This young woman lit up when she smiled. He definitely didn't need Aren seeing her like this, or the cat-eared idiot wouldn't ever stop flirting at her, incessant flirt that he was.

This girl with her incredible eyes, they weren't by human standards, no, but incredible nonetheless, she baffled him.

She didn’t realize that her boss had been standing near the window, watching them disapprovingly, arms crossed, for the duration of their conversation, able to see them interacting, but not able to hear their words.

Fen didn’t care. He wanted her manager to see that he was paying attention to her, for some reason. Something in him was pleased that the fact that he was paying attention to her would annoy the man.

Aren would mock him for taking an interest in the girl, now. Just two days before, Fen had told his friend and underling that it wasn’t this young woman he’d cared about, just the tea she made. Now he was certainly intrigued by this walking anomaly.

Mercy.

It was a different sort of name, but it suited her.

A car pulled up in front of them, and the window rolled down, revealing her friend, Michael. He grimaced, “Sorry! Traffic was a b*tch!”

“So I gather.” Mercy smiled weakly, then went towards the side door of the SUV. “You can ride shotgun so you can give directions."

“Yes.” Fen nodded, and easily slipped into the front passenger seat, immediately buckling in, as Mercy settled into the middle seat in the back. They started to roll away from the curb, and just as he opened his mouth to remind her to put on the seat-belt, he heard hers click into place.

He’d seen too many people, human and fey, die in crashes to not feel compelled to make sure everyone had their seat-belts on.

“Turn right at the light.” Fen directed.

“Righto.” Michael muttered.

It continued like this for about ten minutes, until they pulled up at a nondescript brick building.

“This is it.” Fen said as they pulled into the parking lot, then he told Michael, “You should come in too.” Fen got out of the car, and they followed suit. He pulled out his phone, shooting a quick text to Axl, that plans had changed, and that he’d need to be picked up from here instead of the coffee shop.

“It doesn't look like a doctor's office.” Michael blinked.

“It’s a discreet one.” he paused, turning to Mercy, “Will it bother you if the doctor is fey?”

“Did they go to medical school?” she wanted to know.

“Yes.”

“Then I don’t care, they’re still a doctor.” the young woman shrugged.

-

Fen merely nodded, then led the way. “This clinic is mostly for fey folk, so most of the people here will be fey, but some humans come here too. That said, they are often tied to a fey person one way or another, and have been given a gift so as to see us properly, like I mentioned earlier.”

“So some other people can see you too?” Michael asked.

“Yes. We can give enchanted items that allow it.”

“Interesting.” My friend seemed surprised.

“There aren’t many who get that privilege though.” the fey man shrugged.

“I imagine not.” I sighed as we walked into a waiting room area.

A fey woman sat behind the desk. She had skin that was clearly dark blue to me, but I thought was likely brown to Michael, and neat white horns in curly black hair. Upon seeing us, she leapt to her feet, paling, and greeting us, bowing low. “O-oh, good afternoon, your hi-”

Fen interrupted her, speaking quickly in a language I didn’t recognize. She listened, then nodded, then led us to an exam room that looked much like any exam room I’d ever been in at any doctor’s office ever.

“Looks normal so far.”

“Aside from the blue attendant.” I muttered.

“Was she?” Michael smiled a little.

“Yes.”

“Dang, I wish I could see you all properly.” Michael muttered.

“I promise you don’t. It’s a little alarming.” I shook my head.

“It’s better you don't.” Fen agreed.

“If you say so.” my friend sighed, waving his hand annoyedly.

The door opened, admitting a beautiful fey woman with deep purple hair, and pale pink skin. She also had lovely blue butterfly wings.

“Good afternoon. How can I help you today?” She smiled pleasantly at me, revealing fangs like Fen’s.

I realized that I hadn’t filled out any intake paperwork. “I’m sorry, I didn’t get any intake paperwork. My hands are burned.” I held out my bandaged hands.

