A/N: Hello everyone! I'm Holly Branches and this is my first ever work of fan fiction. I thought I'd try and give it a whirl! I hope you are pleased with my style and the story. I'd love feed back and any comments you may have. Thanks!
WARNINGS: Slight AU, mature themes, yaoi, shota, kinks, angst, mystery, drama, romance, horror, self-cest, ECT
Story Summary: A lonely Howl always blamed his duties as a wizard for the reason he felt lonely, but then he would come to realizethat he felt lonely because he didn't have anyone to love.
Chapter 1: Saved (Prologue)
Howl rarely came to this part of Kingsbury. He knew the danger of doing so would cost him his increasingly sought after freedom. The only reason he chose to show up now was on the strength of an awful rumor. A rumor that Howl hoped was entirely untrue. Normally a busy wizard wouldn't take the time (and risk) into investigating these gossips but something about this story had deeply captured his interest.
Coming to the imperial city required disguise and stealth, he decided on a guise of a white kitten for now, which looked all but imposing. Distrust would spark if anyone knew that Howl with his famous moving castle was right here in Kingsbury, there might be armed searches scowering for him headed by that old crone Sulimon.
"Step inside, step inside my fine gentlemen!" Called a suited up barker. "Get yer' wish made true for a mere 50 pounds!"
Madams and their respective lords shuffled into the gilded atrium of 26th crown lane. This petty magic shop on the bad end of town never seemed to have so many patrons before.
Howl blank a few times, trotting in the shadow of a portly woman's ruffled gown. He curiously spectated the display of which the majority of people were flocking to.
"I wish for my hair to be as long and as beautiful as the princess of High Norland!" Exclaimed a cheery young girl, who's father held his coin purse tightly in anticipation.
Sure enough the rumors Howl had heard were true; the shaking boy in the chair began to glow a mystic blue. The girl sprouted beautiful golden curls that flowed magically down to her waist exactly matching what she dreamed; based on her soon joyous reaction "Oh, daddy! Thank you ever so much, ever so much!" she repeated.
her father, baffled, paid the expecting shopkeep who stood nearby.
Howl wasn't surprised, this man probably paid the court of wizards a handsome cut of his profits to vendor his son's magical abilities like this (was he actually his son, no, probably not.), this was the time of war after all. Howl couldn't help but feel angry at how this shop treated magic with little to no regard, but this was the royal city, there was nothing he could do.
Commotion soon began to rise up as yet another customer stepped forward, kitten Howl padded closer for a better view.
"You little shit, didn't I tell ya' to behave 'yerself?" Harley tried to squirm away but his feet were barbarically shackled into the chair.
"I-I'm tired, p-please." whined sad little voice, a voice that couldn't will himself to cast anymore.
Whispers about the boy's poor treatment began to circulate amongst the crowd.
The shop owner began to growl as impatient men took their lady friends elsewhere as long as Harley now refused to or rather, couldn't perform. Soon they were seemingly alone in their parlor.
The man who ran the shop began to boil over in rage.
"You goddamned brat, you ain't worth your keep!" He hollered, yanking a fistful of the poor boy's creamy orange hair.
Harley whimpered and tried to pull away, this only made his captor even angrier.
"We've been working all d-day.. I'm tired, please, I just need a nap!" Profusely mewled the youth, who suddenly got flipped over, chair and all onto the floor. Harley's captor got real close to where Harley could smell the foul whiskey of his breath. Harley shut his eyes and waited for a beating he knew would soon come.
Just then. The door that was carelessly left open during this entire ordeal was abruptly closed, chiming a symphony of bells that signaled usage of their entryway.
The owner looked up, mid-fist towards the fanciful dressed man who just happened to 'enter'.
" Excuse me, I was wondering if you were selling today." said a now human Howl, complete with a patronizing smirk towards the drunk man who fumed now more than ever.
"No, we ain't, now get out." Huffed the man, who got somehow managed to stand despite his increasingly fueled anger. He left Harley staring bright eyed at Howl, his eyes matched the soft hue of orange that was the same as his curling locks.
Howl felt his heart melt in compassion towards the boy, how could anyone hurt such a helpless kid?
"Didn't ya' hear me? Go on git'." Seethed Harley's captor, who just then happened to be pouring himself some more whiskey back at the counter.
Both sets of needy pastel eyes set with concern on Howl, another thing that tugged on his heartstrings and fully prompted him into action. Howl walked up towards the counter.
"How much for him?" Continued a persistent Howl, he knew how this game worked.
"Yer' wasting your time, I ain't sellin', try someplace else!" Slurred the drunken man, he almost looked ready to take a swing at him.
Howl placed a bag of gold onto the counter, he enjoyed this challenge.
Harley curled into a small ball as he hoped and prayed to whatever cosmos looked out for creatures as lowly as himself to allow him to escape!
The shopkeep considered the gold and grunted with disproval.
Howl sprang a second bag from the first until the amount had all but tripled what the shop had earned for the entire day.
The shop owner also figured that this was under the table, that it couldn't be taxed by Sulimon and her henchmen who so carefully watched his sales.
Harley gave a distressed mewl and the shopkeeper grabbed all the gold, pouring himself another glass of Whiskey while he was at it.
"I thank you for your service." Thanked a polite, smiling Howl who bowed before heading over to Harley who shut his eyes suddenly.
"Yeah, yeah whatever.."
Each of his shackles were gently popped open which prompted the frightened youth to open his eyes was gently helping him to his wobbling feet that nearly failed to support his small frame due to long periods of being unused.
"Up we go!" Said the man who held out warm inviting arms to him, Harley couldn't help but find an alien urge to jump into his arms as a kin aura of magic filled his senses, Howl smiled and carried the boy out of the shop as simple as that. he wondered if he imagined the shopkeep grumble something as the two left.
Harley wondered if he had just experienced 'kindness.'
"Onii-chan? What is your name?" piped Harley as Howl chose to take a scenic route home, one that he hoped his new pet might enjoy.
"My name is Howl, now what could your name be my adorable little sprite?" Asked the wizard with seeming eagerness, he was almost entirely intoxicated by the magic radiating off this boy.
"H-Harley.. My name is Harley." Whispered the youth who found himself bewitched by the bustling city life he had never seen from inside the walls of that shop. Howl looked down and began to nuzzle his bundle of cuteness who seemed blissfully absorbed. "I could just eat you up, Harley!" Exclaimed a excited Howl who flounced and glided up towards the high balconies, his cargo securely held."You're going to come home with me, and you'll be my new pet to do whatever I please with." Explained Howl as he paused late in the afternoon sun.
Harley suddenly noticed that this man smelled like sugar!
Howl chuckled, bringing his finger up to lightly tap the boy's wiggling nose, he couldn't get enough of this creature already! Just then he started for the distance where his castle lay in wait.
A/N: Hey again everyone! Thanks for reading thus far! Have any feedback? I know I suck at prologues huh? :3 anyway! XoXo.
