#spandex flex

He smelled the blood first.

An injured fairy was always a nice treat. It was so rare to catch one. Humans were much more fragile and usually completely ignorant of the danger. They only saw his charming smile. By the time they could see his fangs, it was too late. The fae were not so easily entranced. Finding and capturing one required cunning or luck.

Once he headed in the right direction he could hear the sound of bells.

His hearing was very good but he was surprised to recognize the specific tone of iron hitting against iron. Even more surprising was that it was in the ash grove. He may not have always known the significance of that and why it would be strange but over the years he had learned much. Not every fae had very many weaknesses but they all shared a sensitivity to iron and ash trees.

The bells would have been difficult on their own for the small fairy. Her ears would be more sensitive to bells than other fae but the iron would be unpleasant rather than lyrical. Ash wood was usually avoided for its ability to harm the fae. But as he approached the fairy he could barely tell she was alive. She was bloodied in multiple spots. Her hair was dark and wet from it. The skin that was visible had boot prints in bright blue bruises. One wing was bent at an angle that would have incapacitated her if she were conscious. That might be nothing compared to the iron manacles on her wrists connected with a heavy chain and a matching iron crown shoved on her head.

Other attempted movements nearby put him on edge. He backed away and crept around until he got near to the edge of the grove. Four of the lowest rank of royal guards were there. They were struggling with the trees all around and the iron bells. It was clear that they had been responsible for the state of the fairy. They still wore the gloves they had used to protect themselves from the iron and one had blood on his heavy boot. Dick fed on them until they were near the end and then he staked them with ash limbs to the trees. It would take some time for them to reach their end and they would suffer the whole time.

He knelt by the fairy. She still didn’t move even when he removed the shackles and crown before lifting her up. It wasn’t until they got past the trees that she took a barely perceptible breath. She probably would not survive.

—

Marinette felt the tension before they acted but she had no reason to fear the royal guard. She lived near enough to the court that she sometimes saw the members or the guard but they had no reason to interact with her. Many would be nearby hoping for a glimpse of the members of the Court but Marinette was concerned only with her own tasks today to have everything ready before the next revelry. She did love to see the Court and would make an attempt to recreate their styles but her focus was on trade. She would trade her wares to those in the square hoping to see the bright color of Court.

So when they came for her the square was packed. There were whispers that even the Royals were going to make an appearance. She didn’t see them. Her back was turned but she felt the presence of the guards. She shrieked and the crowd was gleeful as she was dragged away. She could only think that they had confused her with someone else. Any crime she would have committed would have been far below the notice of the Royal Court. But she had not committed any crime that she was aware of.

She tried to tell them but they were larger and stronger than her after years of training to become the Royal guards. She twisted every way but the arms held her as firm as iron. The twisting caused her skin to burn as if it were iron on her. She saw her friends and family in the crowd. They were calling out for answers but none were given. They were all held back as she was carried away.

Her thoughts on iron turned out to be very wrong though. She had heard the effects described but it was far inadequate a description for the pain she felt when it touched her bare skin. It was a wide enough ring that it moved up and down her bare arms and if she could get free of their grip she could pull it off her wrist but that would require holding it with her bare hands which even the guards were not doing. They had gloves on so their skin would not sizzle like hers.

They did appear to be starting to struggle though. She could no longer hear the crowd. They had taken her some distance. Her words were not even forming anymore. She doubted anything could be heard over the cacophony in her ears. She couldn’t place it. It might just be in her head but it was louder than her own shrieks. It was only in her head but all around. Everything was the wrong sound. She was having trouble breathing.

That didn’t make sense until they threw her on the ground. She looked up and recognized the trees. It wasn’t until the first blow landed that she realized why it looked familiar and unfamiliar. She had only ever seen ash trees in pictures. She wasn’t even among those of her friends who had played with a small piece of ash bark just to see if it was as bad as it was said to be. She had definitely never gone to the ash grove. Never before now. Being this deep in trees surrounded by the ash could be the end of a fairy like her. She imagined it was a struggle for the guards too but it didn’t seem to be enough of one to save her. They threw her down and began hitting and kicking her; she knew it was the end.

