Here it is! The fairy Time fic I promised. Be warned, it is extremely fluffy
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It is a quiet night.
Time is always grateful for those. They are in short supply on this journey, too often interrupted by the rise of the cursed Blood Moon or an outburst of beasts from under the cover of foliage. But tonight, the moon is tranquil and golden and the surrounding bushes and trees conceal nothing except chattering critters.
The heroes have settled around the fire, and are trading lazy quips. The occasional tale sneaks in between them, which quickly becomes a competition to see who has endured the more exciting experience.
Time doesn’t normally make a habit of joining in. He is content to remain just outside the conversation, close enough to comment if necessary, but far enough to merely listen. Such peace and joy are precious things – as precious as every moment spent by Malon’s side – and they surround him like a warm blanket.
Tonight, however, that wonderful feeling is making it rather difficult to remain awake.
It doesn’t help that the healing spells he had cast in the aftermath of today’s battle have left him feeling drained. With the traveler down and their potions used up, he had had little choice but to act. And he doesn’t regret it in the least. But that doesn’t negate the fact that healing magic has never been his strong suit.
Every fae possesses the power, yet not all have the strength to employ it in such a measure as he had today. Healing is a delicate act. It requires attentiveness and care, dedication and focus. He had poured all of that and more into his spells, used his heart and mind, his soul to heal his brothers’ wounds and save their lives. And in the moments afterward…had collapsed.
He is fortunate his brothers had been there to catch him. Too many times before he learned his limit, this weakness had spelled his doom. He has scars on his wings to prove it.
Still, he is practically useless, even now after the impromptu nap. He feels dried up and hollowed out, limbs heavy with the same exhaustion that drags his eyelids downward. And though he would normally protest at least a little at the prospect of staying in his current position, he cannot dredge up the will to do so.
So, here he remains, curled up on his side on Wind’s lap, Warriors’ scarf a silken cocoon about his body, one giant wing draped over him like a comforter.
He shifts with a small sigh. The sailor giggles, ever amazed at his fairy form, and reaches out to run a finger over Time’s wings. He is gentle, careful in every movement. Still, Time is a bit surprised at the lack of the fear that usually bubbles up whenever anyone touches him in this form.
He has had too many injuries, too many close calls with death or worse. They have made him wary. But he trusts the sailor. Wind is nothing if not kind.
He is safe here.
The knowledge hits him harder than any monster blow.
You are safe here.
Something breathtakingly warm wells up in him at that thought, similar to the feeling he has been basking in since he awakened, yet unique all the same.
“Alright, old man?” A soft voice asks, now, and Time pries open the eye he hadn’t even registered closing. Warriors grins down at him.
Time’s soft hum quickly dissolves into a blissful sigh as the captain tucks him more securely into his bed of softness. He allows his eye to slide shut again, his body to relax more fully. He allows the sensations and sounds to envelop him, surround him in warmth and comfort. To pull him down into blessed darkness once more.
“He’s adorable like this,” Wind says, his noisy whisper breaking through the haze. Another giddy giggle bursts forth from him like gurgling water.
“He is, isn’t he?” It’s Twilight now. Time can imagine the dirt-eating grin on his face, the same one that spreads across Malon’s when she beats him in yet another race around the pasture. “Though I doubt he wants us calling him that.”
There’s a pause, then in a disapproving whisper-yell, “and he definitely doesn’t want that. Put that slate of yours away, champion!”
There is the distinct sound of a camera snapping a photograph. Laughter ripples through the group like the wind through the trees.
“When he kills you all, don’t come running to me,” Twilight says, though there’s laughter in his voice too.
Traitors, Time thinks, lazily, all of them.
“Oh, come on, Twi. Look at him! He wouldn’t hurt us! Not like this anyway.”
“Then, you haven’t gotten a good look at his wings,” Legend pipes up, drily. “They’ve got eyes on them, you know.”
“Ooh.” Time can feel Wind’s breath ghosting him as the boy leans down to get a closer look. “I wonder if they make up for the one he lost. I’ll bet he can see us through ‘em!”
If Time wasn’t quite so tired (or finding this quite so exasperatingly comical) he would correct that assumption. But then again, what’s the harm in allowing a little rumor like that to spread and strike some healthy fear into the hearts of his would-be blackmailers?
“Come on guys.” Warriors’ voice rises above the hushed clamor of the others, all bickering about Time’s ability, or lack thereof to watch them through his wings. “He’s exhausted. Let him sleep.”
The heroes try to quiet, though their efforts are about as successful as Time suspected they would be. Whispers and barely stifled laughter continue to weave their way gallantly through the night.
He wouldn’t have it any other way.
…though a few more telltale clicks of Wild’s slate cement his decision to play a prank on him as soon as he regains his strength.
“He’s so small,” someone murmurs, now as the hubbub begins to subside, sleepiness getting the best of even the most energetic among them. Sky, Time’s mind slowly supplies, putting a face to the voice that wafts gently around him. “To think, he healed us all while in that form…”
“Something you get to know very quickly about Sprite is that size doesn’t bother him,” Warriors replies, fondness in his tone. “Even as a kid, he could take out groups of monsters much larger than what we faced today.”
