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Izuku’s bare feet slipped on the wet leaves and moss of the forest floor.  The air was chilly, the trees already partially bare as they dropped their coats to prepare for the coming snowfall.  Izuku’s feet were numb, but he didn’t stop.  Stray branches and bushes caught and dragged at the silky, flowing robes he was dressed in, tearing them and trying to drag him back as if the forest itself objected to his flight and wished to take him back into its dark, endless reaches.

He wouldn’t go back.  He was going to escape.  No forest went on forever and if he just kept running, he was sure to make it out.  He had to.  He would get out and never step foot in the trees again.  He wouldn’t go back home to his father either.  He would run away from home, move to a big city somewhere, and grown up as far from the forest as he could get.  Maybe he would go out to sea, or apprentice himself to a craftsman.  He was sure he could find something.  He was only fourteen, he still had his entire life ahead of him.

Izuku tripped and scraped his arms on the branches as he fell, roughing up his knees on the ground.  It wasn’t the first time he’d fallen.  He struggled back to his feet, terrified that someone might be following him and would jump on him if he stopped for even just a moment.  The branches had grown thicker, snagging his skin and clothes, fighting him as he stumbled blindly forward, arms lifted to shield his face.

He broke free as the trees suddenly gave way and fell down again with a startled cry. It was a clearing in the forest, thick with moss and covered in bones.  Bird, animal, but mostly human.  Izuku shivered, eyes scanning back and forth, expecting to see the creature responsible.  He was used to the bones in the woods.  Sometimes he felt there were more bones here than trees.  A twig snapped somewhere and he flinched, stumbling to his feet again.

Should he cross the clearing?  He couldn’t go back the way he’d come, he had to keep going forward.  But out in the open, he felt so exposed.  He felt someone watching him.  He had to go.  He had to get away.

Izuku ventured into the clearing, feet overturning bones from their resting place as he had no time to tiptoe around them as he would have liked.  He was sure their past owners would understand.  They would want him to get away.  His lungs were burning from the exhaustion of his run, begging him to rest, but he couldn’t.  He felt so exposed out in the open, like a deer about to be shot.  A small whimper escaped his lips and he gasped a deep breath to keep himself from crying.  He couldn’t cry and run at the same time.

Unexpectedly, the moss below Izuku’s foot gave way as he stepped into a hidden spring.  He lost his balance and screamed as he fell, slipping and caving in the rest of the moss as he fell into the water.  The water itself was warm- spring water never froze- but as soon as he splashed in, he started to shiver.

Shaking with cold and exhaustion, Izuku let a few sobs come out as he crawled out of the water.  He needed to get up and run again, but his legs were betraying him.  They told him they couldn’t take another step.  He should just lie down here and wait until he turned to bones, or until someone found him.  Both options filled him with despair.  If his legs wouldn’t carry him, he would just have to crawl the rest of the way out of the forest.

“Are you all right, young man?” A concerned voice asked as a shadow suddenly fell over him.

Izuku startled and turned, numb legs scrambling to push himself back.  “Get away!” He screamed.  In his haste to get up, he continued to fall and could only crawl backwards, too afraid to turn his back on the figure.

Looking just as startled, the person stepped back and lifted their hands to show they meant no harm.  They were tall and Izuku’s heart thumped with fear.  Tall, just like-

“You’re not my dad!” Izuku screamed.  His back hit a half rotted stump and his hands scrambled for a weapon.  He grabbed one of the large bones lying on the ground and brandished it between them with trembling hands.  “Don’t touch me!  I hate you!”

The figure took another step back, hands raising a bit higher.  “Whoah, whoah, kiddo.  I’m not trying to hurt you.”

Izuku blinked away the tears that were blurring his vision.  This wasn’t who he thought it was.  Yes, they were tall, and very pretty and it hurt his eyes a little to look at them, but their hair was yellow, not white.  Still, he tightened his grip on the bone and didn’t waver.