“Oh that won’t do. We can deal with that, I think.” She smiled easily. “Please have a seat.” she glanced at Michael and Fen, and turned back to me, “Do you want them to stay?”

“Y-yes, it’s alright.”

“We don’t have to.” Michael said, standing from where he’d been lounging in a seat.

“No, it’s alright. It’s not like I gotta put on a hospital gown, or anything.” I laughed a little.

“No, not for this.” the doctor smiled. “I’m Amilee.”

“I’m Mercy.”

“It’s nice to meet you.”

Fen spoke quietly in the same strange language that he had before, and surprise registered on her face. “I see! That’s private medical information, it will be kept protected here.” She smiled at me, “Fen tells me you can see me, so I don’t have to have any pretenses. I’m going to use magic to inspect your hands to best determine the best course of treatment, is that alright?”

“Y-yes.” I nodded, then looked to Fen, “So it…it is magic? The energy that…that you used?”

“Yes.” Fen nodded.

“I…I wondered.”

The doctor had me stretch out my hands, burned palms up, and held hers about two inches above them. I felt a strange energy surging, now I knew it to be magic, then pushed gently into my hands.

It was a strange feeling. It searched my hands gently, examining each burn.

And then something in me reacted to it. Looking back at the energy looking at me.

The doctor and I gasped in surprise, and I felt a hand grip my upper arm firmly.

Then the strange energy was gone. Or, the initial, searching energy that was the doctor’s was gone. Something else was there, though. It coursed through me, stronger and stronger, escaping out and into the air around me. It was terrifying. I couldn't control it, but something told me it wasn’t good for it to be just let loose like it had been.

Another strong hand gripped my other arm, and I felt a wild, hot energy bursting to life in front of me, enveloping and containing the strange energy racing in and around me. And then in a very oddly gentle way, the fiery energy pushed my own back down until I could catch hold of it and pull it into me again, hugging it tight, deep inside.

When I came to, I was sobbing, and shaking.

The strong hands on my arms proved to be Fen’s. “Just breathe.” I tried to sit, but he easily pushed me back down. “Not yet. Just rest.”

“Wh-what happened?!” I gasped.

“Yeah, for real! E-even I could tell something went wrong!” Michael chimed in, visibly and audibly distressed.

Amilee was shining a light in my eyes, checking my eyes. “No concussion, that’s good.”

“I was holding her arms, how could she have a concussion?" Fen's tone was annoyed.

“It doesn't hurt to check.” she sighed. “Do you feel okay? Any nausea?”

“I-I…I think I-I’m o-okay. What…what happened!? What was that?”

“Her magic woke yours. That’s why you can see us.” the fey man said quietly.

“Wh-what?!”

“It might be that there’s a fey person somewhere back in your lineage.” the doctor said, tilting her head to the side thoughtfully.

“No. Look at her. She’s not got a drop of fey blood anywhere.” Fen shook his head. Should I be offended by that comment? Maybe, but I decided I didn't care enough to get annoyed as he continued. “But, well, you can see us. So that explains it. The magic in your blood is what lets you see us.”

-

“Being able to see us alone is incredible, Fen.” Amilee addressed him in Faerie. “But to have her own magic? That’s almost disturbing.”

“Yes.” Fen sighed, rubbing his eyes tiredly. “She sees spirits without any assistance as well.” He was glad he’d brought Mercy to Amilee for this. As his cousin, the doctor was particularly discreet, and she was one of only a few people he could trust implicitly. She’d keep Mercy and her secret, well, a secret.

“Oh gods! Where did you find her?” Amilee asked, eyebrows shooting up in surprise.

“Working in a coffee shop, pretending she couldn't see anything unusual.” Fen sighed.

“What…what are you going to do about her?”

“I’m still trying to figure that out.” he admitted with another sigh.

-

They spoke for a little while in whatever their native tongue was, though Fen was texting rapidly on his phone the entire time.

Michael and I sat there quietly, still a little stunned.