Sky chuckles, soft and almost sad. Time is too far gone to decipher why.
But he can’t deny the sudden rush of warmth when the chosen hero whispers, “thank you…little one.” And when, in the next moment, Sky ghosts a finger over the very tip of his wings, Time is unafraid beneath his touch.
He drifts off not long afterward to the sound of tired murmurs, the crackling of the campfire, and a soft song played upon an ocarina, the notes drifting up toward the moon.
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Can you explain your thoughts about Nightheart. His character is probably my favorite to see how everyone perceives him, especially as the arcs gone on and the mindset shifts. I remember when he was the baby trans kitty ppl liked then became the bitchy boy he is today for many people
Personally I’m pretty neutral to him, I think he’s not very great and the writing in certain areas does not help this at all. Also all the unreasonable hate he gets form the surrounding characters makes no sense but that’s just the writers bending their characters to make the male lead seem semi reasonable (to me)
Sure!
I think what really separates my feelings for Nightheart apart from others in the fandom is that I do not think his surrounding characters are being unreasonable; and I like Nightheart because of his abrasive personality.
Before I continue: I don't legitimately accept the trans-coding theory. I think it makes a fun fandom idea but I do not use it when interpreting him.
Nightheart strikes me as a very young, very lonely person looking for validation. The problem of his character is that he refuses to self-reflect or consider his impact on the people around him, alienating his kin and clanmates, blaming all of his problems on the most immediate 'obstacle' on his mind. This is usually authority figures who enforce a consequence.
At first, this is Firestar's legacy itself, largely because people will tell him that he needs to hold himself to a standard. Then, he fails his assessment. At first he knows it's his fault, then over time, it morphs. Now it's about Lilyheart being unfair. The next assessment? He throws himself in front of a large predator. Now it's about Squirrelflight haaaating him.
Nightheart thinks he's a super special descendant of Firestar because it's what he's been told. Then when he acts like he IS special, overestimating himself, he causes trouble for himself and others. So he hates the idea of being special, but at the same time it is part of his identity, and he HAS to impress people, so if they AREN'T impressed, then-- then they must be being unfair!!
Nightheart is young, confused, and self-absorbed.
He doesn't register that people are mentioning Firestar to try and comfort or relate to him. He doesn't even consider the idea that Squirrelflight is concerned about him when he pulls the hawk stunt, nor does he take note of how many times his family has tried to reach him...
And the name ceremony. The name ceremony. Divorce yourself for a moment from the culture here on Tumblr where we (rightfully) accept a name change on the face of it-- names are extremely important to Clan society. Flamepaw did something that is already taboo to Clan cats; he rejected his name. EVERY time this has happened in WC outside of SkyClan, it's been met with shock and mutterings from the rest of the clan, even when it's completely respectful, a request to keep an old, beloved name
And Nightheart didn't do that. He halted the ceremony with an angry rant about Firestar, most beloved leader in the Forest, rejecting the name after BEGGING to take assessments before he was ready, saying he'd "Let you know" after he'd thought about what he'd like to be called.
And he can't even imagine why the Clan would be upset about that!
Why Sparkpelt, extremely proud of her legacy, who picked out 2 fire-related names with Larksong before their kits were even born, would be upset by this. Why Finchlight is upset she has to pick up his slack and he keeps snapping at their mother. Why Myrtlebloom suggests that the Clan sees him as spoiled for having such a stunt entertained.
Largely because he only has his own big, painful emotions on his mind. He's completely caught up in his own head, in his own re-telling of events. And... part of me can't fault a confused (kitty equivalent of an) 18-year-old for lashing out.
He isn't wise enough to untangle this web of emotions and he's desperate for someone, anyone to understand what's wrong with him, as this same behavior pushes away everyone who ever cared about him.
I can't fault any of them! Yeah, Nightheart's old enough to self-reflect, but I've been 18 and Angry and not known how to Stop Being Like That.
Sparkpelt shouldn't have dropped him so harshly after the name stunt, but did everyone expect her to just be cool after he'd loudly rejected her in public twice, thrice if you count the name ceremony?
Squirrelflight?? Whose biggest crime is telling Nightheart that he needs to learn caution because he threw himself in front of a FLYING DINOSAUR? Mad because he ranted about how he doesn't want to be compared to HER DAD in front of the whole clan?? After she tried to suggest special mother/son training sessions, sent him on the catmint journey, attended his second assessment because Bramblestar couldn't show up after making a promise???
He's interesting to me! All of his problems are of his own creation and he's looking for some magic fix to POOF! Make all his pain go away, if others just treated him "more fairly" or if he could "prove them wrong" this time-- but there ARE no magic solutions. He thinks ShadowClan will fix him and it won't! He wants Sunbeam to fill a hole in his heart and she can't!
I like it! I want to see where this goes! I wanna see the little guy wriggle and squirm and tie himself into a greasy knot of his own design. He's unreliable as a narrator. He's unpredictable as a protagonist. I cannot wait to see what kind of wrench he tosses into the dynamics in ShadowClan right now.
I'm compelled in a way I haven't been with the books in years. I just like Nightheart, that is all.
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