—

Dick brought her to his own suite and laid her on the couch. She didn’t take up much space. He brought water and cloths to clean her as much as he could and to determine how bad her injuries were. She didn’t move as he cleaned the cuts and did his best to bandage them. If she were likely to survive, he expected that to change when he got to her wings. They could heal if the rest of her would heal but it would take time. She may never be able to fly long distances again.

As he cleaned away the blood he couldn’t help but think of how quickly she would improve with just a few drops of his own. He had never considered healing a fairy but he also knew that his blood would change her. She would not become a vampire like him but she would no longer be welcome among her own kind. At least not if they knew and he didn’t know how long a demon could hide among them. For the plan forming in his mind, she would need their acceptance.

He had done all he could with her cuts and bruises. He hesitated before fixing her wing. It wasn’t like him to care about the pain he would cause, especially to a fairy, but the light hit the side of her face that wasn’t covered in bruises and her eyes opened just slightly. The color was so blue and clear. It made him pause. She seemed so pure and innocent. There was no way she deserved any of this. While he thought this, he saw her eyes go wide. Even in her current state, she recognized the danger.

He acted swiftly and set the wing at the height of her fear. She screamed out and then the rest of her injuries washed over her. He had no way to calm her or ease her fear. None of the tricks that worked on humans were effective on the fae. It would all just take time for the pain to fade.

He removed his hands from her as soon as the wings were set in place. He put the roll of bandages near her so she could wrap it if she were able. There was no way she would show him her back or offer her wings to him. She was quickly moving to the far side of the couch, despite the pain she would be in. He did the best thing he could do for her then. He left.

He locked the door behind him and went out in search of food fit for a fairy. There would definitely not be any of that around here.

—

She knew she needed to get out, but she could barely shift herself. How had she found herself in a vampire’s house? She had thought she was dead; felt the life draining out of her. The guards had beat her brutally. She could feel each blow as it hit but over every spot that was throbbing in pain was a carefully placed bandage. She had seen the vampire when her eyes opened. He was leaning over her but it looked like concern in her eyes before he caused her immense pain. She reached back to her wings. It was so sore but she could see that it was set when she could remember how it felt when the boot crashed into it.

It had not been the final blow, but perhaps the worst one. She would have cried out if she had anything left in her but she was already in a heap, no longer even trying to stop the attack. They all laughed together. She thought it was at the broken wing but one stepped over her body and put something on her head.

“All hail the queen,” he said.

He backed away with a bow. She could feel the sizzle of the iron on her forehead but she was too injured to even attempt to move it. Her eyes closed and she knew nothing before she opened them to see the vampire.

She looked around the room. It was clean except for a few bloody cloths and bandage scraps. Based on the number of bandages she suspected he had been tending to her for quite awhile. But she didn’t know why a vampire would bother to help a fairy, especially one that was cast out so publicly.

She turned at a knock on the door.

—

Dick didn’t know much about keeping a fairy alive after such an attack. It had never been a concern for him, preferring instead to prey upon the weakened fairies. After seeing the extent of her injuries, he didn’t think she would survive on her own. But she reacted when she saw him and there was fire in her eyes. She had a chance with help but he doubted she would find it in anyone else. The other fae had been royal guards. They intended for her to die and if it was a royal decree then he doubted even her family and friends would be able to assist her. She would be an outcast.

He didn’t know if that even made this worth it. If she healed without his blood, she could go back but she might face the wrath of the Court if she did. He might have to find out more about what had happened. He only knew of one who could go there but he would not do it without a price. He had been changed so it would be unlikely for him to be around long without being discovered. Not all fae could be fooled by the glamour of a demon.

For now, Dick focused on the immediate needs. His little fairy would need more care than she would accept from him so he turned to Alfred to help him. He might whine about the extra work but deep down, he would love to help. Dick might have to find something extra special to keep him happy and silent about the new charge. He didn’t know what the reaction of the rest of the clan might be.

—

The door opened slowly.

She would have had plenty of time to hide if she could move at all after her previous attempts. She couldn’t even reach next to her for anything to defend herself if there had been anything nearby. But the man who entered appeared non-threatening. He had a tray of food that he set down and then began tidying the mess around. He didn’t speak to her for a moment.

