Catching up on writing the rest, I promise I'm trying hard to make sure I'm not slowed down!

Guest: Ya, the intellectual stuff and terminology is definitely something I had to look up on. Even if it's all fantasy, I tried to make it somewhat realistic.

DoggyPocky: Lol, weeelll, not exactly. He does get into trouble though.

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Cosmo wandered the streets of his world aimlessly on that cold night. Numb to the breeze as he held his arms hoping to somewhat ignore it. Push it back as much as he'd pushed back the voices in his head telling him he'd never find anything out here to prove something he was not. Nor would he stumble upon anything that had to do with his father. It hadn't been that simple in over nine thousand years, it's not like it would be now. What could a vivid dream of his prove? That he was simply dreaming of that father he wished he had? That's probably all it was. He was ignoring the obvious facts as much as he was ignoring the constant ringing of his phone in his back pocket.

It's not that he hadn't noticed her calls. Oh, he saw all of them. But he forced himself back from answering. Answering would only make him give into either coming home or letting Wanda know where he was. And he couldn't afford that right now. He couldn't take his wife's undying comfort when he knew it may just bring his weakness levels higher. He needed to take this on with nerve and not frail from what his mother told him. She wasn't going to bring him down, and he'd prove it. Whether that be proving his strength somewhere worthy or finding his father somehow, it was unknown.

It still pained a part of him for his wife in not telling her where he was though. A few of the opened voicemails she left have proven how much her worry has escalated over the hours, and Cosmo didn't blame her. He'd be worried too. But he just couldn't tell her where he was.

Cosmo stopped momentarily.

Where really was he actually?

It was definitely not a part of town that he was used to. The corners looked more run-down than where he came from and the buildings that lined the block were mostly dead in light with nothing but blackness coming from the windows. The only light to accompany him was that of the orange-tinted street lamps, and even they were of little usage in lighting his way but least of keeping him warm. Not to mention the more so sketchy groups of people he had passed every block or so. All either ignoring him, eyeing him, or even calling out something profane that only made him float away faster.

His head reeled with the events of that day still. Cosmo just didn't get it. He hadn't been inclined to feel afraid of his mother since she wasn't even part of his life anymore in all these years. Even before leaving forever, he hadn't felt that afraid, knowing she was not someone who could hold power over him forever. So, why the tears today? Why the shakiness? Why patheticness? She said things he'd heard before. Insults from others in the past. But by now those usually bounced right off him because he'd grown to be much stronger than that. Much less willing to let snooty know-it-alls think they could just push him around. He hadn't cared about what his mother had to say about him in all these years, so why did he now?

A more sensible side of Cosmo rang a faint reminder to him. While his mother calling him pathetic hurt for some reason, it wasn't exactly something he heard as commonly nowadays from anyone. Which made it more confusing. But, it was definitely something he heard from someone. That someone most likely being himself. For there were often times where he was harder on himself than others had been on him. And pathetic was only one of the many things he'd thought of himself to be in the moment. Sometimes he thought he grew from that self-deprivation, and then a full moon would come around and he'd think little again. As big as an insult as that was though it only came in his moments when he truly felt so little of worth. Maybe he wasn't hurt because Mama Cosma said it.

Maybe it just reminded Cosmo of what he already thought of himself.

It could be possible. Hearing it from someone else's lips was more confirming than saying it to himself in his head. Because his head was definitely his own imprisonment. More torturous sometimes than real-life people. And after everything today, he felt as though he could do nothing but agree that he was a pathetic, stupid, good-for-nothing lowlife.

"I'm pathetic.." he confirmed out loud to himself in passing an open alleyway. "I'm no man."

"What's that now?"

The green fairy stopped midair. Confusion rining for a second before he turned around. Two fairies leaned against the brick wall of the alleyway in the shadows. The light of the nearby lampost spotlighting the bare vividness of their torn jeans and run-down leather jackets. One had a four-o-clock shadow and crossed his arms in leaning one foot against the building. The other had what looked to be a deep scar crossed over one of his eyes as he smoked something in one hand. Both terrified Cosmo, to say the least.

"Nothing," Cosmo averted his gaze in hoping to leave.

"Nah. What was it? You don't think you're a man?"

Inclined to answer for some reason, Cosmo nodded.

The one with the stubbles on his face chuckled. "You're not from around here, are you?"

Cosmo could barely open his mouth thanks to the other one's input. "Of course not, look at the tie. Like he's a working pixie or something."

Though they laughed, the green fairy took that a little too literally.

"Urgh! No way." He said. "I've never even met any pixies. I heard they're boring."

The four-o-clock shadow looked to his buddy, who lifted off the wall in approaching.

"What's this about not being a man?" The one with eye scar asked.

Cosmo's features saddened once more.

"..I'm not one, not really."

"You wanna become one?"

