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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He's still wondering what that weird feeling of being watched could be, is it that wraith again perhaps? Thankfully Sigma wanders in, looking quite different in what could be called "normal" clothes. Clothes much more human looking in nature. He wonders if the fae dressed that way because of him? Though clearly he had the clothes so he must wear them regardless of some silly human.

"Hel-" And then Sigma is outing his apparent watcher and Harold is shocked he couldn't feel her sitting right next to him. "H-Hello." A little surprised can't help but stare at Sombra for a moment while her and Sigma have a back and forth. She's not what he expected when the fae told him about a little ice drake. Though it was clear she was of the same sort as Sigma. Not human, but magical in nature.

"Oh I already know all of this silly. I've been keeping an eye on him." Sombra gives a cheeky little wink at Harold, teasing. This human and Sigma's interest in him had peeked her own interest of course, beyond being the one to initially find him after all. She's just nosy, wanting to see what's so special about this human that the fae king hasn't tossed him back into the snow to fend for himself. Very very interesting.

"It's nice to meet you finally, Sombra. Sigma has talked much about you." That gets a little dismissive hand wave and roll of the eyes from her.

"Oh I'm sure, he's amazing at talking. Could talk your ear off if you let him." Though she seems to be complaining it's clear there's some fondness in there. Harold glances to Sigma then back at Sombra.

"Haha, I don't think I'd mind that so much." Truly he wouldn't. Sigma has been pleasant company so far, he's enjoyed talking with him. He knows whether it's the fae teaching him about his people or the mountain and the things around them, or if it's just idle chatter. He'd be fine with that.

“There, Sombra. You see? Some people appreciate the gifts of knowledge and experience. Thank You, Harold.”

The fae looked over his guest.

“Were you able to get everything you needed? I am afraid everything here is built on a bit larger scale than it would be for humans.”

He would be happy to get anything that might be a bit too high or that Harold had been unable to locate. Sombra eased off her stool and retrieved what looked like a cookie jar from one of the cupboards. Inside were flat treats, made from smashed nuts, grain and fruit, held together with honey.

Sigma sighed.

So like her to go for sweets for breakfast.

“Make sure to share those with everyone.”

He said, reaching a clawed hand in and retrieving several. He set them on a plate, then set it between himself and Harold.

“Help yourself. I made them a few days ago.”

Sombra took the jar and made her way back onto her stool and sat on top of it, eating the fae cookies and watching Harold intensely.

It's cute honestly, the way these two are with one another. It's interesting... like siblings, with a dash of overbearing parent. Not necessarily in a bad way, it's obvious Sigma cares about Sombra, from watching them now to the conversation he had with the fae last night.

"I managed well enough, us smaller folks do find a way." He chuckles, patting the stool he's seated on. When offered cookies he'll have a curious look over of them before taking one with a 'thank you'. They're not much to look at, but there's a sweet smell to them, honey... fruit. With a little nibble Harold is pleased at the taste, looks can be deceiving. Then again that could be said about Sigma, but Harold already knew the fae was anything but some wicked evil being that his initial appearance may have one thinking. All Harold has to do is imagine the giant fae making these cookies and he can't imagine him doing a mean thing at all.

"These are lovely. Haha, I don't think I can remember the last time I had cookies for breakfast." No doubt back when he was a child, sneaking them when his parents were still sleeping.

Sigma gave a soft smile at the compliment yo jus cookies and his eyes glowed a little brighter for a moment. He nodded his head in thanks. Sombra looked the fae over while munching on her cookies before turning back to Harold.

“It is a regular thing around here. Sigma might not indulge often, but I do. Gotta Store the energy for hibernation.”

Sigma raised an eyebrow at her.

“Really? Are congratulations in order? I thought Ice Drakes Only hibernated when they were laying.”

Sombra snorted.

“No . Tch. Not yet. But...a girl has gotta he prepared.”

Sigma chuckled.

“Indeed.”

He finished his small pile of cookies and turned to Harold.

“Shall we feed the fish, Harold?”

Sombra snorted again.

“Wow. Harold, this might be getting serious. He did not show me the fish until I had molted at least twice. It was a big deal. Big responsibility and all that.”

Harold is doing his best to not laugh at the both of them, but they're adorable with their gentle bickering. He feels like he's seeing something private and special, but some how he's right there and neither of them are batting an eye about it.

"Oh-" He sits up straight when Sigma speaks to him again, nodding, "I'd love that." To which Sombra teases them and Harold may be a middle aged human, but he's also not above blushing. Or more his body is a traitor and his blushes at the implications Sombra is implying.

"W-Well I'm flattered he'd trust me already." His gaze moves back to the ice fae, "I won't take this lightly, this is your home after all."

Siebren had done his best with raising his ward. He seemed to have done too good of a job at times. She seemed to regard him more as a doting older brother than the powerful Ice fae that he was. There were worse things. At least she minded him where it counted...most of the time.

He caught that knowing smile of hers when Harold blushed.

“Yes, well, Harold is a healer and not an ice Drake chick barely out of its nest. I am only being fair.”

Sombr gave the fae another sideways smile and she raised her eyebrow, looking both him and Harold another up and down glance.

