The Ninth Chapter

Mikkel had been kinder to the fairy from that day on. Every morning when he woke, he patted the fairy on the back, and when he fell asleep at night, he did the same. He could no longer see a reason why the fairy should be treated any differently than he himself would treat another human.

In fact, Lukas was treated better. In Mikkel's eyes, he was a perfect creature, someone who never faltered, even when he did, and could never bother or annoy, even when he did. There wasn't a person more pleasing on Earth for Mikkel than the small fairy, and for the next week, he didn't let him out of his sight.

One evening, the two were sitting in front of the fireplace and watching it crackle and burn. Lukas mentioned the way he enjoyed the drifting heat and pulsing ashes that were roasting on the bottom. Occasionally he would leave his place on Mikkel's leg and he would flutter closer, but when a flame leaped from its place once and nearly hit him, he was far more cautious.

The fairy rested his chin on Mikkel's knee, kicked his legs up, and his wings quivered with a gust of heat. Mikkel was reading from a book that he held to the side. When he felt the fairy roll onto his side, he took a glimpse at him. He eyes were following the flames, it seemed. The man removed his glasses, set them on the side table, and said, "Sometimes, it almost looks like some of the flames are dancing. That's what my brother believed when we were younger, at least."

Lukas yawned softly and nodded in agreement. He was silent for a moment, but only for that before he piped in, saying, "What sort of dance?"

Mikkel raised his eyebrows. He had no answer for such a peculiar question. He turned to the fire, examined the flares, and chuckled. "Well," he began cheerfully, "I think they do the tango. They do an exotic dance."

"Exotic?"

"Strange. Weird. Unfamiliar. Different," he said, trying to explain what he knew about that word. Lukas repeated, "Strange, weird, unfamiliar, different, exotic," then flashed a small smile up at Mikkel, who returned one and looked to his book again.

The night continued like this until it was time for bed. Their arrangements had changed within the past week, though, and now, the fairy preferred to sleep on Mikkel's chest instead of his spot on the bed. At first, the man had protested. "It is not professional at all to be sleeping so close," he suggested, but when the fairy lightly punched his bottom lip and curled up on his chest, he couldn't refuse.

The next morning, when Mikkel was cooking breakfast for himself and the fairy, the latter was outside, presumably buzzing around the flowers and singing to them, as he often did. Mikkel shouted, "Lukas!" From the doorway, and he flew back to the house with little flowers in his hands.

"I was able to pick these flowers for you, Mikkel," he said. He sounded breathless. It surprised Mikkel to see the flowers in his arms, because he had learned over the past weeks that the fairy valued them and didn't like to see them picked. Either way, he set the flowers beside Mikkel's plate that was already set and full on the table.

Lukas' plate was full, too, and he took a bite of a small chunk of bread. He dabbed at the sides of his mouth with his little napkin, cleared his throat, and said, "Do you enjoy the flowers?"

The man hadn't yet looked at the flowers. He was too focused on his meal and watching Lukas eat his. He picked up a wispy white flower that was as tender as the fairy himself. It was wilting already. He tucked it behind his ear, smiled at the fairy, and the fairy smiled back, a full smile that the man wasn't sure he'd ever seen.

After breakfast, the fairy flew outside again, and Mikkel walked down to the sea and sat down at the shore, tossing stones out onto the still water. He followed the ripples all the way to his feet. Today, he didn't have his notepad out with him. He was enjoying what the warm day had to offer.

"Mikkel," a little voice said. He turned to see Lukas on his shoulder. He was carrying more flowers in his arms. Before Mikkel could question his motives, he began to tuck them behind the man's ears. He didn't protest. By now, he was aware of the fairies quirks, though this one was new.

Soon, the flowers were packed beside each side of his head and the fairy couldn't fit anymore. He looked Mikkel over, patted his nose, and sat on his shoulder. "You look better, Mikkel," he said. The man laughed, lightly touched the petals of one of the flowers, and reached up to hold the fairy in his hand.

"Lukas, I only have one more question," he said to him. The fairy laid down in Mikkel's hand, looked up at him, and said, "What is it?"

"Well, it is about how you are built. It is an anatomy question. Or, easier, a question about your body. Is it equal to the body of a humans? Save wings, of course!"

Lukas looked as if he didn't understand the question. Perhaps Mikkel had thought too much of him. He said, "Do you have this?" He lifted up his own shirt and pointed to his naval. Lukas squinted at it, then looked down at himself. He could see no skin, either way, due to the wrappings that covered his torso tightly. With much hesitation, Lukas began to tug at the wrapping.

"No, no! That is not necessary by any means!" Mikkel protested, but the fairy kept pulling, huffing and whining until he was able to peer past a small area of the grass-like wrapping. Mikkel couldn't contain his curiosity and looked down at the tiny area of skin showing. It was red and must have been raw, because when Lukas tried to touch it, he winced like he'd burned himself and pulled his hand back.

"You don't have one, then?"

