They set him in the lounge, hushing him gently.
*Matt get the first aid!*
Matt came rushing downstairs, nearly falling flat on his face. *Who got hurt?!*
*Patt didn't take to firebending too well..*
Matt paused at the door, taking in the scene. "I'll go get the first aid kit!"
"No need honey," Molly spoke calmly, slowly coaxing Paddy's hands down from his face. "A cup of water should do just fine..."
Al looks at her. She just gave him a warm smile. Matt looked baffled but did as he was told. Al glanced up as he came back.
Molly took the water and made to tip it onto the floor. Rather than hit the carpet though, it froze halfway. Molly was effectively waterbending...! She took it and pressed it over Patrick's burnt cheek, making the child whimper then sigh with relief.
*Wow.. Guess Avatar wasn't too off after all..*
*That's cool but freaky...*
Molly took a second handful of water, healing Paddy's hand. As soon as it was done, the child reached for Al needily.
"Honey, sit still..." Molly was working quickly, but Paddy was squirming.
Al grips him. It kept him in place so Molly could finish.
"It's okay honey... You did so well today..."
Al hugs him. She finished and let him go. He curled straight into Al, hiding way. Al rocks softly.
Molly sighed and dispersed her water. "He's okay, he'll just be a little rattled for a bit..."
"Ok."
"He did great though... I set Iain on fire when I first tried it... He has a very strong spirit, so it's going to be tough; but it's okay..."
Al glanced to Matt as he hugs. Matt just frowned worriedly. Molly took him into the kitchen a moment. Al sits with Pad still.
Matt came back with a bright smile and a bar of chocolate. "Look what Molly sent for you Pat!"
Al smiles slightly. Paddy looked up curiously, watery green eyes lighting up a little at the sight of it. Matt handed him a strip and he nibbled softly.
*Nice save.*
*It was Molly. She thought it might cheer him up some.*
*Guess fire is a lot different than lightning and ice..*
*I wonder if he might do better learning something different...*
*Molly seems rather determined though..*
*Maybe she knows something we don't?*
Al shrugs.
"Feel better?" Matt knelt by Paddy, smiling when the child nodded. Al smiles gently.
"Would you like a bit more?"
"Y-yes please..." he was just a little shaken, but he looked fine besides.
They sit watching him. *How's Ro?*
Pat was slowly coming back to himself.
*She's okay. She just needs to rest really... Molly's got her sorted.*
*Good.*
*I nearly had a heart attack when I found her,* he chuckled.
Al grins softly.
Matt sat down, sighing. *I wonder how things are back home...*
*It's probably fine.*
*I wanted you to see the auroras on fresh snow this year...*
Al smiles hugging him.
*Maybe we could catch a late plane up? Take Pat?*
*Plan on it!* he grins. *By the way we called Artie this morning.*
*Really? Was he alright?*
*He said he was but who knows if it's true.. He and Iain were gonna go to the jail and get some names.*
*Do you think they're looking for someone in particular?*
*I'm not sure..*
Matt shrugged. *Guess they've got some creepy bastards in there...*
Al nods. Arthur had developed some of the most twisted criminals in history... Best to let them be really... They sit back with Paddy for a while.
Scruff plodded in to join them, shaggy fur covered in snow. Al chuckles at him. He shook it out, getting water everywhere. The boys all got hit with it. They groaned and laughed, shielding their faces.
Al sits chuckling wiping off his glasses, Matt did the same. Pat pushed his fringe from his eyes.
"Well that was refreshing." Al chuckles.
"Too cold," Pat giggled.
Al grins.
"Well I thought it was warm," Matt grinned.
"No fair, you're just a polar bear!" Pad protested.
Al chuckles at that comment.
"If I'm a bear," Matt smirked, starting to creep over. "Then I can eat you for dinner!"
Paddy squealed and hopped up grinning, running off. "No!"
Al rocks back laughing. Matt gave chase, running through the house after him. It was just silly fun. It was so refreshing and just the kind of fun you'd expect around this time of year.
Al grins watching. They came in and out of the lounge several times before Matt grabbed him and 'tackled' him onto the couch, pretending to eat him. Paddy giggled happily, squirming as Matt tickled him.
Al chuckles then pulls Matt to him pinning him down. Matt laughed, not even bothering to fight it. Al started tickling the back of his neck.
"Gah, no, stop it!" he laughed, squirming instantly.
"Pat get his belly!"
The child dove in, tickling Matt's tummy. Mat kicked and wriggled, unable to stop laughing. Al grins laughing.
"Al, Al, I-I can't..." Matt had gone red, gasping through his laughter. "I can't..."
He stops.
Matt rolled onto his side, gulping down air. Paddy watched, trying not to smirk. "Does this mean we won...?"
