His godmother's gagging retch into the nearby trashcan muffled in his ears, the length of his short attention fixated on the metal star in his palm. His pensive thumb brushed along the purple button in its center as he sat atop his blue duvet Indian style. Thinking of his visit with his cousin the day prior, Timmy seriously considered taking Gary's offer of using the transporter for himself. Forgetting about the crappy world around him felt quite tempting right about now…
"Whatcha thinkin' about, champ?"
Timmy's distraction glance to his godfather's inquiring gaze, Cosmo's rubbing palm massaging his wife's lower back as she wiped her mouth in a moment of reprieve. "Nothing…" besides considering Gary's offer, nothing else truly occupied his thoughts. His mind felt otherwise blank. Something he'd normally welcome if downtrodden spirits didn't accompany it.
"Are you sure?" Wanda fluttered her wings from the trashcan, sensing that she'd managed to get most of her sickness out. As of late, a somberness lingered behind her godson's eyes. Feeling alienated from those you called friends can be devastating, especially to a child.
"Well…" Timmy started, staring to his drawn fingers clasped to the transporter. "…do you guys feel like getting outta here?" he met his godparents' eyes. "I don't really wanna be stuck in my room…"
"Sure." Wanda mustered a grin. Her aching back and fatigue called for her bed, but her godson's wishes were more important. "What would you like to do?"
"I wanna use my transporter."
"As in go to Fairy World?" Cosmo questioned.
"Yeah." Timmy scooted to stand from his bed. "Sophia had told me earlier that Gary's already there, and…" he stalled to the suspecting eyes of his godmother at the mention of Gary "…I'd like to see him."
"You know, we can just take you to Fairy World." Wanda offered. "It doesn't use as much magic with two fairies, especially when Cosmo and I are in tune with each other."
"But the transporter is supposed to take me to a specific location." Timmy recalled Gary's explanation of the magical device. "It might take me right to him, and I kinda wanna know where."
"Well, when you put it that way…" Cosmo began, trailing off when his wife begrudgingly sighed beside him.
"…are you okay?" Timmy worried.
"Morning sickness just has me a little grumpy, sport…" Wanda excused, folding her arms. A half truth was less questionable than a whole lie.
"Well, maybe going to Fairy World would be a nice getaway for all of us." Timmy surmised.
"Like a little family outing!" Cosmo enlivened, and Timmy's lips curled dimly at the sound of 'family outing.' While his own parents excluded him, Cosmo and Wanda embraced him. And with a little godbrother or sister on the way, they truly started to feel more like family. A concept that Timmy had once thought died with Sophia…
"Soooooo, you guys ready to go now?" Timmy perked, making Cosmo give his wife an inquiring glance.
Meeting the inquiring gazes of both her husband and her godchild, Wanda let out another sigh. As the one carrying another life sucking her energy, she guessed the decision of whether they venture to a different realm came down to her. With that said, the jury was still out on whether she could trust Gary. It was clear, however, that Gary had earned her godson's trust. Apart from being blood, they were both godchildren. Nonetheless, that was about the extent of Timmy's relation to Gary due to the Turners and the Vladislapov's keeping Gary's personal life confidential.
As Fairy Godparents, Wanda and her husband perhaps knew too much about Gary's personal life, and this worried her greatly. While Gary may extend a kindness not always expressed towards Timmy by blood relatives, his laundry list of flaws told a different story. And if Timmy ever formed too close a bond…
"…Wanda?"
She faced the concern in her husband's stare, realizing she still hadn't given a response to the original question. "Yeah, sure." she mustered another grin. "Let's go."
"Sweet!" Holding the transporter in his palm, Timmy used his thumb to press the purple button. His veins tingled at the rainbow sparkles glistening around them. Their skin radiated in an ethereal light similar to when he'd dreamt of Sophia telling him that she'd forgiven him. Rainbow swirled around them, until the blue walls of his room were no longer visible. He felt sucked into another dimension entirely as the trio disappeared in another blink.
