Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

          Nox hadn’t expected much when Chase had posed the idea. The blond, after all, had found the book amongst the many in the Grunenenfelder library of “magical” reads, right between Magical Cocktails to Dazzle the Fae and Classic Bedtime Stories from Japanese Lore.

          Hardly the lengthy research that Ex Libris had at their fingertips.

          But Nox had that soft spot for Chase, and, really, Nox expected this to end with Chase pouting, much chocolate offered to soften the blow of the ‘unexpected failure,’ and the two watching Love Island because Chase believed in love and Nox believed in Drama.

          When Nox had sat down with Chase, candles lit around them (Nox noted that they were all scented from his grandmother’s stash), and the young man muttering words off the page, he expected to be bored for a few minutes as he left Chase stumble through what was obviously another myth over magic. They were out in the old Hollow barn, up in the loft that had been left dusty for years. It set the mood, Chase had claimed.

          Nox waited, knowing that he’d need to wash off after this disappointment.

          Except then smoke had blasted out from somewhere, and that was the moment that Nox took a gasp in shock. The Key felt the weight in his chest, and he coughed on instinct, waving his hand as he tried to clear it.

          “Shit– Buddy? You–” Chase coughed.

          “What did you,” Nox coughed out, “do?”

          “I-I don’t…” Chase’s voice grew faint. “Buddy?”

          There was a thump in the smoke.

          “Ch-Chase?” Nox got up, stumbling through the smoke. He found a pale hand just as his legs collapsed under him.

          He felt darkness cloud the edges of his vision. He tried to drag himself, managing to grab Chase’s hand.

          “Ch-Chase…”

          The world went dark.

Chapter Text

          “…Chase? Buddy? You guys out here?”

          Nox groaned, curling in on himself. Everything ached, and he just wanted to curl up and go back to sleep. He was pretty sure that there was a number of splinters digging into his arms.

          Wait, I’m made of metal… Nox opened his eyes, and he looked into the dusty barn space.

          It had been early morning when they’d come out, and now it was easily noon.

          He moved a hand in front of his face, and he realized something.

          His skin was pale, fleshy tones that he’d only seen between pages of books for oh so long. He felt like his bones were made of gelatin, his hand falling on the wood. He felt the fine grooves below the pads of his fingers.

          The wooden boards looked so much smaller now.

          Steps were coming up the ladder that led to the loft. Nox curled protectively, realizing that there was nothing between his body and the floor, just as a head popped over the edge.

          “Chase, what are you two… gah!” Deacon blinked, realizing what he was seeing, before he threw a hand over his eyes. “Dude! Where are your… wait, Buddy?” Deacon seemed to debate before he skidded down the ladder. “Are you HUMAN up there? Why are you NAKED???”

          Nox remembered, vaguely, that Chase had brought a bunch of things with them. He glanced around and spotted the pile. More candles, various beads, a chocolate bar, and a sheet that had a vaguely sigil-like design done in sharpie.

          The man scrapped strength to reach out and pull the sheet towards him, saving his dignity a little bit. All the energy left him from there.

          “I’m decent.” Nox mumbled, closing his eyes.

          The ladder creaked as Deacon came back up. “What happened? Where’s Chase?”

          Nox blinked, his mind booting, and he jolted up. He was human, and, as his eyes roved around, he only saw Deacon, the candles, and the accursed book.

          Wait… Something was besides the book.

          The jacket that Chase loved so. Nox felt his heart – his human heart – beat rapidly in his ears as he reached over, arms shaking.

          He lifted the jacket… and a teal key fell out.

          Nox felt his heart shoot into his throat.

          The Key didn’t glisten like the others did. It was dull like he was, with a shooting star on the grip. It gently rolled onto the wood of the loft.

          “Ch-Chase?” Nox’s voice cracked as he looked at the Key.

          There was a POP followed by a little groan, and a small humanoid body was now there.

          “Oh, oh my gods.” Nox didn’t know when Deacon had moved next to him, but now the brown-haired cousin was reaching forward, cupping the small teal body in his hands. “Chase?”

          “What?” The tiny person groaned as Deacon held him closer, gently like he did for all the Keys.

          The body rolled. “Dorkin, what do you want? I was in the middle of…” The little man seemed to realize what he had been doing and shot up. “BUDDY!”

          Bright Topaz eyes met Nox’s very human and very blue eyes.

          “IT WORKED!” Chase jumped, hands up in success, before he overcompensated and fell back. “Woah! What’s with the floor…?”

          Chase seemed to realize where he was.

          He looked at his hands – his little metal hands – and then back up at Nox and Deacon.

          “Huh.” Chase voiced.

          Chase’s clothes didn’t really fit Nox, but Deacon was just a smidge taller and wider, so his fit Nox well.

          Nox did not enjoy borrowing Deacon’s clothes.

          He’d only accepted a pair of jeans, a black t-shirt, some undergarments (fresh and new – thanks Beth for all the extras), and a pair of old sneakers. He draped Chase’s jacket over his shoulders, insisting that he didn’t want to be separated from it.

          Chase looked, well, like himself. Well, maybe more like he had when they’d been in the Trap Book. He was in a loose jacket, a t-shirt, his jeans, and his high tops, little star-like studs in his ears as his hair was held back with a sweatband. On the back of his jacket, there was the shooting star logo that Nox had seen on his Key.

          He was smaller than even Silver.

          “Being a Key is so weird.” Chase had stated as he looked around the Tower. “Why does everything feel so dull?”

          “This is, indeed, a strange situation, Nox.” Violet intoned from where she stood on his shoulder. Nox sat with his back straight on the floor, afraid to send her toppling.

          Deacon was across the room, flipping through the book that Chase had brought over from the barn.

          “What language even is this? Spanish? French? Latin?” Deacon asked as he looked through it. “All the English notes are hand-written.”

          “I don’t know. It looked spooky enough to work.” Chase returned.

          Silver had a wet wipe in hand as she cleaned some of the dust off Chase, shining up his surface even as he didn’t seem to sparkle. “I am astounded that this happened.”

          Bronze was looking over Chase. “Going to be honest – never heard of this one before.”

          “Indeed! Prior to Nox, though, I’d never think of a human becoming a Key!” Goldie was looking over Chase, but it was more out of excitement. “I do wonder what part you play.”

          “Oh man, can I turn into a Key again?” Chase took a breath, clenching his eyes shut as he seemed to focus on something.

          They watched for a few moments before Chase opened his eyes. “Did it work?”

          “Obviously not.” Nox spoke. He felt a little hand tug his hair, and he turned to see Violet looking at him.

          “I wish to be transported down.” She spoke.

          “What, are your legs broken?” Nox returned even as he lifted a hand to set her down.

          “See if I dress you well in the future." Violet huffed as she stepped onto Nox’s hand. His hand shook some, still unused to his human form, though she took a wider stance to stabilize herself. Nox was as careful as he could as he set her down.

          Deacon was watching Nox, and Nox noticed. The darker man looked at the brunette. “What?”

          “You’re really shaky.” Deacon stated. “Have you always been like that?”

          “Did you fail to remember that I have not been human for a time now?” Nox threw back. Still, he forced his hand to still.

          “Maybe you need to eat?” Chase suggested. Chase broke ranks from the other Keys and grabbed Nox’s knee. He started scrambling up the leg, and Nox immediately went to cup a hand under Chase.

          “You can let him fall.” Violet waved. “It would need to be more significant than a little fall like that to break him.”

          “Chase! Do be careful!” Silver yelled as she cupped her hands to her mouth.

          Chase managed to get up to Nox’s shoulder, grinning wildly. “Wow, this is fun. Buddy, do you think that I can still eat bread while I’m a Key?”

          “We should be worrying about getting you back to being human, you little dolt!” Nox insisted.

          “Grandpa is going to murder us.” Deacon looked over the text. He spun the text around to where a sticky note had been put. “Is this yours?”

          Given that it was a piece of limited-edition Star Brigade stationary with try this one scrawled on it, it was likely Chase’s work.

          Chase squinted at the page, and Nox went to cup his hands in case Chase fell. Chase gripped his own jacket, though, so there was less chance of him spilling over this time.

          “Mmmmmm… yeah, that looks right.” Chase stood back, waving his free hand. “I just followed it. Got some candles, mid sun, the whole shebang.”

          Deacon blinked, looking down at the page. “That’s what you read? This page is a mess!”

          “It’s clearly a transformation spell.” Chase gestured to Nox. “And it worked! Look at Buddy!”

          “And look at yourself.” Nox countered.

          “We can just do it again.” Chase shrugged.

          “Nope, no more magic until we figure out what you did.” Deacon snapped the book shut. He sighed as he stood up. “I’m going to the bookstore to find some translation dictionaries. Chase, you… don’t die.”

          “I do that all the time!” Chase pouted.

          Deacon went to climb down the ladder, but Nox spoke. “And what am I supposed to do?”

          “I don’t know.” Deacon looked back up. “What did you do before you were a Key for fun?”

          Nox frowned, crossing his arms and looking away.

          Chase pouted. “Can’t we come with?”

          Nox looked back at Chase on his shoulder. “I’m sorry, ‘we?’ There is no ‘we.’ You need to stay hidden.”

          “Well I do this with Silver all the time! And I offer for you, but you’re so nervous about it!” Chase protested. “Come on! Just throw on a hoodie, pull up the hood, and I’ll hide inside!”

          Chase bickered his way into coming.

          “Stop pulling the fabric! This is limited edition!” Chase whispered into Nox’s ear as Nox pulled at the hood of the Star Brigade red hoodie.

          “Forgive me if I do not want to expose magic to the broader world.” Nox whispered back.

          Nox rarely went out with Chase and Deacon, even as he learned as much as he could about their world as it was now. It was a time of adjustment for him, giving him all the information that he would need to know before he became human again and reintegrated into society.

          So Nox had some applicable knowledge of the human world as it was now, but the bookstore there was, perhaps, best for him. Written texts had existed long before Nox, and they would exist long after. The bookstore was packed to the gills with old paper and ink, something that was somewhat nerve-wracking but familiar.

          Books both reminded him of Ex Libris and his family in the Keys as well as the story of how he came to meet Chase. A complicated situation all around.

          Still, having Chase in his ear was leaning him more towards familiar and comforting then stifling. Deacon had been comparing various language books to the pictures that he’d taken of the spellbook on his phone (he’d left it packed in a plastic container in the Tower, not wanting to risk it becoming damaged or lost). Nox had offered his assistance, but after a… disagreement, well, he’d been banned from the Languages section.

          Which seemed fine for Chase. Chase was excited to at least talk to Nox as they walked around.

          “We should go to the music section. Or comic books.” Chase said as he pointed to each. “Oh! You brought my wallet, right? There’s a café next door. We can do that, too.”

