Alright new story! Going back toward humor in this one I hope! If you don't know who Ro is go read Clipped Wings! Quick note! Though I haven't shown it in the sketches I use for the thumbnail, Eagle!Al's legs have a high ankle joint just like normal birds, about half way between his toes and knee.

Matt was pottering around doing house work and feeding Kuma. It was drawing close to winter and the weather will turn cold very soon. Just as he set the bowl down for Kuma his phone rang.

"Hullo!" He straightened up, answering it cheerily. Things had been going good for him lately and it had put him in a good mood.

A little panicked voice echoed through the phone. "Matt! Help! Something weird happened to Al then a cat jumped through the window and we got separated! Aaaah! The cat's back! Get away from me you mangy furball!"

"Ro?!" Matt's good mood died instantly. "Ro, what happened, where's Al?!"

"I donno, I lost him in the kitchen."

"Lost him?! How on earth do you lose a human being?!"

"Go away you stupid cat!"

"Throw Al's yarn across the hall," he shook his head, grabbing his keys as he rushed to his bike. "Hero will chase it and leave you alone."

"Please hurry!"

"I'm on my way now, okay? Just stay calm."

He takes off and rushed to Al's house. He leapt off of his bike at the other end, going straight in. "Al? Ro?! Where are you?!"

"I'm up here!" Ro was perched on the blade of the inactive ceiling fan.

"Are you alright?" he came over, coaxing her down. "Where's Al?"

"I donno.. I was up there for a while.."

"Okay," he took a deep breath, trying to stay level. "What happened?"

"There was this flash of light and something happened to Al and then as we were freaking out the cat came in and started chasing us, then I called you."

"What happened to Al?" he asked again, talking slowly.

"You should just see him yourself.. We need to find him anyway."

He bit back his frustration at her ambiguity and turned to the room. "Al? Are you here?"

He got no response. Matt searched around the house. A small bit of Al's aura was coming from on top the bookshelf, it wasn't big enough to be Al himself though, maybe something he touched? As Matt reached up to grab it something bit his finger.

He yelped, pulling back sharply. "Ow, what the hell?!" He grumbled some before grabbing a chair and peeking on the top of the bookshelf.

A very terrified, very ruffled, very.. tiny little birdman sat crouched on all fours hissing up at him.

He frowned softly, a tender curiosity stirring inside. "What on earth are you...?"

It looked just like Alfred's eagle form to be honest, and it had his aura. But that couldn't be him could it?

"...Alfred...?" It was mad, but it wouldn't be the maddest thing he'd ever seen...

He felt a little pulse of recognition but it was quickly covered back up by fear, then again how would you feel getting almost eaten by a bus sized cat? It was him! "Alfie... shh, it's okay," he cooed softly, gently reaching over to him again. "I won't hurt you..."

Al backed up a step wings raising higher.

"Shh," he stayed close enough to touch him, but enough away not to make him feel trapped. "It's okay..."

Al crooed a bit tilting his head.

"Come on," he offered his hand again. "You're okay, little friend..."

Al blinks a bit. "..Mattie..?"

"There you are," he hummed, smiling warmly as relief washed through his eyes. "I'm here..."

Al whines curling his wings around him.

"Shh, come now," he ghosted a finger over one tiny wing. "I'm here to help..."

"I donno what happened.."

"I know... Ro told me. Come on out and we can work it out together..."

Al moves closer, features shifting as he moved. He didn't change all the way. His wings and tail feathers remained along with feathers on his back. The finger nails only receded half way. His legs didn't change back at all and his nose and chin were at a sharper point than they should be. His ears were even pointed which was new, but then again he never really stopped halfway like this often.. If there ever was a male harpy it might look something like this.

Matt frowned inwardly, but kept a calm and encouraging face on the out. This was worrisome indeed, considering the amount of trouble Eagle seemed to be causing since the kidnapping incident... but that didn't account for the shrinking...

Al hops into his hand. Matt brought him to his shoulder before hopping off the chair. "So, do you know what happened, or...?"

"Not really.. Just a flash and dizziness and pain, then I'm shorter than Ro and stuck as a halfling.. It's not Eagle that's got me stuck either.." He was only about three and a half inches..

Matt frowned softly now, very concerned. "You need help..."

He huddles in his wings again. He was only wearing boxers, the t-shirt he was sleeping in last night ripped when his wings grew out forcefully.

Matt frowned at that too. "You need clothes..."

"Where the hell from though..?" Especially with it so close to winter Al needed to stay warm. Ro rejoined them just then.