Cosmo looked up. Was that an offer? Whatever it was, guess he would take it.

The green fairy nodded eagerly.

"What's your name?"

"Cosmo."

"Flame," the stubbled one said. He then threw a nod to his friend. "This ere's Root."

Cosmo snorted under his breath. Root immediately straightened up.

"Wha, think my name's funny?"

Cosmo's eyes widened. "N-No."

"Big clown, are ya?"

"No, I-"

"Don't sweat, he always gets heated." Flame said. He then threw a glance at his friend. "What you get when your mama names you Root."

His friend threw his joint to the ground and proceeded to venture into the alleyway. He turned to look at the other two.

"So, we taking this bozo or what?"

"To where?" Cosmo asked, peering down the dark path in trying to scope out what waited on the other end.

"Ever been in a dumpster fight?" Flame asked.

"'Course he hadn't." Root snarled.

Cosmo shook his head in agreement.

"We're looking for some fresh meat." Flame said. "You in?"

The green fairy stared cluelessly. "Meat? Well, um...I use to have a steak cause bottle on hand. I could poof one up-"

"No you idiot, you wanna join our little game?"

"I dunno."

Flame crossed his arms, nearing closer to the helpless fairy. "This kinda fight judges a man's character to be tough. Unless that's not what you're looking for."

"No, I'll do it!" Cosmo agreed.

Flame grinned, reaching one arm around Cosmo to bring him down the alleyway. "I like the sound of that."

They ventured from the shady night of the streets and into complete darkness.

For a while, Cosmo could barely see anything as he was brought further, and it scared him terribly. Certainly didn't make him feel any less pathetic but fearful for his life in seeing nothing. Still, as Flame gripped his shoulder, almost tight enough so that he'd barely be able to leave now anyhow, they ventured into another dim light in reaching the end of the alleyway. Yells that had been heard further back only faintly escalated and the image became clearer by the second as they reached the orange-tinted end of the alleyway in a crammed intersection of backed buildings. Many fairies of the same look as Flame and Root gathered in an uneven ring. Some perched on dumpster lids and others further up in the air who got stuck at the back of the crowd. Their yells and grunts of encouragement to the chaos in the middle.

Reaching the spot, Root flew a few spaces above the crowd to get a look. Flame and Cosmo followed.

The burly fairies cheered on the two men in the middle, fighting as if they'd just come out broke from prison. Shirtless, they brawled with their tops thrown off into a dirty pile at the base of one of the dumpsters. Fists being thrown as one socked the other in the side of the head and caused him to fly against the hard ground as the crowd hollowed in excitement.

Cosmo shuttered at the fairy's body hitting the pavement. Then trailing his eyes to the rest of the crowd. Those who weren't already encouraging the action going on in the middle were off in their own conversations by the top of the dumpsters. Those closer to Cosmo giving him quizzical looks. Others seemed to be betting off money to one dealer in particular for the fights. For some reason though, Cosmo was drawn to where the orange light came from in the pit of a steel garbage can, where a gas fire burned brightly in lighting up the hollow alley.

In seeing the brimming fire of the garbage can, a familiar image came to Cosmo's mind again.

The visions were going down the list one by one.

Wanting to avoid it however he may, Cosmo attempted to turn around and leave. But the men he had met quickly halted him by his shoulders and turned him back around.

"Whoa there, speedy." Root teased as they led him through the gang's crowd. Coming to the front, the fairy who had fallen to the ground lifted a hand in slamming it down three times in a tap-out. Cosmo nearly jumped at the abrupt rattling of a can of nails one fairy shook from atop the dumpster in indicating the end of the match.

"What's that?" Cosmo asked.

"Final bell. He's out." Flame said. "You in for it next?"

"I-"

Root halted the green fairy and called in another's direction across the circle. "Oi, we got fresh meat!"

Whistles of agreement rang across the others in diverting their attention to Cosmo. Some were snickers, as another burly fairy approached the two guys and their newest addition. Eyeing the stuffed-shirt green fairy as the burly man made way across the ring and the previous fighters cleared way from their dead match.

The third guy looked Cosmo up and down. "Sure he's not supposed to be picking up dry cleaning or something?"

The others laughed.

Cosmo stared. "I only do that on Thursdays."

He was met with more laughter of mockery.

"Well, new guy gets to rough it up with Fidget."

Diverting his attention across the circle, Cosmo swallowed at seeing the orange spike-haired fairy who removed his jacket and shirt in preparation. Many hooting on for him as he eyed Cosmo scornfully.

The green fairy again gulped and reached a hand to loosen his necktie in preparation. Fearfully unnoticing Root and Flame's approach on him from behind. In a sudden swipe, the guys tore open Cosmo's shirt from its front buttons.