“G-Get back!” Izuku growled.  “Who are you?  What do you want from me?”

The stranger didn’t answer right away.  He moved very slowly, trying not to frighten Izuku with sudden movements.  He didn’t come any closer, but he did crouch down to be closer to Izuku’s level.  When he did speak, his voice was soft and comforting.  “I saw you trip.  Are you hurt, my boy?”

“What do you want?” Izuku repeated, voice shaking with exhaustion and fear.

“I just want to help you.” The stranger said.

Izuku’s eyes narrowed and he shook his head.  “You’re one of them.” He spat, trying to push himself back again.

The stranger hesitated.  “Them?” He repeated slowly.  He looked Izuku over- a young boy, trembling with a hunted look in his eyes, wearing what were once pale green and cream robes of fairytale quality that were now grey and black.  His feet and legs were covered in mud and dirt, though his skin was pale and sweaty underneath, and his fingers and toes were bright red from the cold.  Despite the trembling mess he was, Izuku sparkled with radiance that he couldn’t shake, practically glowing in the dull grayness of the forest.

“I supposed you could say that.” He said at last, reaching up to unfasten an invisible string at his throat.  “But I wasn’t born this way.  I used to be human… just like you.”

Izuku’s eyes widened as something he couldn’t quite see slid away from the stranger’s body, gathering into a transparent, clothlike material in his hands.  The painful sparkle around the man went with it and he looked like an ordinary man with sunken eyes and cheeks, though one still slightly too pretty to be normal.

“Y-You can take yours off?” Izuku asked, his weapon slowly lowering.  Without thinking, one hand went to his own throat.  He tried to grab the slippery material that pressed in around him, but his fingers couldn’t hold it.  They slid right through like water.  He tried again, harder this time, but his fingers only passed through and scraped at his throat.

An angry, frustrated sob came out.  It was so unfair.  He could barely breathe, suffocated by whatever those… monsters had put on him.  Even if he did get away, would he ever be able to be normal again?  No one would trust him if he looked like this.  Why was he even trying to run away if he couldn’t go back to being normal?

Overwhelmed with hopelessness, the bone dropped back to the earth.  Izuku pulled his legs up to his chest and hid his head in his arms, sobbing.  He kept trying to pull his invisible layer off, but as always it slipped straight through his fingers.

“Here, let me help you with that.” The stranger offered.  He came towards Izuku slowly, pausing every time Izuku flinched back, until he was able to tug at the invisible cords at Izuku’s throat.  “Hold still, kiddo.  There, that should do it.”

Like a cold shower of rain, Izuku felt something slide off his skin.  He gasped and shivered.  The sparkles rolled away, collecting in a bundle around him on the ground.  Too afraid to believe it, he touched his arms, face, chest, to make sure it was gone.  It was suddenly so easy to breathe, too easy, and he struggled to keep his lungs full of air.  “H-How did you do that?” Izuku choked.

The stranger cocked his head with a worried frown.  “Did no one teach you how to take off your glamours?” He touched the fallen magic threads and his brown furrowed more.  “Who made these for you?”

Mother did.  Izuku quickly shook his head, covering his ears to block out his own thoughts.  She wasn’t his mother.  She only looked like her a little.  His mother was dead.  Izuku was all alone in the world.  He started to cry again, the despair from only a few moments ago still too strong to shake.  Overwhelmed by the immensity of the feelings, Izuku leaned forward and launched himself into the stranger’s arms, grabbing his shirt and crying into his chest.

“Hey, it’s okay, kiddo!” The stranger said.  He embraced Izuku, his arms warm.  “Calm down, it’s okay.  You’re okay.  I’m here now.”

“I w-wanna go home!” Izuku cried.  “Please, please!  Please let me go!  W-Wanna- Wanna go home!”

“Goodness, you’re freezing!” The man shrugged his fur lined cloak off and wrapped it around Izuku, bundling him into his arms and picking him up as he stood.  “It’s all right now.  I’m here, and I’ll help you get home.”

