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Scootching past the guards sleep deprived enough to not tell up from down was the easy part. Opening the latch to the reclusive mage's hideaway was another thing entirely.

"Keep an eye out for me Laz," Quinn grinned, finally getting the wooden door to release. They look over their shoulder one last time before getting into it they huffed a laugh. "Ladders, right Laz?" The pixie stuck her tongue out at the offending fairy and gestured for them to get on with it, making herself comfortable under the mage's telescope, watchful eyes staying focused to anything unusual.

After getting their legs down a few rungs, everything but their head inside the building, Quinn held one side of the ladders edge loosely and let their feet fall, holding out their wings to soften the inevitable gravity. The mage was face down on his worktable. A couple of loose bottles, whether that be from alcohol or potions or a strange mix of both were strewn around the room. Quinn took the moment of peace to really have a look around the study. Bookshelves were stacked all the way up to the admittedly high ceiling. "How does he even get some of these?" The fairy whispered to noone in particular. Eyes darting around to find more bullying ammo their eyes locked on some dying plants. He should really get some windows in here, the few plants he's attempted to keep himself are a pale green and seem to be bending themselves towards the small amount of moonlight brought in through the ceiling.

Finally the fairy figured they had enough quiet time and snuck behind the chair Norrix is slumped forward in, careful to keep their footsteps light. They held each shoulder in one hand, lightly shaking the sleeping mage "Howdy Ms. Necromancer." There was no real malice behind their words, a light teasing between two traumatized folk. If Norrix heard it, he didn't comment, far too busy putting together the pieces of who this intruder was.

"Well, if it isn't the big bad fairy?" He finally quipped after gaining his bearings. A lazy smile shown on his face, hair pulled out of the lazy bun it was put into before he slept. Spinning around in his chair he wrapped his arms around Quinn, hands just below their waist to not disturb their wings. "Hi." Quinn could feel the smile on the mage's lips through their shirt. And if they perhaps liked the feeling of having Norrix smaller than him, holding on from his seated position where the fairy could stick their face into his hair and softly kiss, they didn't say it out loud.

The softness held for a couple seconds before Quinn had to stop it short. "So, where's your son?"

"For the last time Modeus is not my son." Staying at the fairy's chest giggling, not able to pull back quite yet.

Quinn's hand found it's place in the mage's hair, pulling the hair tie out and running deft fingers through. "You did create him, in a sense."

Submitting to the knowledge that this was not a battle he could win Norrix decided to swap the topic. "And where's your little friend, eh?" He hadn't even looked around for Lazuli after noticing Quinn was in, quickly folding himself into the comfort of the faes hold.

"She's keeping an eye out for any guards who may learn about the royal mage's little paramour." They finally pulled Norrix from their chest, getting a good look at his face for the first time that night. They held his head in their hand, rubbing their thumb against his jawbone and light stubble. No real plan of action other than getting some more physical touch in. Though the mage's closing eyes and pretty lips gave Quinn a good idea of what they wanted to do next. Leaning down slightly they pressed their lips together, calloused hands reached up to the sides of their head, slotting fingers around long ears. It was a quick endeavor really, though the two kept their faces close together even after the kiss had ended, looking through their lashes towards each other.

"I missed you." It was almost a whisper, Norrix knew that Quinn could only come so often. The castle wasn't safe especially since Ricon's appearance, but he still wished they could come and go as they pleased. It was a bit of a guilty fact in his mind, but these small moments were the time he could relish in their warmth and he tried to keep himself thinking of those.

Quinn huffed out a breath of air. They knew what was going on through the mage's mind, it was a struggle they both worked through. "Maybe if you got out of your little cave more then it wouldn't raise so many eyebrows meeting me halfway." It was a bit of a crack dream. There aren't all that many places that a human and a fairy can both go without heavy questioning. Maybe they could check out that ruin that Lazuli mentioned going to with Lucia. The thoughts sent a blush covering their ears, he didn't even know if Norrix could swim, not that Quinn was all that better, but they could atleast stick their legs in the water, chat about the going ons in either corner of their lives. Could even be a place that Norrix could meet Octavia if either wanted to.

The silence must have gone on longer than Quinn expected because Norrix shot a confused look into their eyes, rubbing a thumb over their cheekbone. "Got something on your mind?"

It's a dumb question, they always did, hell Norrix probably had more restless thoughts than Quinn at any given moment but it brought them back down to earth. As down to earth as they could be in the high tower atleast. "Oh just ideas," they sighed wistfully. "Nothing bad I promise." Holding out a pinking finger between them. Norrix took it with his own and grinned. It had become a bit of a inside joke between the two, after teaching the mage about the implications of a fairy's vow and thoroughly scaring Norrix away from ever wanting to hear Quinn make one.

Finally standing to his full height Norrix brushed himself off, fiddling over an ink stain in his clothes before realizing it's futility. "Got any plans, love?" He punctuated the pet name with a kiss onto their hand.

"Got a whole night ahead of us, figured we could play it by ear." They grinned wide.

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It was a struggle once the faction learned with whom Quinn was meeting up with. Especially once the prospect of Octavia meeting him came. There was one fae in particular who's upset trumped the others. Her light blue wings held out as she yelled at them.

"I should have known." The fairy's oil slick hair moving with the shake of her head. "You are the dumbest fae I've ever met Quinn. First you make an unauthorized trip to the castle to research the royal mage's incredibly dangerous work." She gestures with her hands as she talks. "And after months of you being trapped in there, of us having no idea if you're alive or dead. We did a raid of the castle- Quinn they think we killed their king!" The frustration kept growing on her face. "And what do we find but you, already back home twirling your hair around your finger about some mystery girl."

"If you had just waited another few days you wouldn't have had to do the raid." Quinn mutters under their breath.

"It was Octavia's idea. If you have any problem with your own sister trying to save your life, for the second time I might add, then take it up with her." She storms off before Quinn can get another word in. Muttering under her breath something about Stockholm syndrome. Her ponytail swinging with each aggressive step she makes.

Quinn sits in the quiet for a moment, hugging their knees to their chest and trying to keep their breath steady. It takes longer than they'd like to admit, the fear keeps hitting them in waves. What if she is right? They know that's not the case but it keeps coming back and shaking them. After who knows how long of being stuck in their own brain a hand touches their shoulder.

"Hey grub," Octavia rarely smiles, this is no exception. But there is an air of softness to her face as she settles herself down onto the ground next to Quinn. She pulls their head onto her shoulder, not saying anything, just allowing them to take the comfort they need.

It's a few moments before she speaks again, composing her words before she sighs. "Tell me about him." The easy way she says it shocks Quinn out of their panic for a moment. She adverts her eyes from them for a moment. "I mean obviously Koen met him a moment, but that was under less than ideal circumstances." She huffs out a laugh, it's forced but it does the job at calming Quinn down.

There's a shaky breath before anything. "I think he hurts more than he shares." It comes out before Quinn even thinks about what to say. "There's still so much I don't know about, but sometimes when I find him sleeping he looks so scared. He'll have sweat through his shirt." The look Norrix gives them before he's fully awake is etched into their brain. Like he's either about to bolt or surrender himself to death. "Sorry sorry, I'm sure you wanted happy things-"

"Whatever helps bring you back to earth." Octavia interrupts with a smile.

"He's so smart, he's an idiot but he's also a genius." That gives Octavia a genuine laugh. "His workplace has more books than I've ever seen. Bookcases stacked 3 people tall and more scattered around the floor."

"You think he's read all of them?"

"Most atleast, I think every time I visit he has different books open to look at whatever he's studying at the moment." They run their hand through their hair. "He's said many of the books he's had since he was first learning magic. He was a kid, do you know that? It's apparently so rare for humans to have any reasonable abilities if they don't start as a child, I can't even imagine it." They hold their tongue before mentioning his mother, not sure if that's something he'd rather share himself. "He's so touchy too, he hugs like he's never been held before. I'm sure holing himself up in the tower doesn't help that."

Octavia looks to them, their grin evident on their face talking about the one they love. "What about the metal man?"

"Modeus, his name is Modeus."

"Of course, Modeus, do you see him often? Honestly I'm still a bit weary of something like that." She cringes at her own word choice. They both know of what Modeus what created with, an open secret for anyone who pays even the slightest attention.

