Lights in the Woods

Realization

Quick Author's Note: Wow dudes this was done sooner than I expected. Hope you enjoy! Wish me luck on the next installment lol
Have you ever really tried to bathe a racoon? I certainly never have, but I like to imagine that it would be about as hard as moving the little fairy. Something so small shouldn't be so strong, but I guess ants pull it off, too.
"Calm down, would you? I'm trying to help," I snapped, frustrated with everything that I was putting up with. I never would have guessed that something like this was even possible, much less this irritating.
The creature, a girl, gave my hand a harsh kick before she plopped herself down in it, arms crossed over her chest. I guess I'm not the only one here who is getting a little fed up. I almost thought I heard something as she very obviously glared up at me, but I wasn't entirely sure.
"Come again?" I asked, baffled. Okay, so I knew it was quite unlikely for this thing to be speaking to me, but then, surely it was entirely possible. My hand had been very close to the little bed I had set up for her, but I raised it to my ear instead after I suspected she'd spoken.
I heard a long sigh, and again was struck by the way these little things seem to be so universal. I knew exactly what she was feeling. We've all had that experience, even if it is with a loved one or other person of importance. No one likes to repeat themselves. "You all are so slow. What I said was that I'd very much like to go home," a light and airy voice seemed to yell at me.
Oh my. I was struck with the gravity of the situation all over again, and I sure did like it. I had, in the palm of my hand, something that no man, woman, or child had ever possessed before. This tiny fairy could be my ticket to the good life. Not that I wasn't grateful for everything I had already, but come on. By no means were we rich. We weren't even close to it. If I could secure that for my family, well, then I'd have really done something special.
"Who are you? What are you?" I asked softly, wonderstruck. This could be my little goldmine, so I suppose it really didn't matter all that much to me at the moment. I would not be releasing her into the wild anytime soon. Was that really so horrible? Should I feel guilty?
She gave me a look, some sort of exasperation surfacing on her face. Or, at least, that's what I figured it had to be. It was hard to tell with how tiny her features were. I couldn't really figure much out about her appearance because of it. I knew she had to be a brunette, probably a slight build, wearing something that looked pink. That's all I've got for you right now. I know. I wanted to know more, too.
"My name is Cassiopeia," she announced, "What's yours?" She had gotten comfortable on my hand, so I guess that was good news. Cassiopeia. What a name. I couldn't imagine being saddled with something so long, myself. Can you imagine trying to spell that as a child? But then, I had no proof the thing could read or write, so perhaps that was never a real problem for her. Her voice seemed to be musical, and this song was riddled with a sense of familiarity. Where had I heard that name before? I couldn't think of anyone that I might've known who would have gone by such a name. Cassiopeia's had to be rarer than any other on the planet. Still, I'd heard it somewhere. I was certain.
I still smiled slightly as I answered, something that was seldom done for strangers. "I'm Gavin," I answered. "Come on, what are you?"
"You can't be serious. It's enough that you're human, do you have to be stupid, too?" she lamented. Great. Just great. I got a smart aleck. Couldn't I have picked up a different little fairy-thing?
"Hey, let's not be mean. You don't know that I'm stupid yet."
"Actually... I do. Do you even hear yourself? Tell me, what part of this is confusing for you?" she snapped.
I couldn't help it; I just groaned in frustration. She was already proving to be a pain, but I had to remember what I was going to get out of this. "You aren't even supposed to exist, much less bark mean things at me,' I grumbled.
She set one hand on her hip, probably scowling along with that. Fantastic. "It isn't my fault you are so oblivious to the world around you! You know, you'd probably find a lot of neat things if you ever bothered to look up from your phone," she accused.
"Enough. We don't need to go on about this. Fairy. I get it," I sighed.
"Could've fooled me."
"What I meant to ask was, well, what can you do?" I asked her, trying to get it right this time. Seriously, why this one?
She frowned at my words, and honestly that was a little bit annoying.
"We've already settled that I don't understand much about you, so please, please inform me," I begged her.
She relented eventually, and the silence stopped. "I can do lots of things. I'm still not sure it concerns you. Can I go home now?"
I sighed. This could get pretty nasty pretty quick. "Well... no. I'd really prefer if you didn't."
"No, that's not an option. You have to let me go. I can't stay here," she panicked, and that light got brighter and brighter. I was starting to feel a burning on my hand where she was now standing, now pacing. "I have to go home, please," she begged, flying off for the window before I could catch her again. She pressed herself to the glass, little fists banging against the hard, clear surface. I couldn't imagine the horror she must've felt. But, I couldn't let go. There was no way that I could stand to unleash her now.