I do not own magi or the characters. I do own my oc.

Chapter 17: Antics

—Esra's POV—

"Please, please, please."

Looking over I can see Leila surrounded by many of the young children. She looks so uncomfortable as they ask her to play with them. I can see the nervousness on her face. Even after a little over a week, everyone's still intrigued by her. Especially the kids.

"Maybe next time," she says moving to get away. They stay close by, all of them asking again and again. "I have important things I have to do."

They whine as Daria's daughter grabs Leila's hand. This startles the older girl and causes her to jump. Leila truly is one of the shyest and most easily startled people I have ever seen.

"Another day," says Leila. "I promise."

I try to not laugh at how relieved she looks as they run off to play without her. She doesn't have the slightest idea how persistent they can be.

"I promise they don't bite."

My comment quickly captures Leila's attention. She doesn't seem nearly as nervous around Sin and I, so maybe it's crowds that bother her.

"I take that back," I continue setting the pot for water down. She probably doesn't realize, but when she's curious she tilts her head to the side and raises her eyebrow. She may be Sin's age, but it makes Leila look so innocent. "One of them bit Sin once. It seemed like his fault to me though."

Leila laughs a little. It was an even funnier sight than story.

"I'm sure it was," she comments, still giggling. She pauses noticing the pot. "Do you need some help with that?"

I pause and watch Leila. She's tried to be helpful at every chance she got. I don't want to take advantage of that, but this is something that is harder for me to do now.

"I can manage. It will just take me some time."

"You sure?" She has that expression again. The curious one. This time though, there's some disbelief in Leila's eyes.

"Yes."

She nods, but doesn't make any moves to go about her day.

"How are you liking it here so far," I ask lowering the bucket down.

"It's really nice." I glance at Leila as she looks over the Village center. "Quieter than I'm used to."

"Really?" She smiles a bit knowing what I'm thinking. "Between my son and the other kids, I'm shocked."

"I never said it was quiet or boring," she says with a small laugh. "Regardless, it's a nice place to be."

"You seem more relaxed." She shrugs a little leaning against the well. "Less high strung than when you first arrived."

"That's one way to put it."

I focus on pulling the bucket full of water up. While doing that, I feel it get caught on something.

"Of course," I sigh.

"Did it get stuck on something?"

I glance at Leila as she leans over the edge of the well.

"Just give me a moment," I comment.

I try to move the full bucket only to feel that tingle in the back of my throat. Before I can stop it, I start to cough dropping the rope.

"Ms. Esra."

Leila comes over as I lean forward hoping to stop the coughing spell. She has a hand on my arm. After a few minutes it finally stops. Leila hadn't moved from my side.

"I'm okay," I say catching my breath. I reach over and give her arm a small squeeze watching her relax. I can't imagine that she has anyone, so her caring means a lot. "Don't worry."

"You sure," she asks. I smile and nod. "At least let me help you home."

"Alright, But first…" I look in the well at the bucket floating there.

"I take it this has happened before?" Leila actually looks a little amused. "How did you get it out before."

"Sin actually climbs in there and gets it." Leila has this slightly thoughtful look on her face. "I could probably-" I pause as Leila starts to climb over the side. "What are you doing?"

"Going to get the bucket," she says calmly. I watch as she focuses on finding a solid footing.

"Leila, just wait until Sinbad comes back," I say placing my hand on hers. "It's really slippery and Sin's done this before."

"I'll be fine," she says with a smile. It's a bit surprising to see how confident she seems right now. "This isn't a big deal."

"Okay," I say hesitantly. I watch as she starts to move down along the wall. "Be careful."

"I will." Her reply isn't much.

She's focused on finding her footing. Every move is cautious, but I'm still worried about her. Even though I've seen Sinbad do this several times, it makes me nervous. Which is probably because he kept falling in the well when he was little.

"I found the spot it got caught on," comments Leila. I watch her pull a small knife from the waist of her pants. "It's a piece of wood. I'll see if I can fix it."

"Don't worry about that." Leila looks up at me. "Just get the bucket and come back up."

"O-okay."

She puts the small knife away before continuing her decent. I couldn't tell someone for the life of me Why this is so nerve wracking. She slips a few times, but is never in any serious danger of falling.

Finally, reaching the bottom she moves to hold on in a sort of crouching position. I hold my breath as she reaches back to get the bucket. She's not very tall and doesn't have a great grip on the wall. Her fingers just keep-

"Hey, Mom!"

"Ah!"

I spin around to see Sin.

"Shit!"

SPLASH!

"Oh no." I turn back around and find Leila in the well. She coughing a bit, pushing her hair from her face.