"When I'm visiting he's usually guarding lady Lucia."

"The monarch who weasled her way into the castle?"

"Exactly." They grin. "So I don't see him all that often. But I get to hear about him through Norrix," Chuckling. "You know, Norrix is convinced that Lucia and Modeus have some sort of romantic relationship? I thought he was joking when he first told me it but apparently it's gossip throughout the castle."

"Crazier things have happened."

"Like what Tav?" Their posture is a bit more lighthearted now.

She leans in conspiratorially. "Well I've heard rumors of a certain royal mage and rogue fairy."

Quinn punches her shoulder lightly. "Shut that fuck up." But they're laughing, and it doesn't take long for Octavia to laugh with them.

The sun had started to set by that point, too late for if Quinn wanted to pay their mage a visit. Though relaxing and talking through things with their sister had made them feel good. They spend the late daylight making fun of eachother, getting in small chats with the other fae around the faction. Multiple folks notice the genuine smile spread upon Octavia's face, it makes them decide that harping on Quinn can wait til another night.

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Norrix's thoughts had to keep him awake. It had been a few weeks since Quinn had last come to visit. It's not even the longest he hasn't heard from them but part of him expected them to be here more. He kept the ceiling door propped open with a piece of wood after Quinn had complained a few too many times, only fully closing it when it would rain to keep his books from molding, and to keep the sound of thunder dampened from his ears. Though he'd never admit that.

Whatever he had been writing down was long forgotten to just keeping his hands busy running the pen over the paper in soothing circles. A rhythmic scratching filling the otherwise empty room. At some point his eyes had closed, sleep trying to overtake him. Before his head could fall forward a purple blur rested upon his hand. Lazuli made eye contact with Norrix, he blinked slowly trying to piece together why she was here for a few moments before her mouth opened, parroting Quinn's voice.

"Sorry hun, I'm a bit on house arrest til Riviera is less mad at me." It was always a bit unsettling hearing them through Lazuli. Of course he was so happy to have this level of long distance communication but it was still odd to him. "Oh Riv is one of my friends in the faction, she was part of the raid actually. It doesn't matter much, just she doesn't have much trust for humans, reasonably so, and learning about you had freaked her out so I'm not allowed to leave the faction without another fairy." Lazuli rolled her eyes, making herself comfortable for the admittedly long message that Quinn had made her carry. "I have an idea for a way we can meet but we're gonna have to get the dragon out of his castle first. There's a place Lucia knows, she visited with Laz when you guys were on that hunt." There was a sigh, something soft and weary before they continued. "I'm not sure of the details quite yet, and it is fairly far so you'll have to go by horse, and preferably with Lucia and Modeus for protection. But just let me know what you think." After that Lazuli breathes out, gesturing to Norrix that he may speak now.

"Gods I love them." He sighed, then quickly drew back. "Don't tell them I said that, I need to say it in person before anything, sorry." Lazuli nodded to him, acknowledging his worries. Norrix collected himself before deciding what to say, knowing Lazuli would rehash what he said verbatim was a bit nerve inducing, but he should be used to it by now. "I would love that." He pauses at his own word choice, shrugging it off after a moment. "But what about your as you say 'house arrest'?, I'm sure they won't let you out with just Lazuli and I'm not sure how the others would react to me." It worried him more than he let on. Seeing his discomfort Lazuli placed a small comforting hand onto his thumb. "I'm sure you have a plan I don't know about but I can't help but be concerned." He smiled lightly, rubbing his thumb against Laz's still outstretched hand. "I think that's all I've got, please get home safe Lazuli. Thank you so much for coming to send that." The pixie flew up and gave a large bow before quickly flying through the gap in the door.

Finally having the comfort of knowing Quinn was ok and still loved him his eyelids slid down. The exhaustion from before hitting him twicefold. Yet he still gathered enough energy to get up from his desk and move towards his bed. His back will thank him in the morning. Pulling the blanket over his shoulders he fell into a thankfully dreamless sleep.

The flight back to the faction was quicker with just Lazuli. She could move the same amount of space as Quinn in half the time, though the silence of not having them around drew on her. She had to keep herself vigilant too, not having an extra pair of eyes to look out for predators. Thankfully, the trip was fairly uneventful, and she grabbed a couple wild berries to snack on on the way.

Landing next to a sleeping Quinn she looked over to Octavia, who sat not too far away and smiled. It was nice seeing her, she thought of the elf as something like a sister to her. "The meeting go well?"

Lazuli nodded, then quickly shot a look over her shoulder, making sure Quinn was fully asleep before relaying a message that she only promised not to tell Quinn. Norrix's soft voice rang out of her. "Gods I love them." A soft gasp came from Octavia before she continued. "Don't tell them I said that, I need to say it in person before anything, sorry." Lazuli shot Octavia a conspiratorical grin before giggling. It wasn't the first time Lazuli had shared something Norrix had said to her. Oftentimes the siblings sat to listen to his messages together after Quinn double checked with Lazuli that he hadn't said anything too embarrassing.

"Part of me wishes I could hate him, never let Quinn know that." She sighed, collecting her feelings. "Obviously I wasn't happy knowing that they found love in a human mage." Lazuli felt the same in a sense. "But seeing their face when they talk about him brings any hate I could have down." The two girls sat beside eachother in silence for a minute or two before Quinn stirred, not quite awake but definitely not asleep enough to continue the conversation.

It wasn't much longer until Quinn fully woke up, rubbing the sleep from their eyes and widening when they realized that the pixie had come back. "How was he?" They slurred in her direction, still half in a dream. Lazuli gave them a double thumbs up while waiting for them to truly be ready for the message to be read. They eyed Octavia for a moment before shooting back to Laz. "Everything good for her to hear?" They half joked, but both the girls noticed the happy sigh that came when Lazuli nodded sagely.

Lazuli sat between the two, getting ready to share what the mage had said. "I would love that." A giggle came from the pixie before returning to the words. "But what about your as you say 'house arrest'?, I'm sure they won't let you out with just Lazuli and I'm not sure how the others would react to me." Octavia elbowed Quinn in the ribs at that. "I'm sure you have a plan I don't know about but I can't help but be concerned." Lazuli nodded to note that she was done. Letting the two sit in the words they had just heard before saying anything to eachother.

"Does he not know about me?" Octavia turned to meet Quinn's eyes.

They shrugged. "He does, I mean I've mentioned you in passing, I don't think he knows about-" they gesture towards her back. "All that. But he knows about you, and in my message to him I told him about Riv aswell." They broke eye contact. "He must've just forgotten that you would be available to bring me out."

"Or he didn't want the big bad sister as a chaperone for whatever romantic date you've got planned." She teased.

"You make it sound much worse than it is."

"Really? That why you're planning on taking him to a secluded lake in the middle of the forest?"

"Lucia and Modeus will be there too." They fought the blush on their cheeks. "It's just best for both of our safety to meet somewhere no one will be, you know?"

"So he's got a chaperone too?" She laughed. "Sorry sorry, I know, it's just hard seeing my little sibling growing up so fast." She starts mock whispering to Lazuli. "Soon enough they'll be asking me about hand binding, I swear."

"I'm going to kill you Tav."

"Not if you want to go in your little date."

Lazuli placed her hand onto Quinn's hand, turning her head slightly in question. "I can get a message to him later, you need time to rest Laz." She won't complain about that. "Octavia, it's your shift to sleep, Lazuli could use the rest next to someone too. I'll keep watch and wake you if anything happens."

Octavia laid down with little complaint, turning her back towards Quinn. Large scars in a V shape stared back at Quinn. Over the years the pain of seeing them has gone down, though sometimes, being in watch like this with Octavia laying on her side it reminds them of that night. They brush off the shakes that come, deciding to take a stick from the ground and draw some of the runes they had seen Norrix use into the dirt beneath them.

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After many correspondences they plan a day for meeting. Though there is one last bit of planning the mage needs to finish. One he's been putting off for too long.