Lukas shook his head and tried to put the piece of wrapping back, but it was detached now and wouldn't go. The fairy tossed the bright green piece onto the rocks, then looked up at Mikkel and keened. It was loud enough for Mikkel to panic. He picked up a flower, flattened the stem, and tied it around the exposed stretch of skin on Lukas. He stopped keening and patted the stem, but tenderly.

"I think it would be smart to apply medicine there, Lukas," Mikkel said. He carried the fairy inside, set him down on the sofa, and found the ointment he'd used on his sunburn in the cabinet. He removed the stem from around Lukas' waist, and covered the red stretch of skin with the medicine. Lukas winced and kicked Mikkel's hand, yelling, "Stop that!"

Mikkel smiled nervously, then retied the stem. "All finished now! Does it feel better?"

Lukas didn't want to admit it, but his skin felt a little better. He took a deep breath, laid down on the cushion, and said, "Do you want to take a nap?"

The man looked over at the clock. It was still morning. He looked at the fairy, picked him up, and stretched out on the couch. He yawned softly, covered Lukas' body with his hand, and shut his eyes.

After a half hour, Lukas was fast asleep, and Mikkel was daydreaming. His daydreams were usually about making scientific discoveries that could earn him a prize and a spot as a professor at the best university, but now, he daydreamed about more fantastic things, like magical creatures and adventures that he could have. And, of course, he dreamed of Lukas.

He realized that he was too attached, but he was confident that he could find a way to remedy this. For now, he was enjoying the fairy. He could almost say that he adored the fairy, but would never admit it. Never in writing, and never vocally.

Mikkel didn't want to leave the fairy in a month. He would have to return for the class he was teaching at the university. He had originally told himself that he would let the fairy go whenever he had asked all of his questions. The last one had been asked today. That meant Lukas was supposed to go free, but the man couldn't bring himself to let the creature go.

Whether this was wrong or right, the lines had blurred. One side of him believed the scientific discovery to be so great that it would be foolish to let Lukas go back to the wild. If he never saw another fairy again in his life, which was likely, he would surely regret letting this one go. The other side believed that it was wrong to keep the creature with him. It seemed selfish and corrupt, like keeping the animals from a safari and putting them in a zoo.

The scientific side of him was the strongest. It was necessary to cage animals for scientific studies. Lukas wasn't an animal, and Mikkel certainly never caged him. He only ever treated him with kindness. It could have been that the fairy didn't want to leave Mikkel, for all he knew.

He hoped this was correct, because he had decided then that the fairy would belong to him now. Whether their relationship grew into a strong friendship or withered back to the state of scientist and specimen, releasing Lukas would have been a terrible waste of both affection and knowledge.

A few more days passed and they were uneventful, but enjoyable. Mikkel taught Lukas more things about popular culture, such as clothing, music, and the cinema. The cinema intrigued the fairy and Mikkel promised that one day, he would take him to see a film.

This day, in particular, was partly cloudy, but the sun still came out at the best of times. Mikkel was reading a book of stories aloud to Lukas, who was lying on the windowsill, watching butterflies and bees soar by the glass panes. He nibbled on a sticky piece of candy, as well, and often turned to ask the man questions about whatever story they were on at the time.

In the middle of answering one of Lukas' questions, there was a knock on the door. It startled the two, but especially Mikkel, as he knew that there were never visitors on this side of the island. He set the book down, looked out the front window, and opened up the door.

It was a young man. In his hand he held a blue envelope with a silver seal. Mikkel recognized the seal from the university.

"This letter says urgent," the young man said, handing the letter to Mikkel. He took it, tipped the man, and returned to his spot on the sofa. Lukas flew over, poked the wax seal, and said, "What is that?"

The man only shrugged and replied, "A letter from the school."

Mikkel peeled the envelope open, took out the letter, and frowned. Lukas tried to read over his shoulder, but the words were too hard for him and he said, "What does it say?" But the man didn't answer. He tossed the letter onto the ground and hurried over to the table. He gathered a stack of papers, his notepad, and a few pencils. "Damn," he whispered. "Damn it all."

Lukas tried to sit on his shoulder, but he was moving so quickly around the house that he didn't trust the stability of it and remained where he was. "Mikkel, what is it?"

"I am behind!" He shouted. "I have four reports due on four different insect species and I have written only a half journal full!"

Lukas listened, but didn't quite understand. Jobs and duties made his head hurt. He sat down on the desk just as Mikkel sat down in the chair in front of it. He was skimming through a thick book, talking softly to himself, and scribbling frantically.

For hours, Lukas said nothing to Mikkel. He knew that he was busy now and didn't want to interrupt him. When the little hand was on the seven, though, Lukas' stomach was grumbling. He patted Mikkel's arm softly, saying, "Mikkel, I am hungry."

The man shushed him quietly and continued his sentence. After Lukas started to whimper, the man stopped, stood, picked up a chunk of bread, and gave it to Lukas. After the brief exchange, he got back to work and said nothing to the fairy.