Poofing to the magical world among the clouds.
When Timmy opened his eyes next, pure awe crossed his vision.
Tinkles of turquoise stars blanketed purple skies as the backdrop to the towering valleys of purple mountains topped in caps of white. He took a breath fresh air crisper and cleaner than what his little lungs were used to, sensing his prior gloom exhaling through his lips. Among the turquoise stars were stars that glistened gold like fairy wands, reminding the young boy of the story his godmother had read to him as he pointed and asked "Are those the Ancient Fairy Warriors?!"
"Some of them, yes." Wanda confirmed, floating in her fairy form alongside Cosmo. Timmy lowered his hand with his wide, astounded gaze, curving her lips. She loved when his inner little boy shined.
"Timmy, look!" Cosmo tapped the boy's shoulder, and when Timmy turned in the direction of Cosmo's pointed finger, his gaze widened more.
A grand, castle-like structure was mounted within the purple stone of the mountains, near the highest peak. Gold crowns stood above the pointed roofs of amethyst spires, tapestry of crystal-teal vines climbed the buttress of orchid stone, windowed in stainless glass of assorted rainbow colors. Ogival arches lined archways of different gravel paths that led to and away from the building, those same ogival arches framing the double doors casted in medieval-like plum wood. Angel oak sprouted from the ground and mountain walls, landscaping the area surrounding the mysterious building alongside bushes bloomed in the most beautiful passion flowers he'd ever seen.
"Whoa…" Timmy breathed at the saturated colors around him. Observing every inch of what he'd assume was some magical house as he traveled up the natural stairs of the mountainous path as he looked to his godparents floating on either side of him. "Do you guys know what this place is?"
"Nope." Cosmo admitted.
"We've actually never seen this place before…" Wanda added.
"Hmm…" Interesting that fairies who've lived in this world for tens of thousands of years didn't recognize the building before them. From how far the mountains stretched, in Timmy's mind, there was much more to Fairy World than what met his eye. This house was just the crumb of an overlarge cake.
Reaching the grand entrance, Timmy traversed the stoned steps and entered through the ogival arch. A sudden rush of inferiority overcame him, feeling too peasant for such a imperial place. Taking in another deep breath, he had to remind himself that the transporter had brought him here for a reason. This had to be where Gary was.
He took brave steps towards the double doors, giving a few echoing knocks before he stepped back with his fairies to await a response. As seconds ticked like hours, he took a moment to realize why. He didn't hear cars on the road or planes in the air. Didn't hear kids playing outside or birds chirping, not even squirrels climbing trees. He didn't hear a thing up here. In fact, the silence was so loud that he could hear every single one of his anticipating breaths.
His anticipation quelled when double doors clinked open, and a matching pair of blue eyes greeted him.
"…yo, cuzzo." Gary feebly grinned to his cousin. "You made it."
"Yeah." Timmy noted the subtle somber behind Gary's grin, though he was mostly preoccupied with the top question on his mind. "The heck are we?"
"Come in and find out." Gary opened the door wide enough so that Timmy and his fairies could venture inside. Unexpectant of what marveled before his eyes.
Natural light from stainless glass windows shimmered various colors within the vastness of the circular room, squashy deep-violet armchairs and couches frozen in the 17th century facing the fireplace bricked in amethyst that dominated one singular wall. Flying buttresses hung within the high-ceilinged space, massive pearl-marble staircases accessing multiple floors of the castle lined in plum-oak doors. Wall mounted sconces of burning candles assisted with more lighting, sheening a warming glow along the deep-plum grooves of marbled stone beneath his feet.
"Whatcha think?" he heard Gary ask from behind.
"This is amazing!" Timmy gushed, soaking in his new surroundings.
"We are pleased that you like it."
