Gen 4 Chap 4 – The Popstar And The Sad Man

Le Author’s Note: Welcome back to another chapter. If the images look a little different, it’s because I now use ReShade. Not much to say, enjoy. I also fixed Chapter 1, it was cut-off at the bottom for some reason.

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5 AM In Fall

“YES! WOO!”

Exhilaration from running. Why did it take him so long to do this? It gave him… energy. Like magical energy, energy he has needed for quite some time. He felt charged and that wasn’t from the runner’s high.

Ezreal felt the wind swirl around him. That wasn’t naturally occurring, he was doing it himself. He was manipulating the weather once again but only in this small area where his father loved to fish.

“Dad was right,” he puffed out. “Running gives me more power. This is AMAZING!” Yelling that last part because he knew no one was around. Ezreal had been hanging around his father more and more these days to help him get over his ‘issue’, as he calls it, and Ezra suggested running (after waking up at 4 AM to fish with him didn’t really work out) on one sunny afternoon. Ezreal took him up on that and it has been an eye-opener. Ezra also tried to help his son by getting Genesis involved, although Genesis had his own life to deal with, that’s a different story for a different time.

Ezreal was a powerful witch and he was always looking for ways to improve. Not because he was looking for a fight or anything, much too lazy, but, because he simply wanted that power. He wanted to be able to say he can and be able to prove it. His father didn’t have anything to object to about it, as long as he doesn’t cause any more trouble.

“Alright dad, I don’t even use this power like that. Unless you count all the spells I’m perfecting.” Ezreal said to himself. Relishing in the crisp autumn air. What will he need them for? Even he doesn’t know that yet. It’s been a good few weeks since the meeting of the random girl and her bodyguard? Why did she have a bodyguard again? That doesn’t matter, what matters now is the fact that he found an outlet, an outlet he can use to get better at his emotional control, better at his magic, and get a better mental state. He ruffled his own hair, smiling for one of those rare moments that are becoming more frequent. “Ok me, let’s run back home. I’ve been up since 4 AM and it’ll take an hour to get back… Man I need a nap.” He says to himself and gets ready for the run home.

***********************Somewhere On The Other Side Of Town***********************

In a small house where a pop star searching for answers and, a werewolf who would have preferred to be back in Starlight Shores at their penthouse, Aricelli was trying to gently wake Malen up. After all, he promised they would go searching for more information in town today and it was already 11 o’clock. But she was losing her patience. He always does this when he doesn’t want to do something.

“Malen~? Malen… come on, you promised.” She whispered while slowly reaching for his neck. Malen let out a low growl, shifting his body slightly.

“MALEN!” Aricelli yells and he lazily opened his eyes. “Why are you yelling this early in the morning?” He was fully aware of what time it was, but he wanted to push her buttons as she’s been doing to him the last few weeks. “Malen, it’s 11, you promised me we would go and–” He unexpectedly shoots up into an upright position almost headbutting her in the process.

“Ari, this is getting old and I want to go back to my cozy penthouse.”

“Oh but when you wanted to get Thai food that you know is bad for you, you demanded I let you eat it. But when I ask nicely for help…” Aricelli trails off, staring at the front door of this tiny home that she still didn’t quite understand how Malen got it, considering they were just in a hotel room a few days ago.

“Are you doing that face?” He asks her sensing a familiar feeling he would get whenever she was a little mad. “What face? I’m just looking outside.” She says talking out the side of her mouth.

“The face you make when you’re mad but not really. You look like a little pissed mouse.” “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Malen glances up at her with tired, lazy eyes. As long as they’ve known each other, it came effortlessly for him to know her emotions, facial expressions, and almost every little detail about her. They have always been together since they were kids. He just never thought she would turn into what she was today, as he never thought he would be a guard dog.

He made a tsk-tsk sound with his mouth. “Ari, I know you. And I know you’re doing that face. Fine, where do you want to go?” He asks and gets up.

“Well since you asked, I was thinking we could go out for brunch at this cute little café I saw when we were out last time.” “Ugh, no, can we go to the library where there are no people?” “Then how will I find the dirt I need?” She asks calmly.

“Fine. Ok, this is for you. I’ll be seen in a cute, boxcar style, café for you.” He says but perhaps he was secretly happy on the inside. After all, he does enjoy tasting some of her weird drink choices. Most of them are too sweet though. Plus, the only reason why he’s still here is because he puts her happiness over his. Unhealthy? Maybe, but he might figure that out one day. “Just so you know, you’ll be doing the talking and asking the questions.”

