Chapter Text
If beauty was in the eye of the beholder, then that meant the world was seen how she chose it to be. Magic was everywhere and in everything. No matter what name it went by: Science, Miracle, Coincidence, Technology, God, Hopes and Dreams; it existed. The earth was magic-Life on earth was magic, otherwise Mars, Venus, and every star and planet out there would have its own magic happenings.
People were magic, they made magic happen in the simplest of ways. A smile, a heroic deed, a helping hand, Learning. The creation of new life. All of it branches of magic and no less marvelous. She smiled watching the way the children in her classroom interacted with endless fascination and wonder; they knew they were products of magic. And she loved them all the more as the magic that made them was denied her. She was barren but not childless and each student’s smile or excitement was her own.
And as today came to a close she was reminded there were those who probably didn’t realize nor deserve the magic they inherited. Namely Mrs. Williams and her skillful corruption of her son who watched on, absorbing every hurtled insult from his mother’s mouth like a witch’s hex, undoing all her encouragements of kindness. “Are you listening to me you little wetback!?”
“‘Spic,” she answered absently with a smile raising her eyes back to the monster mom after waving goodbye to another parent. “I’m from the islands, the proper insult would be spic. Wetbacks are usually from South America. You should know your target audience when you're trying to insult them. As is, it's landed far off; your lackluster insults only amuse me, seeing as your record shows you've been kicked from multiple childcare facilities. Can you afford to leave this one too?”
“Oh don’t you think you’re the cutest little shit-”
“Language Mrs. Williams; there’s still some other children waiting to be picked up.”
“I don’t give a damn! The next time you put my son in timeout, I’m gonna call immigration on you!”
“Well you’re very welcome to do so, but I don’t think its going to do much good. So then, we’ll see you tomorrow right? Bye, Simon.” She waved with a smile to her student who was bodily grabbed and dragged outside by the monster in heels before sighing. Magic had its good and...not so good moments and her profession was no different. “Miss Anna?” Perking her smile back up, she squatted down to address the little cherub pulling on her cardigan. “Yes Cherish?”
“Is my mommy coming?” She held back her wince nodding. “Soon. She called that she got off a little late today. Do you want to draw while we wait?” Assembling a small quick station for her, she looked at her watch with an inward groan. Her mom needed to show in the next ten minutes or the daycare was going to charge her. Were it up to her, she’d just stay until the parent could come; it didn’t make sense to penalize a parent who needed the money to even pay for the daycare, but as a teaching assistant her willingness to help could only extend so far. As her own mother would remind her every chance she got.
“Annalise?” Spinning around she smiled at her boss Mrs. O., trying and failing to cover Cherish by the look of exasperation on her ruddy face. “Her mom’s late again?”
“She called this time,” she explained quietly peering back at the toddler. “Just give her a few more minutes before you charge her,” she asked pleadingly. “Ms. Thomson agreed to the fees when she completed her forms and enrolled her child. And no you can’t stay with her. Go before you miss your train, I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“It’s not like there won’t be another,” she weakly argued already grabbing her bag. Some battles she would not win, this was one of them...so was Mrs. Williams. Oh well. Waving bye to Cherish, she left a bit blue at the thought of leaving Miss Thomson to face Mrs. O alone. Taking the train she paid the busker belting out on his guitar without thought and climbed on the bus towards her home. Hopping off well in advance of her destination, she made her way through the neighborhoods until she found the fence that blocked off the lake. Once through the hole in the fence, she walked through the woods until the borough of Queens was just a murmur of sound and found her favorite tree.
“Hello old friend,” she whispered sitting on the fallen trunk, admiring the way it still grew even with most of its roots exposed. The tree was magic, it had to be the way the branches spiraled up and out creating an underbrush any mythical being would be happy to settle in. Childish thoughts? Perhaps, but who would judge her; the tree? Pulling her sketchbook out, she stilled at the sound of footsteps. She jolted straight at the older looking man with a graying beard, a newsboy cap and a flannel jacket over jeans.
