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Wilbur was lonely. He admitted it.
He wandered his section of the forest without interaction from humans or other fae. Occasionally, he’d talk to some nice birds or squirrels.
But he’s alright! It doesn’t matter that no one taught him how to use his magic. It doesn’t matter that he’s been alone as long as he can remember.
He figured it out. He learned how to make fruit and vegetables grow. He learned how to purify the water simply by stepping in it.
He practiced his magic and did his best to remember all the fae rules ingrained in his DNA.
Rule #1: Names give fae power. If a fae has your name, they have complete control over you. This works vice versa as well. If a human has a fae’s name, they have control over the fae.
Rule 2: Never trespass on anyone’s marked territory. If you trespass, you owe them something. And debts are very important to fae.
Wilbur is pretty proud of himself. He marked his territory a while ago. Which is probably why no one visits him, but it’s alright. If someone ever enters his portion of the forest, then they’ll owe him a debt.
And he’s very happy with how large his portion of the forest is.
It’s been about a month since he patrolled, so it’s probably best that he does so again soon.
The grass crunched under his bare feet, a small skip to his step.
He’s sure he won’t find anything new, but he can distract himself from all the sad feelings in his gut.
———
There was someone here. There was someone here !
Wilbur peeked out from behind a tree, watching as a blond man chopped wood outside a cabin. A cabin he doesn’t remember being there before.
The man was completely engrossed with his work.
Wilbur blinked. Oh, right! He’s a fae! Which means he now has the right to search through this man’s cabin and take something.
Really, he could take everything because this was his property.
Technically, he could go up to the man and demand things. However… Wilbur doesn’t trust his magic enough for that. What if the man attacks and kills him?
Or worse… captures him.
Wilbur shook those thoughts away. He’ll just go and steal something as a warning. He’ll keep doing it until the man leaves! Or if he can find something of enough value to allow the man to stay.
He doubts it, though.
He narrowed his eyes at the blond as he wiped sweat off his brow, only to return to chopping wood.
Based on the pile of wood he still has left to chop… he’s going to be awhile.
Wilbur grinned.
Perfect .
He tiptoed around the clearing, ensuring he was hidden behind the bushes. Once he had reached behind the house, out of the man’s view, he stalked forward. He made his way to the back window and pressed his face against it, peering inside.
There were a lot of… toys?
Stuffed animals all over the floor. A few blankets strewn about.
Wilbur’s eyes trailed down to—
A crib.
Wilbur’s eyes went wide. Inside, there was a little baby human. Wilbur didn’t know ages very well—he didn’t even know his own—but the baby couldn’t be older than 2. Most likely even younger.
The thing was bundled tight in blankets. He had blond hair just like his father. Wilbur blinked curiously at it.
A thought hit him.
What was something fae often took?
A human’s firstborn!
Wilbur grinned. Perfect!
See? Wilbur knows how to be a fae. He doesn’t need anybody to teach him.
He can handle this all on his own.
Wilbur quickly used a little magic, flicking the lock inside.
With a quiet thunk, it unlocked. Wilbur curled his fingers around the edge of the window, lifting it up as slowly as possible so it wouldn’t creak.
Once it had opened, Wilbur leaned inside, hovering over the crib.
With a careful motion, Wilbur’s clawed fingers wrapped around the child. Oh so gently, he lifted the little thing up.
The boy didn’t stir.
Wilbur looked around, cradling him close and ensuring the father wasn’t watching.
He peeked around the corner.
The man was still chopping.
Wilbur smirked, all his teeth showing.
He did it! He captured a human’s firstborn!
He quickly dashed back into the woods, running as fast as he could to avoid being spotted.
———
Wilbur hummed happily to himself, the baby bouncing in his arms as he skipped through the forest. He jumped onto a root, bouncing off.
A small noise made him look down. The baby’s eyes began to blink open.
Oh… they were so blue . Like the sky!
The boy yawned, mouth opening so wide it forced his eyes shut.
“Awww, big yawn!” Wilbur crooned.
The baby smacked his lips, looking up at him. He gurgled, beginning to wiggle.
