Disclaimer: I do not own Hiro Mashima's Fairy Tail, any work professionally associated with it nor any pop culture or classical references. All original plots and characters are mine.
In a land far, far away lies the kingdom of Fiore, a small, peaceful nation of 17 million, and a place filled with Magic found in every home, bought and sold in every marketplace. For most, Magic is merely a tool, a mundane part of everyday life. For some, however, Magic is an art, and they've devoted their lives to its practice. These are the wizards. Banded together into magical guilds, they ply their skills in search of fame and fortune. Many such guilds dot the landscape of Fiore. But there is a certain guild in a certain town that soars high above the rest, one from which countless legends have been born. A guild that will no doubt continue to create legends well into the future. Its name...is Fairy Tail.
The room was dressed head to toe and Heart's Day galore with candles lit for those they loved and lost. Red hearts and pink hearts and white hearts littered the living room with other candles staged for ambiance. Rose petals decorated the table set for two with candelabra all dolled up and pretty. The food would come soon enough, but the plates and salad plates and the forks and spoons and knives and cloth napkins were set with chalices for the iced wine. Gifts were set up, however, for this date, but one was the most important gift. It was a photo album that spelled:
TALES OF HEART'S DAY
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Another tale of the trials and tribulations of romance
Of learning love is an experience
A commitment
And even a second chance
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Now gather around as we look at this next tale
And learn more about love
About acceptance
And even…where we fail
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Nikki-nyan and Nina-nyan were quite the famed couple in the Magia franchise and their plushies at on the table set for a special date. Dressed in the Prince Charming and Cinderella editions with glitter and sparkles galore, the iconic couple did not seem that happy to be in each other's presence. Their backs were together, and they looked upset (as upset as stuffed animals could be).
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There are some who claim to be soul mates, but even their love is tested
When emotions fly high and little things are left nested
Tesla and Jaxton have a love that is tried and true
But what happens when doubt and anger take hold?
What will such a couple do?
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• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
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Prologue
Thursday Night
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Tesla will forever swear up and down that, one of these days, Jaxton was going to be hit with a noise complaint.
"One day, we're going to be an old couple who has a set day every week for sex," Tesla told Jaxton. His master bath was heaven in comparison to hers and she adored how big it was for the both of them (but, no, that was still not enough enticement to live with him). Dried off from the lengthy soak in the tub and a quick shower and still a little sore from previous activities, she took her time lotioning her legs while Jaxton was brushing his teeth, hair damp. "We better get busy while we can before the geriatric life claims us and you're on ED medication."
Jaxton spat into the sink and rinsed off his toothbrush. "We do plan for sex," he pointed out.
"A scene is very different," Tesla huffed. "Aren't you the one who taught me that, Daddy?" She gave an innocent smile when Jaxton's eyes pierced her from the mirror. "What?"
Jaxton went to rinse out his mouth. "That mouth of yours."
As Jaxton gurgled, Tesla shrugged and smeared a dollop of body cream on her fingers. "I know. My mouth is a gift among humanity. Aren't you lucky you own this mouth?" She started working on her mid-section. "Are you sure it's okay we'll be going to Zhōnguá towards the end of Zhōnguánese New Year? I know it's, like, a fifteen-day thing, but still, I don't want you catching Hell."
Jaxton spat out his mouthwash. "I won't. Weiwei and I both planned to be there on the last couple of days of the festival this year." He wiped his mouth with a towel. "Our family doesn't celebrate the New Year conventionally, but I still wanted to show you around the province."
"I'm so nervous I'll forget a lot of my Zhōnguánese," Tesla confessed. She shot Jaxton an accusing glare as she worked on lotioning her breasts. "And it doesn't help your family will be speaking a different dialect."
Jaxton went for his bath towel to dry his hair. "We'll be speaking standard Zhōnguánese. The province just has two main dialects, which includes Zhōnguánese, and I can translate for you if it comes to that. But you'll be fine. My parents will be impressed enough at your fluency in Zhōnguánese, to begin with."
"You say that but watch me forget how to say 'toothpaste'," Tesla grumbled.
"Yágāo."
Tesla marred him with a dark look. "Cállate, carajo," she snapped. "Esto es serio. Estoy muy nerviosa."
Jaxton lean against the counter as he watched Tesla while he toweled his hair. "No te concentres en ellos. Concéntrate en mí. Me tendrás todo el tiempo si algo se vuelve abrumador."
"I still vote if something goes wrong, we speak Sinnish," Tesla suggested. Her eyebrows rose under Jaxton's intense stare, but when her eyes dipped, she shook her head. "Down, boy," she teased. She went to get more cream, but Jaxton came to stop her. Not wanting to argue, she sat back while he grabbed some body cream and took over for her. "I cannot believe you are not taking me to MagiaLand Módū." She closed her eyes as Jaxton worked his hands on her shoulders. "We'll be right there too! It's Módū, Jaxton! Módū!"
"It's on the other side of Zhōnguá, baby girl," Jaxton reminded. "We can go during summer vacation. Let's get you acclimated to the compound first and my family."
Tesla hummed. "I let Zelda know I won't be able to train for the next week. She seemed okay." She peered up at Jaxton. "Are you still reporting to her?" She hated when a stab annoyance went through her when Jaxton nodded and turned her back on him. "How long is this going to keep up?" she wanted to know, agitated. "What, does she think I'm not trustworthy or something? Your boss still think I'm a loose cannon?"
"It has nothing to do with a lack of trust." Jaxton slid his hands down her chest and gingerly cupped the swells of her breasts. "It has everything to do with your safety. Your power is rare. Both want to ensure no one coerces you into mismanaging it."
Tesla was torn between arching her back to Jaxton's touch and scowling at his words. So she chose a cross of both. "Like how?"
"Your biological father would influence you to use your powers through psychological torment or other ways of coercion," Jaxton explained.
Tesla froze. "You… He's going to come for me—Ah…!" Her eyes shut at her high-pitched moan when Jaxton squeezed her breasts. Her hands came back for her nails to dig into his arms. "Stop distracting me, you horny ass motherfather, and explained shit to me-ah-ha-ha…!"
Jaxton tilted his head, but he did not stop his ministrations. "Your biological father won't come for you nor anyone you care about. I've made certain of that." He lowered his mouth to gently bite her ear before placing a kiss right below it. "There's no need to stress," he whispered in her ear. "Let me take care of you, princesa." He did not have to wait when Tesla turned her head and pulled him in for a desperate kiss, but he pulled away, biting her lip, and his lips twitched when he heard her whimper. "Necesito oír las palabras."
Tesla did not miss a beat and breathed, "Wǒ xūyào nǐ cāo wǒ."
"Stay." Jaxton let her go to leave the bathroom with Tesla eagerly waiting for his return. When he came back, a silk blindfold was in his hands. "Do you remember the rules?"
Tesla nodded, but she kept her eyes low. "Yes, Daddy."
"Good girl." Jaxton came behind her, but he was careful as he put the blindfold on her.
Tesla frowned. "The knot feels looser than before—" But the words were snuffed out when a hand was at her throat and tilted her head upwards. She could not see worth a damn, but she could feel Jaxton's eyes piercing here. "I'm sorry, Daddy," she whispered.
"No, you aren't." Jaxton stroked her throat. "But you will be." He let her go for a few seconds before he gently took both of her hands. "Come."
Tesla knew this part like the back of her hand. Her heart raced with only anticipation and never with any fear. She felt relaxed and eager combined and her footsteps were confident and trusted. She had no concerns about where he led her. That had come with time and practice. Her feet hit the carpet and she was graced with a few more steps before she felt a squeeze on her hands and she stopped. "May I get on my knees, Daddy?"
"No. Stay."
Tesla frowned, but she held back her protest when she felt Jaxton's warmth evaporated. She knew this part intimately. Staying still with no complaints earned her a salacious reward. But even the tiniest movement warranted a pleasure-mixed-with-pain punishment. She controlled her breathing and listened for a sign of Jaxton, but like always, he moved like a cat, silent and efficient. A minute passed by when she felt his warmth surround her back.
Jaxton feathered her blindfold. "Now." He undid the blindfold. "Look."
Tesla blinked, confused—
"Oh my fucking god!"
Jaxton placed the blindfold on the dresser while Tesla surged forward with the excitement of a child as she looked at what was on Jaxton's bed. The entire Magia crew of Nikki-nyan and Nina-nyan, Rebecca and Roger, Poko, and others had been set-up together in their plushie forms as they surrounded a giant animated map of Magia Kingdom that showed one of their prominent fireworks showed. But the spell on it had been customized as the fireworks spelled:
WE'RE GOING TO MAGIALAND
Tesla jumped up and down as she pointed to the map with a bright beam on her face. "Are you serious? Like are you double-delta-nu-sister-swear serious?"
"Yes." Jaxton crossed his arms over his chest. "I wouldn't joke about this."
"Of course you wouldn't or else your ass would be on a curb right about now." Tesla squealed as she watched the fireworks once again spell out the message. "We're going to MagiaLand! Ah…! Yes…!" She pounced on Jaxton for a fierce hug and kisses all over his face. "Thank you, thank you, thank you!" She let him go to bounce in circles as she did her happy dance. "Oh my god, I have to tell Dante!"
"No." Jaxton stopped her before she could make a dive for her Compact. "Dante is preoccupied."
Tesla waved him off. "This is his favorite place on Earth Land and I'm his Fatesbook wife—this is way more important and he needs to be informed of this life-altering event." She reached for her Compact as Jaxton sighed and moved about the room. She called Dante, happy as could be, and when he answered, she chimed, "Baby, guess what—"
"Ah…!"
Tesla did not miss a step. "Stop fucking your boyfriend—this is Magia-serious and I am your wife." She checked her nails as she heard a series of grunts and a whine.
"What?" Dante growled.
"I'm going to MagiaLand—"
Dante did not hesitate. "I'll send you my pin list and the money for them."
"Obviously. That's a given," Tesla drawled. "Ask Carlisle what he wants. I owe him for interrupting."
"Yes!" Carlisle panted in the background. "You do!" Noises came through until Carlisle sounded closer. "Whenever you find clothes, can you send me pictures? I'll choose then."
"Of course," Tesla promised. "I'll make sure. Anything else?"
Dante was back as he rumbled, "No, he's fine." A guttural groan erupted from him. "Make sure you get a picture with the Evil Queen," he grunted between jerked breaths.
"I'm no amateur, hubby, you know this," Tesla preened. "M'kay, that was all. Oh, and Carlisle, congratulations on your win! Make sure you celebrate!"
"Trust me. He will," Dante growled darkly. "Love you. Bye."
"Love you too." Tesla blew a kiss before she hung up and she squealed all over again. "We're going to MagiaLand!" She clapped her hands as she leaped around. "I cannot believe this! When are we going? When do we leave?"