          That did draw Nox’s attention, but he bit back that urge. He’d felt less shaken after, indeed, he’d eaten a sandwich and drunk some water (he could not believe that he’d forgotten hunger and thirst, something that he’d known for so many years before he’d become a Key), so he was able to hold back his own instinct to run towards food, especially his preferred pastries and sweets.

          “We shall stay in the store for now.” Nox insisted as he turned towards the comic book section.

          While Chase was not a big reader in general, picture books – as Nox had gotten to calling them, mostly to piss off Chase – had been an exception to the rules. He had several that he enjoyed, though he largely bought them second hand, in bulk compilations, or borrowed the larger books when the library had them.

          “Oh! Grab that one! I’ve read it, but I don’t have it. You think Deacon would buy it, and we could do that for a Narratonin run?” Chase questioned.

          Nox rolled his eyes, but he nevertheless picked it up. He flipped through the cartoonish story, noting the plot points and characters from the first few pages.

          He felt a pull at his ear. “Stop skimming and read it! Don’t you always tell me to read the story?”

          “When it is not for a four-year-old, indeed.” Nox shot back.

          Chase gasped in his ear. “Dude! Comics are for ALL ages!”

          “Chase?” The voice was behind Nox, and the man flinched. He put a hand up to his shoulder, shoving Chase back.

          That was not Deacon’s voice, nor anyone that Nox knew.

          Chase fell back down the sweatshirt, grabbing the hood, and the whole thing slid back. Nox spun, the weight settling in his hood at his back.

          There was a young man there wearing a grey hoodie.

          “Oh, you aren’t Chase.” He cocked his head to the side. “You sounded like him, though.”

          Nox was panicked, and he did not know how to respond.

          “Per-erhaps-s you mis-sheard.” Nox felt his tongue twist, though his smooth tones did not come to him.

          The savior came, though, when another figure emerged from the languages aisle, books in hand. “Buddy? Oh, hey Simon. Buddy, come help me with these!”

          Nox normally loathed to do anything the brunette asked for, but he immediately looped around the teenager in the hoodie and took half the pile from Deacon.

          “Buddy?” Simon blinked. He had a CD in one hand, but it came up to use the CD as a pointer. “Are you Chase’s Buddy? The mysterious BF?”

          “I… Perhaps?” Nox returned.

          “Is your name really Buddy?”

          Nox couldn’t help but let a little of his Villain side show. “Wouldn’t you like to know?”

          He felt a pull at the nape of his neck, no doubt Chase protesting his words.

          “It’s his nickname.” Deacon returned, rolling his eyes at Nox’s words. “He refused to introduce himself properly for a while, so Chase named him.”

          “You name it, you keep it.” Simon nodded like his words made so much sense.

          Nox scowled. “Indeed, I have a proper name, though the Little Idiot and Freckles refuse to use it.”

          “Hey! You still call me Freckles all the time!”

          “So where is Chase?” Simon cut in, looking around. “I thought I heard him, like, a second ago.”

          Deacon flinched, his eyes trailing to Nox’s hood. Nox forced his frame to remain relaxed.

          “He was around here somewhere.” Deacon returned. “Probably doing something Chase-ish.”

          “Huh.” Simon pulled out his phone. “I’ll have to text him. If he pops back up soon, let me know.”

          “Indeed.” Nox nodded. “You are… his best friend, correct?”

          “Yeah, Simon.” Simon tucked the phone back in his hoodie and stuck out a hand. “Designated Best Friend since third grade. Glad to know that he talks about me.”

          Nox took the hand and shook it. Simon’s grip was strong.

          “Chase does indeed love his stories.” They broke the shake. “You, that fellow Ross, and many others.”

          “Awe, that’s so Chase.” Simon’s smile was small, relaxed. “Anyway, what brings you to these parts? Chase is always so mysterious about you.”

          “He’s helping me with some stuff.” Deacon cut in. “And we have to get the truck back, so…”

          “Awe… but I just got him!” Simon pouted as he pointed to Nox. “I have to do my best friend duty and grill him.”

          “Perhaps another time.” Nox returned swiftly.

          “Boo.” The grey-haired teen leaned back. “Well, I’ll grill Chase to bring you around next time. You got a cell phone number?”

          “No.”

          Simon lifted an eyebrow.

          “It… broke.” Nox followed. “In the wash.”

          Deacon looked so ready to die where he stood.

          Simon, though, seemed to chew on the response before nodding. “Yeah, that happens. Well, I’ll ask Chase for your number when you get a new one.” The teenager gave a wave of his hand as he turned to the music section. “See ya, Buds. Bye Deacon.”

          Nox wanted to reply, but Deacon was already pulling him towards checkout.

          “You made a friend!” Chase cheered once they got back to the car.

          “You almost blew your cover!” Nox threw back.

          “You two are morons!” Deacon sighed as he got the car started.

          Deacon had figured out a plan of attack on the way home to cover for Chase’s little “issue” of the evening. Grandpa had been planning to be home late, but he always made rounds on the rooms before he retired to his own. Given that Chase would be MIA, Deacon had Chase message their grandfather from his cell phone that he’d been invited over to a friend’s house.

          As for Nox, well, it was a lot harder to hide a whole human.

          So, after going in circles, Nox dropped himself on the couch of the living room and crossed his arms.

          “I am a friend from university passing through.” Nox posed. “If he questions my lateness, I will propose that I am staying at the inn across the way. You did say the child’s mother runs one, yes?”

          “But what if he checks?” Deacon asked.

          Chase rolled his eyes. “Grandpa’s coming back from Bingo with Diane. He’s going to be more set on revenge.”

          Deacon wasn’t sure how to proceed from there, so Chase pestered Buddy until he could get the remote handed to him. Chase flipped through the channels and streaming services until K-Pop Demon Hunters was on the screen.

          “Again?” Nox looked at his tiny boyfriend.

          Chase’s eyes glistened as he looked up. He was so small, precious, and Nox wondered how he hadn’t accidentally broken him yet.

          Hadn’t harmed another Key.

          “It’s good! Don’t deny it!”

          Later that evening, the grandfather did appear for a brief burst. Deacon had warned him of the ‘friend from college stopping by,’ so Ralph wasn’t surprised, per say, though he did ask a few questions. Chase had made Nox watch a movie called The Prince and Me in order to prepare him, and Nox was nothing if not a practiced actor.

          So he stole the answers from the heroine of that tale, appeasing the old man before he reminded Deacon to sleep soon and Nox to head out when they were done, no matter if his bed was just across the road. He also had a few choice words about Diane and messaged Chase as he went upstairs.

          Deacon was sitting near Chase’s phone when it buzzed, and he panicked as he shoved it under a cushion. Ralph didn’t seem to notice, though.

          Still, it wasn’t long after the old man’s room lights went off that Deacon gave a dramatic ‘escort out’ for Nox before shoving him into Chase’s room and insisting that he try to sleep the night.

          And, as much as Nox loathed to admit it, he was exhausted.

          After another round with the Keys, he’d closed the trap door. Chase was on his bed, of course, and typing out messages to his family and friends.

          Nox hesitated.

          Chase looked up. “Oh! You should get some pajamas on! I think some of my sleep pants will work? Let me just…” Chase stood, going to the side of the bed, then pausing.

          He stared out at the space before him.

          Nox waited. “Chase?”

          “It’s weird.” Chase said. “I’m so small.”

          Nox came over, gently setting himself on the edge of the bed, careful not to dislodge the Key-sized man. He bit his tongue at the snappish response, instead trying to choose his words wisely.

          “It is a strange shift.” He spoke, knowing the feeling all too well. “How do you feel? Genuinely?”

          Chase sat down, staring at his shoes for a moment.

          Nox normally wasn’t the one to offer comfort, but he tried to pull on his mind of what Chase would do now.

          Chase adored physical affection. Strong hugs and soft touches. Nox was always hesitant to offer trust in general, but he set his hand close to where Chase rested, well within reach for the small Key.

          The teal Key looked at the hand before hesitantly reaching over with his little hand, setting it on one of Nox’s fingers. “Everything feels… weird. Like, Silver told me how they don’t feel things so intensely, and I guess it never clicked? But everything is dull.” Chase leaned over, putting his head and body on Nox’s whole hand.

          “And everything is so far. I’m used to, well, the evil of the top shelves, but this is worse.” Chase huffed, no doubt in frustration. “And I’m… I’m…”

          “Scared?”

          Chase looked up at Nox’s soft words.

          “It is a feeling that I am familiar with.” Nox returned, not allowing his eyes to leave Chase. “Fear is a familiar bedfellow, as you know.”

          The smaller man sat up. “But… you don’t have that now, right?”

          Nox looked away.

          “Buddy?”

          “I… I do. Fear.” He stuttered out. “But-t. No-ot like I did. Before.”

          Chase waited.

          “I fear for your safety. For my family. For all of us.” Nox looked down at Chase. “I fear that I will hurt you as you are now.”

          “Buddy…”

          “But,” Nox cut in. “I do not fear you. Never you. In the Tower, with you and the others…” He bit his lip. “You give me hope.”

          The tiny body flopped back down on Nox’s hand, and Nox looked to see Chase trying to grip the whole thing.

          “This was easier when I was bigger.” Chase huffed.

          The darker man snorted. “You have successfully redirected my question. It is now your turn.”

          Chase looked up.

          “I guess… I am scared of a lot of the same things.” Chase rolled, and Nox instinctively went to cup him. Chase lay in Nox’s hands as he stared up at the taller man. “Like, I know we can probably fix this with Narratonin, but hiding me forever isn’t going to work.”

          Nox sighed as he held Chase close. He knew that body heat was a precious feeling, and holding Chase close to his core would give him the most. In his own Key Person form, it took much heat to penetrate the surface.

          Chase tucked in close.

          “And I can’t even get mad at the small jokes now.”

          Nox snorted. “Oh, of all the atrocities.”

          “You were four inches, and I’m three and three quarters! Life isn’t fair!”

          Nox couldn’t help but chuckle.

          To Chase, though, the reverberations were wonderous. The movement and sound replacing what his own body lacked. A heartbeat in his ear as none radiated from his chest.

          He’d wondered, many times, what it was like to be a Key. How it would feel. What it was like for Buddy to become one.

          And, sure, there were some cool things. He could eat bread, he didn’t need to pee, and he was made of metal.

          But… there was also a lot that sucked, and Chase now understood his boyfriend oh so much better.

          “Direct me.” Buddy offered as he stood, Chase still close. “I shall be your height until we can get you back to your… slightly taller size.”

          “Oh ha-ha.”

          In the morning, Chase groaned as he awoke. His body felt like he’d pulled every muscle imaginable. Like he’d discovered new muscles just to strain them.

          He rolled out of bed, smacking into the ground, the sheets and blankets wrapped around his waist.

          He looked up and realized that the bed was within reach.

          Normally, this wasn’t unusual, but he’d gone to bed the night before on a pillow near his boyfriend’s head, no larger than a, well, a Key.