“You come on my property quite a bit, now why is that?” Annalise moved her jaw sputtering for a few seconds before standing. “I-I’m so sorry, I thought this was just...property.” His black eyes twinkled with mirth, the crinkles in his dark skin making little canyons around them. “You mean to tell me you never saw the fence out by the road?”
“No! No no, what I mean is I-I-I just thought this was like you know, when the state closes places off and,” she pushed her short ringlets from her face backing up. “Look I’m so sorry, I never saw a house near here and I didn’t know this was actually private property.”
He waved his hand with a shrug. “Nah no worries. Just noticed you always came here and was wondering why? I expected to see maybe another person by now but nothing.”
“You were watching me?” He pointed to the woods behind her. “Deer cams.” Annalise flushed and was suddenly thankful she never had the urge to pee while on her outings. “Why do you have deer cams? I mean the woods are nice but its not like upstate.”
“Forest guardians.” She gasped shaking her head and he put both hands up pleading. “Now now Miss, I ain’t crazy. I know I saw something in these woods. They’re old, like there’s something here...”
“Like a bit of Magic,” she finished for him earning herself a dumbfounded look as he nodded. “Exactly,” he hissed as if too afraid to say it out loud. “Everything is magic, if you’re willing to look at it,” she added placing a hand on the trunk of the tree. And she spent the rest of her time there telling him her thoughts on the matter before her phone beeped and she looked down surprised. “I have to go.” The last bus to her neighborhood would be arriving soon and she had no desire to walk.
“Well since you been making yourself at home on my property anyway, I’ll extend a formal invitation to you.” She winced chagrined at his loud laugh as he turned and limped back the way he came opposite to her. “You follow this path here and you’ll get to my home. Don’t stray from the path and ruin the plants or the woods might hold a grudge.” She watched him disappear and waited until she couldn’t hear his steps before running back the way she came, making it just in time to catch the bus.
The smart thing to do would be to never go back there. There was a crazy old man who’d been watching her. But if he knew she came so often, he could’ve set a trap long ago. Besides, he listened. And more than that, it seemed like he understood. Looking through her sketchbook, it was clear that she wouldn’t stay away from the place. It held too much power over her with its ethereal beauty buried in the concrete jungle. It might be nice to share that. She’d bring pepper spray just in case though.
The next day was smooth with no timeouts, no fussing at nap time, and even better no monster mommies. And Cherish’s mom was on time so she got to head out earlier than usual. Stopping in front of the fence, Annalise suddenly felt like a trespasser. For almost the whole year she had been coming to the woods, barring bad snow storms of course, but now she knew this secret place wasn’t really hers.
Or rather not hers alone. For a moment she almost turned around, but the memory of the tree pulled her and she was through the hole and making her way in against her better judgment. Pausing to rest her hand on the trunk in greeting, she proceeded to where the man had disappeared with wary steps, watching where her Converse were landing to be sure she stayed on the path.
Surprised to see a wooden plank bridge over a creek she paused to listen for a few minutes before continuing, almost ready to turn around at how far she seemed to already go when the house appeared through the trees. She spotted him in a rocking chair on the porch working on something when his head lifted to squint into the woods. “That you miss?”
It was a short debate with herself before she stepped into his clearing. “Hello again,” she called with a wave keeping a distance. He was standing scratching his head with his other hand on his hip. “Hello again,” he said looking around seemingly unsure. “You uh, you have to forgive me I haven’t had a guest in years. I ain’t quite good at this hospitality thing,” he said gruffly after a few moments of silence between them.
She was suddenly relieved she had time to stop at a corner store after all; maybe that’s why everything went smoothly today. “I brought some pastries from the bodega,” she offered holding up the bag.
He made to go left, right, then left again into the house. She waited wary until he came back with two plates and a jug of something. “You drink?” Oh. She smiled with a head shake. “No, but I got two Cokes if you want one.” He motioned her over and limped back inside to pull out another chair. She felt a bit ashamed when he set it closer to the stairs explaining, “I know I’d be nervous if I was you, coming to visit a crazy old man who lives alone in the woods.”