She watched him as he moved around, tidying as he went before approaching her. He could tell she was watching but he seemed unbothered by that. Not just unbothered, he seemed to anticipate it. He made no sudden moves and approached from the side where she had the best vantage. He didn’t get too close before he sat down with his hands visible.

“I am here to help, if you allow me. I can bind to your wings.”

“You’re fae,” she said.

“So are you,” he replied.

“You are working for a vampire?”

It wasn’t really a question. It was a statement but bordered on accusation.

“I have been with the family since before they were vampires,” he explained quietly. “But yes, I work with them still.”

“You will have the mark of being near them. You will never be allowed back, not really.”

“Will you be allowed back?”

Her sob caught in her throat. She hadn’t even considered what would happen. If she somehow survived the attack and being captured by a vampire, what would happen if she returned. She didn’t want to face that uncertainty. It had to have been a mistake. Someone had to figure that out but she had more immediate concerns.

“I am in a vampire’s house. I doubt I will stay past dinner,” she said.

He didn’t respond to that but he did move towards her with a gesture. She figured she didn’t have much to lose so she showed him her back and she could feel his gentle hands on her wings. He applied a salve and then wrapped them. She bit down on her lip to keep from crying out. How it could hurt even worse than it had before, she didn’t know. But it seemed to make everything worse as she tensed her muscles to hold in her reaction causing the pain to revisit every injury.

After he finished, he stood and there were a few shuffling noises before he exited the room. She didn’t turn to see. She just collapsed forward and closed her eyes. She didn’t expect to sleep but she once again woke to see the vampire.

—

She didn’t stir when he entered the room. He didn’t even attempt to move quietly. Fairies were usually too alert for that to work anyway. He was happy to see that Alfred had done a good job of wrapping the wings. He would not have managed so well once she had seen him. He sat on the chair nearby and reached for the untouched tray of food. He didn’t know whether she had refused to eat or if she just couldn’t move enough to feed herself.

He poked a strawberry with a skewer and lifted it in front of her. He knew she had awakened when he sat down. Her breathing had changed. But rather than taking the offered bite, she just watched him warily.

“You will have to eat to regain your strength,” he said softly. “Otherwise I wasted a whole lot of time bandaging you up to make sure you didn’t lose all your blood.”

He pushed it so it was against her mouth but she shifted enough that it wasn’t touching her.

“As an immortal, do you feel like you have a shortage of time?”

He smiled at her wit but instead of responding, he tried again with the strawberry. She pulled away again.

“There is no way for me to be grateful that you helped me retain my blood if it is just so you can help yourself to it later.”

“That would make a valid point. But I have no wish to feed on you. I have other plans for you.”

She opened her mouth to speak again but rather than allowing her to ask further questions he pushed the berry into her mouth. Her eyes closed as she tasted it. He had made sure to get the ripest, sweetest offerings that could be found. He poked at another piece and as she began to open her mouth to speak again, he repeated the process. He noticed that she did not move any further than she had the first time and she did not attempt to lift her arms to stop him. It seemed that she was in too much pain to do much more than verbally offer her displeasure. But even that stopped. When he lifted the next bite, he didn’t force it in. She opened her mouth slightly and waited for him to delicately stick it against her lip.

She pulled it off on her own and ate it. As soon as she started cooperating, she was eating more quickly. They were quiet for several minutes while he fed her until she turned her head away. There was more on the tray, but he stopped there. Her eyes started to close again. He wanted to move things around so she could rest better but she already appeared to me headed towards sleep. His thumb swiping a bit of juice away from her lip caused her eyes to open but he was already turning away and she settled back against the arm of the couch.

—

She woke up much more comfortable today.

The brownie was back, flittering around tidying things. He paid her no mind but she was certain he was aware that she had awakened. She had definitely let out a heavy breath before settling against the bedding. The vampire had come in again during the night but he never attempted to feed on her. She had been barely able to move and would not be able to fend him off if he had. But he had quickly and silently checked her bandages and moved her to the bed. He kept her on her belly so she wasn’t laying on her injured wings. Fluffy pillows were propped all around her, supporting every injury so she could sleep comfortably.