          “I’m back! Wait, oh no…” Chase got up, realizing that he was dressed the same way as yesterday as he pulled the blanket around him.

          On the bed, Buddy slept at the center, unaware of the world around him. He was, unfortunately, being back to only a few inches tall and made of metal.

          Chase sighed, sad that the spell hadn’t stuck. He wanted Buddy to be back to his human self so badly, and, while he, too, wanted to be human… not at the cost of Buddy’s happiness.

          If it was between him and Buddy, he’d gladly stay a Key until they could find a fix.

          Still, it seemed like it wasn’t meant to be. Chase gently went about throwing on some fresh clothes before he considered waking his boyfriend, wanting to save himself some dignity before they got too far into the day.

          He was also going to give Buddy so many hugs in the books today. And twice as much chocolate.

Chapter Text

          Nox groaned as he rolled over. His head pounded – which was, admittedly, new since he’d become a Key. A flash of light crossed the space of the barn from where a window had been left open, and Nox put his hand in front of his face to block it out.

          It was, unfortunately, still metallic and near black in color.

          Nox knew that it was an impossibility. There was unlikely to be anything that could undo this except his Wish.

          Still, the Little Idiot had a way of making you want to believe him, no matter the odds.

          Once the ache faded, Nox got himself standing, the dust clinging to his metallic surface. “Great job, really. I now need to disinfect myself.” Nox looked around, expecting Chase to be nearby.

          His eyes scanned the pile of things that Chase had brought with them – an innumerable number of random bits and bobs – as well as where Chase had been sitting with the book. His jacket had been tossed behind him when he’d cast the so-called “spell,” but…

          There was no Chase.

          “Chase?” Nox voiced, his tone now softer, more laced with worry. He quickly made his way across the gap to where the book sat.

          Nox looked about, expecting the Little Idiot to suddenly appear, but there was no sign. He wouldn’t leave me here… right? A part of Nox whispered in worry.

          Of course not. One that was stronger, more confident returned. A voice that strangely reminded him of Violet. He adores you, and it isn’t in him to leave you behind without a word.

          Nox stepped around the book, his eyes going to the jacket.

          He froze, something catching his attention.

          A Key Loop jutting out from behind the sleeve of the jacket.

          No. Impossible. Nox stepped, hesitantly, forward towards the sleeve. As he got closer, he could see over the fabric.

          Teal metal, much like he’d seen with tarnished copper in some ways. It did not sparkle, but it did hum with an energy Nox knew all too well. Carved shaft with a star-like cut in the Key tooth, the emblem on the handle that of a shooting star.

          Nox stumbled over, going to his knees as he pulled the Key close. “No nonono…”

          There was a startling POP, and Nox’s fears were confirmed.

          In his arms was a Key, but it was unlike any before.

          He looked like Chase.

          “Did someone get the number of that bust that hit me?” Chase groaned, rolling slightly into Nox’s grip. He buried his head into the crook of Nox’s arm. “Wake me up when September ends.”

          “Chase, Chase! This is no time to sleep!” Nox shook him gently.

          Chase looked up at him, his warm brown eyes now a honeyed Topaz. If Nox was to hazard a guess, he’d describe Chase’s attire much like he had looked in the Trap Book. Jacket, shirt, and jeans with high top shoes and a sweat band around his head. His ears were studded with stars, and the back of his jacket now bore the same emblem as what had been on the Key before.

          The man in Nox’s arms squinted before he pat Nox’s chest with one hand. The hand then trailed up to Nox’s face, cupping his cheek.

          Chase seemed to process what was happening.

          “Oh.” Chase spoke, his hand coming away from Nox’s face as he stared at it. “Oh, shit.”

          Chase's clothes had largely disappeared when he'd done... whatever he'd done, but his tossing off of his jacket had saved it from the transformation. It took a team effort to dig out Chase's phone and call Deacon as back up.

          Well, it took several calls for the brunette to wake up and respond, though that was more grunts and vague noises of movement, and two more before Deacon seemed to waken enough to come out to the barn.

          He had stared at them a long time before he shook himself back to the present.

          "What did you do???" Deacon asked, staring specifically at Chase.

          "Listen! I found this book in Mrs. G's library, and it worked!" Chase waved at the book. "Kind of!"

          "You turned yourself into a Key!" Nox rubbed his forehead as he said this. "That was not the intention of this at all!"

          Deacon picked up the book, looking between the pages and the candles. "What even is this? Latin? Spanish? French?" Deacon squinted at it as he held the book slightly sideways. "The only thing in English are these chicken scratch notes."

          Chase rolled his eyes. "'Cool! Chase you are clearly a magical wizard genius.'" He mimicked in a voice that sounded vaguely like Deacon.

          Deacon scoffed. Nox wanted to smack his boyfriend for being an idiot. Sadly, he was currently a Key...

          Oh wait. Nox realized as he stepped over towards Chase.

          "Ow!" Chase yelped as Nox smacked him upside the head. Chase rubbed the spot. "That hurt... Kind of." Chase dropped his hand. "Kind of. It hurt my feelings."

          "Tough." Nox scoffed. "And, given your current metal state, that was hardly enough force to do damage."

          "Huh." Chase flexed his fingers. "Yeah, everything feels... weird. Like I'm touching things through gloves." He looked down at his feet. "How do I feel my toes but, like, not?"

          "Don't think about it too hard. You will harm your last functional brain cell." Nox returned. "That is, if it hasn't been shut down already."

          "Ok," Deacon snapped the book shut. "I'm going to need more research. You two are going back to the Tower ASAP."

          Deacon paused as he looked at Chase again.

          "How are we going to hide this from Grandpa?" The elder cousin questioned.

          Chase hummed. He scratched his chin. "He probably won't notice until later? I can figure something out then."

          Deacon pinched the bridge of his nose. "Just... text him. Make up a reason to be missing for now."

          With that, Deacon picked up the book and jacket, shoving Chase's phone in his own pocket. He looked at the piles of other things that Chase had dragged out there before shaking his head, seemingly deciding against it.

          He offered a hand to Chase and Nox.

          "You know, I always did wonder how it was to be a Key." Chase said as he stepped up onto the hand. Nox followed him.

          Chase then almost toppled as Deacon stood, lifting them to his height. Nox, prepared for the movement, grabbed Chase and kept him from falling.

          "Woah!" The smaller man yelped.

          Deacon winced. "Sorry?"

          "It helps to take a wider stance." Nox informed Chase. He, indeed, had his legs slightly parted, arms releasing the smaller man to cross behind his back. "Or to sit as you get used to it. It is not an intuitive skill."

          Chase hummed before he looped an arm through Nox's, closing his hands together as he gripped the other Key. "Ok! I'm ready!"

          Nox was glad that he was in his Key form, for he would be blushing deeply if it were not the case.

          Deacon shook his head as he made his way back to the main house.

          "This is ridiculous. Ridiculous!" Violet waved her hands in the air as she circled Chase. "A second human turned Key!" She paused to look between Chase and Nox. Chase was still holding Nox's hand even as Nox tried not to hide his dopey smile. "Well, at least it is an upgrade. Unbecoming for you, Nox, to be so enamored by a human."

          Nox scowled at her. "I was formerly human and, as I remind you, that I wish to be human again."

          "Again, a poor choice." Violet huffed.

          "Violet! Be nice." Silver chided as she came up behind her sister. She came up to Chase and smiled. "I will admit, though, it is interesting to see you as a Key!"

          "I wonder what role I am." Chase looked down at himself. “Am I, like, ‘super cool and musically awesome’ guy?”

          “That isn’t… how it works.” Silver hummed.

          “Preposterously narrow as well.” Violet nodded.

          The former blond – now teal-haired – Key hummed. “Is there, like, a musician Key?”

          “I would assume the archetype of ‘artisan’ would work.” Nox hummed in return. “Can you even turn into a Key?”

          “I mean, you said I was.” Chase released Nox’s hand as he puffed his cheeks. “How do I turn back into one?”

          Silver and Violet looked at one another.

          “For many of us, it is akin to falling asleep. Instinctual, in a way.” Silver responded.

          Violet met eyes with Nox, and he looked away. He was the only other human-turned-Key up until today, so he would be the greatest knowledge on it.

          That being said, Nox found his transformation… traumatic, to say the least. Going into his Key form compounded on that.

          Chase frowned, trying to think. “Ok, relax, relax…” Chase took a breath, standing tall. He seemed to freeze, his hands at his sides as he closed his eyes.

          He stood there like that for a moment.

          “…did it work?” The teen questioned.

          “Evidently not.” Nox retorted. “Considering that you are speaking to us.”

          The Teal Key opened his eyes and frowned. “Shoot. Well, minus one cool power.”

          “Perhaps you share your abilities more in alignment with Nox.” Silver proposed. “What of doing a book?”

          “Oh! Yeah, you always know the plot.” Chase turned to Nox, smiling. “We should do one! Maybe I can still generate Narratonin? With Deacon gone and Prunella with her cousins today, we can pick an easy one.”

          Nox hummed before looking to Violet. “If it wouldn’t be a bother.”

          “You owe me, human.” Violet returned as she turned her nose in the air. “And I only do this for Nox’s sake.”

          “More snacks, coming up as soon as I can go to the store again.” Chase stuck a thumb’s up.

          “Only the finest brands!”

          They’d chosen an adaption of Rapunzel. Rapunzel's parents made a deal with the witch so that they could bear children - their first for her help. Rapunzel held great power herself, and the Witch siphoned that to keep herself young. The Witch visited every day, and the prince came in the evening, until Rapunzel wanted to be free. She and the Witch would fight, and the Witch would magically seal the tower.

          Rapunzel, however, had been given a knife of pure steel, and that would allow her to cut through the magic and escape with the prince when he returned. They would fight witch and escape the forest to his kingdom, and then they'd live happily ever after.

          Well, that was how the story was supposed to go.

          Nox was a perfectionist, so he went first to kick off the story and had Chase join him a few minutes in, therefore bypassing his "baby" stage. That being said, Nox felt a jolt when he saw Chase in the tower for the first time.

          His eyes had deepened more to the color that they had been prior, but they were still faceted, the pupil passing through the shined surface. It was so abnormal to the man.

          Granted, Chase was also surrounded by long blond locks that draped over every surface. He grinned as he looked at Nox. "You think I can get some sponsors for haircare with this? I'm thinking L'Oréal."

          Nox knew that, if nothing else, Chase would never change.

          "Let me start by brushing this mess out." Nox began as he found the brush that the Witch used to siphon off Rapunzel's magic through her hair.

          Chase stood, his hair flowing behind him. "I can do my own hair. I have, like, so many mad skills."

          He then tripped over a clump of his own elongated hair.

          Nox sighed.