“You want out of your blankie?” Wilbur asked, starting to unwrap him.
The boy stretched out his limbs before pulling them back in and looking around curiously.
“We’re in the woods! This is my forest!” Wilbur spun around.
The boy giggled, Wilbur beaming at the sound.
“You like that? You like being in my forest? Or do you like when I do this?” He spun around again, the baby laughing once again.
Wilbur’s eyes crinkled. “Aww! You’re so cute!” He tickled his sides, the boy squealing a laugh.
They made it into a clearing. One of Wilbur’s favorite spots!
“Look! Isn’t it pretty?”
The boy’s gaze flicked over, clapping in delight.
“This is going to be your new home! With me! Oh! Wait! How did I forget?” Wilbur looked at the boy. “What’s your name?”
The boy tilted his head.
“Oh… right… human babies can’t talk. Well, I can’t just keep calling you baby, so… I’ll just give you a name! How about… hmm…” Wilbur held the boy out in front of him, gasping when the sunlight hit him just right. It gave the boy a glowing halo around his body.
“Sunshine! I’m going to name you Sunshine .” Wilbur felt the magic leave him as he gifted the boy a name.
Great! He’s so good at naming things.
“Do you wanna play, Sunshine?” Wilbur asked excitedly.
The boy gurgled back. “P’ay!”
Wilbur grinned. “Let’s go!”
———
Wilbur was no longer lonely. He didn’t realize just how much he needed someone. Not until he had Sunshine.
Sunshine giggled at everything. Wilbur plucked a blade of grass, tickling the boy’s nose.
The baby laughed so hard his face scrunched up.
Wilbur smiled, booping his little nose.
The boy squealed, reaching out and grasping his finger. Wilbur let him bring it close to his eyes, inspecting the pointy tip.
Wilbur was laid flat on his stomach, legs kicking behind him happily as he and Sunshine sat in the grassy field.
Wilbur handed the boy another finger, allowing him to pull and tug on them.
Sunshine was… was everything he needed. The baby laughed at everything he said. He loved playing in the grass and dirt. Wilbur bet the boy would like playing in his river!
He would take Sunshine later.
For now, Wilbur made funny noises and moved his fingers up and down. Sunshine giggled, keeping a tight grasp on them.
Wilbur couldn’t help the pure giddiness in his gut.
He isn’t alone anymore. He’s got Sunshine now. Sunshine will keep him company.
Wilbur smiled softly, gathering the baby into his arms as he sat up.
He ran a hand through Sunshine’s golden hair.
“Oh, Sunshine. I’m going to take such good care of you. You’ll have only the freshest of berries. You’ll get to play all day long! My little Sunshine!” Wilbur giggled. “You’ll fit in so well. You already love playing in the field! There’s so many animals out here. They’ll love you too.” Wilbur bounced excitedly. “Maybe! Maybe, I can turn you into a fae too! I’m not sure how, but I’ll figure it out! Then me and you can be together forever! What do you think, Sunshine?”
Wilbur held the boy’s cheeks, squishing them up. He cooed at the giggling baby.
Sunshine was so giggly!
“Well, Sunshine. Since it’s gonna be me and you forever, you should know my name! My name is Wilbur! I trust you to use it right.” Wilbur smiled.
“TOMMY!?!?”
Wilbur jumped, placing Tommy on the ground and standing up. He snapped towards the sound, watching as the blond man rushed through the forest.
Sunshine’s father.
No. Not anymore.
The boy’s former father would most likely be coming for him.
Normally, Wilbur would run away.
He looked back towards Sunshine.
Not this time!
Sunshine was his boy! He wasn’t giving him up!
Wilbur stood his ground, puffing himself up to look as big as he could. The man skidded to a stop, eyes landing on Sunshine sitting in the grass.
The man relaxed with a sigh of relief before his eyes landed on Wilbur. More specifically, on his pointy ears and claws.
Wilbur growled, sharp teeth bared.
The man tensed, hand going to his side.
To his sword.
Wilbur gulped, but he stood his ground. “Leave, human! You have entered fae territory! Leave before I curse you!” His fingers wiggled in the air.