A sultry Spanish accent spun Timmy around to cool icy-blue eyes and honey-brown skin floating next to Gary. A gold crown hovered above silk shoulder-length hair, straightened down the middle between raven-black and bright-yellow. The fairy's physique looked like Remy's godfather, muscles protruding through the slim-fit gold button-down buttoned only near the bottom tucked into fitted blue denim looped with black leather and cuffed in black Darbies. A yellow bandana was tied around his left wrist, and he wore black mesh beneath, dark spots along his chest that Timmy presumed could be birthmarks.
"Wait, you're Alondro!" Timmy's surprise pointed out, realizing that he'd only heard Gary's godfather speak and had not seen his fairy form.
"That I am." Alondro Milagro smiled to the boy to then approach the boy's fairies. He started with the green fairy of whom he'd never met face-to-face, outstretching a hand. "Cosmo, si?"
"…yeeeeah?" Cosmo was hesitant to shake Alondro's hand. Aside from reminding him of Magoo, he couldn't pinpoint why this guy looked like someone he used to know…
Releasing Cosmo's hand, Alondro laid eyes on his beautiful wife. Not really his type, yet beautiful in her own right. "And you…" his soft fingers took her by the hand "…must be Wanda."
"Um…?" her shoulders raised awkwardly when Alondro leaned to smooch her hand, lifting one corner of his mouth in his cunning grin. A gesture that she didn't realize could flutter her heart just as it flattened her husband's brow.
"Do not mind him." they heard an accent from south Africa chuckle. "That's just how he greets most fairies with breast."
Timmy spotted the most striking, fiery-red eyes he'd ever seen as she floated towards them. Red, kinky curls styled in a fro-hawk with baby hairs gelled down to her coffee-brown complexion. Gloss glistened in her full lips, hourglass insinuated in a burgundy short-sleeved jumpsuit belted in dark-green ribbon. Black and green bracelets cuffed both wrists, and green socks were folded over black-leather Madalynns.
As Alondro let go of her hand, Wanda saw his lighthearted eye roll before acknowledging the unknown fairy. "And you are?"
"Nyekundu Uchawi." the red fairy smiled in her introduction, Timmy's fascination glued to her. Wow, there're all kinds of fairies here!
"I like your hat!"
Blinking from the girly voice that did not sound like Sophia, Timmy looked down to the human girl around Tootie's height. Arching an awkward brow to her gapped beam towards him "…thank you?"
"I'm Hazel!" she happily introduced, pointing to herself before pointing to the pink-hatted boy. "You must be Timmy!"
Timmy eyes fluttered in faster blinks "…you know about me?"
"Just that you're Gare-bear's cousin!" Hazel remarked. "He never told us you also had fairies!"
"…um…" being talked about to other godkids was the least of Timmy's curiosity, looking quizzically over his shoulder at his older cousin. "…'Gare-bear?'"
"A kiddie nickname." Gary shrugged. "She likes it, so I like it."
"And don't say nothing else about it, Tim-bucktooth."
When another unfamiliar voice entered the room, Timmy spotted a taller girl dressed in dark colors and contrasting skin that reminded him of the gothic aesthetic that he'd seen on the internet. "…excuse me?"
"You do or say anything out of pocket to her. Anything at all." the gothic girl walked past Hazel to confront him, warning through gritted teeth. "And you answer to me." a small yelp let out when her clenched fingers yanked him by the collar. "Got it?!"
"I don't even know you!" Timmy stood up to her yale-blue glare. "What's with the third degree!?"
"Yo, Molly, put cha fangs away, yeah?" Gary coolly stepped in between his cousin and his friend, breaking them apart. "He's good peoples."
Molly growled through a clenched jaw, making Timmy gulp in his subconscious step backwards. As if the band aid on her bruised cheek wasn't indication enough of who not to double cross…
"Molly, settle down." a female fairy palmed Molly's shoulder, only for Molly to swipe her hand away. Her indigo curls were tied in a low pony tucked behind elfin ears, a puffed bang resting above dark-blue eyes. A dark-green turtleneck sported short sleeves, black denim pants footed with black combats similar to what Timmy assumed was her goddaughter. "Don't you swipe your hand at me!" the fairy pressed stubbornly, and Timmy saw Molly's glare fade in the remorse that he didn't think was in her.
"Sorry, Swizzle…" Molly muttered an apology. Out of everyone she could take her anger out on, she'd never want to do so towards her own godmother…
"…hi Timmy." a nasally voice walked up beside Timmy, seeing a dorky redhead with glasses and purple eyes. "My name's Dwight."
"Hi, Dwight." Timmy acknowledged the most normal introduction he'd received from another godchild. Extending a cordial hand, he happened to notice the medical alert bracelet cuffed on Dwight's wrist as they shook hands. "Who's your fairy?" he queried after their handshake ended.
"That'd be me, kid." The voice of a used cars salesman led Timmy to the fairy approaching them. Reddish-brown curled behind elfin ears in his receding hairline, his chin protruding like his large nose. Bushy brows sat atop dark-teal eyes, a crystal-teal cardigan matched the bow-tie of his crisps-white button-up. His button-up was tucked into his dark-teal slacks where his midsection had black leather looped around, and black Darbies footed his feet.
"This is my fairy, Irving." Dwight introduced the male fairy hovering next to him.
"Nice to meet you guys." Timmy felt inclined to extend his hand for Irving to accept with no hesitancy.
"Likewise."
"This, here, is my best bud." Gary went up to Dwight, giving brotherly pats on the shoulder. Timmy even noticed a slight positive mood shift. "I'd barely survive school without 'em."
"Same." Dwight concurred earnestly.
A warm, thick liquid suddenly plopped atop Timmy's shag, coating brunette in sparkling purple without warning. Timmy froze, pungent liquid trailing onto his shirt before it completely disappeared in pink smoke.
"Sorry, sport…" Wanda apologized after magically cleaning her own mess.
"It's fine…" Timmy's flat brow mumbled sourly. He really hoped he wouldn't have to get used to that…
"Ahh, there's a bun in that oven." Swizzle observed, Wanda instinctively palming the subtle bulge in her shirt.
"Oh, wow!" Irving perked, an enthusiast for miracles of life. "Congratulations!"
"Thanks!" Cosmo appreciated.
"Anywho." Gary casually addressed his cousin. "We were all just about to decide on what to do when you showed up."
"Really?" Timmy questioned, taking in the magical environment in another look around. "What kind of stuff can you do here?"
"Lots of stuff!" Hazel gleamed.
"Like…video games and movies?" Timmy guessed.
"Nope." Molly denied tersely to which Timmy shrugged towards her.
"Why not?"
"We all wished up this place as like a space to sort of…unplug." Dwight described. "Like…disconnect and stuff."
Timmy couldn't help but scoff. "What is this, summer camp?"
"Mars, actually." Molly sassed, and Timmy's brow creased just about sick of her attitude.
"How 'bout we give ya a tour, cuzzo?" Gary slung an arm around Timmy's shoulders.
"Sure." Timmy agreed. He then sought out Cosmo and Wanda among the other fairies. "C'mon guys."
"Actually," Alondro hovered forward, something else in mind "Why not let us fairies show Cosmo and Wanda around?"
To this, Timmy arched a skeptical brow. "Why can't my fairies come with me?"
"Selfishly, it'll give us a chance to get to know your godparents." Irving revealed. "But it'll give you a chance to get to know the other godkids."
This didn't exactly calm Timmy's unease. Ever since Cosmo and Wanda came into his life two months ago, he hadn't gone more than a moment without them. Either one or both were by his side majority of the time. They'd become his safe haven…
"But we haven't been apart from Timmy since we became his godparents!" Wanda vocalized Timmy's thoughts almost exactly. Clearly, she had more than one godchild to suspect after Molly basically threatened her godson.
"Worry not, Wanda!" Nyekundu assured with a friendly smile. "Timmy will be fine!"
