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Martyn and his new companions had been on the road for at least a month now-
Their destination?
Who the hell knows-
Jimmy and Grian had been very vauge about where they were heading- to the point where Martyn doubted even if they knew where they wanted to go in the first place.
Currently both fairies were perched atop Martyn’s left shoulder- resting their wings after scouting ahead.
Which… was fine with Martyn…
He was trying his damndest not to get bitter or upset that he hadn’t gotten a break since breakfast this morning-
And He tried not to get grumpy as his food supply was also running desperatly low.
Sure technically he was carrying more food-
But it was for the fairies-
Not him.
Not that they knew that…
Which is why he is trying his DAMNDEST not to get Bitter about it.
The strain he was feeling was his own fault-
And he honestly probably deserved it as penance for the crimes he committed when he was a pirate.
He couldn’t let that hurt the faries.
They had the chance to leave him behind back with the ocean goddess… but… instead they waited for him to heal…
Just to use him as a pack mule-
Wait what???
No!
No no no no!!!
That’s just the bitterness talking
The bitter truth…
NO!!!
Shut up shut up!!
Jimmy and Grian were chirping and whistling to eachother next to Martyn’s ear-
It wasn’t malicious- just…
The translation magic Lizzy offered them didn’t last outside of her realm of influence unfortunately-
So the trio had been relying on gestures or drawings- because none of them knew how to write.
Which… … sucked…
So not only didn’t Martyn have no idea where they were going
he was running out of food-
Used as a pack mule
And he was out of the loop
…
No- no no no- this was just the bitterness talking-
Just the weariness
Just the hunger-
They all need to just “SHUT UP!”
His body was tense,
His teeth gritted
He had halted in his tracks.
And the world around him was silent.
So … so silent…
..
Martyn swallowed hard, and dug his finger nails into his palms.
The horror of what he had just done sinking in.
This is bad- bad bad bad bad bad-
Anxiously his eyes dart to his shoulder-
To the Jimmy and Grian-
To the very fairies he owed his life too-
Grian’s wings were flared out defensively, Jimmy hiding behind him- his own wings tucked in closely to his spine.
They were nervous… they were scared…
Of him…
Of the pirate they had mistakenly trusted.
“P-please… don’t leave…” his voice was feeble at best-
Jimmy let out a soft trill,
But Grian cut him off with a sharp chirp-
“I didn’t mean-!”
Another sharp chirp-
“I’m sorry-“ tears welled in Martyn’s eyes, and an instant his knees buckled underneath him.
And he fell to ground-
The drop jostled the fairies off his shoulder-
Grian was able to catch himself fairly quickly-
But Jimmy spread his wings a little late and tumbled into the ground.
No…
Not his wings- please say his wings were okay-
Not again-
Not again not again not again!!!
It was his fault
He hurt them- hurt Jimmy again-
He couldn’t
Couldn’t do this again.
The edges of Martyn’s vision darkened-
He felt his nails against his throat but the action was distant-
He wasn’t at the helm anymore.
He was a ship wreck just waiting to happen-
And he was going to take down his crew in the process.
He’d be their death-
Their doom-
Darkness fully enveloped his vision, and the only sound he could here was ringing-
He tried to scream but the only felt vibrations under slick fingers as a result.
This was is-
This was-
Something pressed against his forehead,
Barely there-
But… it… it was warm…
A soft wind was blowing against Martyn’s eye lashes-
And then-… a gentle song cut through the ringing.
Slow trills at varying ranges, mimicking long lost lullabies Martyn was certain he heard as a child.
His muscles lost all vigor and his hands drops from his throat.
Where was he again-
Why was he so upset-??
Martyn slowly blinked his eyes-
Catching glimpses of bright reds, Blues and yellows…
Those were…
Those were wings…
Flapping right in front of him…
Holding aloft…
A
Fairy…
Pressing his forehead against Martyn’s singing melodic lullabies to his weary mind.
“G-Grian…” hazily… Martyn whispered before slowly raising a hand underneath the fairy-
Only briefly noting dirty red stained nails, before focusing purely on the fairy-
His taloned feet set down in Martyn’s palm, while he continued to sing and brush aside a strand of his hair.
“It’s okay Martyn- we’ve got ya-“ the strange song seemed to say-
Despite not having any words in it.
There was a cool touch on the back of Martyn’s neck as a drenched cloth was draped over it.
Then a second Fairy came and landed on Martyn’s palm-
His bright yellow wings both looking perfectly healthy.
“Jimmy-“
The canary joined in the lovely song-
“Safety with family” they seemed to sing.
That sounded Nice…
Really nice…
Martyn wanted that desperately but… he didn’t deserve it-
He was bitter and selfish.
He only hurt family he had
“I can’t- can’t have that… I’m a curse… bad luck to have around.”