          Thankfully, Silver had seemingly foresaw the potential headache that this much hair would bring, and Nox found that the bulk of the strands were clip-ins to Chase's hair. He removed the most egregious of the hair, forming a knot in the end so that it could still act in its role as a ladder throughout the story. Once that was done, Chase's hair was still greatly elongated, though it was far more manageable, reaching far down his back to hover just above the floor.

          Nox... deviated slightly from there. While most of the story staged this interaction to have the Witch on a fine chair, looming behind Rapunzel as the girl sat on the floor, Nox directed Chase to the bed, having the smaller man sit in front of him as he worked through the hair.

          Chase hummed as Nox did so. “Huh.” Nox paused as Chase looked back at him. “This isn’t right.”

          Nox froze. “Did I-I harm yo-ou?”

          “Oh. No. You were doing great!” Chase smiled. He looked at the hair. “I just… Like, I have this little itch?” He lifted his hand to itch his chest. “Like, I know that we’re supposed to be over by the fire place.”

          Nox shook his head as he fixed Chase’s face back forward. “That is what it is like to have read the book.”

          “Is this another weird Key thing?” Chase looked back. “THAT’S how you cheat! You always know the plot because of your weird magic!”

          Nox fixed Chase’s face again.

          “And, yet, you continue to disregard the plot.”

          Chase looked back just to stick his tongue out at Nox.

          When they emerged, Chase looked at Silver’s vial, frowning at the tiny drop at the bottom. “Awe… but I did the whole story!”

          Violet passed her vial to Nox before twirling away from him. “If you need me, I will be utilizing the tablet for my shows.” She looked around before cupping her hands to her mouth. “Bronze! I will be continuing with the House Wives should you choose to join!”

          Somehow, Chase knew that, on a shelf, a little bronze man was rolling out of his mitt to watch the drama.

          Silver gave her vial to Chase. “How was it, Chase?”

          Chase took the droplet. “It was different. Thanks for playing ball.”

          Silver nodded. “I will be knitting should you need me.” She looked at Nox. “Keep an eye on him?”

          “Of course, Silver.” Nox smiled at her.

          He always had a soft spot for her. Besides Violet, Chase was pretty sure that Silver was Buddy's favorite sibling.

          Once they dropped off the droplets off in the jar, Buddy hesitated before taking Chase's hand. Chase looked up. "Wo-would you-u like to sp-spend the aft-ternoon with me-e?"

          Chase's face lit up. "Sure! What do you want to do?"

          Nox had considered the many things that he had wanted to do with Chase. He wanted to take him out like two humans, not held to the rails of a story. He wanted to make dinner, to cuddle on the couch, to see a movie.

          He couldn't do all these things yet, but there was a few ideas that he could while they were here. While they were of relatively equivalent size.

          He guided Chase back to his space. With the two new Keys moving in and the great amount of things all over the Tower, they'd eventually found an old bookshelf from a garage sale to help with storage.

          Violet claimed the top shelf for herself. She liked to lord over them, though Chase and Deacon had set her up with a pully system and a ladder to make getting up and down easier when they weren’t there to help. Nox had taken the shelf second from the bottom, which was easily accessible with a small stack of books organized like a stairwell.

          Nox’s room was not true darkness, but he immediately flipped on the fairy lights that Chase had strung overhead with the glow-in-the-dark stars. Once he’d explained his claustrophobia, Chase had gone above and beyond to make the space feel, well, spacious without compromising the security Nox also wanted.

          Nox had a tissue box bed, much like Silver, as well as the walls plastered with various places, including printouts of where he grew up when he’d been there (complicated feelings with that one, though he hadn’t wanted to shy away from the things that made him who he was anymore). He had a variety of soft fabrics and things to touch as he missed his finer senses while in his Key form. Chase had also insisted on a “kitchenette” of sorts after the fourth time Nox accidentally left his chocolate out and got bugs, which consisted of a resealable food-safe container, a water bottle, and a bunch of dollhouse furniture, including a table, chairs, dishware, a rug, and storage.

          What Nox loved the most, though, was an old iPod that they’d plugged into a battery pack filled with music and movies thanks to Deacon.

          Nox skipped ahead, kicking some of the chocolate crumbs onto the rug (he’d have to clean that later) before he got up to the music player. A few strokes on the scrolling wheel, and soft music began to fill the space. A classic, airy waltz.

          The Villain Key turned back to see Chase looking confused.

          “Do-o you wa-ant to d-dance?” Nox tried, rubbing his neck as he did so. He looked away at the false wall, which they’d made of cardboard with windows and curtains.

          When he looked back, Chase’s face was lit with a broad, wide smile.

          “Are you asking me on a date?” He skipped forward. “My, such a gargantuan.”

          Nox rolled his eyes. “Now you’re just being obtuse.”

          “I said what I said.” Chase huffed, crossing his arms. “I’m waiting for a date, by the way.”

          The darker key stepped forward, offering a hand to the lighter. “Well, I was looking to ask my paramour for a dance.”

          Nox was sure that Chase would be blushing if he could. He had that look on his face, wide eyes and looking for something to say, but he did offer a hand.

          Nox led, swirling Chase as the smaller man fell into his hold. Chase blinked, processing what was happening, as Nox spun him around the room, following the beats of the song.

          Neither seemed to be able to take their eyes off one another.

          “You know, I still think your music choices are a little lame.” Chase cut in. Nox snorted, but the other continued. “But I kind of like this one.”

          “O-oh?”

          “Yeah.” Chase set his head against Nox’s chest. There was a little clink as he did so. “I’m going to think about our first real dance when I hear it now.”

          “This isn’t how I imagined it.” Nox whispered, their waltz turning into more slow swaying as he pulled Chase closer, setting his lips to the crown of Chase’s head. “How you keep surprising me, I will never understand.”

          “I like to keep people on their toes.” Chase tilted his head up, dislodging Nox before he got up on his toes to peck Nox on the lips. “They call me a Man of Mystery, after all.”

          The shock from the kisses had never quite shaken off for Nox, but that second line certainly shortened the recovery. Still, The Villain Key had a silly smile as he responded. “Truly, an enigmatic man.”

          Chase leaned back from the grasp. “Hey, do you still have the Star Brigade discography I downloaded?”

          “No, absolutely not.” Nox threw back. “I refuse to listen to one of your boybands on a romantic outing of my creation.”

          Chase pouted. “Awe… Can we grab my phone and go watch that TV show you like? Bridgerton?”

          Nox opened his mouth, closed it, and considered.

          “…I do believe we could make a fine fort near my bed for this occasion.”

          “Buddy, you are speaking my language!”

          “Chase? Nox? Are you well?” A golden hand knocked on the door to the abode. “Deacon has returned! He is still working on the spell, but he assures me that it is coming along!”

          When there was no response, Goldie slowly pushed the doorway in to peak into the space. It was dark if not for the dim glow of the stars overhead, leading up to the corner that Nox kept his bed arrangements. Goldie spotted the various fabrics, handkerchiefs, and a blanket Silver had knit dragged into the area in front of the bed, a chair from Nox’s table peaking out from the mounds of cloth. Chase’s phone was propped against the opposing wall, the screen flickering as posh ladies and gentlemen spoke on the screen.

          Now, Goldie was generally quite loud, a fact that Nox had stated many times before. Never had Big Gold – or most anyone – been able to sneak up on the Villain Key. Even when he slept, he would startle up at the slightest of disturbances.

          Gold kept his steps as light as he could as he approached, peering into the cavern made of the furniture and felts. Beneath the canopy, he found Nox snoozing, crumbs of his precious snacks scattered about, and a King Bar wrapper crumpled and used as an arm rest. His head lolled onto the smaller man tucked under his arm, Chase wrapped in Silver’s blanket as he pulled Nox close, soft snores escaping on the man’s breathe.

          Goldie crept out, not wanting to bother them further.

          Deacon sighed the next morning when he found Chase still small. “I was hoping that you would somehow sleep it off.”

          “Me, too. Kinda.” Chase stretched, more out of habit than anything. Though, if he was being honest, he did feel an ache at his back.

          Weird Key things, probably.

          Prunella knelt down to look closer at Chase. “Wow. Can I become a Key?”

          “No, absolutely not.” Violet insisted. “I refuse to keep eyes on a child. Keeping you humans in line is enough for me.”

          “Considering I still don’t know how to reverse it, let’s say no.” Deacon stated as he pulled out a book. “For now, I told Grandpa that you slept over at a friend's last night.” The elder cousin glared at the younger. “You so owe me.”

          “Yeah, yeah, we’ll do one of your pony books or something.” Chase waved a hand at the taller man.

          “For now, we pretend everything is normal. Grandpa is out today, and Prunella will tell her mom that we hung out together.”

          “I got to pick the book.” She said, sitting up to point at the cover. “It’s about a wizard who goes to magical school to tame griffins.”

          “Wasn’t that a movie?” Bronze questioned, looking at the book.

          “The movie was adapted from the book.” The college student shrugged. “The plot is basically the same except for a few small things, like meeting more characters and a scene at one of the dinners. Garret is the main character with Daniel and Gabrielle as his support. There’s also a couple of mean girls who hang out with Garret’s rival, Lawrence, so, Buddy, you get to basically chill out most of the book.”

          “I imagine that I will be spending my ample free time keeping you three in line.” The Villain Key sighed.

          “Hey! I get cool Key powers too, now!” Chase huffed.

          Deacon blinked. “When did you find that?”

          “Yesterday.” Chase shrugged.

          “Cool.” Prunella stated. “What can you do?”

          “Let’s get in there, and you will see!”

          Indeed, Chase had the best run of a book. Sure, he still got off track, but the magic and the actions that Gabrielle did came naturally to him.

          Deacon was… well, he was a little envious. It had taken him far too long to get the spell work going.

          It was all going well… until they were nearing the end of the book. They’d just defeated the evil wizard trying to take over the school – a common theme throughout the series – when they were headed to one of the final dinner scenes. They’d find out that, thanks to the group, the Griffons were safe, and that, because of their heroism, the school was foregoing the rules on limiting familiars and letting them keep their new friends, the Puffins.

          Buddy had only a handful of scenes where he got to assist in his Mean Girl duties, mostly bouncing off of Lawrence and his thugs, but the rest of the time he’d been with them or just… doing whatever he did when he wasn’t the center of the story. Deacon wasn’t really sure, and he didn’t really care.

          They’d been walking down the hall towards the Basilic Hall, where meals were served, when Chase had slowed.

          Buddy noticed the smaller man falling behind.

          “Are we walking too fast?” Buddy threw in his typical Villainess tones, but it caught the attention of Deacon and Prunella, who looked back to see where Chase was.

          Deacon saw his cousin’s eyes – the weird gem-ness still throwing him off – when something seemed to… flicker.

          “I don’t…” Chase’s face turned pale, then green.

          Deacon had seen that look an unfortunate number of times before.

          Chase seemed to recognize the feeling, too.

