A/N: You get Brandon being a reckless idiot inspired by me being a reckless idiot when I was a child.
Don't try this at home.
Stella's shopping bags rustled, swept up by her magic under the awe in the shopping assistant's eyes. A loud gasp tore from the woman's mouth when the colorful bags swirled in the air like a kaleidoscope before forming a line behind Stella.
They followed her as she headed out on the tail end of a smile and the little wave she gave to the fascinated woman behind the counter. Her reflection in the store window broke out into a grin bidding Stella goodbye when all the woman could do was clasp her hands together to contain her glee.
Just another perk of returning magic to Earth. Most of the people she met were swiftly engulfed into their childhood wonder of magic as soon as they saw her powers. Later attempts at rationalizing it aside, the instantaneous joy they radiated was a compelling incentive to stand up to the Wizards of the Black Circle and return the dreams and reality they'd taken from the people of Earth. Stella could even multitask and spread the belief in fairies all over town while she was out shopping for cute outfits and matching accessories for her and the girls' next band performance.
The full weight of the heavy glass door fell exclusively on Stella's muscles. Her magic was carrying her bags to leave her free to hold Brandon's hand but he was nowhere to be found.
Stella snapped her fingers to put away the shopping bags in her pocket dimension. Her phone was in her hand as soon as she wasn't struggling with the unwieldy door anymore but there were no text messages or missed calls.
Stella's magic was already gathering in her fingertips in place of her phone. She didn't have to channel as much for a tracking spell as she would for teleportation but her energy was slipping through her fingers and sinking in the pit of her stomach.
It wasn't like Brandon to leave her behind. Whatever had pulled him away had been too urgent for him to even run back inside and tell her in person. He wouldn't have stepped aside even to take quick care of something without using the excuse to get a goodbye or good-luck kiss from her.
Stella herself shrieked and jumped at the blood-curdling wail that vibrated through her whole body. She whipped around, eyes scanning the alarmingly empty street. Her ears strained to catch every little rustle or whisper of footsteps.
Another high-pitched screech drew her gaze to a ramshackle house surrounded by fences and warning signs. The muscular form on the half collapsed roof was painfully familiar.
Stella's voice bubbled in her throat at the sight of Brandon inching towards a hissing and screaming cat caught in a crevice between the roof tiles.
Both dissolved in a flash of light to reappear on the sidewalk next to her.
The cat scurried off as soon as there was solid ground under its paws again. Teleporting had to have felt like falling to its death.
Brandon only blinked in confusion, his sturdy body meeting Stella's momentum without stumbling when she launched herself at him. His arms around her were warmer than the fading glow of her retreating magic around her body.
"What the fuck were you thinking?" Stella grumbled with her face buried in his neck. Her fingers curled into his shirt as she breathed in his scent. Her heart had shot up in her throat to suffocate her and he hadn't even broken a sweat.
"Stella, I'm fine," Brandon stroked her hair, his rhythmic breathing lulling her and her own erratic heartbeat back into calmness. "I would have been fine anyway, I promise you that. I was only trying to help the cat, not hurt myself, and you as well."
Stella snapped back, eyes locking with his. "It was dangerous! You don't even have your equipment."
"I like to think my skills stand regardless of that." The corner of his mouth turned up but that was as far as his humor reached. He wasn't making light of her worry.
"You should have come to tell me. I would've simply used my magic and spared you the trouble. Not to mention the life-threatening stunts."
Brandon cupped her cheek, thumb stroking over her skin. "I can handle myself. I've been in more dangerous situations and come out just fine."
"I know," Stella's voice was so small, her lower lip trembling. She grabbed at his wrist with both hands, holding on for dear life. "I know, Brandon. There's hardly a day when we're not facing some colossal threat. I treasure every moment that I don't have to spend worrying about your safety."
Brandon paused to look at her as if he'd just seen the sun for the first time. His free hand covered hers where she was still grasping at him. "I know you give the mission everything that you have. I didn't want to push you on one of the rare days off that you get."
"Nonsense," Stella kissed the inside of his palm before giving him her 24-carat smile. "Your kind heart could never inconvenience me. Now let's go see if we can find that cat and make sure it isn't hurt."
Brandon grinned at her and threw his arm around her shoulders as she focused her magic.