Chapter Text
The puzzle pieces fall together at last for Jason and he quickly responds to Eilees. “Thrice promised.” Ruiz looks at him in complete befuddlement, unknowingly copying the gazes of his fellow agents behind the mirror. Eilees smiles at Neal, the first genuine one since he arrived in the interrogation room. “Like I said, you are an interesting one.” He looks to Ruiz again. “The children are given the choice, mayhap you should ask yourself why they wouldn’t want to stay.”
“So you just randomly approach strangers and ask them if they want to come with you?” Sneers Ruiz condescendingly.
“Only the children.” Answers Eilees mockingly.
“Children according to whom?” Asks Neal.
“To the laws of this country, everyone under eighteen.” He gazes at Jason specifically when he says those last words. Jason tries not to let them see how much those words unsettle him. He can’t help but fear that the fae knows that he also would be counted as a child under the laws of this country. No matter what he went through.
“How can we trust you to tell the truth?” remarks Ruiz. “We just have to believe you at your word that the children are given the choice. That they can decline your proposition.”
“I do not lie. If you don’t trust me ask your friend.” He nods at Jason, who is glaring daggers at him. Again the FBI looks as one man at Neal. All the attention is on him so they don’t notice Eilees got free until they hear the shackles falling to the floor with a clang. Everyone looks at Eilees again and they are helpless to do anything but watch as he throws glittering dust at them. Somehow it manages to get through the mirror. Before their eyes the walls bleed down until they are standing in a glass cage with a single door. Through the windows they can see a green meadow with apple trees, it has an otherworldly appearance. Children of all ages are laughing and playing.
“As you can see the children are safe and happy.” Eilees voice appears out of nowhere, the FBI and Jason look frantically around them to find the source of the voice. “If you want to go back, just open the door.” Ruiz immediately runs to the door and tries to open it. It doesn’t budge. Eilees laughs mockingly. “You didn’t think it would be that simple, did you? No, to open the door you’ll need a key. Specifically, that key.” A key appears floating in the air, a few yards away from the glass cage. Before Ruiz can open his mouth to antagonise Eilees again, Hughes takes control of the situation.
“How are we supposed to get the key?” He asks calmly.
“The child of course, children can walk freely through the glass. Though you’d have to convince him to help you adults out first.”
“Is there any way you could be convinced to let us go?” Asks Hughes.
Eilees is silent. He is long gone.
“Neal, what the hell was that?” Asks Peter furious. It was almost as if Neal understood what Eilees was talking about. Not to mention the thrice promised thing. “Do you know him? Is he a meta?”
Jason inhales quietly, he probably isn’t able to go out here without spilling a few secrets. “No, I don’t know him and he isn’t a meta.”
“But he is something, isn’t he?” remarks Diana.
“He is a fae.” Everyone looks at Jason with visible disbelief in their eyes.
“A fairy, really Caffrey. And we are supposed to believe you?”
“Do you have a better explanation, Ruiz?” Neal replies frustrated, he knows that they probably don’t believe him.
“It would explain a lot, actually.” Diana looks at the others. “In the stories the fae used to steal children, particularly abused or neglected ones. This definitely looks like fae magic to me.” Diana gestures around her, placing her palm on the glass.
“How did you know?” Asks Peter. “You knew before he did his magic that he was a fae.”
“His name.” Jason simply says as if that explains everything and it does.
Diana is the first one to get it. “Eilees. Seelie.” The rest still looks confused. “Fae can be classified into multiple categories. You have the Seelie court and the Unseelie court. Both fae are dangerous, but the Seelie are generally more benevolent. They cannot tell a lie, so they just speak in half-truths. There are certain rules to deal with the fae.”
“How do you know so much about fae?” asks Jones curiously.
“My grandmother is Scottish, she used to tell me folklore tales.”
“You said there are rules for dealing with the fae.” Asks Peter with a sigh. He didn’t think there would ever be a time where he would say those words seriously. This is way out of their jurisdiction, the Justice League would be better equipped to deal with this.
“Don’t eat or drink anything. Never say thank you. Don’t tell them your full name.”
“Ruiz did you give him your full name?” demands Hughes a tiny bit stressed.
“No, I just went by agent Ruiz.” He says in relief. Suddenly, as if they come to the same conclusion at the same time. They turn as one to Neal.
“Fuck, Neal.” Peter looks concerned at him. “Diana, how bad is it?”
“I- Bad. I’m sorry, Neal. According to folklore they can control you if they have your full name.”
“Is there anything that can stop it?” Peter looks hopeful at Diana. Apologetic, she shakes her head. Damnit Neal, Peter isn’t going to lose one of his best friends to a damn fairy. There must be something they could to help him. He glances at Neal concerned for his friend. To his surprise Neal is taking it all in fairly calmly. If Peter didn’t know him better he would almost say Neal is feeling guilty. That would be a first. “Oh you have got to be kidding.” Peters swears. “Neal Caffrey isn’t your name, is it?”
The others look surprised at Peter than at Neal. “No, it isn’t. Sorry, Peter.” Peter pinches the bridge of his nose and sighs. “God damnit, Neal. Any other secrets I have to know?” He says sarcastically. Jason winces, there’s a pretty good chance they’ll find out his age after this. The wince doesn’t go unnoticed by anyone. “Right, I’m not dealing with this right now. We’ll talk after we get out of this. Think you can pick the lock?”