"We need to be at the Sky Port by three-thirty in the morning," Jaxton told her. "I already sent the luggage we both packed for Zhōnguá back to the compound, and I packed light suitcases for us for MagiaLand. I bought us both Magia Bands with Early Morning Magic Hours, but I had first planned for us to have a day to adjust—"
"No!" Tesla interrupted, horrified. "We can sleep on the Sky Boat, but we are going to be there when the gate opens up, dammit!"
"Which is why I made sure our reservations start tomorrow and we have until eight for check-in," Jaxton finished dryly.
Tesla beamed. "I knew I dated you for a reason." She sighed lovingly at the display and her body warmed when Jaxton hugged her from behind. "I don't even know how I'm supposed to sleep tonight. We're going to MagiaLand! We'll have to make sure we can get souvenirs." She gave it some thought. "Maybe I should see if they have any tank tops for Dante. I know he wants more of them. Easier on all that muscle." She snickered to herself. "I should get him that 'I'm not Hercules – I'm Hunk-ules' tank top I saw. I'm sure Carlisle will go crazy seeing Dante wear it, but it's just facts. He's beefy like a freaking Encan god." She dreamily sighed. "So hot."
Quiet.
"I'm going to the gym."
Shadows covered Jaxton's eyes with his jaw clenched as he tried to leave while Tesla clung to him in both laughter and apology. "No, no, don't go, I'm sorry, Jang-ta!" she chortled. "You're plenty muscular, I promise! Don't hurt yourself again!"
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
« Tesla's Facts About Jaxton #37
He is highly insecure that he can't build as much muscle mass as others. »
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Jaxton huffed, but he stopped trying to escape. Still, Tesla grinned because she caught his pout even if he hid it well. "Aw, don't be so down," she cooed. "You have a hot girlfriend who is totally down to give you whatever you want for taking her to MagiaLand," she purred to him.
Jaxton slightly turned to her. "Whatever I want?"
Bingo. Tesla trailed a tantalizing finger down his chest. "Whatever you want," she vowed to him. "You'll have me eager and submissive in those big, strong hands of yours. I'll be docile in those strong biceps." She dragged her nails down his arms and carelessly thought, He really is muscular. Dante just has more to him.
Silence.
Tesla paled when she saw Jaxton lock his jaw. "I, uh…said that out loud, didn't I?"
And just a minute later, Jaxton was hijacked in storming away with Tesla clinging to his leg. "Let me go," he growled. "I'm going to the gym."
"No…! You're just going to hurt yourself again!" Tesla cried. "And I need you to be in top shape to conquer MagiaLand."
"Then let me go to the gym."
"You are not going to beef yourself up by hitting the gym at this house! I don't need you beefy! You're strong enough!" Tesla cringed when she saw the fire in Jaxton's eyes. Shit.
"Let me go."
"No!"
"Tesla—"
"No!"
"Let me go—"
"Dammit, Jang-ta, you are not going to the gym!"
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hitori ja kowakatta yoru demo
futari de nara tasukeatte
chikazukeru SATERAITO
irodoru machi o tobikoetara
sashidashita te o tsukamu "yatto aeta ne"
futatsu no kiseki ni omedetou
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Even though it was seven-thirty the morning, the gates to MagiaLand has lines out the wazoo and busses and cars pulled through the main parking gate with passes at the ready and excited in their Magic gear and cat ears and glow-up sneakers. Strollers were measured to make sure they could make it past the checkpoint. A high school marching band was making their way backstage to check in their instruments and see their stage and parade route. A few enthusiastic Magia stans had their lanyards filled with pins and buttons deemed collector's items. The gates had a clock tower atop in the shape of a cat's face with paws ticking the hour, minute, and seconds. Since this was the Early Magic Hours opening, everyone put in line had their Magia Bands at the ready to enter the park.
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« This is MagiaLand, a USM-based Magic theme park part of a franchise of parks that are on almost every continent. Like all the parks, a Lacrima-powered Weather Bubble keeps the park safe against harder weather. Behind Magia World, MagiaLand, located on Fleur-de-lis Island on the Fioren Isles, is the second most visited park! »
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"We're here," Tesla whispered like they were on sacred ground. Perhaps they were, in her mind at least. Magiabounding as modern Cinderella, she had done the same braids as the actress and had opted for rolled high-waisted shorts, a light blue shoulder-less halter crop top, and even had a Nikki tiara own with white fingerless gloves, and blue sneakers that would synch with the lighting for any show. And now was the perfect time for her to bring out her pin-filled lanyard and her Cinderella mini-bag with the words "Impossible" on it.
"You are the best boyfriend ever," Tesla whisper-shouted as she bounced. "I can't believe we're going to be here before we go to Zhōnguá—Ah!" She clutched Jaxton's arm. "Isn't this amazing? We're here! We're in my heaven! My heaven, Jang-ta!"
"So you've said." Jaxton had followed suit with Tesla's Magiabounding scheme as he looked the part of the prince. Hair swept back with a few strands forward, he put on black combat joggers and a steep blue jacket with a white shirt underneath that had a gold matte crown on it and a fanny pack slung across his chest. "I wanted to make this Heart's Day special for you."
"And you certainly did that." Tesla reached up to kiss his cheek and smiled widely as she rubbed his arm. "You're so good to me even though you stalked me my whole life, and I forgave you for it like the gracious girlfriend I am."
Jaxton's lips twitched. "Yeah. 'Gracious'." He wrapped an arm around her waist and kissed her temple. "Keep your whistle on you at all times—"
"I cannot believe you are making me use that stupid whistle," Tesla growled, smacking his stomach with the back of her hand. "I'm not going to get lost."
"I know you won't get lost. You'll leave me behind," Jaxton said flatly.
Tesla gaped, all dramatic. "I will not!" When Jaxton just stared, she squished his cheeks. "Come on. Why would I leave my handsome Prince Charming alo—? Ah, the line is moving, tee-hee!"
Jaxton had to physically hold Tesla back before she could gun for it and make her take measured steps. He raised an eyebrow at her as though to say, See?
Tesla shot him a sheepish smile. "That was just a one-off?" When he snorted, she pouted. "Oh, come on, this is MagiaLand! Obviously, I'm going to get pretty friggen stoked. Dante is just as bad as me."
"Yes, I know. Both of you left me behind the last time we came here," Jaxton said dryly. "Do you know how frustrating it was having to use child lost services to report two grown adults missing?"
"In our defense, we saw the evil queen," Tesla reminded. "And she was a treat to meet. And I'll do that all again if I see her."
"You"—Jaxton grabbed her chin and tilted it up to press a kiss onto her lips—"need a leash."
Tesla hummed her laughter. "What, didn't bring it this time?"
Jaxton slightly pulled away to stare into her eyes. "Do not run off," he murmured to her. "We have to catch the new parade sequence Harmonies of Hearts and then find a Friendship is Magic, but we have plenty of time."
Tesla squealed as they moved up in the line and were getting close for their time getting scanned and released into the park. "I know, I know, but I really want to do the character challenge and win this time! If I can get a picture with every single character during our stay at MagiaLand, I win a prize! And you will help me"—she looked up at him and made her eyes shimmer—"right, Jang-ta?"
"You don't play fair," Jaxton accused with no ire.
Tesla patted his cheek. "No. I don't. Neither do you. Now, look alive. We have fast passes to use and strollers to hurdle over."
"I shouldn't be surprised you can still move as well as you can since last night, but I feel like one of the days, I need to step up my game," Jaxton muttered.
Tesla cackled. "Heck no, you've left me plenty sore many times. I don't think I can handle more." She saw a mother close-by looking revolted and hollered, "For you to have your child, you had conversations like this!"
The mother flushed and looked away.
"Don't scare away the moms," Jaxton chuckled.
Tesla looked at them all darkly. "These are people who bring their one-year-old who won't remember any of this magic, but they get all bitchy we're childless and adults, but we'll remember the entire trip."
"Be nice," Jaxton rumbled.
Tesla snorted. "I will if they will."
As the line continued to move, soon Jaxton and Tesla were walking being checked as their bands were scanned and they stepped up on the Lacrima Scanner Pad. Once they were cleared, Tesla grabbed Jaxton's arms, giddy as all get out, and launched them both through the gates. Steely grays rounded as she took it all in.
Jaxton asked her, "Are you ready?"
"Yes." Tesla laced her fingers with his. "Let's do this."
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
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Fairy Adventure 082
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Tales of Heart's Day Weekend
Tale of Tesla and Jaxton
Little Red Riding Hood
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ハートの日物語
テスラとジャクストンの物語
赤ずきん
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Main Street USM was a party in its own right. Cast members dressed in a deep pink and khaki shorts were busy directing the early morning guests. Brick roads and colonial still buildings and, somehow, it smelled like something was baking as you walked up and down the street. It was closest to the main entrance into MagiaLand and that much was obvious as people streamlined in for the day of Magic and fun. A few teenaged friends were making an outline of who went where to divide and conquer. A youth group dissected into multiple groups with chaperons. Two mothers were toting along their two littlest in strollers while their eldest seemed unhappy to be at the happiest place on Earth Land. An overly excited fiancé was gushing about his alien plushie while his future spouse shook their head, exasperated and entertained.
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«This is Main Street USM that takes after the olden architecture of the USM. It has a perfect view of Fairy Tale Castle and houses a lot of gift-shops and side restaurants. The main statue on the waterfall is of the Mage who invented the Magia franchise holding hands with her creations Nina-nyan and Nicky-nyan. »
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Jaxton stayed still as Tesla gawked all around. He lifted his band and tap the symbol for a projected menu screen to pop up and he selected ⟪ Park Map ⟫ for a holographic map of Magia Kingdom to appear. Divided into four "sub-kingdoms" of Adventure World, Innovation Nation, Whimsy World, and Creature Kingdom (a sized-down version of the USM Magia World Beastly Kingdom), the entertainment park still carried a large amount of acreage and the map even offered for guests to see where the roaming Magia Characters were in lieu of themselves.
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« This is a Magia Band which guests can buy that allows them to have their bands scanned for fast passes, hotel rooms, and other purchases. Magia Bands are enchanted to allow guests to see a virtual map of the parks and resorts alongside menus for restaurants, wait times, and reminders for scheduled events You can synch up your bands to alert you if you're close to your other party members such as children or friends. »
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
"I don't even know where to start." Tesla hopped over to look at the holographic map and scanned all the attractions. "The last time we came, we couldn't ride Space Adventure, so we should do that first." She tapped her own Magia Band and pressed ⟪ Fastpasses ⟫ only to be shocked then pout in awe. "And you got us Fastpass-plus?"
Jaxton looked like he was concentrating as he studied the map, but he answered, "Yes. We're staying at the resort. It made the most sense."
"Pragmatic and romantic," Tesla sighed. "A man after my own heart." She tapped out of ⟪ Fastpasses ⟫ to go to ⟪ Attractions ⟫ and looked at the ones opened for Early Morning Magic holders. "Yay! Space Adventure is open! Okay, so here's the plan. Space Adventure first while there's virtually no line, but we should go to Runaway Rails next since it's close by and then afterward Flight of Neverland for a dark ride cool down. And then"—her eyes gleamed—"we're going on a character hunt."
