The Iron Knight

“Sorry, couldn’t help but overhear you guys,” he continued, not sounding the least bit apologetic. “And you know, I was just thinking, that dream you were talking about. It sounds an awful lot like the one I just had.” His mouth twisted into a smirk, and his gaze narrowed. “Only, in this version, I died. Some Winter King bastard stuck me through the chest while we were fighting. Kinda traumatic, if you know what I mean. And that was after he destroyed most of the Summer Court.”

“Go to her," Grimalkin said, backing away. "Wake her up. I will attempt to rouse Goodfellow once more. Perhaps he will waken if claws are applied in a strategically important area...”

PUCK WOKE EASILY when I kicked him in the ribs, rolling upright with a wounded yelp, making the Wolf grin with appreciation. “Ow!” he snarled. “Dammit, ice boy, why don’t you just stick a knife in my ribs and be done with it?”
“I’ve thought about it”

“You two know each other? Traveled together?” She frowned and looked at us both. “Are you friends?”
I snorted. “I wouldn’t go that far.”
“Oh, best friends, lady,” Puck said at the same time, giving her a wink. “Ice boy will deny it until the mountains crumble, but you know how hard it is for him to admit his feelings, right?”

“Don’t turn around,” I muttered. “Don’t answer him, and maybe he’ll go away.”
“Hah, as if that ever works.” The speaker moved closer, until I could see him from the corner of my eye, arms crossed over a bare chest, perpetual smirk stretching his face. “You know, if you keep ignoring me, ice boy, I’m just going to push you into the pond.”

Now there were only three Thornguards left. Puck and I still stood back to back, guarding each other’s flanks, moving in perfect unison. “You know,” Puck said, panting slightly, “this reminds me of the time we were underground and stumbled into that Duergar city. Remember that, ice boy?”
I parried a blow to my ribs and returned with a swipe to my opponent’s head, forcing him back a step. “Stop talking and keep fighting, Goodfellow.”
“Yeah, I think you said that to me then, too.”

“Well. What do we have here? Two handsome faery boys, come to visit a poor old woman. And if my eyes don’t deceive me, that’s Robin Goodfellow I see before me. The last I saw of you, you stole my broom and tied my house’s legs so it fell over when we tried to catch you!”