Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

“Dee da dat da dah~”

Patton sang quietly to himself as he scrubbed the floor of the parlor room. He had heard the quaint little tune during his latest trip to the market, the brassy notes putting a smile on his face and a pep in his step.

“Dah da dat dah dum~”

He liked to hum what few melodies he’s learned over the years while he cleaned. It helped to pass the time while also keeping his mind off of his current aches and pains. It was technically against the rules, as Patton wasn’t allowed to ‘make a sound unless spoken to,’ but by this point he knew how to stretch some of the rules to his favor. He just had to be quiet when alone and silent around others.

“BOY!” Patton’s head snapped up to see his mother at the top of the staircase. He made sure to keep direct eye contact, partly because it was required and partly because his mother was wearing nothing but a loose sheer robe.

“Yes, ma’am?” Patton internally winced at the pain in his voice. Showing weakness just meant worse punishments.

Luckily she didn’t seem to notice, making her way down the stairs to the parlor. “Stop scrubbing the tiles. Your work is…” she sneered at the pristine floors, so clean she could almost use it as a mirror. “. ..adequate. That lazy excuse for a chef decided to walk out on us. Until we can find a new chef, you’ll be expected to cook all of our meals, along with all of your usual tasks. And if I find even a single grape missing, I will lock you in a chest and leave you to starve until you understand how generous we are to feed you at all. Understood?”

He flinched but nodded. “Yes, ma’am.” He wasn’t too surprised by the threat. While he knew that she would uphold her end of it if he stepped out of line, he also knew that she could and would follow through even if he didn’t steal any food. He was also confident that between his parents’ drinking habits and refusal to enter any ‘servant stations’, his actual thievery would go largely unnoticed. As long as Patton kept out of sight and took only a little at a time, he should be fine. No, he was more upset by the loss of the chef. 

Bertrum had been an employee at the manor for as long as Patton could remember, and held one of the few positions that hadn’t constantly rotated through staff as people kept being fired or walked out. His larger frame and thick accent had frightened Patton at first, but eventually the man had become one of the very few people he could trust and feel safe around. Bertrum had taught him everything he knew about cooking, and even offered to teach him to read his large volume of fancy cookbooks. He also always found ways to sneak Patton extra food, sometimes providing him whole meals with his parents being none the wiser. It was something that the boy definitely appreciated, especially on days where he lost his food privileges.

Knowing that Bertrum was gone felt like a rock suddenly weighing down Patton’s chest. Not only had the chef left him, which he had promised to never do, he had also been the only worker left in the manor. Now, all that were left were Patton and his parents.

Patton’s mother sneered at him again before turning to go back upstairs. “Also, the fat bastard stole all of our good meats and cheeses when he ran. It’s too late to get anything of good quality from the market, so just grab some of the older hens from the coop and serve those for supper.”

Patton whimpered. “The chickens? B-but-” That meant he’d have to… k-kill the chickens.

Suddenly, a hand collided with his cheek. Patton reeled back, falling onto the ground behind him. Patton’s mother stood above him, fuming. “What did you say, boy!?”

Patton bit back a whimper. “Nothing, ma’am.”

She gave him a look before huffing, storming up the stairs. “That’s another 5 lashes for tonight. Don’t give me a reason to add more.”

Patton forced himself to stand up, ignoring the pain as dread forced its way into his system. He grabbed the cleaning supplies and limped his way over to the kitchen, putting them in their respective places. He then opened the door from the kitchen to the backyard, whimpering as a few drops of heavy rain hit his skin. He made it about halfway to the coop before collapsing. 

Patton let out a strangled sob as everything hit him at once. The pain in his back from his previous punishments. The pain in his knees and arms from scrubbing the floor for several hours. The pain in his face from talking out of turn. The pain from the heavy raindrops hitting his skin and freezing his bones. The pain of feeling abandoned and truly alone.

Patton continued to cry, unaware that the rain had stopped. Or, more importantly, that the rain had somehow shifted so that the area around Patton remained dry; and the area around the manor’s windows increased with vigor, making it impossible to see anything from inside the manor.

Patton heard the sound of a twig snapping off to his left and immediately sat up, forcing his tears to stop flowing. He internally frowned at the mud on his clothes before forcing a smile onto his face. He turned to look at the person approaching, confusion rising in the back of his mind. The staff were all gone, and there were no guests scheduled to visit tonight. And there was no way that his parents would be found outside in the mud. So who could it be?

Standing a few feet away from Patton was a young man, around 30 years old in appearance. He wore a simple black suit with a blood-red undershirt and handkerchief. His dark brown hair was perfectly arranged, and his tanned skin looked flawless. His dark green eyes pierced their way into Patton’s soul. (Patton was so busy observing the man’s ethereal beauty, he didn’t even realize that the man was completely dry ). The man smiled at Patton, showing his perfectly white teeth. “Hello, young one.” His voice was deep and smooth, reminding Patton of a warm fire after a long day of work. “What is your name?”

Patton let out a shaky breath. The man was a stranger, and it would make sense not to talk to strangers. But Patton’s learned from experience that he would be in pain if he didn’t answer questions when asked. “My name is Patton, sir.”

The man’s smile widened slightly. “Patton, what a lovely name.” Patton shivered as the words brushed across his skin. “Tell me, Patton, what are you doing out here in the rain? And why are you crying?”

And just like that, Patton felt his eyes start to well up with fresh tears. He suddenly felt a tug in his chest, like the words he wanted to keep hidden were being forced from his lungs. Instead, he sniffled and looked over at the coop. “I-I have t-to go kill the chickens.” He whimpered out, wincing as one of his tears rolled over a cut on his jaw.

The man frowned, glancing over at the coop. “Why must you kill the chickens? These seem to be normal egg-laying hens, and young ones at that. Besides, shouldn’t an adult be out here to do this? A child should not have to kill an animal, nor should they be left out in the rain all alone.”

Patton let out a sob, his pain suddenly too much to keep concealed. “B-but I am alone. The cook left and took all the meat with him. Everyone is gone now, so I have to cook and clean and k-kill the chickens or I’ll be punished even more.”

The man’s expression darkened. “Who will be punishing you?”

Patton shook his head. “My parents, Lord and Lady Hart.”

The man frowned. “I was unaware that the Harts had any children. And are you the one who’s keeping the manor in such good condition?”

Patton smiled slightly, glad to prove his usefulness. “I am the only child of Lord and Lady Hart. And yes, I am the one who takes care of the manor!” His voice lowered to a quiet muttering as he elaborated. “There used to be a lot more people to help, a few dozen at a time. But over time, everyone was either fired or ran away. And they always stole something valuable when they left, so now we barely have enough to keep buying food, much less enough to hire more staff. So, I’ve been slowly getting more responsibilities to keep the manor at the level of respect it deserves. I know it’s not the best condition, but I always try my hardest.”

The man smiled, though it didn’t seem to reach his eyes. “Well then, I would like to commend you for your hard work. From what I’ve seen, this manor is in near-pristine condition, and I was even under the impression that a small army of workers would be needed to keep a place this tidy. Who knew one young child could do this much.”