Jaxton hummed as he closed down the projection. "That's fine. Just don't run aw—"
"Oh my god, I see Captain Hook down the street!"
Jaxton grabbed the back of Tesla's bag to keep her in place when she was ready to tear down Main Street. "Tesla."
Tesla huffed. "I wasn't running away," she defended. "I was going to grab your hand and drag you with me because you walk so slow." She went to do just that. "And it's not like you can't find me considering I'm your mission," she muttered under her breath. She ignored Jaxton's look in favor of spearing them down the street.
Adventure World already had parents and their children and other adults streaming towards the internal theme park. Pioneer Park was a popular spot for children to play with its own moat that housed illusions of whimsical mermaids and the park contained a rope swing, bridges, and even a small ship. But Tesla and Jaxton were focused on the futuristic chrome dome that had people strolling in to get inside.
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« Space Adventure is an indoor outer space-themed roller coast crafted through real-world technology and Illusion Magic that takes people on an adventure in space. »
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Tesla was in awe as she and Jaxton headed inside. The interior was decked to be similar to an in-space space station where the guests looked out the windows and saw Earth Land from below and the sun. Tesla had childish excitement as they got closer to warning signs that gravity would not be a constant. All a part of the aesthetic. Gravity Magic had been imbued into the building where guests got to go through various levels of gravity or they could take the regular ramp to get to the loading dock. A father and his two sons sweatdropped as they watched Tesla spin around in zero gravity while Jaxton glided through like he had done this before (and he had, several times at this park).
The loading dock was treated like a lab station with mock astronaut gear and a magical mobile of all the planets on their current rotations and the Lacrima Satellites sent out to observe them and stream back information.
"Oh, this is going to be so amazing!" Tesla cheered as they waited in line. While they would not be in the first few batches, they were still very close. "I'm so flippin' stoked!"
"You can here last year."
Tesla waved a dismissive hand in her boyfriend's direction. "Yes, and I will continue to get excited about coming here every year because this place is pure magic. Besides, you didn't even ride this ride with Dante and me."
"You two were more excited about it than me." Jaxton clearly remembered Tesla bouncing in such excitement and while Dante was more controlled, it was like watching a dog who saw a treat stay still but still have their tail wagging like crazy. "I figured I'd wait for you two."
Tesla looked around as she muttered, "And I'm sure you were spying then too, weren't you?"
Jaxton's eyes narrowed. "Tesla."
She offered him an innocent look. "Hm? Was I saying anything wrong?"
Before Jaxton could say a word, one of the roller coaster-goers belted, "Nants ingonyama bagithi baba…!"
A chorus sang back, "Sithi uhm ingonyama…! 'Ngonyama 'ngengw'ebo…!"
Tesla's eyes lit up as she saw the choir littered in the growing line in their dark blue t-shirts. "Dante's going to be so mad he's missing this! I have to record this for him!" She struggled to find her Compact—
"I'll record it."
Tesla looked up when Jaxton curled around her, one hand holding up his Compact and the other arm around her waist. "Thank you." She swayed as the chorus and the three leads continued their songs as other coaster-goers broke out their Compacts to record. When the chorus came along, Tesla was singing along.
Jaxton glanced down at his girlfriend. Tesla…
"Glad I'm still revered as 'the mission'."
"You don't love me! You cared about your mission and your desires!"
"My god, Jang-ta, how am I supposed to trust a damn thing you say anymore!"
Something flickered in those dark eyes. Does she…? His eyes skittered back to his Compact as he thumbed Tesla's side. No. I can't lose focus.
When the song had ended, Tesla hooted and applauded with the rest of the crowd while Jaxton sent the recording to Dante. Soon enough, it was their turn for Space Adventure. The carts were shaped into little spaceships and Tesla was all for it while Jaxton was staring down two thirteen-year-old boys who were part of a school trip as they whispered back and forth and leered at Tesla wriggling in her seat. The entire ride was thrilling to be throttled into space as ride-goers got to see the planets in this illusioned field only to be sucked into a black hole where they were in a whole new solar system that was populated with one planet entirely of robots with humans for pets, another was a futuristic city, and even one where cats ruled and somehow owned dogs for pets.
"Wow, look at the pictures!"
Tesla was all sparkles at the photo kiosk while Jaxton merely stared at a father looking at her and the man sweatingly looked away. Tesla pointed at the two photos she saw of them. She was in shock and awe as she watched a supernova burst, but Jaxton looked awkward crammed into the cart. He did not look bored, necessarily, just…existing. The other one had Tesla childishly ooh-ing and aah-ing as they witnessed a solar flare, but Jaxton was just existing again.
"Our reservation came with the photo pass and Magia Memory Maker," Jaxton told her as he scared away two women, who were Magiabounding as masculine versions of Sleeping Beauty and Snow White, with his stare alone. "Choose our photos and it'll be uploaded to our account."
Tesla clapped her hands. "Okay! Sounds good!" She grabbed his hand to lead him to the counter. "Hopefully, no one needs any of these to make sure I stay in line, right?" she laughed. "I look pretty harmless!"
Jaxton's eyes narrowed only just. No. I'm not imagining it. When Tesla got to the counter, he kept their hands intertwined. Still… His head turned and his dark eyes locked down on two women caught trying to take pictures with him in the background, and they turned away, abashed. Why is everyone staring at her?
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
« Tesla's Facts About Jaxton #14
He constantly is clueless about how much attention he attracts from people. »
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
°•°•°•°
Tesla had a spring in her step as they walked down the pavement. More people had swarmed into the park, and already Tesla was happy enough to get some dole whip while Jaxton refrained.
"Zuha…! This stuff is bomb!" Tesla groaned. She spooned some with a teasing grin. "Are you sure you don't want some?"
Jaxton looked at the spoon, then to Tesla before his lips twitched. "If you feed me."
"Men and their need to make us women feel more and more like their maids, I swear," Tesla jested. "Open up." She spoon-fed Jaxton the dole whip as she sighed and took a look around. "I still can't believe we came. Everything's been so stressful, it almost feels surreal to be doing something so…normal…you know?" Her smile dimmed and so did her eyes. "My sperm donor is walking free. Not a day goes by that I don't think about that fact. That he's out there and wants me." Steely gray darkened in disgust. "In more ways than one."
"He will never have you."
Tesla blinked up in surprise when Jaxton cradled her jaw for darkness and steely gray to meet. "I know you'll still be worried," he murmured. "But know I will make sure he won't come near you or anyone you care about."
Tesla softened. "Yeah, I know. It's just…" She sighed and pulled out of his touch to look away. "It doesn't matter if he gets to me or not," she mumbled. "It matters to everyone if I turn out just like him." Steely grays flashed. "That's why I'm a mission." Her hand clenched the spoon. "I'm an enemy to everyone. It makes sense…that everyone wants to keep an eye on me, huh?"
Tesla… Jaxton reached for her. "I—"
A melodic shout in an odd accent interrupted him. "'Ello, beautiful people. You may call me 'Prince…Naveen'."
Jaxton's face fell flat while Tesla gasped, sparkles all around her. "Oh my god, it's my favorite prince and he brought his ukulele!" She forced her dole whip and spoon into Jaxton's hands. "We gotta move!" She spotted the prince in his casual Crescent City wear and that dazzling smile in his and hooted as she waved, "Oh, Prince Naveen…!"
A cloud of dust kicked up at the pace Tesla had run…
…and subsequently left Jaxton behind.
When the dust cleared, a shadow covered Jaxton's eyes. It did not matter he had garnered affectionate attention from some of the moms and a few others. He gripped the cup of dole whip. I should've known this would happen…
One of the women looking at a dark aura-ed Jaxton whispered to her friend, "He looks like he's about to murder someone."
"I wouldn't want to get on his bad side," her friend muttered. "He looks like a felon."
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
« Tesla's Facts About Jaxton #20
He looks like a criminal when he gets angry. »
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
Tesla was having the time of her life as Prince Naveen entertained those walking with him on his morning stroll with his ukulele playing and one of the traveling bands had joined him for an impromptu bandstand of a sousaphone, saxophones, a trumpet, a trumpet, and one man who was an entire mobile drum line. Tesla enjoyed herself to the big sound and ended up engaging Prince Naveen in one of his more famous dances from the movie.
"Ashidanza!" Prince Naveen exclaimed. "You dance just as beautiful as my Tiana, fair princess."
Tesla giggled. "Why thank you, but I'm pretty sure I've got nothing on your princess," she joked. "Your princess is my favorite princess."
"She's mine too. She's"—for some reason, it suddenly felt like they were locked in a romance drama with roses everywhere—"my everything."
The Magia-goers around swooned, and Tesla was not ashamed she did too. He's so perfect. What a prince!
Tesla stiffened when a hand dropped on her shoulder.
"Well, this princess is my everything." Jaxton lifted Tesla's hand to give it a delicate kiss before he looked down at Tesla like he was a lead in a Z-Drama. "And I have no intention of letting her go to another prince."
The Magia-goers swooned again. He's prince charming too!
Internally, Tesla was blank. Dear god, what is wrong with you? He wasn't even flirting.
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
« Tesla's Facts About Jaxton #5
He gets jealous in the most adorable ways. »
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
Prince Naveen smirked as he took off his hat to graciously bow. "As you should." He knelt before Tesla and took her other hand. "We shall meet again, fair princess. You should visit Tiana's Place. I'd love to see you dance again." He winked and showed off his canines.
Again, more swooning from the audience, while Tesla was only twitchily smiling because Jaxton had a laser focus on her hand in Prince Naveen's. My good sir, you are not doing me any favors right now. "That was on our list for dinner, so we'll definitely be there!" She slipped out her hand to grip Jaxton's. "Thanks for the dance, Prince Naveen, but my prince and I have to go." She pulled Jaxton away (who stared back at Prince Naveen) and got them back on the colorful path.
"You know he was just doing his job," Tesla whispered. "I thought you'd know better than that." She was pulled to a stop.
"Yeah, I know."
Tesla was taken aback when he saw Jaxton looked down at their joined hands with what she saw as a pout on his lips.
"But I felt jealous he was complimenting you," Jaxton mumbled. "And I know he's one of your favorite princes, so I know you must have really liked his compliments."
Jaxton… Internally, Tesla felt her soul was swooning. He gets so cute like this!
"Also." Jaxton's eyes turned cold. "You ran away from me after you said you wouldn't."
Why couldn't that cuteness last?! Tesla nervously tittered. "Ah, right, sorry," she apologized. "I guess I just got carried away—" She swallowed when Jaxton rested his forehead against hers.
"You ran happily to another man," Jaxton murmured. "How could you? Am I not enough of a prince for you?"
