Birds of a Feather

six

The rest of the day passed with a slowness that was maddening. The usual tests were conducted, and I found myself waiting for my five o-clock appointment with Dr. Lanelo. So many thoughts were flying through my head and she was the only person I felt could give me sound advice. I wasn't sure how many times my story was run before the one I had witnessed, but I'm sure it was at least once or twice. It made sense. That would've been how Kace knew my name, and where to find me. That means he also must have seen my naked body in the street like a helpless ragdoll. The thought was unsettling.
Cybil and Patrick could only stay to eat breakfast with me, before they had to leave while I went about my daily hospital activities. They did their best to cheer me up and keep the mood light after my television debut. It helped slightly, but as soon as they left, the black cloud returned. The usual tests were not nearly as begrudging since I knew they were the only thing keeping me from the outside world and inevitability of reporters and crazy people. I relished every moment of dull needle pricking, brain sensors, and urine samples.
I relished so deeply that it seemed like years before five o-clock came around. I hustled quickly to Dr.Lanelo's office and threw myself into my usual position on the too-big couch. My suddenness started her, and she made a squeak before speaking. "Eager today, are we?"
I looked at her with wide eyes and wordlessly begged for her to let me spill my guts to her. Dr. Lanelo sensed my urgency and rather quickly picked up her notepad. She was in her lavish Laz-E-Boy in the blink of an eye. She didn't have to ask, I just immediately started talking. Like a dam that had just burst.
"Has anyone else been found... like me?" I inquired.
Lanelo looked at me for a moment before raising her brow in confusion. "Uh... no. Not to my knowledge. Why do you ask?"
I hesitated before answering. There was a brief moment where I thought not to tell her about Kace. I still had told no one. But I knew I had to, and honestly that I wanted to. I wanted her advice. Her input. A possible answer to the ambiguity of the situation.
"Okay, so... last night I snuck up to the roof to get some much needed fresh air," a disapproving grunt came from Lanelo. "I was feeling trapped and stressed and the night air and city lights calm me... anyway... I was sitting there. Alone. And then out of nowhere this dude shows up. He knew my name and everything.. the main point is that he had wings. Like me. He wanted me to jump off the building and fly with him,"
Lanelo's expression was unreadable, possibly trying to process what I was saying.
"Did you do it?" she asked. This was an unexpected response.
"No but he did, he flew like a bird, doc... it was incredible. And then he said he'd wait for me to join him again tonight,"
"Are you gonna go?"
I was quite surprised by Lanelo's calmness in hearing this news. It's not every day that bird people were discovered, especially one that the media was unaware of. And apparently the hospital, too. I took a moment to ponder.
"I don't know. I want to, but don't know if I should," I let the words hang, desperately craving the advice that Lanelo would give me. Either tell me if I'm crazy or if I should seek comfort in this unlikely ally.
"I think you should," she looked at me in an almost motherly fashion. "I'm sure there's a reason this boy hasn't been discovered. Probably because he doesn't want to be. But if what you're saying is true, you aren't alone anymore. You have someone who can relate to you in a way that myself or anyone else will never be able to."
I looked at her, soaking in her words. The words I hadn't realized I'd been yearning to hear. I felt a moment of happiness before the earlier events of the day came flooding back to me.
"I also saw a news story about me today... they aired this video. I was naked and knocked out and they just played it and gave the world my name... it's a lot to take in? I don't want to have to answer to a bajillion people when I bust out of here. My social media is already going crazy and I'm basically a D-list celebrity now just by looking at my follower count,"
"I won't lie to you Dylan. It's definitely going to be a difficult transition. As if your life wasn't altered enough you also will have to deal with this media frenzy. But as all things do, it'll pass. You just need to surround yourself with trustworthy people and manage your anxiety with your meds and the coping mechanisms we discussed. You can do this,"
Her words comforted me even though she basically told me there wasn't anything I could do but deal with it. But she was right. I sighed and nodded. When she gathered that I had said all I'd needed to say she wrapped up our session.
"I'm going to give you my personal number. Since I'll be keeping this Kace boy a secret, I want you to text me when you've made it back to your room safe and sound. If I don't hear anything by midnight I will call the police. Please be safe." She handed me a note card with her number followed by her full name, Stacey Lanelo.
"Alrighty. Will do!" I stuffed the card in my pocket and hurriedly made my way to the cafeteria. The sun would set anywhere between 6 and 6:30. The current time was 5:45 and all I could think of was getting to the roof and seeing the mysterious Kace again. I made my way down the line, helping myself to some sort of meat, broccoli and yellow rice. I practically ran to a table where I could sit by myself and inhaled my meal. I checked my phone for the time, amidst the flurry of social media notifications, I read the time: 6:05.
In spurt of excitement I shoved down the singular remaining bite of rice and somewhat violently threw my plate in the trash. I walked quickly through the dark and dull hallways of the hospital. I was trying to be inconspicuous. I was rounding the corner to the corridor that lead upstairs to the rooftop access door when I practically ran into Dr.Frobisher.