Izuku nodded.  He wanted to trust this man, someone who had helped him without him even having to ask.  He was like a hero, just like the stories his mother had told him every night before she died.  “Who are you?” Izuku mumbled, tears starting to fade away.

“Just someone who likes to help.” The man smiled down at him as Izuku peaked up at him.  “But I can’t give you my name.  You can call me whatever you like, kiddo.”

Izuku had nearly forgotten that the man wasn’t human.  He had been about to tell him his name.  He wasn’t sure what would happen if he let it be taken again.  The last time had hurt so much it made him shiver just remembering it.  “Um, All Might?”

The stranger blinked several times.  His cheeks flushed a little and he looked away, clearing his throat.  “All Might?” He repeated, coughing awkwardly.  “From the fairy tales?”

Izuku nodded.  “M-Mom used to tell me stories about heroes.  All Might was my favorite.”

The stranger blushed a bit harder and coughed again.  “Yeah, okay.  You can call me that.”

Izuku smiled.  “Y-You can call me Deku.  That’s what my dad calls me.”

“I don’t like that very much.” All Might frowned.

Izuku just shrugged and shivered.  He was warming up, but his toes were still cold and sticky from sweat and mud.  “I’ll get a new name when I go home.” He said, closing his eyes and leaning his head against All Might’s chest.  “Um, s-something cooler.  And nicer.”

All Might seemed to hesitate.  “Kiddo… where is your name now?”

Izuku bit his lip and looked away.

“Did someone take it from you?”

Izuku flinched.  “Y-You can help me get it back, r-right?” He asked hopefully.

All Might sighed and shook his head.  “I’m afraid I can’t.  And it won’t do you any good to get home if someone else has it.  They’ll just call you back to them and you won’t have any choice but to listen.”

Tears immediately burned Izuku’s eyes again and his breath hitched.  “I-Isn’t there anything you can do?” He begged.

“I can’t.” All Might said, hesitating as he seemed to struggle with something internally.  “But… I do know someone who might be able to help you.  The only person who might be able to help you.”

“W-Will you take me to them?” Izuku begged.

All Might looked down into Izuku’s desperate eyes and sighed.  “All right.  But he isn’t very friendly and there are… a few other people there.”

“It’s okay.” Izuku said.  “I-I’m really brave!”

Now All Might smiled and gave him a small squeeze.  “Yes, I can tell you are.  Come on then, I’ll introduce you to my family.”

“Where did you find a whole child in the woods, Eighth?” The large man called Fifth roared.

Izuku flinched and hid behind All Might, peeking out at the strange collection of people gathered around them.  He’d never been in many crowds, and ever since his mother died, he’d barely been around anyone but his father.  Even when he was, he was never the center of attention like this.

“What are you going to do with it?” Another asked, squinting with already narrow eyes.

“Looks like he’s already been Fey Touched.” Another said.  They crowded in closer until the only woman in the group stepped between Izuku and the others, shooing them back with a scolding finger.

“Honestly, haven’t any of you ever seen a child before?” She snapped.  “You’re terrifying the poor thing!  Shoo, find something else to entertain yourself with!” Then she turned to Izuku and smiled sweetly.  “Don’t mind them, darling.”

She was tall and dark haired, but something about her reminded Izuku of his mother.  He felt a lump in his throat and just nodded.

“Is First here?” All Might asked, patting Izuku’s head to comfort him.

The woman shook her head.  “No, he’s not.  He’ll be back before morning, I think.”

“Deku here would like to speak to him.” All Might said, indicating Izuku.

The woman nodded.  “Let’s get you cleaned up then, kiddo.” She said to Izuku.

All Might turned to hang his cloak and glamours, and Izuku’s glamours as well, next to the door.  One of the other men noticed, a quiet one who had mostly kept himself hidden.

“You took your glamours off, Eighth?”

All Might glanced down at Izuku and shrugged.  “I just felt like it.”