          “Oh shirt.” He grasped his chest and mouth before sprinting in the direction that they’d come from.

          “What?” Buddy threw, but Deacon was already running after Chase.

          “Stay with Prunella!” Deacon called.

          Buddy then saw a tiny figure follow.

          “Don’t leave me behind!” She yelled.

          “Child, what, oh for heaven’s sake!” Buddy cursed before he followed.

          He nearly ran over the girl when he found her outside a door, sounds from beyond wretched and full of bile.

          “I think Chase ate something bad.” The girl returned, backing away to the corner. Buddy looked between the door and the girl, but, when another cough met his ears, he decided to follow the girl.

          They waited a few minutes, another teacher coming by to get them. Prunella stumbled over who was who, but the teacher understood that Gabrielle wasn’t feeling well, and they encouraged the "hero" to have "his" friend go to the infirmary once "she" could move.

          Eventually, Chase and Deacon emerged, Deacon supporting Chase by his shoulders. “Yeah, I think we’re going to call this early.”

          “I’m not supposed to get sick in books.” Chase pouted. He swayed, and Deacon supported him.

          “What could you have possibly done, you little idiot?” Nox looked him up and down, not sure where to go.

          Chase just groaned.

          “Ok, time to go home.” Deacon found Silver’s key thread hanging from Chase’s shirt’s neckline and teased it out. He made Chase hold it. “Prunella, do you want to stay?”

          “Nah, I’ve eaten enough Hagis.” She shrugged. She pulled out her Key.

          Deacon got his out before easing Chase back from Buddy. Buddy took a few moments to dig out Violet, cursing, for once, the fact that he’d been forced to wear a button up and tie.

          With that, they all bowed out of the book.

          There was a heavy thump as Nox came back to himself. He looked out, over the table, as a body in jeans and a t-shirt with blond hair sprawled out over the floor.

          “Chase! Oh my!” Silver gasped as she looked down at him.

          Chase groaned in response. “My innards want to become outtards.”

          Deacon shook his head, but there was a small sigh of relief. “I guess whatever you did wore off.” Deacon crouched down. “Let’s get your medication and you into bed.”

          Chase groaned in response.

          Prunella took the vials and deposited the Narratonin into the jar. Her and Goldie then went off to discuss her time in the story. Bronze was already back asleep as Violet and Silver made their way to a pile of sticky notes and pencils, discussing new designs for another tale.

          Nox made his way back to his space.

          He tucked into the room, the windows open to allow the afternoon light in. He walked over to where the fort remained, sighing as he began to straighten it up.

          He then spotted the phone against the far wall.

          Nox leaned over, typing in Chase’s password and flipping through to the camera app. He smiled at the series of photos that were the most recent.

          He put a heart on the one that Chase had gotten on a timer, Nox catching the teen in a blanket before he pulled the other in close. Chase had retaliated with a kiss and a laugh, the camera catching the moment in between.

          Nox wanted more of these moments, and, as they worked towards it, he would, at least, have this. Another reminder that, no matter the differences, they had one another.

Chapter Text

          Chase groaned as he came back to awareness, someone calling his name in the distance. From the sounds of it, it was Deacon.

          The blond teen dug through the pocket of his jacket, pulling out his phone as he squinted at the screen. He’d put it on Do Not Disturb, but Deacon and Grandpa were allowed through the filter. There was a missed call from each as well as a text from Deacon with Where are u?

          Chase clumsily responded barn brb before he dropped the phone under him.

          He took a breath before he pushed himself up, looking over the book, the candles, a naked human, the random hay…

          Wait, naked human??? Chase was suddenly awake as his eyes landed on the body across from him.

          Pale, black hair, with a strange imprint on his upper shoulder, like a bruise in the shape of a moon.

          He was also not wearing anything, and Chase averted his eyes for a moment. As he did so, he remembered all the things he’d dragged out there with them. In order to transport everything, he’d thrown it into a sheet that he’d used as a sack of sorts.

          He grabbed the sheet now, shaking out the hay that got caught to it, before he draped it over Buddy gently, the dark-haired man curling underneath as a hand snaked out to grip it close.

          “Buddy? Hey, Buddy.” Chase gently shook Buddy’s shoulder, being as gentle as possible. He knew how jumpy the other man could be.

          Buddy cracked an eye open, just for a moment, and Chase looked into that pale blue.

          His eye wasn’t like when he was in the books. Chase was aware that his eyes were moonstone gems, and that, while Nox had said that he’d had blue eyes before, they’d changed after he’d become a Key.

          Now? Chase looked into those eyes, and he saw the organic blue that filled in around the pupil, the shadows of his eyelids casting over them without the lens reflecting it away.

          Nox closed his eyes. “What atrocities have you unleashed now?”

          Chase reached forward, gently cupping the tangled hand with one of his own.

          “The spell worked.” Chase whispered.

          Buddy didn’t move, and Chase almost assumed that he’d been too quiet.

          Then, Nox opened his eyes, looking down at the hand in the sheet that now was held so gently by Chase’s own. Buddy began to sit up, though he shook horribly. Chase supported him, making sure to cover him with the blanket.

          “Are you cold?” Chase began to shuck off his jacket, adding it to Buddy’s shoulders. “Oh man, hold on, I can get you something. Wait, no, you are taller than me. Maybe Deacon has stuff? He’s only a little taller than you. What’s your shoe size?”

          Chase made to move, but he found that he could only retrieve one hand. The other had become locked with a pale one.

          Nox stared down at the hands.

          “Pl-please tell me-me th-that this isn’t a d-dream.” Nox stuttered, his face raw and open. “Not a book. Not… not…”

          Chase wasn’t sure what to do until he remembered the thing about pictures. He pulled out his phone and opened the camera app, setting it to selfie mode as he faced it towards them.

          “Look at that.” Chase smiled into the camera, even as he looked at the reflection of Buddy there. “That’s you and me. No faking that.”

          Nox looked between the phone, Chase, and their clasped hands.

          And then, suddenly, tears broke free of his eyes.

          Chase put his phone down. “Oh, honey, come here…”

          Chase knew how hard it was for Buddy to be vulnerable like this. Bad situation after bad situation often led to him pretending to be fine, to shutting down and shutting out or fighting rather than processing his emotions in a healthy way.

          But right now, as he tried to keep his breathing calm even as it hitched, as his arms slipped loose of the sheet to wrap around Chase, and as Chase gripped his boyfriend back, Nox felt oh so many things.

          Astonishment, disbelief. Fear. Love.

          Oh gods, he felt so much love.

          Eventually, Chase realized that there was no leaving Buddy alone, so he called in back up.

          Deacon arrived, backpack haphazardly stuffed with clothing, his eyes landing on Buddy with the same disbelief that had probably been in the black-haired man’s own eyes earlier. Now, though, Nox had calmed down a significant amount, even as he kept close to Chase.

          “It’s a good thing that my mom keeps sending me random stuff.” Deacon spoke, pulling around his backpack and opening it up. “I have clean undergarments – never used – and I grabbed whatever I could from the laundry room.”

          “Thanks.” Chase accepted the bag from Deacon. “We’ll be back up at the house in a few. Let the Keys know that books are probably not happening today?”

          Deacon nodded, still mystified.

          “Can I see that book?”

          Chase passed him the book, still on the page that he’d been using.

          Deacon looked down at the page, then squinted, then turned his head sideways. “How in the world did you read this? I’m pretty sure this is some Frankenstein version of Latin and French. And the English is all written in chicken scratch.”

          Chase puffed out his chest. “I’m awesome like that. A real wizard in the making!”

          “Yeah…” Deacon saw the sticky note that Chase had used to mark the spell, and he left it there as he gently closed the book. “Let’s go with that.”

          Deacon looked at Buddy again.

          “Man, its so weird seeing you like this outside of a book.”

          “Get used to it.” Buddy returned as he took the bag from Chase. “If I see a sweater vest, I will bring it to Violet to burn.”

          “Good to know that you’re normal.” The brunette snorted. He then shook himself and began to go down the ladder.

          Nox fought with the zipper before he got the backpack open, pulling the undergarments first and stuffing them beneath the sheet. He’d get those on soon.

          He flipped through the items and huffed, noting that most of the things were quite, well, ‘bookish’ for lack of better terms. Jeans and an old pair of trainers came out, which were basic, and he found a black shirt in there before he shoved it back in. It was too soon to consider black.

          He felt like he never wanted to wear black again.

          A dark blue v-neck t-shirt came out, and Nox added that to the pile.

          Chase was also looking through the bag. “Hey, what about this one?” He asked, pulling out a collared shirt, pale blue with white vertical lines. “If you roll up the sleeves, it might look good.

          “What, have that farmer boy look?” Nox returned, even as he considered it.

          He felt… quite cold, if he was honest. It had rained the day before, and, while there was no risk today of rain, there was a cool nip in the air.

          He pulled out another – eugh, sweater vest – before his eyes caught sight of bright red.

          He immediately pulled out the red Star Brigade hoodie and dropped it on his pile. With that, he zipped up the bag and shoved it at Chase.

          Nox lowered his sheet, leaning to grab his first item, when he noticed Chase’s stare.

          Nox looked down at his bare chest before pulling the sheet back up. “T-turn-n around you cr-creatin!”

          “YEP!” He spun, astutely looking at the far end of the loft.

          Nox got his clothes on, both of their faces beat red.

          “It is quite a strange change! But I am happy for you, little brother!” Goldie proclaimed as he looked at Nox. Deacon had brought the Keys to the Kitchen, given that Grandpa was out for the day and Nox needed to eat.

          Chase shoved a sandwich, fruit, and chips, saying that he wouldn’t get any chocolate until he ate a balanced meal and drank a glass of water.

          Nox grumbled, but he also wasn’t one to turn away food.

          Violet scoffed. “Nox, get your elbows off the table! We are not neanderthals here.” She smacked his arms on the table. Nox lifted them slightly. “And clean your mouth!”

          Nox swallowed his bite. “Anything else, your majesty?”

          “Yes. Get me my snacks. I’m famished.”

          At that moment, Chase brought over armfuls of various snacks. “Let’s see, cheese stick, peanut butter fruppies, gummy sharks, and minty chocolates.” He dolled out the various snacks. He also slid a mini-King Bar to Buddy. “And desert for a special boy!”

          “What am I, four?” Nox snarked even as he grabbed the treat. “I am an adult man.”

          “Of course, Nox. We wouldn’t treat you any other way.” Silver agreed with him.

          “Hm.” Bronze was chewing on his treat as he looked at the book that Deacon was pouring over on the kitchen table. “What’s it say?”

          “My high school Latin isn’t helping.” Deacon sighed. “I’m getting, like, every fifteenth word. It’s all gibberish.” He closed the book. “Maybe I’ll see about getting some translation dictionaries from the bookstore. I tried Goople, but it’s not translating anything right if I’m looking at the scribbles.”