Tesla's eye twitched. "Th-Th-That's…"
"Oh, look at that!" Pedestrians passing had amused and dreamy smiles about them as they glanced at Jaxton and Tesla. "They're doing Cinderella and Prince Charming! How cute!"
"I wish I had a girlfriend to do that with," one of the men muttered.
Tesla sighed. Well, there's no helping it. She smiled as she kissed Jaxton's cheek. "You're better than a prince to me," she murmured to him. "You're the king to my queen, and nothing could change that." She pulled back to catch the relaxed look in his eyes, but her mind drifted to other thoughts. After all… While I'd never want to be with someone, in the event I was, if they decided my boyfriend wasn't fit for my mental health, I'm sure they'd pay him off. Her thoughts took a turn. Jaxton checked on Dante… Does that mean he background checked everyone around me? Even…—her eyes widened—all those guys I slept with?
"Tesla?"
"Huh?" She pulled out of her thoughts to see the concern on her boyfriend's face. "Oh. S-Sorry. Just thinking." She turned away and cleared her throat. "Come on. We still have lots to do!" I just want to enjoy this day, but…my mind has other ideas…
Jaxton slowly nodded. "Okay." He readjusted his grip on her hand. "Let's go then."
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
And then…
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
Tesla was buzzing with enthusiasm as they exited Flight of Neverland. "That was so much fun!" she cheered. "This is why I love Magic! We got to fly into Neverland, get misted by mermaids, and we even got to be on a pirate ship! Oh!" She looked back at the dreary aura-ed Jaxton in both amusement and pity and latched onto his arm. "How's your stomach holdin' up, champ?"
"Fine," Jaxton grunted. "Please don't mention my motion sickness to my family when you meet them."
Tesla offered him a puzzled smile in return. "I mean, I wasn't planning on it, but why not?"
"Just don't." Jaxton yawned and wiped off the little trail of drool from his chin.
Tesla rubbed his arm and cooed, "Poor thing. You were so brave to go on that ride with me, my poor Prince Charming." She looked around and squinted at the sun. "It should be about that time. Why don't we get some lunch and then go back to Main Street to get in line for the Harmonies of Hearts parade, yeah?"
"I'm not the hungry—"
GUUUUUUUUUUU….
Tesla and Jaxton looked down at his stomach.
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
« Tesla's Facts About Jaxton #11
For some reason, he tries to act like he's not hungry, but he's always hungry. »
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
°•°•°•°
The restaurant was decked out as a night in Stella with a cabaret of old Stellian love songs completed with candelabras at every table completed with tablecloths and even an honorary Lady and Tramp and the rest of the dog and cat crew who served as service animals to help guests relieve stress. A fountain centered the restaurant that had the adorable paw prints of dogs and cats and even the human hand of the Mage who crafted Magia. A large family was pleased one of the two Siamese cats had come over for cuddles and cat-friendly treats. A high school group had all gathered in the restaurant for their lunch after a job well done during their eleven AM parade.
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
« This is Tony's Restaurant featured from Lady and the Tramp which features songs and small skits from the animal cast. »
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
Jaxton's eyebrow twitched as he looked at the veal meatball spaghetti that was piled between him and Tesla. "Must we do this…?"
WHINE….
His eyes drifted to the little crowd of service dogs they had accumulated. "…with them watching?" His eyes narrowed, and the dogs whined, ears flat, and dipped their heads.
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
« Tesla's Facts About Jaxton #3
Dogs are afraid of him—Note to self: look up on Goggle if I should stay away from people who scare dogs.
Amended note: Goggle said he's okay as long as the dogs don't hate him »
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
"Stop being such a grump." Tesla offered a biscuit to a bulldog and laughed at how merry he was. "They're so adorable!" The bloodhound labeled "Trusty" got her attention next as she scratched behind his ear. "You're so adorable, Trusty," she complimented. She laughed when Trusty wriggled, pleased. "I don't like to baby-talk animals, but you are such a good boy, aren't you, Trusty?" she cooed. "You're such a good doggo, aren't you, Trusty? Aren't you?"
Trust thumped his tail with his back leg twitching and gave a hefty roof in reply. The bloodhound looked like he was on cloud nine when Tesla scratched his jaw.
Tesla chortled when she heard clinking and looked in confusion when she saw the table was vibrating. "What the—?" It abruptly stopped to the point where it had her jolt. Okay, that was…strange.
"Can't we eat"—Jaxton's eyebrow twitched again when he bore witness to another dog back closer to Tesla and shy its eyes from him—"in private?"
"I mean, we're never in private, right?" Tesla offered another dog treat to a Schnauzer with a wan smile. "After all"—steely grays dinged—"you'll have to report this in, won't you? Not like any dinner we have is actually the two of us."
Jaxton fell quiet.
Tesla sighed and offered the Schnauzer a pat on its snoot. "Sorry, everyone, but soup's on. Thanks for the dopamine, but shoo! Go on!" She gently shooed away the dogs until it was just her and Jaxton. "There. Now, we can—"
"It is just the two of us."
Tesla snorted. "Right. I'm sure it is." She picked up her fork. "Let's eat. The Harmonies of Hearts parade doesn't start until three, so—"
"Tesla."
She was forced to stop when he touched her wrist. She looked up for steely grays to clash with darkness.
"What's wrong?" Jaxton rumbled.
Tesla looked away to start twirling her fork in the spaghetti. "It's nothing," she assured. "Come on. Let's eat." She did not wait for Jaxton as she tucked in her first forkful. Tension enwrapped her body until Jaxton dug in as well. But the rock in her stomach would not go away. I don't understand it. I know we spoke two weeks ago, but…as much as I know I love him and I know there are things he can't tell—things I accept—it just seems like… Her eyes darkened. Whoever he reports to and Zelda—it's obvious they don't trust me. Why would they? I'm the daughter of the worst Magic Hunter alive. I have Anti-Ether. She hesitated to take her next bite.
Gary wanted to murder me in cold blood. Not because of me, but because of what I represent. I understand that. But I represent what an entire community hates, Tesla thought. I want to use my powers for good, but…where do I even start? Trust has to be earned. I have to show them they can trust me. I understand that part too, but… Her fork went down. Hold on a second. Show them… Her grip on her fork tightened. I've been showing them for years I'm not a danger. For the past month and a half, I've shown them with my powers that I'm not a villain. Her jaw locked. If Jaxton wants to protect me, that's his business. So why does he need to report to them as a justification in protecting me? It's not for my protection.
Tesla stabbed her fork into the spaghetti. He's watching me because he doesn't trust me either. They still see me as a potential enemy.
"You're not eating."
Tesla worked her jaw. "I'm fine," she grunted.
Jaxton observed her. "Tesla—"
"Dije que estoy bien, Jang-ta." Tesla let out a terse exhale. "Sorry, I… Can we just eat? I don't want anyone to think I'm starving myself, right?" She dug into her portion of the meal with an agitated gusto, though the tension only left her body partially when she felt Jaxton move and start to tuck in his side of the plate.
I'm an unpredictable threat and nothing more. I'm not a prisoner. I'm not behind cells. But I'm on probation and my handler is with me twenty-four-seven. She swallowed her next bite. What happens if I step out of line? If I told Jaxton about Alvarez, does that automatically make me a security threat? Even I did do something good, am I still some high-level risk that needs to be monitored? Now, it felt like her appetite had gone and she could hear her heart-beat. Stop panicking, stop panicking. If I have a panic attack and lash out, it's all over. Jang-ta won't have a choice but to put me down. Please calm down.
"Tesla—"
She abruptly stood and blurted a quick excuse before she power-walked away. After following the large signs, she found the women's restroom and locked herself in a stall. A few mothers and other patrons were in, but they were too busy in their own conversation to read the stress splashed on her face. She sat on the toilet and tried to control her shaking hands with a fierce desperation.
"Please calm down," she whispered to herself. "Stop overthinking, please stop overthinking." They'll put me down if I lash out. I have to stay in control. Stay in control. She closed her eyes as she let out a shaky breath.
PSH…
"Excuse me."
Tesla froze when she heard Jaxton's voice. He knows. He knows I'm spiraling.
"I'm so sorry for this, but could you give this Compact to my girlfriend? Her name is Tesla. The call is important."
"Of course, honey, give it here."
Tesla felt like her heart was lurch free from her chest as heat stung her eyes. Calm down, calm down—please calm down. I don't want to die. I'm okay. I'm okay.
KNOCK-KNOCK.
"Are you Tesla?"
She wanted to hold her breath and ignore it, but the lady sounded sweet. She was not doing anything wrong. "That's me."
"Someone who claims they're your boyfriend wanted to give this Compact to you," the lady told her. "The Compact has some sort of koala cover on it—"
"Yeah, that's mine, um… Would you be able to slide it under?"
"Sure thing."
Tesla eyed her Compact as it came into the stall, but her eyes rounded when she saw it was Dante calling her. She grabbed her Compact and answered, "Hi. What's wrong? Please do not tell me you A—lost Carlisle—or that you B—broke up with him?"
"What's wrong?"
"Huh?" Tesla pushed her braids to one side. "Nothing. Oh, um, about your pin list—"
"You're doing it again," Dante grunted. "You're talking around what's bothering you. You know I've had a sixth sense when you're not okay. What's wrong?"
Tesla mouthed curses—
"I know you think I can hear you swearing, but I know that's what you're doing."
She loudly sighed. "It's nothing," she insisted. Nothing I can explain without spiraling and without revealing I'm on an invisible Death Rowe with my boyfriend as my Executioner. No, no, happy thoughts, happy thoughts. "I was just getting unreasonably anxious, but I'm fine now."
"Em gái." Dante's tone gentled. "Why are you not comfortable being near Jaxton?"
Tesla's blood went cold. "He said something to you?"
"No, but I know you'll speak to him, but if it involves him, you'll speak to me," Dante recounted. "He hasn't said anything to me today outside of the video he took when you guys were in Space Adventure."
Tesla found herself smiling. "You would have loved it."
"I would have. That's one of my favorite Magia Movies," Dante chuckled. "I remember when we both watched it when we were younger—"
"Yeah, asshole, and you'd life me up."
"You were small."
"No. You're just freakishly large."
"Agree to disagree."
Tesla rolled her eyes. "How's everything in Zvonvratia? Did you ask Carlisle yet?" When she heard silence, she frowned, worried. "Dante? What's going on? I was sure it was today you were going to ask him since the awards ceremony is over and his interviews are finished until he's home—"
"We've been having company throughout our entire trip," Dante confessed, minutely vexed. "Currently, we're with two other skaters from the men's single division and they have a little crowd around them."
Tesla hissed. "Ouch." She added to soothe him, "I'm sure you'll have the time to ask him today. A lot of fans probably stayed to see if they could meet the skaters, but the crowd will die down, and you'll have him back."
Three beats. "Right," Dante murmured. "I'm sure that's it." He changed the subject. "Anyway, I called to make sure you were feeling comfortable and safe. Do you feel comfortable and safe?"