The woman caught All Might's look.  “Hm, I think I feel like it too.” She said.  A moment later, something shimmery slid away and she looked and felt a bit more normal.

Izuku breathed a small sigh of relief he didn’t know he’d been holding.  “A-Are you human?” He asked.

“I used to be.” The woman replied, brushing her fingers through Izuku’s hair.  “What about you?”

“I-I’m still human.” Izuku said quickly.  He wasn’t sure what turned a person from human into a Fae, but he was sure he still had time to get home before it was too late for him like it was for these people.

The woman’s gaze quickly flickered over him and she smiled.  “I see.  You can call me Seventh, like everyone else, if you like.”

“You’re all numbers.” Izuku said, allowing her to lead him away from the cluster of people to a washroom.

“It just worked out that way.” Seventh told him.  “Since we can’t go by our real names, we just started keeping track of who's who by the order we came here.”

“Will First really be able to help me?” Izuku asked.  “What is he like?  Was he human too?”

“No, kiddo.” Seventh sighed and started cleaning his face with a warm, wet rag.  “First is a High Fae.  He’s the one who keeps all of our names for us.”

Izuku quickly pulled back, a pulse of fear shuddering through his body.  “B-But- Then- Why did All Might bring me here?”

“All Might?” Seventh repeated, blinking several times.  She quickly covered a giggle.  “Oh, you mean Eighth?”

Izuku nodded.  “He said First could help me get my name back so I could go home.”

Seventh paused.  “Well, I’m not sure if he could get your original name back, but First might be able to help you get a new name.  Would that be all right?”

“Yes!” Izuku said quickly.  “I was going to get a new name anyways!  That would be perfect!  Can he really do that?”

“I think so.” Seventh spoke slowly as she wiped the dirt and sweat from Izuku’s face.  “Although, Fae are different from humans.  They aren’t like heroes.  If they help you, they’ll want something in return.  You’ll need to be prepared for that.”

“I understand.” Izuku said, though he did feel a bit worried.  He didn’t have anything of value to give, other than the glamours All Might had taken off of him.  Still, he felt he was willing to do anything if it meant getting back to the human world.

Seventh helped Izuku get cleaned up and found him a change of clothes.  They were not as grand as the silks and glitters he had been forced to wear and Izuku instantly loved them.  By the time they were finished, the opening of the front door announced the arrival of the mysterious First.

First was a tall, thin man with white hair that hung in shiny loose locks to his shoulders.  His eyes were a painfully bright green and his glamours were much more intense than the others that Izuku had grown used to seeing.  His eyes landed on Izuku and Izuku felt as though they were spears that pierced straight through him.

“So that’s what this is all about.” First said in a cold voice that made Izuku shiver.  “You’re not supposed to leave your mother’s side, my dear little nephew.”

Izuku’s blood turned cold.  He felt trapped under the Fae’s gaze, unable to move, unable to breathe.  He wanted to turn and run but his legs wouldn’t move.  He partially registered the gasps and jolts of surprise from the others in the room, but his attention was focused completely on First.  The room felt impossibly small and his lungs tight with lack of air.

“I- I d-don’t have an uncle.” Izuku stammered at last, feeling hot tears starting to gather in his eyes.

First sighed and looked around, spotting Izuku’s glamours hanging next to the door.  “We’ve met before, though you were asleep at the time, just like you are-” He stopped suddenly and gave Izuku a sharp look.  “How did you wake up?”

Izuku swallowed, throat thick with suppressed sobs.  “I- I don’t know.”

“Hm.” First turned back to him and motioned him closer, holding the glamours out.  “Come here.”

“Please.” Izuku choked, tears starting to run down his cheeks as he shook his head, eyes never leaving First’s.  “P-Please don’t make me wear that.  It hurts.  Please.”

“My brother will be furious if he finds out I saw you without them on.” First said.

Izuku shook his head harder.  “Please.  Please.” He begged.  “A-All Might said you could help me.  Please.  I ju-just want to go home!”

