Dinner finished rather quickly, Al helping clean up. Iain took Ro outside to get her practicing her flight for tomorrow. Al watched for a while but came inside again. If she kept it up, she might be able to fly with her human body too soon.
Al was still worried though, he paced around on the counter quietly.
Arthur eventually stopped him when he nearly knocked a cup onto the floor. "Alfred, what's bothering you?"
"Huh?"
"You're wound tighter than a coil spring. What's up?"
Al sighs. "Ro's not eating.."
"I know..." Arthur sighed. "I've been meaning to have a word with her, but so much else gets in the way..."
"I don't get why.."
"Stress is all I can think of..."
He sighs sitting down.
"I wonder if she's pigging out at school or something...? Could explain why she isn't hungry at home?"
"I don't think so.. Most the time there's nothing for her to eat."
"What do you mean?" Arthur frowned softly.
"The kid's make it a point to buy her out.."
"Those little bastards," he muttered angrily.
"I started packing her lunch but I've been busy lately."
"If someone had told me, I'd have kept it up," Arthur grumbled. "No wonder she's been looking thinner... Thought it was all the exercise..."
Al whines softly.
"I can talk to her?" he offered.
"Please.." He doubted she'd talk to him..
"Perhaps after we move the tree though?" No sense upsetting her before something so important.
"Yeah."
"Come on," he stopped the little bird up. "You need to unwind before you have a fit."
Al huddled in his hand fidgeting nervously.
"Relax," Arthur hushed, petting him gently.
He tried, it took a while before the soothing motions started to work.
Just as Alfred started to relax, Iain came through, carrying Ro. He lay her on the couch and started rubbing her back. Ro groaned but didn't complain.
Al jumped up again at that, "What happened?!"
"Just sore," Iain dismissed him, focused entirely on the redhead. "We managed a short flight full sized."
He sighs curling up in the side of her neck. She turned to look at him and gave him a weak smile. Well at least she was alright. Iain's soothing ministrations soon lulled her off to sleep. Al remained close resting in the crook of her neck.
Rather than move her, Iain just threw a blanket over her and let her rest. Francis passed through to them. Iain caught his eyes for a moment before dropping his gaze.
Still being stubborn.. "Everything alright?"
"Sore flight muscles, bruised egos," Iain shrugged. "Everyone's anxious to move the tree."
"Ro isn't eating," Arthur piped up.
"What?"
"Alfred told me. She hasn't been able to eat anything at school for lord knows how long..."
He sighs rubbing his head.
"Doesn't explain why she's stopped eating at home though," Iain pointed out.
"She keeps saying she eats weird..." Al mumbles.
"She eats weird?" the three men gave him an array of odd or confused looks.
"I don't know... It's like she's embarrassed about something..."
"Embarrassed about how much she thinks she's eating, maybe?" Arthur offered.
Al shrugs.
"Fae don't each much," Iain muttered. "Despite having a bigger body, she would feel like she's being greedy... But she was fine until recently."
Francis ran a hand through his hair, "We'll talk to her later.."
"After we move the tree," Iain and Arthur said in unison.
"Alright."
"For now, bed," Iain scolded. "Ro is skipping school tomorrow. We're moving the tree just after lunch. Hobgoblins hate sunlight so around noon is our best chance."
"I'm just as old as you are, you can't order me around." Francis jibed lightly.
Iain muttered something under his breath and it didn't sound like he overly appreciated Francis attempts at a joke. Arthur glanced between them before declaring Ro needed a bed. He stopped her up and hurried off. Francis sighs to himself. Starting to leave.
"For fuck sake Francis, just come out with it already..." Iain sounded tired, resigned... Not what he was expecting.
"Why are you so uptight? I know the goblin scared the crap out of you but is that all it is?"
"You seem to forget that we're finished," he muttered after a moments hesitation. "You've been trying to get closer again. I don't want it..."
Francis frowns for a moment. "Well forgive me for the slip up. I just thought that I was allowed to care about you like a normal human being.."
"You're allowed to care, just stop trying to coddle me," he snapped without conviction. "You're with Arthur, trying acting like it!"
It stabbed at Francis, he never had a problem with the blondes clinginess before, it was just who he was.
"He's acting all fine but he's too stubborn to admit he's fucking lonely. You know that..."
"Iain.." The kiss had just been a slip.. He was sick and caught in the moment, it was more of a want to thank him than anything.
"Just remember to keep your space," he pulled himself up, wobbling slightly on stiff legs. Francis watched him leave, after heading to the kitchen to pour himself a drink. Iain slumped up to the roof and lay on his back, just watching the stars.
The night passed through quietly, Francis coming to bed a bit late and slightly tipsy.
Arthur sat up when he entered, sad green eyes glowing with concern. "Francis...?"
The blonde sighs slipping onto the bed.
Arthur slipped closer, nose wrinkling at the lingering smell of wine. "I take it things didn't go well...?"