Stepping up she held out the drink and the pastry and took a seat, watching the way he rocked as he ate. “You say hello to the tree before coming here?” Annalise paused mid chew curious but nodded. He nodded back once gruffly. “Good. Good. Wouldn’t want it to get jealous. Name’s Marc by the way.”
“Oh, Annalise. Anna is fine too.” He nodded still rocking away while staring into the woods. She found she rather enjoyed the silence and when it was time to go, she asked if he had a favorite snack she could bring. And that was how she spent the rest of her summer, fall, and winter, visiting Marc and talking about everything and nothing. Of course the topic of children came up as the holiday season rolled around, and she uncomfortably explained her situation.
“I wouldn’t dwell on it Anna,” he soothed quietly as they sat in the kitchen looking at the light snow coming down. “Well it is kind of a deal breaker. I mean most men don’t want damaged goods.” His head whipped from the window to glare at her. “You ain’t owe anyone anything. Ever. Whoever wants you is gonna want you for you, not for what you can give them.”
“Annnd that’s a very short list,” she tried to joke but his hand clasped her fingers hard. “There’s many who’d want you Annalise. You’re rose tinted glasses viewpoint is annoying as hell, but they make the world pretty at least for a while.” She pursed her lips mulling that over. “Not sure that’s a compliment, but thank you?” They shared a laugh and she sipped her hot lemon tea, letting him hold her hand in the silence.
And then spring came again and she noticed something was wrong with her dearest friend. He seemed to fade mid conversation, like he was listening to someone else, acknowledging this one sided conversation with soft hums. The tree was blooming with verdant green shoots and tender leaves as she patted the trunk affectionately before making her way to the house as usual.
The walk seemed much shorter as if the woods shrunk had down in its haste to rush her along, and when she reached the clearing Marc was pacing his porch rambling. “Hello again,” she greeted in their customary manner and froze the way he swung his head to her almost frantic. “Anna, come come! Quickly.” She jogged over and entered the house behind him but stayed in the kitchen as he hobbled up the stairs.
In his mad rush down he stumbled at the last step and she cried out surprised dropping to her knees at his side. “Oh god are you okay?” She jumped startled when his fingers dug into her shoulder. “I ain’t got much more time left Anna. There’s something I have to give you.”
“What do you mean you don’t have time? Are you sick?” He held out a box and she frowned opening it. Inside was a beautiful cabochon of blood red embedded in almost glowing blue silver backing on a chain. “What-”
“Put it on quick, and go.”
“Whoa, hold on this looks really old and expensive. I can’t-”
“Annalise!” He shook her and she grabbed his forearms scared and worried. “Marc what is going on!?”
“Please,” he said instead of answering. “Please. It is old and I was supposed to give it to my heir for safe keeping but I don’t have one Anna. I never made time and now I’m out of it. I’m asking you to take it. Save this fool from being a complete failure will ya?” She looked down again frowning but nodded, picking the chain up and slipping it over her head.
It felt uncomfortably heavy at first like it would snap her neck and then became so light as to not be felt at all. In fact, it was as if it had always been hers. “There. Now can you tell me what’s going on?” He was staring at the necklace where it hung just below her collarbone tense for a few seconds before sighing relieved with a sad smile. “I’ll tell you everything tomorrow. I just need some rest, get my thoughts together. Go on now.”
It was a deflection, she knew it was but she respected him enough to just nod, helping him up to his old worn recliner and walking to the door. “Anna,” he called out and she paused stepping back and leaning to look into the living room where he sat pale and shaken. His eyes rose slowly and he seemed to be memorizing her. “You visiting these woods was the best thing to ever happen to me. You hear me missy? The best thing. You made me feel like this old man belonged in this world. That magic still thrived. Where ever you go from here, don’t you ever forget that. You make space, you make people belong.”