No. "Yeah."
Two beats. "I might be in Zvonvratia, but I'm just a call away," Dante wanted to remind her. "If you want to leave, you know I'll buy you a ticket back home. You can come back to my place and stay with me for as long as you need."
"I'm not putting you and Carlisle out like that," Tesla dismissed. "I'm fine. Seriously. Go steal back your lover or something, and make sure you text me right after he says, 'yes', all right? I want to hear all about it."
"I will. Love you."
"Love you too. Bye." Tesla ended the call only to furrow her brow when she saw her psychologist had called a minute after Dante had. Hm. When I spiraled back in January in Jaxton's car, I swore I had a miscalled from Dante, like, a minute after my psychologist. She stood up and tucked her Compact in her back pocket. All right. I can do this. She reached for the handle, but she hesitated.
I'm…not afraid, she told herself. I'm okay. There are worse things in the world than this, so I'm okay. She took a deep breath. This is fine. She opened the door—
A vile smirk. Dangerous gray eyes. "I found you."
Tesla jerked back, eyes wide and heart racing. Other patrons had noticed the noise and abrupt movement and looked curiously, murmuring their concerns, but she could barely hear them over the dissonance ringing in her ears. She blinked down, and horror filled her when she saw her chains wrapped around her fingers. No, no, no, no. She hid her hand as she forced the chains away. Ducking her head to avoid the stares, she was quick to wash and dry her hands before moving for the exit. You're okay. You're fine. This is nothing. You're good. You're good.
She exited the bathroom and offered a weak yet pleasant smile to those she passed as she tried to find her table again. Jaxton was sitting alone, though it was apparent he had not touched the food. She poured more strength into her smile—strength she could not afford to lose—and settled back in her seat. "I'm surprised you waited," she teased. "Thanks for bringing me my Compact. Dante says 'hello'." She lifted her glass. "Here's to hoping he has a boyfriend by tonight."
Jaxton lifted his glass as he stared at her, but she would not meet his eyes. "Cheers."
And they both took a swig of their drinks.
°•°•°•°
The Harmonies of Hearts parade was a Heart's Day spectacle. After a rendition of Baby Mine, it flooded into the fanfare introduction before the parade of pink and white and red and gold flooded down with street performers and various Magia characters showing the love of yourself, your friends, your family, and even your lovers. Characters' ears and wings and wands and shoes from the watchers all lit up in synch with the colors of the parade. People laughed and cheered as special Heart's Day candy was being thrown, and even cheesy balloons were being passed out to the pedestrians. Confetti and glitter and happiness everywhere, Main Street USM looked like a festival in honor of love.
Except…
Tesla and Jaxton watched the parade, but a noticeable distance was between them in their silence and physical proximity. Tesla had sat on the curb and tried hard to engage as a few other adult Magia-goers were with her singing along to the remix, but it took a toll on her after a while and left her with a pathetic half-assed smile as she clapped along. Jaxton stood near, watching but not engaging.
Neither spoke to the other.
I hate this feeling. Tesla stopped clapping and locked her hands over her knees. I'm in one of my favorite places in the world, but I can't even be happy. He didn't have to take me here, but he did. And I'm acting like a spoiled brat. Steely grays passed over a float as a pop remix of So This is Love/A Dream is a Wish Come True came on. She could not even smile seeing both renditions of Cinderella and Prince Charming alongside Anastasia and her baker himbo of a fiancé. I know I'm good. I'm not…I'm not my father. So then why can't I stop thinking…? Why do I keep thinking maybe I should be watched? I couldn't even control myself in the bathroom. My chains came out. I just… She sighed. I guess I know it's a good idea not to be trusted if I can't even control my fun anxiety. A loveless smile touched her lips. I'm not even a weapon of mass destruction because I'm evil. They're worried my breakdown will just be cataclysmal. And I can't even say I blame them.
Tesla looked up when she felt Jaxton touch her back. "Hmm?" She did not have a good feeling when she saw how tight his jaw had become and tried for a more enthusiastic smile. "Isn't the parade awesome? I'm really happy they incorporated some more characters this year, like Mal and Ben, you know, with their royal wedding coming up and everything—"
"Can we talk?"
"Aren't we doing that now?" Tesla quipped. She averted her eyes under Jaxton's more intense gaze. "Couldn't we do it later? I mean, the parade isn't finished—"
"Please, can we talk now?"
Tesla winced. "Um, sure…" She saw he offered a hand to her, but she hesitated and helped herself up to her feet. She knew Jaxton had read the message for what it was when he took a step back. "Well, um… Lead the way, I guess." She kept a step back from him as he guided them out of the cluster of attendees. Main Street USM had a quieter square before it with the Mage who stared Magia alongside the infamous Grimm Brothers and their cat familiars who would become Nikki and Nina.
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
« This is Grimm Square in honor of the two original Grimm Brothers who were master storytellers and collectors and inspired the Magia franchise. »
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
Jaxton had herded them over to one of the side benches where no one was close by. Tesla sat down, but when Jaxton did not, she cleared her throat. "Would you mind sitting too? It's a little bit of a power play with you standing like that, don't you think?" she tried to joke even when her stomach flopped.
Jaxton settled beside her, but he kept his distance.
Tesla folded her hands neatly in her lap. "So, um…what's this about?" She strained to keep her tone upbeat. "If this is a break-up talk, thank you for at least not doing it in my safe haven—"
"I'm not breaking up with you."
"Oh, of course you're not. But, even if you were, I'd totally take up the rest of the reservation," Tesla jested as she kept her eyes on her lap. "It's not everyday people get to spend a few days here to enjoy the Magic, y'know? And I'm really grateful to you for bringing me here. Sorry if I haven't acted like I am, but I really am. Thanks for making Heart's Day weekend special, Jaxton." Her hands tightened. Who knows? If me being a time ticking bomb explodes…at least this was a nice last Heart's Day.
"I understand it's not ideal to have your life looked at under a microscope."
Steely grays widened.
Jaxton went on: "I know it isn't fair to be watched—"
"Then why do you do it?"
Hardened steely grays clashed with darkness.
"I told you before," Jaxton started. "To prevent external coercion—"
"From what?" Tesla demanded to know. Her anxiety might have been up and down and left and right, but a burst of anger had a straight and narrow pathway. "What exactly is supposed to coerce me? Please enlighten me. Surely, your superior had to give you a list of people who could influence me to—I don't know"—she waved a hand—"whisper in my ear to commit mass genocide and I'll just say, 'Sure thing, sis, no problem."
Jaxton listed, "Your father is one. Adrienne is another—"
"Hold on." Tesla raised a hand for him to stop. "You are telling me that my sweet mother—the only parent I have known to trust and love me—would just suddenly convince me to enact murder and I'd be okay with that?"
Jaxton shook his head. "Coercion isn't just about a metaphorical devil on your shoulder," he explained. "Coercion can be a situation in which you are forced to make a decision you had never planned on. If in the event Adrienne was hurt by someone within the Cerberus Hunter's cult, you could retaliate."
"Yes, I'd retaliate, but I'm so happy to hear retaliation and stone-cold annihilation mean the same thing," Tesla bit. "Didn't you just say to me last night that, 'Oh, Tesla, no one you love or care about will ever be harmed'. What happened to that? If you told me that, then there's no reason to think she'd be in critical danger and I'd commit mass murder for revenge?"
Jaxton clenched his hand. "There is always a small chance," he said evenly.
Tesla had to laugh. She just had to. It was one of those laughs you did when you did not know what else to do. "A 'small chance'? Seriously?"
"Yes." Jaxton worked his jaw. "In the event something happens to me, while someone else will take my place, that would leave someone vulnerable to an attack. If that were to occur, you could retaliate in ways you might not understand."
Tesla did not know whether to laugh or to cry or do both. "So let me get this straight? All of this"—she circled around them—"is because no one trusts me to keep my shit together if something bad happens, is that it?" Her laughter was gone as a scowl took over. "I'm now considered a threat level that should be neutralized if I get a hangnail? If I get a D on a test? If I start crying because of a sad movie?"
"That's not what I meant," Jaxton said.
"No, I know what you meant," Tesla snapped. "You meant anything could set me off. I'm nothing more than a time-ticking bomb and you're all just sitting there waiting for me to fuck up." She took off her Nikki-nyan ears. "I can't believe I'm being treated as public enemy number one on probation. I'm not an evil person. If you were to die today through gunshots, I'm not going to commit murder on the gunmen because of a life for a life. I'd beat his ass, yes, but I'm not going to murder him."
"You wouldn't?"
"No!" Tesla cried. "Is that how little you trust me? That I'd just kill people left and right because someone died?"
Jaxton did not break his stare. "Death brings out the best and worst and people. So do tragedies. You don't know what you will react to when you witness something horrific happen before your eyes." His eyes darkened. "You don't know what you'll do when you witness death and tragedy happen in front of you."
"I am not Wick. I'm not going to go on a manhunt and slaughter people if my dog dies," Tesla retorted. "Okay, so, no, I don't understand what I'll do if an explosion sporadically happens and I'm holding half your body, but neither does ninety-nine percent of the population know what they'll do. What makes me so different?"
"You have power," Jaxton replied. "They don't."
Tesla shook her head, incensed. "I love this. Love that I'm on some sort of government watch list. Why didn't you just keep me in a cage? Keep me in a nice, padded room in a straitjacket and let me rot there as a precaution that poor Tesla never has a bad day or has to witness some sort of atrocity that is highly unlikely to happen."
"Your freedom is essential—"
"The freedom I have from you being my handler and reporting every move I make back to Zelda and your superior?"
Jaxton's jaw went taut. "You don't understand—"
"Then make me understand!" Tesla exclaimed. "Make me understand how you thought it'd be cool even after seeing me in control of my powers—even after understanding how I'm in control of myself—that you just agreed to still be my handler and make me feel any day now if I go through anything remotely not okay, I'm to be put down—"
"You hid."
Tesla was taken back. "Excuse me?"
Jaxton sighed. "You hid," he repeated. "You hid from me. Your actions were unknown for several hours." At this, he could not look at her. "You have the potential to hide from allowing me to see your reflection. Other means can be used to track you down, but I'm the fastest method in doing so. But you hid. And that alerted my superior."
Tesla worked her mouth. A jagged smile came across her lip as she held her temples. "Oh my god," she whispered. "Because I hid from you because I needed to process, I'm now considered even more of a threat. I can't win. I can't get privacy to think about things. I-I-I-I can't let myself relax. I-I can't—"
The mask came down.
Her entire face and mind shut down.
Tesla straightened. "You will never trust me."
"That isn't true."
"It is true, though, isn't it?" Tesla did not wait for his reply. "No one will trust me. It doesn't matter if I kissed babies or if I never even J-walked. It doesn't matter what I do. No one will trust me. I'm the enemy of society. No one will ever think of me as more." She got up. "Not even you."
Jaxton latched onto her wrist. "Don't run," he urged. "Please don't hide again."
