Pre-AU

[winter_wisp]

 "No, no, no, out!" Winter said, still protesting his little glass prison as he fluttered around in circles. Huffing, he landed hard at the bottom, kicking up a cloud of pixie dust that nearly turned the jam jar into a snow globe.

He had been trapped for days now, only settling down when the blonde man came and offered him bits of fruit. He disliked being trapped, disliked not knowing where he was going. It was rude, in his opinion, to just take pixies without asking if they wanted to come.

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[winter_wisp]

The pixie squeaked, but after a moment settled in on his palm.

"Can I sleep in your room? Can I have a pillow?" he asked.

[petty_dabbler]

"Yes," he nodded. "You don't have much choice. I don't have a huedt room. Come...Come on," hecsaid as he took the stairs. His hand burst into flame and he carried a hovering ball of fire to light the way.

His room was just as cluttered as downstairs. B7r there was a lovely deep window sill just opposite John's modest bed.

He put Winter on the bed.

"I have a pillow in the cupboard, I think," he said absently, wandering to it to open the door and hunt for spare bedding.

[winter_wisp]

Winter fluttered around the room curiously, exploring, then landing on John's shoulder.

"You live all alone? That's sad."

[petty_dabbler]

"I like it alright," he said as he pulled out a blanket.

"No one bothers me. I do as I please. It's quiet..."

But it was lonely. He didn't particularly like that Winter seemed to see the truth and wasn't shy about noting it.

[winter_wisp]

"I will keep you company," the pixie decided, fluttering over to John's other shoulder. "I am good company."

[petty_dabbler]

"You won't like me," John cautioned.

But he moved slowly so he didn't jostle him as he began to put a bed together.

[winter_wisp]

"I like everyone," Winter insisted, staying on the man's shoulder until he was too unsteady, then fluttering beside him. "We will be best friends."

[petty_dabbler]

"You seem awfully sure of that," John chuckled.

He gave the pillow a pat when the bed was made.

[winter_wisp]

"Yeah, we'll, I'm real smart. I know this stuff," Winter said, fluttering down to examine the little bed.

[petty_dabbler]

"Proper clever pixie, hmm?" John asked a touch amused by Winter's confidence.

[winter_wisp]

"Yes," Winter nodded, puffing up with pride before laying down. "The cleverest pixie you'll ever meet."

[petty_dabbler]

John was certain Winter would be the only pixie he'd meet, so he reckoned he may as well believe him.

"How many wizards you met?" he asked.

He realized he had a chance to be the most impressive wizard in all the realms.

[winter_wisp]

"Two," Winter peeped. "You are the second. ...You're nicer than the first."

[petty_dabbler]

"The other must have been a right bastard, then," John said.

He moved to his bed to tidy it a bit, waving a hand so it would make itself.

"That'll do. You'll be comfortable here."

He hoped.

[winter_wisp]

Winter wiggled out of his tunic, tossing it aside and snuggling into his new bed with a happy little peep.

"It is good," he smiled.

[petty_dabbler]

It was late and it was cold. John went to the small hearth and started a low fire to chase the chill out of the room. Then he slowly pulled off his robes. In the chill, his joints felt stiff and sore. He stripped out of his breeches next, then slipped into bed with his own tunic.

"Good night, Winter Wisp," he said.

In the morning, he'd think of how to get him back home. That wasn't a worry for this late hour.

[winter_wisp]

Winter slept well for a while, but it was still a bit chilled in the small room, and he was feeling restless. Slipping out of bed, he fluttered off to explore a little, eventually settling near where the man clearly brewed potions. It made him think of Aspid and the potion he used to take to be big. The Wizard had always liked him big. Maybe John would like him more if he was larger.

It was hard, but the pixie set about brewing, being quiet as can be.

When it was done he carefully bottled it, then took a sip.

[petty_dabbler]

As quiet as he was, John still roused a little at the noise. He fought to stay asleep, but eventually he opened his eyes and propped himself on an elbow to look at the source of the noise.

"What are you doing?" he asked, the fire died down enough that he couldn't make out much in the darkness.

[winter_wisp]

"Brewing," Winter replied, taking the potion and sipping it.

It took only a moment to start working, and the pixie settled on the floor as he started to grow. Hr became taller and taller- Then suddenly stopped. Still short, but a more reasonable height now.

"I'm big!" he peeped.

[petty_dabbler]

"Are you using my..." he asked, sitting up more and lifting his hand with a ball of flame so he could see.

Winter was, indeed, bigger.

"Why'd you want to do that?" he asked, groggy and confused.

[winter_wisp]

"Aspid liked me better when I was big. Maybe you will too," Winter shrugged. "He was nicer to me. ...Most of the time. Except at night."

[petty_dabbler]

Bigger. Nicer. Except at night.

It took two heartbeats too long to put those pieces together in one thought.

Then John sat upright in bed.

"You're fine how you are. I don't...you don't have to...er, nights are for sleeping," he stammered.

[winter_wisp]

"I will sleep beside you then, for warmth," Winter decided.

[petty_dabbler]

"Oh. I...erm," he stammered, unsure what he could possibly say to that.

Share the bed?

"But I made you a bed..." was what he settled on.

[winter_wisp]

"But it's cold," Winter complained, moving to climb into bed beside him. "I won't bother you, I promise."