Fate & Misfortune (M/M) (trans!Rapunzel au)

Part one

Once upon a time, a boy lived in a tower.

The tower was hidden by magic, and could only be found by children of the Woods. Even then, the Woods were picky. The one who had hidden the tower had requested that no one could ever find it.

But the Woods didn't like being told what to do.

* * *

Dalton jumped when his mother called his name.

"Daisy!" She called. "I'm home!"

"Coming!" He returned and hastily shed his painting supplies. He hurried downstairs, peering into the room below. "I thought you wouldn't be home until later."

"I'm only dropping by. I've had three cases today and I ran out of jade snapdragon. Do you know where our supply is?"

"Top shelf," Dalton said. His mother smiled.

"Would you grab that for me, dear? You know how tired the journey here makes me," she said, draping herself across the nearest armchair. Dalton plucked his violin from the hook on the wall. He fitted it under his chin and played a few quick notes.

"Wait, Daisy be careful-" she started, but the bottle had already shot from the shelf. He leapt up on the coffee table and snatched it out of the air.

"Here you are, mother," he said, bouncing on the balls of his feet and offering it to her. She slowly sat up, eyeing him warily.

"Daisy, you know you have to take telekinetic spells with care-"

"I know," he said, shoving the bottle into her hand. "'If not cast with precision a telekinetic spell may cause chaotic disturbances and in some circumstances even create poltergeists.' I know. I've read all the books hundreds of times. But I can play quickly and precisely. I've been practicing."

"Don't risk it," she said.

"But-"

"I said, don't," she snapped. His shoulders sagged.

"You're the senior witch," he muttered. She stood.

"Smart girl," she said, patting his head. He tensed.

"Um, mother, there's something I've been meaning to ask you-"

"Not now, dear. I must prepare to return to the village." She brushed past him toward the lower floor. He followed after her, wringing his hands.

"It really won't take that long. I've just been thinking a lot about myself, and, I mean... there's really not much else to do here," he muttered.

"Daisy, have you had any visions today?" His mother interrupted. His heart dropped.

"Um, well no. The thing I wanted to talk about is unrelated-"

"You're lying to me," she said. He avoided her gaze. "Was it about him?"

"It was just a dream," he said, holding out his hands. "Dreams don't mean anything sometimes."

"Another dream? That's the third one in a row!" She exclaimed. "And you still haven't gotten anything with meditation?"

He shook his head.

"And he still deceives you?"

"He doesn't deceive me!" Dalton exclaimed. "All I'm doing is leaving the tower."

"Exactly! Daisy, I still can't believe you think this a good thing!"

"I-I don't-" he stuttered.

"How can you trust a man who would lead you to do everything your mother warned against? It's too dangerous for you out there."

"I'm sure he would protect me!" Dalton said, then cupped a hand over his mouth.

"Protect you? Ha!" She scoffed. "If he wanted to protect you he'd leave you where you're safe. It'd be like letting a goldfish into a shark tank."

Dalton's face burned with embarrassment. "But he seems so nice."

"Looks can be deceiving," she said with finality. She turned to the kitchen and he stared at his feet.

"Why do you have your hair up?" She said, going through the cupboards. He touched his hair, which was braided up on his head.

"I don't like it long," he muttered.

"What? Why not?" She said, wiping an apple off with her sleeve.

"Well, this kind of ties into the thing I was trying to say before..." he said quietly.

"Hold this," she said, handing him a basket. "I won't be able to make it home tonight. I'm worried this might be the beginnings of an epidemic."

"You're not listening to me..." he whispered.

"What was that? Speak up dear," she said.

"Nothing," he said. "It was... nothing."

"Well if it was nothing, why are you standing there being unhelpful?" She said. "If you're just going to stand there you might as well help me gather up some overnight supplies."

"Yes mother," he muttered. He set the basket on the counter and started packing the things she handed him. He stared blankly into it, feeling strangely hollow.

"Mother, there's something I need to tell you," he stated firmly, handing the basket to her. They headed back up to the main floor.

"And what's that, dear?" She asked, brushing her hair over her shoulder. He wrung his hands. He could do this.

He took a deep breath. "I want you to call me Dalton."

She paused. "What? Why?"

He clenched his shaking hands. "I've been thinking a lot about myself and I don't think being called Daisy suits me."

"Well that's ridiculous. Daisy is your name."

"I know Daisy is the name you picked for me when I was born," he said slowly, his heart pounding against his ribs. "But I don't... feel like a girl. I read in one of my books about a boy who was born as a girl, and I think that.. applies to me."

"Which book was this?" His mother's voice was cold. His throat closed up.

"Um, just... one of them," he said, trying to stop himself from shaking.

"Well we'll have to get rid of it when I get back. A boy born as a girl. That's a ridiculous concept, Daisy. I can't believe you would buy into something like that."

He blinked rapidly, his eyes stinging. He couldn't say anything else. His mother sighed.

"I have to go. Be good while I'm gone. Don't forget to meditate. I love you." She pulled him close and kissed him on the forehead. He couldn't make his voice work.

Just like that, she was gone.