"Hey!" He exclaimed as they yanked his shirt off him completely and shoved him into the ring. Leaving him with only his tie that he was quick to unloop from around his neck as the others around him laughed. Cosmo quickly tossed it aside in abandoning it as he looked nervously at his match.

The orange fairy held up his fists and Cosmo followed.

"Newby gets first hit," his opposer sneered. "Any ground rules?"

Cosmo again took this literally. "Um, no hitting below the belt and-"

The shaking of the can went off, and Cosmo jumped back into it. He and the orange fairy circling one another as the onlookers all chanted and grunted yells of encouragement to the two. Cosmo held his fists up to his face nervously as he chose not to tear his gaze from his offender. Worried that he might charge him or something. Watching Fidget intently, Cosmo's closed palms yield with sweat as did his hairline. He swallowed tightly.

"Any day now, rook." His match said.

Taking in a sharp breath of fear, Cosmo launched forward with a jab of his fist that he greatly missed as his opponent ducked. The green fairy was met with a hook coming from the right to his nose.

"OH!" The crowd busted out as Cosmo fumbled to the side from the hit. Immediately touching his now bleeding nose with a weak hand. Looking up at his opponent as his eyes widened in fear of seeing him launch forward again. Cosmo flew to the side for him to miss, only Fidget hooked him again and Cosmo fell to the ground.

With the world spinning before him, Cosmo lifted himself by his hands. He'd much rather prefer the loneliness of stalking the streets endlessly than this. But if this was the true definement of being a man...

Floating wobbly into the air and wiping his nose, he again looked at his opponent and held up his fists.

"Made a' rubber?" The orange fairy asked, swinging forth again. Although he did knock Cosmo for the third time, the green fairy only stumbled slightly in the air before regaining himself, stabilizing his positioning. He kept swinging and ducking to the best of his ability. And by luck, finally got a hit in. The onlookers hollowed out as Fidget's face snapped one way from the minor hit, although he sprung back as Cosmo kept his fists up in defense.

The gold band on his ring finger got caught in the fire's light.

Fidget nodded towards it in acknowledgment. "What's a married, stuffed-shirt like you doing around here?"

Cosmo didn't really know how to respond, fearfully holding his fists higher as they continued to circle one another.

"I was married once," Fidget commented. "Before they left me high and dry."

The green fairy continued to anticipate his attack.

"Won't be long till yours leaves ya to go cozy up with another."

Cosmo halted and lowered his fists.

He stared at the orange fairy who could only pause in questionability of Cosmo's total lack of defense now. But as the green fairy's brow dropped in fury, a fastly whisked foot was suddenly met in between Fidget's legs as he wheezed out.

The crowd let out more of a reaction than before, some cheering in amusement and others yelling in protest.

And Cosmo soon regretted his decision in seeing Fidget recover from the brutal hit. Looking up with gritted teeth, he dove for Cosmo and tackled him to the ground as the green fairy yelped out. The two rolling about against the pavement that marked scratches in both's bare backs. The abrupt shaking of the can of nails ensued, but Fidget did not come off of Cosmo.

"Alrighty, Fidge. Give someone else a chance on fresh meat!" Someone said as they and another pulled him off of Cosmo. The green fairy stared upwards in a daze with lidded eyes from the impact as two sets of hands pulled him into the air and arched his arms around the back of their necks in support as they floated from the ring to push through the small crowd.

"Woo-hoo! I underestimated you there, big guy." Root said in snickering about his fight. He and Flame proceeded to bring Cosmo partway through the alley before situating him against a wall in sitting. Letting him go, Cosmo slumped against it with his legs outstretched as his head still reeled. Flame tossed his shirt and necktie to his lap.

"Really showed ol' Fidget something." Flame agreed.

"We'll come get ya for another round when you're ready, rook." Root said, both him and Flame chuckling in agreement as they made way back to the crowd where another match had already started by the shaking of the can. Leaving Cosmo in the shadows of the alleyway.

The beaten fairy felt his head pulse and his nose burn terribly. But the surreal lightheadedness numbed it somewhat. It was enough though to keep him out of focus as his head rocked unsteadily on his neck before Cosmo found enough to shake himself out of it. He fearfully looked towards the brawl where the attention on him was diverted to the new match.

Grabbing hold of his shirt and tie, Cosmo fled.

Wanda sat on the loft apartment's couch as still as stone. Numb from the hours of searching but silently panicked. Sage stood at her door, conversing with a fairy police officer who took note of details on the missing fairy.

"How long has he been missing?"

"Ten hours, roughly."

Wanda closed her eyes and ran a hand over them.

The officer flipped a page of his pad. "Any more details on what he may look like?"

His tone was kinda meaningless, and Sage was pretty fed up with it. Not only had that question been asked already but Cosmo was still her friend and this was no time to sit back about it.