          Chase gasped, putting his hands to his face. “You know what this means?”

          Deacon looked up. “What? You can translate it?”

          “No.” Chase turned to Nox, who was popping the chocolate in his mouth. “Buddy, we can go on a date into town!”

          Nox choked slightly, slapping his fist into his chest.

          “If this is how humans do their mating rituals these days, it’s a wonder how they’ve managed to survive.” Violet rolled her eyes at Chase’s words.

          Nox was… quite overwhelmed, if he was honest.

          He was in the truck as Deacon drove, Chase in the middle as he pointed out all the places that they could go. Deacon chimed in that he wasn’t their chauffer, and that they’d have to walk from wherever he parked and meet them back when it was time to go.

          Still, it was… different.

          He’d been out a handful of times in his Key form, but being human again added a whole new level to things. He was about to be perceived by people in this town. He was no longer a figure in the dark, or one to be ignored.

          He existed just as they all did.

          He jolted when the car came to a stop, Deacon telling them things that Nox was sure that he should be tracking. Nothing really processed as Deacon got out, Chase scooting out the same side and saying something in return.

          Chase opened the door on Nox's side, startling him to turn his attention to the blond. Chase swept his arm out into the empty spot next to them. "Welcome to Downtown Sugar Springs, my good man."

          Considering that they were in a parking lot, it wasn't a lot to see.

          Still, Nox slipped out, light as he could on his feet. Chase slammed the door shut behind them, and Deacon locked it with the key.

          "Ok, I'm going to the bookstore and then probably the cafe next door after." Deacon reiterated. "I'll text when I'm done."

          "You mean done staring at that barista girl?" Chase teased.

          Deacon flipped Chase the bird as he walked off.

          "He's been crushing on this one barista all summer." Chase whispered to Nox, causing the man to snort. “Not sure what her real name is. Everyone calls her Spooks.”

          "Indeed. With his track record, it's amazing that he hasn't got the women swarming him." The darker man returned.

          "Anyway," Chase stuck his hands in his pockets as he rocked back on his heels. "Where do you want to go first?"

          Nox tried to think, but all he ever wanted to do when Human again seemed to fly away from him. He'd had a hundred things that he'd wanted to do, and now nothing came to him.

          Chase - beautiful, empathetic Chase – though, seemed to read whatever emotion was on Nox's face. "Want to walk down to the park? There's a little gumball machine that we can get bird seed out of - because, you know, bread is bad for the ducks - and then get something from the snacks guy who is parked on the far end usually."

          Nox mentally sighed even as he tried to pull back up his calm air. "If that is to your tastes."

          Chase was still smiling as he grabbed Nox's hand and began to lead the way. "Buddy, you'll love this guy. He used to not have anything gluten free, but then he started asking about my favorite snacks when I was a kid. He's got options now. Not just for, like, me, but a bunch of different people."

          Nox nodded, though he had a slight blush as his eyes kept trailing down to their locked hands.

          Chase's touch was always warm, welcoming, though it always felt blunted when he was in his Key form. Books were better, but it felt like it was never quite right.

          Nox could get drunk on this, now and forever.

          Chase led them down a road, both sides of the street with shops as a thin roadway split between them. The sidewalk on both sides seemed extra wide, allowing plenty of space for outside walkers and places for people to sit under various outdoor chairs and tables, trees scattered about the boulevard.

          "When I was a kid, this road had parking on both sides, right? And then Mrs. Wolfe on the city board went to Europe and came back being like 'we need a city center walkway' or something." Chase explained as they walked down the street. They passed a used bookstore that Chase also pointed to. "That's where we usually get books."

          "Indeed, this seems to be... well designed." Nox nodded. "It encourages community."

          "We try." Chase shrugged. "Like, we aren't the biggest city in the state, but we try to be a good place."

          Nox's eyes spotted a window with a Progressive Pride flag displayed. Chase had given all the Keys a comprehensive education on "gay culture," as he put it, though Deacon had added more history and corrected the assertion that "Beyoncé was their Queen."

          While it always concerned him to hear about how many places in the world would see a relationship between two men as sinful, grotesque, here in Sugar Springs, people simply... didn't differentiate. Sure, there were signs of pride and support spread about - for various marginalized groups, not just those under the rainbow flag - but, in general, it was just... part of life.

          Something to be perceived, processed, and displayed just as you would anything else.

          As they were about to exit the boulevard and enter the green space, there was a call of "Chase!" behind them. Chase paused, releasing Nox to turn, and his smile somehow grew brighter.

          "Simon!" Chase waved, and Nox turned to see the grey-haired boy in the grey hoodie walking up the street, bag in hand as he gently waved his free hand. "Dude! Hey!"

          "Hey." He responded in a relaxed tone even as Chase pulled him into a hug. Nox tried not to let a curl of jealousy show as Simon hugged back. When they released, Simon looked at Nox before looking back at Chase.

          "Who's the new guy?" Simon gestured to Nox.

          "Oh! I have waited to do this forever!" Chase looped an arm through Nox's, dragging him forward. "Simon, this is my boyfriend, Buddy. Buddy, this is my best friend, Simon."

          Buddy couldn't help but blush at the term "boyfriend." Still, he nodded to Simon. "C-charmed."

          "Oh, he's European AND gay." Simon returned.

          "A-ah, what..." Nox stumbled. "How am I supposed to respond to that?"

          "Gut reaction." Chase smirked to Buddy before looking at Simon. "We're headed to the park."

          "Date?" The grey-haired man questioned, to which Chase brightened. "Well, I want the deets later."

          "Oh, so many deets."

          Nox made a face. "Were those words?"

          "It's totally tubular. Radical. Supercalifrageliciousexpialadocious." Simon rattled off.

          Nox scowled. "Now you are doing this to make fun of me."

          "Bougie choices, my broski." Chase nodded in return, like he knew whatever language the other boy was speaking. "Updates on the gram?"

          "Have fun!" Simon waved as he turned, heading back the way that he'd come from.

          Nox looked at Chase. "What were those words??? No, not words. Made up gibberish."

          "All words are made up." Chase laughed as he turned them around.

          "They are made to give name to a meaning." Buddy returned. "You can't just make things up! What even was that? Supercala- Supercaga- Whatever that ridiculousness was!"

          "Ok, see, now we gotta watch Marry Poppins because you will absolutely love it." The blonde bounced. "They have a classic movie series at the theater in town during the summer. We can see what is showing."

          "Uhg. I fear what you see as 'good.'" Nox returned.

          "I have great taste! I like you, don't I?"

          Buddy spluttered in response.

          The park wasn’t the biggest place, but it was large enough for there to be a pond, several walking and pedestrian paths, a playground, and the local swimming building. While one side faced into the downtown area, another was wooded, large old growth trees that hung over the pond and gave shade to several parts of the path. Several hammocks were strung up around the path as people enjoyed the weather.

          Nox found himself being guided down the path, Chase only pausing when they reached a small station with a garbage can, recycling bin, doggie bags, and a quarter machine that dispensed bird seed. He popped in a few quarters and used a doggie bag to capture all of his goods, stuffing it in his pocket for ‘when the time was right.’

          The taller man had been curious about what he meant by right, but then they just… started walking. Chase had their hands interlocked as he told stories, filled in his notes on the parts of the path that were more congested. Small children raced bikes as several elderly walkers enjoyed the views, a few waving to them or greeting Chase specifically as they went.

          A narrowing of the pond allowed a bridge to cross over, and, once they were beyond that ‘midway’ point, the forest embraced them, quieting the sounds of the park beyond. Chase and Nox’s talk grew quiet, their pathing slowed, as they just… took it in.

          Chase pointed up above them, and Nox spotted a large hawk overlooking the pond just before it dove, seemingly snatching something from the surface before it took off again. The bull frogs murmured in a marshy spot, bird song flowing from the opposite side of the path.

          Granted, a mosquito did try to ruin the mood, and they got away from where a cloud of little bugs were swarming.

          They emerged where several fields set up for football (or, if you were one of these Americans, soccer), some children racing around with the checkered ball between them. Further down were tennis courts and even a small baseball field. Another path splintered off of their own to go around the far side of the field and towards another parking lot, though Chase drew Nox down their current path with additional pace.

          Nox discovered what had gotten Chase so excited when they found a shaded bench that overlooked the pond, a small edge leading down a rocky incline to some vegetation. Several ducks swam around, most notably smaller as they followed the largest, though they were in no way spring ducklings anymore.

          Chase took a handful of their birdseed before passing the rest to Nox. Slowly, he started scattering the seed down the incline and into the water.

          The birds, at first, seemed startled, the noise disturbing their own peace. As soon as they recognized what was being given, though, they began to crowd, dipping below the water and garbling it all up.

          When Chase was done, Nox began to toss a few out as well. The ducklets popped out of the water to reach the shore, looking for any that maybe hadn’t made it to them.

          The blond got up. “Keep the ducks company. BRB.” He said before dashing off. Nox turned to see where Chase was going. He was headed towards the park’s parking lot where a food truck sat, presumably the ‘snack’s guy’ that he’d mentioned prior.

          Nox smiled, looking back at the water. He began to roll up his sleeves, his skin itching some… when he paused.

          Dark patches. The same color as his Key form had been.

          As Nox prodded them, they felt harder, more like setting clay then skin.

          Nox bit his tongue as he shoved his arms back into the sleeves, not wanting anyone to see.

          Of course the spell wasn’t enough. It wasn’t Wish magic. It was just whatever Chase had gotten to work. A book off a shelf in the Child’s library.

          It was slowly wearing off. As he gently prodded his arms and torso, he began to detect duller zones, where it took more pressure to feel his hands.

          He took a breath, forcing the bile in his throat down. He pressed a hand to his neck, a strong but rapid pulse meeting his touch.

          He looked back at the ducks, swimming in the pond as they swirled around, not a care in the world.

          He tossed them the last of the birdseed before crumpling the bag and stuffing it in his pocket.

          He forced himself to breathe. He was good at covering up his emotions, walling things back.

          But, as he heard footsteps approach, he also wanted to bury his head in the sand and never come up until this was fixed.

          “He had ice cream today!” Chase dropped down, holding out a wrapped item to Nox. “I got you a chocolate dipped chocolate bar. You can try mine if you want, too. It’s vanilla in the center with nuts in the chocolate. Both are new from the King brand, apparently.”

          Nox accepted the treat, looking over the packaging. From the corner of his eye, he saw how Chase unwrapped his and did the same.

          The taller boy bit into the treat, a shock of cold running through his teeth before crunchy and smooth chocolate and milk and sugar filled his tastebuds. His mouth slowly filled with the sweet, and he couldn’t help but moan a little as it all felt like perfection.

