A Human’s Guide to Surviving Magical Mishaps

I toss and turn for an hour or so trying to get to sleep myself, but the sunshine peeking in the gaps around my curtain is keeping me awake. Or maybe it's the damn birds who won't stop singing. Or even more likely, the throbbing pain on my left arm where the fae woman clawed me. It's not a super bad injury or anything, but that doesn't mean it doesn't hurt. The nice bartender chick gave me a painkiller when she was giving me first aid but I'm fairly sure that medication is wearing off. I continue trying to pretend I'm actually going to get some sleep for another fifteen minutes or so before I give up and drag myself out of bed. Apparently I'm just going to be tired today. I shuffle to the kitchen, yawning and pretending that my hair doesn't look like an actual bird's nest, then rifle through the cupboards until I find the packet of pain medication. I'm just choking the pills down with water when Ashton's voice behind me makes me jump and tip the water down my front.

"Are you okay?” he says and I whirl around finding him standing directly behind me. How did he move so quietly? He nearly gave me a heart attack. I take another sip of water to clear my choking throat.

“I'm fine. Just a little sore. What are you doing up? There's no way you're not still tired. You used a bunch of magic again and you barely slept. Fin is still passed out in the living room, Lucy is keeping an eye on him and napping on the couch I think." I ramble. Ashton raises an eyebrow then simply takes my glass of water from me in one hand, takes my hand in his free hand and leads me to the table where he places my drink and pulls out a chair. Okay, I guess we're sitting. Ashton sits down next to me and angles his chair to face me. Ooh wait, not sitting. I think this is a serious talk. Should we be having serious conversations when we're this exhausted? Eh, whatever. All being tired will do is make me more honest. I can work with that.

"Okay Ashton, what's on your mind?" I ask seriously. Ashton takes a deep breath before he starts.

"Why did you intervene in that fight Kat?" He asks and I frown. That wasn't what I was expecting him to say.noveldrama

"What do you mean why? You needed help. Female help apparently." I give him a small smile but he doesn't smile back so I let it fall from my face. What's wrong? Why is he so upset? We caught another fae assassin, I thought he would be thrilled.

"But you told me that you would stay out of the fights. That you would run and hide at the first sight of danger. That is not what you did, you just charged right in!” Ashton sounds frustrated.

"I don't know. It didn't occur to me to run. I saw through her glamour and I just knew I could help. She wasn't much of a fighter either and Fin wasn't going to be able to help. It would have been really bad if she was manipulating you and I figured that was her plan so I was watching you closely. I saw her and I realised that you hadn't so I just wanted to get her off of you. I knew you would step in and help me before things got too bad." I assure him. Ashton still doesn't seem happy.

"But

you were hurt. How am I to keep you safe if you see the danger then run headlong into it?" He demands. Oooooh that's what this is about. He's worried about me. I grab his hand and squeeze it gently.

"I really am fine, and I'm sorry if I worried you but I couldn't let her manipulate you." I tell him gently. Ashton sighs and before I can blink he yanks on my good arm pulling me to stand up. Then while I'm still trying to process what's happening, he pulls me down onto his lap with my back against his front and wraps his arms around my waist. I sit there perched awkwardly, not sure what I'm supposed to be doing.

"My dad..." I give a half hearted objection. He wouldn't be happy to see us like this and I doubt he would believe that ended up here by accident.

"He returned to his work place after ensuring you were home safely. I heard him leaving.” He assures me. He doesn't budge and I stop trying to leave.

"Thank you for saving me. For saving us." He whispers into my bird nest hair.

"I couldn't let anything happen to you. Not when I could stop it." I whisper back.

"How did you know that you could stop her?" Ashton questions. It's strange talking like this, sitting on his lap and unable to see his face. I can't quite tell what he's thinking.

"Well, we had already figured she needed to touch someone, so I knew I needed to get her away from you. I mostly just took a bet that we were right about her only being able to control men." I explain. "But what if we were wrong? She could have forced you to attack someone." Ashton points out, concern in his tone. I shrug lightly.

"Better me than you. I can't do that much damage. Plus I knew you would stop me if I went on some kind of rampage. But I don't think I could stop you. It just made more sense." I answer. Ashton hugs me tightly and is silent for a minute. I don't think he wants to admit that I'm right.

"I should have been more careful. It is my fault that you were injured. You do not have to help me anymore. I can continue to search for the last assassin on my own." He says quietly and I decide I need to be able to see his face for the rest of this conversation. I force myself to move away from him and back to my own chair but face him so I can make actual eye contact.

“You're being ridiculous. I'm barely injured. I've hurt myself worse than this by being clumsy with the box cutter at work. It's no big deal. Of course I'm still going to help you.” I say firmly.

"You are proving once again that you are too kind. I also did not get a chance to compliment you earlier on your observation skills. You were able to see through the fae woman's glamour before I did." He says proudly and I flush red. "I think in this case being male put you at a bit of a disadvantage." I comment and Ashton's smile turns to a frown.

"I should have been more careful to ensure that no one touched me. I was just..." He trails off, struggling for the right word.

"Overwhelmed?" I suggest and he nods slowly. He seems embarrassed.

"I have noticed that you seem to have a bit of trouble with pushy groups of people. It's no big deal." I tell him carefully, not wanting to embarrass him any further.

"It is not that I am afraid of them. Back home I know how I would deal with them, but I cannot use the same methods here so I do not know the correct way to respond. Additionally due to my position, it is not common for anyone to try to confront me so... enthusiastically. It is a rare occurrence." He explains.

"I get it. It must be weird being here, but I'm glad you came. Even if the circumstances aren't ideal." I add and he cheers up immediately. I give him a shy smile then excuse myself from the table to go about getting a better drink than plain water. I think this might be a morning for hot chocolate.