Pacing outside of Lucia's chambers he stresses. So much of this plan is reliant on information neither of them have given eachother, and trust that he knows is not quite there. He gathers himself and knocks at the door. Soon enough the large suit of armour opens the door a crack, showing a peak of Lucia's hair behind him. "I'd like to invite the two of you to meet with someone with me. A quick trip planned for a week from now. " It's ok to be vague about it, Norrix promises himself. "Honestly I don't believe I can make the trek to the meeting point without the two of you." It's not a lie, Quinn had been very vague about the instructions to get there, just saying to go where they camped for the hunt and Lucia would show him the rest of the way.

Modeus turned his head to the side like a confused puppy, causing Lucia to walk next to him and open the door more. "That's vague." She catches herself before composing her mask of royalty and speaking again. "Where would we be heading? And with whom?"

Norrix sighed, knowing the questions would come but keeping the kind smile on his face. "There's a place near the campsite we stayed at for the hunt is. I'm afraid I can't share too many details of who we're meeting with, atleast not yet, but you know them." At her questioning look he sighed again and started whispering. "I can share more of where and who we're meeting on the way, it is your choice to continue traveling there after you know. There are just many ears within the castle." He fiddles with his hair, pulling most of it over one shoulder and running his fingers through. "Please, you can have the week to think on it before I will leave, I don't need an answer now."

"I will, think on it, thank you." Her words are clipped and full of thought. There's a moment Norrix feels he should leave before she speaks again. "Will the crown know about this excursion?" She speaks with hesitance.

"I can make an excuse of it being a research mission for your training. I think it can help all of us to be out of the castle for a moment." He rubs the back of his neck before looking up. "Modeus, do you have any opinions on the trip? I, and I'm sure Lucia will greatly appreciate your company if you decide to come."

There's a pondering look on the armours face, or whatever can pass as a pondering look. "I will go where Lucia goes." He states simply.

"I wouldn't expect anything else."

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The week goes on agonizingly slow, many hours of it spent sitting at a desk with a foot rapidly tapping along with his racing thoughts. Lucia ended up agreeing, though made Norrix promise to say who they're meeting once they were off palace grounds.

The day before they leave he packs whatever things he may need, a couple books to prove the excuse of this being an off site magic lesson. He stopped by the kitchens for snacks for the way, and snacks for when they're there. Honestly he can't tell what to expect but he doesn't think Quinn will turn up their nose at apples and cheese.

The stables were thankfully devoid of most humans, a couple of the farmhands of course, but they handed off the horses that they needed quickly. As Norrix climbed up onto his horse, a bit unsteadily, Modeus helps Lucia get onto her own. Sadly, Shire, Modeus' favorite had to stay on grounds, none of the hands truly trusting the suit of armour to ride the wild horse so far without one of them. Norrix tapped on Modeus' side and handed him an apple from his pack to give to Shire, silently he approached the horse and laid his palm out flat with the apple in the center. The horse took it happily and whinnied stomping it's feet when the three had left.

After 20 minutes of the soothing sounds of hooves on dirt Lucia broke the silence. "So," she leaned a bit in the direction of Norrix catching his eyes. "Can you tell me who we're meeting yet?"

He scrambled a bit, not realizing how long they had been going. He took a breath in. "Quinn." He pauses a moment before remember Lucia knew their pixie aswell. "And Lazuli." He's not sure who Quinn's chaperone will be so he leaves that out.

Lucia is stunned in silence to a moment, her horse even slowing down. Norrix pulled at thee reigns to his own while she took the information in. "May- may I ask why?" She asks with a hint of trepidation in her voice.

"So you can make friends with the fairy kept in the dungeons and I can't?" He tries his best to keep the tone light hearted but it doesn't quite come across. "We've kept a sort of correspondence since they got out. Even, against my judgement, coming to visit in the castle." He sighs, looking at her still confused face. "Look, if one of us was gonna hurt eachother it would be them, I think they could throw me if they wanted." The idea settles in the back of his brain before forcefully brushing it away.

Lucia motions for her horse to start trotting again. "I just didn't believe you to be a sympathizer." There's a lilt in her voice, her horse eventually overtaking Norrix's still stopped one.

He laughs. "I promise I can explain more once we're there." Giving his horse a light kick to the side it begins moving again.

"So where exactly are we going?"

The question hits him in the chest, he had let himself forget that the real one leading them there would be her. "Well, Quinn said you and Modeus had found a place? They were cagey about the details, wanting to keep it a surprise." He admits.

Modeus pipes up from listening to the conversation. "I think I know where they mean."

"I do believe I know aswell." Lucia smiles, stirring on her horse to move faster. "Hope you're a fan of water!" She yells back to the mage and armour left in the dust.

Keeping up with Lucia was a battle in itself, though the moment she noticed she was out of eyesight of the two she would slow until they got closer. The ride goes by faster this way, both in physically moving faster and also in having genuine fun. There's a couple times Modeus is so focused on trying to keep up he trips on the exposed roots of a tree, making a noise possibly everyone in the kingdom can hear as he falls to the ground. Norrix will have to check for any damage when they get back to the castle, but for now it is simply a thing that stops the two a moment while he gets himself back up and situated.

Norrix begins to recognize where in the forest he is before Lucia pipes up, riding at a more leisurely pace now. "So, what was your plan if I didn't agree to come with? Seeing as you don't actually know where we're going."

"Get lost in the forest until I find it or I get found, honestly." It wasn't a smart plan, but he didn't often have smart plans. Lucia snorts and he can even hear small laughs echoing though Modeus' chest. "You guys might've had to send a search party for me. Really I was so focused on reading when we went to the hunting grounds the first time I only half remember how to get there."

"Yeah, remember when your horse veered off to eat off of a bush and you didn't notice for minutes?" She teased.

"It really couldn't have been that long, the king was still in my sight."

"Because he stopped to laugh at you and see how long until you noticed."

Norrix sighed. "Well this time I'm paying attention, so you won't have to worry about me getting lost." Crunching leaves sound under the horses hooves as they ride side by side. Soon enough the trees cleared out to a ruin, taken over slightly by nature, leading to a lake. "Wow..." Norrix gets off his horse to take it in, the air much less stuffy than his usual hidey hole. "I assume this is the place?" He turns to Lucia, who's helped off by Modeus and nods.

Before he can even take in the sights fully he's knocked onto his back by a orange blur that came from one of the trees. Looking up he sees the offending blur straddling his stomach, a large grin upon their face. "Hi beautiful." They nuzzle their head into his neck, kissing up his jaw.

Lucia and Modeus saunter up to the scene incredulously. "'friends' huh?" Her voice hangs on the words, a giggle bubbling up under her breath.

Quinn pops up from Norrix, holding a hand to help him sit up before bringing Lucia into a hug. "I'm glad you could come." Arms squeezing around her shoulders, they definitely got the muscle back that they lost while in the dungeons. "You too big lug." They smile up at Modeus, who looks back with a slightly confused expression.

The mage looks around after brushing any dirt and grasses off his clothes. "So where's your chaperone Quinn?"

They give a slightly strained smile. "Hilarious news actually." They wring their hands. "It was just going to be my sister, Octavia, but news got around and let's just say if you spot a fairy in the trees don't be surprised." Their hands rub the back of their neck, a blush creeping up their cheeks. "Anyways, Tavs already got her feet in the water and is chatting with Laz."

"Let me tie up the horses while you go up." Modeus says, holding both reigns to the horses. Searching for a low but sturdy branch to tie the horses to. As he secures the horses Quinn takes Norrix's hand and pulls him over the bridge of the ruins.

At the edge of the water sits the fairy Norrix had spent so long waiting to meet. Brown into green hair falls in numerous braids over her back as she gestures with her hands while speaking with Lazuli. Her braids move with her and Norrix gets a glance at large jagged scars. It stops him in his tracks before Quinn looks back at him. Following his eyes to what they already know he's seen. They keep their voice low, holding Norrix's hand with both of theirs. "Yeah, I didn't mention it before. Sue me." They laugh a bit louder, pulling Norrix and motioning for him to sit beside her.

She stiffens a bit while he settles next to her, forcing herself to breathe in through her nose and out through her mouth before really looking over at him. Eyeing him up and down, seemingly waiting for him to speak first. Norrix decides in the split second to do possibly the most awkward thing he can and holds his hand out for her to shake. "So you're the sister I've heard so much about." A nervous smile graces his face.

She takes his hand, shaking it as she talks. "And you are Norrix." The kind look on her face hardens a moment as she grips his hand harshly. "Don't you dare hurt them, alright?"

"Alright." Norrix squeaks out. A moment after there's an incoherent whoop by Quinn followed by water splashing them both out of whatever energy the interaction had previously.

His hand finally is let go of before she yells. "Quinn if I have to jump in and pull you out of there I'm gonna drown you!" The threat is completely empty but it makes Norrix gape a moment. Quinn pops their head out from under the water, smiling and laughing as wet hair sticks to their face. Lucia, after getting her shoes off and rolling up her pants sits to the other side of Octavia, setting her feet in the water while Lazuli nuzzles herself into her hair to protect from any splashes.

"Come on, someones gotta join me!" Quinn's wings lay against the waters top straight behind them, legs kicking to keep themself up. Under the water Norrix can spy two scars underneath their chest, their shirt discarded before hopping in. They wade closer to Norrix as he finally slips his boots off and gets his legs in the water, still only sitting at the edge. Quinn rests their chin on Norrix's knees, making the mage's face completely flush. The action earns a flick to their ear by Octavia.

A quick laugh escapes Norrix's lips, earning a playful scowl from the fairy resting with their chest barely under the water. "You realize this is all the clothes I brought, right?"

Quinn shrugs, mouth about to open for a quip back but instead grabbing Norrix's legs and pulling him into the water themself. "Yeah I don't know sounds like a you problem." Was the only response to when his head came back above water. Knowing things can only go worse from here he splashed water at Quinn, Lucia and Octavia getting caught in the crossfire. Their head ducks underwater to dodge, feet touching the ground before shooting themself back up to send much more water Norrix's way.

The day continued in this lighthearted manner, the two going at eachother with water while the girls and Modeus watch on from the edge. Norrix over time sheds as much clothes as he feels appropriate, complaining about being weighted down before throwing the discarded clothes on the stone. Eventually, a fae that Norrix vaguely recognizes flies from the trees to the top of the gazebo, keeping a curious but stern eye on the mage as he speaks, projecting his voice so the people below can hear. "Quinn I think this is the weirdest mission I've gone on."

Quinn balances their arms on Norrix's shoulders before yelling back. "Ya ain't been on many Ko." They laugh straight into the mage's ear. "And let me remind you that it was Riv who insisted on all you coming."

The fairy flies down to the stone flooring, hands on his hips looking out to the two in the water. "It's almost like we don't want you to die." He turns dramatically coming face to face, or face to chest really, with Modeus, jumping a bit.

"I remember you." The voice echos out of his armour. "I am glad you got out safe. I am sorry you had to be there in the first place." The fairy, wings held straight down still in a bit of shock nods back silently, eyes wide at the large suit of armour who did, he has to admit, save his life despite the rumors. The suit walks off, closer to the edge, seemingly not privy to the mild panic he's caused and yells out to Norrix. "Do you have any more apples for the horses? They would enjoy it after the travel."

"Just a moment." Norrix projects back, escaping Quinn's arms and leaning up against the ledge. "Can you bring me my bag?" Modeus quickly fetches it and brings it to him. "I can't give them a whole apple each or we'll have hardly any to eat, but-" He pulls one from his bag, a travel knife in the other hand. He dunks the apple into the water to clean it off then carefully cuts it in half, folding the knife back to avoid any accidentally cuts. "They should enjoy these, and any we don't end up eating can go to them too." He stretches his arms up, a hand holding each half towards Modeus who takes them happily and prances off to the horses. The fae, Ko as Quinn called him, turns his head at Norrix as he fiddles with the bag, catching his eye with a raised eyebrow. Norrix lightly shoves the bag over to him. "There's a couple apples, some bread and cheese. Help yourself."

He is about to turn and swim back to Quinn but they appear behind him, somehow approaching completely silently. "You said something about food?" They reinstated their spot against Norrix's back, looking over his shoulder at the food Koen pulls out.

By the third apple Koen brings out Lucia snorts in Norrix's direction, taking a moment to catch her breath at the stares she got in response. "How many apples did you pack?" Seemingly noone else there realized the hilarity of the situation so she goes on. "He let Modeus give one to a horse at the stables before we left, who packs this many apples for a date?" The laughter just gets louder as Koen slowly pulls a fourth, final apple out of the bag. The rest of the crowd, Norrix included, join in on the laughter.

He pulls himself together to wheeze a sentence out. "I like apples ok? They keep well for travel." Eventually the loaf of bread and small block of cheese are laid out over a large piece of fabric, apples handed to a still laughing Norrix for him to cut into slices.

"Wow, court mage, cutting his own fruit. A sight indeed." Quinn teases to Norrix's dismay.

"You realize the apple slices I brought you in the dungeon were cut by me aswell, right?" Quinn tries to come up with a comeback but it dies on their tongue. "Anyways," he looks to Koen. "Would the others like to come and snack too?"

The fae looks down to the food, then up towards the treeline before bolting away, coming back with two more in tow. The one with light blue wings who he can only assume is Riviera, and the other, an elf, stepping over the bridge who he's not sure he knows of. The elf takes a long look at Norrix, brushing his strikingly two toned hair back with his hand before sitting down. A large scar can be seen on his shoulder, it looks like the bite of a wild animal but Norrix is not sure what kind. Neither of the two seem to want to talk to Norrix and their stares bore into him. Soon enough he finishes slicing the apples and folds the knife again and sets it to the side. Norrix suddenly feels very small still having most of his body under the water.

"Ok let's do this quickly!" Quinn claps once behind him, eyeing towards Lucia a moment before addressing the group. They point with an open hand to Koen. "Koen, I call him Ko often, Norrix and Modeus, who I know you've met under not the best circumstances previously. Aswell as Lucia, who I've mentioning to all of you before." Lucia gives a shy wave. They moves their hand to point to the blue winged fae. "That's Riviera, I've mentioned her to you before Norrix but I'm not sure if Modeus or Lucia know of her. She looks mean and honestly is sometimes but we all love her for it." Their hand moves finally to the black and white haired elf. "And he is Shiloh, he's quiet but a softy." Lucia looks at him a moment and covers her mouth, seemingly connecting some dots on information Norrix is not privy to. "If any of you attempt anything on Norrix I'm gonna start siding with the humans." They joke and when Octavia kicks water in their face they look at her incredulously. "It's a joke!"

They pull themself up from the water, apparently having no care for putting a shirt back on and going straight for some of the cheese before looking to the pretty mage looking somewhat like a wet cat still in the water. Norrix is a bit enchanted by the water dripping across their body before remembering that it may be awkward being the only one in the water anymore. He pulls himself out, avoiding the stare from Koen at the three scars across his chest, and grabs his still wet cape from where he haphazardly threw it from the water and drapes it over his shoulders. It's not quite as covered as he'd like to be but the thought of putting on the soaking clothes made him less self conscious of his top half being on display.

While Norrix puts a piece of bread in his mouth Riviera pipes up. "So, why?" The question gives both sides of the couple some apprehension. There really isn't much of a clean way to explain how or why the two bonded and the way the relationship became the way it was. Apparently the silence was enough for her to fill it herself. "And if you tell me it's some kind of repentance for that-" she juts her thumb towards Modeus. "Then your head is going underwater for as long as someone else can hold them back."

The threat makes Norrix choke a bit, after a brief fit of coughing he pulls his cape around him like a child would with a favorite blanket. "No." He steadies himself, feeling a gentle hand on his shoulder. "I don't know what you guys know of Modeus' creation, and if I could avoid talking of it I would but in this situation I can't- I shouldn't avoid it." He speaks in the same way a politician would, giving a speech about misdeeds, but instead of a confident man standing at a podium high above all others, he sits knees pulled to his chest like a child. His breaths shaky and uneven, he continues. "What I'll say now, to keep it short, is the actions were forced upon me by my previous master. I was a child and neither of those things undo what happened and Gods know I'm still kept up at night about it, but, Quinn has helped me feel better about it. Not out of atonement, but of having someone point out those things to me." His eyes stay trained to the ground, focusing on the comforting circles drawn into his back.

"Damn." Shiloh muses before grabbing another slice of apple.

Riviera is stunned for a moment before the contemptuous look returns to her face. "That doesn't mean we can all just trust you." Even she doesn't sound fully in agreement with what she has said, but she simply grabs a piece of food to occupy her mouth.