Finally, the doctor turned to me again, speaking in English once more. “I think, if you wanted, you could learn to control that magic properly.” she paused, then said, “I…I think you’re inclined towards healing. I can do a little bit of healing magic, which is why I became a doctor, but, well, powerful healers are very rare. We can make potions and salves that help, of course, but nothing like what I think you could do.”

I stared at her, “How…how would I do that?”

“Well, I’m sure we could find a suitable tutor.” Amilee smiled, “I’d offer to teach you myself, but I’m usually pretty busy with my clinic.”

“I-I’m sure.” I mumbled, feeling a little faint again.

“In time.” Fen interjected, slipping his phone into his pocket. “But for now, I’m sure you need a little while to process everything.”

“Y-yeah.” I nodded, feeling incredibly overwhelmed.

“Want me to spend the night? I can get up and go tomorrow from your place easily enough.” Michael offered.

“Would you? I-I don’t want to be alone.” I whispered.

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“Sure thing! We’ll order pizza tonight, my treat this time!” he winked at me.

I managed a smile, “Sure, sounds great.”

“Let me actually do something for your hands, honey, and then you can go home.” Amilee said, going over to a cabinet. She reached inside, and pulled out a small jar and some bandages, then knelt beside where I was still sitting on the floor. “This is a healing salve. I’d use some healing magic, but I don’t want to risk causing you to have another little outburst like that.”

“Sorry.” I frowned.

“It’s quite alright.” she assured me warmly. “But this will help those burns heal in just a couple of days.”

“See, you’ll be able to get back to art and writing in no time!” Michael bumped me gently with his elbow.

“That’ll be good.” If I didn’t have artist and writer’s block, anyways. Oh well. They wouldn't hurt, and that would definitely be nice.

Amilee had me hold out my hands again, and put the salve on, then bandaged them loosely. She gave me the jar, and plenty of bandages, telling me to put the salve on once a day, and apply new bandages, until the burns were gone.

“Yes ma’am.”

“Alright, you’re good to go, now!” She smiled, helping me up. “Can you stand?”

“Y-yeah.” I said, but my balance wavered.

“I gotchu, girl!” Michael slipped his arm through mine, helping keep me steady.

“Thanks.”

“Sure thing! Let’s go home!”

“Please.” I nodded.

Fen followed us from the exam room, and we left the clinic.

A black sports car was parked beside Michael’s SUV.

“That’s my ride.” the fey man said quietly, turning to us. “Will you be alright?”

“I…I don’t know.”

There was a pause.

“You said earlier today that you have tomorrow off?” Fen inquired politely.

“Yes, and the next day.” I sighed, feeling exhausted.

“Good. Take some time and rest and process everything. When you feel up to it. Here.” he reached out, handing me a business card. “It has my cell number on it. When you’ve had some time to process things, please reach out. There are more things I feel we should discuss. That said, it can wait until you're a little more used to everything."

“O-okay.” I tucked the card into my purse.

I wasn’t entirely sure I could trust him yet. He seemed less threatening than he had, but, well, how did I know he was trustworthy? So far, all he’d done was throw my already stressful life into chaos.

And what were these other things he wanted to discuss with me?

“If I still come to your place of work, will it bother you?” he asked.

“Uh, I don’t think so.” I muttered, then asked, “Why…why do you always want me to make your tea?”

Fen blinked, then shrugged, “Because you’re the only one who makes it properly. The others wind up scalding it or putting too much, or too little, leaves into the strainer.”

“Oh.” Well, that made sense. He really was just a tea snob. Something about that fact was comforting.

Fen glanced at his watch. “I have to go. Have a good evening.”

“Bye.” I waved halfheartedly.

“Come on, let’s go.” Michael ushered me over to his car, and we climbed in.

I was in a daze the entire time we drove. Michael stopped to grab some things from his apartment, which I vaguely remembered, but everything else felt oddly dreamlike and hazy.

“Here we are!” Michael pushed into the apartment, calling, “Hello, kitties!”

Immediately, Sidhe ran up to him, maowing sweetly as Stroopwafel attacked my feet.

