Logan, Virgil, protector, fae
And 5. "I didn't realize I was such an inconvenience."
<3
I didn't mean to follow a pattern from my last prompt, but apparently I got a soft spot for teen!sides getting protected by powerful supernatural creatures this week. And I absolutely fell in love with these boys already so I hope you enjoy!
This is prompt number two of four for this game, so there's more coming <3
What You Deserve
Read on Ao3
Description: Entering the fairy ring to meet the master of the forest, Virgil knows he has one choice. Sacrificing himself to save his family was an honor, and it was his responsibility. Right?
Fortunately, not everyone agrees.
Word Count: 2792
Warnings: Shame, Manipulation, Implied Child Abuse/Neglect, Narcissistic Parent, Slavery Mention, Food Mention, Abandonment, Hurt/Comfort, Angst with a Happy Ending (Let me know if I missed anything!)
--
“This way, Virgil.”
“Yes, mother.”
“Stop dragging your feet.”
“I'm not—”
“Speak up and stop mumbling.” Virgil’s mother put a hand on to his back to urge him down the path into the forest. “and don’t you dare wrinkle that shirt.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
The silver light of the full moon filtered through the trees, sparkling on the dewy grass like tiny gems dotting the landscape. Bright, purple mushrooms grew in bunches underneath the trees. Their gills gave off a faint, pink glow that illuminated their path toward where the fairy ring was known to appear. It would almost have been pretty, if he didn’t know why his mother had brought him here.
“We’re almost there.” His mother turned back over her shoulder to glare at him. “You will remain silent and let me do the talking. I don’t need you screwing this up for us.”
“Y-yes, ma’am. I won't—”
“And no crying.” His mother reached to his cheek to brusquely wipe away the tears before dragging him forward into the open clearing. “Have some pride, Virgil. You’re doing this for your family.”
Virgil swallowed back a biting comment, ignoring everything he'd ever been taught to willingly follow his mother into circle of mushrooms at the center of the forest glade. The fairy ring. He felt a rush of power sweeping around them as he wiped the last of his tears from his eyes and stopped behind his mother. The subtle pink glow of the forest floor grew brighter as Virgil stared at the ground, curling his arms across his chest as a figure emerged from shadows.
“Human, I do not believe my instructions were unclear.” The deep voice of the fae carried an aura of warning as he addressed Virgil’s mother from the shadows. “You and your bloodline are no longer welcome in this forest. Begone before I lose my patience with you.”
“Good master of the forest, we are here to humbly request your audience.” Virgil’s mother bowed her head. “We seek not to anger you, but to appease you for the wrongs we have committed. Will you hear my offer?”
The figure stepped into the moonlight and Virgil had to stifle a gasp. Thin antlers rose up from man's soft, brown hair and his soft features radiated a gentle beauty unlike any he had ever seen before.
“I see no need for me to bargain with your family. You chose to ignore my warning not to take more than you need when you hunt the creatures here, and as a result you have suffered for your trespasses into my forest.”
The fae began to turn away, but Virgil’s mother dropped to he knees, reaching her hands up to plead with him. “Master fae, I need to feed my family—"
“The fault for your misery lays squarely on your own shoulders.”
“I know, but if we are to survive, our needs remain unchanged.” His mother’s voice trembled as she folded her hands together in a silent prayer. “Please, allow me to replace the life that was taken from your forest.”
The air felt heavy as the master of the forest turned back to them. His eyes moved slowly from Virgil’s mother up to Virgil, lingering uncomfortably as Virgil bowed his head.
“Explain yourself.”
“I come to offer my secondborn. If you will accept h—"
“Ha, and I'm to understand you sought not to offend me.” The fae’s lip twisted into a cruel sneer as he bared down on Virgil’s mother. “You come to beg for your life, and you do even follow the word of legend. Do the stories not say that we fae barter for the firstborn child?”
“Please, my grace. We need my oldest for the harvest.” His mother dropped her forehead to the ground. “Without him we'll starve, but Virgil is not meant for such things. He is neither our brightest nor our strongest, but he works hard—If you'll have him, he will serve you faithfully in penance for our sins.”
Virgil's lip twisted in disgust as his mother all but begged the fae to take him away. “I didn’t realize I was such an inconvenience, mother.”
A withering glare flashed across his mother’s face as she turned her head over her shoulder towards him. Her movements lacked subtlety and her message was clear. She wanted nothing more to do with him, and if he messed up her plans, she'd surely make him pay for his mistakes. Fortunately for her, not all hope was lost. The faerie’s piercing, blue eyes had fixed their attention on Virgil.
“Virgil, child.” The fae paused as though he were taking the time to feel Virgil’s name on his lips. “What do you have to say about all of this?”