Patton blushed at the praise. “Thank you, but I’m not that young. Father says I’m only a few seasons away from becoming of age.” He’s never said it out loud, but it’s clear that ‘becoming of age’ means ‘no longer our problem.’

The man frowned, tilting his head in confusion. “Really? You are quite small for someone who’s about to become an adult.”

He shrugged, his words seeming to pass his lips before he even had a chance to think about them. “Everyone I’ve met has said that I’m quite small for my age. But that’s alright. Being smaller means that I have more hiding spots that they can’t reach. I still have to come out and get punished eventually, but it tends to hurt a lot less if I wait for their tempers to go away.”

The man clenched his fist slightly, but his smile and relaxed posture stayed the same. “Well, Patton, I came bearing a gift.” He kneeled down to where Patton was still sitting on the ground. “Have you ever heard of the fae? Or of a Fairy Godmother?”

Patton thought for a moment before shaking his head. “I don’t believe I have, sir.”

The man frowned slightly before smiling again. “Well, in most fairytales, a young maiden in need will be blessed with a Fairy Godmother, who helps them achieve their dreams.” He brought his hand up to cup Patton’s bruised cheek. The hand was extremely warm compared to the chilly air, and Patton leaned into the touch. “A Fairy Godfather, on the other hand, is slightly different. They can protect young humans who have been hurt by the people they should be loved by. And you, Patton, have been hurt very badly.”

Patton shook his head. “But sir, I deserve my pain!” He saw the incredulous look he was given, and started rambling. “I only get punished if I did something to deserve it, and I’m always disobedient and need to be set straight. I’m a horrible son. I’ve had people say I deserve better, but everyone who’s said that were liars who left me and made everything worse. Why should I believe them? And even if I had a Fairy Godfather, what’s to stop them from leaving me when they realize how horrible I am? I’d rather be alone for the rest of my life then have someone leave me again!”

“Shh…” A thumb caressed his cheekbone, and Patton melted into the touch, still crying. He hiccupped as the thumb wiped away his tears. “Don’t cry, little one. You are not to blame.” Patton went to interrupt, but the hand grew warmer, and Patton sighed at the blissful feeling. “Patton, you may feel as though you deserved this, but you did not. No child deserves the pain that you’ve been through.” Patton let his head be tilted upwards, and his gaze was suddenly locked onto the man’s piercing emerald gaze. His eyes seemed to glow as he spoke. “Patton, I wish to be your Fairy Godfather. Will you allow me to protect you, to allow yourself true happiness? To end the pain and suffering, once and for all? To raise you by my side, so you will never be alone for as long as I live?” The air around them seemed to still at his words, the world itself bending to his will. “Patton Hart, do you accept me as your Fairy Godfather?”

Patton’s instinctive thought was to say no. He deserved his pain! The man would soon see how damaged Patton was, and Patton didn’t want to burden another person! But another, smaller part of him spoke up. It was the part of Patton that yearned for the warmth of this stranger’s hand. The part of Patton that smiled when he heard a happy tune, and cried with each person that disappeared from his life. The part that didn’t want Patton to be hurt any longer. 

I want to be happy.

Patton let out a sob, nodding his head frantically. The man smiled sadly. “Child, I need you to use that lovely voice of yours.”

Patton ignored the way his voice cracked as he forced himself to answer. “Yes! I accept you as my Fairy Godfather.”

The man smiled, his green eyes glowing. “Then it is done.” There was a flash of bright light, reminiscent of a fire, and Patton had to close his eyes. The light seemed just as bright behind closed eyes, yet he felt the urge to keep them shut. “Now, I must leave to prepare some things. When I return, we will complete the bond and officially make you my godson. I just need you to hold out until then. Can you do that?” Patton nodded, and the hand on his cheek seemed to get even warmer. “Good. If you need anything before then, just call out to me. It can be a shout to the heavens or a whisper in the dark. No matter where you are or what’s going on, as long as you call for me, I will hear you and come find you.” The hand pulled away, and Patton tried his best not to be upset at the loss of warmth. “Until we meet again, Patton Hart.” The light disappeared, and everything went quiet outside of the pitter patter of rain against the windows.

When Patton finally opened his eyes, the man was gone, a small ring lying where he once stood. It was a beautiful gold ring with ruby gemstones along the band. He slipped the ring onto his finger, and was surprised to see that it was a perfect fit. Patton slowly stood up, noting that not only had the rain stopped, the pain on his cheek had completely disappeared. He turned towards the chicken coop, dread forming in his stomach from what he now had to do-

Two chickens were laid out next to the coop, both with their necks snapped. Patton shakily made his way to the coop, scooping up the chickens to take inside. Their feathers were mysteriously dry, and so were Patton’s cheeks. He had no more tears to shed at the moment.

Patton lugged the dead chickens inside, checking his face in the nearby mirror. His cheek was still bruised, but Patton couldn’t feel any pain from it. Patton shrugged it off, focusing on the task at hand. Despite taking all the good food with him, Betrum was kind enough to leave his old cookbooks. 

As he flipped through the pages, Patton felt both the warmth and chill swirl in his chest, like a bittersweet song or the end of a hug. Like with many of the staff, Patton never had a chance to say his final goodbyes to the kind chef. And it seemed like the weight in his chest would never fully fade away. But the feeling of yellowed pages between his hands and the ruby ring on his finger made everything feel slightly better.

Chapter Text

Despite the near magical moment outside, things quickly returned to normal. Patton was still expected to cook and clean for his parents, and he still faced consequences if he underperformed or stepped out of line. The punishments themselves seemed to be the only change. Before his encounter with the strange man, Patton would get a small punishment right after his disobedience (usually a slap or kick) and then receive his actual punishment later that night (usually lashings followed by getting locked outside or in a closet to starve). However, it seemed as if his parents now forgot about their usual nightly punishments, even after mentioning how they’d punish him later.

The only other evidence of that fateful night was the ring now resting on Patton’s finger. Originally, he hid it in his pocket, only wearing it when he was sure he was alone. But eventually he realized that his parents couldn’t see the ring while it was on his finger, and after a few days he decided to wear the ring whenever he could. It was a symbol of hope, that his encounter with the “fairy” had been real.

(Patton knew that his interaction was real, the ring was evidence enough. But he didn’t believe that the man was entirely truthful. Afterall, his so-called “fairy-godfather” had been gone for days now with no signs of returning. And who would want someone like Patton anyways? But he still kept the ring on, and dreamt of the day that the man would return.)

(He also never spoke the words “fairy godfather” aloud, even though each passing day wore down his hope bit by bit. The man was probably busy, and he said he would come and retrieve Patton when he had everything ready. Besides, a small part of him feared that this was all a trick from his parents. If he tried to summon the “fairy”, it would just prove to them that he wanted to escape from them, and the consequences of that would be too severe for Patton to risk it.)

Before he knew it, nearly two weeks had passed, and the monotony was eventually broken by the arrival of a letter. Patton didn’t recognize the family crest, and neither did his father, but that didn’t stop the man’s excitement.

“Lord Ignis and his associates would like to join us for dinner in three days' time. He has a business proposition involving Hart’s Hearty Liquors!”

