#shortficchallenge

But what Cassius wasn’t, was an idiot. He knew better than to go near a human with an iron sword, especially one who was clearly a warrior. And this one was definitely a warrior.

And yet… Cass stayed there, hidden behind a tree and his glamor, watching the human roll and cut up trees that used to belong to dryads before they’d been called back into Ellesmere. It almost made Cassius mad, to see what disregard he had for the trees. He was hurting them. Cassius could hear them crying out in pain with every hit.

That made him want to step in more than the beauty of the human did. Beautiful humans were a dime a dozen. Trees were far more priceless.

Cassius decided enough was enough though. There was only so much ogling he could indulge in. He stood on the branch and unfurled his delicate silver wings.

Only to have an iron knife fling by his ear, nearly burning him with how close it got.

“Who’s there?” Cassius froze, only to realize that the human had been responding to the movement in the trees, not actually to him. He’d probably caught the reflection of his wings in the morning sunlight. So Cassius just stood still, praying that the human brushed the movement off as a breeze or something.

“I know you are there. I can tell you are. You’re a faery, aren’t you?” The human snuck closer, his head tilted and his dark eyes studying the woods. Cassius swallowed. Should he make a break for it? He could probably get to the entrance to Ellesmere before this human could catch up to him. Should he run?

Or should he stay, and talk to the human? Worst comes to worst, he could always fly away. He was quick, quicker then most faeries. He could get away should the human attack him.

The thought of talking to a human with an iron sword was exhilarating and…

And Cassius stayed, turning around and dropping his glamor.

“Fuck!” the human cried, leaping backwards. His sword was immediately up, his feet light and in stance. It was a good stance, too, which only made the human more beautiful. Cassius liked a good warrior. It was why he’d always fool around with the Dark Court fae when they’d visited. His queen didn’t like that either.

“I’m not going to hurt you.” Cass whispered, suddenly shy. The thought of speaking to a human was one thing, but actually doing it? Now he understood why his queen told him to stay away.

This was terrifying.

“I can’t understand you.” The human frowned. “Are you threatening me?” Cassius shook his head, trying to carefully piece together the human words. He didn’t want to mess up and scare off the human. Or worse, anger him.

“I’m… not going to… hurt… you?” Cass grinned at the end, when the human’s eyes lit with recognition.

“Amirian says I can’t trust a word you faeries say. How do I know you aren’t lying and going to take me to Faeryland and keep me as a slave?” the human narrowed his eyes, his sword still up.

“I would not! We do not… keep slaves…” Cass scowled. “We keep… pets…”

“That’s not any better!”

“It is not a bad!” Cassius protested. “Not bad. Good.”

“I disagree.” Cassius frowned. He was angering the human. That was dangerous, and also, not what he wanted to accomplish.

“I am… sorry. It is not a bad for us.” That didn’t seem to please the human.

“Get out of here before I kill you.” He growled, dark hands adjusting on the sword. Cassius shuddered. He knew he should run. The human had said he’d kill him, after all. But… he wanted the human to understand that he wasn’t bad. That faeries weren’t bad. He seemed… open to the thought. It was just that Cass couldn’t use his words properly. So he had to try again.

“I won’t hurt you. We won’t hurt you.” Cassius said, half pleading. “We are not bad.”

“You are faeries.” The human snarled, vicious and cruel, just like Queen Mithe said they were. But Cass had seen him when he was practicing, when his lips had softened, and his brows had furrowed in concentration. He was just a boy then. Cassius couldn’t believe that a boy could be so cruel as he was told.

“Not bad. Just different.” That got the human to pause. He watched Cassius as he shifted on a tree branch. Studied him.

And then he said, “Your wings. They are… beautiful.” It almost sounded like he was reluctant to admit that. No, he was reluctant to admit it.

“Thank you.” Cassius flushed, reaching back to run his hands over the icy touch of his wings.

“I… My family tells me you are evil. You don’t look evil…. I’m… fuck, I’m making a big mistake,” He muttered to himself. And then he dropped his sword.

“Are you not going to kill me?” Cassius narrowed his eyes.

“I’m not going to kill you. You don’t look evil. You look like a kid, like me.” the human rolled his eyes, and held out his hand. “I’m Roman.” Cassius grinned, and fluttered down from the tree.

“Cassius.” They shook hands.

“Now, Cassius. Tell me about Faeryland. I’m curious.” Roman grinned, flopping down into a seated position.