Nothing left to safe

8

You don't even want to leave. Maybe, if you would stay in a worrying state, he'd-?

Some would say you already are but he doesn't know.

He doesn't need to know.

He probably doesn't even want to know. And as if he'd care about your habit of overworking yourself and not caring about your sleep schedule.

But why would he care?

...The others don't.

But maybe he would care.

Maybe, if you'd give him your number, he'd remind you to eat. He'd tell you to sleep. Maybe he would do that.

"Veles? Would you mind coming back down to earth? I got a question, dove", you hear Zepherus ask. "Yeah, what do you wanna ask, Zeph?", you ask back.

"I've seen some older news articles about Venus or about your former school. I noticed that the older the pictures get, the less golden feathers you seem to have. Do you, perhaps, know why?", Zepherus explains.

And you notice that after Venus death, you were lacking in not only sleep but really any kind of more-than-basic selfcare.

"I haven't even noticed it. Didn't really have the time to, since, y'know..", you tell, hoping Zeph won't notice you were letting yourself go for the last three years.

"Well, you gonna make time and get used to taking care of yourself.", he sighs, his hands still carefully touching your wings.

As you find yourself enjoying the touch, you mutter, "could you keep doing this? It feels nice."

 "What did you say, dove?" "Nothing, never mind."

...

"Veles, you don't need to be embarrassed to ask me anything. I can, of course, keep playing with your wings.", Zeph laughs.

Your cheeks start getting hot and you nod, sitting down on the couch. You turn to face the window so that Zeph can sit down behind you. And so he does.

"How's your side?", he asks, continuing to brush the feathers covering your wings.

"It still hurts , especially when stretching or moving a lot. It's alright, though", you answer, your voice calm and quiet.

"Do you dye your hair or is this your natural hair colour?"

"I don't dye my hair. Do you?"

"Nope, my Ma got it and I guess I just stole it from her.", he explains and you can hear the smile in his voice.

"If your mom does look like you, she should be stunning then.", you say, only now realizing what you are implying.

"Well, thank you dove", he laughs and you nervously laugh back, confused on why you connect Zepherus to stunning.

But the more you think about it, the more it feels right to do so.

...

"Zeph."

"Yeah?"

"Do you know how to braid hair?"

"I know how it works. Can't promise it'll look good though."

"Could you maybe braid my hair please? It keeps Getting in my face and I'm a little lazy to do it myself."

"Sure, let me get a brush", Zepherus says, getting up from the couch and leaving the room.

You look outside when you notice some quick shadow on the roof of the building across.
Suddenly you get an uneasy feeling, the kind of feeling one gets from staring at the mountain of clothes in a dark room for a little too long and it starts looking more and more human.
You feel watched. And whatever might be staring at you, you don't like it.

To your relief, that feeling is gone as soon as you hear the footsteps belonging to Zepherus.

"I managed to find some hair ties as well.", he proudly says, smiling as usual. He sure smiles a lot.
And that is just your luck as you adore his smile.

Zeph sits down again, carefully moving your hair away from your face. Slowly he starts brushing your hair, gently untangling all the knots.
He does it so caringly and at this very second, you finally allow to feel again, only around him. You smile, relaxing your shoulders.

You feel your.. friend..?- You feel Zepherus part your hair into three parts, starting on a simple, loose braid.

"You wanted to know why I am a villain, didn't you, dove?", Zeph speaks up, his voice still soft and calm. "Oh yeah! I'd like to know why you are a villain. I mean, compared to others, you are pretty calm, just causing chaos.", you explain the reason for your interest.