“Sure. If you say so, Sigma.” She chuckled.

Siebren nodded before turning to Harold.

“She is not wrong...either...the fish have magical properties and...I do have to trust the people I show them to. I thought that some of them might...prove useful in your healing. They all glow and it is lovely but some of them have practical applications. Sombra has learned them already...but she is welcome to join us.”

The ice Drake paused and shrugged.

“Nah. I promised Gabe I would go see him today.”

Siebren frowned.

“You should not call him that. He doesn’t like it. Please don’t antagonize him.”

Sombra have an exhasperqted sigh.

“Fine. No fun allowed. Have fun feeding your fish and ah...enjoying your company. Who knows, maybe you’ll get him wet.”

She flickered and seemed to disappear just before Siebren shot her a glare that was even icy for him. Her quick footsteps could be faintly heard dashing off into the caverns.The fae turned to Harold.

“I am so sorry. That was inappropriate of her. She’s...at a difficult age.”

Siebren blew a few loose pieces of his hair out of his eyes.

“But enough of that...come with me, won’t you?”

The king of the mountain lex Harold down one of the caverns. Blue crystals glowed from the walls, some seemed to jut out naturally while others were held in place with unmelting ice. It gave everything a hazy look. The deeper they went, the brighter the light from the crystals became until they reached a large cavern filled with pools of water surrounded by crystals, stalagmites and stalactites. Beneath the surface of each pool were enormous koi fish that flowed every color of the rainbow, some even changing colors as they moved. Most, though had specific color schemes that faded and intensified with the fishes’ breathing.

“Well, here they are.”

Siebren retrieved a leather pouch from where it hung in the wall. He reached inside and pulled out a handful of dried herbs and insects before scattering them into the nearest pool. The fish swarmed, splashing and glowing bright in excitement. He offered the pouch to Harold.

“Care to try?”

Sombra is coming for the both of them it seems. Mischievous indeed! Harold doesn't take it to heart so much as his cheeks only get redder. Haha, definitely just his cold, that's it.

"It's really okay, I understand." Harold insists. She may not be young for human years, but it seems for her kind she's young and far too playful, getting into trouble if not causing it.

No doubt she'll grow out of it one day, for now let her be young.

For now he follows Sigma, his attention wavering between all the wonderful sights around him and not falling behind from gawking do much. Some how Harold manages, breathing out a reverent 'wow' as he sees the fish.

"This is amazing, Sigma." Excuse him being quite the star struck one right now, stepping close to one of the pools and kneeling down to get a closer look.

"They're beautiful..." And then he realizes hes being offered the pouch and he takes it, it's more of large satchel for him haha, and he'll set it beside him and reach in, sprinkling some of the dried food across the top of the water. His eyes light up happily when the fish are quick to come to the surface to gobble it all up.

The light from the glowing fish reflected in Siebren's eyes, but they seemed to sparkle a bit more than usual. He smiled as Harold fed his fish. The fae could not help but notice a warmth growing in his chest. Part of it was pride for his pets...the other was watching Harold enjoy the pets he took such pride in. He knelt down beside one of the pools and dipped a clawed hand into the water. Several of the glowing fish swam up and brushed against it.

"Hello, little ones."

He nodded towards the glowing pink fish repeatedly brushing against his palm.

"Harold, you see this one? The pink scaled fish drop scales relatively regularly. The discarded scales can be dried and crushed into a powder that when mixed with water and aloe can soothe burns quite well."

Harold is sure no one would believe him if he told them everything he was seeing with his eyes. Much less the gentle giant who called his many fishes 'little ones' and spoke so warmly of them.

Do forgive Harold if he's staring, smiling warmly when Sigma is explaining the wonderful properties of fish scales to him. He shifts closer to the fae, making sure he can definitely see the fish in question.

"Amazing... do the scales amplify the effects of the aloe?" Aloe he was familiar with, but he'd never have considered adding dried fish scales. He's sure it's these specific ones of course.

“Yes, they do. Purple can ease a poisoned wound...paired with moss, it can draw out the poison and work as a painkiller. They are soothing to watch but also a bit of a personal pharmacy. A handful of them are just lovely to look at.”

He tossed another handful from the bag before offering it to Harold.

“Would you like to throw them a handful or two?”

"I hope you haven't had to put your medicine to use too often. Besides when foolish humans collapse on your mountain in a blizzard." His tone is light, teasing, but truly he knows what Sigma is sharing with him is wonderful knowledge. Knowledge that his village would consider wicked and unnatural, when it was just that.

Natural.

"Oh, yes of course. Thank you." He has to use both hands to take it, it's a big bag for him, but he'll set it down between them and toss a few handfuls in, watching with a pleased twinkle in his eyes as the fish gobble it up.

Harold sighs, wistful.

"... you have a beautiful home here." He smiles then up at the fae, "Thank you for sharing so much of it with me."

Watching Harold carefully take those handfuls and toss them to the fish in the pool. The fae saw the twinkle in the human's eyes. It made something light flutter in his chest and he welcomed that feeling, whatever it turned out to be.