"I'm not asking you to." Norrix says. Short and simple, grabbing some food for himself. The day continues in mainly silence, most of the food gets eaten and any leftovers Modeus brings to the two still tied horses, Koen and Lucia walking with him to help him. Lazuli settles herself on Shiloh's head, still not going to risk getting her wings too wet from the water dripping from Norrix's and Quinn's hair.

In a better world, they would stay until sunset, in a perfect world they would be going home together. In this world however, as the sun gets close to the tree line Norrix gets the last of the water from his clothes with magic, redresses and gives Quinn a hug and a kiss, wishing everyone on their side to get home safe. The ride back Lucia stay's quiet, in her own world for whatever reason. Norrix can appreciate the silence though, they had a big day, and now it is time to go back to reality.

Chapter Text

Under the shadows of the treeline, the six made their way back, one of the fairies taking turns flying ahead to serve as a lookout. Currently that fairy being Koen.

"So," Riviera started, looking at Quinn. "Little Miss Monarch still hiding her wings? Does your mage not know about her?" She crosses her arms.

Quinn sighs, looking up to the sky through the leaves. "He knows, she doesn't know that he knows." At everyone's confused faces they fill the silence. "Also I'm not sure if he knows the significance of her being a monarch."

"Sounds complicated." Octavia adds in to the conversation.

"Incredibly so."

Riviera walks infront of the two, turning around stepping backwards to talk face to face. "I need to ask how that's even possible." She gestures with her hands.

"So, after the attack, the one when me and Octavia were young," They shoot a glance towards their sister, who's keeping a strong but disconnected expression at the conversation. "She was taken in by the now Queens father and was raised as her completely human lady in waiting." They wrack their brain trying to get enough context for everyone to understand without sharing more than they should. "So while he was kind enough to let her keep her wings," They stress the sarcasm at the word kind. "She never could learn to fly since they were always bound down with this corset type contraption." Riv slows her pace, turns back the right way and pulls back to be side to side with Quinn. Shiloh keeps a distance that if they didn't know him any better they would think means he's not listening. "Now, I don't know her side of this part of the story much, but according to Norrix she had been practicing flying in the woods in the middle of the night. Something that wouldn't have been a problem if he wasn't on his top deck stargazing." They'll leave out the fact he was also completely hammered. "She flew a bit too high and he saw, not much else to it."

"Why wouldn't he tell her after that?" Riviera's voice is quieter than usual.

Quinn side eyed her at the question. "How would you, as a human, let a fairy who has been hiding in the castle know that you now know, huh?" They scratch the back of their neck. "I don't even think she knew about me and him until today. He's not all that good at talking about things." Riviera let's out a breath of air. She really doesn't know what she'd do in his situation, doesn't mean she can trust him, but it means something. As the silence wares thin Koen appears from the treeline, giving Quinn a tap on the shoulder signaling that it's their to turn for watch. Koen's feet touch the dirt just as Quinn's touch off, looking over their shoulder at the group before leaving. "If you're gonna shit talk anyone while I'm gone it better be me." Waving a peace sign into the air before lifting past the others sight.

Ko pulls his arm over his own chest, pulling it with the crux of his other arm to stretch tired muscles. "You guys get up to anything fun while I was gone?" Riv sighs before Octavia fills him in on what Quinn and her were talking about. "Oh yeah!" His golden eyes almost sparkling. "I got to talk to her about it a bit when us and Modeus went off to the horses."

"I know we just lived it but I am still confused about his general" She pauses. "not careingness about her being a fairy." Riv's tone was focused, not wanting to be chided about misgendering a suit of armour again.

"He told me," Koen started. "Those ruins were the place he learned she was a fairy, caught her bathing or something. When I tried to ask more about why they were there in the first place though they both got real quiet."

Lazuli, who had been hovering around Octavia paused in place, remembering the trip. She brought herself back to the group quickly enough earning a glance from Octavia that meant 'we'll talk about that later.' "From what Quinn's told me it was some royal hunt." Tav brought an unnatural lightness to her voice. "Though they only know that secondhand so they can't been the most reliable source." She sped up her pace, closing the distance to the two fae. "Anyways, you got anything to say about your first meeting with Norrix verses this one?"

Koen turned his head over his shoulder nervously. "Well, you already know about Modeus saving me from that knight." He still had a scab from when the knight had stabbed him. Having been reprimanded hundreds of times for picking at scabs no one in the faction even turned an eye when he had blood on his clothes by now. "Really I didn't see him long, I had started running and slammed into him. I think he was about to cast something on me but he got distracted and I got out of there." Riviera's eyebrows scrunched together, not liking anything about that other than him getting out fine. "I'm pretty sure Modeus was yelling at the knight, I couldn't actually hear what he was saying but I think that's what stopped him." He meant the sentence to lessen the blow of the previous, but it didn't land quite right.

"And now?" Octavia was desperate for something good to be said of Norrix, less for her own comfort around him and more to be sure she's made the right decision of letting Quinn continue this.

He breathes a moment. "I want to know what that scar on his chest is about. I know it wasn't there before." It's a solemn admittance. "But, I'm not sure. He seems scared, like he'll do one wrong thing and everything will be gone." He scratches at his shoulder lightly before Riv pulls his hand away.

"He only used magic once, right before leaving." Shiloh adds his observation. When someone else hums questionably at that he continues. "Drying his clothes. He could've done it when he got out of the water but didn't, made sure he was away from us when he did. Could mean something."

Riviera considered that. "What did he use to power it?"

"Reservoir, probably." Octavia replied, after getting a couple looks she adds. "Quinn told me something about mages being taken on as apprentices young to 'build the reservoir' of magic, that and his mother having been a mage he must have some decent level stored for a human."

Koen stared at her. "Huh, didn't know. Thought mages just kept pocketfuls of flowers for on on demand spells." He laughs at his own joke.

Riv ignored him, looking back to Shiloh. "Was Quinn with him when he casted that?"

"I don't think he took from them if that's what you're asking." He kept his tone even, even though Riv's overprotectivness was something that grated on everyone at one point or another.

Koen steps a bit harder at the ground at being ignored. "I don't think he would." His bravado is taken down when eyes are on him. "I meant what I said when I said he seemed scared. I don't have any real proof but I think he's aware that atleast one of us would have some kinda reaction if he just did magic offhand." He looks at Riviera pointedly.

Octavia ran the conversation through her head. The pixie by her shoulder was squeaking something but her mind flew back to earlier that day. "You know, I think Quinn didn't mean for me to hear it, but they hadn't told him that I was an elf. Stopped the poor human in his tracks when he saw my scars I think." Something like a laugh forms in the back of her throat. "Likely the first time he's seen an elves scars."

"Likely not." Riv spat.

"Shut up." Octavia was getting sick of Riviera's mutterings now too, thankfully she'll be next on watch once Quinn's back.

"We all know the rumors." It was true, but no one but her wanted to talk of them right now.

Lazuli quickly put together what they were talking about and changed the subject with talking about Ricon's elves and how he's likely seen theirs. She still doesn't completely trust Norrix of course, but she does have more context than the rest of the current group and wants to defend him. She may know more than Quinn from having found Norrix half deep into a bottle muttering to himself before noticing her approach. When those days happened she did find a pity for him, usually sitting on the top of his head, struggling to find purchase in the lack of texture she was used to. They would sit together, usually attempting to sober up with food and water before she shared her message to him. She usually kept what he was doing a secret from Quinn when relaying his message back. If they noticed any slurring in his parroted voice they never mentioned it. While Lazuli zoned out into memories, the conversation continued without her, softer than before she added her contribution. She sat on Octavia's shoulder, holding on to a braid for support and listened to the noise, not really focusing on taking in the blurred voices.

The topics changed from one to another, less focusing on the mage and moreso just filling the space with noise. The time was coming up for Quinn to come back, Octavia spotted one of the landmarks they used to figure how far they were to their destination. She spotted orange in the treeline and soon enough her sibling popped out and lightly slapped Riviera on the shoulder to signal her turn. She jumped up quickly and flew past their sight, having been stretching and preparing for the last 10 minutes. Everyone in the group gave a sigh of relief, no one hated her, quite the opposite actually, but she had a tense energy that especially on missions it was nice to get away from.