A subtle, tingling crept across Virgil’s skin as the man spoke his true name. His mother had given it so freely, he hadn’t even considered the power the forest fae already had over him. “I, um—I don’t—”
“He's a good boy who does as he's told. You won’t regret taking him—”
“My question was not directed at you, madam.” The fae's eyes flashed a cold warning at his mother that sent shivers across Virgil’s skin. His stomach had been doing nervous flips since they entered the forest, but now that he was face to face with the powerful fae, he felt like his wobbling legs might finally betray him. “I wish to hear Virgil answer for himself.”
“I, um—whatwasthequestionagain?”
His mother looked poised to strike him for such a pitiful display of composure but the man in front of him seemed to find his incompetence pleasantly amusing.
“You are being asked to forfeit the only life you've come to know.” The cold tone of the fae's voice was tempered with a comforting softness that started to still the pounding in Virgil’s heart. “Surely you have feelings about what your mother is asking of you?”
“Umm—”
“And keep in mind,” The man paused as Virgil looked up at him with wide eyes. He kept his tone soft and reassuring, but firm as he addressed Virgil. “it is unwise to lie to one of the Fair Folk like myself.”
“No—Of course not, sir.”
Virgil’s mumble was nearly lost to the wind as he bowed his head to his chest, considering his words carefully. His mother had made it clear that this was his responsibility. If they failed to win the fae’s favor, his family may not survive the winter, and he was the only one with the power to change the creature's mind. He had not other choice. He would make his mother proud of him, if only this one time.
“If you will spare my family of their suffering, I am prepared to go with you.” Virgil dropped to his knees next to his mother and gave a deep bow to the ruler of the forest. “Please accept my mother’s offer.”
“I asked of your feelings, and yet you offer nothing of substance.”
“I know, sir.” Virgil’s forehead pressed to the dewy ground. “I’m sorry, but I do not wish for my emotions to sway your decision.”
The fae's silence weighed down on his shoulders as Virgil trembled and begged for the fae to take him. This was so simple. He couldn’t screw this up too.
“Very well. I accept the terms you’ve laid out for your family’s penance.”
Virgil lifted his head to the faerie ruler as he crossed his arms across his chest. His expression remained unmoved as Virgil looked to his mother. Relief spread across her face as she rose to her feet, oblivious to the despair twisting Virgil’s stomach.
“Really, sir?”
“To be clear, I expect to take the boy.” The man's leering glare landed on Virgil’s mother as she rose to her feet. “And in return, your family will be given passage into my forest to take only what you need to survive. Choose to get greedy again, and you will find that mercy is not something I grant twice.”
“Yes, sir.” His mother looked like she may weep with relief. “Your grace’s kindness knows no bounds. May peace be with you.”
“It would be wise if you to leave before my patience runs thin, human.”
The fae’s cold tone didn’t falter as his mother nodded. Virgil felt a numbness overcome him as his mother turned to wrap her arms around him.
“Take care of yourself, Virgil. You've done your family proud."
She pressed a kiss to his temple before letting him go and rushing back down the path, leaving him weeping at the feet of the stranger.
“Come with me, child.”
“Y-yes, master.”
“There is no need for you to address me as such.” The forest fae offered Virgil a hand as he scrambled to his feet obediently. “If it is acceptable, you may refer to me as Logan.”
Shaken, Virgil could do nothing but stare as the fae offered him a hand to his feet. “L-Logan?”
“I know I have you at an unfair advantage as I do not intend to share my true name, but you need not harbor any fear in your heart that I intend to hurt you.” Logan’s voice was soft as he rested a hand on Virgil’s back and guided him deeper into the forest. “Despite the ideas your mother undoubtedly in your head, I have no intentions of making you a slave.”
Virgil didn’t dare voice the many thoughts racing through his mind as his heart fluttered with a faint hope. He knew that the Fair Folk didn’t lie, but that didn’t mean that Logan did not hide his true intentions behind fancy words.
“T-thank you.”
“That is not a sentiment worthy of your gratitude.” Logan's voice sent a tingling rushing over Virgil’s skin as the fae pulled him to his feet. He was quiet as the fae pulled off his cloak, wrapping it around Virgil’s shoulders as they walked deeper into the forest. “I can assure you I only wish to honor the sacrifice you were willing to make.”
--
“This food is not of fae origins.” Logan’s expression remained gentle and patient as Virgil eyed the bowl of stew with suspicion. “You need not worry about any possible adverse effects to your health.”
Mere hours had passed since the fae had brought him to this realm, but settling into his new home had gone smoother than Virgil could have expected. Logan had been nothing less than pleasant, presenting Virgil with an overly extravagant bedroom with silk bedsheets and pillows for him to scream into the second Logan left him alone. He’d been allowed to sleep in as the thick shades kept out the morning light, and since he'd woke, his host had allowed him enough space that he'd been mostly able to simmer down from his overstimulated state. The respectful distance had been a welcome comfort, and he'd certainly been grateful for the fae's patience, but now the man had returned with a stubborn desire to feed him.