"Yeah, Timmy!" Hazel ran over to grab Timmy's hand. "Come with us!"
Anyone else would find these borderline cult vibes a little creepy. Nevertheless, the open arms of Hazel's endearing innocence reminded Timmy of his late sister. Sophia had been a master at finding the good in anyone she encountered, no matter who they were. She found light within a dark world. Being granted a godparent meant that a child's world had to be pretty dark, and staring into Hazel's beaming brown eyes, Timmy wondered to himself if she possessed that same trait…
"Shall we go, then?" Gary nudged. Timmy looked briefly to his cousin before looking to the apprehension in his godparents' stare. They didn't want to leave him either. Though…Irving had a point.
Originally, he'd come here solely for Gary. He'd just become acquainted with Remy and Chloe (and Tootie, in a sense,) but he didn't know what it was truly like to connect with other godkids. Maybe this could be his chance to find out for himself, and maybe, just maybe, this could also be a chance for Cosmo and Wanda to socialize with other fairies. He'd noticed a more sociable side of them when they'd interacted with their friends. Besides, this is supposed to be a getaway for all of them. They need time for themselves, too...
"Cosmo, Wanda? I-I'll be okay." part of him didn't want to say. "We can meet back here."
Obligated to do as suggested, Cosmo and Wanda gave somber nods to their godchild who was then whisked away by his cousin towards the leftward section of the castle. Dragged along by Hazel's cheerful hand in his as Molly and Dwight followed behind.
"If you two may come with us." Alondro motioned for the fairy couple to follow him and the other fairies towards the rightward section of the castle. Leading Cosmo to reach and squeeze Wanda's equally unnerved hand into his.
Venturing through amethyst-bricked halls of multiple-colored doors, Cosmo's hand never left Wanda's. Floating as a pair behind Swizzle and Nyekundu who, to their silent surprise, were also hand-in-hand. Leading the pack was Alondro hovering beside Irving. Acting as designated tour guides in showing the different bedrooms, as well as other amenities such as the community bathrooms, jacuzzi, and indoor pool.
More than Cosmo and Wanda had expected from a magical palace wished by children.
"How're you holding up?" Cosmo checked in with his wife, keeping his voice low enough for private conversation.
"I'm alright..." Wanda guessed. She wasn't sure if pregnancy irritations were altering her overall impressions.
"Whatcha think of this place?" Cosmo inquired, causing Wanda to give another scan of the pointed arches within the vaulted ceilings.
"Certainly a step up from our castle…"
"Yeah." Cosmo agreed, looking around himself. "It's like a giant fish tank castle but, like, not."
Returning her attention to the four fairies in front of them, Wanda's curiosity made a point to speak first. "Question."
"Answer." Swizzle was the first to acknowledge.
"How did all of your godchildren meet?"
"Mine and Swizzle's godchildren found out about each other for…obvious reasons." Nyekundu squeezed Swizzle's hand, resulting in a smooch on the cheek.
"Dwight used to go to Snerd Elementary with Molly." Irving inserted. "Then, Dwight met Gary on their first day at Dimmsdale Middle School."
"And Gary met Hazel when Dwight had introduced her and Molly." Alondro finished. "Equally as discrete as Gary was with Timmy, of course."
"So whose idea was it to use a magical transporter thingy to and from Fairy World?" Cosmo queried.
"It was all peque's idea." Alondro replied.
"Was he also the one to discover that little hack of his?" Wanda cynically inquired about Gary's way of godkids discovering other godkids.
Alondro lightly chuckled. "Si; when you are granted a fairy for as long as Gary, you are bound to find the loopholes of the loopholes."
"And, finally, the last stop." Irving announced, reaching a gold, sun-sculpted door stationed at the end of the hall. Sparking his wand to unbolt the chain locks.
