Chapter Text
It takes a while for Robbie to be able to move without huge shocks of pain through his system. His wings ache with each step. He had liked lazing about before, but now he spends almost all of the day laying in his nest deep in the lair. Damage to his wings is damage to his magic. It becomes harder to make magic, like a bone too broken in its marrow to keep making the same amount of blood. But it still pools, and for that Robbie is thankful.
Joshua comes in and out of the lair pretty freely, bringing things to Robbie, who is avoiding any magic use in the hopes that it will allow his body to heal more. Joshua tells him about the town and what is happening and some of the little crimes he had done to make it seem like Robbie is up and about. Robbie praises everything the kid doe and Joshua seems to absorb all of the affection like a drought impacted plant.
Robbie starts showing Joshua his machines and how to fix and work on them. Even showing the kid how to invent his own things. Robbie had never been the best at reading, but building is a skill he has mastered and is happy to share with the child who did not rat him out to the townsfolk and who saved him from death after the fight.
Joshua comes to the lair one day with ripped bloody jeans, that hang over scrapped knees. The kid hauls in a bicycle. There is no evidence of tears on the kids face, but Robbie freaks out none the less. For the first time in a month he uses magic, wrapping in around the child tight and searches out any and all injuries. He finds them and heals them wings flapping firmly. Joshua opens his mouth, closes it and opens it again.
“I could have just gotten some bandages. I just crashed my bike. Is your magic hurt? I really came here for my bike, not me.”
Joshua says blinking and shuffling his feet. Robbie sighs, sinking to the floor and shaking his head as he pulls Joshua into a tight hug.
“I- I got scared.”
Robbie admits checking over the child again. He needs to set up his monitoring system. He needs to weave wards so he can watch after everything in his town and make sure no fake heroes can ever come here without Robbie knowing. Joshua pats him gently.
“Im okay. I fell while biking. Nothing else. No one hurt me.”
Joshua says and Robbie calms. He gathers himself together. Robbie lets Joshua go and smooths out his outfit.
“Lets get you into a clean pair of pants and Ill teach you how to remove blood and fix your pants.”
“And how to fix my bike?”
Joshua asks, eyes lighting up.
“Sure. Why not.”
Robbie calms down as they move onto the lessons. Robbie finds peace in it, brining forth his skills to teach and help. One day, Joshua might need to do this on his own. Robbie hopes that he will always come to Robbie, but humans are fickle and ever changing, like the seasons. So the best Robbie can do is prepare him.
--
Robbie checks his glamor again and then steps out from his home. He slowly walks around the town, shifting his Claim to wrap the little town tight. He buries little stones with ward symbols on them to help amplify his power. To extend so far beyond his forest is a daunting task. But Robbie is clever and fierce. As he goes he also instals cruxifixes in all cardinal directions with charms of bottled holy water secured and hidden with each, to ensure no demon or imp could enter his town without extreme pain and suffering.
He pops a bonbon into his mouth as he buries a particular ward stone under Joshua’s bedroom window. He had kept that stone in his breast pocket, right near his chest, filling it with such strong intent that no one would be able to touch even the wall of the childs home with malintent without Robbie immediately knowing. Sure the wards over the town would alert him to issues and dangers, but as a fae, having such a system outside of a forest will make it gaping with weak spots and blindness potential. So a ward over a specific home would be necessary to sense intent. Robbie would make such stones for every child eventually, but for now, he had only been able to make one for Joshua.
He would need to find a way to get kids to stay indoors and in the protection of the wards. To keep any potential dangers from seeing them and deciding to ignore the Claim on the town.
An issue for another day. For now he stands in the park next to a tree that was born of a seed from his forest. It lets him lean, humming and promising. Its roots are tangled with the forests, but it is weaker than them because its location in town. His thumb moves across its bark slowly as he breathes. Mentally, he checks over his list of locations and confirms his wards and Claim with a gentle tug of his magic. When he has pooled magic, he would need to weave in more strength so that he can physically keep things out. For now this would have to do. For now.
It will be okay.
He would never let his town come to harm again.
For his final act, he weaves a small dream. He had never been good at dream magic, and so it is more of a weak suggestion than a true dream. A suggestion that candy is fine. That sugar should be welcome. That stores with unhealthy things should be allowed to open and be allowed to exist.
Hopefully, that will fix that last problem.
Hopefully.
--
Robbie feels a little silly at how sad he is that Joshua is moving away. The child had only been working with him for the last three months. But in that time he had come to know Joshua well, and had come to really respect the child. Joshua had not cried once, aside from nightmares, but now the child is crying into his shoulder.
Apparently, Joshua’s parents had decided that living in a town where there was a town villain and no hero to counteract them was too dangerous and they would be leaving.
“What if another fake hero comes?? What am I going to do?”
Joshua asks quietly, fear shaking his voice. Robbie swallows, knowing as the adult, that he has to be the one who is stable and calm. He squeezes Joshua tight and reapplies his Claim over the child.
“I will know if something happens to you. And I will come to help. But you can take the warding stone that has kept your home safe and put it in your new home. Where are you moving to? Do you know?”
“I…” Joshua sniffs and calms a little more. “Mayhem town. Apparently, there is a hero there.”
Robbie relaxes. Yes, Mayhem Town is a lot more dangerous, but his cousin lives there, and Hero eight is a real elf and a real hero. It would be safe. And he can choose what ward charms to make and gift. Robbie relaxes. He would need to contact his cousin, something he hasn't done since his wings were damaged. But Glanni would respect his Claim on Joshua and would keep the child safe from his own gangs in exchange for food and a few favors.
“Thats not too bad. Nor too far. I'll put you in contact with my cousin. He’ll help keep you safe. And you can write me. Alright?”
He says gently. Joshua slowly nods and swallows.
“Okay. And… you? Will you be okay?”
Joshua asks, shifting about nervously. Robbie gives a smile.
“I'll be fine. Im Robbie Rotten. Villain number one. I took down that fake hero on my own! I'll be okay.”
He says with a smile. Joshua seems to trust his words, nodding slowly.
“Okay. Okay. I'll write you every day.”
“If you have time.”
Robbie says, before talking Joshua through how to interact with his cousin and all the risks that he knows are in Mayhem town. He also talks to him about the hero, but it seems that, despite it being the real deal, Joshua plans to avoid him. Which Robbie understands and respects.
By the end of the week, Joshua is prepared to go, Glanni has agreed to a small Deal of protection, and Robbie is prepping himself to be alone again.
--
The first letter comes twenty-four hours after the move. Robbie finds it settles his worried heart and he is quick to read it and respond. As the weeks pass, letters come and Robbie pools more magic. Robbie starts pulling tricks and schemes to get people to be lazy, to get kids to stay inside, where it is easier to protect them.
Is it healthy?
Probably not, but Robbie is just one fae and fae are not built to protect towns.
He eventually has people making Deals with him with candy and other sweets like they used to, and things seem to settle. Glanni finds out about his wings and makes a big to-do about it, but the incident passes, with the only real change being more check-ins from his cousin and Glanni understanding a little better Robbie’s refusal to come to Court parties.
Everything is fine.
Everything is peaceful.
And then that blue flippity floppity hero number ten, Sportacus, comes to town.