Archive of Our Own ^beta

Fairy-Con. One of the biggest, if not the biggest, event Fairy World has to offer.

Ever since Hazel set foot in Cosmo and Wanda's apartment, she has been learning all about the infamous con that always takes place on the 17th of Fairybruary.

Yes, she spelled that correctly.

While Cosmo is stuffing all sorts of things into his new belly bag - a lamp, really? - Wanda sits on the sofa and tells Hazel all about the cool things they will experience. Merchandise, movie announcements, and famous fairy autographs. 

It sounds awesome! Hazel would love to join them!

There is just one problem: humans are not allowed in Fairy World - well, not anymore, not that Hazel would know.

Which means: No humans, read godkids, are allowed at Fairy Con, which should be a no-brainer considering where said convention takes place. But maybe... just maybe Hazel can find a juicy little loophole to get around that part?

"That's it." Hazel exclaims, bringing her fingers together as if she were some kind of evil genius ready to announce her equally evil plan. "If I can't be a actual fairy, then I'll just cosplay as a fairy to get into the convention!"

"Well..." Wanda thinks about her idea, rubbing the back of her neck. "We can't really say no to that, can we?"

"You're good, Hazel, almost too good." Cosmo agrees, stroking his chin with narrowed eyes. 

Of course she is. She is Hazel Wells. She lifts her head proudly as she blooms under the praise. 

"Well, hop in!" Cosmo opens his belly bag for her.

She should think twice about jumping in the bag after seeing all the things Cosmo has already put in there.

Especially since she has no idea where "in there" really is. It could be an intergalactic wormhole for all she knows.

Nah. No risk - no fun, right? She prepares to jump in as-

"Wait a second." - Wanda decides to intervene again.

"For what?" Hazel asks. "The plan is perfect."

"No criticism on that point, it's just..."

They're going to the con as a family, not as a couple.

"..I wouldn't feel comfortable doing something like this behind Peri's back."

"Ah, right." Cosmos drawls and closes his bag again. 

His son would probably have a heart attack if Hazel suddenly jumped out of his pocket and into the well-traveled streets of Fairy World. 

"Hazel." Cosmo flies down to her level and raises a finger as if giving a lecture. "There's no going until we're all on board."

All of them? 

"Does that mean Peri is coming too?" She doesn't know why, but the thought excites her. So much so that her mood isn't dampened one bit by the hold-up.

After everything that happened with Dev and Irep, he deserves a fun trip with his family... and her.

Come to think of it, isn't she kind of part of the family, with his parents being her godparents? Would that make them some kind of godsiblings?

She likes the thought. 

"Stupid question." Hazel makes a dismissive hand gesture in response to her own question. "'It's Fairy-Con! Of course he would not want to miss it!"

"Every fairy looks forward to Fairy-Con!" Wanda agrees. 

Well, Peri maybe a little less, since he is not a big fan of crowds or press or signing stuff. Being the first fairy to be born in a thousand years has its price, and that price is fame.

It may have diminished a bit compared to when he was a baby. But he is still very popular. A well-seen guest that everyone wants to get their hands on.

"It's a family tradition!"

A slight buzz fills the air, thanks to Cosmo's wings fluttering faster in excitement.

"We haven't been able to keep it up during our 10,000-year vacation."

Maybe they should have. It would have been just one day. A perfect day to share as a family.

"But now we are back and so is the tradition!" Wanda shares her husband's excitement. Flying up to him, she take his hands in hers and starts to twirl the both of them around in the air.

It almost looks like they are dancing. Hazel can't help but watch with a smile. She loves to see her fairies happy, it makes her feel all warm and gooey inside. 

"Sooo..." Hazel draws out, playing with a lock of her curly hair. "What if I ask him and he says yes?"

"Good luck with that, squirt. Peri sleeps on his rules."

"No really." Cosmo confirms, looking up at Hazel as he leads his wife into a dip. "They're under his pillow."

Hazel doesn't question that. 

"I want you to know that I can be very convincing when I want to be." 

Wanda chuckles. "Can't argue with that."

"Yeaaaah." Cosmo confirms, squinting at the girl. "Almost too convincing."

Wanda rolls her eyes affectionately and surprises her distracted husband with a kiss on the cheek. It's only natural that he lights up like a Christmas tree. 

"Peri is getting ready in his room." She points Hazel in the direction of said room. "Down the hall, it's a purple door with a star on it."

"He's already here?" Hazel exclaims in surprise.

Maybe it shouldn't be a surprise, considering that this is the house of his parents, with whom he is attending a festival.

And yet something about this knowledge bothers her. She seems to be on the right track with the way Cosmo and Wanda's faces fall.

"Things between him and Dev are a little... rocky right now."

Peri doesn't have to admit it for them to notice. He has been quieter, more anxious. He shows up at their house more often, even sleeping in his childhood bedroom from time to time.

His presence makes them happy. After he became more distant, the newfound closeness is nice. They would prefer if it didn't come at the expense of his sanity, though. 

"Nothing a bit space can't handle!" Cosmo decides, having all the confidence in the world in his son. "Dev won't be able to be mad at Peri anymore after he brings him something cool and fun from Fairy-Con! We will find the perfect gift for him!"

Maybe instead of bringing him a gift, he should take Dev with him? He seemed to have a lot of fun in Fairy World, and seeing such a big event would probably mean a lot to him. 

But she can also see why that might be a terrible idea after the whole anti-fairy scenario, so she doesn't blame them for not thinking about it. Especially in Peri's case, with him being a stickler for the rules and all. 

"I have no doubt that you will! Don't worry, guys! I will emerge victorious!"

With a hand pressed to her chest, Hazel marches on as if she is going to war. Her every step is filled with determination. There is nothing in this world that can stop her and her dreams! 