“All Might?” First repeated, eyes swinging immediately to Eighth.  “You told him who you were?” He demanded.

All Might flushed bright red.  “No!  No, he just- I told him to call me whatever- He picked it himself!” He stammered.

Izuku wiped his eyes, looking confused from All Might to First.

First sighed.  “I have a fondness for human heroes.” He explained.  “My brother, in his overbearing affection, gifts them to me should they ever wander into his woods.  I think perhaps you might have been the Ninth, if you hadn’t caught my beloved sister-in-law’s attention.”

Izuku whimpered, confused and overwhelmed.  “I- I don’t understand.  C-Can you help me?  Seventh said- I just- All Might told me- I need my name back!”

First glared at Izuku a moment longer, watching the tears begin to flow down his cheeks, then let out a long sigh.  He pinched the bridge of his nose and closed his eyes, muttering to himself for a moment.  He peeked at Izuku then shook his head and went to sit in a chair next to the fire, tossing Izuku’s glamours over the arm of the chair.

“Come here, little nephew.” First said, looking much less frightening.

Izuku hesitated, but came closer, stopping next to the arm of the chair.  First reached out and placed a hand on Izuku’s head, making him flinch, but hold his ground.

“You really are adorable.” First said.  “I can see why my beloved sister-in-law is so enamored with you.”

Izuku blushed and looked down.  He wasn’t used to those compliments that the Fae seemed to be determined to force onto him.

“Are you sure you know what you’re asking of me, darling nephew?” First asked.

Izuku shook his head.  “I don’t know how any of this works.” He admitted.  “B-But I don’t have anyone else to ask.  P-Please, can you help me?”

“Do you trust me?” First asked.

Izuku hesitated.  “Um, I think so?”

“Wrong answer.” First tapped his finger on Izuku’s nose several times.  “You can’t trust a Fae, dearest nephew.  I thought you would have learned that already when you lost your name in the first place?”

Izuku blushed and looked down.  “I- I know.” He mumbled.  “I’m sorry.”

First sighed and returned to rubbing Izuku’s head.  “I can’t get your name back from my brother and his wife.” He said.  Izuku’s shoulders drooped.  “I might, however, be able to get you a new name.”

“Really?” Izuku perked up quickly.

“If you’re willing to pay for it.” First finished.

Izuku slumped again.  “I don’t have any money.”

“Fae have no need of human currency.” First told him.  “We seek things of much higher value.”

“What do you want?” Izuku asked, thinking of the stories his mother used to tell him.  He wasn’t sure what First would ask of him, or if he would even be able to give it, or if it would even be worth it in the end.  No, it would have to be worth it.  Anything would be better than eternal slumber.

“Your new name.  If I get you one, you’ll give it to me.” First said.

“First!” All Might burst out.  “You can’t-!”

First shot All Might an angry glare and lifted a hand to silence him.  He turned his attention back to Izuku.  “Well, little nephew?  Do we have a deal?”

Izuku considered the offer.  He wouldn’t really be free if he went through with it, only changing one captor for another.  But Seventh had talked so fondly about the others here, and All Might had been so kind to him, and anything was better than eternal sleep.  He might even get to feel like he had a family again.

“All right.” Izuku nodded.

“Kiddo!” All Might gasped.

“It’s okay.” Izuku told him.  “I told you- I’m brave!  And, um, I think I like it here.”

“What about going home?” All Might asked.

Izuku let his eyes drop and shook his head.  “Mom died.  Dad hates me.  I don’t really have one, I only wanted to get away.”

First looked sad for a moment, but the expression was quickly hidden.  “Come with me then.” He stood up and turned to the door, taking Izuku’s glamours with him.  Izuku followed, drying his eyes.  First glanced down at Izuku’s bare feet and sighed, bending down to pick him up.  He was stronger than he looked.

“Should we come with you?” All Might asked.