          A weight fell on his shoulder, and Nox glanced to see Chase there. “Did I ever tell you about the time my grandpa made me eat so many fruit ice cream treats because apparently he was having another feud with Diane, and she’d bought all the popsicle sticks from every craft store in the county? I was so sick by the end…”

          Nox hummed as he watched the ducks scatter. Chase moved his treat to his far hand so that he could link their fingers once more. Nox squeezed the hand back.

          For the moment, Nox forced himself to forget the darkness creeping in.

          “When did you get so many photographs?” Nox questioned as they were on the sofa of the Hollow living room. Deacon had brought his haul home to spread over the living room coffee table, and Chase had wanted to watch another Romcom movie. Chase had handed his phone to Nox to look at the choices, but he’d somehow ended up in the photo app.

          And there were a lot of photos.

          “It was our first official date! I had to commemorate it!” Chase grinned as he flipped through. One was a particularly atrocious shot from when Nox had gotten bowled over by a fluffy dog, and he was being slobbered. “That’s my favorite.”

          “Disgusting. Horrendous. Delete this at once.” Nox insisted as he tried to find the deletion button.

          Chase was quicker, though, and snatched the phone back. “Nope! My precious memories! Forever mine! I’m going to put them on my socials.”

          “No socials.” Deacon threw. “Remember our discussion on keeping on the down low in case of Ex Libris?”

          “It’s my personal socials! The ones that I started in middle school.” Chase insisted. “It’s not like I’m posting the Keys or something.”

          “Uhm.” Nox hummed. “Well. They may recognize me.”

          Chase groaned. “UHG fine. I’m keeping them, though.”

          Nox looked down at his hands.

          “Oh no.” Nox looked back to Chase as he said these words. “Why the sad face? Dude, we all get run over by dogs once and a while.”

          Nox looked back at his hands. “It’s not…” He flexed his fingers. “It’s not that. I am just… I need to tell you something.”

          Deacon groaned. “If you’re going to be gross, I’m leaving. No, wait, I’m comfortable. You two leave.”

          Nox rolled his eyes. “Admittedly, this is a conversation that you may need to be privy to.” Nox took a deep breath before he rolled up one of his sleeves.

          “Hey! Don’t stretch…” Chase began, ready to stop the other teen from ruining his favorite hoodie, when his eyes caught on the arm.

          Dark splotches, spreading.

          Deacon blinked before grabbing a marker that he’d been using off the table. “How long has this been going on?”

          “I no-noticed it at the park-k.” Nox intoned. “They were sm-smaller then-n.”

          Deacon scanned them over. “If this was a cancerous growth, we should track it. Can I outline them? Maybe I can figure out a timeline…”

          “This was not a Wish, so it makes sense that it would not stick.” Nox ground. “Of course, my curse is coming back. Tis what I deserve, after all.”

          “Nope. Nope, nope, nope!” Chase leaned over, grabbing Nox’s arms into his hands. “No talking bad about my boyfriend! I will fight you!”

          Nox growled as he pulled his arms back. “It’s clearly true.”

          “Uh, no, I’m clearly just not a cool, strong enough wizard to beat this yet.” Chase crossed his arms. “I can do it again.”

          “Not without actual practice.” Deacon spun on Chase. “And after I figure out what the heck is this book.”

          “UHG you make everything so nerdy.” The blonde threw at the brunette before turning to Buddy. His eyes were fierce, determined. “But, no matter what, we’ll get you back to being human again. If I can do it once, I can do it again. Worst case scenario, we have to wait to get the other Keys and enough Narratonin.”

          “But what if we don’t.” Nox returned. “What if I continue to regress?”

          “Then we will find another way.” Chase leaned in, putting his hands on Nox’s again. “We’ll figure it out, or I’ll eat my glove.”

          “You don’t wear gloves.” Deacon snorted.

          “It’s a fracture of speech, Dorkin.” Chase threw back. “Read a book.”

          “Oh, now that is something, coming from you.” The elder cousin laughed. “What was the last book you read?”

          “Hey! I’ve read, like, so many books this summer!”

          “Narratonin collection doesn’t count.”

          “AN-NY-WAY,” Chase shoved a hand in Deacon’s face, causing his next sentence to become garbled. “This is proof that something worked! So it has to be possible. Bucket half full and all that.”

          Buddy wanted to scoff and turn away, wallow in the misery that he probably deserved. He was a Villain through and through, and he deserved the consequences of his past.

          But… Chase had that way of making him see a brighter tomorrow. Wiggling under his walls and disassembling them from the other side. He never gave up, even when he fell and needed to lay on the floor for a while. It was what drove Nox to get Violet to see reason, to trust, and now they were here, with their family and doing their best to succeed in all their goals.

          Bring the Keys back together – not because of the Wishes, but because they were people who deserved to be happy and together as a family. Get Chase’s mom healthy. Destroy Ex Libris once and for all. Get Nox back to being human.

          Live happily ever after, as if there was some author crafting their tale.

          Nox huffed, crossing his arms. “If this goes poorly, I will place blame squarely on you.” He tried to stay in his role, keep up the pain that threatened to brim over his walls.

          And then there were arms around him, pulling him close. Chase may be small, but Nox was under no assumptions that his boyfriend wasn’t strong. “That’s the spirit!”

          Even where he’d become more metal, the pressure and warmth bled through.

          “Now, as my arms are busy, Dorkin, I need you to select the perfect movie.” Chase instructed. “If you say Pirates of the Caribbean, I will disown you.”

          “It’s the pinnacle of cinematic masterpiece, and you can’t convince me otherwise.” Deacon returned as he closed his notes and leaned back on the couch to grab the remote. “Its rewatch value is platinum levels.”

          “If it’s not a romcom, I’m saying no.” Chase insisted.

          “Do I not get a vote in this?” Buddy intoned as he wiggled one arm free to let it rest on Chase’s back. Chase was slowly sliding down the hug, and was now more-or-less in Nox’s lap.

          “No.” Both Hollows returned.

          “You’ve seen, like, four movies.” Deacon returned. “You need a movie education.”

          “The filmography that you choose is truly horrendous, as are the choices of the Little Idiot.” Nox said even as he leaned back, fingers coming up to card through Chase’s hair.

          If Chase could purr, he would be doing so already.

          “Oh, hey! We could do Princess Bride.” Deacon’s selection sat on the screen. “Pirates and romcom, though I wish there was more sea.”

          “There are horses.” Chase pointed out, which Deacon nodded to.

          “Princess Bride it is.” The eldest selected the movie.

          Grandpa Ralph, when he’d returned home, had been aware that Chase had a friend over that he’d met through wrestling. He’d wandered into the house, expecting to see some forms of life from his grandsons. Chase had been asking if this ‘Buddy’ could stay over, which Ralph had no problem with.

          Sure enough, when he entered the living room, it was in a relative state of disarray, with snacks and various books on the table, Chase and a darker haired man sprawled out on the couch as Deacon snored on the loveseat, legs up on the ottoman. Given how Chase was snuggling into the dark haired man, Ralph highly suspected that ‘Buddy’ was a little more than ‘just a friend’ as Chase had stated in his text.

          Still, it was late, and he could grill them in the morning. He’d had many chats to both boys about relationships and being responsible, and, while Chase could get sucked into a romance, he did have his head on straight most of the time.

          Ralph turned off the television, tossing various throw blankets over the boys as he went. He took the phones he found to the kitchen and plugged them in with the spare chargers there, knowing that the boys would likely be looking for them tomorrow. He’d only found two, so he supposed that ‘Buddy’ was likely sleeping on his.

          With one last loop to lock the doors, Ralph headed up to his own room for the night.

          Nox had still been mostly human through breakfast, where Ralph had many questions for the darker man. Thankfully, they’d come up with some cover story for who he was prior to the grandfather arriving home, and Nox was nothing if not an actor. He filled in details wherever need be with stories based off of his experiences in life, tweaked ever so slightly to avoid anything incriminating.

          When Prunella appeared, they’d funneled out – Deacon supposedly to his studies, Nox to ‘call’ his siblings and ‘figure out when they were coming to pick him up,’ and Chase to babysit. Ralph had some errands to do, so he was taking the truck for the day.

          Instead, the Keyholders all met in the Tower.

          As they hadn’t collected Narratonin the day before, they were discussing which books to do that day.

          “I have the new Lady Lovalorn book.” Prunella pulled said book out of her backpack. “We’re going to defeat a laser-breathing dragon out to destroy the collectable minifigures of the Gemstone Kingdom.”

          “How mighty!” Goldie cheered. “I look forward to this next adventure!”

          “Buddy, what do you want to do?” Deacon questioned.

          Nox sorted through the books, looking at the options.

          “What would you all prefer to do?” Nox asked Violet, Silver, and Bronze.

          Bronze waved his hand. “A nap.”

          “A throne.” Violet returned.

          “You have a throne.” Chase gestured to the top of the bookcase. The bookcase had been found at a yard sale to assist with their growing space issues, with Violet having taken over the top shelf and above the shelf itself. Nox had placed his space the second to the bottom, and both had been walled off with cardboard and curtains to give them privacy. They’d set up books and various methods for getting up and down, including a pully system, ladders, and more.

          At the top of the shelf, there were several thrones. Well, various doll-sized chairs that Violet had been given as thrones. She had everything from a gothic black-wire seat to a floral upholstered chair.

          “I need one for Sundays.” She waved him off. “I currently lack one ideal for Sundays.”

          “Nap time is scheduled for after lunch.” Deacon reported as he tapped the card that he’d taped to the wall. It was a schedule for the day, and, indeed, go outside/call guardians/nap was scheduled after lunch. “And I will re-add ‘throne’ to the craft store and yard sale list.”

          “I expect gold and gemstones.” Violet added.

          Deacon rolled his eyes, but he did add to his notes, knowing that Violet would never let them know peace unless they took down her demands.

          Which was better than how it had started. It used to be that she never let them know peace until her demands were met. After her first throne and some bargaining, agreements were made, mostly that they had to add a bi-weekly trip to the craft store or a yard sale run. Part of the Babysitting/Key budget was just tagged for Violet’s demands.

          Silver, however, took Nox’s request genuinely and approached the stash of books. “I have been meaning to brush up on several skills…” She hummed as she looked amongst the books. “Perhaps this one? Draconic scales and wings will be fun to design!”

          She selected Wings of Brimstone, which had several notecards sticking out of it. Nox read the back to the group, which could be summarized as three dragon siblings must break out of their underground dragon kingdom home to save dragonkind and lead them back to the skies.

          “I read that one in middle school.” Deacon stated. “It was pretty good. It spawned a whole series, and the first movie was pretty good.”

          “Uhg, it’s not going to be one of your ‘books based on a movie based on a book’ things, is it?” Chase complained.

          “Ok, even you liked the first movie.” Deacon pointed out. “The first movie was really good and close to the book, but the later movies stunk.”

          Nox handed the book to Chase, extracting the cards as he did so. Chase read the back, the first page, and flipped through, and it looked like he was connecting some dots in his brain.