Silence
"I'm not going to hide. I'm your mission, remember? It wouldn't look good for you if I hid from my handler. Who knows?" She tugged her wrist away, and Jaxton let it go. "Maybe I'll get approached by some random and convinced to use my power for good, right? We wouldn't want that."
"Tesla—"
"Anyway." Tesla rubbed her cheeks. "Thank you for bringing me here. Trust me when I say this is one of my favorite places on Earth Land. I'm sorry I ruined it. You should… You should enjoy it. I, um… Would it be okay if I stayed in the room? I think I'm all Magia-ed out for the day."
Jaxton rose to his feet, but he clenched his hands to fists as though to restrain himself from touching her. "If that's what you want. I'll come—"
"No, it's fine." Tesla adjusted the straps on her bag. "You'll have a visual on me as long as you see my reflection, right? Then, there's no need for you to come with me. Please. Enjoy yourself. I'll catch the monorail to get back to the hotel. It's… It's fine. Like I said, I wouldn't jeopardize your mission."
"Tesla, please, look at me."
Tesla sighed and lifted her eyes.
Tired steely grays collided with meaningful darkness.
"You are more than a mission to me," Jaxton told her. "You have been for a long time."
Tesla's eyes slid to the side. "Yeah, I know—"
"Then look at me when you say that."
Tesla swallowed and tried hard to maintain eye contact. "I know I'm more than a mission to you," she told him with a slight hitch in her tone. "But I also know what you think of me isn't the same as what everyone else thinks of me." She touched his cheek. "You're doing your job. I get it. I understand I'm a threat. They can't trust me. Maybe I could turn out like my sperm donor—"
"They don't think that—"
"Well, they certainly think I'm capable of more harm than good," Tesla tried to take back her hand when Jaxton cupped it and placed a gentle kiss on her palm. She hummed. "Like I said, I get it. It's fine." She pulled her hand back to shove both her hands in her back pockets. She nodded at him. "Enjoy yourself, Jaxton, I, uh…" She pointed at the monorail. "I'll see you later." She dipped her head as her final farewell before turning her back. Each step felt like she was sinking herself further and further into quicksand, and her heart felt like it had gained a ton.
I'm sorry. She was quick to wipe a tear away. I guess…I'm not as good as I thought I was.
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
Fairy Adventure
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
The monorail had dropped Tesla and two handfuls of guests off at a hotel that screamed "yacht club". Settled upon the bay with its maritime charm, it came in smart white, nautical blue, and touches of burgundy all through the interior of the hotel with original paintings from Spiritless artists and Mages who donated their enchanted paintings in which you could smell the mists of the ocean and watch as boats moved and people talked. The bar and one of the restaurants were open to the public, but the other restaurant was exclusive towards guests only with special appearances by characters of the park or even by the voice actors themselves.
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
« This is Magia's Nepeta Bay Club Hotel that is set course for relaxation in the "good, ole days". It even has its own lighthouse and gives tours. »
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
Of course Jaxton had gone above and beyond with the honeymoon suite. There were times Tesla had wanted to ask in the past exactly how much money he makes as a Fairy Tail Mage, but his current mission made it clear he was paid handsomely regardless of his Mage status. An octagonal room in one of the hotel towers, it granted guests a panoramic view of the ocean and the other hotels with a four-poster king-sized bed, a sitting room, and even a minibar and a private safe.
Tesla had decided she had enough of her Magiabounding and swapped out for one of her sleep shirts and her Stitch slippers and her Stitch hoodie blanket instead. Even with it February, the Weather Lacrima shielded the hotel guests from whatever murky weather was going on outside with constant spring-summer temperatures. She sipped on the cocktail she made for herself and sighed.
"What am I doing? He brings me here, and I act like a complete and utter brat." She shuffled over to the bed to pick up her L-Pad. Setting aside her drink, she cocooned herself in her blanket and went to her ⟪ Photos ⟫ and decided to drift through the memories. Maybe she had thought it would be a boost in morale, but she felt worse looking at them. She had pictures of Jaxton or her and Jaxton littered everywhere amongst all the memes she had saved and pictures she had taken of her friends.
"I never got close to you out of pity, sympathy, or because I wanted to fuck you."
"Because you are strong."
"No, I couldn't live with myself knowing you were oblivious."
"I'm here because I want to be."
"You gave me the chance to love you. You gave me a gift. And nothing I do will ever repay that."
Tesla groaned as she threw the L-pad to the other side of the bed. "Okay, Universe, I get it, thank you for giving me flashbacks that he is a great boyfriend and I'm a sucky girlfriend—I get it." She rolled left and right. "I'm a shitty girlfriend who is hanging onto petty shit like this and I'm ruining my relationship. Thank you, Universe, for reminding me, but I'm a little fed-up with the reminders."
THUD!
Tesla panicked. "Shit! I just got that L-Pad!" She flailed to get out of her blanket cocoon and absently reached past the bed to grab the device. "Come on, Grayson, I named you, therefore you have to keep working for me." She brought the tablet up only to hold pause.
Steely grays shimmered.
This is… She looked at the video that had come up. It showed her and Jaxton, but it was dated two years back towards the end of the year. She looked pretty in pink for the evening while Jaxton looked like he stepped into high fashion streetwear. Both of them were at the entrance to a movie theater with a bunch of other anime lovers and casuals. She pressed ⟪ Play ⟫.
"Hey, Dante, I promised I'd send you a video every hour that I'm not dead and my date hasn't kidnapped me, so here it is," Tesla of the past sang. "We're going to see Rebellion since you're icky and refuse to see this masterpiece with me."
Tesla smiled when her past self stuck out her tongue with a middle finger.
"I won't be able to send a time-stamped video, but I'll send a video when we're done with the movie." Past-Tesla looked back at Past-Jaxton who was quite serious as always. "Anything you want to say?"
Past-Jaxton shook his head.
"Kay!" Past-Tesla winked. "See ya later, husband!"
"'Husband'?"
Tesla sniggered to herself as the video stopped on an adorably confused Jaxton looking at her. Right. Dante was adamant I send him a time-stamped video so he wouldn't work. He might look all tough, but he's such a worrier. She snorted as she leafed through the videos of the night. Honestly, he was a big ball of shyness and anxiety when we met. Li'l closet case. Her eyes softened when she saw a photo she had taken of Jaxton on their night stroll. Our first date wasn't awkward or anything like that. At least to me. Him, on the other hand, well…
"You've seriously never been on a date?"
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
The night was brisk and nippy, but neither one of them had cared. City nightlife had enough light for them and if they were truly cold, they could dip into a café to warm up before braving the chilly air. Linked in arms, they kept their pace leisurely (although, it sort of stung even her heeled sneakers were no match for his absurd height).
Jaxton shook his head. "No."
Tesla scoffed. "I don't believe you. I mean you're hot. I'm sure you've been asked out plenty of times."
"I have," Jaxton confessed. "But I turned them all down."
The focus widened. "I mean, not like the girls in school are anything to write home about and I do not recommend sleeping with any one of those cross-country or volleyball girls but still. You didn't accept anyone asking you out?"
Jaxton shook his head again.
The focus squinted. "I hate to ask this on a first date, but I have to because this is pretty common." She stopped him with a hand on her chest. "Are you going out with me because I'm one of the few black girls in our school?"
Jaxton shook his head. "No."
"Are you sure?" Tesla hitched up an eyebrow. "I've very much enjoyed this date. Please don't misunderstand."
"I have too."
Tesla sweatdropped. "Are you sure you have?" she asked, incredulous. "When we went to dinner, you looked a little…stiff. Not to mention during the movie, I wasn't sure if you were gripping your armrests because of the surprising psychological shit we were thrown in a magical girl movie or because you wanted to run." She fed him a teasing smile. "Don't tell me I'm that intimidating."
Jaxton looked at his feet. "I was a little intimidated."
"Huh?" That shocked Tesla. "I was just joking. I'm not going to bite or anything, I swear."
"It's not that," Jaxton said. "I told you. I've never been on a date before." Something in his expression said he remembered something he did not like. "And the advice that was given to me came from someone whose never been on a date either." He looked away, but you could see a faint pink tinge his pale cheeks. "I wanted to be a gentleman for you."
'Oh, this boy is cute,' Tesla gaped. 'Why have I not hit this before?' Another thought dropped, and now she dreaded the answers. "So I'm your first date?"
Jaxton nodded.
"But as you said before, you wanted to go on three dates before we had sex, right?"
Another nod.
"And you've had sex before, right?"
Jaxton shook his head.
The focus widened. "So you've never…?"
Another shake of his head.
'I'm going to break him,' Tesla realized. 'Shit. He's a virgin. I don't pop cherries. Dammit, but he's so cute. But shit, I can't be with a virgin!'
"Is…?" Jaxton shuffled his feet. "Is it not okay to be a virgin?"
Tesla tripped over herself to console him. "No, no, it's great! Wonderful, actually! It's very admirable!" 'I just can't sleep with you in any capacity, sweetie, because I will abuse your body in ways no virgin should have to know for their first time.' "It's very nice to be a virgin, actually. Honestly, I wish I could take back handfuls of the people I've been with and be a virgin! None of them were even memorable!" She shivered. "Ugh, and they still want a chance with me after I've suffered enough. Thank god I blocked them."
"So if we have sex and I don't do it right…you'll ignore me?"
Tesla scrambled for any sort of excuse when she could have sworn she saw dog ears and a tail droop on him. "No! Oh, no, not at all!" she tried to assure. "I'm sure you'll do fine! I wouldn't ignore you at all!"
Jaxton did a cute little kick on the sidewalk. "I know you're just saying that to make me feel better."
Tesla gawked and was internally sweating. 'This is why I don't deal with virgins.' She cleared her throat. "Look, um, Jaxton—"
"'Jang-ta'."
"What?"
"My name. It's actually 'Jang-ta'," Jaxton told her. "Jaxton is just the Minstrish version of my name that I chose when I came to Fiore."
"Oh." That was news to Tesla. "If it's okay to ask, what country are you originally from?"
"Zhōnguá."
Tesla nodded. "That's cool. Of course I'll use your name. Can you say it again?"
"'Jang-ta'."
Tesla tried it and mimicked the soft consonants. "Jang-ta." She smiled when Jaxton looked affected hearing his name. "Jang-ta," she started again in a babied tone, "listen… Your first time should be with someone you are comfortable with and trust and that you like them."
"I like you. I'm comfortable with you. And I trust you." Jaxton blinked innocently at her. "So that means I can have sex with you by that logic."
'Oh, god, he's so cute and sweet. He'd never survive me.' Tesla laughed and patted his cheek. "There's a lot more to it than that," she told him. "I'm not a good person for you to have your first time with. I don't do all the sweet and loving bullshit with gentle kisses and stuff like that."
"That's okay." Even if Jaxton looked stoic, he had the aura of an eager puppy around him. "We don't have to do that."
