(no subject)
Title: Little Magic
Genre: Fantasy, Original Fiction
Rating: PG
A/N: It’s innocent fairy/ human slash. Merry Christmas!
The Christmas Day turned into afternoon. Jonathan had showed Noel around the house, not remembering that Noel knew it better than any place in the world. Then his mother had asked them to go to the shop to buy some milk and custard. The boys went and talked about casual subjects. Noel thoroughly enjoyed his day as a human and Jonathan’s company.
The dinner table was decorated with candles, and Jonathan’s mother had prepared plenty of food. Noel looked at the pots and bowls hesitantly; he’d never tried human food before. He decided that vegetables would be the safest choice. When Jonathan’s mother asked if Noel would like some Marmite with his bread, Jonathan mouthed ‘disgusting’ and Noel politely refused. The dinner continued pleasantly and the family asked questions about Noel and how the boys knew each other. Noel mainly let Jonathan answer to keep their story straight.
The boys glanced at each other over the table every now and then and it was hard to keep from smiling. Jonathan’s father lifted his glass. Since it was Christmas, Jonathan and Noel had been allowed some wine. Jonathan lifted also his glass, grinning at Noel when they wished each other Merry Christmas.
After dinner Jonathan’s parents went to visit friends and Jonathan and Noel stayed in the living room. Noel had never paid any attention to it, but now that he looked at the elegant furniture and large room, he realised that the family was probably quite wealthy.
“Did you like your dinner?” Jonathan asked.
“It was an experience,” Noel simply said.
Jonathan chuckled and sat down on the sofa. Noel sat next to him, placing his legs under himself. Jonathan pulled his leg up on the sofa and wrapped his arms around them. “Can I ask you something?” he said.
“Go ahead,” Noel answered.
“How much do you know about me exactly?” he asked quietly. “I mean you’ve been around since I was born,” he looked at Noel as if this was a question. Noel nodded his confirmation and Jonathan continued, “But what do know about me?”
“I know that you’re clever and stubborn. You like to eat chocolate ice cream in your bed at weird times and it doesn’t make your stomach ache. You used to hold your stuffed bunny close to you when you slept, and you still have it now. You often keep your thoughts to yourself but you write a lot,” Noel said, smiling wistfully. When Jonathan didn’t say anything, he continued, “You are sensitive and thoughtful. I know you like to watch comedies and horror films. I don’t like them, but I still can’t bring myself to leave so I hide under your bed. You’re funny and caring. I know you don’t often have friends over,” he said carefully. “I could go on. They may be small things, but to me they are big. I know we could never talk before and maybe I don’t know everything about you, but I’d like to think that I was a part of your life.”
Jonathan looked surprised and confused. “I didn’t know anyone would think such things about me.”
“I do.”
Jonathan sighed. “I wish I’d known.”
“Well, you probably don’t want to know that you tried to eat me for breakfast when you were two years old. I’ve never been more scared in my life.”
Jonathan frowned. “For real?”
“For real. And you just laughed. You have a weird sense of humour,” Noel said, trying to lighten the mood. He sensed Jonathan was on the verge of being upset, but he wasn’t sure why.
Jonathan smiled. “Sorry.”
“You know, I’ve always felt protective of you. More than I should have probably,” Noel said.
“What do you mean?”
“When you were upset, I wanted to… do something, but I couldn’t do much. And that’s the way it should be. I just didn’t want to accept it. That is why I’m here now really,” Noel explained.
“Oh,” Jonathan muttered, hugging his legs tighter.
“And maybe I truly wanted to be a part of your life,” Noel continued. “I wanted you to know me like I know you.”
“Maybe you can be now,” Jonathan said with a hopeful smile paying on his mouth.
“Well, yes. I don’t want you to forget me. Maybe I was selfish coming here for one day but I was desperate,” Noel said wistfully.
Jonathan stared at him with confused eyes. “What?”
“I was desperate- “
“No,” Jonathan exclaimed. “What about one day?”
“I-Jonathan… I have to change back at midnight,” Noel nearly whispered. Jonathan’s tone of voice worried him.
“But I thought…”
“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you earlier,” Noel apologised.