"Green hair, green eyes, probably wearing a tie. Speaks like a helium balloon on steroids. What else do you need to know?" Sage said irritably. The officer gave her a look but did not act upon her impatience. It wasn't uncommon for anyone to be irritable when worried about a loved one.

"We'll send the report down to the station and get some searching out there. Try to get in contact with him however you can in the meanwhile."

Knowing it was the best for now, Sage took hold of the door. "Thank you, have a good night."

The officer left with a nod, and Sage slid the loft door closed to a shut before locking it. She turned to face Wanda across the way in her living room, having sat in the same spot since she arrived.

Sage floated back over. "You want some tea?"

Wanda shook her head and Sage gave a crooked frown in return. She seemed more scared than she had been in a long time. Sure, someone missing for hours was scary, but-

Well, she supposed she couldn't have much input in this. Sage knew Cosmo and Wanda long enough to understand their relationship was too tight of a bond to break. And one being missing only for a few hours certainly put a gash in the other's heart. She still understood it was more than that though. Had Cosmo gone missing in normal circumstances, maybe Wanda would be slightly less scared. But, knowing it was only hours after he'd tried to confront his mother, the tension in Wanda's face was her gut telling her that something was wrong. Especially in showing up to find their bedroom torn to pieces. Even Sage had to admit it was a little rash for Cosmo.

"So, what do you wanna do then?" Sage asked, figuring there was not much she could actually do.

Wanda tried to compose herself. "I need to keep looking for him."

"Not now?"

"When else?"

"Wanda, you need to get some sleep. For all we know, he's at home waiting for you."

"I can't.." Wanda said. "Not until I have some kind of lead."

Off that note, the icy blue fairy drew forward.

"Look, now seems like a better time than any," Sage said in taking a seat next to her friend. "After that whole showdown with those fairies who thought Cosmo was his dad, I got a little more insight on that Chanter guy."

"So..?" Wanda said, still delirious from her endless search.

"He had to go somewhere to find Cosmo's dad, didn't he?" Sage hinted. "To put in a request."

Wanda lifted her gaze.

"Turns out there's some input office hidden across town." Sage said.

"Hidden?"

"That woman who gave us sass at the riot," her friend reminded. "Because this Calico's job is so confidential, the place where they offer help is tucked away. One of them told me about a record shop on Magecross. Just across the Eastlight Boulevard."

"That's a little tacky.."

Sage's gaze crossed to her record player and back. "I take total offense to that."

Wanda cracked a small smile, but it did not mend her worry nor the throbbing in her head from an oncoming headache. She could almost kick herself for having not been there with Cosmo and preventing this. And even with Sage's offer, she didn't know what to do.

Wanda shook her head with a slight tremble. "I can't just go there, Sage."

"Why not? Maybe it's his dad."

"And then what? Tell him I'm his long lost son's wife? When Cosmo is absolutely nowhere to be found?" Wanda exasperated through her tears. "What am I suppose to do then?"

"You don't know what you'll find." Sage argued. "But Cos clearly isn't ready to come home yet. For all we know, he's out there trying to find the answer I'm giving you. Honestly Wanda, if he's too scared to come home without answers, go do this for him. Because he's not gonna find anything out there based on what Mama Cosma implies. Not at all."

Of course he wouldn't, and Wanda knew that. Frankly, she wasn't concerned about what Cosmo wouldn't find but rather what he may have found out already. He's dodged all of her calls which could only mean something was already wrong.

"Well?" Sage asked.

The pink fairy lifted her eyes to her friend. With a small sniff, she wiped away her excess tears and nodded.

Her friend reached for her hand and clutched it gently. "It's gonna be okay."

"I hope so.."

"C'mon now, when has Cosmo ever doubted you?"

"Never I guess, but..." Wanda stopped to rub an eye as Sage watched. The woman was beyond exhausted and probably didn't even have enough energy to manifest a single poof back home. Getting up, Sage gave her a knowing look.

"Is it the couch out here, or are you sharing the bed with me?"

Wanda smiled gently. "Couch works.."

The blue fairy turned and floated to a basket along the other side of the room. Bending over, she pulled out the first blanket on top and gave it an abrupt shake before turning back and stopping in a stare.

Geez, that was fast.

With her head laid on the accent pillow, Wanda's eyes had already closed in the blink of an eye with her hands tucked tightly underneath the pillow. Curved in a fetus position like she was shielding herself from the rest of the world. Sage flew over, seeing that she was out like a light as her stomach rose with every silent snore that passed. Sage drew the blanket over her.

"Night, Wandie."

Sage left the room, and with a flick of her wand, turned out the lights.

Five seconds later, she returned. Turning them back on as she reached for her half-empty wine glass and lifted it for a sip. She turned to leave as she shut off the lights again.

To be continued...

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I think Sage is my fav OC, and that's why I always include her. Haha.

See ya Tuesday!

~McSgwizzle