Cosmo and Wanda watched as sun-like rays peered through the open door, revealing a room encased entirely in glass from the roof to the floor. From the starry purple skies above to the subtle chaos of the pink-clouded city below, the entirety of their homeland greeted them from the mountain tops. The other fairies made themselves right at home as they entered the glass room, Nyekundu and Swizzle floating together with Alondro making random conversation with Irving.
Cosmo led Wanda inside, allowing himself to soak in the majestic surrealism. The glass was simply a barrier between them and the natural beauty of their magical world. Nudging his wife with a gentle elbow, he whispered into her ear "Doesn't this remind you of our cliff?"
A smile curved her lips at her husband's correlation. The correlation to their own safe haven where they'd spend hours upon hours engaging in conversation, taking pictures, sitting in silence enjoying each other's' presence. Or…frankly, doing the do like bunnies.
"Wanna join us, Cosmo?"
The fairy couple glanced in the direction of Irving a few feet in front of them. A bag of assorted sugar-coated gummies dangling between his fingers.
"We're really doing this now?" Nyekundu was partially astounded by Irving's proposal. Not nearly as astounded as the green fairy's sweet tooth intrigue.
"Oooooooooooh! Can I have some?!"
"You've done edibles before?" Swizzle arched a brow, though, she half expected such a naïve reaction from Cosmo of all fairies. Wanda's skepticism was equally as expected, seeing her grab hold of Cosmo's arm before he could fly any further.
"You guys are seriously doing that on the job?!" While not an active connoisseur, Wanda knew exactly what was laced in those innocent-looking gummies. You'd think the commander of all fairies would've caught wind of this…
"Do not fret." Alondro had sense her suspicion before she even asked. "Compared to the amount of CBD, there is very little THC."
"Plus, we make sure not ta indulge too much in case our godkids need us." Irving added as extra assurance.
"Wait…" Cosmo calmed to look to his wife at the realization he managed to come to on his own "…is that safe for the baby?"
"That's why I'd only asked you, Cosmo." Irving openly admitted.
"But is that fair?" Nyekundu proposed. "Cosmo and Wanda are new, and it would be rude to exclude one without the other."
"Y'know what? Don't worry about it." Cosmo insisted, returning his hand to the comfort of Wanda's fingers. "I'm a noob when it comes to that stuff, anyway…"
"Suit ya'self." Irving shrugged, opening the bag for the willing participants to pick out a flavored gummy.
As Wanda watched the other fairies ingest their edibles from the sidelines, a gentle squeeze to her hand prompted her towards Cosmo's front-facing glance. His fingers clasped hers tighter as if to remind that he will never stray from her, and her grin found great comfort in that their bond knew no barriers.
Momentarily did her grin wilt thoughtfully. She'd hoped Timmy was fairing okay without them…
After being given a tour of the common room (the first room he laid eyes upon,) the designated snack room filled with every child's kryptonite, and the nave of the castle leading out towards the gravelling paths of the scenic mountain trail (which Dwight had expressed was his favorite,) Cosmo and Wanda had not escaped Timmy's thoughts. He kept fantasizing what they were up to and how they were doing. Hopefully they'd tell him all about it when they'd go home. Whenever that was.
"And now, for the most elaborate room of them all." Gary announced, stripping Timmy from his own head. With Hazel's hand still clinging to his as Molly and Dwight strolled behind, Timmy paused when Gary stumbled upon a door shaped as a silver-crescent moon.
"What's this?" Timmy inquired as Gary unbolted the lock chains.
"It's what we call the 'escape' room." Gary hinted, unlatching the last lock before he settled a hand atop the door's handle.
"It's really pretty!" Hazel voiced, her smile facing the pink-hatted lad. "You'll like it!"
When Gary twisted the handle, Timmy's blue stare fixated upon the saturated hues of forestry mountains and evergreen pastures. Mushroom-shaped trees towered above luscious beds of grassy, turquoise meadows. Meadows that stretched to infinite acres among the brilliance of sparkling skies shimmering with rainbow auroras and many crystal moons. Multiple moons that reflected among thin ribbons of crystalline rivers.