The sharp claws in my leg pulled me from my shocked stupor, and I sank to the ground, detaching my little goblin cat from my leg and holding her close. “Oh Stroopy.”

“You gonna be alright?”

“I…I don’t know.”

“Hmm. Fen took you to a doctor, maybe he’d arrange a therapist for you? Like, another one of his folks? They’d be better able to help you, I think. And not inclined to say you’re nuts. I mean, we both know you've got some screws loose, but not because you see things."

I snorted at the gentle roast, and recognized his attempt to help me feel better. “Well you're not wrong. But that’s not a bad idea. Maybe I'll ask him about it."

“Do you still want Tom to look at your phone?” Michael flopped down onto the couch.

While I no longer necessarily thought that Fen had put anything on my phone, given that he’d been relatively decent towards me after all the trouble he’d initially caused me, but it couldn't hurt to check.

“Uh, yeah, but, I don’t want to go out again tonight.”

“That’s okay. He can come here. I’ll buy enough pizza for all of us. We can play video games, like old times. How’s that sound?”

I managed a smile, “That actually sounds nice.” A night with old friends and pizza and video games sounded perfect, honestly. It would be very comforting, doing something so familiar.

“Good. It’s been a hot minute since you’ve seen him, hasn’t it?”

"Yeah, a few years, I think. I’ve seen him on your video calls a little bit. I know he’s busy. Besides, you’re my friend, really, not him. He’s just your big brother.” I laughed a little, letting Stroopwafel escape my arms and turning my attention to petting Sidhe’s silky fur.

“Well, he’ll be glad to help, I’m sure! I’ll shoot him a text.” Michael tapped on his phone. “There. Want me to make you some tea?”

“That sounds amazing, actually. Yes, please.”

“Alrighty!”

Michael made us both some tea, and we settled down on the couch to watch some TV and chat about nothing in particular. I didn’t feel quite up to talking about everything that had happened just yet, and Michael seemed to recognize that.

“Oop, Tom texted back. He said he’s in!”

“Good.” I nodded.

“I should order the pizza soon, so it’s here at a good time.” Michael pulled out his computer and we debated what toppings, which took way longer than it should. He finally ordered, and then told Tom to pick up some soda on his way over.

“I’m going to go put on my pajamas. I need to be comfy.”

“I don’t blame you!”

I went down the hallway and changed into the sweatpants and baggy t-shirt that I’d slept in the night before, then went back out.

“Tom said he’s on his way and he’ll get some two-liters.”

“Nice.” I nodded, sitting back down beside him.

We watched the television for a few moments without talking.

“So, do you want to talk about any of this?” Michael asked gently.

I looked down as Stroopwafel clambered onto my lap, and sighed. “I don’t know. I don’t even know what to say about it.”

“Well, now you kind of know why you can see things the rest of us can’t. I bet it’s the magic that’s in you. It was like asleep, or something, and now it’s not. I bet it’s why you can see spirits and the fey.”

“I…I guess. But why me? Why couldn't it be literally anyone else?”

“Who knows? The universe is a strange place. And god knows you have hella bad luck."

“You can say that again." I sighed.

We were quiet again for a few moments.

“Thank you for always believing me, Michael.” I said softly.

“Of course!”

“When everyone else thought I was crazy, you’ve always believed me.”

“Because I can tell that you’re not crazy.” he shrugged, then smiled wryly, “Like I said, the universe is weird, and there’s far more to it than any of us realize, I think.”

“Yeah.” I murmured.

“The doctor said you’re probably a healer. That’s pretty cool!”

“I wouldn't know. If it’s true, then yeah, it’s cool, I guess." I nodded a little.

“You should ask Fen, or that doctor, to help you find a tutor, learn how to use it properly. I could tell whatever happened was distressing.”

“It had woken and was very alive. I think it was sort of bursting out of me.” I mumbled. “Fen had to…tamp it back down, for lack of a better term.”

“And it’s quiet now?”

