daretosee | For fractalsfrozen

For fractalsfrozen | Ice Fae Sigma AU

There's a part of him who knew it'd end up this way. Cast out of the town he'd lived in his entire life, where everyone knew each other like family. In the end it hasn't mattered.

He was a warlock, a friend trying to poison their town with witchcraft and dark magic. Or that's what everyone thought. Change was frightening and right now it wasn't something they were ready for, Harold had feared it, but it hadn't been an excuse to not try to better the lives of the towns people.

Medicine and the advancements in it were not to be trusted, so he'd been cast out, forced out into the harshness of winter and the wilds to fend for himself. Harold packed as much as they allowed him, bundled up in as many layers as he could wear without inhibiting his movement.

The first few days aren't so bad, cold, but thankfully not windy. He's got enough food for maybe a week if he rations it out. Making a fire is dangerous, it draws attention and he's on his own, his only weapon a knife he uses to eat with.

In the end it's not monsters or animals or even ruffians that get him, it's the storm that hits three days in. The wind bites through his clothes and there's no way he could make a fire like this.

So he fights through blinding snow drifts to find a cave or anything he could take shelter in, but his body gives out before he has any luck. The cold is just too much and he collapses, still clutching a blanket tight around himself to try and fight off the wind and snow.

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"Ah. I see. We'll head back in a moment."

He paused, drumming his fingers together before asking...

"And what about you, Harold? Have you had any great loves in your life? Do you have one waiting for somewhere out there?"

Obviously not from the village he had been cast out of...but still...there could be someone...somewhere.

It's only fair for the fae to ask questions of him too. Though admittedly his answers won't be as interesting as Sigma's.

"I had a childhood crush on my best friend, but otherwise I was always more focused on school work." He considers anything that might be interesting, but alas. With a little shrug he chuckles.

"There were a couple flings here and there when I was younger. I traveled to a few of the bigger cities to further my knowledge on healing and medicine. Like minds can sometimes lead to warming a bed together." Especially after a few drinks.

"You've gotten me beat I'm afraid. No one I've been with can match up to a dragon."

Siebren nodded, listening closely and carefully. He gave a soft chuckle at Harold saying no one he had been with could compare to his escapades with his first love. He smiled.

"I don't think it is a competition, Harold. Each time I loved, it has been very different. Is this true of humans as well? I know I have never felt exactly the same way about my lovers. They are all special...unique. Any in the future would be the same."

He reached out tentatively and patted Harold's shoulder.

"Don't you think so?"

"Well, certainly, some people love very passionately, others not as much. I guess I've just... never found that person to share such passion with?" Not that he hasn't loved anyone, but it didn't sound like the kind of love the fae spoke of. Harold didn't even know what his future would hold once his time here with the fae ended. Once the weather let up and he could safely travel again, he'd find his way to one of the cities he'd visited in his youth.

Start a new life.

A life he'd not have a chance to continue without Sigma saving his life. The firm but gentle hand that rests on his shoulder is grounding and he looks up at the fae with a little smile.

"Thanks to you I still have that possibility to look forward to."

Siebren quite enjoyed that little smile the human showed. It was quite charming. He removed his hand from Harold's shoulder and gave a soft wave of it. There was a sudden howl of wind as the human was literally swept off his feet and into the air.

"Come. We should return to the cave. I know you are still ill, so I will carry if that is alright?"

They would be able to move faster and Harold would get less winded. They would certainly be able to beat the bad weather. He would be able to start cooking something for them for dinner.

Oh! Harold is a little startled as he's swept up off his feet, carried carefully the the fae's magic. He'd insist he could walk just fine, but he does have a point. They would get back to his cave much quicker this way.

"It's okay, thank you." Speaking of being ill, he'll tug the robe around himself tighter, hugging himself with a little cough. It's lingering, but with Sigma's care he knows he'll make a full recovery. As much as being out in the cold probably wouldn't make it go any quicker, he doesn't regret coming out with him. It's been eye opening and amazing.

Once they do arrive back at the cave he's relieved, it seems like the weather is just whipping up to start getting nasty out. No doubt nothing the fae couldn't handle, but Harold, as they both already knew, wasn't made for that sort of cold.

"Would you mind if I warmed up with a soak? I think it will help chase off the chill." He coughs again, "And this pesky cough." That and some tea after would be heavenly. Truly he was spoiled here, lucky to have these things so readily available.

"Of course."

Harold was right. A soak in the hot springs would definitely get the chill off of him. In the meantime, Siebren could make him some honey and lemon tea from the boiling springs near his kitchen. He'd let the brew steep for a few minutes while he found some dried meat and preserves in his stone pantry.

When at last it was ready, he moved to find which spring Harold had chosen...and he was a little alarmed at the smell of ozone and smoke that suddenly could be slightly smelled around the cave.

"Harold?"

He uses the one nearby the bed he'd slept in the day previous. Figuring that was his temporary living arrangements till the fae signaled that it was time for him to move on.

Setting his clothes aside on the bed he'll sink into the hot spring with a sigh, resting till the water is just under his chin. What a joy it would be to have this at his whim whenever he wanted or needed. Quite relaxed he smells something strange before he hears Sigma call to him. Sitting up a little he has the distinct feeling of being watched.

"In here!" He'll call to the fae, eyes glancing around as if something will just step from the shadows.

Ah, yes...there he is. In the side room he had been recovering in. Good. It was not too far. He would be quick to locate...and if his sense of smell was correct, defend if necessary.

Siebren eased into Harold's room, setting the tea and small plate down beside Harold's clothes. He himself stood up straight, pale eyes moving around the room.

"Come out. Show yourself, wraith. I know you are here."

Odd that the misbegotten creature should make his way all the way here...and without permission. Siebren was all too open to sharing his dwelling with those who needed it, but the wraith had never been one to admit the need for help...still...he'd let him speak for himself. The fae was in no hurry to start an unnecessary fight.

At the command, the smell in the room intensified and a trail of smoke wove its way across the ground as though it was a living thing. Bit by bit, it concentrated, becoming darker...denser...until it became solid....forming feet...then legs...a body...arms and hands tipped with bony, sharp claws...a chest...and finally a skull that was not quite human with fiery, glowing red eyes and a hood that was made of whisps of the remaining smoke.

It spoke...voice raspy and growling like a wounded animal, yet strained as though it were in pain.

"So it is true....you've taken in one of these soft...weak little beings."

Siebren sighed.

"I did not invite you in, wraith and the company I keep is my business and mine alone."

His voice was steady...but harsh...much harsher than Harold had heard.

Harold sits up a little when Sigma comes into the room, feeling that something was off. He seemed a little on edge. It made the hairs on the back of his neck stand up. What makes a giant ice fae feel that way? He's about to ask if everything is okay, but the fae is demanding something shows itself and Harold sinks back down into the water a bit again.

So there WAS something in here watching him?!

The smell is awful once the wraith finally shows, it's terrifying and sounds as bad as it appears. Don't mind if he just, scoots over to the edge of the hot spring closest to Sigma. Probably a good idea, what with how the fae genuinely sounds. Mad.

Siebren crossed his arms and the wraith knelt, lowering its burning eyes for a moment before looking up.

"Of course. I meant no disrespect to the king of the mountain."

The eyes glowed brighter, hot behind the mask.

"It is just that...your majesty is sure to be sad when it expires. They are soft and fragile...and most likely not last very long."

Siebren raised his eyebrows.

"Sympathy? From you? That's a new one, I must say. State your business, wraith."

He was stern...direct. He did not think the wraith would harm Harold in his presence. The creature was miserable, but not stupid. It bothered him to know the wraith had made it inside the cave and he had not noticed until it was in his close vicinity. Sombra. That little trouble maker would get an earful the next time he saw her for sure.

The wraith eased up from his position, eyes locking on Harold and slowly moving to the fae.