Well, nothing but a purple door and its occupant. Hazel takes a deep breath.

"You can do this, Hazel." Her gut tells her with a rumbling sound.

"I know I can." She knocks on the door.

Once. Twice. No response.

"Peri? It's me, Hazel." She knocks again. Nothing.

Maybe he is too busy getting ready to hear her. Hazel knows how easy it is to get lost in your own head. The world that surrounds you, lost in the void.

"Peri, I'm coming in!"

She turns the doorknob carefully, it gives way under her hand, the door slides open. 

Neat! She slides through the crack, stepping into the bright room before closing the door behind her again. Once that is done, she turns around and...

Woah! Peri's room is awesome! 

There's a lot of purple in it. Of course there is. With a big, comfy bed, littered with pillows and stuffed animals of all shapes and sizes. She can see a golden star, a green and a pink seahorse arranged so that their tails are intertwined, a worn doll with blue eyes and buckteeth wearing a pink hat, as well as a dark blue bat. It sticks out like a sore thumb in the otherwise bright environment, but it's cute nonetheless. 

There is also a desk filled with lots of neatly stacked papers, as well as fairy lights and flowers that decorate every available surface, giving the bedroom a real fairytale touch.

Every time her eyes sweep through the room, something new catches her attention - A moon-shaped nightlight on the bedside table, a framed picture next to it, a row of shelves on the wall, mostly filled with books - and yet the one thing - or person - she came here for is completely absent. 

Hazel frowns. She feels like an intruder, with the owner of the room not present.

"Peri?" She calls again. No answer.

That's strange. Maybe he had to leave because of Dev? Fairy-Con or not, he is his fairy godparent and when their kids want something, they come flying.

Well, Cosmo and Wanda don't have to, because she comes with them - and even if she doesn't, she grants them their day off. She can take care of herself just.. fine...?

Hazel's thoughts are interrupted by a streamer, or several of them, flying past her head in slow motion. Her eyes follow the frilly decorations, watching them disappear into the same thin air they seem to have appeared from.

What the hell? Where did they came from?

She turns her head to see a door stuffed in the corner of the room, hidden from her sight until now.

It's slightly ajar, a warm golden light spilling out, along with more streamers and... confetti?

"What?" Confused, Hazel makes her way to the door, waving the streamers away as she goes. The closer she gets, the clearer she can hear something from the other side. It sounds like coughing.

Not the light and easy: my throat is itchy, or I swallowed something wrong kind of cough. You know, the classics.

No, it's a violent one. Scratchy and raw, as if someone is being forced to expel all the air from their lungs, unable to breathe. Hazel's own throat begins to burn just from listening. 

Carefully, she puts a hand on the door and pushes it open to reveal... the fairy she was looking for. 

Peri flies in front of his mirror. A comb and a can of hairspray standing nearby, it's obvious he was getting ready for the con.

(She wonders why he doesn't use magic for that, but she supposes some things are better done with your own hands. She can relate.) 

Emphasizes on the was part. Right now he's hunched over the sink. His fingers dig into the cold porcelain as if it is the only thing keeping him upright. The mirror reflects his pale face. It's ashen, almost waxy, a thin sheen of sweat covering his skin. And then there are his eyes, forced shut as he hacks into the hand he has raised to his lips. 

Despite his hand blocking most of the view, Hazel can still see confetti and streamers trying to wiggle their way through his fingers. 

Wait, does that mean... The confetti is coming out of Peri's lungs?!

"Whaaaaat-?"

As soon as the word leaves her mouth, Peri turns his head in a flash. She is surprised she doesn't hear his neck snap.

She winces.

He looks at her, eyes wide with surprise. No, it's not surprise, it's fear.

He looks afraid... of her? But why...?

"Hazel!" His voice cracks.

Turning his head away again, Peri coughs up a few more streamers before he is finally able to take a breath again. His lungs work overtime to pump the oxygen back into his body. It's a tiring task, but a necessary one.

Once he is sure there is no more coughing, he looks back at Hazel, a shaky smile on his lips. 

"Wha- I didn't hear you come in!" His words are followed by a nervous chuckle. He looks like the equivalent of a kid stuck with his hand in the cookie jar. "What are you doing in my room? Ever heard of knocking?"

"I- Cosmo and Wanda sent me, and I..." ..did knock. Twice.
She says, or would say, wouldn't she be distracted by the streamers still floating in the air. 

Peri makes them disappear with a wave of his wand.

Hazel squints at him. "... Are you okay?"

"I am fiiiine." Peri answers too quickly, his voice high-pitched. "Peachy."

Hazel doesn't believe him. She raises an eyebrow at his disheveled appearance.

"You don't look fine."

"It's just a bug." He waves her off, fixing his appearance with a wave of his wand. It's like putting on a mask. Gone is the pale and clammy skin, the messy hair, and anything else that might have hinted to any illness.

Peri looks the same as always, put together, not a hair out of place. Well, maybe not a hair. 

"You have something there."

Hazel points to the corner of his mouth. 

Peri wipes it away with his thumb, looks at it, then freezes.

His finger is sticky, dipped in every color of the rainbow.

Ohhhh, this is bad. He forces a smile on his face and wipes his hand on a nearby towel.

"Right, thanks, like I said." He clears his throat. "It seem like I caught a bug."

"You cough up confetti when you catch a cold?"

"Something like that." Peri dismisses her, already zooming past the kid to get back to his room.

"Eh- wait!" Hazel doesn't hesitate to follow him, watching as he opens his dresser to rummage through it. 

"Something like that?" She repeats. 

Peri sighs.

It doesn't look like she's going to let this go. Damn kids and their natural curiosity... as well as himself for not locking the door. Not that there was ever any need. As overbearing as his parents can be, they always understood the concept of privacy.