“But dear -HIC!” Patton’s mother interrupted, the bottle they were sharing held loosely in her grip. “The fields have been dried up for months now. We -HIC- have plenty of product, but who would buy a share when we’re only months from going under?”

Lord Hart growled, shaking the letter in her direction. “That’s the point, you blubbering fool!” Patton’s parents were always at each other’s throats, only pausing to take their frustrations out on their son. Unless they managed to both get too drunk to care about hating each other, which was also a frequent occurrence. “We know that, but Lord Ignis doesn’t. We’ll sell him the field and 30% of our product, all at a high price with the agreement that we get half of any product he makes. If he gets the field to grow again, we’ll be back to making money again in no time! If he doesn’t, we’ll be pocketing the cash before the oaf realizes that he’s been tricked!” It took a moment but Patton’s mother eventually caught on, her shrill laugh echoing her husband’s dark chuckles. 

“BOY!” Patton quickly turned from where he had been dusting the nearby windows, facing his father’s manic smile. “We will be serving 5 guests, so make sure that there is enough food for all of us. And none of that cheap shit you’ve been buying from the market! This meal must be fit for a king!” Patton nodded, and his father’s smile quickly morphed into a snarl. “I expect this place to be spotless, and if I see even a trace of your presence during their stay, I will make you wish you were never born. Do I make myself clear?” Patton mumbled a quick “yes sir” and scurried away to prepare for the big night.

The next few days passed in a blur, with Patton spending the entire time either scrubbing the manor clean or shopping at the market. Luckily, the letter had put his parents in a good mood. They seemed too busy making themselves look presentable to bother paying attention to Patton’s mistakes. However, the letter itself was a double-edged sword, as the deadline for perfection was approaching far too soon. By the morning of the dinner, Patton’s body was aching from the strain. He was exhausted by this point, having been too busy to get any proper rest. And the extra work only made his hunger worse, reminding him that he hadn’t been able to eat a full meal in weeks.  

However, eventually the frenzy of chores reached its end. Patton had just put his finishing touches on the dining room and was now preparing dinner when his father’s voice rang throughout the house. “Welcome! You must be Lord Ignis. It is a pleasure to meet you!”

The person laughed. “You’re referring to my brother. You may call me Viridi. These are my associates. You may call them Anguis and Glacies. My brother had some matters to attend to, but he and our final associate should arrive before dinner begins.”

Patton continued to chop the vegetables as he heard his father speak. “Then, let us wait for them in the study.” Patton heard footsteps moving in the opposite direction and sighed, wiping the sweat off of his brow. He was ready to finish cooking and relax in the servant’s quarters for the night.

The door suddenly swung open, revealing Lady Hart. “Is the food ready, boy?”

Patton shrunk under her gaze, but continued to cut the vegetables even as he panicked. Why was she in here?! Patton had never seen her enter the kitchens before. “The chicken, turkey and pasta are ready to be served, ma’am. I’m currently cutting up the vegetables for the salad. It should be ready in a few minutes.”

Patton’s mother glared at him. “It should already be done by now!”

Patton whimpered. “I’m sorry.”

His mother scoffed. “Grab some of the older bottles from the cellar, they should still taste decent. And whip up some dessert while you’re at it. One of them has a sweet tooth, and the longer we can keep them talking the better.”

Patton frowned. “I didn’t have any dessert planned…” He wasn’t sure there was anything left to make a dessert. He had only bought ingredients to make tonight’s dinner. And while there were some sweeter items in the pantry, such as his mother’s collection of jams and jellies, Patton wasn’t sure what to do with them. Bertrum’s cookbooks only showed savory dinners, nothing sweet and definitely not a dessert.

Patton shouldn’t have been surprised by the pain that now bloomed across the back of his skull. He whimpered as he accidentally cut himself with the knife. “Listen here you brat.” She growled out. “You are nothing but a nuisance and a waste of space. We should’ve tossed you to the streets the moment you were born, but we kept a roof over your head out of the kindness of our hearts. And now you have the nerve to backtalk me in my own home?!” She pushed him forward, and Patton winced as the knife dug into his skin. “You’re lucky we have guests tonight or I would-” she started up another rant before pausing, having lost the energy to keep going. “Just make the damn food.” And with that, she left.

Patton held back tears as he held his now blood-covered hand close to his chest. The pain was excruciating, and Patton didn’t know what to do-

“Is she always like that?” Patton spun around to see a man sitting on the countertop near the door, relaxed as if he’d been there for hours. He wore an expensive-looking black suit with a purple undershirt and handkerchief. His pitch black hair almost completely covered his amethyst colored eyes. His skin was deathly pale, nearly translucent.

Patton attempted to ignore the pain in his hand as he answered the man’s question. “I’m not sure what you mean, sir-”

“Please drop the formalities.” The man interrupted, examining his dark purple nails. “Just call me Umbra.”

Patton bowed his head. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Umbra. My name is Patton.”

Umbra seemed to shudder as his eyes appeared to glow. Patton blinked in surprise, and the glowing was gone. “It’s dangerous to just give your name out like that, Pa-” He suddenly stopped, appearing to sniff the air. His gaze focused on Patton’s hands. “You’re injured.”

Patton looked down, staring at his blood-soaked hands. He’d almost forgotten about his injury. “It’s fine-”

A hand touched his, and Patton looked up in alarm. Umbra was suddenly in front of him, inches away. Patton felt his breath catch as Umbra whispered. “I’d assumed it was all the meat I was smelling…” His fingers traced through Patton’s blood along the cut, and Patton felt a shiver go up his spine. They stood like that for several seconds before Umbra’s fingers grazed against Patton’s ring. “Where did you get this?”

Patton saw Umbra’s expression and looked down at his feet. “You wouldn’t believe me if I told you.”

“But he said…” There was a moment of silence before Umbra sighed, letting go of his hand. “The bleeding stopped. Go ahead and rinse the blood off. I’ll finish chopping the vegetables.” Patton was about to speak up, but Umbra beat him to it. “Do it, Patton.”

Patton felt the shiver again as he went to do what he was told, knowing that he could get in more trouble for refusing. He carefully washed the blood off of his hands, making sure that there were no stains from it. He looked back at Umbra and was surprised to see that the salad was done, next to what looked like a freshly baked pie. “H-how?”

Umbra smirked. “I am a man of many talents.” He turned and opened the door leading to the dining room. “It was a pleasure to meet you, Patton. I’m sure we’ll meet again soon.”

Patton shuddered as the door closed. While he wasn’t scared of Umbra, there was something about him that made Patton uneasy. Or maybe it was his exhaustion playing tricks on him.

Patton shook his head, grabbing the salad and pie. He needed to have the dining table ready for dinner!

It only took a few minutes to finish setting the table, each dish covered to keep them warm and fresh. He then made a stop to the cellar to grab some liquor. The cellar itself was huge, with enough bottles for Patton to lose count. But, based on the complaints Patton’s parents have made, it seemed as though the newer batches were tasting worse and worse. It was one of the main reasons why they were so excited about the deal; once it became apparent that the newer batches had all gone bad and the wheat fields were no longer growing, all of their previous partners withdrew their funds. If Patton had to guess, the “30%” his parents had discussed would be entirely composed of newer batches, while they kept the older ones to themselves. However, tonight was about tricking Lord Ignis into actually purchasing the liquor, so they needed to present the best that they had. Patton felt bad about tricking a stranger, but easing his guilty conscience wouldn’t be worth the punishment. Besides, this was the best his parents had treated him in years. Maybe if the deal went through, his parents would be so happy that they would stop punishing him altogether! So, he grabbed the oldest bottles he could find and brought them back to the dining room.

