#mr.mansell

I wrote a one-shot the past couple of days, it sort of goes along with "If you command it, I must obey."

Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: The Owl House (Cartoon) Rating: Not Rated Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings Characters: Mr. Mansell, Minister Bastion, Caleb Wittebane Additional Tags: Angst, Major Character Injury Series: Part 17 of AYCF Universe ~ Summary:

Caleb felt a faint prickling sensation along the back of his neck as he looked at the hounds, noticing their eyes tracked him. “So… what exactly am I helping with?” he asked, though his voice came out thinner than he intended. Bastion turned to him slowly, that same mild, almost polite smile on his face. “Training.”

The way Bastion spoke made Caleb tremble, and he let out a nervous laugh to try to hide the growing terror. “For what?”

Bastion crouched down, his gloved hands resting on each of the hound's head. The beasts stilled beneath his touch, “Tracking.”

or

Minister Bastion requires Caleb's assistance. One can only guess what's in store when the Leader of the town you're living in hates your very existence...

A one shot Featuring minister Bastion and Caleb primarily? whats this black magic! Still I hope you enjoy this little one shot, I have been working on. 

"Even if everything around us seems as if it’s hopeless

I am prepared to take on the world

It’s all for my wish, I ask if it will come true

But that only God knows … "

This song popped into my head while I was drawing, and it fits these two so well if you look at it through Frederick's point of view. brb going to so sob.

So I have decided, since the official novel is a ways away from being written, seeing as I want to finish AYCF first, I have decided to post little one-shots, featuring Richard and Frederick. Most will be little slice of life moments that me and @cheekybirb have come up with.

Please note that Gravesfield is mentioned in the original novel, which will be changed, as its town name has not been finalized yet. Enjoy!

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A heavy snow had just settled over Gravesfield, blanketing the settlement in pure white. Frederick stepped out of his cottage and sighed when he noticed the snow, which was a lot more than he was expecting. He had never been the biggest fan of the cold in general, same with winter and snow, seeing how the first five years of his life were spent without much warmth and the shelter he and his mother shared, did nothing to keep out the cold or wetness. He half tempted to go back, inside and just not do anything, but duty called, and there was no rest, unfortunately. He looked toward the church across the way. He figured Richard was already at the church; nothing could stop him from his routine, even a raging blizzard wouldn’t stop him. 

Frederick put on the only cloak he had, which was much more suited for fall and spring than a freezing winter's air, but it was warmth, technically, so it counted. He made a mental note to ask Mrs. Sampson to fashion him a winter cloak, since he still didn’t have one. If need one for what ever he would usually just take one of Richards, with out him knowing, on the occasions when he sneak into his house, He slipped on his boots and then made the short trudge across the street to the church, granted the snow made the short journey take a little bit longer, as he did his best to avoid having snow fall in to his boot. He exhaled, once he made it to the threshold, no matter what he always got butterflies in stomach, at the thought, of seeing Richard, and the sensation had never faded in the past 20 years. 

As he pushed open, the doors, he looked to the front and saw Bastion hunched over the pulpit quill in hand, and writing something, probably notes for this weeks sermon as like always. Frederick cleared his throat as he walked toward the front. “Morning Richard.” Frederick stated warmly. 

Richard looked up from his writing at Frederick's voice; he felt his heart flutter in his chest. He hated that Frederick had made that feeling happen. One would think, after 20 years, it would go away, but like a leech, it was perpetually latched onto him. “Good Morning, Frederick. I'm honestly surprised to see you out, given the snow and cold.” Richard commented, knowing full well Frederick's distaste for the winter. 

“Oh, I was up and I figured you would be here, and you know how I like visiting you, every morning.”

“And evening,” Richard said with a slight chuckle and a small smile that tugged at the edges of his lips. “ In any case, do you have any patients today?” he asked, genuinely. He couldn’t lie; he did want to spend time with Frederick, and if he had him doing official business, then it wouldn’t look too weird with them spending time together out in public.