"You know how weird sickness can get for fairies." He dismissively waves a hand over his shoulder. "I mean, pasta puberty and all that."

Yikes, Hazel doesn't need a reminder of that.

"How do fairies survive an entire puberty like that?" She whispers with no intention to be heard.

Peri does anyway. He forces out a laugh, it sounds hysterical. She must have touched a nerve there.

"By hiding away from society and living as an outcast for as long as it lasts."

"Is that what you did?" Hazel asks him, sitting down on his bed. It bounces under her weight. She decides she has never sat on anything more comfortable. 

Peri shrugs. "It's not like anyone could really help or understand." 

The only person who ever came close to truly understanding what it meant to be a teen fairy - the only fairy of his age, really - was a certain anti-fairy, if only because he is also the only one of his kind.

Some days it was easy to forget that they were supposed to be enemies when they needed someone to vent to. Someone who surprisingly didn't judge, at least in those rare moments of vulnerability, 

But not even Irep could help him through this, not in the way he would have wanted. There are some positions that not even his declared enemy should ever see him in. Producing pasta out of certain body parts is one of them. Even if the anti-fairy would later experience a similar phenomenon... 

... They avoid talking about it. 

He shudders at the memories and shakes his head to return to the here and now: 

He waves his wand to poof a new set of clothes onto his body. 

"Fairy anatomy is weird." Peri turns around.

He can't help but roll his eyes at Hazel, who is already making herself at home in his fortress of pillows and blankets. He likes it cozy, okay?

She smiles up at him innocently, one of his plushies clutched against her chest. He gestures to the set of clothes on his body. 

It's a suit. Too formal. She shakes her head. 

"That doesn't explain you dressing up for Fairy-Con when you are sick and contagious. Are you contagious?"

"Hah, I am not sick, nor contagious." Peri denies, poofing the next set of clothes on his body. "So don't you dare tell my parents that I am?" 

He looks at her with a nervous expression on his face. It's back again, the fear, so tiny and easy to overlook. So easy to misunderstand. After all.. he has nothing to be afraid of, right? And yet he fidgets with his wings, a haunted look in his eyes that won't take no for an answer.

"It's just a cough. Nothing I can't handle. No reason to get them involved, I'm fine." 

He wonders who he is trying to fool, her or himself. 

Hazel frowns. 

Just a cough?

The image of Peri clinging to the sink like a lifeline, while he hacks out the wrong contents of his lungs is still fresh in her mind. 

"... If it's just a cough, then why can't they know...?"

"Because they won't see it that way!" Peri groans in frustration. He slumps down next to Hazel. The mattress gives way under his weight. "You know how they are! They are so cliiiingy and overbearing and...!" 

He makes a frustrated sound. 

"They'll see their 'little baby' cough once and it's other. They will force me to stay home so I can rest and be coddled all day for no reason."

"For no other reason than you being sick." Hazel points out.

Peri raises an eyebrow and crosses his arms defensively over his chest

"Would you want your parents to force you to stay home, missing a whole day of fun and laughter with your friends, just because you have a nasty cough? Some things take time to heal, not medicine."

And some things can't be cured with either of them. 

Peri bites his lips.

He isn't stupid, he knows what he is dealing with. That doesn't mean his parents have to know, or their godkid. He doubts she even knows what magical build-up is, something that really works in his favor right now.

Hazel makes a face, it's her thinking one. She crosses her arms in front of her body and thinks hard and deep before she sighs.

"I guess you have a point."

Maybe she is reading too much into this. She nods at him.

"The outfit is nice." 

Peri, recognizing Hazel's words for what they are, looks down at himself. He is wearing a gray shirt, covered by a periwinkle sweater so that only the collar is visible. It looks dapper, but also casual. Looks like he is ready for the Con. 

"I won't tell Cosmo and Wanda about your cold."

He lets out a breath he didn't realize he was holding. 

"Under one condition."

Only to have his whole body tense up again.

"You can't be serious." 

He glances at Hazel, who smirks at him as if she is the villain and he the tragic hero who walked right into her trap. 

"Oh, I am! One hundred percent serious. I won't tell Cosmo and Wanda." She jumps off the bed and turns to face her unsuspecting victim. "As long as you let me come to Fairy-Con with you!"

Peri blinks once. Twice. "You want what?"

"I want to go to Fairy-Con with you guys!"

"...Hazel, humans aren't allowed in Fairy World."

"That's why I am going to cosplay as a fairy! I am going to get myself wings." She spreads her arms to the side and makes an upward motion with them, as if drawing wings. 

"And a wand." She turns her wrist as if casting a spell. 

"And a floaty crowny thing!" She draws a crown over her head. "And no one will notice a thing."

".... So you want me to sneak you into Fairy World?"

Because that went so well last time.

Peri shakes his head, hands tightening around his wand. 

"I am sorry, Hazel. I can't do that. Can I do that? I am not going to do that. It's totally against da rules!"

"No, it's not! Not completely." Hazel tries to argue, catching the gaze Peri throws her. She pouts at him. "Cosmo and Wanda said I could, they only changed their minds, because they didn't want to decide over your head."

"They said-" He shouldn't be surprised.

Peri sighs, and pinches the bridge of his nose.

"You know what? Fine."

He said yes? He really said yes! Hazel's whole face lights up. 

"But-" He adds. "You are under their supervision, which means."

He wipes his hands on his shirt, before lifting them.

"My hands are clean. If you get found out and end up in trouble, I know nothing."

"Fine by me!" Hazel jumps up and down in joy. "I am going to Fairy-Con! I am going to Fairy-con!"

How could he stay mad about being tricked like that, when it results in a child - even if it is not his - being this happy?

He wonders if there will ever be a day where he can make Dev smile like that.

