I was feeling all blah and achey and empty. But the fairies saved the night once again. *giggles*
Rainbowshimmer Tales, part 16, in which real danger starts to creep in.
“He looks happy,” Glow states. Rainbow is humming a melody while he flits in and out of his closet, bringing armfuls of clothes, folding them into neat piles on the bed and packing them into two large suitcases. It has been going on for quite a while and the suitcases are very nearly full.
“He is happy,” Saturn corrects and Glow frowns at her - she’s apparently not quite come to terms with the fact that Black can have this sort of effect on Rainbow.
“How would you know?” she mutters, lips pursed and arms folded across her chest, watching Rainbow’s every move with suspicion, as if she was expecting his merriness to pop like a soap bubble.
“Can’t you feel it?” Saturn asks, puzzled. Could Glow really be that ignorant?
Glow pouts. “Of course I can,” she admits grudgingly and Saturn finally notices the darkening shade of her face - Glow has clearly been struggling with all her might to resist the urge to simply give in into the intoxicating happiness. The emotion seems to be seeping out of Rainbow’s every pore, hovering around him like an aura of sweet delight.
Saturn is a little impressed with Glow - how Glow has managed to keep her grim demeanor for the past half an hour, since the moment Rainbow picked up the ringing phone and flashed a brilliant smile when he heard the voice of the caller, Saturn does not know. Glow can be so stubborn sometimes; it makes Saturn proud - must be her influence.
She doesn’t admit any of that, of course, because Glow is smug enough as it is. Instead, she says: “Come on. I know you’re jealous. But he loves you, too.”
Glow perks up immediately. “He does?” she breathes, her grudge suddenly forgotten.
“Of course,” Saturn nods, smiling. So easy.
Glow flutters into the air, beaming and twirling, as if all the suppressed happiness was bursting out now. She launches herself at Rainbow and lands on his shoulder. “And where are you going?” she trills into his ear.
“China,” Rainbow replies and smiles, his eyes dreamy for a second.
“And - “ Glow begins, but is interrupted by Saturn’s sudden yelp. And then Saturn is beside her, clutching at the collar of Rainbow’s shirt, rattling urgently into his ear:
“Rainbowshimmer, listen to me now, yes?” she says and claws her small fingers into the boy’s neck.
He tenses, surprised. “Yes?”
Saturn glances towards the door anxiously. “We have to leave now,” she says.
“But Satu-“ Glow begins, eyes wide and incredulous, but Saturn stops her.
“Please trust me,” she pleads.
“Okay,” Rainbow shakes his head, confused. “You can leave, I’m not stopping you.”
“No!” Saturn wails, exasperated. “You don’t understand. We all have to leave. You have to take us with you.”
“I can’t take you with me to China,” snorts Rainbow.
“Rainbowshimmer!” Saturn bellows and stands up, stomping her foot on his shoulder. Then, with an agitated look over her shoulder, she lowers her voice to a whisper once again. “We need you. You must - you must - “ she stutters and gasps for air.
“Breathe,” Glow suggests uncertainly.
For once, Saturn actually does as she’s told and, with a deep breath, continues: “You must hide us. Protect us. They’ve come. They can’t know we’re here. They can’t find out about you - about us - everyone. Not yet.”
“Saturn, what are you talking about?” asks Glow, a little scared and a little offended, because nobody seems to be paying attention to her.
“I’ll explain later,” Saturn promises and turns to Rainbow again: “You need to carry us close and be human, so they don’t catch the scent.”
Rainbow rolls his eyes. “I am human,” he points out. “But - “
“PLEASE!” Saturn begs. “Please, Rainbow, you mustn’t let them get us.”
Rainbow furrows his brow doubtfully, but, in the end, Saturn’s behavior seems to persuade him. “Alright,” he nods. “Let me just get those,” he clicks the suitcases shut and grabs their handles, rolling them towards the door.
“How close do you need to - oh,” he gasps when Saturn slides under his shirt, pulling Glow with her. “That tickles,” he says when the fairies settle on the necklace hidden under his clothes, wings curled against his warm skin. “Try not to move too much,” he giggles and starts walking.
Saturn huffs in annoyance. The boy has acquired more fairy traits than would be good for him already - reckless, carefree, silly Rainbow. If they’re not careful, a bit of tickling is going to be the smallest of their problems.
The realization makes Saturn’s stomach clench with fear. “They won’t get you,” she whispers, one hand wrapped around Glow’s wrist, the other pressed against Rainbow’s chest.
~tbc
I haven't even read this after myself, so please ignore the typos that I'm sure are in there.
Now I'm off to watch part 2 of Children of Dune.