A Human’s Guide to Surviving Magical Mishaps

It takes about ten minutes for the taxi driver to arrive, then another five for me to convince him to let us into the car. Mostly, because he isn't too keen on having paint all over his seats. I end up having to promise to pay a cleaning fee if it gets dirty. The driver isn't thrilled but he agrees to take us. Fin is on my other side and it's strange, I don't think I've ever actually been this close to him. Weird. He seems uncomfortable and I can tell he is doing everything in his power to avoid touching me, he's even pressing himself up against the window, something made even more difficult by his wings. To try and make things easier for him, I move over closer to Ashton who wraps an arm over my shoulder and encourages me to lean on him properly. The drive is short but I'm sleepy and I find myself falling asleep on Ashton's shoulder, lulled to sleep by the car engine. None of us talk, we just keep to our own thoughts. When we arrive back at my home, Fin pays the driver what we agreed on. Apparently he was organised enough to keep some of the cash I gave him during a shopping trip, for emergencies. I stumble my way up to the front door and then stare at it. I don't have my keys. I don't have anything. How am I supposed to get inside? Is this how dad feels every time he gets locked out? His car isn't here so he must be out. I assume he's working. If I'm not home there's no reason for him to be here. If he didn't have me I'm fairly sure he would move a bed into his office and live there.

"It's locked. I don't have my keys." I tell Ashton and Fin with a deep sigh. I just want to go inside and get cleaned up. I'm so tired. This small inconvenience is enough to make me want to cry. I try to think of solutions. We could call my dad, but I really want to get cleaned up and changed before I see him. I don't think HE would find Ashton's handprints all over me to be as amusing as Fin did. Maybe Lucy? She has a key.

"We can call Lucy..." I suggest a little hesitantly. I haven't gotten to warn her about Fin yet. Fin tenses and shakes his head.

"No need. Allow me to take care of it." He insists. I step aside and he approaches the door. In one quick motion he kicks it down and I stare, eyes wide.

"Fin!" I object. The door is now splintered around the lock and is open, but it's ruined. That is NOT what I thought he was going to do. He gestures for us to go inside and with a sigh, I step over the splinters of wood and into the dark hallway. Ashton and Fin follow, but Fin stops, turns back to the door and holds his hands over it. Less than a minute later it looks like new again. Right... I totally forgot about his magic. I guess he can just break whatever he wants and put it back together again, no big deal. He had me worried for a minute, but now I'm just grateful to be inside.

The first thing I do is search for my phone. It's not in the living room, actually the entire living room has been thoroughly cleaned, the broken window has been replaced too. I'm still walking around in the dark, unwilling to turn on any lights because my head is killing me. I figure Ashton and Fin probably feel the same so I don't bother trying to fix the problem. I know the place well, so I make my way down the hallway confidently from memory and what little I can see in the darkness. My room is just as I left it, but my phone has been placed on my bedside table, so obviously someone has been in here. I try to turn it on but it's definitely flat. I plug it in but it'll take a few minutes to be charged enough to make any calls. That's fine. I want to call dad and Lucy, but I also want to get cleaned up, if I call dad now he will come rushing home. I think I could use a few minutes of peace first, just to get settled. Then I'll be happy to see dad. I plan to run a bath, but first I should check on Fin and Ashton, make sure they're both alright. I know Ashton is in the living room so that's where I go next. Fin is on the couch, head down and eyes closed. He looks... Stressed. His phone is on the table in front of him, like he was contemplating it.

"Fin... Are you going to contact Lucy?" I ask mildly, trying not to sound like I'm being judgemental either way. Fin doesn't look up. When he answers, he is speaking in Fae, I swapped back to English. I'm not sure he even is really talking to me so much as talking to himself.

"I shouldn't." Is all he says. I decide not to rush him, it's never a good idea to make decisions when you feel like crap anyway.

Ashton is standing awkwardly in the middle of the room, I can tell he's being careful not to get paint on anything.noveldrama

"I plan to have a bath, but did you want to clean up first so you can rest?" I offer, a little reluctantly. Honestly I don't want to wait, but he's the guest here and I want to be polite. Ashton shakes his head.

"I can wait. But... Are you sure you will be safe in the bath right now?" he says with concern. I frown.

"What do you mean?" I ask. Ashton sighs and takes my hand.

"Sweetheart, you are exhausted, barely recovered from nearly dying, you are also suffering from portal travel and if I am being honest I believe you might be a little bit drunk too. I am worried you might fall and hurt yourself, or drown in the tub." He says earnestly. I shake my head in an outright refusal.

"I'll be fine. I just want a bath." I insist, tugging my hand away from him. I turn on the spot and make it about half a step before I trip over my own feet and tumble over. Ashton catches me with an arm around my waist and gives me a knowing look as he steadies me back onto my feet.

"Damn it." I mutter. I don't want to admit that he's right, but he kind of is. I'm a little more out of it than I thought, and I really don't want to risk drowning in the bathtub or slipping in a shower.

"But I need to get cleaned up." I groan. Ashton pats my shoulder sympathetically. At least I assume that's why. I can barely see his face in this dark room, not unless I'm super close. Actually, maybe that's not such a bad thing. The fae are all about 'looking' at people not being a problem right? And it's dark enough in the bathroom with no lights on that I doubt anyone could see anything much anyway. I could ask Ashton to just... Sit in the bathroom with me, he could keep his back turned, it would be fine... As long as my dad doesn't suddenly get home, I'm not really worried what Fin thinks. It might be a little embarrassing, but at this point I refuse to let that stand between me and a hot bath. "Ashton, can I ask a favour? Would you please come keep an eye on me while I take a bath?"