"I thought it best to warn you, Sigma. Humans are dangerous. They might look soft and weak, but their potential for suffering is limitless."

Sigma nodded.

"Harold Winston is a healer. He is my guest and under my protection. He is not a danger to anyone."

The wraith's red eyes seared bright, but his tongue was seemingly held....for a moment at least.

Sigma nodded.

"Your distrust and concern has been noted. Should something happen, I shall be sure to let you get a good 'I told you so' in before anyone else. Otherwise, as the ruler of this mountain I expect my wishes will be respected."

He was not as harsh as he had been initially, but he was firm. The fae's blue eyes glowed and did not blink as he looked at the wraith.

The creature seemed to concede, bobbing his smokey form down and lowering his eyes.

"Of course...my king."

The creature then dissolved into a cloud of smoke and slunk away...out of sight and down the cavern and out the front. Siebren sighed and put a clawed hand on Harold's shoulder.

"I am sorry for that, Harold."

For all that Sigma at first appeared like he could be a terrible fearsome monster, Harold had never felt any malice from him. This creature of smoke though... Harold got a bad feeling from it. It could be the red eyes or the raspy voice, but he didn't care for how it seemed intent on turning the fae against him.

Still, he keeps silent, letting Sigma handle it as he seems to have it under control. Yet Harold doesn't feel himself relax until the thing is gone, the smell dissipating at it's leave. He hadn't even realized how tense he was until the fae is resting a hand on his shoulder. The breath he'd been holding leaves him and he glances up at Sigma, hands rubbing at his arms before falling back into the warmth of the water.

"Don't apologize, please." It's not like he did this, that wraith came of it's own volition. "... I guess I can't blame it, humans are known to make a mess of things." Harold has to agree with that. He'll hug his knees to his chest still feeling a little uneasy about that thing coming in here. He trusts Sigma wouldn't let anything hurt him, but it's still unnerving.

"Thank you for trusting in me even though we barely known each other."

Siebren had hesitated to use the wraith's true name, which the creature had made the mistake of telling him. Magical creatures had binding names. To use it in a command was to control it when a higher ranking fae used it. It was also a surefire way to win an eternal enemy and lose any trust the misbegotten creature had placed in him.

The fae was glad that he had not had to use it.

Siebren kept his hand on Harold's shoulder.

"You have had ample opportunity to reveal yourself to me over the past day or so...and indeed you have. Not once have you disrespected anything...and you seek only knowledge that will heal and alleviate suffering. That is who you are and I respect that."

He sighed.

"Another fae king might have killed such an insolent subject but...but I pity him. I allow him to stay because he has nowhere else to go. A wraith....a wraith is born when a human is killed by those they trust most in the world...and that rage...that feeling of betrayal consumes their soul and it...is born again as something else...something magical...not quite a fae, but not human either. A human was made its way into my forests long ago. You must have been a child. I used my power to hide my people...to heal wounds inflicted on my mountain...but I did not become involved in the conflicts of the humans...but then I felt...him...burn into existence like fire consuming dry leaves and I went out to meet him. He was one of my subjects now, after all...and for better or worse...I welcomed him."

All of this was unknown to Harold, the world of fae and all it's intricacies. The fact Sigma tries to explain any of it to him is amazing, he feels like he's being constantly given a wonderful present he can't return in any way possible. The fae's hand is still firm and grounding on his shoulder and he's not sure why, but he reaches over to place his hand over it.

It looks a bit silly really, his hand is much smaller than the larger clawed hand of Sigma.

"You truly have a soft heart, Sigma." He's probably right that most likely another fae king would have gotten rid of the wraith. "I guess I understand the concern it showed for you, such kindness can be exploited. Abused." Whether the wraith truly was concerned for Sigma or not, he had a point. His hand falls away, back into the water at least until he's coughing a bit, covering his mouth as he does.

It seemed only fair to Siebren to explain things as they presented themselves. Harold was not only his guest, but had no prior knowledge of the fae world. It would all be terribly confusing if he hadn't been raised in it.