The thought of his godkid makes his heart clench. 

I wish you were gone! And don't you dare come back until I tell you to!

The words echo in his mind, over and over again. 

It's been days, Dev. I am supposed to watch over you. I want to watch over you, so why don't you let me? Do you really hate me that much?

He can feel confetti tickle his throat. He swallows it down as if it never existed in the first place.

"Oh no, kid, dressed like that, you aren't." Peri waves his wand. "Let's see what we've got here.."

~

It took no time for Hazel to get ready and proudly announce to her fairies that Peri had agreed to let her come.

"She can be very convincing." He shrugs off their surprised looks.

And so the four of them set off to Fairy World to visit the convention. 

To say that Hazel is excited would be an understatement. 

She is thrilled! Ecstatic! 

Hidden in Cosmos' belly bag - which is way more comfortable than she thought it would be, might be because of all the stuffed animals stored inside. She can't explain their presence, but she's not complaining - she isn't able to see anything from the Con yet, but she can clearly hear the buzzing of wings, the increasing chatter of other fairies, and tickets being scanned. She can't wait for their turn.

It's a shame Peri can't share her excitement.

"Ohhh." He pulls his wings closer to his body as if to hide himself away. "I can't believe we're doing this..." 

He fidgets with his hands while his eyes dart around every few seconds, checking every direction for a sign of an approaching security guard ready to take them away. 

"We're going to get in so much trouble."

"Relaaaaax, Peri." Cosmo puts his hands on Peri's shoulders from behind and pushes him forward whenever the line moves. "No one will find out!"

Peri makes a face. 

"That's what they always say before they get found out."

They weren't found out. All three of their tickets were scanned without a fuss, granting them access to the one and only Fairy-Con!

"See, nothing happened!" Wanda says, confidently leading their group.

"...yet." Peri mutters. It's only a matter of time before Hazel gets impatient and they have to let her out. A moment that came earlier than expected: 

"Are we there yet?! I can't see anything!" Hazel starts to protest. Her voice loud and clear, despite being stuck in the bag.

Peri has the utter most respect for her stepping into that thing in the first place. He knows he wouldn't have. Only god knows what his father stuffed in there, or forgot that he stuffed in there. They have to buy a new lamp every year for a reason. 

"Hold your horses, we gotta check if the coast is clear." 

Coming to a halt next to a booth that sells all things wings and other magical things, Wanda does just that. There are no costumers at the moment, the shopkeeper is restocking his shelves, and all the other fairies are too busy chatting to spare them even a glance. And when they do look in their direction, their gazes are mostly drawn to Peri.

Of course they are. The perfect distraction. Wanda nods.

"Alright, get her out"

Cosmo doesn't need to be told twice. He opens his bag and pulls Hazel out. 

Immediately, the girl's eyes begin to shine and sparkle. She twists and turns in all directions, trying to take in as much as she can in as little time as possible. It's just like she imagined! No, it's better! There are so many fairies!

And so many stalls! And - are those wings?

"Cool!" She gasps, her eyes already drawn to the colorful variations right in front of her. Only one question remains!

"What's my fairy vibe?"

She could choose something cool or something cute, something sparkly or something colorful!

She could have big wings or small wings! Some that look like those of a butterfly, or some that look like those of her fairies!

"Just make sure no one sees you until you pick out your wings and things." Wanda reminds her.

Hovering in front of her, she and Cosmo do their best to shield her from view, while Peri makes sure to distract any fairy that comes anywhere near their direction. He may not be a fan of crowds, but he is a natural at drawing them in.

Right. She better hurry. Once she is dressed as a fairy, the real fun can begin!

She grabs a pair of rainbow wings, a floaty crowny thing that she will attach to her head with a headband, and a very wobbly wand, she lets Cosmo and Wanda pay for before dressing herself. As soon as the wings are wrapped around her body, her feet leave the ground. 

An excited sound leaves her lips, drawing her fairies' attention to her. They have to admit, Hazel would make a lovely fairy. The wings complement her, and the little floating crown on her head?

Gorgeous.

"Woooah, this inflatable wings are so floaty!" Hazel laughs as she slowly but surely floats past them, obviously unable to control her new "ability". "Now that I can fly no one will suspect a thing!" 

Cosmo and Wanda "oww" and "aww" at her, looking pretty impressed, and Peri?

The young fairy clacks with his tongue.

"We are doomed."

Wanda elbows her son.

"Don't be like that! This is working out just fine! Look at her flying."

"...She can barely keep herself upright." Peri murmurs, his eyes following Hazel's figure as it floats farther and farther away, until she grabs hold of a lantern post and uses it to push herself back in their direction, only to float past them again with barely any control.

Maybe someone should help her...

"Welp." He shrugs. "Good luck with that. I'm off."

"Off?" Cosmo repeats, grabbing Peri's sleeve before the fairy can take flight. "What do you mean? Where are we going?"

"We-" Peri shakes his father off, putting some distance between them. "- are not going anywhere. I-" He lays a hand on his chest. "- am going to get Dev's gift. And make sure I'm as far away as possible from this train wreck that's about to happen."

"Hazel will be fiiiine." Cosmo waves him off, watching their godkid spiral around in the air. "...See? She's already doing tricks!"

Yeaaaah, Peri doubts that the cartwheels she is making are intentional. 

"Oh, boy."

Another reason to disappear as soon as possible. And he would gladly do so, if it weren't for his mother laying a hand on his arm to get his attention.

"You don't want us to go with you?"

"It's not like that." He reassures them before they can spring their puppy eyes and pouty lips on him. "I would ask for your advice." Reluctantly. "But I already know what to get him."

"You do?" Cosmo and Wanda repeat in unison. 

"Why didn't you say so before, honey?"