The window was opened suddenly and she was surprised that the sky was golden with late afternoon sun. She couldn’t be too sure of the timing of everything since she arrived but she thought she had slept all night and most of the day. She shifted again and tried to sit up. She nearly fell into the pile of fluff, but she thought it might be the amount of cushioning and not her injuries keeping her down. Until she tried again and did fall into the pillows proving that it was both. She gasped at the pain. The brownie was quickly by her side and expertly lifting her away from the pillows.

She grimaced in pain as she sat up, but she was able to manage it. Yesterday she couldn’t even lift her arm to feed herself. It had made her feel so helpless to be fed by a vampire but she hadn’t even realized she was hungry until he forced the food into her mouth. Just the thought of it made her feel hungry again. But the mark of a good brownie was having all your needs met without having to say anything. As soon as she was upright, he had already turned around to produce a glass of chilled nectar. It was just what she needed. It would be easy to manage on her own but still offer sustenance.

She finished it quickly and then was ready to sleep again. He made her wait until he checked all her bandages before he helped her get settled again.

She could tell that she had slept for some time when she awoke again but it was still night when the vampire returned. He was not alone.

—

“I know I can use glamour to fool them, but why would I want to? I had no choice in becoming a demon but they treated me as if I were out to get them.”

“If my plan works, you will be able to go back. I just need to know the details of what happened.”

“Perhaps I was not being clear. What is in it for me?” Jason said. “I no longer need anything from them.” He paused for effect and turned to face Dick directly, “You do.”

The challenge was clear. Dick needed to come up with something that Jason would value in order to get his cooperation. It is possible that Dick could find the information other ways but it would be easier if it were done quietly. Vampires entering the fade would not be quiet.

“Meet her first,” Dick said. “I know you are curious. I cannot promise everything you want right now but if this works, it could change everything.”

“Aww. Look at you, Your Majesty, making big plans,” Jason taunted. “I will meet her but it is not an agreement. I expect to get something out of the arrangement and I’m not as easily pleased as your vampire masses.”

“I promise, the vampire who turned you will be ended. I will see to it myself.”

“You will also owe me one favor that I may claim at any time after I return.”

“I will,” Dick agreed.

“Are you sure you can live by your words? If you don’t deliver to the rest of the vampires, they will not keep you as king.”

“I make the oath, Jason. I will bind it with my blood. I want to make it right for you. I always have, this is just my opportunity.”

“The fate of your entire kingdom now rests with this fairy you have hidden away. You must think she is something special.”

Dick didn’t speak but his actions confirmed it. He pulled out a silver dagger and slashed it against his hand. Jason took the blade and did the same and they put their hands together.

“Bound by our oath with blood,” they said in unison.

They kept their hands together for the moment until the skin healed. The silver slowed the healing for Dick, making the time to heal nearly the same. While they waited, Dick continued speaking with words that were not part of the agreement.

“As we are bound by blood, we are brothers. I claim you as my brother for now and eternity.”

“Brother,” Jason said.

It was simple and full of emotion. Very few things made Jason feel emotions since he was changed. He was detached and the emotion that came easiest was anger. Even when Dick had found him after his fae family had turned him away, after he learned that the attack was not random and that his life had been used to pay a debt to the vampire, Jason’s rage had melted into detachment to only surface on occasion. But now, he felt the acceptance and family bond.

Their hands slid apart. The blood remaining was the only sign left of their oath. But Jason moved forward and pulled his brother into a hug. He would refuse to admit the tears trying to form in his eyes, but Dick noticed. Vampires could see everything it seemed. Instead of commenting he turned away and moved his arm to wrap around Jason’s shoulder as they turned towards Dick’s suite.

—

Marinette tried to right herself. She was still lost in the fluff pile. Her muscles ached and her injuries, though healing were tender after being still for so long. Her wings twitched as she moved, making the pain radiate through her. She dropped her head back down as it washed over her but gritted her teeth and forced herself up to face the vampire and the demon.