“Yeah, I think as long as I don’t try to do anything with it, it’ll stay that way. And given that I don’t know how to use it, I won’t use it.” It should have excited me, to know I was literally magical. But it was new, and all I felt about it was a deep sense of anxiety and fear. It had raged out of control so easily. What damage would it have done if Fen hadn’t been there to help get it under control? “But you’re right, I should probably learn at least how to control enough to keep what happened at the clinic from happening again.”

“You should just become a sorceress supreme. It’d be cool. Bewitch your enemies and bedazzle your suitors!” Michael gestured grandly, grinning broadly. “Aaaaaand help your dearest best friend get dates by making him irresistible!”

I blinked, then burst into giggles. “Oh! I needed that!”

“I’m joking, girl. You could do anything you wanted! Including helping me find a rich man!”

“Michael, we don’t even know if magic works that way! Amilee said I was a healer, not some love sorceress or something!” I shook my head, amused at the idea.

“Well, then learn how to make love potions. That’d be a lot of fun!”

“I don’t think I would want to do that! That kind of stuff never ends well in stories.”

“Fiiiiine!” He sighed dramatically, but smiled. “We’ll just ask if it’s possible. I’m curious, I wonder what all magic can actually do.”

“I’m interested in that too.” I admitted. “Scared, but interested.”

“It’s okay to be scared, you know that, right?”

“I know.”

“I was being silly about it, but I know it’s new and frightening.” Michael patted my hand, “Nothing is what you thought, and even you’re different than you thought.”

“Y-yeah.” I whispered, lifting Lou up off of my lap and hugging her close.

“It’s okay. Fen said to take some time to process it, and I think he’s right.” Then he grinned broadly, adding, “Then text that fine as hell fey man! Well, provided Tom doesn't find that he put anything weird on your phone, anyways.”

I snorted, “I don’t know if I want to get more involved with him anyways.”

“Lord, I do. I’d give anything to be involved with someone that looked like him!” Michael fanned his face jokingly.

“Well, if he’s bi or gay, you should go for it!”

“I don’t think he is.” Michael said thoughtfully, “He didn't have the vibe.”

“You think?”

“Yeah, I think he's straight."

“Hm, I wouldn't have necessarily thought so.”

“No?”

“No, but my gaydar isn’t great, you know that!” I laughed.

Michael snorted, “Yeah, it could use some re-tuning!”

A knock at the door startled us.

“Pizza or your brother?” I asked him.

“Not sure!” Michael got up and answered it, calling, “Pizza!” as he saw the delivery person standing outside.

He was just starting to shut the door when a familiar voice called, “Hey, I’m coming!”

Michael poked his head out, “Oh, perfect timing!” He stepped aside and let Tom in.

Thomas looked good. Well, he always did. He had the same golden blond hair as his brother, but no highlights or low-lights from a stylist, like Michael had. He was a little taller, and less skinny than Michael, but only because he actually went to the gym regularly.

“Yeah, really.” he flashed a smile at his brother, then brandished the bottles of soda he was carrying, “I didn’t forget!”

“Good! Let’s eat. I’m starving.” Michael put the pizza on the table, and Thomas did the same with the sodas.

Finally, he looked over at me and smiled, “Hey Ir-" he faltered, grimacing, and corrected himself, "Er- Mercy! How are you?”

“Honestly, I’ve been better.” I sighed, shrugging. He still made my heart speed a little bit, but now I ignored it easily. It didn’t matter. We were just old friends. Old enough friends that he still struggled to call me Mercy, at times.

“I gathered.” he frowned, “Michael said you needed me to look at your phone and make sure some creep didn’t put anything weird on it, right?”

“Yeah.”

“Hand it over and I’ll get started.” He took the laptop bag off his shoulder, and got out his computer, then sat down on the couch beside me. Michael took the cushion on the other side of me, or rather, on the other side of Sidhe, really.

“Thanks for doing this.” I handed him my phone.

“Of course! I’m happy to help! I could have come with you to get it back and looked at it immediately.”