Once he was done, Patton returned to the kitchen. He really wanted to go and sleep in the servant’s quarters, but he didn't want to get in trouble for not cleaning up the kitchen. He felt his stomach twist in hunger, and Patton wished that he had eaten some of the food before moving it to the dining room. But his mother had seen the dishes when they were nearly done, while being the most sober Patton had seen her be in a while. She would notice if anything went missing tonight. And while Umbra’s help had been appreciated, the man seemed to have worked too well. The only remnants of the salad were dirty knives and the inedible bits, and there were no traces of pie crust or filling to be seen. 

But it was all fine. If the deal went well, Patton’s parents would probably drink themselves into a stupor. He could eat the remains of the dinner after they passed out and steal some of their breakfast while they were nursing hangovers. He just had to finish cleaning and leave before-

Suddenly, Patton heard the door from the parlor to the dining room open. “My esteemed guests, may I present to you: your dinner!”

Patton froze, doing his best to stay silent. He wasn’t allowed to be in the dining room while the guests were eating, and the only other door led to the chicken coop, and Patton wasn’t allowed outside unless he was doing chores! He was stuck in the kitchen until the meal was over!

Patton was pulled out of his panic by a familiar voice. “Thank you for treating us to this feast, Lord Hart.”

Patton stood shakily as he heard his father chuckle. “Please, Lord Hart reminds me of my father. We have no need for formalities between us. My name is John, and this is my wife, Elizabeth.”

There was a different chuckle, new yet so familiar. “Then call me Rubrum.”

Patton’s skin felt warm, like he was surrounded by a thick blanket, despite the chill of the kitchen. He began creeping towards the door, his father’s voice ringing out. “Well, I’ve been introduced to the others, but who is this gentleman?”

A different voice answered, only recognizable because Patton had just heard it minutes prior. “You may call me Umbra. It is a pleasure to be here, John.” The voice and name were identical, but the tone was so different that it made Patton pause. The man’s voice was silky and lilted, like he was actually happy to be here. Was that really the gruff stranger who had helped him?

He cracked open the door and surveyed the dining room. Patton’s father was closest to him, sitting at the head of the table. His back was to Patton, and for that he was grateful. Patton’s mother sat on his left. A few seats down sat five men in expensive black suits with different colored accessories. He recognized one of them as Umbra, and-

Patton barely held back a gasp, remembering to stay silent at the last second. Sitting at the other end of the table, staring directly at him from his spot behind the door, was Patton’s Fairy Godfather.

Chapter Text

Patton bit back a gasp as he made eye contact with his Fairy Godfather. Lord Rubrum Ignis, if his position at the head of the table had anything to go by. Patton couldn’t place it, but that name didn’t seem to fit the man. The name rubbed against Patton in a way that made his skin crawl. Thinking back on it, calling the purple-clad man Umbra had rubbed Patton the wrong way too. But why?

Patton bit back a whimper as his stomach clenched painfully in hunger. He watched with fear in his eyes as his father got up to turn around. “What the devil was that?” Patton was frozen with fear. If he saw Patton, he was dead for sure-

“Pay no attention to whatever’s behind you, John Hart.” Patton watched in awe as his father immediately went lax, sitting back down. Patton’s attention focused back on Lord Ignis, who was now talking to Patton’s mother. “Pay no attention to whatever’s on your right, Elizabeth Hart. I’m sure it doesn’t warrant your immediate attention.”

Patton watched with wide eyes as his mother went slack as well. Well, slack wasn’t the right word. It was more like she was following Lord Ignis’ ideas as if they were her own. Patton watched as his mother smiled. “You’re right, Rubrum. It was most likely our chef, packing up for the day. Right, Love?”

Patton frowned as his father chuckled. "Ah, our chef spends so much time in that kitchen; you would think he lives here!” But they didn’t have a chef. They had just fired Bertrum two weeks ago. And they couldn’t possibly be talking about Patton, because Patton did live here. Were they so ashamed of Patton that even his work was something they needed to hide?

Patton saw Lord Ignis and Umbra frown, and he suddenly realized that they knew the truth. Patton had told his Fairy Godfather about how Lord Hart fired their previous chef, and Umbra had seen Patton preparing dinner in the kitchen. Umbra’s grip on his fork tightened considerably, and Lord Ignis’ gaze flickered over to Patton once again.

The person on Lord Ignis’ right suddenly spoke up. “Well, could you give my compliments to the chef? This chicken is delicious!” The person looked strikingly similar to Patton’s Fairy Godfather, with a few key differences. He wore green accessories in contrast with Lord Ignis’ red accessories. His eyes were blood red, which perfectly matched the blood on his mustache-

Patton’s eyes widened in shock. He must’ve not cooked that chicken all the way through! Oh, he was going to be punished for sure!

Lord Ignis nudged the man with his elbow, and the green-clad man (Patton’s pretty sure this was Lord Ignis’ brother. Wasn’t his name Viridi?) sighed, waving his hand and- the blood! It just disappeared! Patton gasped, and then held his breath as Viridi’s gaze immediately snapped to Patton’s position. Patton tensed as Viridi opened his mouth to speak-

Patton’s ring suddenly glowed bright red. Patton suppressed a whimper as all of his parent’s guests turned to look at Patton. They stared for a few moments before turning to Lord Ignis, who was continuing his conversation with Patton’s father like nothing had happened. “Yes, John. Could we perhaps speak with your chef? He is quite talented.” He looked over at Patton again, and Patton tilted his head in confusion. His Fairy Godfather knew that Patton had cooked it, he knew that his parents were lying. So why was he playing into the lie? 

Patton’s father seemed nervous as he shifted in his seat. “I’m afraid our chef is rather shy. Besides, he’s probably quite ready to go home to his family. We send all of our staff home as soon as their tasks are done. We try to be courteous and fair to them, after all.” Patton frowned, trying to figure out why his father was saying these things. Lord Hart had made it clear over the years that he barely saw his workers as real people. Patton had felt bad for them, but he’d assumed that this was how the world worked. That’s why as soon as Patton started working, he was treated the same way the servants were (not that Patton could remember a time when he wasn’t working). But the way he was acting now was confusing. Was this not how workers were meant to be treated? Not only that, but apparently Patton’s father knew this and still did it anyway, just behind closed doors. But why?

Lord Ignis chuckled. “That is to be expected of the Lord of such an esteemed family.” Patton scrunched his nose at the odd choice of wording, ignoring his aching joints and gnawing hunger. He should go back into the kitchen and find a place to wait quietly until dinner was over. But something held him back. Maybe it was the fact that he’d always followed orders and went to bed before the guests arrived, so he’d never seen his parents interact with anyone besides Patton and their previous workers. Maybe it was the intrigue he felt towards these guests, who behaved differently than anything Patton had ever known. Maybe it was the fact that Patton’s Fairy Godfather knew that Patton was there but didn’t say anything, implying that he wanted Patton to be there. Maybe it was the odd pull he felt towards Lord Ignis, attracting him like a moth to a flame.