"Y'all get up to trouble while I was gone?" Quinn joked, filling the quiet.

"When don't we?" Koen barks out.

Shiloh turns to them, breathing in. Without a word he pulls Quinn into a hug, their feet leaving the ground when he does.

"Hey to you too bud." They wiggle in his grip a bit. "I haven't been gone for that long."

He lets them go, brushing off a leaf that was stuck in their hair. He pauses before turning around, flipping through the script he made in his head. The words he had planned to say getting lost. "I think he's good." It's almost so quiet that they don't hear it.

"He better be." Quinn joked. It filled their heart to have some level of approval from someone other than Tav, she was their family but the others, they were their faction, the fae and elves that made their life possible. Lazuli moved from one sibling to the other, sitting crisscross on Quinn's head. They reached their hand up, holding their finger out for her to grab in some kind of hug/handshake before speaking. "I'll have to send you out for a message to him in a few days, can't have the poor girl waiting in worry over such a big meeting." They look around conspiratorially. "Unless the rest of y'all can keep a secret and hide me being gone from everyone else for a night."

It's mostly a joke, still Octavia places her hand on their shoulder squeezing it in concern. "Ricon is still there." Is all that comes from her mouth. It was the truth, they had been imprisoned there before and only worse things would happen if they were seen there again. They kept what happened in the cells a secret, Lucia's magic healing the wounds on their wings to nothing but hardly noticable scars. They didn't delude themself thinking that no one noticed, but they also wouldn't offer the information without being asked.

"I know." They offered. "I just want to be around him." It hardly encompasses their emotions. They want to cook food with him. They want to sleep beside him every night. They want to hear him nonsensically ramble about whatever he's studying and carry him to bed when he doses off at his desk. They want to take him out of this stupid country, make it so his magic isn't controlled by anyone. Not to mention he is proof that the type of magic used by humans can be used to help fae who don't know anything other than their latent skills, he's taught a Monarch for goddess' sake.

Octavia looks at them, into those yearning eyes. She knew that look from years ago, it would be accompanied with stories of their mother, of flowers picked and placed in-between strands of her braids. She doesn't even know if she could say no if those eyes were asking, mouth spouting off some hair brained idea of leaving the faction. Figuring out some community that would be fine with them all. She pushed the idea away, bringing herself to the current moment. "You love him don't you?" She teased.

"Shut your mouth right now." They couldn't outright deny it, but they could yell at her for it. Lazuli, from the top of Quinn's head looked at her conspiratorially, them both knowing what the mage had said previously.

Koen laughs from behind them, not in on the joke but happy to be part of teasing Quinn. "Oh Norrix." He places a hand on his forehead, pantomiming a scene that would only be found in the cheesiest of novels. It earns him a shove from Quinn and a laugh from Shiloh. Most of the way back is filled with similar teasing and prodding at their love life. It's louder than they should be, this close to home, but none of them have the energy to care when the energy is so bright.

Chapter Text

Modeus got a hold on Lucia's horses reigns when the stables were in sight. Arriving he helped her off her horse, waving to Peres and Baynard, who seemed to be waiting for her return. Norrix kicked his leg over to one side, bringing himself down from his own horse and passing the reigns to Modeus and politely waving to the knight and his squire.

"Was your little lesson worth the day trip?" Baynard puts his arm over Lucia's shoulder, pulling her into a side hug while eyeing Norrix.

Lucia laughed, and Norrix worried for the first time of her spilling his own secret. "Very much so, though I thank you two for taking the time out of your day to welcome me back."

"Had to make sure the mage didn't decide to just run off with such a lovely lady." Peres covered his laugh at that comment, looking away from the spectacle Baynard created.

Norrix straightened his clothes, looking to Lucia. "Well, I'll be off to my tower now, send word if you need me. Thank you again for accompanying me for this." He gives a small bow before heading inside, thanking the Gods for his bag being much lighter than it was this morning.

Once he was out of earshot and Modeus finished getting the horses back to their stables Peres spoke low. "So what actually brought you all out to the forests?"

Lucia looked to where the mage disappeared into the castle and then back at the men. "Could we talk about it in more private?"

___

They sat in the library, Lucia using her sound dampening spell on them. The two men were tense at the aspect of the conversation needing to be such a secret, though Lucia's calm face calmed them a touch. "One moment, I need to put together what happened. I'm still a bit in shock over all of it." Despite the words her tone was light. "So, I guess in simple terms, we met with Quinn."

Baynard's eyebrows shot up as he crossed his arms. "The fairy? Who was previously imprisoned?"

"Yep, exactly them. I think they and Norrix have-" She was stopped by a hand on her shoulder, Modeus stopping her before she shared something that she realized she shouldn't. "They're friends." Peres and Baynard shot glances to eachother, the blond had his eyebrows up in question, though neither of them spoke. Lucia tries to continue past her fumble. "Quinn isn't allowed to leave the faction without, this is their words, a chaperone. So there were a few other fae with them."

"A few?" Peres questioned.

"It was just going to be Octavia, their sister, but word got around that they were going out to meet a human mage and things escalated." She tried to explain.

Baynard put his hands up. "Ok, also, does Norrix know about, you? Why were you brought?"

Lucia bunched the fabric of her pants in her hands, trying to figure that first question out herself still. "I don't know if he knows, and because I was the one who knew where they were to meet." She looked between both their faces. "During the royal hunt I had found an old fairy ruin, it's actually why I was near that fae beast when it was found." They all winced at the memory. "Anyways, Quinn had decided that as the meeting point and told Norrix that I knew where we'd be going, though they never filled me in on that so I had to figure it out as we got there. We hung out there, Norrix and Quinn swam in the lake, we had a picnic, really if there wasn't the obvious tension of who was meeting, it would have been a fairly normal day."

Peres thought a moment, finding the words to ask. "How did Quinn and Norrix even get to the point of wanting secret meetings in addition to, I assume, messages from Lazuli?"

"He used to feed them when they were in the dungeons." She stated it like it was the most normal thing for him to do but both the men gawked at the statement. "He said it started with him just bringing breakfast with him doing his first few checks on the spell binding them. He came down when I was meeting with them, his plate was stacked with more food than I've ever seen him eat." She laughed at the ridiculous memory of him pulling the plate from the bars, like he would eat all of it himself. "I didn't know they continued talking after they left though."

Baynard looked up to the ceiling. "Now I've heard everything." He sighed sarcastically. He brought his eyes back down, locking them with Lucia's. "So are they fucking or what?" Lucia stammered at the knights words, which he seemed to take mild offense to. "I know secret relationships, we all do, and you dance around it like a bear in the circus."

Lucia sighed. "Ok, I mean, no but yeah. They shared a few kisses but remember Quinn's sister was there. It's not like they went off to the bushes together while we all looked away." Modeus was astounded at the change from careful word picking to this, head darting to each person who spoke in the conversation.

Baynard gave her words a moment of gravity before speaking. "Does two make a fetish?" Even Peres was scandalized at that. "I'm just saying!" He held his arms up in retreat.

Peres tried to move the conversation from whatever it had gone to. "What do the other fae have to say about him? I can't believe they would be completely on board with a mage even being close to them let alone with one of them."

"No one really gave him a completely warm welcome if that's what your asking." She put her hand on top of Modeus'. "I don't think they were too excited to see Modeus either. They definitely kept their weapons on them, but I think an absurd amount of apples broke the tension before everyone started eating." She laughed under her breath. "Another fairy, I think his name was Koen, spoke with Modeus and I away from the group. They knew about me, Quinn must've let them know beforehand.”

"But they didn't let Norrix know?" Peres asked.

Lucia was a bit exasperated, having talked to too many people in one day. "Maybe they assumed I had told him." She threw her hands up. "Honestly I'd love to have a chat with them in private about every little detail that I don't know."

Modeus let her take a breath after her outburst, giving her a few seconds to just think before speaking. "We could ask Norrix to get them in contact with you." It was the obvious thing to do, but Modeus knew personally that high emotions clouded the obvious. "If Lazuli is visiting him, he could ask her to check in on you too." Lucia visibly calmed at the reminder, there is so much stress in her for so many reasons and she appreciates his calm in those moments.

