After hearing Ashton's story, Niles' first order of business was getting Ashton clothes that would fit him. Unfortunately, that proved to be an ordeal in and of itself. As soon as their conversation was over, Niles took him to the mall. He figured they would find at least something in one of the stores, but it turned out that Ashton was very picky.  

Niles really should have seen it coming. After all, most faeries didn't wear much clothing in order to minimize flight restrictions, sticking to just a simple pair of pants. Niles even remembered how much of a struggle it was to get Ashton to wear a loose jacket whenever they went outside during the winter. But for some reason, he thought that things would be easier now that Ashton was "human."

What a mistake that thought was.

Ashton ran away from almost everything Niles offered him. He refused to try on anything that was tight or form fitting, finally relenting and accepting only the loosest t-shirts and sweatshirts. But even that was challenging since finding shirts big enough to fit loosely on his broad shoulders was nearly impossible.

Pants were slightly easier, though Ashton wouldn't even go near the jeans or anything with stiff or tight fabric. Niles looked at the variations of joggers and sweatpants that Ashton picked out and just sighed.

Good thing athleisure is an acceptable look nowadays, he thought as he placed another pair of sweatpants in their cart. 

But it was shoes that posed the biggest problem. Niles nearly gave up when it was time to find shoes. 

Woodlands faeries did wear soft coverings with firm soles over their feet during winter months, but Ashton had apparently been living a water sprite lifestyle for the last several years, and sprites had no need for shoes underwater. Ashton made a face at nearly every pair he tried on. Niles eventually just had to pick out a couple acceptable shoes for him, ignoring the faerie's grumbling.

"You have to wear shoes," Niles insisted, staring pointedly at the ill-fitting pair of slides that Ashton had borrowed from him. "You can't go anywhere as a human without shoes."

"I'll just stay home with you," Ashton argued. "You don't make me wear shoes or shirts inside the house."

"Oh, I'm about to," Niles threatened darkly.

Ashton gasped at the betrayal, but he was much more docile by the time they checked out, accepting all of the dreaded clothes with a heartfelt thanks.

As for going out and being among humans, Ashton did surprisingly well. He had already been around humans for a few weeks before Niles found him, so he didn't seem that afraid of anyone. It probably helped that he was bigger than pretty much every human they encountered. The crowds at the mall did seem to overwhelm him a bit, and he gripped Niles' sleeve or hand whenever the crush of people got to be more than usual.

Niles stared up at Ashton's worried face each time this happened and sighed inwardly. He was still reeling from the fact that not only was Ashton here, but that he was human— more or less. This had never happened before. There was nothing in the books about a faerie turning into a human. It was completely unprecedented.

Part of Niles— the scientist part— was both thrilled and wildly curious. But the other side of him— the human side— was stressing over what this all meant for his personal life and the faerie-human world in general.

Scientists and politicians alike would be in uproar over this, the fact that a faerie could become human and enter human society like it was no big deal. What types of laws would they try to put into place? Would they insist that any faerie attempting to integrate into human society become human? Or would they try to outlaw it? Could human law even try to control the faerie population like that?

Niles finally did sigh, and Ashton looked at him concernedly. What a headache this was going to be. But when he looked back up and saw Ashton smile at him, some of his misgivings slipped away.

He's ok, Niles thought. He's ok. He's not cowering in a corner or crying in his sleep. He's here, and he looks happy. Finally.

***

Ashton did not like the mall at all. He had only ever spent time at Niles' house or in the clinic, so the hustle and bustle at the mall was extremely off-putting. Niles had warned him about it before they arrived and told Ashton to grab his hand if he felt uncomfortable. Ashton was more than happy to take him up on the offer. In fact, he may have grabbed Niles' hand a few times when he wasn't feeling nervous.

He didn't miss the fact that Niles was tired and overwhelmed himself. His human had always been quiet, but he was downright silent as he combed through the racks of clothes to try to find something that Ashton wouldn't shrink away from. 

Ashton wasn't quite sure what to do, so he just held Niles' hand and smiled at him whenever his human turned to look up at him. That seemed to help, as Niles noticeably relaxed every time he did so.

I'm sorry, Niles, Ashton thought, staring down at the top of Niles' head. I'm really not trying to make your life more difficult. It's just...  I really do need you. 

***

Niles took Ashton to the grocery store next, and Ashton's head swiveled this way and that, trying to catch sight of everything.

"Here," Niles pushed the shopping cart into Ashton's hands. "You're in charge of this. Don't let go, ok? And stay where I can see you."

Ashton looked down at it curiously and gave it a few experimental pushes backwards and forward. He nodded to himself, seemingly quite pleased with his responsibility.

Niles mostly gave it to him so that he wouldn't wander off, though he doubted Ashton would leave his side. If their excursion to the mall showed him anything, it was that Ashton wasn't the type to let him out of his sight.

"We need to stock up on fae-friendly foods," Niles explained. "I'm guessing you're still not a fan of human foods?"

Ashton made a face, and Niles laughed. "Thought so. Just point out anything on the shelves that looks good to you," he said. "And we'll get it."

Ashton was fine in the fresh produce section, where he picked out the majority of what interested him. But once they started going into the shelves, they ran into a problem: Ashton's curiosity. 

Niles was just grabbing a loaf of bread when he heard a ripping sound, Ashton's voice calling after him a second later. "Niles, what's this?"

Niles turned around to see what he was talking about, and his eyes widened as he watched Ashton slice open the cellophane wrapper of a pop-tart and sniff at its contents experimentally.

"Ashton, no, we have to pay for that!" Niles exclaimed, but the faerie had already taken a hesitant bite of the pastry.

His nose crinkled in disgust, and he spat it out almost immediately.

"Is this food?" he demanded incredulously.

"I..." Niles was at a loss. He stalked over to Ashton and took the opened box from his hands, placing it in the cart. "Don't just put stuff in your mouth," he instructed. "And yes, it is food. Stop opening stuff. We have to buy whatever you open."

Ashton started reaching for something else on a shelf, and Niles tugged his hand down, firmly placing it back on the shopping cart. "Come on," Niles told him. "We still have to go home and make dinner for Lucy and Mara."

He glanced at his phone to check the time. He had texted Lucy to push dinner back a few hours, but these errands had taken more time than he had thought. Niles bit his lip, considering. He just might have to order takeout at this point. 

Niles picked up the pace, grabbing items that he knew Ashton liked from the last time the faerie had lived with him. Ashton lagged behind, staring at all the bright packaging and occasionally reaching up with his long arms to pluck things from the top shelves when he thought Niles wasn't looking. Niles had to keep removing items from the curious faerie's hands before he could try to examine their contents.

"Stop that," Niles always warned. "You're not going to like these, anyway."

Ashton always ignored him, and soon enough, they had a whole bunch of unnecessary items that Ashton had opened and tried. 

Was he always like this? Niles wondered, dumbfounded as he took a bottle of mustard away before Ashton could open it. I don't remember him being quite so curious and nosy. He always just stuck to himself.

He eyed Ashton cautiously, who was now trying pickles straight from the jar. The faerie's face instantly froze, and he coughed a little at the sour taste. Niles tried not to laugh.

"Serves you right," he scolded Ashton, and the sprite stared at him pitifully.

Well, Niles thought, softening a bit. It's alright. I guess this is all really new to him. He'll figure it out. 

________________________________________________________________

A/N: Niles just being a full-on sugar daddy at this point. 

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