“No.” First didn’t turn back as he opened the door.  “I’ll see you all when you wake up.”

“Um, Uncle?” Izuku asked when First had been carrying him through the trees in silence for several minutes.

“So now I’m your uncle?” First asked, sparing him a quick glance.

Izuku blushed.  “I-I don’t know what else to call you.” He mumbled.

“First is fine.  I’m used to that.”

“Thank you for helping me.” Izuku said.

This time First didn’t look at him.  “I haven’t done anything yet.”

They were quiet again with only the wind in the trees and rustling of leaves speaking between them.  At last, Izuku broke the silence again.

“Can I ask you something, First?”

“What is it, nephew?” First still wasn’t looking at him.

Izuku took a deep breath.  “My father is dead, isn’t he?” He asked.  “My real father.”

“Presumably.  Why do you ask.”

Izuku shrugged weakly, feeling a strange mix of grief and relief that burned his eyes.  “I c-can’t tell because I’ve been asleep and my dreams are always so confusing but I-I’ve been asleep for a long time, haven’t I?”

“Nearly a thousand years.” First replied.

Izuku’s throat felt tight.  “A-Am I still human?”

“No.  We’re here.”

Izuku didn’t have time to process First’s statement before he realized that they weren’t alone.  Someone stood on the path ahead of him.  A tall man with white hair and red eyes that Izuku had seen in his dreams before.

“No!” Izuku gasped, pushing away from First.  “No!  No, you tricked me!”

“Quiet, nephew.” First told him, tightening his grip to prevent Izuku from escaping.

“So this is where my darling little son has wandered off to.” The Fae King said.  “My apologies, beloved brother, he slipped away when I wasn’t looking.”

“You’re not my dad!” Izuku screamed.  “Let go!  First, let me go!” He kicked and pushed to free himself.  “You liar!”

“I’ll take him from you.” The Fae King offered, taking a step forward.

“What makes you think I came to return him?” First replied in a cold voice.

The Fae King hesitated, red eyes glowing for a moment.  He smiled and tilted his head.  “What game is this, precious brother of mine?”

“The boy has offered me his name in exchange for my protection.” First said.

For some reason, the Fae King seemed to relax.  An amused twinkle took the place of the angry expression from a moment before.  “I see.” He said, looking at Izuku.  “What a terrible offer, darling son.  You really have so much to learn about Fae bargains.”

Izuku swallowed, feeling so uneasy he felt like he would throw up.  He had stopped kicking and screaming, as First seemed to have no intention of letting him go.

The Fae King turned back to his brother again.  “Well then, brother, what can I offer you instead?  The name of my son is quite precious to me, I can only imagine what you have in mind.”

“My name.” First replied without hesitating.  “My name in exchange for your son.”

The Fae King’s laughter died instantly.  “Is that how it is then, precious brother?” His glare was so fierce it made Izuku shiver.

“Of course it is.” First replied.  “Now take my offer or leave it, you’re terrifying my poor little nephew.”

The Fae King glanced at Izuku and quickly masked his angry expression.  He let out an annoyed sigh and shook his head with disgust.  “Very well, brother.  I accept your offer.  Your name returned in exchange for my son.”

“No!” Izuku turned and begged First again.  “No, no you promised!  Please!  I don’t want to go back!”

“I never promised.” First said.  “And I told you not to trust Fae.”

“You were supposed to help me.” Izuku cried as the Fae King came to collect him.  “Please, I finally woke up and-!”

“You aren’t awake.” First cut him off.  He sighed and shook his head.  “You’re still asleep, sweet nephew.  This is all just a dream.  You haven’t woken up yet.”

Izuku went numb.  So numb he didn’t notice the Fae King taking him from First’s arms until he was cradled against the creature’s broad chest.  He couldn’t breathe.  He couldn’t- He couldn’t wake up.  He needed to wake up.  He didn’t want to be asleep anymore.