“I believe I have already been doing that Malen. Come on, I want some Boba.” Aricelli says and practically bounces out the door. She had a feeling she would get a little closer to the truth today, even without the help of the sad man from Fairytale Finders.

***********************At A Boxcar Café***********************

“Ok, what do we have so far?” Aricelli asks aloud. Malen, eyeing her bubble tea, quite dubiously, answered absent mindedly. ” You have a strawberry too sweet something tea thing, and I have a normal caramel–”

“I mean about my situation.” She lets out a huff of air. “This isn’t a joke Malen.” Aricelli’s frustration simmered beneath her voice as she fixated her eyes on Malen, who suddenly snapped out of his bubble tea trance. “Sorry,” he mumbled, setting down his drink. “Your situation… let’s see.” He furrowed his brow, pretending to contemplate the pieces of the puzzle they’d been dissecting for hours. “You could, just quit?”

Aricelli rolled her eyes. “Sometimes, you drive me mad. Completely and utterly mad.” “I’m just trying to lighten the mood; you treat this as it’s life or death you know. For a famous popstar, you sure do like to stick your nose into things where it doesn’t belong…” Malen mumbled the last part only loud enough for him to hear.

“Maybe we should go back to the sad man at Fairytale Finders…” She trails off. Before Malen could spout out another snarky remark, he was interrupted by the nervous interjector of someone.

“E-excuse me, did you say Fairytale Finders? Perhaps I could be of some help?”

Malen’s eyes snapped to the voice, he almost lowered his guard but he could still smell some magical trace of witch on the person who just walked in on their ‘conversation’.

“Who are you?” He growled. “The owner and operator of this café you enjoy to complain about. Excuse the intrusion, my name is Irelia Xavier and I believe I could prove to be of some use.

Aricelli’s eyes lit up as Irelia spoke. She could feel herself getting one step closer to the truth. “Well, spill it! Don’t keep me in suspense!” Aricelli spouted. Irelia squinted her eyes ever so slightly. She could’ve sworn she’s seen her face somewhere before… like the news? Maybe, it doesn’t matter. What matters now is that they met her recluse of a brother and maybe they can help her, help them, help him.

“That was my brother you met. The only person uhm, working at Fairytale? I don’t even know if what he’s doing is considered work. Either way, I’m somewhat of an alchemist and I have a potion I’ve been meaning to try out. The only thing is, I can’t get my brother to drink it for me.”

“What does that have to do with us? Why should we care if your weirdo of an annoyance –” “Malen, don’t interrupt! Go on Irelia, we’re listening.” “You mean you’re listening.” Malen says under his breath and sips his drink, obviously not interested in anything else Irelia had to say. “Basically, I need my brother to go back to the way he was before… his thing happened. I miss the old him.” “Too bad toots, people change. We’re not going to help you change your brother’s personality. He’s an asshole for a reason.”

“He would help you then. If what I heard was correct, you’re trying to figure out if your parents are Storybrook’s right? Ezreal was basically obsessed with them when we were younger and I’m sure he really wants to get back into it, he just needs a bigger push.” Irelia says almost absent-mindedly. “His name is Ezreal…? I like that.” Aricelli muses to herself then regains her happy disposition, “Well, that settles it, we’ll help!” Mayhaps a little too enthusiastic there.

“No, WE won’t.” Malen states. He finished his drink and crossed his arms. “We won’t be doing anything concerning an ass of a witch or his annoying witch of a sister.”

“I’ll let you guys have unlimited drinks while you’re here. And I’m not a witch, I don’t have any powers.” Irelia says. Aricelli leans forward, trying to coax Malen with her eyes. It normally works and this time was no different, although he did try to put up a fight. “Come on Malen, the quicker we can get some answers, the quicker you can go back to the penthouse.” That sealed it, he let out a heavy sigh, shrugged and mumbled a ‘yeah, ok’. Irelia smiled a confused smile. Did that woman say penthouse?

Aricelli shot Malen a grateful glance before turning back to Irelia with a charming smile. “Thank you so much, Irelia. We really appreciate your generosity. Shall we go to your home now?” “Sure, Ezreal is bound to be out as he normally is these days.” Irelia states and turns to get the last customer out before she hung up a ‘Back in a Bit’ sign. Soon they were piled into Malen’s car and head to the Xavier’s home.