Francis pressed into the brit, he understood if Iain didn't want to actually be together explicitly anymore, but to refuse any connection at all hurt him. Arthur held him close, worried for the both of them. It was a rather uneasy night for them all.
Come morning, Iain was still on the roof. He sat watching the sun rise over the bare trees. Dark lumpy figures lumbered down lower in the branches, avoiding the early sunlight. Al comes up joining him.
"You shit the bed?" Iain didn't shift his gaze from the treeline. Cigarette ends littered the tiles around him. Another smoked away in his mouth.
"No!" came the hurried reply.
The Scotsman shot him curious frown. Sure he had accidents when he was younger but it wasn't that bad was it? "I was only joking..." Iain muttered. "Please tell me you didn't actually...?"
He shook his head, it's just the thought that embarrassed him.
"Thank fuck," he sighed, rubbing his eyes.
Well that was awkward..
"What brings you up here then?" Iain changed the subject for him.
"Catching some sun. I like watching it come up sometimes."
That softened the old bear. "It's a grander sight back at your old shack, I suppose? Nothing much to look at here, save dead trees and brown grass." Nothing like his hills and lochs... Oh, how he longed to head back north...
"Take what you can get."
"Last time I took that advice, I was arrested for stealing," Iain chuckled.
Al laughs a bit.
The Scot sobered quickly though. "See the thicker shadows in the evergreens?"
Al glanced over. The few trees out in the woods that kept their leaves were still dark lower down. What Iain wanted him to see were the lumpy shadows that didn't quite match the fine needles of the tree.
"They're watching us..?"
He nodded grimly. "They know we'll protect the fae. Perhaps they can smell Ro, I'm not sure."
"I have permission to tear their heads off?"
"Piss on their corpses if you have the time."
He smirks softly.
"Just remember they know how to climb trees and those skinny back legs do have enough power in them to jump so expect an aerial ambush. Once they get a hold on you, you're good as dead."
"Got it."
Anxiety still glowed in those tired green eyes, but it was muted by a grim determination. Despite complaining about the faeries living in his lands, Iain would do what he could to protect the innocent.
They eventually went inside to get breakfast, no use fighting on an empty stomach. Arthur joined them on the way down, stating that Francis would join them when he was finished sulking.
And that worried Al a bit, what was wrong now?
Iain just huffed, muttering profanities at the coffee machine.
Great they were fighting weren't they..
Whatever it was, it wouldn't interrupt the move, would it?
Hopefully not.
Before it could be chased, Ro shuffled down in her pyjamas, hugging her stuffed bear tightly. She looked rather pale and withdrawn.
Al hesitated for a moment before speaking up, "You ok?"
She shook her head, looking a little dazed. Great still not talking.. Al fluttered over to her shoulder, gently petting her ear. She felt cold... Icy, even... Arthur came and started fussing over her.
Would she be alright? She looked like one good scare would make her swoon. Al sat on her shoulder as Arthur tried to snap her out of it.
He couldn't quite pull her out of her detached state of mind, but he did managed to sit her down and coax a bit of breakfast down her.
Something at least.
After that, she just shuffled over to Iain, latching on, much to his surprise. Alright what happened...
Whatever it was, the Scot wasn't in on it. He looked just as worried as the rest of them.
They waited worriedly, seeing if she would talk. Iain had to coax it out of her and even then it was a tiny whisper. "I can't do it..."
Al sighs mentally. He didn't want her in danger in the first place but how would they distract the goblins otherwise? Their only other bait was Iain and he needed to be with the fae.
There was always Al? Make him smell like a fairy and lead them off? But would they buy it? If they would smell Ro's blood while she was inside the house... Mask her?
Gah, this was more trouble than it was worth, surely! They really could use a good break.. Once this was sorted, it was nearly Christmas. They could all relax then.
They needed a new plan for now, Al volunteering right away. Iain shot him down in a heartbeat. "Not being funny, kid, but those goblins don't give a shit about you and tweetypie. They can't eat you. You don't empower them."
"Iain just let me try."
"Why? You think you know better?"
"Iain.. I can handle this. You'd be surprised at the kind of things I deal with back home.."
Green eyes turned cold for a moment, calculating. "You can't protect her from everything..."
"She doesn't need me anymore.. Why force her into something she's not part of.."
"Art," he nodded to the blond and Arthur quietly took Ro to the lounge. Iain turned back to Alfred. "If she can prove herself to this tree, they might accept her as one of their own. She's not happy being human."
"I know.. but how else are we going to get her into it? If I go maybe she'd follow.."
"She'll do it and not because I've forced her to. She knows this might be her only chance to impress them. Besides, if there was another way to distract those goblins without offering her up on a tray, don't you think I've had done that instead?"
Well pissing people off usually worked for the blonde.. Punch a few faces and the group would flock to him..
But would revenge overpower hunger for power and food?
It works most of the time right?
Iain seemed adamant that it wouldn't this time...
Al sighs irritatedly. What was making the redhead so irritable lately?