Lord Ignis continued. “Speaking of expectations, do you have an heir, or are you at least planning on having an heir?”

Patton’s father sighed dramatically, placing his hand atop of Patton’s mother’s. “I’m afraid we have no heir, nor can we have any children. It’s a sensitive topic for us, I hope you understand.”

Patton was frozen in shock, not noticing the way everyone in the room seemed to tense at the statement. Patton barely registered the fact that they were still talking.

“And what about you, Rubrum? You’re quite a strapping young man. Any plans for a wife and heir?”

“Sadly, I have yet to find anyone who will provide me with a biological child. Though I do have a godson.”

“A godson? What’s he like?”

“He’s an amazing child with a heart of gold. He hasn’t had the best childhood, though I intend on changing that soon.”

Lord Hart chuckled, and Patton’s vision started to blur. It took him a moment to realize that he had tears blurring his vision. The voices started to become unrecognizable, and Patton felt his throat constricting.

(If Patton could see and hear, he would see the way everyone but his parents were staring at Patton in sympathy. Multiple guests were clenching their silverware, some even bending the metal with their carelessness. Lord and Lady Hart were the only ones left eating.

If Patton knew anything about the Fae, he would know that they couldn’t do anything, because in Fae culture rude guests are punishable by death or worse. But Patton was never taught about the Fae, and the guests were forced to watch as a child suffered before them.)

Patton forced out a shuddering breath, forcing himself to back away. A part of Patton winced as the door slammed shut, but he couldn’t bring himself to care at the moment. It was one thing for them to pretend that Patton’s work was done by someone else, that made sense. They probably just wanted to make themselves look like good people before they offered their deal. But to act like Patton didn’t even exist? It didn’t make any sense! 

Patton forced himself deeper into the kitchen, not reacting when he bumped against counters and knocked the loud pots onto the floor. His breath was shallow as he forced himself to move forward. He was numb to everything. The pain from his punishments. The pain in his stomach from hunger. The pain in his heart from what his father had said. He was numb to it all.

Patton didn’t register the fact that the kitchen doors had opened and closed behind him. Nor did he register the whisper-screaming behind him. But he did register a hand roughly turning him around, and the furious face of his father scowling down at him.

Chapter Text

Patton whimpered as his father’s fingers dug into his shoulders, likely forming new bruises. Lord Hart was whispering furiously, trying to not alert the guests. “You little shit! I give you warm clothes and a roof over your head, and you have the gall to interrupt our dinner with your pathetic presence!? You should be lucky that there are guests in the other room, or I would beat you to death right here and now!” He pushed Patton away roughly, straightening his collar. “Just you wait, boy. As soon as Lord Ignis and his party have left, you will get the punishment you deserve.” Lord Hart turned on his heel, presumably to go back to dinner. “And you better have this kitchen spotless, boy. Your mother and I did not go through the trouble of making you just so you could be a waste of space!”

Normally, Patton would offer a meek “yes sir” and start cleaning right away, his mind filling with both guilt and dread. But after everything he heard tonight, a new, traitorous thought entered his mind. 

This isn’t right.

A hand collided with Patton’s face and he collapsed, the back of his head hitting the table behind him. Spots began to dance across the room as Patton belatedly realized that he had said his realization out loud. Lord Hart loomed over Patton and began to kick him while he was on the ground. Patton found his arms unable to cooperate, vulnerable as his father kicked his sides and legs. “Listen here, you little bastard! I own you! No one else! And I get to use you as I see fit. Whether that means making you my little slave, or beating you to my heart’s content. You will never be my heir, and you will never be my son! Do you hear me, boy!? You will always be my property, and there’s nothing you can do about it!”

Patton whimpered, the words from Lord Hart’s mouth making each kick hurt even worse. He felt his arms start to cooperate and went to cover the areas his father was kicking. That’s when he felt the ring on his finger.

‘I own you!’

But he didn’t own Patton anymore, did he? Lord Ignis claimed Patton as his godson, and had returned even when Patton almost lost hope. He even had the ring to prove it!

‘A Fairy Godfather, on the other hand, is slightly different. They can protect young humans who have been hurt by the people they should be loved by.’

Lord Ignis promised to protect Patton. To let him be safe and happy.

‘No child deserves the pain that you’ve been through.’

Lord and Lady Hart have done nothing but hurt Patton. They don’t even see him as their child, just as their slave. It wasn’t fair!

‘Will you allow me to protect you, to allow yourself true happiness? To end the pain and suffering, once and for all?’

Yes! Patton bit back a sob as his father Lord Hart continued to kick him, spewing obscenities with every kick. I don’t want to hurt anymore! Patton’s blurry gaze traveled to the door, where he knew Lord Ignis sat on the other side. Would he help Patton? Or would he see this as too much, and leave Patton to his fate?

A harsh kick to Patton’s already bruised ribs answered the question for him, and Patton opened his mouth to scream as loud as he could. “FAIRY GODFATHER! HELP!”

Lord Hart was suddenly slammed against the wall. He was suspended by at least a foot, Lord Ignis’ hand around his neck. Lord Ignis’ eyes were glowing bright green, and the air around him was an inferno of stifling heat. Lord Ignis looked furious, but his voice remained level as he tutted. “What an awful excuse of a host, leaving the dinner halfway through to hurt my godson.” The hand tightened, and Lord Hart’s face turned an interesting shade of purple. “You will never touch him again.” 

Lord Ignis said something else, but Patton wasn’t able to hear it. His vision was slowly turning dark, and his limbs were unpleasantly numb. Maybe he could shut his eyes for a moment-

“Open your eyes, Patton.” Patton forced his eyes back open, staring at Umbra. When did he get here? Patton tried to move so he could look at Lord Ignis and Lord Hart, and he gasped at the sight. Lord Ignis looked like he was on fire, red smoke surrounding him and Lord Hart. Patton saw his form start to flicker and he saw long hair and claws-

Umbra snapped to get his attention. “Focus on me, Patton. I need you to stay awake for me, okay?” Patton tried to nod, but his head started to throb and he winced. “Okay, good. I need you to answer a few questions. Do you know where you are?”

Patton opened his mouth to respond. He was- …. Where was he? Everything seemed foggy. Why was he on the floor? His side flared up in pain. Patton whimpered. His sides always hurt after his father’s punishments. It usually felt better after Patton went to sleep. Patton felt his eyelids grow heavy. A little nap couldn’t hurt anything, right?

Patton heard a muffled voice through the fog. “Shit. We need to leave, Princey! Patton, you need to-”

Whatever the voice was about to say, Patton didn’t hear it as he let the blissful darkness consume him.

Patton woke up slowly, finding himself unable to open his eyes or move. He felt a little floaty; his body was tingly and he struggled to remember what happened. Voices could be heard speaking in harsh whispers, and Patton forced himself to focus on what they were saying.

“I should’ve been there sooner!”

“You know you couldn’t do anything until Patton asked for help.” 

