Simon

If I wasn't obsessed before, I am now. I study Baz carefully throughout the day. He won't look at me, but he doesn't look at Agatha either, so maybe that's an improvement.

I can't stop thinking about two things. The massage and the reason he asked me to kill him slowly.

Well, the second one is obvious. If I use magic, he'll be dead on the spot. If I'm trying to kill him slowly, he'll have a fighting chance. Odd of him to ask me outright, but understandable.

But surely, he didn't massage me just to shut me up.

Penny's no help at all. I asked her if there's anything evil someone could do while massaging you and she looked at me as if I was crazy. She wouldn't even supply me with a truth spell, other than Tell Me, Baby, which she told me not to use.

When I asked her why not, she simply replied, "Because he's likely to tell you his whole life story and his plans for the future. More hopes and dreams and less-"

"But that's perfect!" I insisted. "All of his plans? How could you keep this from me?"

"And," She raised her voice over mine. "It only works on lovers."

I sat back in my seat. "Oh, well, why did you bother telling me at all?"

She was only interested in studying and I didn't have the mind for that, so I wandered around the Wood for a while, hoping it would calm me.

Baz

I drain a raccoon on my way through the Wavering Wood. I sense Simon's presence a little while later and am intensely relieved that I've already fed. No need to give him anything else to hate me for.

I decide to stop. I ease down, resting my back against the hard bark of a tree. I wince at a sharp pain in my left leg and stretch it out a bit. Simon's not likely to spot me. He can't see worth shit in the dark and even in the afternoon the trees block out most of the sun here.

I take a deep breath, savoring his smokey scent on the light breeze. I feel my muscles relax, calmed by his presence. It's nice not to be alone even if we won't interact. I don't want to be alone again for a very long time if I can help it. I shiver.

I let my mind wander back to how alluring his muscles felt under my hands. He's thin, but his shoulders are still broader than mine. His chest would probably feel amazing. I wish I could call him over and trace his pecs with my hands, but I doubt he'd let me touch him now. I can't believe he'd asked me to last night.

I hear the leaves rustle to my left. My gaze pierces through the foliage to see a little creature with long pointy ears. It reminds me of the gargoyles on my bed and I'm fairly certain it's a Gremlin, even though I've rarely seen them. I've encountered a fair amount of their handiwork though. Had my keys nabbed a time or two. For a while, they amused themselves by stealing one of every pair of socks I owned.

I pat my pockets out of habit, just to make sure it hasn't already pulled a prank on me. I gasp when I don't feel my wand. Of all the things it could have taken!

Actually, I didn't have much else on me. Only a peppermint and a few coins. Nothing I would have missed and somehow that little bugger knew it!

As tempting as it is to rush over there and nab it, I restrain myself. They are notoriously fast and if I scare it off, I'll probably never be able to spot it again.

I can't show my hand just yet. But I can't spell it still either, not without my wand.

I make a show of looking around the ground for it, trying to come up with a plan.

"Looking for something?" Snow asks, crossing his arms over his broad chest.

I hadn't been listening for him. That was obviously a mistake. I straighten and lean back against the tree. "Following me again, I see." I sneer up at him. I subtly glance to the right, to make sure the gremlin is still there. It appears to be laughing.

He glances around the wood. "Getting some air," He mutters, but I'm sure it's a lie. He's always stalking me, the wanker. I toy with the idea of asking Snow to cast the spell for me, but he doesn't have the best control of his spells. He'd muck it all up and I'd rather him not know I lost my wand if I can help it.

"There's lovely air by the pond." I've only taken my eyes off the gremlin for a moment, but when I glance back, I don't see it. "Shit." I mutter. I look back at Simon, just as the gremlin sticks a hand in his pocket. "Quick!" I yell, "Behind you."

Simon spins around and snatches at the thing. It barely evades his grasp, but undeterred, he yells, "Be Still!"

It works. I'm relieved. I don't know what I'd do without my wand. Probably get kidnapped again by fucking numpties. I would relax, but I find I can't move.

"This your wand?" Simon asks, plucking it out of the frozen gremlin's hand. He shutters at it. "Creepy little guy," He mutters as he turns towards me, holding out the wand. "Here, take it."

I'd reply with some snarky comment if I could. Obviously, that's not an option.

Simon comes closer. His knees crack as he crouches down. "Come on. Stop messing about." When I don't reply he reaches up and shoves my shoulder. I still don't move, but his touch burns through my sleeve. "Fuck." He mutters, sitting back on his heels. "Umm. Don't be still."

He's gorgeous blue eyes are fixed on mine. I take a moment to appreciate his proximity before the anxiety rushes in. He doesn't remember the counterspell, though he really ought to. We learned two our third year. I'd take either at the moment, though I'd prefer Move Along to Free At Last, because it's faster.

"Don't worry." He pats my arm a little gentler this time. "Penny will know what to do." He stands then hesitates. "Can't very well leave you in the woods like that." He bites his lip, then bends towards me. "Get up!" He shoves my shoulder. "Unfreeze." He shoves it again.

I try not to derive too much pleasure from his hand on my arm. After all, he's only touching me to test the spells. He clearly has no idea what he's doing. "Be busy?" Even if that was a counterspell it wouldn't have worked as a question. He's as hopeless as he is lovely.

He waves a hand in front of my face and murmurs, "Hope you can't hear me right now." He sighs then slides one arm under my legs and the other around my back. When he lifts me I'm as stiff as a board.

"Blimey, you're heavy." He groans, straightening. He takes a few steps, then has to turn to make it between two trees, since my legs are sticking out. I enjoy the feel of his arms around me, the smell of him so close. I'm still breathing, and that's something. I suppose I should be thankful the spell didn't work on my lungs. Probably Simon's magic protecting me, wouldn't be the first time.

"I'll take you to Penny and you'll be good as new." He promises.

I wish he'd try the right spell now so I could wrap my arms around his neck and enjoy the ride a little more. But he's too clueless to do that, so he carries me clear back to the school. Only dropping me when I'm safely on school grounds. He makes sure I'm sitting straight up at least and not laying on my side.

"Lucky we weren't out walking too late." He says, before taking off.

I guess I am glad the bridge was still over the moat but I can feel myself growing impatient. Now that Simon's arms are gone, my discomfort is the only thing to focus on. Being rendered motionless feels way too much like being in a coffin, all alone. Panic surges through me with nowhere to go. When I get lightheaded, I realize I'm hyperventilating and focus on deep breathing.

Finally, he returns with Penny. She takes one look at me and says, "Move Along!" At least Simon has one competent friend.

I revel in stretching out my limbs, which weren't in too great a shape to begin with, and let out an embarrassing moan.

"Here." Simon thrusts the wand into my hand, his fingers stirring up a fresh round of tingles as they brush against mine. I shouldn't derive so much pleasure from a simple touch. It's unforgivably foolish of me. Anger surges through my blood at the hopelessness of my feelings for him and I have half a mind to spell him back. But he did carry me all this way. He could have left me there. Especially since I'm his enemy. Especially since he thinks I might kill him one day.

He offers me his hand. I glare at it and roll my eyes. I can stand under my own power. I stand, looking down at him. "Honestly, Snow." I mutter, spinning around to march off. I don't want him to see the blush rising to my cheeks at the thought of his arms around me, his muscles flexing against my shoulder and side. I still can't believe he'd carried me all that way. It had to be at least half a mile.

"You're welcome!" He yells after me.

I squeeze my eyes shut tightly. I have half a mind to spin around and tell him it was his fault in the first place. Or that he should bloody well know a counterspell if he's going to curse someone, but I don't. I can't bring myself to say anything scathing. So I don't say anything at all.