***********************The Xavier’s House***********************

“Did you have to follow me into my lab?” Irelia asks the werewolf, eyes following her every movement. Malen had many dealings with alchemists before, none of the encounters ending up friendly except say, two or three. So his natural distrust only grew when Irelia the witch wanted to make the potion away from prying eyes.

“Yes, considering it’s really sketchy that you wanted to make it alone, out of sight. My job as Ari’s bodyguard is to do just that, guard. Guard against anything that poses as a threat to her.” He says in a flat tone. Twinbrook has been rubbing his fur the wrong way ever since he and Aricelli arrived. Unhelpful witches, manipulative vampires, and now this woman who was the sibling of the unhelpful witch. A self-proclaimed alchemist since she couldn’t even tap into her own powers.

“Forgive me for being forward but, Ari… she’s a popstar right? My niece is basically obsessed with her music–” “Stop. If you tell anyone that she’s here, I’ll make it my second job to put you in your own personal hell.” Malen sneered. Irelia shrugged, she could figure out they were here under a not so great cover. She heard on the news a while ago the international sensation Ari stepped away from the spotlight to do some ‘soul searching’. Sasha threw an entire fit of her little preteen heart when she heard that. Imagine what she would do if she knew her idol was sitting in their living-room right now. Luckily she was at school and Kotetsu was out getting some groceries for tonight’s dinner. Irelia read a few pages of her book then turned to her cabinet to gather the ingredients.

“Mermaid tears and Eternal Spring Water, straight from the Himalayas.” Irelia said mainly to herself but the heightened senses of a werewolf allowed Malen to hear it as well. “You went to the Himalayas? Wait what even are those ingredients? I haven’t seen a mermaid in years.” He says, eyeing Irelia’s back dubiously. “It’s called next day delivery. Maybe you’ve heard of that.” Irelia states. She was getting slightly annoyed by Malen now. Even though he was a werewolf, and Irelia had the softest spot for his kind, she hated it when people where in her alchemy space. Unwanted hairs, dead skin cells, who knows what else could float into a potion.

Malen snickered. A little spunk coming from the meek witch? That’s interesting but he wasn’t interested in playing with her more. “Where’d you get the rocks?” “Gems. And I found them, well Spark helped.” “Spark?” “My dog. Surely you smelled their scents…” Ah, so that’s the dog’s name. Malen took a mental note of that. If he ever needed any dirt on Irelia or the people she hangs around (Shack witch), he could always ask her pooch. But then again, dogs are loyal…

“So Malen, I know you don’t really like strangers nor trust them at all–” “Correct, get to the point.” “I just want my brother back. His old self, and I can’t do it alone. I have family that have been helping but I want a more ‘now’ result. This potion is harmless, just allowing him to remember his virtues, values…” Irelia sighed. She could tell Malen didn’t care about her nor her brother, of course not, they were strangers. “Just, imagine what would happen if the person you cared about the most had a life altering experience and they were never the same as you once knew them.” She says and goes to mix the potion. Malen did think about that, what the path would’ve have been if the roles were reversed. If Aricelli wasn’t how she was so lucky to be. Hopeful, optimistic, bubbly… Everything he was not. He couldn’t imagine what Irelia was going through, didn’t care to analyze it fully. He just knew that Aricelli was his top priority, his self just second, his car, third. As long as those three things were intact, nothing else really mattered to Malen. He couldn’t afford to be dragged into other people’s petty squabbles, not anymore. Except, Ari pulled him into this with her. Malen shook his head, clearing the thought. As Irelia mixed the ingredients together, Malen watched her carefully. A palpable silence filling the room for a moment.

“The potion is done.” Irelia says, turning towards him, handing him the potion as well. “Don’t break the vial, please. This… this is important.” Malen glances at the colorless and semi odorless concoction. He shrugs and gingerly takes the vial.

“This will be in Aricelli’s hands. I’m just the messenger.” He says and he walks out of Irelia’s little lab back to where he was comfortable, back to Ari. Irelia lets out a breath she didn’t know she was holding. At ;east this might work in her favor, Ezreal tends to be severely skeptical of anything she makes for him and the magic he wields makes it nigh impossible for her to try out potions. But this one, she did a lot of research on it, how to make it colorless, odorless. Undetectable… to a witch. She hoped to the gods this would work.

***********************A t Night, Across Town***********************

Ezreal was taking an new routine night walk to clear his head again when he heard someone call out to him. He stopped and looked to the sound of the voice where his heart stopped for a fraction of a second.