"You're right, sorry." She puts her hands in her lap, subtly eyeing around the library to see if anyone out of their bubble saw her outburst. Thankfully the rest of the world seems to be unaffected. She looks back to Modeus, then the men in front of her. “I think I'm going to tell Norrix. I'd rather tell him myself than have him learn another way.” She had a sureness in her voice that demanded no questions.

Chapter Text

“How about a secret for a secret?” Lucia filled the silence of the tower. Her, Norrix, and Modeus were all working on their own separate things. They sat across from each other, far enough that everyone had the space they needed for their work while also being in easy eyesight.

Norrix looked up from his book, peering over his reading glasses. “What do you mean?”

She braced herself for the proposal she was about to make. “I know about you and Quinn now, I have something I think could make it even.”

Norrix spoke before he could think, casually flipping the page of his book. “Oh then I probably already know it.” He froze once the words left his mouth, realizing what he had said. Lucia froze too, trying to mentally figure out how to navigate this unexpected turn. Silence filled the room, Modeus making his way closer to Lucia for support and possibly protection. Norrix realized he had to be the one to cut the tension. “Quinn didn't tell me, they would never share something that could possibly hurt you.” He rambled on. “It- I don't- just ask me about it because I can't get my words right to tell you how it happened.” He was tempted to hide behind his book, avoid the ticking time bomb of this conversation through sheer will, but instead he put it down, taking off his glasses and setting them on top of the book.

Lucia was quiet, trying to parse out what she could ask that would make sure she knew he was thinking of the secret she was. “When?” Was all that came from her mouth.

“I think it was the week after Kirsi and Reimund’s wedding.” The air was thick with the knowledge of what happened then, and of the couple that had already been ripped apart since. “I was stargazing, if you could call it that being five bottles in. I don't remember my exact train of thought to use the telescope, something about searching the heavens for my mother.” He huffed out a self pitying laugh, staring at the ceiling like the stars would come through. “You'd have to tell me why you were flying. All I remember was seeing you against the moon. It was something like an artist would draw.”

He kept his gaze upward, not wanting to meet Lucia's gaze. “And you kept quiet about it that whole time?” It's not that she would think he would rat her out, but surely anyone would have a big reaction to such news. Surely he would have said something to her.

“I convinced myself for about a week after that I hallucinated it.” He huffed out air in an approximation of a laugh. “Though as time went on I did have to face the facts. No human has that level of skill in magic, not even if they studied and practiced hundreds of years.”

Lucia let the knowledge set in, remembering interactions after that time that seemed off, even for him. She sat up a bit taller, feeling the corset tug at her wings. “I'm sensing a pattern here.”

Norrix hummed in confusion before Modeus brought his own thoughts to the table. “Oh, what Baynard said?”

Two sets of eyes landed on Modeus. Lucia had to hide her smile behind her hand while looking on to Norrix's confused face. His eyes moved from Modeus to Lucia. “Does Baynard know about,” he gestured to her. “You?”

“Yes.”

They sat in silence, looking at each other. Modeus fussed with himself, worrying about his words causing turmoil in the conversation. Norrix decided to break the silence. “When did that happen?”

“Long story.”

“I have time.”

“Later, please.” She looked at him softly, not wanting to relive the emotions of that night currently.

He sighed, resolving himself to not knowing. “And he also knows about my situation?” Lucia shrugged, keeping her eyes down to the floor. “I can assume that Baynard knowing means Peres knows as well?” Both Modeus and Lucia nodded at that. “Well it's not like the knight doesn't already have enough against me. Seeing he's kept your secret for however long I'm sure he'll be sure to only make fun of me in private.”

Lucia looked at his slouched figure. “What is the deal between you two anyways?”

“Hells if I know, he's always been at my throat. Slowed down since Peres though.” He figured this was as good a time as any to ask. “What's up between them? Baynard goes from burning through squires within a week of meeting them to this.” Lucia raised an eyebrow, trying not to let on anything she shouldn't say herself. Norrix was taking none of that and looked at her blankly. “You can only hear a knight call his squire ‘pretty boy’ so many times before you have to assume a different kind of swordplay is happening.”

Lucia shocked at his brash words, trying to stop herself from laughing. “I cannot confirm or deny anything.” She let out between giggles that certainly confirmed it in Norrix’s eyes.

“Good for them honestly, someone had to shut him up.”

She eyed him. “So you'll keep it a secret?”

“Who could I even tell? I'm not exactly part of the gossip circles.” He sighed, turning his own mind in circles thinking of what else he had hidden from her. “Lucia, can I talk to you about something?” She turned her head in question, Modeus following suit. “When you made us, Quinn and I, talk, to actually have a real conversation, I asked them about what their gender meant to them. You know, I mean, there probably are humans that live similarly to them in that way, but I don't know of any personally.”

Lucia raised her palm, silencing the mage's word vomit. “If this is about what label you and Quinn's relationship falls under that is a question for them.”

Norrix huffed. “No, I think that's the least of my problems.” He composed his thoughts. “This is about me, and it's not even a question, more of letting you in on what I'm figuring out myself.” He ran his fingers through his hair, locking his eyes to the floor because he does not want to know what kind of pitying look is on Lucia's face. “I'm not sure I completely resonate with being a man.”

The silence felt like hours, he had to remind himself that Lucia needed time to process what was said. “So…” She paused. “Like you're neither at all?”

“No, it's- it's different from Quinn. I feel like a mix of it all sometimes, it changes I think, depending on the day.” He knows he's being confusing, hell he's still confused about it all. “I've told you how the stars and divination confuse me, how there's so many factors I cannot understand, it's almost like that. Quinn is helping me understand, they're doing what they can, but I think it's difficult to understand completely when the only person who knows I can only see so often. What I'm saying is, I'd like to share that part of me with you, and with Modeus by extension. In the future I hope I can tell the whole castle, but for now I can't.”

Lucia pondered what he said. “Like the stars, poetic isn't it?”

Modeus looked at Norrix, letting the words settle into him. “I have a friend.” He started. “He is a man, but people called him a girl, especially his family. Is what you're experiencing like that?”

He paused, trying to figure out who Modeus spoke of. “Sort of.” It really didn't matter who it was, Norrix appreciated that he didn't have to explain what he still couldn't completely understand to him.

“My friend, he changed his name, do you think you'd do that?”

Norrix laughed. “No, no I don't think I could. I like my name, it's what my mother left for me.” He thought it'd be harder of a choice, but honestly enough people he's met had never heard the name before anyways, it was a blank slate.

“So what does it change?” Lucia asked.

He thought, trying to find the words to explain. “Words. It changes words.” He scrambled his mind for examples. “With Quinn, what they've been doing is using feminine words for me. I'm not sure about changing to words like she, but I do like being referred to in other ways like a woman would be. Honestly I still am figuring it out and correcting myself sometimes.”

“Two lady mages.” Modeus rang out, like it was the most normal thing, like he found zero problems with the walking contradiction that is Norrix.

He laughed. “Yes, exactly Modeus.”

“I'll do my best to remember to refer to you as such in private.” Lucia knew it mattered to him, and she knew to honor it the best she could. She stood up to pull him into a hug. With Norrix still sitting he could only put his arms around her waist, noting the somewhat obvious now feel of her wings under her clothes. After a minute she pulled back, looking down to him. “Can I ask one more question?”

“Why not.”

She eyed him, hands on his shoulders. “When did you and Quinn become a thing?” The question bounced off his brain, when did it happen? Was there even a solid line defining the point from one to the other? “They didn't tell me anything about you coming back down after that big conversation.”

“Oh, no, we didn't see each other any more while they were imprisoned. They uh, they did visit the night they got out.” He still felt confused about the night, he could understand why Quinn chose to do that, but it still rattled him.

“Was that when-?”

He cut her off. “No. I mean, it was *something* but we hadn't figured things out properly.”

Modeus turned his head. “What do you mean by *something*?”

He groaned. “They came for food. Honestly I didn't have much in the room but they ate.” It was difficult to really remember the night in detail, having just woken up and also forced back asleep afterwards. “They told me about helping you, and uh…” He stammered, not knowing how to really explain what had happened. Lucia listened silently, staring into Norrix's face like she was trying to decode his expression. “They kissed me? And drained my magic. Honestly I don't know what happened after, I've only been knocked out by overuse of magic a few times before. I woke up in bed, so they must've brought me there.”