“Yes but if I knew he was hurt-”

“You couldn’t have known. The bond hasn’t been completed.” There was a pause, and even though Patton couldn’t see anything, he felt like he was intruding on something personal. “Stop beating yourself up about this, Ro. He’s here and healing, and I’m sure he’ll wake up soon.”

‘Ro’ sighed. “I know, love. I just wish I could’ve prevented it somehow. He’s so small. And he hasn’t even heard about Fairies before! What if we try to help him and we accidentally hurt him?!”

It was the mystery voice’s turn to sigh. “You know panicking is my thing. Stop stealing my thunder.”  There was the sound of a kiss followed by a quiet hum. “We’re gonna get through this, alright? We’ll gather the others and come up with a plan later. But right now, he needs you. When he wakes up he’s gonna be hurt and confused and scared. And you panicking won’t make things any better. So you need to stop freaking out and be the Fairy Godfather he needs right now. Alright, Princey?”

‘Ro’ said something, but Patton couldn’t understand it as he was pulled back to sleep.

The second time Patton woke up, he was met with a pounding headache and pain all over. He whimpered, scrunching his eyes in an attempt to block out the pain. Something warm touched his forehead and Patton melted into the touch. His skin grew pleasantly warm, and the pain began to recede slightly. It felt similar to a massage, and Patton sighed at the truly blissful feeling. He heard someone chuckle next to him. “I’ve never had someone react to my magic like that.”

Patton’s eyes snapped open, only to immediately close them. The bright light only made his headache worse, and Patton moaned in pain. He felt the warmth go away and he whimpered, nuzzling the hand on his forehead in an attempt to pull the remaining heat closer to him.

“Shh. There is no need to fret, child.” The hand began to massage Patton’s temples. “Open your eyes when you are ready, and not a moment sooner.”

They sat like that for several minutes before Patton gained the strength to open his eyes again. The lights were much softer this time, and Patton took a moment to take in his surroundings.

The bed itself was bigger than the room Patton usually slept in, with large blue curtains wrapped around the bedposts. The room was massive, with wooden floors and pale blue walls. Large windows covered most of the left wall, showing a large empty field that stretched for miles. Two doors were in front of Patton, and a third door sat on his right. Beautiful golden lights hung from his ceiling, reminding Patton of the little fireflies he’d see out at night.

Patton felt the hand brush through his hair and he turned to look at the person next to him. He smiled when he recognized the person. “Fairy Godfather!”

Lord Ignis smiled softly. “Good morning, child. I hope you had a restful slumber.”

Patton yawned, wincing as his side flared in pain. Why was his side hurting so much-

He suddenly whimpered as the memories returned. The dinner, his parents claiming to have no children, the beating, Patton calling out for help, and finally him losing consciousness. Patton wanted to curl up into a ball, but his aching limbs protested. Patton felt tears begin to fall down his cheeks as he spoke. “M-my parents…”

Lord Ignis reached down to grab Patton’s hand, twisting the ring back and forth. “They do not deserve that title. They are monsters that hurt you, young one. And I promise, I will do my best to ensure that those vermin are never able to harm you again.”

Patton felt himself relax at those words before their meaning caught up with him. “Are they…”

“Dead?” Patton nodded, unable to say it. “No. They are currently locked in the dungeon, unable to harm you. We will decide on their fate another day. For now, you need time to heal.” He placed his hand on Patton’s shoulder. “Can you try and sit up for me?”

Patton nodded, happy to be of use. It took several tries to fully sit up, but Patton felt a surge of satisfaction when he did. He swung his legs out to the side in an attempt to get up when a hand stopped him.

“There’s no need to get up just yet. I just want you to sit up so you can eat some food. Is there anything you would prefer to eat?”

Patton tilted his head to the side, confused. “Prefer?”

Lord Ignis frowned before clarifying. “You get to choose what you will eat today.”

Patton thought for a moment. He never got to choose his food, always eating ends of bread or scraps from leftover meals. Is there anything he’s ever wanted to eat?

“... may I have jam?”

Lord Ignis looked confused. “Jam?”

Patton whimpered. “I-I don’t have to have any! Mother just always had jam with her biscuits in the morning. I wasn’t allowed to have anything other than bread or leftovers, and Mother didn’t want me to waste the jam, but I’ve always wanted to try some with my bread.” Patton turned away, ready to be smacked. “But I’ll be fine with bread and water, I promise!”

Patton felt something touch his shoulder and he flinched, expecting pain. The touch immediately receded, and Patton looked up to see Lord Ignis staring. He looked… sad? Angry? Patton couldn’t tell.

Lord Ignis suddenly smiled, moving to stand up. “I’ll go get you some food. Please do not leave the room. You need time to rest and heal. I will be back soon.”

Patton forced himself to smile back, masking his shock as Lord Ignis left the room. His Fairy Godfather had seemed upset with Patton’s response, so why didn’t he punish him? Patton’s parents would make sure he knew why they were upset, and would punish him so his mistake wouldn’t be repeated. So why wasn’t he punished now?

Patton kept thinking about it, but eventually he felt a familiar urge rise up and he forced himself to stand up. He groaned and pressed a hand to his side. The pain in his head was mostly gone, but Patton could already tell that his stomach and sides would bruise soon. Luckily he was good at ignoring his pain. He instead glanced up at the doors in front of him.

Lord Ignis said not to leave the room… but maybe one of the other doors led to a bathroom? 

Patton carefully made his way to the two doors in front of him. The first door led to an empty room, but once Patton gave it a good look he realized what it was. A walk-in closet. Mother had one too, but not nearly as big. Patton shut the door before turning to the next one. Patton could barely contain his gasp in surprise. The bathroom was beautiful, and larger than any bathroom Patton had ever seen. The tub itself looked large enough to hold several people comfortably. Everything looked so expensive, and - are those faucets real gold?

Patton was in awe for several moments before he felt the increasing urge to relieve himself. Patton quickly used the facilities, attempting to touch as few things as possible. He didn’t want to sully such fine craftsmanship with his touch, after all. Patton was still in awe as he left the bathroom, wondering how such a place could ever be afforded-

“What are you doing out of bed?”

Chapter Text

“What are you doing out of bed?”

Patton jumped, staring at the figure with wide eyes. It took a moment for him to recognize the person leaning into the doorway. Lord Ignis’ brother. Isn’t his name Viridi? Patton then registered the question and bowed his head. “I-I’m sorry, sir. I know I’m n-not allowed to leave the room, b-but I had to use the r-restroom, and-”

Viridi stepped forward, and Patton immediately went quiet. He did his best to not curl in on himself in fear, knowing that would only make his punishment worse. Hopefully, he would only get a slap or two for disobedience, but Patton was never good at judging the severity of things. As the seconds ticked by with no pain or verbal command Patton felt himself tense up more and more. His mother and father never waited, always punishing him immediately. So why wasn’t he being touched or ordered around? Did he want Patton to clarify his disobedience? No, then he would be ordered to do so. If he wanted Patton to continue speaking he could’ve just punished him for being silent. Maybe he wanted to wait so he wouldn’t be able to tell when it’s coming?