"Yeah! Tell us, tell us, tell us! Wait, no, don't, I want to guess!" Cosmo interrupts himself, thinking long and hard, before coming to a conclusion! "It's a T-Rex!"

Peri opens his mouth and closes it again. Clearly taken aback a frown finds its way on his face.

"Wha-? Nooooo? Where would I even get a-" He shakes his head. "No. It's not a T-Rex."

"Oh." Cosmo almost seems disappointed. Wanda pets his back to console him. 

"I bet whatever you thought of giving him is something that came from deep in your heart and has special meaning to the both of you." His mother supplies, on the right track as always - well, not always. She and his father are two sides of one idiot for a reason. 

"It is!" Peri exclaims proudly, his hands on either side of his hips. "It's a cupcake."

"A.. cupcake?" His mother repeats, exchanging a glance with her husband. He shrugs. They both seem to be at a loss. "I'm not sure I follow."

"It's a long story." Peri shakes his head. "Actually, it's not. One of Dev's first wishes was for me to give him the perfect cupcake."

A memory that still irritates him to this day. His parents must have recognized that from the look on his face.

"But perfection is in the eye of the beholder." Wanda says slowly, causing Peri to throw his arms up in the air.

"That's what I said!"

Finally someone who agrees with him!

"But he wouldn't listen! He made me conjure a bazillion of them! But not one was good enough."

He deserved to have that giant cupcake smashed on his head. That was the moment they had their first argument.

They never seemed to stop since that day, and he hasn't even been on the job one day. 

His lungs feel like they are about to constrict again. He takes a deep breath, ignoring the stone settling in his stomach. 

It's going to be okay. He will end this. He will prove to himself and to his godkid that he is capable of making him happy. He can't fail now. Not like this. Not when the boy who doesn't even want to see him means so much to him. 

All he has to do is prove it. 

"That is why I have asked Nana Boom-Boom for a favor. I will help her in the bakery and she will pay me with one of her infamous cupcakes." 

Not to be confused with her infamous brownies. He still dreams about those to this day. 

"I will gift it to Dev and he will be happy and recognize that I am not a loser and do are able to give him what he wants." He finishes his speech with determination.

His parents clap for him. 

A confident smirk finds its way on his lips.

"That sounds like a nice idea." Wanda says. "But..."

"But Fairy-Con, Peri!" Cosmo puts his hands on his shoulders to shake the smaller fairy - as if his stomach wasn't already upset enough. "You can't work at Fairy-Con, you'll miss all the fun! The movie announcements and the live music and the food! I wanted to share all the food with you!"

"It's only one shift, Dad. I won't be long."

Despite his reassurance, his parents still look disappointed.

Of course they are, you were too, weren't you?

Peri never was mad at his parents for leaving him once they retired. God, they deserved that vacation - needed it, in fact, as much as he did.

He needed the space to grow and truly find himself, and they needed the chance to distract themselves, to forget about the godkid, who had turned their life upside down and focus on the one thing that had been a constant for years: Them and their relationship. 

He was happy for them, still is, they are far more relaxed now. That doesn't mean he wasn't disappointed, or that he didn't feel lonely on certain days.

Fairy Con was one of them. He was used to spending the day with his family, never doing anything special, just whatever felt right. He tried to do the same in their absence. But it wasn't the same, it just wasn't a fun trip anymore.

Not because he was lonely, he was never really alone, always surrounded by people, they just weren't the right ones. They weren't family. 

"How about we meet up afterwards?" Peri suggests. "I will go get my godkid his gift and you stay and make sure yours has a good time."

Before they get found out and sent to fairy jail - they won't, he knows they won't go to jail for breaking one rule, but let him be dramatic in his thoughts. 

"And if you really do manage to keep her in one piece, we can meet after my shift and go out for lunch before deciding how to spend the rest of the day - together. I heard there will be a firework later?"

With every word that leaves his lips, the smiles on his parents' faces grow wider.

"That sounds like a great idea, honey. You go and do your thing, and we'll catch up later."

His mother decides to pinch his cheeks.

"Mom." Peri complains, waving her hand away, only to be pulled into a pair of arms instead. 

"Ohhhh, our little Poofie is all grown up!" His father smothers him against his chest.

"Dad!"

Of course, it doesn't take long for his mom to join in. 

"Working hard to make his godkid happy~"

"Oh my God, guys, not in public!"

He poofs himself out of their arms. His face burns, literal flames erupting from his cheeks as his parents laugh at his misery.

Sporting a big pout - which he will deny until the day he dies - he ducks his head in shame, waves goodbye - because he still wants to be polite - before rushing off. His wings fly as fast as they can carry him. 

As soon as he is gone, Cosmo and Wanda look at each other and clasp their hands together with a chuckle.

"..They grow up so fast." Wanda wipes a tear from the corner of her eye.

"They do." Cosmo agrees, watching their fleeing son until he gets swallowed by the crowd. 

"Hey, where did Peri go?" Hazel flies up to them.

Looks like she got the hang of it. She is floating upright and in one position only. Wanda is impressed.

"Looking good, Hazel!" Cosmo praises her. 

"Thank you!"

Showing off her new skills, Hazel twirls through the air. It's anything but graceful, but she looks like she's having fun, which is the whole point of this trip. 

"You're getting the hang of it." Wanda agrees, before returning to Hazel's original question. 

"He left to get Dev's present."

Hazel has as feeling that's not the only reason he left. Not his circus, not his monkeys, right? Well, this monkey is going to prove to her godbrother that she can be a great fairy in disguise. 

"But we are going to meet him for lunch. So better work up an appetite, you're going to need it!" 

"I sure will!" Hazel promises. She can't wait to get her hands on all that fairy food. "So what are we gonna do next?"

"Well, let's see..."