It took several swallows before the lump would leave her throat enough to speak. “Is this goodbye Marc,” her asked voice trembling barely above its whisper. He smiled with eyes shining and motioned a hand waving her off. “Go on now.” She smiled and waved slowly. “Goodbye Marc Spector.” The tears came now as he waved back and replied, “Goodbye Annalise Reyes.”
She left quietly closing the door and bawled on the walk out. She froze at the sight of the tree, the leaves once lively green now slightly dulled. Wiping her face she left figuring her mood was changing her perception of her surroundings; her rose colored glasses must’ve slipped from her nose.
She called in sick the next day, unable to sleep and wondering if she had done the right thing leaving him alone. Dressing, she left and stopped at the corner store to pick up his favorite sweet as a sorry for coming earlier than normal. But the moment her bus stopped she knew something was wrong.
A crowd had gathered and she could see smoke billowing into the sky. His woods were on fire. Dropping the bag and dodging the onlookers she ran in, avoiding the firefighter who was calling for her to stop.
“Marc! Maaarrrc!” She paused to see the tree shriveling, its once proud stature now drooping in...anguish. Blinking away the stinging in her eyes she rushed forward down the path, feeling a shift in the woods as the smoke got deeper; it was trying to keep her from getting closer to the house where the flames burned brightest. “Marc!” A hard hand grabbed her arms and dragged her back. “You cant be here-”
“My friend has a house in there! He’s old, he’s got a bum knee! Please he needs help!” He pulled her and she gasped trying to right herself but it was too late; he had pushed her off the path and the few trees left unscathed groaned in protest before the fire erupted bright and hotter. Half carried half dragged she was pulled to the EMT team who collected her information and vitals, monitoring her worried as she held her chest, which felt like it was caving in while the tears came down in rivulets.
“Miss Reyes do you have any history of panic attacks?” She nodded once before devolving into a crying mess. She should have never left him alone. She should’ve stayed with him. Her hand tightened around the necklace and she squeezed it to feel grounded as her world no longer felt right. She needed to be somewhere else. Somewhere she belonged.
Annalise looked up confused as the ambulance rocked violently wondering how the heck they got her in it in the first place. And strapped in to boot! “I gave you a small dose of Midazolam to calm you down,” he explained gently, writing on a handheld and trying to keep an eye on her face.
The ambulance suddenly jerked and she swore she saw a beam of red passing through them like a scanners light and said as much. He nodded with a sigh, opening his mouth to explain something when the driver screamed and they swerved again this time taking the world and spinning it till she blacked out.
Sound came back slowly and Annalise groaned as she stared at the ceiling below her, gauze and medical packets strewn everywhere. Weakly she pulled herself from under the buckles on the transport and snatched the IV out crawling to the body wedged unnaturally at the door. Pushing them opening and controlling the urge to vomit at the sight of the sweet EMS guy now a mangled heap half draped out of the vehicle, she stumbled into a new wreckage.
People were screaming and running passed her and she knew she should follow but her body felt so strange. A yawning hole expanded across her abdomen and her skin prickled uncomfortably as if electric fingers were skimming over her flesh exposing fresh nerve endings. An explosion had her ducking her head but once she looked up, her stomach dropped to metaphorically scrape the road at the sight of a scaffolding coming down. She screamed and stumbled back. Directly into someone arms as they lifted off the ground in an arc, the wind blowing her hair into her face. “Hey hey! Stop screaming, I got you.” She turned and screamed again. “Spiderman!?” He laughed with a shrug. “As in Peter Parker!?”
He let her go shocked and she screamed free falling at least three stories before he snatched her out of the sky. “Shhhh! How do you know that!?” With far too much finesse to be humanly possible, he landed on a skyscraper and put her down, walking backwards. “Don’t move okay? I gotta check if there's any more who need help. Don't move I’ll be back. And could you maybe not yell my secret identity out please? Thank you. Don’t move.” Annalise watched him jump off the ledge and let out a small manic laugh. He left her on the top of a skyscraper, where was she to go?