"What the…" Timmy couldn't think beyond the sheer grandeur of the utopian world before him. How in the heck did this exist behind one singular door?!
"Hence, the 'escape' room." Gary smirked, nodding to Molly as the last child to enter. Signaling for her to shut them in from the outside world.
"Are…" Timmy attempted to English "…we still in Fairy World?"
"Sort of." Dwight approached to Timmy's left. "It's a world that exists within a room within a castle built on the mountains of Fairy World."
Short answer is no…Timmy gazed upon his colorful surroundings. His only thread to reality being Hazel's occasional squeeze of his palm.
"Where shall we go first?" Gary's question was open to anyone to answer.
Molly crossed brooding arms. "I don't care…"
"We should go to the waterfall!" Hazel asserted, her knees jumping with glee.
"Uh, yeah. Sure…" Timmy was utterly clueless. "Let's go with that."
"Why not." Gary faced the invisible path ahead. "Onwards and upwards!"
Gary led them towards the walls of trees and shrubs of flowers as Hazel's arm swung back and forth with Timmy's. Staying by Molly's side, Dwight snuck glances at the bruise covered by a band aid that he'd first noticed when she and Swizzle had transported to the castle fondly labeled Fairy Fort. An unsettling pit dropped in his stomach; Molly's mom must've guzzled all her booze splurged on with the sparse money they had…
"…are we not gonna talk about your cheek?" Dwight wanted to give Molly the floor to speak her truth.
"No." Molly shot down, narrowing her eyes.
He swallowed "…what about what's on your mind?"
"Nope."
Apprehensive silence "…you at least want a hug?"
"Don't touch me."
Timmy heard Dwight's gawky apology before their conversation died out, having wondered about the band aid himself from their needlessly hostile introduction. Sometimes, someone hurting you can make you wanna hurt others…
Gentle humming tuned his ears next, looking to the girl beside him who continued to swing his arm in contented steps. Humming a bouncy tune of a nursery rhyme that he'd not heard before "…what song is that?"
"It's called 'Lala Mtoto.'" Hazel smiled to him. "It's a lullaby that Nee-Nee sings to me when I'm sad and can't sleep."
Curiosity caught the 'sad and can't sleep' part of her sentence "…do you get sad a lot?"
For the first time in meeting her, he saw Hazel's smile wither away "Sometimes…like I was earlier…" even her tone softened solemnly. Until she lifted her spirits back with an even wider grin. "But I'm better now! Especially after meeting another new godkid!"
Giving a dim smile in return, Timmy sympathized with the little girl's need to wear a smile to hide the hurt. He'd seen many genuine smiles from Hazel, but that last one felt like Molly's band aid. After acquainting himself with Chloe, he never looked past the difference between real and fake.
Timmy redirected his attention to the back of black gelled hair a few feet or so in front, creating a hint of separation. Gary kept to himself throughout their journey, hands tucked in leather pockets and eyes facing forward with no words spoken. Timmy had sensed something off about Gary since he'd arrived. Should he ask if something's wrong? If he did, would Gary tell him?
[…G-Gary's not okay…]
Timmy broadened his eyes when his sister entered his mind. Speaking in a mousey voice that sounded…scared.
"I heard that." Gary spoke flatly, his back still facing Timmy's stare. Causing Timmy to remember the wish he'd made so that Gary could also talk to Sophia. Meaning Gary could also hear Sophia if she spoke to Timmy within earshot, and vice versa.
"Heard what?" Hazel asked, naïve to what'd just happened.
"…t-the waterfall." Gary excused, shortly looking over his shoulder as he scratched his sideburn. "We're um…we're getting close."
"Yay!" Hazel's excitement jumped, her hand still clamped to Timmy who kept a watchful eye on Gary as he returned to facing forward. A quiet rumble of rushing water did sound closer the further they ventured, but Timmy chalked that up to coincidence. What did Sophia mean? And why did she say it as if held at gunpoint?