“Why did you come then?” Jonathan accused. “What’s the point? What? I can’t talk to you again after today?”
Noel’s eyes widened. He hadn’t expected Jonathan to react so strongly. For the first time he stopped to think about the situation from Jonathan’s point of view. He realised how selfish he had been. He had been so desperate for Jonathan to know about him that he didn’t stop and think what it would do to the boy.
“I thought you wanted to…” Jonathan continued.
“What?” he spoke as gently as he could.
“Never mind,” he sneered. “You shouldn’t have come.”
Noel watched in disbelief as Jonathan stood up and practically ran out of the room without even looking at him. Noel sat in the room for a few minutes wondering whether he should leave without saying goodbye. It had gotten dark outside and it was snowing still steadily. The beautiful sight would be perfect to calm one down but Noel was angry and frustrated; he was angry at himself for being so stupid. And now Jonathan was angry at him as well.
The house was quiet as Noel stood up and walked out of the room. He stopped by the staircase, hesitated for a moment but walked the stairs carefully and went to stand outside of Jonathan’s room. The door was closed, and he opened it. Jonathan sat on his bed in the dim blue light that was coming from the star lamp on his window.
“Hey. I’m sorry,” Noel heard himself saying hesitantly.
“No, I’m sorry,” Jonathan replied, looking up.
“Can I come in?”
“Yeah,” Jonathan relented. “I thought you hated my sorry ass and left.”
Noel smiled a bit. “Well, no. I’m still here.”
“Not for long,” Jonathan muttered.
Noel sighed and walked to the bed, sitting on it. He composed himself; he didn’t want Jonathan to take notice of his earlier frustration, he just needed to fix things the best he could. He edged a little closer until he was sitting next to Jonathan, their arms nearly touching.
“I understand I made a mistake,” Noel spoke in a calm voice.
“No, you don’t. You don’t understand,” Jonathan groaned.
“Then tell me,” Noel asked.
Jonathan turned his eyes away and stared into the distance before speaking, “I don’t have many friends or anyone I can talk to. I’m fucked up and I don’t have anyone to tell. School is nightmare because people think I’m a freak. I don’t know why I bother going there.”
Not knowing what to say, Noel gave an apologetic look even though the boy was refusing eye contact. He’d known it; deep down he’d know Jonathan wasn’t all right.
“Then you come here. And you know me and you understand me,” Jonathan turned to look at Noel, his eyes beginning to water. “For once I’m not a freak and then you say you’re going.” He blinked his most eyes. “I’m sorry I said you shouldn’t have come. It’s not that I didn’t want you coming, it’s that I don’t want you going.”
When Noel put his arm around his shoulders, Jonathan began to shake. “It’s hard to stand sometimes. You know a feeling when you walk down the corridor and everyone looks at you like you’re dirt? No one would ever want to be with me.” Noel pulled Jonathan closer and he leaned in to the touch, placing his head against Noel.
“You’re incredibly strong,” Noel said. “I know it doesn’t feel like it now, but someone who isn’t like these people, some nice girl-“
“Boy,” Jonathan interrupted.
It took Noel a few seconds to understand what he meant. “Oh.”
“Yeah,” Jonathan mumbled.
“You will meet some nice boy who isn’t like these people and who’ll like you as you are,” he said gently.
“How stupid to even say it, but I haven’t even had my first kiss yet,” Jonathan sniffed.
Noel watched his face, his eyes were red and they held a miserable look in them. Noel went through in his mind what Jonathan had said and he had a thought. He didn’t have the slightest problem with it but was it the right thing to do? Regardless, he leaned closer and raised Jonathan’s chin with his finger tips so that they were sharing eye contact. Jonathan watched him with confused, yet expectant eyes. The eye contact didn’t last long as Noel brought their lips together into a clumsy kiss. Noel moved his lips in a way he thought he was supposed to while Jonathan stayed still, and the light touch of their lips was over within moments. Jonathan breathed as Noel moved awkwardly, neither of them totally sure if the kiss was over yet. When Noel fixed his eyes on Jonathan’s face again, he saw a small smile on his moist lips.
“Did you like it?” Noel asked.