'Determined, little virgin, isn't he?' Tesla sighed. 'Well, no one can say I didn't warn him.' She out-right said, "I'm kinky. I've started exploring BDSM, and I fell in love with it. I don't do vanilla for that reason only. It's not satisfying to me. And I'd prefer to be with someone kinky like me. As in riding crops, paddles, spankings, outfits—that sort of kink." When Jaxton looked like he would withdraw, Tesla had to chuckle within her mind. 'Damn, he really is cute, if a little awkward. But virgins aren't my speed. I made the mistake of taking on two virgins and I'm pretty sure they think I'm some sort of nymphomaniac.' She turned away from Jaxton. "Anyway, my place isn't too far, so—"
"Wait."
Tesla closed her eyes. 'Damn, he really is persistent.' She turned to face him head-on and try one more time. "Jang-ta, listen—" She shut up when Jaxton took her hands into his own.
"I'm kinky too," Jaxton told her, serious. "I enjoy BDSM. I took the kink test and passed as a Dominant, Primal, then Daddy. I really like the idea of spankings and outfits for a submissive and handcuffs and ropes. I wouldn't any submission to be twenty-four-seven, but I want to be in control whenever I'm with them and I want to set rules for them to follow. I know I'm monogamous, but if you really want to, I'm okay if you have female partners as long as I'm in the room."
Tesla blanked.
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
Wow ~
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
'I… There are…no words… This guy in front of me.' Tesla started to drool. 'He's exactly my type!' She cursed. 'No, no, don't think like that! He's a virgin! I'm sure he's saying this just because he wants to get in my pants. Half the people I meet don't actually live up to what they say.' She sighed. 'Damn.'
"Honestly, you sound like the total package"—'Take me home and abuse me, please!'—"but many people who have never tried it might like things in theory might not like the execution," she relayed.
"How did you find out you were kinky and know what you're into?"
"LacriNet," Tesla recalled. "And different fuck buddies. You have to start somewhere."
"Then…can't I start with you?"
Tesla blanked again. "What."
"I want to be kinky," Jaxton told her. Why did he have to sound so serious? "And a Sub has more power than a Dom. We can have sex, and I'll listen to you for any safe words and any feedback so I can be a better Dom for you. That way, we both feel pleasure."
'This guy…'—Tesla was internally nose-bleeding—"seriously is my type!' She coughed into a laugh. "You've, um…! You've really given this some thought, haven't you? Quite determined, aren't'cha?"
Jaxton nodded. "I meant what I said before. I want to take you to a bedroom of your choosing, strip you head to toe so you're naked for my eyes only…"—his hands caressed her cheeks—"and I want to make sure I remember what you taste like on my lips."
'And he dirty talks! Score!' Tesla slid her arms around his neck as a smirk touched her lips. "Then what's stopping you from kissing me now?" She craned her neck for her nose to brush his and their lips merely centimeters apart. "Why wait for date number three when my place is just around the corner?" Her fingers slid into his hair, and her smirk broadened when she heard his slighted breath. 'That's it. Come on and kiss me—'
"I can't."
Tesla blinked when Jaxton put her at arm's-length. 'What just happened?' She looked up at Jaxton in confusion. "Excuse me?" Her eye twitched when she saw him covering his eyes. "I'm not Medusa. You can look at me, you know."
"I can't."
TICK!
Tesla's smile sharpened. "Forgive my questions, but I thought there was a moment going on five seconds before, and now you can't look at me?"
Jaxton shook his head.
"Can you at least tell me why you can't look at me?" Tesla asked, forcing her tone to be polite. 'Jesus, I told him I don't do mind games, but this is ridiculous.'
"Because I'll be tempted to kiss you here, and I was raised to walk my date to her door and kiss her there."
Tesla's eyebrows rose. 'Wow. He was serious when he said that.' "So you're old-fashioned. That's sweet." Her hands slid over his own. "But you don't have to take your time with me," she purred. "Look at me, Jang-ta, pretty please?" She pulled his hands away—
The focus rounded.
A healthy blush had covered his face.
'Oh my god.' Inwardly, Tesla was squeezing her cheeks and singing hymnals. 'I hit the jackpot! What a total hot and cute combo!' "It's okay to want the break the rules," she breathed to him. "I do it all the time." She took pleasure when he swallowed the moment she guided his hand to her neck. "You don't have to go slow, Jang-ta. I can take it." She shuddered when his hand experimentally pressed on her neck. "I told you I don't do gentle and loving. So please"—she gripped his chin with a tilt of her head—"treat me rough."
It was like the air switched.
Jaxton took her hand away from his chin. "I'll treat you rough if and when you've earned it," he rumbled. "I'm taking you on three dates before I even begin to see everything underneath your dress. You don't deserve to be used. You deserve to be cherished." His thumb pressed on her bottom lip and parted her mouth. "I told you I want to get to know you. I want to build trust. And even after our third date, I still want to take you out on dates. I want to know what makes you laugh. I want to know what makes you think." His eyes darkened. "And I want to know what makes you beg me to take me home." He pulled his hand away. "Is that acceptable to you?"
"Yes, Jang-ta," Tesla answered quickly.
"Good girl." Jaxton cocked his head. "Let's get you home." He held out his hand. "Is it okay if we hold hands?"
"O-Okay."
Their hands interlaced, and Jaxton paved the way for them with Tesla delirious as she trailed next to him. 'I think I just found the ultimate soulmate.'
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
"What a date," Tesla muttered. "Asshat really did walk me to my door and kissed me goodnight after telling me all that naughty nonsense. Like, what the Hell?" She smiled over the images of their second and third date. "But he was a gentleman. I can never say he treated me wrong. No, he treated me like a princess. And when he called me 'baby girl'." She squealed as she comically tossed from side-to-side. "Aye-yai-yai, what did I deserve to have him…!"
"You are more than a mission to me. You have been for a long time."
Tesla's radiance dimmed. I really hurt him. I could feel it. She closed her eyes. I know he loves me, but I can't shake-off how, for the rest of my life, he's going to be watching me. No matter how many good deeds I do or how much I prove myself, he'll be my handler. People out there will always think I'll just turn and blow up. My Anti-Ether is stabilized. It's why I can touch things. But if my Anti-Ether were to become unstabilized, Zelda explained I could take out a country. She looked at the L-Pad to see it was a video of them at an APL. She played it to see she was predominantly in the video in the cat video, but she laughed something. The camera had been flipped to show Jaxton's displeasure as a cat near him looked ready to defend itself.
Maybe I'm not Cinderella, Tesla realized. Maybe I've always been the big, bad wolf hiding in a red cloak. Sleep spoke to her and played tricks with her mind. Her eyes fell shut. Maybe I'm nothing more than the villainess… I'm exactly…—her chest heaved as a tear slipped—what my father wanted me to be. And in seconds, she was out.
A hush fell over the room.
STEP… STEP…
And a shadow hovered over a sleeping Tesla.
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
And then…
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
Tesla awoke to gentle shakes on her shoulder. Groggy and mouth like cotton, she groaned as she unwrapped herself from her blanket and tried to piece together what was going on. She made out Jaxton sitting on the edge of the bed, and guilt amassed in her. "Hi…"
Jaxton nodded. "It's nearing nine. The Friendship is Magic firework show will be starting soon. Did you still want to go?"
"R-Right." Tesla sat up. "Yeah, I still want to go." She yawned. "I'll have to spend tomorrow checking off everything on my shopping list and Dante's—"
"I already did."
Tesla looked at him in shock. "Huh?"
Jaxton gestured to the multiple bags sitting in the room. "I asked Dante to text his pin list, and I have your shopping list," he informed. "I was able to shop for Weiwei and Adrienne as well. I was able to find that Hunk-ules tank top."
You sound like you're getting your teeth pulled saying that last sentence, Tesla thought, sweatdropping. "Thanks for doing that, Jang-ta. I appreciate it. Just let me know how much I owe you—"
"You never owe me."
Tesla hazarded a smile. "I'll make it up to you somehow." She scooted off the bed. "Let me get back in my Magiabound Cinderella—"
"Would you please sit with me?"
Tesla could not ignore the request. She pivoted and accepted Jaxton's hands to slide into his lap and straddle him. Her eyes closed when he guided her head onto his shoulder, and she hugged him. She decided to take the plunge first—
"Your life will never be easy."
Tesla stiffened.
Jaxton went on: "There are plenty of Mages out there who are considered the greatest allies a person can have, and yet they can be considered some of the world's greatest threats. The Magic Council takes the responsibility of silently checking in on those Mages."
"How is that fair?" Tesla wondered.
Jaxton tightened his grip. "It isn't fair," he deemed. "It isn't fair for them to have to jump through more hoops than others to show they're in control. However, most of them understand that while they might represent the concept of good, most of them have been through something traumatic that caused them to lose control." His eyes looked out the window, steeled. "I have."
"You?"
"Yes."
"What happened?"
Jaxton sighed as he pulled her away to look up at the concern in her eyes. "Something that shouldn't have," he confessed. "It was one of the few times I lost control. And I regret the way I handled my emotions." He thumbed her cheek. "When your movements were unaccounted for, it was not the fear you had lost control in my eyes. In my superior's eyes in Zelda's, yes, but it was never the case for me. I was worried I had lost you. That I had failed to protect you. I was stressed someone had gotten you. I couldn't stop thinking the worst."
"I needed time to process."
"I know."
Tesla thought more about Jaxton's words. "How did you find out what I was doing? I was gone for a few days…"
"Someone else was able to find you." Jaxton shook his head when Tesla wanted to ask another question. "They never told me your actions. They understood your choice to hide. They reported your actions back to our superior, but all they assured me is that you were under protection."
"Well, that's…" Tesla made an odd face. "You know what, I don't know exactly how to feel about that." She rubbed Jaxton's shoulders. "I'm sorry I was acting like a brat—"
"I know when you act like a brat, and today, you weren't," Jaxton murmured. "You were scared for your future. You were scared of who you would turn out to be. And you were scared of my trust in you." He placed her hand over his heartbeat. "I have complete trust in you, Tesla." Words wholesome and honest. "If a day comes when you feel like you're out of control, I'll still be here for you."
"You won't put me down?" Tesla whispered.
Jaxton shook his head. "No. And my superior is against such an idea too. We have non-lethal methods to ensure if a day came where you truly were not in control and your Anti-Ether was unstable, that we could effectively calm you down. You will never have to worry about anyone striking you down if you aren't okay. And if anyone tries, I will make sure they don't get far. And if I'm not there—"
"Someone else will." Tesla sighed. "I just have so many questions. I know you can't answer them, obviously, but my questions are there." Her eyes dropped. "I don't want to weigh you down with all my stupid anxieties."
"You're not weighing me down," Jaxton assured her. "But I understand it's hard for you to speak about them. Still, I'd like to know when you're having those fears."
Tesla huffed. "But I just can't—!"