“Hush, Izuku.” The Fae King murmured into his ear.  “Your Father needs to finish his deal before we go home.”

Izuku flinched and gasped in pain.  Hearing his name hurt so much, even when it was spoken in such soft and adoring tones.

“Try not to wander so far next time, little nephew.” First said.  “It’s dangerous for your consciousness to be so far from your body.”

He did sound concerned, but Izuku wouldn’t accept it.  First had used him.  Everyone just used him to get what they wanted- free labor, a son, a bargaining tool- no one ever helped him out of kindness.  No one helped him out of love.  They just used him because he was too weak and stupid to stop them.

“Well, brother?” First asked.  “My name?”

The Fae King sighed and covered Izuku’s ear, pressing the other against his chest as he leaned forward to whisper something into First’s ear.  Izuku felt something tight in the air snap and release.  He flinched and the Fae King chuckled.

“Did you feel that, little one?” He asked, lifting his hand away from Izuku’s ear.  “You’re quite sensitive to magic, aren’t you?”

“Anyone would be if they’d been in an enchanted sleep for a thousand years.” First replied.  He sounded a little different, but Izuku didn’t know how.  “Goodbye, little nephew.  It was nice to meet you again.”

When Izuku turned, First was gone.  The betrayal stung even stronger and he turned to sob into the Fae King’s chest.

“Poor little baby.” The Fae King cooed, rocking him as he carried him back into the forest.  “Let’s get you back home.  Your mother is very worried about you.”

Izuku just shook his head, still sobbing.  She wasn’t his mother.  This wasn’t his father.

“I’m not angry with you, precious.” The Fae King added.  “My brother was bound to steal his name back from me eventually.  And now I get to play the game of taking it back all over again.  I think I should thank you.”

“I hate you.” Izuku sobbed.

The Fae King just chuckled.  “How adorable…  Why don’t you go back to sleep, Izuku?”

And even though it was phrased as a suggestion, Izuku felt his consciousness resetting back to where his body rested, ready to start a new dream as soon as he shook himself free.  But he would never be free, and he would never, never wake up.

Toshinori woke with a start and a gasp.  His body was covered in cold sweat and he sat up so quickly he nearly fell out of bed.  His dream was so vivid it felt like a memory- a young boy with green hair and eyes, someone he had been trying to help, someone who needed him- why did that dream feel so real?

Troubled, Toshinori threw his covers back and went to find First.  From the moment he saw First, he could tell that something had changed.  Even though it had been a very long time since his name had been given to First, he still had trouble reading the man.  First enjoyed mimicking humans, but ultimately he was still a Fae.

“Pleasant dreams?” First asked, half turning to look at Toshinori.

“No.” Toshinori replied slowly.  First already knew that something strange had happened.

“Really?” First raised an eyebrow.  “But you got to play hero again.  I thought you missed that?”

Then it had to be more than a dream.  “Who was that little boy?” Toshinori asked.  “You… you called him your nephew.”

“My brother’s son, yes.” First nodded.  “Adopted, of course, and very jealously guarded.”

“He was human.”

“Used to be human.” First corrected.  “Before my precious sister-in-law found him.  He’s been hers ever since, and she was generous enough to share with her husband, although I suspect that was her plan from the start.”

“Then that was the prince?” Toshinori asked, feeling a little sick.

“You didn’t recognize him?” First asked, then shook his head.  “No, I suppose you wouldn’t have been interested.  Seventh did, but she and the queen are quite close.  My precious sister-in-law loves to dress up her prince and show him off to her ladies.”

The uneasy feeling in Toshinori’s gut was only growing.  The last thing he remembered from his dream was First leaving with the boy.  He was supposed to be giving him a new name.  Toshinori could already tell that something else had happened.

“What did you do?” Toshinori growled, hands turning to fists at his side.

First smirked and gave a careless shrug.  “I traded his consciousness back to my brother in exchange for my name.”

Toshinori was stunned.  “How could you?” He managed after struggling to speak for a moment.