“No!”
“No!”
Cried both Fairies.
Their woven songs filled with distress.
“I’m a monster- something you fear- something to fight.”
Martyn’s vision was clearing bit by bit- but not enough to understand his surroundings in nice again.
“No Martyn- not scared-“
Grian trilled
“Worried” Jimmy finished “so so worried”
“Monster- curse- shipwreck-“ Martyn Mumbled
“Saviour- Blessing- Brother-“ Grian chimed-
His song taking on sharp notes like before after the Human Yelled
After he scared them
After he- he…
Martyn’s vision fully cleared only to be met with silent tears-
“Grian… Jimmy.. I’m… I’m so so sorry- I didn’t mean to yell at you- I was just trying to shut up my brain- I didn’t want to say it aloud, I’m sorry, I’m so so sorry-“
Jimmy wiped away the tears he could reach, softly trilling once again.
“Don’t blame you Marty, worried for you- so so worried for you-“
“I’m… n-no… no you’re not- I’m just… I’ve cracked! Ha-… I’m making up your words in my head- you don’t actually-… your not really saying-“
Grian spread his wings in full and took up Martyn’s whole view, promptly shutting up his spiraling rambles.
“Martyn,” the name came out as a sharp chirp-
Then another series a sharp chirps followed, like an accent more than a harsh emotion. “you are Beloved- you are important- you. are. our. Brother.”
For that last part Grian poked Martyn’s nose to enunciate each word.
…
Martyn couldn’t just make that up… right?
No no… surely not- it was impossible to time that and have it play out perfectly.
“I… I understand you.. I can… hear your words!”
“Yes!” Jimmy trills, “you understand Avian- we understand Human- magic-“
“H-how… what magic????”
Grian’s wings dropped slowly to his sides- .. “necessity… old fae magic… ties souls together…”
“F-fae….. you have-…”
“Only some- only… … .. is not important- I bind our souls together… … .. sorry… I was panicking…”
Martyn sighed softly- he probably should have expected another twist of fate such as the Fae being involved.
“Don’t be sorry- … you… stopped me from panicking more… stopped me from hurting myself more…”
The Ex-Pirate reached for his neck with his free hand, pulling back as soon as his rough fingertips met with raw skin
“Saved me…”
“You saved us first” Jimmy chimed
“I put you in danger- nearly drowned you!.”
“Martyn!” Grian curtly interjected “you protected us- shielded us from those who wished to harm us-.”
“No… no… “
“Yes.”
“I’m a criminal..”
“Your our brother-“
“I can’t be-“
“You are- adopted you already” Grian, almost looked smug about that-
“I can’t be strong all the time…. I can’t keep going with no breaks-“
“You don’t need too-“ Jimmy supplied
“I-… I’m running out of food… I’m a drain on resources.”
“We still have plenty of food, we’re almost to our destination, and there food runs in plenty.”
Grian stated plainly
Martyn no longer tried to keep his voice composed, as he kept listing his insecurities and bitterness, only to be met with understanding and kindness
“I don’t- I don’t know where we are- or where we’re going-!”
“Home- safety- shelter”
“And how can you even be sure I’d be welcomed there-
Will I have to say goodbye?
To be alone yet again???
Am I just a means to an end?? A convenient ride??”
“No” Grian warbled in grief. “No you are brother- souls are tied, never alone, no goodbyes- you are important- so so important.”
“Our home welcomes all who need it- and you deserve a home Martyn-“
“I… … “ Martyn tried to wipe away his stale tears, but fresh ones took their place. “I have never deserved anything…”
Grian cooed softly- nuzzling his forehead against the bridge of Martyn’s nose.
“Yes you have… I’m sorry I haven’t said it more…”
“Don’t be… it’s… hard to believe anyways..”
“We’ll help you believe it then” Jimmy chirped. “No matter how many times it takes”
Martyn smiled, despite the tears that still trailed down the sides of his face.
“I … .. thank you… .. for everything….”
Grian placed a soft kiss on Martyn’s temple-
“Always little brother-“
“Heh- I think you mean big bro..” the human said, sniffling as he cracked a big crooked smile. “I’m obviously taller-“
“Mmm- nah your probably younger-“
“Nu uh- definitely older-“
“Prove it-“
“I can’t count-“
“Exactly-“
“Hey- neither can you-“
“Your point?”
“The both is your both my big brothers so I don’t even need to think about it-“ Jimmy added with a crooked smile of his own-
And Martyn couldn’t help but laugh, a pure and honest laugh-
A few tears lingered in the corners of his eyes but most dried up, as the anxiety eased in Martyn’s chest.
The trio continued to tease and poke untill they ultimately decided to set up camp extra early and take the time to rest up before the last leg of their journey home-
And Martyn- never felt like he belong someplace more than along side his little brothers.