Patton’s vision started to blur, his mind racing. Images of past punishments flickered through his head. Did he want Patton to pick his punishment? Mother made him do that sometimes. Maybe he’s waiting for him to kneel so he can be lashed with a belt. But Father always told him to kneel or pushed him to the ground. He’s not doing anything why isn’t he hurting me what’s my punishment I’m scared I can’t breathe-

Patton felt a hand on his shoulder and flinched. The hand didn’t move at all, just applying enough pressure for Patton to know it was there. It would be so easy to push him to the ground or slap his face or strangle him or-

The hand shifted to his back, and the rest of Viridi’s body seemed to press itself against Patton. “Focus, Kid. You’re safe. I’m not gonna hurt you, I promise.” Patton felt something warm spread throughout his body, moving from his chest to the tips of his toes. His head felt fuzzy and when he opened his eyes, everything had an odd green tint. He couldn’t see Viridi anymore, his head on his shoulder. Patton couldn’t tell what was happening. Why were Viridi’s arms around him? He felt like he should recognize the motion but his whole body was seized up in fear.

“It hurts, doesn’t it?” Patton went silent at the question, and Viridi elaborated. “The thoughts. You shouldn’t have this many bad thoughts.” Patton whimpered again, ashamed at how weak and broken he was. “Hey, I felt that. Just because you have bad thoughts doesn’t mean you’re bad or weak or broken.”

Patton gasped. “I-I’m sorry sir, I d-didn’t mean to speak out of turn!” He whimpered as he remembered the pain he got in the kitchen for speaking out loud.

The green tint became stronger as Viridi spoke. “Hey, it’s okay. You’re not getting punished for speaking your mind. Actually, we want you to talk, Kid. It’s easier to understand what’s wrong when you talk. And you didn’t actually say that out loud, I felt your thoughts.”

Patton frowned, confused. “You… felt my thoughts?”

Suddenly the green tint became a green light, swirling around in Patton’s vision. He gasped at the sight. He brought his hand up to touch the light and gasped again. The light was covering his entire hand, licking against his skin like a warm fire. “It’s pretty neat, isn’t it?” Patton nodded, staring at the light. “That’s my magic. Me and your Godfather can both do it. Fire magic and Dream magic. The ‘Dream’ part helps us figure out what you’re thinking. My brother can see and hear what people are thinking like he’s the one imagining it, but he can’t really tell how you feel about it. Mine’s a lot messier, but it lets me know exactly how you’re feeling. So I don’t know exactly what you’re thinking, but I know you’re scared that I’m gonna hurt you. Which I won’t, by the way.”

Patton frowned at the implications. “I’m sorry you have to feel all of that. My par…” He remembered what Lord Ignis said about them and stopped. If they didn’t treat him like parents should, then he wouldn’t call them his parents anymore. “Lord and Lady Hart wanted me to remember my punishments so I would learn my lesson and behave better. If I… was prepared for the correct punishment, they wouldn’t be as harsh and it would hurt less.”

There was a pause before Viridi spoke again, his voice barely above a whisper. “So those feelings… they’re memories, not just random ideas?” Patton nodded, and he felt Viridi’s hold get slightly tighter. “When I get my hands on those bastards-” 

Patton whimpered as he felt the pressure increase. It wasn’t anywhere near painful, but he didn’t know what was going on and his best guess was that he was going to be crushed. He tried to stop himself from stiffening up (when had he relaxed?), knowing that it would just make it worse. Please don’t hurt me please don’t-

The arms immediately went lax, but they didn’t move. “Why do you still think I’ll hurt ya?” Without thinking, Patton moved his arms a little. The arms around him pressed tighter, and he felt his panic rise up again. The green light got slightly brighter for a few seconds. “You’re scared I’ll… crush you? Why would… oh.” Viridi’s hands began rubbing small circles into Patton’s back. “Do you not know what a hug is?”

Patton frowned. “A hug? Yeah, but not like this.” Patton had seen hugs, sure, but he’d never really felt one before. The closest he got to hugs were back when the manor was fully staffed. Some of the friendlier staff would pull him to their side and wrap and arm around his shoulders. But it was always brief, and never this tight.

Viridi sighed. “Well, I can’t leave without you knowing what a proper hug is like. Here, wrap your arms around me.” Patton followed the order, still confused. “You’re supposed to add just enough pressure to comfort, not enough to hurt. I’m gonna hug you now, okay? Tell me if you wanna stop.” Patton nodded as the arms squeezed him lightly.

The pressure was… Patton couldn’t think of a word to describe it. He’d thought that the green light was warm, it was nothing compared to this. It felt like a blanket wrapped around his shoulders, protecting him from the chill. It reminded him of a long lost friend, or seeing your shadow after years in the dark. It felt like protection, comfort and love. It felt like his Fairy Godfather’s magic. It felt like home.

(And wasn’t that the most shameful part of this whole experience? That after only a few hours, he felt home not in the place he grew up in, but in the memory of a man he barely knew and the arms of a stranger? What would his parents think if they saw how pitiful he was?)

(For the first time, he didn’t care.)

Patton broke down, sobbing into Viridi’s shoulder. He felt Viridi start to pull away and he whined, trying to pull him closer. The hug was almost painfully warm but it felt right. Viridi sighed. “I’m sorry they hurt you, Kid. If I could, I would make them pay a thousand times over. I would rip off their toes and feed them to the other. I would make them relive every punishment you’ve ever had and have them trapped in an endless cycle of pain as they bled out.”

The thought of Viridi hurting Patton’s parents should’ve made Patton feel… something . Anger, fear, sympathy. But all Patton felt was calm and… happy. Safe. He truly cares.

Viridi sighed, adjusting his hold. Suddenly, Patton was being held off of the ground, safe in Viridi’s arms. The green light fully dissipated as he spoke. “C’mon, Kid. You need to lay-”

“Patton.” Viridi stiffened, but Patton continued. “My name’s Patton.”

Viridi shuddered. “Do you know anything about the fae, Kid?”

Patton frowned. “Fae?”

Viridi sighed. “I’m… not the best at explaining this sort of thing. Just know that you shouldn’t give away your name all willy nilly. And don’t get upset when we don’t call you by your real name.” He carried Patton over to the bed. “Names hold a lot of power to the Fae.” He leaned over the bed and let go, Patton’s lower half landing softly on the bed. His hands stayed tight around Viridi. “Kid, I need you to let go. You need rest, and I have some things I’ve gotta do.” Patton frowned, but he let go, leaning back against the pillows. “Get some sleep, kid. If you need me, just call for the Duke!”

Patton tilted his head. “The Duke?”

Viridi smiled, but this time it seemed a little too wide, his teeth a little too sharp. “I told ya, names hold a lot of power to the Fae. You may call me the Duke.”

Patton frowned. “I thought your name was Viridi?”

Viridi The Duke chuckled. “That’s the name that I let those assholes call me. That doesn’t mean it’s my real name. No one here gives away their real name unless they’ve earned it.” He tilted his head, just far enough to be uncomfortable if he were human. “By the way, have you seen my brother? I came in here to tell him something.”

Patton nodded. “He left to go find some food. I think he’s angry though.”