~

A few hours and a belly bag full of merchandise later, the three "fairies" are on their way to the bakery to meet up with Peri. That is, until something, or rather someone, stops Cosmo and Wanda in their tracks.

"Huh?" Hazel notices her fairies falling behind. "Guys, what's going on?"

"Don't look, Hazel." Wanda shakes her head, which obviously makes Hazel look. "The Nmusic Fairy is singing a tribute to everyone we lost this year to magical back-up."

Hazel follows the pink gaze to a stage.

In front of a microphone, the famous Nmusic Fairy starts to sing a somber tune filled with hope and despair. It's a haunting sound. Goose bumps erupt on Hazel's skin. It's beautiful and yet sad.

Gray pictures of fairies pop into existence behind her. Some of them look old, some of them look young. All of them look happy. Underneath each picture is their date of birth, and... a confetti-date?

Hazel tilts her head to the side. She doesn't understand. 

"Magical back-up? Confetti Date? What is that?" She almost feels bad asking, after her fairies themselves look close to tears. 

"When a fairy goes to long without doing magic, there is a build-up of energy that eventually is gonna make us explode in confetti." Wanda explains carefully. 

"Into.. confetti..?"

Why.. does this sound familiar? No, not familiar, it just reminds her of something, There is an itching in the back of her mind. A bad feeling spreading in her gut.

Confetti... Confetti... Confetti!

Peri. 

"It's just a bug." The young fairy waves her off, a smile on his face.

Despite his hand blocking most of the view, Hazel can still see confetti and streamers trying to wriggle their way through his fingers. 

Hazel's eyes widen.  

"Every fairy has a I thought it was my confetti day story." Cosmo nods with a somber expression.

It has to be a coincidence... right? It can't be- How could it-?

Hazel wets her lip. "Is.. I- how does one know? I mean-" 

Get a grip, Hazel! 

She clears her throat. 

"Magical back-up. Are there signs? Can it be avoided?"

"The back-up manifests with confetti and streamers. Our body tries to get ride of them by coughing them up."

Hazel doesn't know which of her fairies is answering her. All she can see is Peri. Hands clutching the sink as he hacks out the contents of his lungs. Confetti and streamers fill the air around him. 

"I am fiiiiine. Peachy."

Liar.

"When it gets worse we also kinda... the magic liquefies itself and-"

"-we puke rainbows." Cosmo bluntly interrupts his wife.

Rainbows. 

"You got something there."

What did she see in the corner of Peri's mouth? She thought it was dirt, maybe some stray confetti sticking to him, but was it really? Come to think of it, it looked like a liquid. A liquid that shined in all the colors of the rainbow.

Hazel feels sick. 

Her fairies seem to notice.

"We shouldn't be talking about this." Wanda decides with a shake of her head. "Today is a joyful day, we shouldn't let this spoil our mood."

"Wait. One more question." Hazel pleads.

Wanda hesitates before letting out a sigh and making a gesture with her hand, urging her to continue.

Hazel takes a deep breath. 

"Are there - hypothetically speaking - any other sicknesses, that involve.. all of this?"

"Confetti, streamer and exploding?" Cosmo tilts his head to the side. "Not really."

"No." Hazel shakes her head. "I mean, yes. The coughing and the confetti and the... the rainbows?"

Wanda shakes her head. Hazel's blood runs cold. 

"No. The signs are clear."

Hazel bites her lips to stop herself from crying.

Does she even want to cry? Or does she want to punch something? Scream her frustration into the air, to share it with every single soul present. 

It all makes sense now, doesn't it?

Peri's reaction when she saw him cough. The fear in his eyes - it was fear, she hadn't imagined it. The way he tried to talk his way out of it, looking so nervous while doing so. 

He knew he was sick. He knew exactly what he was dealing with, and yet... and yet... he didn't want her to tell his parents. Almost begging her not to. 

"You know how they are! They are so cliiiingy and overbearing. They are going to see their 'little baby' cough once and it's other. They will force me to stay at home, so I can rest and be coddled all day for no reason."

No reason other than him dying! The realization is like a punch in the gut. 

Peri is going to die. He is experiencing magical back-up right now, and his parents don't even know. 

Why..? Why didn't he want to tell them? 

"How-how long does it take? Magical back-up how long does one have?"

Cosmo and Wand exchange glances. They must have noticed how upset she got. Unsure if they should continue answering her questions. 

"Depends on the fairy." Wanda says carefully. "It could be hours, days, weeks."

"But you don't have to worry!" Cosmo exclaims, putting an arm around her shoulders. "A fairy has to go a loooong time without fulfilling any wishes for them to get to this point. Something that won't happen to us with you around!"

But Dev isn't around. Dev is moody and hurt and not making any wishes.

He is killing his fairy - his godparent. And he doesn't even know. 

Hazel gulps. She should tell them, shouldn't she? It's only fair. They deserve to know.. so why can't she? 

Her throat is dry, the words stick to her tongue like honey, no, not like honey, honey is sweet, this isn't, it's tar. Black, and disgusting and painful. 

But the better question is, how could she? How do you tell someone that their child is dying? 

She can't. 

"And even if we would go a few days without any wishes. As soon as you make one, it'll be fine again."

So.. all Dev has to do is make a wish. Is that why Peri is here? Getting the boy a present? Because he hopes his godkid would want him back then? That must be it. 

Whatever the reason. Hazel isn't going to just stand by and do nothing. She needs to talk to Peri.

"Ahaha. You are right, you are right. I am worrying too much. Sorry. Seems like this whole thing got reaaaaally into my head." She bonks her first against her notching, smiling at her fairies, all innocent. 

"Ohh, squirt. I'm sorry, we didn't mean to worry you." Wanda pets her head.