“What can I say to convince you my intent is not to hurt you, Virgil?”
“Nothing,” Virgil muttered as he forced his muscles to relax, realizing a moment too late that he had risked offending the fae. “I mean—Of course, I will accept the meal you've been gracious enough to prepare for me.”
Don’t thank the Fair Folk, lest you admit you owe them a debt.
Offering his life to Logan surely came with complications he didn’t fully understand, but he had no intention of giving away anymore of himself for free.
“I understand your caution is a rational reaction given your situation, but I hope to prove to you that it is unnecessary.” Logan’s soothing voice was quick to lull Virgil into almost believing his words were genuine. “Perhaps, we can set some base expectations about your time here to help ease your discomfort.”
Virgil chewed on his lip as he propped himself up on the edge of the bed. The silky, sheets felt like heaven on his aching body as he nodded and sipped on the savory broth. Meals brought to him in his own room were more than he'd ever dreamed to expect, but maybe now he could get an idea of what Logan would ask in return.
“Alright, Virgil. The first thing I need you to understand about my choice to invite you here is that you are free to leave at any time and for any reason.”
A sudden burning filled his nostrils as he accidentally inhaled his soup, choking as he looked up at Logan's patient smile. “What?”
“I do not believe that children should be made to pay for the sins of their parents.”
A shiver ran up Virgil’s spine as he looked up into the unsettling blue eyes of his captor. “That line might work better if you hadn’t accepted my life as payment only hours ago.”
“On the contrary, though I did not say so at the time, I viewed our transaction very differently than your mother.” Logan's lip curled into a smile as he moved away from Virgil to drop into a purple tufted chair a few steps away from the bed. “She believes sacrificing you was the price she paid for her life, but I would say granting her passage to my forest was the price I paid to bring you here.”
Virgil chewed on his lip as he focused on the bowl of soup in his lap. “Yeah, well, it all sounds the same to me.”
“I understand why you feel that way, but the difference is quite sizable in my eyes." Logan curled his hands in his lap. His narrow antlers stood like a crown on his head as he stared seriously at Virgil. “You see, I paid a price for your life with no ulterior motive but to give your freedom back to you.”
“Liar.”
“You know well enough that the Fair Folk do not lie, and despite what you may know of my people's reputation, I prefer to be straight forward about my intentions.” Logan let his serious tone drop to speak earnestly to Virgil. “Come morning, if your mind remains unchanged, you are free to return to your family. I only ask that you reflect on your situation for one day and one night before making any decisions.”
Virgil couldn’t believe what he was hearing. The Fae didn’t lie, but surely what Logan was saying couldn’t be the truth. “You are deceiving me.”
“Falsehood.” Logan’s eyes narrowed on him. “You may test my boundaries all you like, but I assure you there is no hidden motive in my words.”
“There's no way.” Virgil muttered as he stabbed at a crumbling potato with his spoon. “Why bother to take me if you were planning to release me all along?”
“No honorable parent uses guilt and shame to motivate their child, much less manipulates them to sacrifice themselves for said parent.” Logan paused to steady the growing anger in his voice. “Her job should have been to protect you, not the other way around, and I couldn’t abide such deplorable behavior.”
Virgil stirred the bowl of warm broth and root vegetables in his hand, grateful for the grounding sensation of heat as he listened to Logan’s words. “That’s a low blow to insult my mother.”
“You are the master of your own fate, Virgil. If you believe I am ill-informed, you are free to return to her and your brothers at first light tomorrow morning.” Logan's lip curled into a reassuring smile as Virgil chewed on his words. “But know, whether it is for a single night or a lifetime, you are welcome to stay.”
“As a slave, you mean.”
“As an honored guest, child.” Logan smirked at Virgil’s stubbornness as he rose to his feet and turned towards the door. “I am offering you a sanctuary from the shame and fear your family has convinced you is normal, but whether or not you choose to accept that offer is entirely up to you.”
Virgil’s chest clenched with a mild anxiety as Logan turned to leave him. “You’ll be back in the morning?”
“Bright and early, as promised.”
“Maybe—” Virgil’s voice trembled. He couldn’t believe he was starting to trust this fae. “Maybe not too bright and early, if that’s okay?”
“As you wish, Virgil.” Logan smiled as he headed towards the door. “Good night."
“Night.”
Virgil put his empty bowl on the tray at the end of the bed. The lights dimmed automatically as Virgil turned to collapse on the impossibly comfortable bed. Having the space was definitely a different experience than being crammed together with all of his younger brothers. Perhaps he could risk staying for just a few more nights.
-
This is prompt number two of four for this game, so there's more coming <3
Prompt Game
Prompt #1 - Janus/Remus/Protector/Werewolves+"Hold still. I don't want to hurt you."
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