The man narrowed his eyes. “Why do you have my son?”
Wilbur scoffed. “He isn’t your’s anymore. He’s mine.” Wilbur smiled smugly.
The man raised a brow. “How so?”
Wilbur smirked, crossing his arms proudly. “You trespassed on my lands! Therefore, under fae law, I am allowed to take what you put on my land. You put your firstborn son! So, I took him!”
The man’s stern expression faltered, lips curling into a wobbly smile.
“What? What’s that look for?!” Wilbur shouted, confidence wavering.
“Well, for one… That’s not my firstborn son. I have another son, he’s just old enough to live by himself.” The man smiled.
Wilbur made a small ‘o’ shape with his mouth. He shook himself off. “Well… it doesn’t matter because you still trespassed on my land!”
“Secondly… you didn’t mark your territory correctly.”
“What?” Wilbur asked with a horrified expression.
“I checked for fae magic three times before moving here. I don’t think you marked your perimeter correctly.”
Wilbur huffed. “I was supposed to add those crystals in that spell, wasn’t I?”
The man gave him a sad smile, as if he felt sorry for him. “Yeah, you did need to put those in, mate. Technically… you trespassed on my land.”
Wilbur stomped his foot. “Come oooooon !” He drew out with a pout. “I did so good!”
The man nodded. “You did your best.”
Wilbur slumped down, realization hitting him.
That meant—
The man was going to take Sunshine away.
Then kick him out.
Then—then—
He’d be alone again. Dread curled in his gut as his breathing picked up.
The mean man was going to take his Sunshine away. He was going to have nobody. He didn’t want to be alone again.
He couldn’t be alone again.
His eyes darted between Sunshine and the man.
The man’s eyes went wide at the realization of what Wilbur was about to do. “Mate—Don’t—“
Wilbur bolted . He whisked Sunshine away, grabbing him under the arms and holding him close to his chest.
“Wait!” the man shouted behind him.
Yeah, right . No thanks.
Wilbur sprinted through the forest, dodging branches and leaping over roots. Sunshine giggled at how fast they were going.
Wilbur’s breathing continued to pick up.
He couldn’t do that again.
He couldn’t.
He couldn’t.
He couldn’t—
Wilbur yelped as his foot got caught on a root, grip tightening on Sunshine as he tumbled down a hill. Rocks and sticks scraped against him as he grunted in pain.
He landed with a loud “oomph” as Sunshine rolled out of his grip.
Wilbur pushed off the ground, arms shaking beneath his weight as he tried to lift himself up. Tears pricked at his eyes as the scratches and bruises began to thump with pain.
Suddenly, there was a loud wail. Wilbur’s head snapped over to Sunshine, gasping when he saw a trickle of blood going down his face.
“No, no, no, no!” Wilbur gasped, kneeling next to him and picking him up.
Sunshine is hurt because of him .
“I’m sorry! I’m sorry!” Wilbur cried, tears starting to drip down his face.
Sunshine just kept screaming. Wilbur’s lip wobbled. “Sunshine, Sunshine. It’s okay. It’s okay. We’ll be able to go back to playing! Don’t you want to go play?”
Sunshine cried louder, thick tears running down his red cheeks. “Dada!!! Dada!!!”
“No! No! Shh, shh!” Wilbur tried to hush him in a panic.
Sunshine just wailed.
“I—I’ll heal you! Just wait!” Wilbur pressed on the wound, hand glowing slightly. “Come on… come on… Why isn’t it working?!?” Wilbur cried.
“Because you’re too panicked,” a voice said above him.
Wilbur looked up with a gasp and wide eyes. The man stood above him, sadness on his face.
Wilbur pulled Sunshine closer, desperately trying to keep him tight in his arms.
“DADA!!!” Sunshine screeched, hands reaching up to the man.
The man sighed, arms stretching out towards him.
Wilbur hiccuped, frowning. The man gave him a look. Not disappointed, just… encouraging.
Wilbur looked down sadly and raised the boy so the man could take him.
The man cradled Sunshine close. Sunshine sniffled, burrowing into his chest but still hiccuping.