Hazel doesn't feel deserving of their kindness. Not with the information she keeps from them. But she can't- she has to be sure. 

Sure? All the evidence points in the right direction.

Yes, but she will still give Peri a chance to defend himself, to prove her wrong - Please, prove her wrong. It's only fair. 

"Nah, don't worry about it." Hazel makes a dismissive hand gesture. "Let's just go and catch up with Peri. I'm sure he's worked up quite an appetite by now." 

"And he's not the only one!" Cosmo exclaims, already leading the way to the bakery.

~

Nana Boom-Boom's bakery is a nice and cozy place. The air is filled with the most delicious smells and the atmosphere is warm and familiar. Hazel is surprised when she sees the owner of the place and her striking resemblance to Jorgen, which is fair since she is his grandmother. She is even more surprised to see Jorgen taking the shift after Peri's.

Apparently it's a family business? Which is why they asked Peri to help out? Because he is related to them, thanks to Cosmo's side of the family?

Just when Hazel thought her day couldn't get any weirder. 

Luckily, she escaped Jorgen's watchful eyes, thanks to Cosmo and Wanda distracting him long enough for Peri to shove her into some random side room. Probably a storeroom, which would explain all the sacks of flour and sugar littering every surface. 

"I can't believe they brought you here!" Peri facepalms. "Ahhh, I should have told them to meet me at a restaurant. Of course they wouldn't think about Jorgen recognizing-"

"We need to talk." Hazel cuts Peri's nervous speech short. The fairy blinks at her in surprise. 

It's not only her voice that sounds so serious, her expression is as well. There is no trace of a smile on it. Only... concern, uncertainty, fear. Peri's mind comes to a halt.

"Oh boy, what have you done? Please tell me you didn't sign anything. I know about your love for papers, signing anything, especially official fairy documents that claim you as a fairy, could really get you in trouble and-"

"Why did you lie to me?" 

"I... what?" Peri blinks at the girl, completely at a loss. This wasn't the conversation starter he had in mind. "I don't know what you mean, Hazel?"

"The cough, you said it was just a bug."

A frown finds its way on Peri's face. 

"It.. is?" His fingers tighten around his wand, a nervous habit, he can't seem to shake off. "What makes you think-"

"So you are telling me." Hazel takes a deep breath, choosing each of her words wisely.

Punctuating them as she takes a step forward, forcing the fairy to meet her eyes, daring him to lie to her.

"That you are not experiencing magical back-up right now?"

Peri's mouth goes dry, his eyes widen in surprise. His pupils swallow almost every bit of the lilac color.

Hazel notices, how could she not, after being so close, she can see her own reflection in his eyes. And that's not the only thing she can see. There are so many emotions swimming through the purple color while their owner is clearly at a loss for what to say.

Hazel bites her lips, willing for it to not be true-

"How-?" Peri whispers, his shoulders slumping in defeat and realization. "...The Nmusic fairy sang for the lost ones, didn't she?"

What more of a confession, does she need?

"So it's true!" Peri flinches. Proving to her once again that it is.

It's true. Even though she was hoping - praying - to be wrong.

He lied to her. Why did he feel the need to lie, she doesn't understand!?

It's not a bug, he has under control, he is dying. 

Her hands come up to cover her mouth as the cold reality of the situation truly hits her.

"Oh my god, Peri.."

She looks devastated. 

"Hazel." Peri uses their proximity to put his hands on her shoulders.

Is it to ground her? To make her stay and not run off to tell his parents? She doesn't know. She doesn't care. How could she after knowing that... that- 

"I don't know what you think you know about magical back-up but it's fine. I am fine. It's no big deal."

No big deal?! 

"Peri, you are dying!" 

Tears sting in her eyes. Peri cringes, swallowing the guilt rising inside him. 

"Okay, yeah, it sounds bad."

"You don't say."

"But it's not." He stresses. "I am not dying. Hazel. There are stages-"

"Oh, I'm sorry." The girl backs away, waving her hands in the air. "You are not dying, you are in stage one of dying!"

"I'm not even close to stage one-" Peri takes a deep breath and brings a hand to his forehead.  "Why am I even discussing this with you?"

"I'm asking myself the same thing. You should be discussing this with Cosmo and Wanda!"

And she already turns around to get them, wouldn't a fairy poof in front of the door. 

"No. No no no, we are not getting my parents involved."

What? Hazel shakes her head, unable to understand. 

"Peri." She stresses. "You are sick."

"I told you. I have everything under control-"

It must be a cruel twist of fate that at this very moment his body decided to show him that he has everything but.

A cough finds its way out of his lungs, one, two, three, they don't stop. Forcing their way out of his throat just like a stream of confetti and streamers. Hazel's eyes go wide.

"Peri!" She grabs his shoulder - they are shaking - and helps him to sit down on the floor. 

But that's all she can do, isn't it? The fairy in front of her is choking on his own magic, building up inside of his body, being expelled from it in the form of party decorations, not granting him a single second to breathe, and she can do nothing but watch. 

He is dying right in front of her eyes.

"Oh my God, okay, okay, what can I do? Should I get some water? I am going to get some water-" 

Just as she is about to get up and do what? Get water? Cosmo and Wanda? She doesn't know - finger wraps around her wirst. She glances back at Peri. 

He looks so small, sitting on the floor, his back pressed against the door, she will have to get out off somehow if she wants to get him anything - not like she really thinks about that after the fairy looking at her like that.

"Don't-" He chokes out between laboured breaths. Confetti follows his every word. "Don't get my parents."

"But-"

"Hazel... please."

She hesitates, a million thoughts running through her head, and yet she nods. 

The hand falls from her wrist, giving her a chance to sit down next to him. He is still coughing but the coughs are losing their frequency, becoming fewer and fewer until they stop altogether and Peri is able to breathe in again. 