There was already blood on their hands. She wasn’t sure what that meant but it couldn’t be good for her. She knew little about demons. They were rumor, a scary tale that the young fae would tell each other when they wanted to be scared. But now there was one standing in front of her with her vampire savior. He had done everything to make her comfortable here except let her leave, if she could even manage that on her own but now he showed up, fangs out in a smile with blood on his hands.

“Who is your friend,” she asked hesitantly.

She didn’t care as much as she wanted the opportunity to see the reaction to her. They likely had not expected her to wake up when they entered. The fae were not nocturnal and she was still recovering.

There was no immediate response to her. The demon looked her over, walking around to take her in from all angles. She felt like covering herself and cowering but she didn’t want to put herself in a less defensible position. As if there could be any possible defense. She would have been easy prey for either of them at any point in her life. She had seldom even left the safety of her village. Everything she needed was there and it had been a safe life until it wasn’t.

“I see your motivation now,” the demon said.

He reached out a hand and touched Marinette’s face, tilting her head to get a better view. She stiffened but did not pull away. They wanted a reaction. They were toying with her and she refused to play along.

“I believe there has to be a reason for her to be cast out,” he walked across the room and pulled out the iron shackles and the crown that had been used against her. “They put a crown on her head, you can still see the mark from the iron on her face.”

“Mnhmm. If you say so,”his finger traced across her forehead. She bit her lip and the pain and memory of the feel of the iron. She could feel the burns on her arms too. “But she is ever so captivating, don’t you think?”

“If you say so,” the vampire responded.

She couldn’t tell how he actually felt. He was busying himself with moving the iron around. Even with him holding it all together, it was sliding against itself causing her ears to hurt. She focused on her breathing and not what their words could mean. She didn’t know why a vampire would want to help a fairy. Everything she had ever been told was to fear vampires and that if she met one, it would be her death. She had thought she was dead at the hands of the fae and when she woke up to a vampire, he had only tried to help her.

The demon pulled her to her feet. She gripped on to his arm unconsciously, not used to standing. The room swayed at her sudden unexpected movement. Her limbs screamed in pain at the pressure on her injuries. But she managed it. She released her hold as soon as possible but immediately realized that she may actually require the support. As soon as she thought that, he turned and pulled her close, his arms slid along her sides and then pressed against her back.

“Well, if you have no interest, perhaps I could entice her,” he looked down into her eyes.

She couldn’t breathe. Her eyes were wide with shock and she quickly tried to think of how to get out of this situation. She was certain he was going to kiss her. She had never in her life thought that she would be at risk of being kissed by a demon. She had only ever kissed one fairy. He was a minstrel in the royal court but at the last revel, he had played her a special song and handed her flowers. She smiled and then he leaned down to brush his lips against hers. It had been clumsy and sweet. She wondered what he thought when she was dragged away. There would be another revelry soon and she had thought she might see him again there.

If she pushed away, she would fall. She didn’t know if she could get back to the cushions or if that would be a bad idea. So she froze in place and hoped that it would be over quickly. But it never happened. He wasn’t even looking at her anymore. He looked back over at the vampire who moved in a flash. He removed her from the demon’s arms and tucked her under his own, baring his teeth to the other man. Rather than seeming afraid though, he laughed.

“So we see what this favor is worth to you.”

Marinette didn’t know what that meant but he turned and walked away without explaining. She was left there not knowing what had just happened but it seemed important. The vampire looked her over with concern. His hands moved to check every injury before he cupped her face. He looked into her eyes. She didn’t know what he could see. None of his vampire charms should work on her but she still felt relaxed as he took care of her. She was surprised when he bent and lifted her into his arms.

She recognized that he had carried her before but she had never been aware of it at the time. It was so different to move through the air without her wings. It only lasted a moment before he put her back in the bed. He didn’t make eye contact while he tucked the pillows around her to support her injuries. She found herself drifting away as soon as he finished. She barely noticed when he reached out his hand and held hers as she fell back to sleep.

—

“You were gone three days. Did you learn anything?” Dick asked when Jason finally appeared as dawn was breaking.

“Pour me a drink and we will talk. I learned a lot.” Jason reached for the glass and drained it before continuing. “I think she is worth far more than you realized.”

“You found out why she was cast out?” Dick asked.