Then there was that smile up at him and he could not help but softly smile back.

"Of course. It is rare to find a human so open minded. I think I should be a real monster if I did not share my knowledge with someone who could make a genuine difference. So...thank you for listening."

He gently patted Harold on the back and realized that his palm covered a portion of it. There really was a large size difference between the two of them.

Harold has to stop himself from focusing too much on the fact that Sigma's entire hand basically covers his back. There's a second where the thought that the fae could crush him with one hand zips through his mind and the fact it doesn't terrify him is um... midly embarrassing.

His face heats up a little, but hopefully in the low light it's not too obvious. Besides he's got the whole cold excuse. It's fine.

"I'm not sure about making a difference, but I do intend to try." His smile turns a little sad, "Humans are slow to change, to accept, one day they will." Already there are places more open to it, to what Harold wants to do.

Siebren nodded.

“I hope so.”

He noticed the heat on Harold’s face, but chalked it up to the cold the human had been suffering.

“Harold, are there any symptoms you have that need additional attention?”

It was an honest question. The human knew what was best for himself, after all and the fae wanted him to know that he could be open and express his needs on any way, shape or form.

That large hand rested on the healer’s shoulders.

“Or perhaps there is a symptom you do not have but would like the information to treat?”

There's some symptoms one can't heal with herbs and medicine. A blossoming crush mayhaps? Harold shakes his head a little, mostly to clear his that's of that. He's just grateful for all Sigma has done for him and amazed at the great fae and his knowledge... a-and maybe the talk about his past loves didn't help the imagination either.

Realizing he might come off rude he'll clear his throat and smile.

"Sorry, just a few cobwebs up in my head. Maybe a dip in the hot spring later would do me some good." His eyes flicker to the beautiful fish, then he turns a little towards Sigma.

"But I'd love to learn more, anything, any knowledge you'd be willing to give. A little cold shouldn't hold back the thirst for learning." He'll chuckle. Harold you almost died, almost froze to death. Sighs.

"I almost feel bad, here you've given me so much, shown me such wonders, I feel like I've nothing to offer in return." He's mostly grousing in jest, teasing, but it's true. What does he have to offer such a wise and magnificent fae?

Sigma smiled an nodded.

"That can certainly be arranged. Would you mind terribly if I joined you there?"

The fae shook his head and raised his hand with a smile.

"Nonsense. Your pleasant company and the promise that the knowledge I share will not go to waste is more than enough. The winters here can be a bit lonely at times now that Sombra's all grown up. Most of the animals are sleeping or have migrated South. It is nice to have a visitor."

Would he mind? Of course not! What's a little soaking in a hot spring with a giant friendly fae?

"Not at all, Sigma." Besides, this was the fae's home. Who was he to say he couldn't go where he pleased? Though he's sure if he truly wished to be alone the fae would afford him that privacy.

"So what I've gathered is we both enjoy each other's company." Harold chuckles, fusing at his glasses a bit.

"I hope you don't grow sick of me too fast, since I'll be here for a little while." Through the harsh bite of winter, before it's safe to travel out to the city. It's only been a few days after all, it must be a mere blink to Sigma.

"Yes....yes, I am glad to know that we do both enjoy each other's company."

The fae ran his clawed fingers through his hair.

"No, I don't think that will happen."

There was a smile in his voice as well as on his face and his blue eyes looked up and down before shifting over to Harold and eventually met his gaze.

"I am sure we will not tire of each other's company."

Some where in the shadows where Sigma hopefully won't notice her, Sombra is dragging her hands down her face. This is ridiculous.

Harold on the other hand holds that gaze with the fae for a beat, smile tugging a little wider before he changes the subject.

"So then, what's on the agenda today? You must have plenty to do, besides catering to my curiosity?" Like the day before, going out to see the damage of the storm and taking care of those who needed it.

"Not that I'm complaining." Again, they've established they do like each other's company after all.

"Well, I was going to walk the boundary of the mountain. I like to check one side a day when I am able. The storm delayed my check for the East side. You are welcome to accompany me if you like. I could assist you through the drifts, if necessary."

He smiled softly towards the human.

"I...would enjoy your company...and...I could help you gather some medicinal bark for your work."

It's hard not to smile back, so he does. Part of him thinks he should stay inside, the cold won't do him any good, but... when will he ever get this opportunity again?

"How could I refuse such an offer?" He couldn't. He'd be an idiot if he did.

"Here," Harold will sprinkle a little more food for the beautiful fish. Everyone is full now!

"Everyone has had breakfast, let's go see how things are going outside."

"Yes, I believe they are satisfied. Come. Let us get you something to keep you warm. It is still cold out for a human. I believe I have just the thing."

Siebren led Harold through the cavern back the way they came. In one of the rooms, there was a wooden trunk. He lifted the lid and pulled out A sparkling blue and white coat trimmed in thick, white fur. The ice fae shook it out, it clearly did not fit him and was much more in line with Harold's size.

"This was mine when I was younger. The spiders and a neighboring fae made it for me...I still felt the cold when I was young, Ice Fae or not."

He offered it to Harold.

"I believe this will help you keep the chill off during our walk."

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