Al chuckles.
Matt laughed at that. "Yeah... Y-you won..."
"Yay! We won, we won!"
Al grins rubbing Matt's back. Matt slowly caught his breath, sitting up after a few minutes only to be knocked back down as Pat hugged him. Al joins in.
Matt made a dramatic dying noise. "Gah...! Too... Heavy, blerg...!"
Al laughs rolling them all over. Paddy squeaked, trapped between them both. They continue like this a bit more.
Eventually, they flop apart across the floor, laughing together. They catch their breath sitting up. They just hug a bit, grinning happily.
After they gather on the couch for a movie. Al going up to carry Ro down to join them. Molly got snacks ready, filling the coffee table with sweets and treats and drinks and goodies. Ro was a little sleepy and dazed, but company perked her up instantly. They all snuggle in.
They snuggle under a big cozy blanket, watching a whole film marathon and picking at their snacks. It was just what they all needed. They watched lat into the night most crashing on the couch.
It was Al and Ro that outlasted the others, mainly because she'd felt sick and needed help getting to the loo. The two sit cuddling.
She snuggled into him, sighing softly. "Thank you..."
Al smiles gently.
"I feel all dizzy today, I don't know why," she hummed.
"Have you eaten at all?"
"Not really..."
"Let's get you some toast."
She nodded, getting up with him and shuffling to the kitchen. He sets her at the table and goes to pop it in. She rested her head on the table, just watching him. He pops it and chanced a bit of jelly sitting down with her. She nibbled carefully, seeing if a little bit stayed down before eating the rest. It brought a little life back to her. Al smiles. She smiled back, stifling a yawn. They head back to the couch to snuggle with the others.
Once they settled in, she dozed off on him, hugging contentedly. Al goes soon after. They slept through the night; snuggled up together.
They were still there come morning. Patrick woke first, needing the loo. He wiggled out of the pile, running off to relieve himself. Al grumbles something then settles again. Paddy barely glanced back, running through the halls.
Al rolls over hugging the closest person. He ended up with Ro smushed into his chest, the fae groaning at the new position. Al seemed content though.
She squirmed, finding it hard to breath like this. "Al... L-lemme go..."
He whines softly but his grip loosens. She sighed in relief and shifted to a more comfortable position. Al nuzzles in. She snuggled back in, sighing softly. They dozed a bit more.
Paddy came back, unsure on how to sneak back in. There was a gap between Matt and Al. He considered it then wiggled back in. They sit a while longer
Matt started to wake next, yawning softly. Al mumbles something about Thor in a tutu in his head.
(Brainwashed into a circus epXD)
Matt just chuckled, accidentally waking Molly. She squeaked in surprise. Al hums. Paddy just sat between them, watching everyone.
Al jumps slightly, waking. "Hulk no smash!"
Matt tried not to laugh, both of the girls jumped out of their skin. Pat just giggled. Al blinks sleepily then rubs his eyes.
"You nearly made my bloody heart stop," Ro pouted, pushing him softly.
"Sorry.."
She grumbled softly, just hugging him.
He hugs back. "You feeling any better..?"
"Little bit..." she shrugged. "Really need a drink..."
Al helps her up. They shuffled into the kitchen together and get her some water. He sits at the table.
"Alfie...? Could you do me some more toast...?"
"Sure." He smiles getting some.
She ate it slowly, looking just a bit more herself after. That was good, hopefully she'd be up and around soon. She looked on her way back. Probably just had an off day. Al smiles. She smiled back softly.
"So what do you want to do?"
She shrugged. "I'm kinda waiting for New Years... I wanted to see the fireworks..."
"Matt said something about seeing the aurora at his place."
"Auroras...? What are they?"
Al grins. "The aurora borealis. Also called the northern lights, is when light dances in the sky at night. It comes in all kinds of colors too."
She sat up straight at that, her smile bringing a bright light to her eyes. "Pretty!" She just loved lights and colours.
"It's pretty cool to watch."
"I wanna see it now..." she whined excitedly.
Al chuckles. *You hear that bro?*
*Loud and clear.* They could hear him laughing already. He was in a good mood today.
Al grins happily. Ro smiled, blushing softly.
"Come on, let's get back."
She nodded and got up; a bit steadier now. They go back to the couch. Matt pulled them both into a hug, smushing Pat who was sat on his lap. Molly had slipped off somewhere. The four group hug.
The next couple days passed much the same really. As much as Patrick was missing Arthur, all the fun and laughter filling Molly's house kept him from dwelling on it. Now, it was New Years Eve and Arthur and Iain had called the night before, saying they were coming to join them.
Al was sitting outside just watching the sky. Patrick sat in his lap, pointing out shapes and colours, asking which of them had snow in them and how you could tell.