He didn't have much time to consider when the appearance of rushing water goggled his view.
Cascade of frothy water thundered into the plunge pool, an aquarium-blue velour swaying in majestic waves from the rocky edge. Fronds of the forest waved gently from the ripples of white lines along cellophane waters, its bank swishing with the most vibrant aqua-blue.
Dwight and Molly joined alongside Timmy and Hazel as Gary took further steps towards the aqua-blue riverbank. Bothering not to strip himself of day clothes before plunging headfirst in a wide splash.
"Gary, what the heck!?" Timmy yelled out once his cousin reemerged from the water's depths, his gelled hair now a flat bang that he parted out of his eyes.
"What! It's refreshing!" Gary gleamed over the roaring water, wading leisurely. "You should try it, Tim-Tim!"
"Are you nuts?!" Timmy retorted. "I'm not swimming with my clothes on!"
Apparently, Gary was not the only nutjob there. Timmy's once warm palm cooled the instant Hazel ran from him, showing no care in the world as she jumped from the edge and splashed near Gary into the bank.
When Hazel resurfaced for air, her kinky curls became a wet rug on her head, making her neck work harder. She didn't mind; magic can just fix it later.
"Stay where it's shallow, Haze." Gary reminded, aware that the river's bottom was not leveled with a sharp drop into endlessness.
"I know, Gare-bear!" Hazel giggled, flailing her arms beneath the water to keep afloat. She then waved to the other kids. "C'mon you guys! This is fun!"
Thinking for a moment, Molly's lack of give a fuck shrugged, removing her beanie to toss to the ground. "Screw it…"
Timmy and Dwight looked on as Molly braced herself for a running start, charging in a cannonball. With Gary merely swimming away from Molly trajectory, Hazel held her hands to shield what she could from the giant splash, giggling in delight.
As Molly reemerged with running eyeliner and a now messy ponytail, Timmy glanced over at the remaining kid standing next to him. Waiting for Dwight to acknowledge him as Dwight darted eyes between him and the riverbank "…I-I'll pass." Dwight declined, Timmy sensing the nerves in his voice. "Don't want you to feel left out."
"Thanks…I guess?" Timmy spoke unsurely.
Both Gary and Molly sloshed more water towards Hazel, finding enjoyment in causing a giggle fit. Hazel fought back, gathering palms filled with water to throw at her offenders. Making their hands defend themselves in between their attacks.
Timmy studied his cousin, seeing the instant transition from hints of darkness to light spirits. He also saw the shift in Molly's earlier hardened shell that cracked into someone way less intimidating. He found it difficult to be sad or angry with the lulling hiss of swooshing waters and glitters of watery sprays. Part off him almost wished his godparents were here. They'd love this.
Looking over at Dwight, Timmy paused to blank eyes staring upwards, arms stiff to his sides. Soon waving a befuddled hand in Dwight's face only to receive a delayed reaction when Dwight glanced at him as if he wasn't just staring into space. "Do you like it here so far?"
"Uh…yeah." Timmy answered before he asked "How come you're not joining them?"
"Well…it's cuz I can't really-" Dwight's eyes froze upwards, arms unbending. Unaware of Timmy's pokes at his shoulder. Longer seconds ticked by before purple eyes blinked "-swim very well."
…what…the heck. "What's going on with you?"
"What do you mean?"
"You start talking and then you start staring."
"Oh…I'm sorry…" Dwight sighed, a pucker in his brow. He'd gone all morning without one seizure. Guess this was revenge "…I hate absence seizures…"
"Seizure?" Timmy didn't believe at first. "I thought those were where you, like, shake on the ground and stuff."
"Those aren't the only-" purple eyes almost rolled into his head, mouth stuck mid-sentence. Rigid in his stance for another five seconds "-types of seizures."
"I…see…" Timmy tapered, utterly thrown.