The Knight and the Duck

~4~

The last time the story had come to a close, the knight had resolved to protecting miss Duck.

But was the girl -or fowl- ready to let herself be protected?

Ahiru had changed, happy to be given something to wear. Although it wasn't much, it was Fakir's blue shirt and a pair of his pants. It was the only thing he could give her as of now.

She sashayed out from behind a tree and posed dramatically, then doubled over, laughing.

"BWHAHA isn't this, isn't this funny?" she wiped a faux tear from her eye. "I don't look a thing like you"

Fakir laughed too. She did look somewhat silly but that was her charm.

"Soo...were you trying to kiss me back there?" He asked. Fakir meant it, truly, but he also was just messing with her to see Duck get flustered again.

And flustered she did, her hands flying about. "HUH? Come on I wouldn't kiss you no way no how." Her face was bright red though and Fakir couldnt help but smile.

"Admit it Idiot you even leaned in"

"You keep coming after ME but YOU were the one trying to kiss me first so"

Fakir folded his arms. "Yeah right,, well that's over now so we gotta get you fed and whatnot." Out of the corner of his eye he noticed Duck smiling. It was nice to know she didn't harbour any bad feelings.

They began to walk to Fakir's house, Duck every so often pulling up her pantlegs because Fakir was at most like half a foot taller than her.

She stopped though when they reached the street of gold crown town.

closed her eyes, inhaled the air. "Do people still become animals?" She asked.

"Not to my knowledge," Fakir replied.

Ahiru opened her eyes and clasped Fakir's hand. "Okay!! Let's go!"

She marched, leg outstretched.

Fakir sighed.

She was like this wasn't she. Too scared to ask for what she wanted. But if she took action then things weren't so scary.

Fakir tightened his grip on her hand and Ducks pace slowed a bit. He could practically feel her heart rate.

"You know, this isn't the first time we've held hands."

Duck looked up at him. "It's not?"

He looked down at her. "Nope."

They walked in silence a bit more.

"Are you sure?"

"What? You don't trust me?"

"Huh?? Idiot. I mean..of course I trust you I just don't think about having hands all that often."

Fakir peered down at Duck, walking almost robotically, her face pinched in a held in laugh.

"HAHAHA" Fakir cackled, and Ahiru jumped, not expecting the emotion from him. "Lemme see your hands then stupid"

Duck blinked but didn't hesitate, placing her hands in Fakir's.

He held them up, spread the fingers and laced one of his hands with hers.

"There. Now we are holding hands. Properly. No funny buisness, no dancing just normal..uh..people things." His face flushed.

"Don't turn back into a duck or anything." He muttered.

"Quack!" Duck giggled joyfully "Not a mistake, I'm very much me"

"Good." Fakir and Duck arrived at Fakir's house, and both went in.

"Fakir?" Karon looked up in surprise. "And you've brought - DUCK!"

Karon got up and squeezed Ahiru in a hug. "You know that boy has missed you like the dickens."

Fakir groaned. "Daaaad, that's not you shouldn't tell her such things it's not polite."

Duck crossed her arms. "That is silly he sees me almost every day."

Karon nodded. "Yes but- hold on, are you wearing his clothes? Fakir when you came back to grab something those were for Miss Duck?"

Fakir shrugged. "I was in a hurry."

Karon shook his head. "They don't even fit you. Hold on, we actually have some clothes for you"

Duck glanced quizzically at Fakir.

He didn't meet her eyes. "We *ahem* saved some stuff. And Raetzel brought clothes in case you changed back at any time. We have all sorts of stuff."

Duck sat down at the table. "I'm surprised they even remember me after the story."

Fakir noticed her tone shift to the way she talked when she would give up.

"Hey now, " Fakir set a bowl down on the table. "I reminded them of you. It's true, no one remembers but me."

He shifted the bowl to Duck who realized he had handed her muffin dough to try.

"You can cook?"

"I've been learning."

"Was it hard to explain?" Duck asked, dipping a finger into the dough. "Oh man!! this is tasty!" She reached for another swipe and Fakir slapped her hand.

He got up to spoon the muffins into a tray. "It wasn't hard to explain to Karon. He already knew the stories, and so believing didn't take long. Raetzel didn't get it, but uh"

He paused.

What Duck couldn't see was Fakir, completely blushy, hand pressed against his face.

What he had told Raetzel was that Duck was a very special girl, someone he cared about deeply and probably even loved.

Could he relinquish that to Ahiru in the flesh?

No he very obviously couldn't.

"Fakir?"

"Clothes!!" Karon joyously landed at the bottom of the stairs, some clothes for duck laid in his hand. "You can try them on whenever you want to change. I'm not sure everything will fit BUT no matter we can find use for everything. "

"Thank you!" Duck got up and hugged him for a moment, swooping the clothes into her arms. She bounced up the stairs, her hair swinging

Once alone Karon turned to Fakir who had put the muffins in the oven finally and now was contemplating his life at the table.

"You alright?"

Fakir shook his head and laid his head in his arms.

"I'm totally ruined Karon. She's the only thought in my brain what if I hurt her?"

Karon chuckled softly.

"I think she doesn't want to hurt you either. Don't think so hard, and enjoy small things. Like holding hands or-"

"My muffins!" Fakir leaped up and extracted them from the oven.

Karon laughed. "Are they burnt?"

"No of course not." Fakir carefully took one out and set it on the table.

"I'm glad you took on a few other hobbies, but you shouldn't completely avoid your thoughts."

"Baking is fine isn't it?"

"You could try blacksmithing with me sometime."

Fakir took a bite out of the muffin. "Nah, not my cup of tea. Thanks though"

Karon held out his hand for a muffin and Fakir pulled another one out.

"Alright." He took a bite. "Hey! these are good."

"Thanks."

"You know Fakir, Duck's gonna be okay. Just give you guys some time."

"Okay. Thank you."

"And no Marriage yet."

"KARON" Fakir put his face in his arms again

Karon laughed, and soon Fakir was laughing too