Al answered what he could but really he wanted to get up there. He'd been stuck on the ground for quite a while now and it was starting to get to him. Problem was Paddy didn't know, they didn't want to scare him.
The child didn't cope well to change either, so telling him could scare him quite badly... Plus, he just looked so content where he was...
Maybe he could wait till he went to bed.. But with it being New Year's Eve that would be pretty late. If he could just manage to slip away from him long enough to get airborne...
Al sighs quietly thinking to himself.
A little while later, a car pulled up out front, signalling Arthur's arrival. Patrick leapt up, dashing off to meet him. It was all the poor boy had really wanted for the last week.
Al sits up glancing over. Pat had gone in and shut the door behind him.
Al twitched slightly. Arthur was ok right? They wouldn't mind if he slipped off for a bit...? Even if he did, after last year's fiasco, he'd understand Al's need to be in the air.
He stands up heading to the trees. *Matt I need to go out for a bit..*
*Stretching your wings?*
*Yeah..*
*Alright. Dad just pulled up, I'll tell him you needed a walk; he'll understand.*
*Thanks..* Al headed into the woods.
Back inside the others gather round Arthur. Arthur looked tired and run down. Iain didn't look much better. Francis watched them worriedly.
"We've something we need to tell you all..." Arthur began.
They sit around the table.
"We-"
"Arthur, Patrick," Iain stopped him, wearing a look of rare unease. "He doesn't need to hear it..."
Francis glanced around. "Where's Alfred?"
"He needed to go out and get some air," Matt shrugged. "Said he'd be back soon."
Arthur sighed irritably. "We don't have time..."
Francis frowns.
"Arthur, take Pat upstairs," Iain took over. "Its Molly and Al that need to hear this mainly; just go rest."
Arthur grumbled a bit but went up. Francis watched him leave.
Iain sighed softly. "Mata, we need your brother back..."
"I can give him a shout...?"
"Do. This is important."
Al wasn't that far away yet..
Matt reached out. *Bro...? You there?*
*Yeah?*
*Iain wants you back... Said it's important - he wouldn't even tell Pat...*
Al gave a small whine. *Fine..*
*I'm sorry... But it must be bad if Iain needs you back...*
*I'll be there in a few..*
*Alright...* "He's on his way..."
"Alright," Iain sighed.
Al came in a few minutes later. Though his thoughts were kind of broody.
"Alfie, boy, how good of you to join us," Iain cut to business as soon as he walked in. "I've gor news you don't want to hear..."
Al sits by Matt. Matt gripped his hand. *Patience... You can fly after...*
"We've been spending these last few days running through the inmates at London prison... Something felt wrong..."
Al frowns.
"It took four days to run through the files but we found out who was missing - about fifty men got away, so it took a while..."
"Iain..." Molly was starting to look very uncomfortable...
Al grips Matt worriedly.
"I-"
"I'm back~" The tv crackled to life in the sitting room, making them all jump in surprise. An all too familiar face filled the screen, brown hair longer and wilder than before, brown eyes no longer soft, but cold and dead. "You missed me, duck?"
Al pales tightening his grip on Matt. Matt gripped back tight, shifting in protectively. Iain cussed and rushed over to the tv, but he couldn't stop it.
"Bet you thought you were clever, lockin me up, but you were wrong poppet, so wrong," Nate laughed madly. "You can't stop me!"
*H-How'd he get on the tv?!*
*I don't know!*
Molly had frozen, colour draining from her face.
"So, dear Mr. Jones and the lovely Miss. Kirkland," his tone was sickeningly sweet. "I plan to finish my game with the two of you, and I will use whomever I have to to get you to play. My game, my rules. Happy new year."
The screen went blank, like it had never happened. Molly turned away, hyperventilating. Al just froze up.
*Al... Alfred, look at me,* Matt gripped his shoulders firmly. *Look at me.*
Al blinks shivering.
*He will not get you... He doesn't know where you are. We will stop him before he even touches you, you hear me?*
*ok..* his voice was tiny. Not really believing the words.
Matt just sighed and hugged him, arms wrapping around him protectively.
Al clung back. This guy was over the heads of mortals.. Maybe they should bring him before the spirit council.. They had to stop him.
Molly had folded into the corner, full on panicking. Iain couldn't even get her out...
Al shifts glancing at the tv again.
It had switched back to a news reporter apologizing for the interruption, explaining that the station had been hacked and hijacked.
Al shivers. So it wasn't just them that saw that right? Others had to have seen it? They must have done... Was that message sent to every nation? Did the others see it? Did they know they were being attacked again?
Al squeezed his eyes shut, hiding his face in Matt's chest. Matt held tight, petting his hair.