"Oh." Leila swims over and grabs onto the wall before glaring at Sinbad. "Whoops."

"Seriously," says Leila loudly. She grabs the handle of the bucket and tosses it at Sinbad. He easily catches it with a smirk on his face.

I smack him lightly on the back of the head. He pouts at me.

"Wipe that smile off your face." He doesn't argue with me.

"Need help," he yells down to her. She glares at him as she starts to climb up the wall.

Immediately, she almost loses her grip. I yelp a little as Sinbad seems to actually worry. Looking down, Leila seems to be…off. She shakes her head and continues to climb a far off look in her eyes.

"Here-"

Sinbad goes to help Leila out, but she shakes her head. He backs up a little as she steps onto the ground.

"Are you okay," I ask moving closer. She nods quietly trying to deal with her soaked hair.

"You sure," asks Sinbad.

Slowly, Leila puts a sheepish smile on.

"Yeah, just a little startled is all." She continues to wring out her hair before shoving Sinbad lightly. "It's your fault."

"Mine." He looks so offended. "What were you even doing down there? And how was I supposed to know."

"You scared your Mom and that's what startled me." Sin just sticks his tongue out at her. Leila shoves him a little again.

"If that's the case, it's definitely your fault.

He looks really hurt as Leila laughs a little.

"If you wouldn't have kept falling in the well when you were little, I wouldn't worry as much."

"Oh come on!"

I smile as Sin refuses to look at me or Leila and Leila starts to giggle.

"I remember his Father having to climb in and get him," I tell Leila. "Sin would pout for hours about it. His Father couldn't take him seriously though and would tease him non-stop."

"Please stop," says Sin. I know he isn't mad, but sometimes talking about his Father and things like that can be hard. "I really don't like when you tell people about that."

"Don't be so up tight," comments Leila. Sinbad turns towards her, just as surprised at her expression. She has an honest small smile on her face. I can imagine my son's relieved, because there no judgement in Leila's eyes. "It's cute. Do you know what I would give for a story like that from my childhood."

"You don't have any stories," he asks quietly. Leila shakes her head. "At least now I have one about you falling in the well too."

"No you don't."

"Yeah." Sin smirks at a glaring Leila. "I think I do."

"No."

"Yep."

"We can continue this later," I say. Both teens turn towards me. "Leila, Why don't you come home with us? Dry off and when there Sinbad can actually apologize."

"It's fine," says Leila, casually.

"Nope."

"You're really stubborn today."

I watch as Leila and Sin have this little standoff.

"I will pick you up and carry you back," smirks Sinbad.

"I'd like to see you try," comments Leila with a smile.

"What? Think I can't pick you up," he teases. "You probably weight half of what I do when your soaking wet."

While a bit of an exaggeration, she is definitely small compared to Sinbad. Not height wise, but build wise.

"I don't think you could catch me," she comments.

Sinbad decides to try to grab her at that moment, but Leila dodges him.

"See…"

"I don't give up that easily." I watch as Sinbad goes after Leila who runs off. I know I spent a few minutes laughing at that.

"What am I going to do with them?"

"He's trouble for sure."

I turn as Leila comes over. Looking ahead, I'm a bit confused.

"I'm a lot faster than I look and can jump a lot higher too," she says with a laugh.

"Shouldn't you be running away from Sin."

"Yeah, but I figured I'd give you a hand first."

She picks up the bucket and lowers it into the well.

"That's sweet, but you don't have to."

"I don't mind, just don't tell him where I went."

"Deal."

Leila helps me fill up the pot. Once she's done she sets the bucket aside and turns towards me.

"That should do it. Do you want me to-"

"Found you!"

"Shit!"

Leila spins around, finding Sinbad behind her. She doesn't even have a chance to run before he has grabbed her by the waist and thrown over his shoulder.

"That's cheating!"

"No. It was smart."

"Jerk," comments Leila. She tries to squirm away, but Sinbad has a…a rather tight grip on her. "Fine. You caught me. Now put me down!"

"Nope." Leila smacks him in the back of the head. He doesn't react, just smiles. "Let's go home."

"I'm not going home with you," whines Leila. She tries to move again, before shifting to glare at Sinbad. "You're lucky I don't want to hurt you."

"Why's that," laughs Sinbad. I pick up the slightly heavier pot, watching Sinbad debate for a moment if he should put Leila down. I just smile to let him know that I'm okay. I personally find their interactions cute.

"If I did, I'd make you put me down."

He stops walking and turns to look at Leila.

"You really think that would stop me?"

Leila just grumbles and stops trying to look at him as he smiles triumphantly.

"To be young…"

I can't help but start laughing as the two look at me confused.