Hazel is with him the whole time, a hand on his back, she draws circles in the soft fabric. She likes to think that she is helping the fairy. The grateful hint of a smile proves she is. She tries to smile back, but she can't.

"... Why don't you want to tell them?" Hazel asks carefully after some time has passed. 

Peri pulls his legs up to his chest and wraps his arms around them, resting his chin on his knees. 

"...I don't want them to worry." He admits, his voice hoarse. 

"...Peri, I think this is something they should be allowed to worry about. You are their son."

"And that's exactly why they can't know."

They have already lost one son, how could he ignite the fear of them losing another? Not that he plans to die, but they would know that he could. He can't do that to them. Not to mention that he couldn't bear to see the disappointment in their eyes. 

Dev is his first godkid, his chance to make them proud, to show the world that the first fairy born in a thousand years really lives up to his name.

See, Mom, Dad? I can do just fine on my own. I am not a child you need to hold your hand over anymore. 

What a joke. He truly is pathetic. All he had to do was be there for one child. Listen to his fears, grant his wishes, and he couldn't even do that. It's been what? Weeks? Maybe a couple of months and that's all it took for him to experience magical back-up, because he sucks so hard at his job that his kid doesn't even want him around anymore. 

Peri would love to laugh, but he can't. He doesn't want to freak Hazel out by having a mental breakdown right here and now. He needs to get his shit together. 

"Peri-"

"They would worry over nothing." Peri talks over her. "Because I am going to fix this, on my own. They don't need to get involved. I don't need them to clean up my messes."

Hazel takes a deep breath. She still thinks that it would be easier to get Cosmo and Wanda, if only to take the situation away from her. They would be better at this. But... that is part of being family, right? She can't avert her eyes now, she would never dare to. Right now she has to be there, respect Peri's wishes and help him in her own way. 

"...Is that why you wanted to get Dev a present?"

"No. I mean.. yes. I-" Peri frowns, taking a few seconds to find the right words. "I wanted to bring him something regardless, just.. to make him happy?"

He says this as if it were a question. 

"Or, I don't know, be nice? I care about him, even though he can be a pain. I really want to do right by him. I just don't know how. That's why I thought, hey, get him a present, a callback to the day we met. The good old times, before he decided that my anti-fairy was way cooler than me, haha, urgh..."

Peri makes a face as soon as he notices himself spiraling. 

"I guess, what I am saying is: I am not only doing this, so that he will start making wishes again and cures me. I just want him to see that, even if he doesn't want me around and wishes me away-"

"He wished you away?" Hazel whispers, not that Peri notices. 

"-I'm still thinking about him, if only by spending the whole morning getting him a stupid cupcake."

Said cupcake poofs into his hand. He looks at it, with such sadness in his eyes, it's painful to watch.

Oh, Dev, if you only knew, how much your fairy cares for you.  

"So.. why don't you?"

"Huh?" The expression on Peri's face is almost comical. He looks like a confused puppy. 

"Why don't you go and make amends with Dev? Look, I don't know the details of your-" 

She makes a strange motion with her hands. Curiously, Peri understands what she wants to portray with it. 

"- but it's obvious to me, that you care about him, so go and tell him. And if that's not enough for him to take you back, then maybe you should come clear to him? By telling him, that he is killing you? I am sorry."

Hazel apologizes as soon as she sees the face Peri is making.

"I don't want to play the guilt trip card, but you are dying, Peri. And maybe the person responsible for that should know, so he can make sure you don't?"

"I'm not blaming Dev-"

"But maybe he will once you explode into confetti in his face?"

She got a point there.

"But.. the convention?"

Hazel throws her arms up in the air. "Your life. Peri."

Doesn't seem to matter all that much with him brushing her off like that. 

"I promised mom and dad that I would spend the rest of the day with you."

"I'm sure they will understand that some things are more important. Like your godkid calling you and you needing to answer lest you destroy the fragile bond you have? I can be very convincing, Peri."

"Oh, don't I know that." The fairy mutters under his breath. Hazel feels strangely fulfilled by that. 

"I will just tell them that you are running late. And once things between you and Dev are smoothed over and you are no longer dying." She puts more emphasize than necessary on that word. "You can come back, maybe even with Dev."

Peri raises an eyebrow. 

"Just an suggestion, he would love it here and you know it."

Yeah, he would, wouldn't he?

"And then we can all have fun and laugh about this, because nobody is dying."

"Okay, okay, I get it." Peri raises his hands in defeat and defense, making a face while doing so.

"Good. Because if I have to think about you dying for one more minute, I will cry." Hazel promises him, eliciting some sort of chuckle from him.

"We don't want to risk that." Peri pats her shoulder awkwardly. She laughs.

Standing up once more, she holds her hands out to Peri. He could simply float into the air, he doesn't need help getting up, and yet he takes them, smiling at Hazel.

"Thank you, Hazel. For... not telling them and.. all of this. You shouldn't have had to deal with this. I shouldn't have dumped any of this on you."

"Nah, it's fine." She dismisses him with a wave of her hand, before elbowing him in the side. "That's what family's for, right?"

He hesitates. An emotion creeps across his face, disappearing so quickly that Hazel can't put a name to it. 

"Right." He agrees, and doesn't that make Hazel feel like the luckiest person alive?!

She could throw her hands in the air and dance in celebration, which she will, but only after Peri is back again. 

"What are you waiting for? Go, go, go! Every second counts!"

Throwing her a two finger salut, the fairy takes off, disappearing in a cloud of purple sparkles. Hazel takes a deep breath.

Whatever she thought the day had in store for her, this certainly wasn't it. But she won't complain, as long as Peri comes back in one piece.

And until then she has two fairies to distract~