Glitches in My Code

Wings

I look at the hand reaching for mine, noticing a single dark wing scribbled on the inside of the wrist. When I look up at the owner of the hand, the wrist, and the doodle, I see a tall man with short white hair wearing no shirt and deep blue pants that strongly contrast his snowy skin. When I get to my feet, his turn to lead me away from where I had been. Resting high on his back, right on his shoulder blades, are two large wings, an odd mix of red and grey, white and black, silver and gold. He wears no shoes, but he doesn't seem to notice or care.

"Who are you? Why am I here? Where is here? What-?"

"Stop asking questions if you actually expect an answer!" He snaps, turning to face me, voice dripping with annoyance. 

"Sorry, I guess I can stop... Can you at least answer one though?" I plead, though my mind is still flooding itself with questions and possible answers, different scenarios, good and bad, logical and illogical.

He nods as though he knows what's going on in my brain, a sad smile dancing across his lips for a split second before disappearing. 

"I'll answer all three, though you might not be happy with the answers. I don't control the answers, just deliver them, so don't shoot the messenger. One, I am the Reaper, but I'm also known as Atos. Yes, I'm that Reaper. Two, you're dead. However, this isn't heaven or hell, it's... somewhere else. Third, this is what some people call Limbo, and what I call home." As he says this, he turns around and walks away, his legs so long that I have to jog to catch up, and even then I struggle not to fall behind. 

"Some souls have come to call this place home, but it's been hundreds of years since that happened, and no matter what some people may say, death doesn't last forever. In actuality, everybody dies twice, once in life, once in death, and we call the death after death 'Finality'. The only difference between life and death is how you get there. In life, you are born, while in death you arrive. In death, you can injure yourself, get diseases and even reach Finality from these things. The ways you die in life and death may be the same, but they may also be completely different."

I glance up at him, this god-like figure that's nothing like I had imagined him to be, this man who claims to be Death.

"By the way, just to clear up any misconceptions, I'm not Death. I'm not a god or a demon or a devil or an angel or anything like that either. I'm just the Reaper. As far as I know, I'm the only one of my kind that ever has or will exist." He flares his wings out to the sides, showcasing just how mixed the hues are. "In case you were wondering, that's why my wings are such a mess. I don't fit in anywhere, so why should my wings?" He snarls slightly, the resentment at his appearance obvious.

"Why do you think your wings are a mess? I think they're awesome! Honestly, I'd rather have your wings than boring solid colored wings! Then again, I wouldn't mind just generally having wings... You get my point though, right? Your wings are amazing!" I exclaim, losing my point for a moment before I find my train of thought once more. I look up at his face, searching for what I hope to be written on it, and finally, finally, I find it. Joy. 

I hadn't expected it to make me feel quite so happy to cheer up Atos, but when I see his face crack, then burst like a dam into an enormous grin, I feel what can only be described as euphoria bubble up from deep within my chest. 

Atos looks me in the eye, partially suspicious, but still hopeful, and asks "Really? You like my wings? Nobody's even told me they liked my wings, not in the eternity I've been the Reaper..." When I nod, he grins once more, and takes my hand in his, brushing his lips lightly across the top of it. I feel my heart jump to my throat, then speed up until I would swear it was humming like a generator. 

"Would you mind, y'know... staying here? With me? I might be able to get you some wings if I asked around, and you could help me guide souls to wherever they may need to go..." he asks, sheepish and sounding extremely similar to a middle schooler asking out a girl for the first time, and I nod.

"What are the chances of me getting to meet all those beings you aren't? Demons and angels and such?" I ask, suddenly curious. He shrugs as though he's trying to be casual, but he still looks ecstatic. 

"I'm not completely sure, but I can try to help you meet some if you want." 

"That would be awesome!" 

"So you're staying here, with me?" Atos inquires, leaning towards me ever so slightly.

"Yup." As soon as the word leaves my mouth, I feel a tingling in my shoulder blades, followed soon by an immense flash of pain that leaves me doubled over with the intensity. The pain leaves as suddenly as it had arrived, and I straighten my back but almost fall onto my butt, suddenly off balance. I barely gain my balance, even after grabbing Atos's arm, then whip around to look at my back. What I see there almost sends me to the ground once more.

Glimmering with a mixture of black, white and gold, all with hints of sky blue and even some pale lilac thrown in for good measure, are the two most beautiful wings I have ever seen. I feel my brain scramble for control over them, knowing the moment I have it that control is completely mine.

"Want to fly?" Atos asks, grinning at my nod. I watch as his wings flare to their full size, then feel mine do the same. I take a few running steps, then feel myself leave the ground.

I'm flying.