“Eh, the situation was kind of complicated.” I shrugged, “And I don’t think I have your newest number.”

Tom grimaced, “Ah. Well, I’ll put it in your contacts as long as the phone isn’t bugged or anything.”

“Sure.” I shrugged.

“Eat, Mercy.” Michael told me.

“Right.” I sighed, leaning forward and pouring myself a cup of soda, and getting a slice of pizza.

Tom plugged my phone into his computer, and started a program. “That’ll check to see if any malware or any tracker or stuff like that is installed.”

“Nice.” I nodded.

Thomas got some food as well, and leaned back, “Soooo,what games are we playing?”

“I don’t care! If it’s here, you’re welcome to play it!” I told him, motioning at the video games and consoles on the tv center.

“Hm…” he got up, inspecting my collection.

Soon, we were playing a character fighting game that was a fan favorite.

“Oop, looks like it’s done!” Thomas announced after a few rounds. He studied his laptop screen for a little while, scrolling and tapping for a few minutes. “I think it’s clean.” he picked up my phone and looked through the files for a while, then shrugged, “Yeah, it’s clean.”

“Well, that’s good!” Michael said, nodding approvingly.

“Yeah. Thank goodness, I don’t have the money for a new phone.”

“Yeah for real, if you couldn't go to the doctor about those burns, you couldn't afford a phone.” Michael sighed.

“Burns? What happened?” Tom frowned.

I showed him my bandaged hands, “I got hot water spilled on me at work.” Thanks to Amilee's ministrations, and the healing salve, they were already feeling a lot better.

“Oh my gosh! And you couldn't afford a doctor?” Tom’s voice and expression was indignant.

I recoiled a little at his disapproval. “Not for something that wasn’t life-threatening. I-I just had to take the cats to the vet for their yearly appointment, and Stroopy needed some more medicine.”

“Do I need to take you to a doctor to have them looked at?” Now Thomas’ voice was exasperated.

“No, she was able to go.” Michael interjected, “It’s a long story, but she’s had them looked at by a doctor. She got burned at work, and in the chaos, she lost her phone. The person who found it and brought it back to her was the one who was, well, basically responsible for her burns, and he had a doctor look at them for her, at no cost to her.”

“You should sue.” Tom said, more calm now, but still clearly upset.

“Um, I think it would be very difficult to sue him.” I said quietly, feeling ashamed of the whole situation, and that I couldn't afford to see a doctor on my own. “I think he’s pretty wealthy, and could dodge a lawsuit over it pretty easily. There’s no proof my injuries were his fault.”

Thomas sighed, “I’m sorry, Mercy.” he paused, “I shouldn't have gotten frustrated, either. I just worry about you.”

“You and me both.” Michael muttered, then asked, “Mercy, honey, why don’t you just move in with me?”

I smiled weakly, “I appreciate it, but I know we both like our space.”

“I can set that aside if it means making your life easier. It’d help me too. We’re adults, we could manage.”

“I…I’ll think about it.” It was an attractive offer, but, well, Michael and I did both really enjoy living alone.

“If you don’t move in with Michael, you can move in with me and Er-” he cut off suddenly. I assumed he was going to say his live-in girlfriend’s name, Erica.

“How’s Erica doing?” I asked earnestly. She had always been nice enough to me.

“Uh, we broke up a few months ago.” Tom muttered, a little red. “I still forget sometimes.”

“Ah, sorry!” I grimaced.

“It’s alright, you didn’t know.” he waved his hand absentmindedly.

Part of me wanted to ask what happened, but the other part of me knew it was none of my business, so I kept my mouth shut.

Instead, I changed the subject. “Michael, I finally used that gift card you gave me for Christmas, and got that new game were talking about the other day! Do you want to try it out?”

“Oh my gosh, yes! I haven’t had a chance to grab it yet!”

“I figured you hadn’t.” I got up and swapped out the console and the game.

“Eh heh heh hehe!” Michael clutched the gamepad gleefully.