He blinked at the small hand that was placed over his own. It was soft and warm...with a few calluses from work. There was a small blossom of warmth and fondness in his heart at that that could not be accounted for given their conversation. He frowned at the cough, pushing the tea he had brought towards Harold.

"Here, my friend. Drink this."

He paused a moment before he asked the next question.

"Would you mind if I joined you? I warn you, fae are many things, but not modest."

When the fae gives him the tea he'd made before their wispy intruder distracted them, Harold thanks him with a little smile. Sipping carefully he drinks his tea with a little sigh. He's so warm and cozy right now. Hot spring and hot tea, if this doesn't finally kick the rest of that lingering cold in the butt then he doesn't know what will.

Er, besides rest.

"Hm?" Harold peers up at the fae and it's a good thing he's already in the spring and warm and flushed. It will hide any flushing from the question.

"Oh um, no I don't mind. I mean this is your home, Sigma." And it's not like Harold isn't naked as the day he was born as well right now. No big deal. Just two guys. Naked. In a hot spring. It's fine. Not like the fae's way of dressing wasn't already some what revealing if Harold stopped to really look at him.

Don't mind if he just is suddenly very interested in his cup of tea, sipping quietly with his eyes down averted so he's not staring. As much as Sigma had said fae aren't modest it wasn't an invitation to watch him undress.

"Thank You. Just a moment."

Bit by bit, Siebren shrugged out of his armor and robes underneath, revealing pale blue skin dotted with blue freckles. He folded his clothes into a pile and sat them inside his shoulder armor. He was slighter than his armor made him look, but he was still broad shouldered.

He crossed to the edge of the spring and eased into the water. It was hot on his cool flesh and he gave a slight inhuman hiss as he lowered himself bit by bit into the water. He dipped below the surface for a moment before coming back up and giving his wet hair a shake the same way an animal would. Loose white hair hung over his horns and framed his face.

The fae gave a relieved sigh.

"Ahhh. Wonderful."

While he tells himself not to look, his eyes betray him and flicker up a few times. Mostly he just sees a lot of blue. Maybe something else which has him looking down again until the fae is comfortably seated in the spring with him.

Harold looks up to get caught in the line of fire for being sprinkled by Sigma shaking his head. He's already wet so it's no harm no foul. Holding his cup of tea with both hands he allows himself to take the fae in again now that he's um. Modest under the water.

"I have to say I'm jealous you have these lovely hot springs available to you so readily. It really is very relaxing." He sinks down a bit more, wiggling his toes under the water. He makes sure to keep his legs a little bit off to the side so they don't have any. Awkward leg collisions. Plenty of room for them both.

The more he regards the wet fae he does think the armor adds some bull to him, but really he's quite erm. Top heavy. The light dusting of... freckles? Yes, freckles over his skin is rather fetching as well. It's easier to notice without everything else.

"Do you indulge often or just when guests are around?"

The ice king smiled and chuckled.

"Yes, I am rather spoiled, I must admit."

Siebren rolled his shoulders and sighed, stretching his own legs off, minding his own space as well.

"Quite often. The minerals in them are good for you. Very refreshing for human and fae alike. Their purification properties are strongest here. It is beneficial for me and many others. The spiders have their own, you know? Sombra sometimes uses the ones in the rear cave. I need to speak with her soon. I am sure she was behind our uninvited visitor."

"You have a lot of responsibilities taking care of the mountain it seems, it's only fair you have the means to relax and refresh." Harold finds the idea of giant cave spiders soaking in a hot spring overly hilarious. The mental image does get a little chuckle from behind the cup of tea. He supposed they deserved to have a nice spa day as well after doing. Spider. Things.

"Between this and your honey tea I'll have no excuses for being sick any more." Ah, Sombra. He's yet to meet her, but Sigma had made it seem like she was rather illusive. No doubt she'd kept an eye on him where he couldn't see her.