Jonathan gave a nod, rather shyly. Noel realised that he’d acted quite rashly, but he’d simply followed an instinct.
“I wasn’t sure how to-“
“It was fine,” Jonathan spoke hastily, his cheeks turning a shade of pink.
“Okay then,” Noel said, opening his arms and beckoning Jonathan to lay against him again. He obeyed and nuzzled his cheek against Noel’s neck. “You can still talk to me,” Noel spoke gently.
“How?” Noel could feel Jonathan’s hot breath on his skin.
“I’ll still be here for as long as you need me, just not like this,” Noel assured him.
To that, Jonathan didn’t say anything, and they sat leaning to each other for a while. Noel wondered what was going through Jonathan’s mind but he didn’t want to break the comfortable silence to ask. After a while Noel sensed that Jonathan was growing tired; he rested his head close to Noel’s own with his eyes closed and his body was becoming heavier against Noel’s.
“Come here,” he whispered, guiding the boy to lay on his side on the bed. Noel lowered himself next to Jonathan, and they settled in a comfortable position facing each other. Not being able to stop himself, Noel brushed the dark strands of hair away from Jonathan’s face. His brilliant brown eyes were smiling at him warmly, and Noel felt relieved he’d managed to calm the boy down - yet again, even though this was the first time he was the cause of his distress.
“I don’t want you to go,” Jonathan muttered.
“I’m sorry,” Noel spoke quietly.
As Jonathan snuggled closer, Noel - getting the hint - pulled him into a tight hug. He held Jonathan that way until his breathing became steady and calm and Noel knew he’d fallen asleep.
~ ~ ~
Noel listened to the clock ticking in the darkness; in thirty minutes the Christmas Day would be over. He felt overwhelmed; meeting Jonathan had been more than he’d hoped for but at the same time he couldn’t help worrying what would happed now. Was Jonathan going to be okay? He knew the boy was stronger than he could imagine but lying there in his arms he looked so small and fragile. How was he going to help Jonathan? He knew it for certain that he couldn’t leave Jonathan like this. He needed the fairy no matter what anyone said or thought. But what options did he have?
Jonathan moved in his sleep and clutched the fairy’s fingers tightly. Noel contemplated whether to wake him up or not. He decided to give him a few more minutes and let his eyes wander on his peaceful face and the familiar room. Stretching his long legs, he realised that he’d got almost used to his human body and the realisation made him feel even more reluctant to change back.
He nuzzled his nose to the boy’s neck and whispered, “Jonathan.”
Jonathan’s body jerked and he blinked his eyes rapidly. Realising Noel was still there and in his human form, he relaxed and let out a sleepy, satisfied sound. They stayed silent for a moment until Jonathan raised his head and asked, “What time is it?”
“Fifteen minutes,” Noel answered.
“Happy Christmas, Noel,” Jonathan spoke softly. “This was the best present I’ve ever had. Thank you.”
Noel smiled. “Happy Christmas.”
Neither of them felt the need to speak for a long moment and they simply looked at each other. When midnight was merely a minute away, Jonathan held the fairy tightly and Noel kissed his cheek.
“It’ll be fine,” he said, and for some reason Jonathan believed him.
And then he was simply hugging air, and the clothes he was clasping dropped to his side. Jonathan saw silvery wings quaver and a wink of an eye before Noel flew out of the room. A giggle came out of nowhere, mixing with sobs. Jonathan didn’t even try to control himself but he knew he’d been privileged enough to experience something extraordinary.
~ ~ ~
Did you know that magic is real? I didn’t until it happened to me. Did you know that your most precious dreams can come true? That something you desperately wanted can come to your life in the most unexpected form? It didn’t know what it was until I met him face to face.
You might feel down because you feel different. You might think you’ll never be happy but then you realise that what you wanted had been in front of your nose all along. You just didn’t know it was there. But then a little magic happens and you can see clearly.
I kept talking to him whenever I needed someone and I know he was always there, watching over me. Getting to know him gave me strength and helped me get through that hard time of my life. I still love Christmas - I get to spend it with my best friend; it turned out he turns human every Christmas Day and that alone is more than I hoped for.
- Jonathan