The fairy shook his head. “He’s probably just frustrated about something. Trust me, when he’s angry, you’ll know from the other half of the manor. And even if he was, I’m sure I can cheer him back up.” He gave a dramatic bow. “Well, I’ll go see if he needs any help. See ya, Patty-Cake!” The green light came back, bright enough for Patton to close his eyes, and suddenly the Duke was gone.

Patton stared at the now empty spot. That looked eerily similar to the first time Patton’s Fairy Godfather disappeared, after they made the deal. A small part of him still didn’t believe that it was real.

Magic. Patton didn’t know much about magic. Everything he had ever learned was from other staff members or things he overheard while visiting the market. He remembered one of the maids talking about magic and love, but Patton didn’t think that was what the Duke was talking about. They had a gardener once that taught Patton the different uses for plants. They had spoken of magic and curses and cures for anything under the sun. But they spoke about witches, not Fae.

What are the Fae, anyway? It sounded a lot like Fairy, so it would make sense if they were one and the same, right? The Duke said that he was one of the Fae, and Lord Ignis was Patton’s Fairy Godfather, so they were probably the same thing. Patton tried to remember everything about them that seemed off. They can make warm light that makes his head go fuzzy. They can read minds? The Duke said only he and Fairy Godfather could do that. The Duke also said that they all use fake names, and both he and Umbra said that Patton shouldn’t tell them his name. They can appear and disappear from thin air. Umbra healed the cut on his hand. Fairy Godfather did something magical when he told Mother and Father to not look at him. And the Duke made the blood on his face disappear- oh shoot, Patton forgot to apologize for undercooking his chicken! He’ll have to apologize next time he sees the green fairy. But it had almost looked like the Duke had enjoyed it being undercooked.

Patton groaned, sitting up. All this thinking about magic and Fae made his head hurt. He had so many questions and no answers. And he was starting to feel twitchy by this point. He had already felt bad when the Duke found him but didn’t punish him, and this was the longest Patton had ever gone without cleaning or cooking or doing something productive.

After a few more minutes of fidgeting, Patton got back up. He made his bed and fluffed the pillows, but was disappointed when he realized there was nothing left to clean. The room was mostly bare and everything was spotless. Patton frowned. He always had something to clean at home, so he could prove his worth. How could he prove that he was a good godson if he couldn’t clean?

Patton scanned the room before his eyes landed on the walk-in closet. It looked empty when Patton first walked in, but maybe he overlooked a cobweb or something? Patton shuddered at the thought of spiders, but he pressed onwards.

The closet was pitch black until Patton fully stepped inside. There was apparently a set of fairy lights on the ceiling that lit up once he entered. Patton shut the door and moved further into the closet, studying every square inch. The racks and drawers were all empty, not a single item of clothing in sight. Patton wondered if the room he had been staying in was a guest room of sorts, though it looked more like a master bedroom to him. When he reached the end of the closet, Patton was surprised to see a little wooden platform and a full-length mirror. Patton took a look at himself and winced. His hair was a mess, his clothes were ripped, and the bruise on his face still hadn’t gone away. Patton stepped up on the platform, wanting to get a better look at himself when he felt a surge of warmth around him. Patton immediately flinched, not expecting the sudden warmth that immediately disappeared. When Patton opened his eyes, he didn’t see anything different at first. His hair was still messy, his clothes were still torn, and his bruise was still there. It wasn’t until Patton turned around that he saw it.

The entire closet was now filled with clothes, all in different styles and colors. Shirts, pants, suits, dresses, skirts, everything! Patton was pretty sure he saw some undergarments and accessories peeking out of the drawers!

Patton stared at it all in awe, not even realizing he had moved until he was rubbing a shirt between his fingers. It was soft, softer than any clothing Patton had ever touched, much less anything Patton had ever worn. Patton carefully pulled it off of the rack and held it up against his chest at the mirror. It looked like a perfect fit.

Patton giggled, and for the first time that he could remember, Patton felt pure joy as he sorted through the clothes. He carefully held every clothing item up to the mirror, giggling every time. Sometimes he would make a silly face in the mirror, giggling so hard that he needed to take a break for air.

Patton went through dozens of clothes before an outfit stood out. It was a sky blue shirt and a white shirt. The shirt sleeves were long and billowy, longer than his arms and big enough at the ends to fit his whole head inside. The skirt was also quite long and billowy, ending just a few inches above his ankles.

Patton looked up at the mirror and bit his lip. The outfit was so pretty, and it looked like it was made to fit Patton perfectly. And Patton’s current clothes were so dirty and torn. But Patton wasn’t told that he could wear these…

Patton looked down at the outfit and smiled. His Fairy Godfather probably wouldn’t be back for a little while. He could just try on the clothes and then put them back! Patton giggled at his own brilliance as he set the clothes off to the side.

Patton slowly took off his clothes, wincing at the sight. His skin was extremely pale, with various bruises painting awful images across the surface. His torso was the worst, with dark bruises and shallow cuts. He could perfectly trace most of his ribs, and his stomach was caved in slightly. Patton frowned at his body. He knew it wasn’t good to look like this, even if he felt like he deserved it.

(He was tempted to turn around and look at his back. That was where the worst of the damage was. It was riddled with older, deeper scars; a reminder of his more severe punishments. He had never actually seen the scars before, the quarters that Patton normally changed in had poor lighting and no mirrors. But he was already in such a good mood, and as long as he didn’t look he could almost pretend that they weren’t there.)

Patton searched through the drawers until he found a pair of underwear he was comfortable with, slipping them on along with the shirt and skirt. He looked back in the drawer and saw some pretty white knee socks to go with the outfit, and rows of shoes sat on the shelves below. Patton frowned; he didn’t actually know where his shoes were, since they weren’t on him when he woke up. Patton shrugged, deciding to complete the outfit. He quickly tugged on the socks and a pair of blue mary janes. He went to turn back to the mirror when something sparkly caught his eye. Patton looked into one of the half-open drawers and saw jewelry, hair accessories, and a hairbrush.

Patton held the brush in awe. When was the last lime Patton was allowed to brush his hair? He slowly pulled the brush through his tangled hair, watching with awe as it went through his hair with ease. Magic brush, he thought giddily as he finished brushing his hair. He put the brush back in the drawer and stepped back onto the platform, gasping when he looked into the mirror.

Is that… me? Patton held up his hand, watching as his reflection did the same. But the boy in the mirror couldn’t be Patton. He looked so… clean. And pretty. And… happy.

Knock knock knock

Patton jumped, spinning around (if he wasn’t terrified he would’ve giggled at the way his skirt fanned out). He froze when he heard a voice on the other side of the door.

“Hello? Are you in there? Your food’s ready.”

Patton nearly cried at his Fairy Godfather’s voice. He wanted to do so many things at that moment. Run to his Fairy Godfather. Run and hide. Quickly try to change his clothes back. Tell his Fairy Godfather to go away. Tell him to come in. But Patton didn’t do any of that. Instead, he stood frozen with fear as the doorknob jiggled.

“Pat? I’m gonna open the door now, okay? Just to make sure that you’re okay.” Patton watched with tears in his eyes and his breath caught in his throat as the door slowly swung open.