“Alright this time I know you heard me. How’s it going?” The woman asks him. Ezreal was still having a fight or flight moment and didn’t answer he right away. “Hey, you ok? I know I probably spooked you but you don’t have to be afraid of me, I just wanted to hel–”

“You caused me to not have dreams. How’d you do that?” Ezreal blurts out. That wasn’t the smoothest thing to say, nor was it the thing he actually wanted to say. He wanted to curse her out even if she did help his sleep schedule. He wanted to run very far away from her. He wanted to be left alone and not be tempted this night.

“How about we start with names first? I at least deserve to know your name after carrying you home from the club that night. And for not peeking into your drawers.” She smiled at him.

“W-what!?” Ezreal’s brows furrowed. Did she just say…?

“I’m joking, but I do want to know your name. I see you around a lot.”

“Ezreal. And your name is Bea.”

“Bea to friends, Beatrice to everyone else and the way I see it Ezreal, you’re not a friend… yet.” She flutters over to him. “So tell me why you expertly avoid me any time you see me.”

“I’d rather not.” Ezreal adverts her gaze. He hasn’t gotten to the part where he gained his confidence back yet. Those are some demons he still needs to fight. Beatrice lets out a huff of air and resigns herself to withhold the big questions for now. At this moment, she’ll keep it simple.

“Ok, I’ll start small and tell you two things about myself. Is that alright?” “You can do whatever you want, I don’t care.” Ezreal says out the side of his mouth. How did he end up in a situation like this again so soon? Is this… a curse?? No, can’t be, can it? He was about to revisit a memory when he heard Beatrice say she lived for over 300 years.

“I’m sorry, what? No way.” “Ah so that got your attention. But it’s half true, I have been around for a while, 150 to be exact.” Ezreal furrowed his brow, a thought just came to him.

“What do you want from me?” That came out more like a knife than a question in all honesty. And to be fair, he had a right to be highly suspicious of this fairy. She was beautiful, seemed to have it all together, but there was an aura of mystery about her that made him uneasy.

“I want nothing from you. But your energy seems so… tormented. I figured you could simply use a friend.” Beatrice tells him, trying to sound as authentic without coming off as shallow soul with ulterior motives because the fact of the matter is, she doesn’t have any. She just sees Ezreal as someone who could use someone to talk to. Not a lot of people understand why Beatrice operates out of her heart majority of the time but she does, and that’s all that matters. She thought back to the night where she first met the man, him on the floor of a club he didn’t belong in, silently losing himself without him even realizing it. She saw into his dreams as well when she took him home. It was like looking into an abyss of fear and guilt. She just simply wanted to help him not feel that. If there was a trophy for most empathetic, Beatrice would win it, hands down.

“I don’t trust you, at all. You know that right?” Ezreal says, trying and actually failing to read whether she was genuine or not. Has he gotten that bad at this? He used to be a master manipulator. Wait, that’s not a good thing. An inkling in the back of his mind was telling him he could trust her though. But he didn’t know if he could trust that.

“Then we can start small, like I said before. I can swing by your office tomorrow after work. We can talk then.” “You know I have an office?” “Your dreams told me a lot, plus sometimes I see you walk to it. Perks of being a fairy, I can turn small.” Ezreal was still on the offense about allowing anyone new into his life. Although he never heard of a fae that could see into other’s dreams. Beatrice seemed friendly but she seemed to be hiding something or that could be in his imagination. Maybe he should give this a chance. Maybe he could have another friend. Besides Ezra has told Ezreal many times that a big support system isn’t a bad thing. He shifted on his feet.

“Please don’t be a weirdo, I’ve had enough of those in my life.” He says before turning away to continue his walk. “Don’t worry about, I’m the most normal fairy you’ll ever meet. See you later!” Beatrice says with a wave of her hand before flying off. She sure was fast. Ezreal wondered again what he did to deserve this. Besides his devious acts back in college, and that incident. He thought he was doing good in life, taking care of his kid, not completely skimping out on her life, hell he was even teaching her little magic spells. That’s good karma right? Was meeting Beatrice also good karma? As he pondered his past actions and their repercussions, Ezreal couldn’t shake the feeling that fate had a twisted sense of humor, intertwining his life with Beatrice’s in ways he couldn’t yet comprehend. Maybe he was cursed like that one girl said she would do to him. At this point, her couldn’t even remember their names so why should he believe he was cursed? One bad thing happened to him. One bad thing that turned him into a sad man. A sad man, who might have just a little luck left.