"Mischievous to a fault I take it? No harm was done thankfully, I wouldn't be too hard on her." While the wraith had been a bit of a scare, it hadn't seemed to come here to hurt anyone. Just generally be creepy and offer it's opinion.

Siebren arched his eyesbrows and nodded.

"To a fault, indeed. She is young. She does not understand the danger she sometimes puts herself or others in. No harm was done this time, but wraiths are dangerous and unpredictable. I am certain this particular specimen was only civil because I was there."

He sighed and sank down into the warm water again, stopping when his chin touched the water. His white hair floated on the surface and the king of the mountain shut his eyes for a moment before they blinked open and turned to Harold again.

"How would you handle an errant child, Harold?"

"... oh you mean, do you think it would have actually done something?" Now he's feeling a little uneasy again. Guess it wasn't entirely no foul no harm. Thankfully Sigma was here.

Watching the fae just. Relax. Sunken down into the water like that was amusing, he looks a lot smaller this way. Strangely his hair looks so soft floating on the water.

"Hm?" Harold blinks, realizing he'd been just staring. How rude!

"I suppose... it depends on what they're doing wrong. Also how young they are." He rests his chin on his knees, hugging his legs to his chest.

"Don't just punish them, try to explain why what they've done is bad. That it's dangerous and could hurt them or someone else. Maybe try to turn it into something positive." It's not like Harold had ever had children, but he grew up in a town that was small. Everyone knew each other, he'd dealt with kids before.

"Reward them with something simple that they like. Positive reinforcement. Like with a sweet or maybe a cheap little toy." He smiles a little awkwardly looking over at the fae, "Obviously if they don't listen they don't deserve the reward. It might help, it might not. Some children are just stubborn."

"Perhaps. I know for a fact nothing happened because I was there, however....I do not know what would have happened were I not."

Siebren had not noticed the stare. His blue eyes flickered up to Harold, listening intently to his feedback.

"Hmmmph. Stubborn indeed."

He blew a few strands of wet hair out of his eyes.

"I shall have to try these methods. Thank you, Harold"

The fae smiled.

"I find it useful to hear perspectives outside my own....which though expansive, is ultimately limited."

"I'm glad I could offer my outside perspective." He chuckles softly. Sigma's smile is oddly warm, far kinder than any might think a mighty fae could.

"Now I can't promise it'll work on your earrant one. I've only dealt with human children." So take his advice with a grain of salt. Don't be disappointed if it doesn't work. Lifting his hand from the water he'll wiggle with fingers and makes a little face.

"I'm turning into a prune, might be time for me to get out." Turning to look behind him he'll look for the robe Sigma had lent him. He'd left it on the bed, of course. Hrm. Predicament. He shouldn't be so concerned about it, clearly the far doesn't care about nudity.

It's nothing to be embarrassed about, Harold. Just get out, grab the robe, put it on. Ta da! Sigma won't care that you're a tiny human with a dad bod. Before he can talk himself out of it, Harold pushes up and out of the hot spring, keeping his back to the fae. Now that he thinks if it mooning the king of the mountain might be rude... too late now.

He grabs the robe and pulls it on quick, not bothering to tie it. Just pull it closed as he turns back to regard Sigma.

"Please stay as long as you like, I do enjoy your company." And he sits on the edge of the bed nearby. Besides, this is Sigma's home. He's not going to make him leave. He did just get comfortable.

Sigma nodded slowly and sighed.

"We can hope."

He smiled at those wagging fingers.

"Ah, so you are. You'd better do something about that. It would not be good if you withered away to nothing."

The fae was polite and averted his eyes. The human seemed...concerned about it. He certainly wasn't going to be judgemental at all. Once he had heard Harold pull on that robe and sit on the end of the bed, he opened his eyes and turned around. Siebren rested his arms on the side of the spring and set his chin on top of them.

"Thank you. I enjoy yours, as well. I must say you look comfortable."

For fractalsfrozen | Ice Fae Sigma AU

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