He had no choice but to relent.. But would it kill Iain to have a little faith in him? The Scot would most likely ogle at some of the things Al had back home, horned serpents being just one of many examples. Dragon was the only thing that even compared to their size here that he'd seen, these imps were nothing.
They still had a few hours left to get ready. Arthur was helping Iain move the fae while Francis was meant to be on standby in the yard in case anyone was bitten and needed a medical. But he still wasn't up yet... When he did come down he looked the same as ever anyway.
Ro had calmed, just as Iain said she would, though she still seemed pale. Francis gravitated toward her fussing a bit himself. She mumbled weak complaints, but let him mother her just a little.
Al sat off by himself watching it all, he felt useless in his current state..
Within the next hour though, it was time to get ready. It was nearly noon. The sun was at its highest and the tree had been alerted yesterday and was expecting them. Al shifted to his full height following them out.
An air of grim determination hung over their group. The plan was that the distraction team would set off away from the tree and hopefully lure the goblins with them. He still didn't like it.
Ro hadn't said a word. She just opened her wings, shrinking enough that she was light enough to fly but still big enough to be too tasty for the goblins to resist. Al followed swiftly after.
They set off, darting through the trees. As Iain predicted, hungry cackling soon echoed after them. Something constricted in Al's chest, it didn't come on as fast as before but grew stronger as they went. Ro bobbed and weaved through the branches just below him, ignoring the greedy panting that followed them. Al's talons had kicked off a few already.
Their stocky bodies were thick and heavy. Were it not for their momentum making it hard to keep a grip on them, he and Ro would already be grounded.
Ok, a bit harder than he thought but still doable.
One jumped Ro and nearly got her wings. She screamed and rolled, managing to tip it off. How many of these things were there?!
Al was quick to puncture the brain of that one before it fell out of reach. That constriction was starting to hurt too..
A gruesome scream came from across the woods, high and shrill and gurgling.
"What the hell was that?!"
"I don't know, but I don't like it!"
"Just keep going!"
More gurgling screams filled the air, sending chills down Ro's spine.
"I hope that's Iain.. God I hope that's Iain.." if something else was coming after them he'd rather not find out..
A triumphant roar split the air as a flock of glittering wings took to the sky half a mile to their left. Al tried not to let his breath falter as they left. The pain was getting worse but they still had a good number of ugly on their tails.
They were getting closer, heavy breaths ghosting on their backs, knobby hands grabbing at their clothing. Al's talons ripped into what they could.
It was all Ro could do to keep spinning them off, but the strain was starting to show on her face. She couldn't fly much longer.
"Ro get outta the trees and back to the house."
"N-not until they're all safe!"
Al threw a dead goblin towards the mob hitting another. "They're outa range by now go!"
"Come with me!"
"I'll be right behind you!"
She gave him a doubtful look but swung a sharp turn regardless. A goblin slid off her back but left a nasty scratch on her leg. They were both getting cut up out here!
Al punched another off his left as he climbed, it was getting harder to breathe..
They needed to break the canopy and they could slow down. Normally he could climb trees without a hitch, but he was wearing thin on energy, getting grabbed at left and right didn't help matters.
"Go back, go back!" Ro nearly reached the canopy when she called and turned back. At least a dozen hobgoblins fell down from the canopy, their wide mouths slobbering and drooling as their greedy eyes locked on her wings. Ambush!
Al hissed using his own wings to knock them away from her. The sheer number of them was overwhelming. One caught her shoulder, dragging her down.
"Alfred!"
Al dove quickly the unlucky goblin getting fried quite well as he held Ro protectively in his arms. Her shoulder was bleeding now, wings twitching as her muscles convulsed in protest. She couldn't go any further.
Al wasn't fairing much better. He groans as his muscles spazed slightly, looing an inch.
The goblins must have sensed the weakness, because they were increasing their efforts! Any that touched him got a good zap but the electric use only constricted his chest more each time.
They needed help! But everyone else should be back at the house by now!
Al screeched as something clawed into his back, flinging him to the ground below. The blonde curled around Ro tightly even as his limbs twitched in pain.
They landed hard, bouncing and tumbling over roots and rocks. Hisses and gurgles followed them down, but they never sank their teeth in. That pain never came.
Al hadn't really noticed yet anyway. His nerves on fire as he lost size forcefully. Ro instinctively curled around his shrinking form, cupping him against her chest as she passed out.
Al looked up blearily around them. All he could see were great black walls, pulsing with furious energy.
What was that..?
More of those horrible screams wailed on the other side of the walls. Someone rushed towards them, their voice oddly muffled and distorted.
Was it his head or was the person talking from a long way off..?
They were pale, familiar... But it was hard to focus through the screaming and the pain.
They moved to Ro, checking her over before picking her up. She whimpered, writhing in pain. Al shifted sluggishly, trying to go after her. It was getting harder to stay awake, fatigue pulling at his body.
He fell under as soon as hands wrapped around hm.