“I uh, no? I mean, unless it's an emergency.”  Frederick answered, trying to hide the redness that was starting to creep into his cheek, and taken by surprise that Richard would ask him such a question. 

“I see, well, if that's the case, I have to make my rounds around town. Would you like to accompany me? Seeing as you have nothing else to do.” Bastion asked, raising an eyebrow, noticing Frederick’s complete speechlessness and redness that now painted his face. “Frederick?” 

“I—um, uh, sure– I mean, yes, I would love to.” Frederick finally managed to squeak out. 

“Excellent, well come on then,” Richard said with a nod, placing his hat on his head and fastening his heavy fur-lined cloak around his broad shoulders. As he walked from behind the pulpit, and handed Frederick his journal and a piece of charcoal to take notes, as needed, with a wink, before starting his way to the exit. 

Frederick had to do his best; he let out a gleeful laugh. He got to spend the day with Richard for once, and he couldn’t remember the last time they had spent any real time together. With an excited nod, he quickly turned to catch up with Richard. 

 The two of them moved through Gravesfield, first stopping at Mrs. Fletcher's bakery, then the seamstress's, and Mr. Millis’s farm, and finally the blacksmith’s, Richard greeting each person with that steady but stern demeanor he always showed. That was one thing Frederick could respect and admire about Richard. The amount of respect everyone held for Richard. Many held the same respect for him, but not to the same extent as Richard did. 

 While Richard spoke with each one, Frederick dutifully noted repairs and shortages, and any other important notes, in the charcoal-marked scrawl of Richard’s journal. Just like he used to do with Richard's father, but at least with Richard, it was a lot less stressful and not hits in the back of the head for missing something. The snow still clung to the eaves and crunched beneath their boots, but the longer they walked, the less Frederick felt its charm. The chill worked its way through his lighter coat, numbing his fingers, and though he tried to hide it behind quick writing, Richard’s sharp eye caught the faint tremor in his hand and the way he drew his shoulders tight against the wind that was starting to pick up. 

As they made their way to the final stop, which was Mister Bartlett's stable, to check on how his horses were faring this winter. Richard noticed Frederick was starting to shiver more, and he exhaled deeply. “Frederick, you’re shivering,” he noted. 

“I’m fine, I promise. I'm not that cold, just a bit chilled,” he answered, with a guilty laugh. 

“Do you not have a heavier cloak? What happened to the ones you took from me?” 

“Oh, I returned them the last time I wandered into your house in the middle of the night,” he answered. 

Richard let out an annoyed grumble at Frederick's answer. “Okay, well, you are no use to me; If you freeze to death or catch a fever, and I do not want to be the one to take care of you again like last time if you do… so here,”  he sternly commented, before taking off his cloak and draping it over Frederick's shoulders and fastening it. “There, now you won’t freeze.” 

Frederick just stood there awestruck, feeling the warmth begin to envelop him. He didn’t know how to react; he wasn’t expecting Richard to do something like this. “I– uh, thank you, bu-but what about you? Won’t you be cold?!” Frederick asked, genuinely concerned for Richard's well-being; he didn’t want Richard getting sick either. The last time it stirred up way too many emotions for both of them. 

“I’ll be fine, I’m not bothered by the cold, and it was starting to get a bit hot, so you need it more then I do.” Richard answered. “Also, you can keep that, I have several more at home as you know.” 

“I don’t really know what to say but thank you, Richard.” Frederick gently spoke, with a smile, his heart pounding a thousand miles a minute. 

“You’re welcome, Frederick. Now come let’s finish this and then we can go back and cook me some of that stew you make. I don’t honestly feel like cooking tonight.” Richard finished with a huff as he cleared his throat, doing his best to hide the creeping redness in his cheeks.

“You don’t have to ask twice. I would be more than happy to, and consider it a thank you for the cloak.” Frederick said, bumping into his side, before walking ahead.