          Nox passed the cards to Deacon. “Well, we shall be doing this, yes?”

          “Everyone in agreement?” Deacon questioned.

          “Yes!” Silver cheered.

          “You know my demands.”

          “…fine.”

          “Oh! I remember this one!”

          “Seems everyone is in alignment.” Nox nodded.

          Nox had been in many books over the years. It had always been the same song and dance, with him coming in, catching brief flashes of the tales as his form would become malleable, transitioning back to more human. By the time he settled into his role, he would know exactly where he was to be, where to go, and what the story was meant to do.

          This time… he had no clue.

          Nothing of what he expected happened, and he was left in a strange room, decked in admittedly beautiful scaled armor, and no direction.

          Wherever he was, there was a grand nest-bed, a table resting to one side with various items like books, ink wells, and more. As he crossed the room, he spotted himself in a reflective stone, shined to perfection.

          He was a silver, frosty dragon.

          And he had no idea who he was beyond that.

          What has gone wrong? Nox wondered. As a Key, I should…

          He rested his forehead on the shined surface, looking into the eyes of the dragoness. Her eyes reminded him of his own, light pale blue and frosty.

          As a Key, which I am not. He was going to have to remind himself of this in the future.

          Given that all he knew about the story was from the synopsis, he was forced to hunt down Freckles and the Little Idiot to steal some notes.

          When the story was nearing its end, Nox struggled to keep up, aches forming in his joints as he tried his best to follow the hastily given notes that Deacon had come up with. He was playing the role of a harsh teacher whom cared for the children but was also an unwitting pawn to the true villain.

          Chase, however, dragged him along and made sure to keep him close, no matter if their fictional brothers looked at them weird.

          When they were down the final path to the surface, Chase put his foot down.

          “Dude, you’re dragging hard.” He said to Buddy, holding the dark-haired man close to support him. Nox was very much leaning on him. “What’s going on?”

          Nox sighed. “I’m not sure. My body just… aches.”

          Chase hummed before he shifted, and Nox let off a little ‘EEP!’ as his legs were swept out from under him. He pinwheeled his arms, finding purchase on Chase’s shoulders.

          “Then I’m carrying you.” Chase smirked. “We’re almost to the end anyway.”

          “Put me down! This is uncouth!”

          “Then don’t be injured!” Chase huffed, walking down the pathway without hesitation.

          “You infuriate me.” Nox threw, but, even then, his eyes began to ache. “If you drop me, I will make your life miserable.”

          “Be nice, or I just might.” The blond threatened with a smile.

          If Chase had seen Nox’s eyes then, he’d see the blues of his eyes lighten, becoming reflective. Natural tones giving way to a more gemstone sheen.

          As they reached the end of the story, the light seizing them, both gripped each other a little tighter.

          When they found themselves back in the Tower, Chase found his arms with loose clothing. Something shifted, and, from the sleeve of the red hoodie, a small body fell out to hit the floor.

          “Oh my gosh, Buddy!” Chase tossed the clothes to kneel down. “You ok?”

          Nox groaned, casting an arm over his eyes. “Tell the sun to fuck off.”

          “Oh, wow, you are not doing well.” Deacon winced as Chase gently scooped up his boyfriend. “Good thing Prunella isn’t back yet, too.”

          Chase brought him over to where Silver looked worried, Bronze was keeping her calm, and Violet… well, Chase called it her ‘pinched’ face. Where she was trying not to look like she cared, but she absolutely cared.

          “Can you guys help get him into bed?” Chase asked. “I can get some water or, I don’t know, Tylenol? Would that work on you guys?”

          “Perhaps some Narratonin instead.” Silver held up her vial. “While it is uncommon for us to suffer pains, rest and Narratonin should help.”

          “Really, Nox, this is what happens when you try to be human through the improper channels.” Violet stepped onto Chase’s hands and looked down at the Villain Key. She kneeled down, though, running a hand across his head.

          Silver and Bronze joined them. Chase was careful as he transferred them to where Nox’s space was. The doorway opened into the shelf, where Violet left the fairy lights off as Silver and Bronze took to carrying Nox in. Nox had a kitchenette area – stocked with chocolate in a resealable container after the third time that he’d left out chocolate and attracted bugs – an old MP3 player that had all the music he enjoyed (as well as whatever Chase tried to get him to listen to), table, chairs, a tissue box bed, and some end tables. Because Nox hated being in pure darkness, glow-in-the-dark stars scattered across the ceiling kept him from feeling claustrophobic.

          Violet placed a doll cup of Narratonin on Nox’s bedside table as Silver got out his favored bed gear – mainly, various clothes and a blanket that Silver had knit for him – to tuck him in.

          “Feel better, little brother.” Bronze waved as he let himself out.

          “Do take care of yourself, dear.” Silver pat his bed.

          “Indeed.” Violet nodded, though she did run another hand over his head.

          As they left, Nox rolled over and closed his eyes. He wanted to sleep, being very done with this whole pain thing.

          Was it worth it? Part of Nox questioned.

          Absolutely. He smiled, that part sounding so strong.

          It had been short, being human again, but the part of him that sounded like Chase reminded him that, if they could make it work once, they could do it again.

Chapter Text

          Chase groaned as his head pounded, the vague sound of his cousin yelling for him in the distance. He slowly leaned up on his elbows, squinting through the blur in his eyes, made worse by the light streaming through the far part of the barn.

          His eyes scanned around him, the book still open. On the far end of the circle of candles, he saw a black Key laid out on the edge. “Buddy…?

          There was a faint poof as a second groan joined them in the loft.

          Buddy rolled over, still clearly in his Key Person form. “How in the hell did you give me a migraine? I thought that was impossible as a Key…”

          “Well, I seem to have done some magic.” Chase dropped his head onto the floor, wrapping them in his arms.

          There was a strange quiet. The air was still, humid from the summer day, with Deacon’s faint yelling slowly growing closer.

          “This sucks.” Chase added.

          Buddy crossed an arm over his eyes. “Stating the obvious now? Very – uhg – original.”

          “No, I mean… uhg.” The blond groaned. “I’ll explain it when I can see straight. Ha. The only kind of straight I can be.”

          “You said it, not me.”

          Deacon finally made it to the barn as his voice rang through the building. “CHASE! BUDDY!”

          “If he does not cease his yelling, I will throw him into a moat in the next book.” Nox swore, cupping his hands over his ears.

          The ladder up to the loft creaked as Deacon climbed up. He seemed to take in the scene before sighing. “What happened?”

          “Magic.”

          “Idiocracy.”

          “Perfect.” Deacon rolled his eyes. “Are you two ready to do a book?”

          Dual groans followed.

          “Ok, sick day.” He shook his head. He made it the rest of the way up. He walked over to Chase, looking down at the book that was propped open. “Did you really do magic?”

          “He did something.” Nox slurred.

          “I at least made smoke.” Chase stuck a finger up, pointing at the ceiling. “I am an all powerful warlock in the making. Eat your heart out, Chris Pine.”

          “I knew you liked that movie!” The brunette threw as he slowly started pulling Chase up from the ground, grin wide and victorious. “And Chris was a Bard.”

          “Whatever.” Chase groaned as he got up, swaying. Deacon walked Chase over to the ladder, helping him down before coming back up for Buddy. Thanks to Buddy’s size, he could just hold the little man in his hand.

          He looked at the book. He decided to grab that as well, slipping Nox into his breast pocket – “Oh good gods thank the darkness,” Nox said from within – and brought the book down with him.

          “Where’d you even get this?” Deacon asked, waving the book with one hand as Chase leaned against him. Deacon wrapped an arm around his cousin as Chase just pulled his hood over his head, trusting Deacon to get him home.

          “Mrs. G’s place.”

          “Checks out.” The elder cousin began to guide the two back to the house. “I guess it’s just me and Bronze on duty today.”

          Deacon decided to take the gamble that Chase wouldn’t destroy his room, given his state. Violet, Silver, and Goldie, given that Chase and Nox were out for the day, were loading up movies onto Deacon’s computer, specifically the action-adventures that Goldie loved as well as the hideous Romcoms that Violet took pleasure in tearing apart. Silver was more for the action-adventures, but she had her own ulterior motives of absolutely going to town on the costumes and practical effects.

          Suffice to say, it was probably going to be noisy in the Tower, and the Dumb Magic Duo, as Deacon had so eloquently named them, would be suffering.

          He made Chase change into pajamas and made sure Nox was relatively dust-free before dropping both off in his room, drawing the shades closed and allowing them to sit in the quiet.

          Chase then immediately grew board, and he braved Bright Screen to put on some soft music. Given their vastly different tastes in music, the best Chase and Nox could consistently agree on was instrumental covers of pop songs. It was also seemingly like the only thing that wouldn’t drive either of their migraines worse.

          The blond hummed, cracking his eyes open to see a second pillow put up against the wall, Nox laid out on it with a blanket made by Silver cast over him. When Chase had gone for pajamas, Silver had passed the blanket down from the Tower, insisting that Nox would need it.

          (Since that blanket had been knit, Nox had never slept a night without it. Even when he went to sleep in Chase’s room, he’d bring it down with him. Chase had called it adorable, but none of them ever made fun of it. Given what they knew about Nox’s past, he deserved to have things and be happy. Silver already had plans to make it into a bracelet when he ‘outgrew’ it, even trying to come up with a way to make a full-sized one after that.)

          “I’m sorry it didn’t work.”

          Nox opened his eyes to look back at Chase in the dark. While his metal seemed to be more satin, lacking the glitter and glow of the other Keys. His eyes, though, were pure sky blue that, even where he otherwise blended into the dim darkness, shined with an unearthly glow.

          “Idiot.” Buddy scoffed. “It wasn’t Wish magic. It had as much chance of succeeding as Bronze taking Terrence out back to feed to Boris.”

          “Hey, don’t threaten the mitt. Bronze loves that thing.” Chase shifted closer, resting his head against Nox’s pillow. “I’m still sad that it didn’t work. I mean, we got something to happen.”

          “A broken clock is right twice a day.” Nox hummed. There was a beat before he added, “And, if anyone could make improbability happen, it would be you.”

          It was soft, barely a whisper.

          “Awwww… you say the cutest things!”

          “I will throw wine on you in the next book.”

          “And ruin Silver’s hard work?” Chase gasped dramatically before wincing. “Ow. Too much drama.”

          “You are too much drama.”

          “Really? Plot calling the kernel black.”

          Nox scoffed. “Go to sleep.”

          Even as Nox said this, though, he scooted closer to the edge of his pillow until their was barely any space between them. Chase’s warm breath brushed against Nox’s body, and the cool aura that Nox shed brushed along Chase’s forehead.

          In the background, a swinging but soft instrumental cover of Dream a Little Dream of Me played, lulling them into deep sleep.