"He's nearly fair size," she offered. "It's too cold for petals and leaves, but if you could get me some of this stuff" -she plucked at Matt's top- "I can make him some?"

Al glanced to her. She was sizing him up carefully. Al glanced to Matt shrugging.

Matt just smiled. "If she can do it?"

"Yeah."

"I'll go find her some old fabric."

Al nods wrapping Matt's hood around him to keep warm. They go upstairs, soon finding an old shirt that wouldn't fit Al again.

"Jeez how long has that been there..?"

"A while," Matt chuckled. "You need to clear this out once you're better."

Al hums snuggling into his hood. Matt took it down to the kitchen; setting Ro to work with a tiny needle and scissors.

Al had zoned out a bit, the hood warmed him up again and the chase and shrink had tired him out. He sits thinking on what happened and how they could fix it.

That was the issue... perhaps the UK? If it was magical, they'd know... if it was scientific though... He highly doubted it was science.. But magic was a good place to start.

"I'll call Iain in the morning," It was easily the middle of the night in the UK right now...

Al blinked out of his thoughts. "Alright."

"Are you okay?"

"Just over thinking again."

"Okay... Ro's done," Matt scooped him off his shoulder and placed him gently on the table.

He startled slightly at that. It was weird to be picked up like this.

Ro just smiled, holding up miniature versions of his old clothing. "It's okay, right? I thought you'd rather the human designs?"

He smiles "It's great thanks."

She smiled as he slipped it on. Al relaxed a bit finally covered up, not only had he been cold he was still self-conscious about his most recent scars. It was hard to tell them apart from the others, but it was nice to have a bit of decency. Al smiles giving Ro a hug. She hugged back, snuggling some. She didn't get this level of comfort often...

After a bit Al glanced up to Matt. "What do we wanna do now?"

He shrugged "We can't really do anything until we get help..."

Al hums, "Did you wanna go home and get Kuma?"

"...You wanna come with me?" They could gather the forces at his place...

"Sure."

He nodded softly, picking both tiny people up. "Let's go."

Al clung to the fabric of his hoodie as he moves. Talons on his feet griping unconsciously. Matt slipped them into his pocket, grabbing the cat before getting back on his bike.

The sound seemed louder to Al being so small and close to the engine, then again his hearing is even sharper when he's morphed.

"Huddle down in the fabric," Matt called before putting his helmet on and speeding away.

Al curls up clamping his hands on his ears. He noticed something odd, not only were they pointy they moved like a cats! Oh, Molly would have a hayday with that! Best not call her in here... Al whines softly.

They drive on, wind deafening to the small duo. The ride seemed to last forever, even with a nations ability to travel fast over land.

Eventually though, they stopped, Matt getting off and going into his own house. Al sighs with relief, though his ears were still ringing. Matt reached in gently and pulled them out, setting them on the table. Al rubs his ears gently, them folding down in his discomfort.

Ro watched him and giggled. "You're kinda cute this small."

He blinks flushing. She grinned and hopped up, fluttering a bit. Al glanced around taking off as well. The room seemed so much bigger now.

Ro practically glowed, flying around him. This was so weird.. He could see things he never really noticed before. Like the stitches in the couch, the dust on the ceiling, the white fur caught in the carpet.

Kuma trundled by; swatting Hero as he tried to pounce on him. Al lands between the bears ears curiously.

He stopped, scratched his ear and carried on. Al smirks at that reaching to scratch his ear again. The bear turned into it, starting to turn. Al chuckles doing the other side. He waddled the other way, knocking into a chair. Al laughs a bit. He snuffed indignantly, shaking his head.

Al chuckles. "Sorry."

He grumbled, laying where he was. Al sits petting a bit more. Kuma was wonderfully soft like this. Matt just chuckled softly.

Hero wanders over picking Al up with a purr. The bird squawks in surprise but the cat just carries him off and starts licking him. Ro watched that distrustfully. Bloody cat had tried to eat her... Al scrambles a bit in his grip. That cat was certainly odd..

Matt sat with a cup of tea. "You alright there?"

"Why is it now he knows I'm me..?"

"He's always been a little slow," Matt chuckled.

Al frowns a bit trapped in a kitty cuddle.

"Want me to see if he'll trade?"

Al shrugs. It was comfortably warm here.. His eyes drooped.

"It's getting late, why not rest."

Al hums snuggling into the fur.

"Want to camp down here?"

He got a mumble in response, too low for him to hear. He took it as a yes, asking Ro to keep an eye on him. Al soon drifts off. Ro sat on the table through the night, watching.