First shrugged.  “What else was I supposed to do?  He wasn't even awake, he was just wandering into other people’s dreams.”

“I brought him to you for help!” Toshinori exclaimed.  He felt betrayed, not just for himself, but for the prince that had clung to him and begged to go home.  “He trusted me!”

“He shouldn’t have.” First said a bit coldly.  “He knew you weren’t human.  He needs to learn.”

“But-!” Toshinori began.

“I’m not a hero like you.” First cut him off.  There was a slight hint of sadness and jealousy.  The Fae sighed and shook his head.  “I try to pretend I am, but it’s not in my nature.  In the end, I have to do whatever benefits me most, and getting my own name back takes priority over my little nephew’s name, no matter how cute he is.”

“I suppose I should have known better than to trust you then.” Toshinori replied bitterly, turning to storm out of the house.

“Toshinori.” First called his name softly, but he was still forced to stop.  Toshinori glared at First, who only smiled at him in return.  “Thank you for bringing my nephew to me.  It was the right choice.”

Toshinori left in a huff, slamming the door hard enough to shake the house behind him.  He returned an hour later, still furious, but no longer steaming.  Second was standing outside the door, leaning against a tree.  His glamors, crafted by First himself, caught the early morning light and gleamed vibrantly even after the thousands of years it had been since they were woven.

“I hope you’re not waiting for me.” Toshinori grumbled.  “I’m not in the mood for much.”

“First’s deal with the prince is still valid.” Second said.

“What?” Toshinori asked, confused and surprised.

“A new name in exchange for giving it to First.” Second said, his thin gaze never wavering.  “The king was so eager to get his son back, he didn’t think to make First cancel their agreement.  Of course, the little prince doesn’t know any better, but First does.”

“You can’t convince me not to be angry with First right now.” Toshinori started to turn, ready to go back into the woods and avoid the others until they knew to leave him alone.

“What good would it have done?” Second asked.  “The king had First’s name.  Even if First gave the prince a new name, the king could have commanded him to hand it over.  We’re all better off now that First has his name back.  The king could have forced him to do the same with our names at any time.”

Toshinori sucked in an angry breath.  “Why didn’t he just say that then?”

Second shrugged.  “Why would he?  It’s in a Fae’s nature to be crafty and cunning.  It’s something like a game to them.”

“Those games shouldn’t be ruining a child’s life.” Toshinori argued.

“You know they can’t see it like that.” Second sighed and scratched his nose just under his scar.  “You can still be angry, Eighth, I’m not telling you to get over it.  It was a hopeless situation from the start.  Even if you hadn’t brought the prince to First, you wouldn’t have been able to help him since you were both asleep.”

“He needed my help.” Toshinori said softly, fists clenching again.

“It’s his own fault for allowing himself to be cursed.” Second replied.

Toshinori glared.  Second had been with First the longest, and was starting to act like him.  “He was only fourteen, and up against Her Majesty.  You know what that woman is like when she finds something she wants.”

“Then he never had a chance to begin with.” Second said, straightening.  “Anyways, First is going to visit his brother and the queen this afternoon, to rub it in the king's face that he has his name back.  He told me you were invited, if you want to come.”

Toshinori huffed.  “Fine.” He agreed.  If both the king and queen were there, the sleeping prince would be there as well.  It wouldn’t be much of an apology, but if he could just see the boy, he might feel better.  Despite her many quirks and manipulative tendencies, he knew the queen was obsessed with her adopted son.  She took excellent care of him- minus the fact that she would never allow him to wake up from his curse of eternal slumber.

“Don’t worry.” Second smiled as he turned to leave.  “First has his sights set on a Ninth, it’s only a matter of time before you have a little brother of your own, Mr. All Might.”

Toshinori blushed and followed after Second, protesting the use of his old hero name.  He had secretly adored the sleeping prince choosing to call him by the name, but perhaps he was starting to behave more like a Fae himself than he realized and would never admit to it.