Kiss of Fate

Scar

As I soared over the park, I couldn’t help but notice the massive crowd gathering below. The sea of people stretched far and wide, packed into the grassy expanse like sardines, all focused on something in the center. I frowned, unsure of what was going on. From up here, it looked like some sort of event, but there was no telling if it was something innocent or if trouble was brewing.

I hovered for a moment, watching the scene unfold. My mind raced as I considered landing to investigate, but the thought of getting caught up in the crowd—or worse, running into HotGuy again—wasn't exactly appealing. Still, something about the energy below felt off. I activated the sunglasses, hoping to get a better read on the situation. As the pink-tinted world adjusted to show more detailed information, I scanned the park for anything out of the ordinary.

Relief washed over me as the glasses confirmed it was just a birthday party. The colorful confetti from party poppers floated in the air, and a large cake sat on a table surrounded by laughing kids. Balloons, streamers, and an overall festive vibe made me feel ridiculous for thinking it could be something dangerous.

Still, I stayed in the air a bit longer, scanning for any potential issues—just to be sure. Everything seemed perfectly normal, but that odd feeling of unease still lingered at the back of my mind. Maybe it was just leftover anxiety from running into HotGuy earlier.

With one last glance at the crowd, I turned away from the park, figuring I'd continue my patrol elsewhere. The party was in full swing—kids laughing, adults chatting, and the occasional burst of excitement punctuated by a loud pop from a party popper. It was for the city official's kids, a big deal in a city like ours, but my attention snagged on one person: a guy in a wheelchair, sitting slightly apart from the main group. I recognized him from yesterday.

Scar, if I remembered correctly. He wasn’t participating in the games, but he didn’t seem too bothered by it, his attention focused on his phone. He looked older than most of the kids there, and despite the festive atmosphere around him, there was a quiet energy about him—like he was used to blending into the background.

I hovered for a moment, weighing my options. My wings were getting sore from all the constant flying, and a break sounded nice. Plus, there was something about him that made me curious. If I approached him as Cute Guy, I’d have to pretend I didn’t already know his name.

With a soft flap of my wings, I descended toward the bench where he was sitting, the faint hum of distant conversations and the occasional burst of laughter creating a background of lively noise. As I landed softly on the grass nearby, I noticed the subtle tension in my wings easing. I took a breath, adopting my best casual tone as I approached him.

"Hey, you look like you’re missing out on all the fun,” I said, glancing around the busy park before letting my gaze settle on him. “Mind if I sit with you for a bit?”

Scar looked up from his phone, probably ready to brush me off until his eyes landed on me. His expression shifted, mouth slightly agape as recognition dawned on him. “Y-yeah, I don’t mind,” he stammered, clearly caught off guard by my presence.

I smirked slightly, settling down next to him. "Figured you could use some company," I said, stretching out my legs and folding my wings behind me, careful to keep them tucked in. "Big party, huh? But you don’t seem too into it."

He chuckled, still a bit flustered. "Yeah, not really my thing. I’m just here because… well, you know, obligations."

"Obligations?" I asked

Scar chuckled awkwardly, rubbing the back of his neck. "Yeah, I'm the mayor’s son, so I kind of had to show up, but honestly, I didn’t want to be here. Sitting in the sun while everyone else runs around? Not exactly fun, you know?"