Wilbur curled into himself, wrapping his arms around his legs as he looked away. Tears sprung at the corners of his eyes.
It wasn’t fair .
Grass crunched against the man’s shoes as he bent down to eye level. “Hey, mate. How old are you?”
Wilbur shrugged.
“You can’t be older than 8…” the man guessed, more to himself. “Where is the fae that turned you? Changelings are important to their fae.”
Wilbur shrugged again.
“Have you been alone this whole time?”
He nodded.
“Do you… remember anything? Before you became a fae, that is.”
“I…” Wilbur bit his lip. “I kind of remember being a human, but I don’t really…”
Wilbur jumped as the man placed a hand on his shoulder. It was… kind. Gentle. Fatherly.
The man smiled at him. “You’ve been out here all alone, huh?”
Wilbur nodded, a few tears spilling down his face as he hiccuped.
“You can call me Phil. What can I call you?”
“I’m not s-supposed to give you my name,” he sniffled.
“ Wilbur! ” Sunshine giggled.
“Sunshine!!!” Wilbur hissed. “I trusted you not to say it!” he whined.
His eyes then went wide, looking to Phil nervously. “I-I guess you own me now…”
Phil chuckled kindly. “Sunshine? Is that what you named him?”
Wilbur nodded, fiddling with his fingers. Why hasn’t Phil just demanded he be quiet? He was a slave now. He was just there to follow orders.
“It’s a very pretty name. A name gifted by a fae is a big deal. You must really care about him.”
Wilbur nodded more frantically. He did. He loved Sunshine so much.
Phil looked him over. This poor kid had no clue how to even be a fae. He was utterly alone and just wanted some company. Most people would kill for a fae.
Could he really leave him all alone…?
Phil looked to the sky and sighed. It was probably supposed to be exasperated, but it sounded rather fond.
He looked back down to Wilbur, placing a hand on his cheek. “I want to offer you a deal.”
Wilbur blinked at him, smiling. “A deal?”
“If you heal Tom— Sunshine, then you can come live with us.”
Wilbur tilted his head. “Live with you?”
Phil released his face and stood up, offering his hand. “You would be a part of the family. You’d be Sunshine’s older brother. All you have to do is promise to obey my rules and never trick your family into doing something they don’t want to do.”
Wilbur looked at the outstretched hand and then back to his eyes. “I-I’ll be able to stay with Sunshine? And—and I’ll be able to stay forever? You can’t get rid of me!”
Phil chuckled. “You’ll be with Sunshine, and you can stay as long as you wish to. I’ll never make you leave. I’ll even teach you some basics of fae magic.”
Wilbur gasped, smile lighting up his face as he gripped Phil’s hand and shook it wildly.
“Yes! Yes! Yes! Deal! ”
Phil laughed.
Wilbur released, jumping up and down and shouting. “Wooo! Wooo! Wooo!”
Wilbur then reached up towards Sunshine. “Let me! Let me!”
Phil lowered Sunshine down slightly. Wilbur placed a hand on the cut, closing his eyes.
Magic seeped from his fingers, blanketing the cut as it stitched itself together.
Completely healed in a matter of seconds.
Wilbur opened his eyes, brown meeting Sunshine’s sky blue as he giggled.
Wilbur’s lip quivered. Suddenly, everything came crashing down at once.
Sobs ripped through his throat as he wailed, tears starting to stream down his face.
“I-I-I’m not a-alone?!?” He cried.
Phil smiled softly, reaching down with his other arm and scooping Wilbur up. The boy sat on his hip, crying into his shoulder as he gripped Phil’s robe.
“Let’s get you two home.”
Wilbur laid his head down, sniffling as he looked towards Sunshine. He smiled through his tears, reaching out and petting the boy’s head.
Sunshine cooed, gripping his hand. Wilbur chuckled wetly as he nuzzled into Phil.
Maybe he doesn’t mind these humans on his property.
———
The door creaked open.
“Phil?” the pink haired man called out. “Tommy? Ph—“
His and a brunette fae’s eyes met. The fae holding a sunshine-haired boy.
“PHIIIIIIIL—“