaxed and at ease, but when he stood he felt his pocket to make sure he had the cold iron dagger tucked away. Just in case. He'd taken it when they'd left the flat because he had assumed, incorrectly of course, that the Unseelie had taken Fin before the Summer War.

And it seemed he wasn't entirely wrong in the assumption he may need it. He'd carry it everyday from now on.

[prince_of_nymphs]

Fin hooked his arm through Will's, and he felt his whole body start to buzz a little. Like his magic could feel Will's, and it was singing at the close contact.

It was lovely. It was... Intoxicating.

[willysilver]

Willy felt it too and he gasped softly. Pulling his arm in, he hugged Fin's wrist to his body. He struck out for the bakery down the way to buy a lovely butter cake. When he inquired he was told they could soak the cake for him in brandy and he agreed to that. Meg would like brandy as well.

While they were soaking the cake he looked at Fin and then bent to whisper in his ear.

"Are you sweeter than any cake?" he purred. "When we get home I will have a taste and see..."

His hair his his face as he pressed it against Fin's neck and breathed in the fragrance of him and then kissed the warm skin.

[prince_of_nymphs]

Fin gasped softly, the feeling of Will's lips against his skin sending sparks of desire up his spine.

"You don't want to soak me in brandy first? Cover me in rich cream?" he whispered.

[willysilver]

Willy moved to his ear to whisper.

"I would cover you in cream and honey and lick you until I was drunk," he said, then sucked slowly on the lobe of Fin's ear. In that moment he completely forgot that they were in the bakery. Fin's power may be weak but it was there and Willy had never found him so insanely distracting.

[prince_of_nymphs]

His whole body hummed, and Fin had to force himself to pull away, skin slightly pink and flushed.

Oh. ...Oh, he'd forgotten what that was like, having the blood rush up and down at the same time.

It was delightfully dizzying.

[willysilver]

When Fin pulled away Will found his arms empty and his lips growing cold. He didn't have time to lament, though, because the baker came back with their cake in a tidy box. Willy paid and then escorted Fin out to the street.

"I need to get you home," he said. "Before I get arrested for indecency."

It was such a beautiful day, he thought. The sun was out, the birds were lively, and Fin, his own true heart, was well and whole and magic. Danger be damned, he would enjoy this moment.

[prince_of_nymphs]

"Oh, that would be an adventure, bailing you out of jail," Fin teased.

[willysilver]

"Bail? You would not orchestrate a break out?" he shot back, his eyes twinkling and smile bright. "Very well. I will be on my best behaviour until we are home."

[prince_of_nymphs]

"Absolutely not, we have to set an example for the children," Fin quipped, leaning over to kiss will's cheek as they walked.

He felt so light, so free... This was a good thing. It had to be. ...This time it had to be good.

[willysilver]

They were nearly home when Willy looked over at Fin, thinking of just how much he loved him, when there was a scratching sound, iron scraping concrete, from the shadow of the alley where the garbage bins stood. Willy stopped and looked into the darkness there and moved himself in front of Fin.

"Get inside," he said, backing up toward the door of the building. There were too many passers-by for him to go on the offensive, so he watched for teeth, watched for eyes, and ushered Fin inside where they'd be safer.

[prince_of_nymphs]

Fin let himself be ushered in, though he did try to look past Will to see what he'd seen.

"What? What was it?" he asked once they were both inside.

[willysilver]

"I do not know, nor do I want to. Something that bears us no goodwill, I should think," Willy replied. He made sure the door to the building was shut tight and then took Fin to the lift.

"Just as we were speaking of...I think Tevaughn was right to warn you. Your magic is weak, yet you and I together represent a force. And with you an heir to Tevaughn's line we will be beset." He paused to let that sink in. "It may be best if we were to leave London for a while. We could go to South Carolina. To the mountains. I have kin there..."

[prince_of_nymphs]

"No. No, Will, I'm not running. They're going to come no matter what, so let them. We'll deal with things as needed when we must," Fin said softly.

[willysilver]

"Very well, my love. Then we will stand and stay and hold fast to our home. Perhaps you should take this," he said, pulling a dagger very carefully from his pocket.

"It is cold iron. Do not cut yourself for you may not heal. It will deliver a deadly wound to any of our kith and kin. And if it does not kill them...the wound may never heal."

[prince_of_nymphs]

"No. Keep it, I'll get my own, Will. I promise," Fin said gently. "I'll need something more discreet than that anyway."

[willysilver]

Willy took a breath and exhaled slowly.

"Be quick about it," he said. "Until I am certain you can defend yourself you shall have myself or the Phouka at your side. He may be free, but...I think he needs to feel a purpose. Do you agree?"

[prince_of_nymphs]

"Alright, alright, but- Will, don't go looking for a battle. For all we know nothing will come of this. At the very least, it's not going to come tomorrow. It's all so new still. just... Be calm about all this. Don't start picking fights," Fin sighed.

[willysilver]

"Ah, Finlay," Willy smiled, stroking the man's cheek. "I never go looking for a fight. I only prefer to be prepared for when someone brings the fight to me. Be assured I will not seek danger."