“So they used that little trick twice that night.” Lucia spoke under her breath.

“What trick?” He could probably guess but he wanted to hear it.

“I mean-” She stumbled on her words, raising her hands. “To help, with my excess magic making me sick, they did the same thing.” She fiddled with her skirts, attempting to look anywhere but Norrix. “Are you mad?” She grabbed Modeus’ hand behind her, comforting in the cool feeling on her hands.

Norrix sighed, putting his head in his hand. “At you? No. At Quinn? Also no I think.” He let his mind really put reasoning together. Looking to Lucia's questioning face. “You were sick and they knew how to fix that, at least temporarily, I won't be mad at them for helping you.” He surprised himself, the shock of learning easily fizzled into comfort of knowing the people he cared about were safe. His mind traveled to the third in the room with them. “What about you, Modeus?”

He pondered a minute, what did he feel about that. “I wish I could've been told beforehand.” His eye went from Norrix to Lucia. “But that wouldn't have been safe, I think. So I don't mind.”

It amazed Norrix the level of emotional maturity Modeus had. He's not sure how he'd respond if he were in his shoes, but likely it'd be more explosive. He grabbed his glasses and book from the table. “Now, I think we've all shared enough secrets for the next week.” He flipped the pages to find where he left off, finally allowing himself the comfort of not having to look in either face. Soon he could hear the other two settling back into their own projects, Modeus doing what could possibly be counted as whispering names as he wrote them out.

Chapter Text

It was a quiet afternoon and Norrix honestly couldn't be bothered to worry about the slowly setting sun. He sat with Octavia, both their feet in the water while Quinn went out to the deeper waters to get their energy out.

“Tell me about your parents.” It was as good a time as ever, he didn't often get to speak alone with Octavia.

“Why not ask Quinn?”

“They've told me about your mother, as much as they can tell I guess.” Norrix wavered, trying to be cautious of such a topic. “But, surprisingly I guess, they had less to say about you two's dad, Hyacinth if I'm remembering right.”

Octavia smiled, running her fingertips over the water's surface. “Yep, you've got it. I think you'd probably be scared by him, but he was a big softie.”

“They did say he was a lot like you.”

“He was-” she paused, forcing her lungs not to catch. “Our world. I guess any good parent would be. It's funny actually, people always pointed out how we looked so similar, but I think Quinn acts like him more.” He was always so kind, taking care of the other kids when other parents were busy. “He always loved being around others, I feel like I never saw him alone, same with Quinn you know? He took it hard when Mom died, tried not to show it to us. I'm not sure if what I know about his grief is from others telling me or little me finding it out somehow.”

“Trauma and memories often combat each other.”

“Dramatic as hell way to say it, but sure.” Octavia laid back on the cooled stone. Fighting the instincts telling her to cover the vital organs she had left.

Norrix followed suit, eyes following the carved stone pillars until they blended into the ceiling. “If Quinns more like you guys dad, does that make you more like your mom? I heard she was quite the fighter.”

It hurt a bit thinking about how little she knew about her. “I've been told so, at least. Couldn't do much by her second trimester and even before that dad was trying to force her to sit still for any amount of time.” The memories were faint but she could see them. Her mom, always moving always doing something, suddenly needing to rest most the day. Going from defending the faction, to helping with the little ones, to stuck in bed. Near the end there she could hardly stand without getting winded. But she was always still so happy telling Octavia every night how much of a good big sister she would be when little Quinn came.

“You alright? You don't have to tell me everything if it'll hurt, my curiosity can wait.” Norrix propped himself up by his elbows, checking her face for that blank look Quinn told him about.

She could catch herself out of this, distract from the memories. “I'm ok, but how about a topic change for a bit?” She forced a grin, looking at his eyes trying to calculate anything to talk about. “What about your dad? I've heard about your mom from Quinn but they never said anything about that.”

“Gods, hitting where it hurts I guess.” He joked, trying to slow his mind from the facts he knew. She tolerated him now, but he can't even think of her reaction to this theory, especially considering… “Mom raised me, so I can't really be sure. Only time I really even heard about him was when other staff in the mansion asked her and those responses were kept brief.” It was all the truth, as much as he felt comfortable sharing.

Octavia sat up, her scars shining in the sunlight. “Care to tell me why both of you are so cagey about saying anything if you don't know

“There's a theory.” But he'd much rather not think about it. Push down any thought of some connection to him.

“You act like I'd know him.” It felt like an arrow was notched and aimed straight through his skull. She knew, it was impossible for her not to at this point. “Well as you say he had no part in raising you, doesn't matter.” It did matter, that man is a horrible monster, but the fear in Norrix's eyes… She couldn't push this further. “Let's get back to your question. Mom, she was one of the best fighters in the faction, taken down everyone in sparring at least once. She was a great storyteller, most of my memories of her were her stories. I mean I was young, what else do you do with a youngin but tell them stories?”

“Remember any specific stories? I'd love to hear what you can remember.” Differences in cultures always fascinated him, even more so the small threads of sameness he always found Quinn pointing out

Octavia sighed, she was in it now. Of course she remembered, it was the small bit of her mother she could hold on to. “Told me about fae beasts often, apparently both sides of the family had fae that chose that route.” Goddess, at least it prepared her for dad. “She told me a story, I think it was about our great aunt who turned herself into a coyote. I'm not sure if I can tell it as well as her, but I can try.” She smiled, seeing Norrix silently asking her to go on. “Back when my great aunt was, I mean probably my age now. Wow, I remember hearing this story and thinking about how she was such an adult, I thought she had everything figured out.” Puts things in perspective for sure. “She had a fight with our grandfather. See, he was younger than her but already found a partner and started a family, she hadn't, and had no plans to. Which I guess I understand now, but back then I thought she was immature for it. The night after the fight she said she'd take the first night watch. Mom woke up sometime during her shift, trying to find her for comfort but she didn't see her anywhere. Looking out to the forest, two eyes shone back at her, she should have been scared but she knew somewhere in her that her auntie would protect her. And she did, the coyote, covered in blue flowers over its back, led mom back to her bed, pulling the covers over her and watching her until she fell asleep. When the faction woke, they were in a frenzy looking for her, mom said she was ok. But who'd believe an 8 year old when someone had just gone missing?” She pulled her braids over her shoulder, running her fingers through to try and even them out. “I'm not sure if any of the adults actually figured out what happened, but Mom said some nights, when it was especially quiet out, she'd look out into the woods and find another pair of eyes staring back, watching her grow up into the strong woman she became.”

Silence hung in the air, as Norrix waited to be sure the story was over. “Wow… Thank you. You know, most humans assume fae beasts are nothing more than fairytale, even then we don't have many stories about them.”

“Don't go sharing with every human you know, but, yeah. It's rare these days, I only know of a few myself.”

“Has Quinn told you about the one Lucia met? It was after she found this place.” He has seen it too, but only for seconds before that knight took the shot.

Dad… “Yeah, the deer. She spoke to him a bit, before, you know.”

“Him?” the moment it came out of his mouth he knew he'd done wrong, her face fell to pure neutrality.

Shit, she can not talk about that now. She can't talk at all. It feels like her throat constricts more every breath she takes. That was really all it took for her to be trapped in her mind wasn't it?

Suddenly, cold cut into her, the feeling running over her shoulder down her arm. Water, it was water. She was fine, she was ok. “Octavia!” She snapped out of it, brown eyes looked at her with concern, but they weren't the ones she was used to. Right, Norrix, they were talking. “Sorry, sorry, you weren't responding, and Quinn told me not to touch you if you got like that. But you weren't reacting to my voice, and- water.” She hardly could process his words, pressing the drops of water into her arm before the comforting cold dissipated. She sat for a minute, letting her body slowly remember how to move. “We don't have to talk about that anymore, I think Quinns coming back anyways.” He offered her an attempt at a reassuring smile, though his face was still painted with worry.

Once she felt she could focus her eyes, she watched the water, saw her sibling slowly swimming back to them. Things were ok, her family was right here, maybe some people had left, but she still had what was left. “Thank you, I needed that.”

“Anytime.”