A/N: Behold! The first chapter of my new story. I'm so glad I finished it. *content sigh* It was actually more difficult than I expected. And I'm still not 100% happy with it! Ow well... T_T
I got the idea for this fic during one of my random conversations with Angelz on Edge, so she gets special thanks. ^^

This is a collection of one-shots, all about the Dark Court. Because each chapter will focus on different characters, I'll also write their names in the A/N.

I'm going to shut up now, but please be nice and also read the A/N on the bottom part, OK? Enjoy the DC-goodness! xD

Disclaimer: (unfortunatly) I don't own Wicked Lovely, the other books or its characters.

Characters: Niall & Irial (Yes, it has hints of Nirial in it. Because it's canon. You can't ignore it)

Return

Irial walked down another street, his feet guiding him to an all-too familiar place while his mind was occupied with other things. He had concluded that today's weather had somehow succeeded to visualise his chaotic emotions perfectly; it was overcast and a soft drizzle slowly soaked his skin, but he could vaguely recognise a few rays of sun in the distance. To expirience happiness, even if it was just for a while, was that possible for someone who lived from feelings like panic and despair? He knew the possibility was there – always staying out of reach like those rays of sunlight – but sometimes, just knowing that there was the slightest chance helped him back up and kept him going on days when darker and heavier feelings threatened to pull him down. At this moment, he felt a lot closer to that elusive feeling than he had in a very long time.

After mere minutes, Irial stood before the mansion he once lived in as the Dark King. He thought he had to leave it behind for a long time – at least for several decades, maybe centuries – when he handed his court to Niall. Sure, he had hoped the day would come that he could enter this house again, but he never expected it to be so soon. The king's request to come home had startled him a bit, even more so because it had sounded as a request from an equal and not an order from someone superior. He didn't know what it was that made Niall change his mind so fast – maybe his anger towards the Summer King, his concern for their beloved Leslie's well-being, or something else – but it was still a possibility to start anew, to slowly regain his trust. It would take time, there was no doubt about that, but nothing could describe how grateful Irial was for this opportunity – another chance to gain a bit of happiness.

He walked to the front door and put his hand on the grey, stone gargoyle. The sharp and stinging pain from the bite was something he was already accustomed to after all these years. Access was granted and he stepped inside. Everything was exactly as he remembered it; from the arrangements of the furniture to the paintings on the walls and every other little detail of decoration. He thought the new king would've changed some things, but he was mistaken. The only noticeable difference was the lack of noise. Apparently, there were no other faeries in the house at the moment – something that was a rare occurrence in Irial's days of kingship. A short creaking and a click were heard as the door closed behind him.

"You are early." Niall walked into the hall, but stopped halfway, keeping a few feet distance. It didn't matter that Niall was the one that invited the former king here, he still felt uncomfortable being too close to Irial sometimes. This was definitely one of those times. "Since when do you arrive on time, instead of an hour too late?" His voice sounded a bit mocking, maybe even teasing, but Irial could only guess what it meant. The wall around the monarch's emotions was built up well – Irial couldn't even sense the slightest trace of them. He didn't know if he should be happy about the fact that the Gancanagh seemed to become more accustomed to his role as the Dark King, or mourn it because he couldn't read him like he used to. "I thought we agreed some changes would be nice?" Irial smiled at him. Not wanting to start an awkward silence, he continued quickly. "Well, if you don't mind, I'd like to know where I'll be staying from now on."

Niall eyed him suspiciously. "Over there." He gestured at a door further down the hallway, on his right. Irial started to proceed towards his room, but Niall grabbed him by the arm.

"My chambers are upstairs. I advise you to not come there, except in case of an emergency. For your own good." He added. "Understood." Irial nodded and gently slid his arm out of the other's grip, their fingertips brushing softly as he passed by. He paused at the doorstep of his room. "Niall… I really do appreciate your invitation. I just–"

"Yeah, I get it." Niall interrupted him, not wanting to hear whatever Irial would come up with this time. He lit another cigarette, turned around and went to the living room. He still wanted to say a lot of things to him, but he couldn't find the right words. How could something as trivial and simple as words ever be enough? They couldn't voice how torn, how confused and broken he had been inside for the past millennium; they couldn't erase everything that happened so long ago and they couldn't make him ignore the more recent events; and no matter how hard he tried, they couldn't tell the other faery what his presence here, and in his life in general really meant to him – because even Niall himself wasn't sure how he felt about that. Although dark fey can feed on emotions, what is the use of that if you can't figure out what your own feelings are? If you always hide them from others, until they are locked away so deep that you can't find them again?

Niall swalowed, and because he couldn't grasp those unspoken words that lingered between them and utter a coherent sentence, he said the only logical thing he could think of. "Welcome home."

A/N: Reviews are always welcome. You can also review the next chapter if you like that one better. I'm posting it immediately after this one, b/c today is a special day…

It's my birthday! *throws confetti* (But I'm not telling you how old I am…letting you guess is much more fun for me *grin*) Plus, I just got back from France, so the result = I'm in a good mood and I thought I'd give you all a present too. ^^