"He told me when he was feeling hurt over the situation, he'd ask me for hugs." Chibi-Nashi invaded Tesla's memory. "If I'm in a mood and feeling really down or if he is, we just ask for hugs." Chibi-Nashi gave her a salacious grin. "Or you can just get on your knees and—!" A slew of dirty suggestions censored out came out of her mouth.
Okay, I'm pretty sure I'm misremembering that entire conversation, Tesla thought, dry. But the hug thing… "Hey, Jang-ta?" She fidgeted. "If I can't exactly tell you what's wrong…would you be okay if we did…"—heat stung her cheeks—lovey hugs when I'm upset until I can talk about it?"
Silence.
Tesla shifted with her hands splayed on Jaxton's shoulder. Ugh, I feel like some kid asking for that. "You know what? Forget it. I didn't—" She choked when Jaxton's head fell forward and buried into her chest. "J-J-Jang-ta? Are you okay?"
"I owe Gary money."
"E-Excuse me?"
Jaxton shook his head. "Nothing." He peeked up for the darks of his eyes to meet her grays. "We can do lovey hugs, baby girl. Whatever we need." Pink pressed against his face. "Is it okay if I ask for lovey hugs sometimes too?"
Tesla's eye twitched before she hugged Jaxton close and ignored his call for his name as comic tears fell. I need to protect this sweet man from all of mankind. His blush is too dangerous for the world to see.
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
« Tesla's Facts About Jaxton #2
He's the cutest guy I have ever met. Protect him at all costs from women everywhere. »
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
°•°•°•°
The Friendship of Magic fireworks show spawned teams upon teams of patrons. From Main Street USM and all the way to in front of Fairy Tale Castle, people had gathered with their light-up balloons and wands and wings and shows and ears while cast members had made sure that the main portions of the street were clear for emergencies. Jaxton and Tesla had chosen a Fastpass+ viewing where it was less crowded and offered one of the best views of the entire castle through its hyper projection and spouted fireworks. The melody of songs had people singing along as everyone's lights fell into synch with the projections.
Tesla was jumping up and down when it came to The Princess and the Frog and Cinderella while she had to laugh over Jaxton's flat face over the Aristocats. But as they watched the show with Jaxton holding her from behind, he watched as her eyes light up and she sang along with the audience over the popular songs thrown into the medley.
Please don't leave me once you learn the truth about me. Jaxton's eyes went downcast. I don't know how I'll survive. I've never had this feeling before. I didn't understand Gary's point of view when I first met him, but…now I understand. And if she says she never wants to see me again…
"Jang-ta?"
Jaxton blinked to see Tesla looking up at him, worried.
"Are you okay?" Tesla cradled his jaw. "What's wrong? You seem tense."
Jaxton shook his head. "I'm nervous for you to meet my family."
"Thank god."
Question marks went off around Jaxton.
"It's this weird technique Doctor Orr taught me about," Tesla explained. "If I ever go somewhere and I'm feeling anxious, sometimes imagining the person I'm with being more nervous than I am helps me stay calm to help keep them calm. Knowing you're nervous about this too"—she smiled—"it makes me feel a lot calmer about meeting your family."
Jaxton softened. "That's good to know."
Tesla hummed. "And besides, it's not like you're some chaebol heir or something. So it's nothing for me to really worry about your family doing the whole drama thing of trying to pay me off."
"My family is one of the big five families of Zhōnguá."
It was like a record scratched.
Tesla stiffened. "Hold up." She turned in Jaxton's arms. "Run that by me again?"
"There are five political families of Zhōnguá, which includes the political family of Minguó," Jaxton informed with a straight face. "The Yang bloodline—my family—is one of the five political families of Zhōnguá."
No amount of Tesla saying, "What the fuck?" in her head would help her process this. "So you're…you're like a chaebol heir in J-Dramas?"
Jaxton shook his head. "No. A chaebol is a family-owned conglomerate. The five families of Zhōnguá have political influence and control of the entire country through our positions of authority and alliances and treaties."
If there was one thing that could wipe the black off Tesla, this was one of those things.
Quietly, Tesla stepped out of Jaxton's hands, shadows over her eyes. She opened her mouth—
Jaxton caught her the second she tried to book it down the street. "You said you wouldn't run."
"I'm not running!" Tesla cried as she struggled. "I'm power-walking away from this situation! I am not going to Zhōnguá! No way! No how! Your family is going to assassinate me! Or they'll make me a war criminal! You son of a bitch, why would you not tell me something like this?"
"You only asked if I was a chaebol heir," Jaxton said simply. "I'm not."
"Don't talk semantics!" Tesla wanted to weep. Oh god, I should have adopted that cat a lot sooner if I knew my life was going to end so soon.
"Tesla."
"What?!"
Jaxton spun her around with that damn innocent look on his face as he avoided her eyes with hints of pink on his face. "I'm sorry I upset you," he mumbled. "Can I give you a lovey hug now?"
SHING!
Tesla was shot with a love arrow and was crying at the same time. Dammit, he's just so cute and I can't be angry at him. She gave a consented nod. "Fine." But her eyes widened when Jaxton dipped her, but her surprise melted into bliss when he gave her a deep kiss rather than a hug.
WHZZZZZZZZZZZ…!
BOOM! BOOM! B-B-BOOM!
Applause hurled as the final note was held as fireworks of red and blue and white and green popped off and flared. Jaxton pulled away to bring Tesla into a loving embrace under the fireworks. Don't worry, Tesla. I will protect what I told most precious to me.
"Happy Heart's Day, Jang-ta," Tesla murmured to him.
"Happy Heart's Day," Jaxton said back. He tightened his hold on her. "I love you."
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
« Jaxton's Fact About Tesla #1
She's my everything. »
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
The Nikki-nyan and Nina-nyan Cinderella and Prince Charming Editions slumped closer together and their paws touched.
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
•
Fighting is normal in a pair
But it is important for communication to clear the air
A couple must practice this thoroughly and will see
That love trumps all, even when one is angry
•
The tale is unique; perhaps you have heard of it
A Prince of the land, a little mermaid who yearns for him
But for now, we bid farewell with cheer and with might
Happy Heart's Day to all
And to all a good night
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
Ooh, I just wanna make you happy
a~mou! waratte hoshii
wasurechatta egao mo
daijoubu chanto torimodoshite
sono egao miteru toki honto shiawase
What do you want? What do you need?
Anything
Everything
You, Tell me
TO BE CONTINUED…
Next time
On Fairy Adventure
Episode 083
TALES OF HEART'S DAY WEEKEND
THE LITTLE MERMAID
Voices of Characters in Order of Appearance
— • — • — • —
Narrator – Kelsey Grammer
Tesla Greer / Hylia Lynk – Galena White
Jang-ta "Jaxton" Yang – Eddy Yeung
Dante Princeton-O'Neill (voice only) – Adrian Petriw
Carlisle Justino (voice only) – Eric Scott Kimerer
Nashi Dragneel – Laura Landa
Gary Fullbuster – Griffin Burns
• — • — •
Additional Voices
Opening Narrator – Mary McGlynn
Description Narrator – Mary McGlynn
Closing Narrator – Melissa Fahn
— • — • — • —
⌜OPENING SONG
⟪ Prism ⟫
ClariS & GARNiDELiA
Lyrics by
Ryosuke Shigenaga⌟
•
⌜ENDING SONG
⟪ Make You Happy ⟫
NiziU
Lyrics by
.Y. Park "The Asiansoul", Yuka Matsumoto
Composed by
J.Y. Park "The Asiansoul", Lee Hae Sol ⌟
"Hahahahahahahaha…!"
"Shut up."
Well into the night, Jaxton had abandoned Tesla in bed to hide in the sitting room with his hair ruffled as he worked on his tablet. But he had Gary on call on his Compact, and the regret he felt for this call was hitting him in the gut right about now.
"I told you lovey hugs work!" Gary hooted, smug. "And you didn't believe me! You never believe me! I've been doing this a lot longer than you."
Jaxton grumbled. "Don't you know to respect your elders?"
But Gary only chortled. "That won't work on me," he chirped, too merry for what time of the night it was. "I bet you were blushing too, weren't you? Come on. I know you were…!"
"You should be grateful I respect Nashi enough not to kill you," Jaxton threatened.
Gary whined, "Hey, no need to be mean to me! I've been giving you solid advice for years and this is how you treat me? Don't I deserve to be treated a little nicer, huh? After all the years I spent giving you advice that ended up with you having a girlfriend?"
Jaxton sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. "You're annoying when you get whiney like this," he muttered.
"I'm not being whiney, you asshole! You owe me!"
Jaxton rubbed his ear at the volume. "Fine," he huffed. "What do you want?"
"The Ice Queen Fantasy lingerie set and the Cinderella Fantasy lingerie set," Gary eagerly listed. "The panties are medium, but the bra size is thirty-four D." It was disturbing you could hear Gary salivating. "Angel's going to look so beautiful in them and so hot…! I can't wait to take the garter belt off with my teeth—"
"I will hang up on you, you punk ass."
Gary pouted, "Come on…! You never let me get to talk about my stuff, but you constantly subject me to you and Tesla doing stuff." He muttered, "Who knew old men were such perverts?"
TICK!
Jaxton growled, "You have no room to talk when you—!"
"Jang-ta?"
Jaxton caught Tesla sleepily coming over to him in one of his shirts. He pressed a button on his Compact and set down it and his L-Pad to give her his attention. "Can't sleep, baby girl?"
"No." Tesla slid into his lap to give him a sloppy kiss. "Come back to bed, Daddy.
"In a minute," Jaxton promised. "I just have one more task to do for work, and I promise I'll come back to bed." He let out a terse breath when Tesla clawed his hair and pressed a kiss on his neck. "Baby girl…"
"You wouldn't come back to bed." Tesla slipped from his lap, but she kneeled between his legs. Eyes half-lidded in sleepy lust, she spread her hands onto his thighs. "Let me convince you I'm the better option…" She tugged down his boxers.
Jaxton's hand slid into her braids and tangled in them. "Baby girl…" His hips jerked when he felt her hands feather over his skin.
"Shhh…" Tesla took one leisurely lick from the bottom all the way up to the tip. "Let me take care of you." Her head bobbed—
Jaxton fisted her hair as a deep groan left him. "Fuck…"
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
In Giltena…
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
With Nashi dead to the world and drooling, Gary stared at his Compact in disbelief when he heard grunts and moans pick up and his eye twitched. Jaxton, you couldn't even mute me or hang-up, could you? He ended the call in disgust. Old men really are perverts. He threw his Compact deeper into the tent and happily snuggled up to Nashi again.
Whatever. He owes me those lingerie sets, anyway. A thing of drool escaped Gary. Heh-heh… Angel in the lingerie I picked out for her…
And even deep in her sleep, Nashi shivered.
So sexy… So hot… Gary sighed. I'm getting all fired up.
And all the way back in Fiore, Natsu sneezed in his sleep.