Chapter 21: Enchanting books
The fairy froze, his wings stiffening mid-flap. Slowly, he turned to see Bronn standing in the bathroom doorway, a towel slung low around his hips, water dripping from his hair and onto his broad shoulders. His expression was unreadable, but the slight arch of his brow spoke volumes.
"Uh… hi!" Aelric chirped, his voice an octave higher than usual.
Bronn crossed his arms, leaning casually against the doorframe. "What are you doing in my room?"
Aelric cleared his throat, his wings twitching nervously. "Oh, you know… just… checking on you! Making sure you're okay after class. Such a long day, huh?"
Bronn took a step closer, his towering frame casting a long shadow over the diminutive fairy. "You were enchanting my books."
"Me? Enchanting? Pfft, no!" Aelric squeaked, backing up against the bookshelf."
Bronn didn't move, his gaze unwavering.
"Okay, fine!" Aelric threw up his hands, the vial of fairy dust still clutched in one. "I was going to enchant your books. But in my defense, you do need more excitement in your life."
Bronn stepped forward, water still dripping from his hair. "Excitement," he repeated flatly.
Aelric took a step back, bumping into the bookshelf. "Y-you know, like a little fun! Harmless fun! No big deal!"
Bronn reached out, plucking the vial from Aelric's hand with ease. "This is what you call harmless?"
The fairy pouted, crossing his arms. "It's not like I was going to curse you or anything. Just… add a little personality to your books."
Bronn sighed, setting the vial down on his desk. "Aelric, if you're going to sneak into my room, at least wait until I'm not here."
"I thought you weren't here!" Aelric protested, his wings flaring indignantly.
Bronn pinched the bridge of his nose. "You didn't even check?"
"Well, no, but—"
"Of course you didn't," Bronn muttered.
Aelric huffed, flitting up to hover at eye level with Bronn. "You're no fun, you know that?."
Bronn's expression softened slightly, though his tone remained dry. " I'm just trying to take a shower without worrying about glitter in my shampoo. Is that too much to ask, Aelric."
The fairy's lips twitched, fighting back a grin. "That was one time."
Bronn arched a brow.
"Okay, two times. But come on, admit it—it was funny!"
"No," Bronn said simply, turning back toward the bathroom. "It wasn't."
As he disappeared into the steam-filled room, Aelric landed on the bed, pouting dramatically. "You're impossible," he called after him.
"You can stay here tonight," he said over his shoulder, his tone matter-of-fact.
Aelric perked up immediately, his wings fluttering. "Wait, really?"
"Yes," Bronn replied, glancing at him with a faint smirk. "So I can keep an eye on you."
Aelric grinned, flying straight to the bed like he owned it.
When Bronn emerged from the bathroom a few minutes later, fully dressed and toweling his hair dry, he found Aelric sprawled across his bed, flipping through one of his books.
He sat down at his desk, pulling out a notebook. Aelric watched him for a moment before flitting over to hover by his shoulder.
"So, what're we working on?"
Bronn didn't bother looking up. "We're not working on anything. I'm working. You're loitering."
Aelric grinned, perching on the edge of the desk. "Loitering with style."
Bronn continued scribbling in his notebook, the scratching of his pen filling the otherwise quiet room. Aelric, of course, couldn't stand the silence.
"So," the fairy began, swinging his legs off the edge of the desk, "what's the shiny thing you've got hidden in the top drawer? Looks fancy."
Bronn paused, his pen hovering over the page. "What shiny thing?"
"You know, the one with the red gem in the middle. I saw it last time I—uh—visited."
Bronn's eyes narrowed slightly. "You mean the heirloom my family entrusted to me for safekeeping?"
Aelric's wings fluttered nervously. "Oh, uh, heirloom, you say? That's… neat. Not that I was planning to, you know, borrow it or anything."
Bronn leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms. "Aelric."
The fairy gulped. "Yes?"
"Stay out of my drawer. And stay away from any shiny thing that belongs to me"
"Got it. Totally staying out of the drawer," Aelric replied, nodding vigorously. Then, after a beat, he added, "So… hypothetically, if I were to peek inside, would it, like, curse me or something?"
Bronn gave him a long, unamused look. "You'd wish it did."
Aelric pouted, flopping back onto the bed dramatically. "You're no fun, Bronn. I come here to brighten your dreary life, and this is the thanks I get?"
Bronn resumed writing, ignoring the fairy's antics. "You come here to cause chaos."
"Same thing," Aelric quipped, grinning.
As the evening deepened, Aelric's boundless energy gradually gave way to drowsiness. His attempts at pranks—each met with Bronn's unyielding vigilance—became fewer and clumsier. Eventually, the fairy found his way to Bronn's bed, wriggling under the blanket with a satisfied hum. His wings fluttered slightly, sticking out at odd angles as he curled into a small, cozy ball.
Bronn glanced over from his desk, shaking his head as a rare, faint smile touched his lips. "You're incorrigible," he muttered, his tone soft with reluctant affection.
The vampire extinguished the lamp, the room sinking into quiet darkness. He slipped into bed beside the fairy, careful not to disturb him.
Moments later, Aelric stirred in his sleep, mumbling something unintelligible as he unconsciously inched closer. His small frame pressed against Bronn's side, his wings twitching lightly.
Bronn stiffened at first, unused to the proximity, but as Aelric let out a contented sigh and burrowed further into his side, he relaxed. Slowly, almost hesitantly, Bronn wrapped an arm around the fairy, pulling him closer.
The quiet of the room deepened as the night stretched on. Bronn, still half-awake, watched Aelric's serene face. The fairy's mischievous smirk, always ready for trouble, had softened into an innocent expression in sleep.
Aelric shifted, still restless even in his sleep . His small hands grasped the fabric of Bronn's shirt like a child clutching a comfort blanket.
Bronn sighed, though the corner of his mouth quirked up. He tightened his arm around the fairy, his cool composure giving way to an uncharacteristic warmth.
"You're impossible," he murmured, his voice barely audible.
In his sleep, Aelric let out a tiny, satisfied hum, pressing his face into Bronn's chest. The vampire stilled, before finally letting go of his guarded nature
With a resigned shake of his head, Bronn closed his eyes, letting the steady rhythm of Aelric's breathing lull him to sleep.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone