Wishing for More - Peri X Reader

Chapter 11: The Cost Of Magic

Y/N POV:

After the music faded and the warmth of the moment lingered between us, Peri looked at the time, his face shifting slightly. "I should probably head back. But if you need anything just say my name."

I nodded, not wanting him to leave, but knowing he had to. "Okay," I said softly. "I'll see you later?"

"Definitely." Peri gave me a small smile, and with a quick wave, he disappeared in a shimmer of magic, leaving me alone with my thoughts.

The room felt oddly quiet after he left, and I couldn't help but replay everything in my mind—the conversation, the song, the unspoken tension. It wasn't long before I decided I needed to talk to someone. Hazel seemed like the only person who might have answers.

I dicided to meet up with her.

Hazel was sitting on the couch, sipping tea when I found her. She looked up at me with a knowing smile, as if she'd been expecting me.

"Hey," I said, sitting down next to her. "We need to talk."

"About Peri?" she asked casually, setting her tea down.

I hesitated before answering. "Kind of. I just... I don't understand why you never told me about the whole fairy godparent thing. And now, with Peri—there's so much more I don't know."

Hazel sighed softly, her gaze softening. "I didn't hide it to keep you in the dark. It's just... being a fairy godparent comes with a lot of responsibility. I thought it would be easier to protect you from the complexity of it all"

"But now I'm caught in the middle of all this magic and I barely know anything," I said, frustration creeping into my voice.

She nodded. "You're right. But there's still a lot even I don't know. The history between fairies and humans—especially when feelings are involved—it's complicated. I didn't want you to get hurt by something you didn't understand."

Her words hung in the air for a moment, and I realized she was trying to protect me, even if it didn't always feel that way. I sighed, running a hand through my hair. "I just want to figure it out, Hazel. I'm in the middle of something bigger than I expected."

Hazel gave me a small, sad smile. "I know. But take it slow, okay? Don't rush into things. Especially when it comes to fairy magic—it doesn't always behave the way you expect."

Later that afternoon, Peri and I met up again at the park, the crisp air swirling around us. I still felt the weight of the earlier conversation with Hazel, but I pushed it aside for now.

"How's your head after everything?" Peri asked as he settled beside me on the bench.

"Still spinning a little," I admitted. "But Hazel talked to me about some things. And... well, I think I want to try something." An idea had been simmering in my mind since the karaoke—something small but meaningful.

Peri raised an eyebrow. "Oh? What did you have in mind?"

"I want to make a wish," I said simply. "You know, something small. To test the waters."

Peri grinned. "Alright, go for it."

I closed my eyes, focusing on a simple thought. "I wish for a bouquet of flowers—roses, specifically."

I felt a slight shift in the air, the telltale sign of magic at work. But when I opened my eyes, what lay before me wasn't a bouquet of roses. Instead, it was a strange, twisted version of what I had wished for. The petals were blackened, and the stems were gnarled, as though something had corrupted the magic along the way.

Peri's eyes widened in surprise. "That... is definitely not what you asked for."

I stared at the strange bouquet, confusion swirling inside me. "What just happened? That's not right."

Peri reached out, cautiously picking up the darkened flowers. "This is... weird. My magic shouldn't mess up something so simple."

"Maybe you're just tired?" I offered, though deep down I had a feeling it was more than that. The earlier conversation about magic and love gnawed at me, but I pushed the thought aside. We were probably overthinking it.

We both brushed it off for the moment, but as we walked away from the park, I couldn't help but wonder: was this just a coincidence? Or was there something deeper happening—something connected to the feelings growing between us?

Peris POV:

I look at Y/N as our laughter fades, the sound of it still echoing in the air around us. The sun is setting, casting a warm glow across her face, but there's something lingering—something off that neither of us is saying. It would be easier to laugh it off and move on than to admit that maybe the magic is reacting to something bigger, something we don't quite understand yet.

I shrug playfully, trying to bring back a sense of normalcy. "Well, maybe next time we'll just wish for something simple. Like... a sandwich."

She chuckles, and I can see her nerves ease a bit. "Yeah, maybe sandwiches are safer."

For a moment, we stand there in comfortable silence, the strangeness of the wish almost forgotten. I reach out, my hand hovering for a second before I gently rest it on her arm. Her skin feels warm under my touch, and I'm suddenly more aware of how close we are. "We'll figure it out, Starshine," I say softly. "Whatever this is."

She looks up at me, and for a second, her eyes meet mine. There's something in that look that makes my heart skip. The way she trusts me, even though we're both a little scared of what might be happening—it makes me want to protect her, to keep her safe from whatever is coming. She nods, giving me a small, genuine smile. "Yeah. Together."

The word makes something in my chest tighten. I hold her gaze just a little longer, not wanting to pull away, but knowing I have to. "I should probably head home and get some good fairy sleep" I say, forcing myself to step back.

As I prepare to go, I pause for a moment, glancing back over my shoulder. She's standing there, watching me, and despite how close we've been all day, there's this strange sense of distance creeping in. I don't want to admit it, but I can feel the magic shifting—changing in ways I don't quite understand.

With a sigh, I give her a small wave and lift my wand. In a swift, effortless motion, I swing it through the air. A shimmer of light surrounds me, and in the blink of an eye, I vanish from sight.

When I finally disappear from her sight, that unease sticks with me. Whatever happened with the wish today—it wasn't just a fluke. Something is happening, something deeper. And I have a feeling this is only the beginning.

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1107 words 

Until then: Magic isn't always predictable; sometimes, it reveals more than we're ready to see. Until then, we'll face the unknown together. - xoxo