"What are you up to?" he questioned with slight accusation in his tone.
I took a quiet but long breath before saying, "I'm looking for my sisters, I'm just really bored and my dad said that they're here somewhere,"
Frobisher looked me over, deciding if he believed me. To my surprise and satisfaction, he did. He stepped out of my way politely. "Carry on," His gaze went immediately back to whatever lab reports or papers that he had been studying before I had so inconveniently interrupted him from. I walked casually past him, and waited a few minutes for good measure. I then opened the door to the staircase and ascended the stairs begrudgingly. It was only five flights, which normally would have winded me, especially at the accelerated rate that I was climbing. But I was able to do this with ease. I didn't think much of it at the time, but looking back I realize that my endurance had suddenly been improved tenfold. Before I knew it, I had arrived at the summit of my ascension. The door was still unlocked from the night before, and I was able to open it easily.
The sun was dipping below the horizon, painting the sky with hues of pastel blues, pinks, oranges and reds. The light wove between clouds, casting streaks of shadow through the vibrant sky light. The wind wasn't as persistent as it had been the night before, but it was still there, enough to disturb my hair, but not enough that it was a hindrance. I surveyed the roof once more, to make sure I was alone before I made my way to the same generator that Kace had sat on just 24 hours earlier. Instead of leaning against it, I climbed on top, unfurling my wings. I felt ecstasy fill me as the slight wind teased me playfully. I could feel my wings. I could feel each one rustle in the air, the openness of the rooftop. Every instinct inside of me wanted to flap my wings and lift me off the generator. But I hesitated. I would wait until Kace arrived.
But what if he didn't? What if he was just playing me. Like some sick joke? I couldn't fathom the anger and pain that would consume me if that was true. After everything that had been thrown my way from Jack, to having these strange abilities, to being a walking billboard for mutant lives matter, and on top of it all the naked video of myself that was flying around. (No pun intended). I deserved this. I deserved a fellow winged friend. And for that reason alone, I was confident in the fact that he would show. The universe was unfair, sometimes a little cruel, but never outright maniacal.
As if on cue, I heard the familiar sound of wooshing and the thump on top of the generator. I turned around, and there he stood. He was standing quite close to me, the generator being a small receptacle for two people with 10-foot wingspans. In the lighting I could see his face better. A very faint dusting of freckles would have been unnoticeable if you weren't looking closely. His eyes were so striking because it was hard to distinguish whether they were hazel or if they were green. We stood in a silence for a minute, Kace wearing his crooked grin.
"Figured I'd be seeing you here," he countered. A small laugh escaped his lips.
For whatever reason, I found myself at a loss for words. So instead, I just nodded curtly. I felt the warmth in my cheeks and inwardly chastised myself for the obviousness of my blush.
"So, uh you gonna teach me to fly?" I asked outwardly, "Like, before I jump off this building?"
Kace jumped down from our podium and almost simultaneously, the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a very dull glow over the rooftop. I felt the wind pick up slightly. Kace sensed this and spoke, "Honestly, it's easiest to just jump. Your instincts will do the rest. It's a part of you now." When he said this, he gestured to my wings.
I looked at him for a moment, half expecting him to say something else. "You're kidding, right? You really just expect me to jump off this building because I allegedly have instincts now?"
Kace smirked at me somewhat evilly. I then realized that yes, he was serious. The real question was would I actually go through with it? Yesterday the answer would have been no. Actually, it would have been hell no. But on that day, after everything that happened flying felt like the only thing that could give me freedom. In that moment, and even in future moments. If I ever needed to get away from some dumb people I could just push off the ground and fly away, and as for right then... well I needed some exhilaration.
"Is that how you did it? Just balls to the wall and jump off a tall building?" I looked at him expectantly, somewhat studying him.
"Yup!" he chirped happily. There was no hesitance. No nervousness. If anything, he was proud. And I yearned to find some pride within myself.
I eased myself down from the generator, and brought myself to the roof's edge. I looked down at all the ant-like people and toy-like cars. Their honking sounded faint from so far up. I imagined myself on the ground, the dull roar of the city encompassing me. But from where I stood, I was just a far off spectator, the noise and hustle of the city so distant. I noticed Kace's presence suddenly next to me. His aura wasn't as challenging as before. It was respectful, as he did understand every thought that was going through my head at that moment. If I jumped, and flying came like breathing, it would be amazing. And if I didn't fly, if I did jump and I drop like a rock to the ground below, it wouldn't be so bad would it?
"Okay, I'm ready," I decided.
Kace put a hand on my shoulder. "You got this Dylan. Just jump, extend, and... fly!"
I barely caught the last of his sentence because he had thrown himself over the edge again. I watched as he fell for a few moments before throwing his wings open and immediately becoming airborne. I looked at the ground again. Then I looked at the sky, it called to me.
Kace was now hovering, watching me closely. Perhaps to catch me if it didn't work. Good. A warm calm blanketed over me, and even the faint loudness of the city was silenced. It was just my breathing and the wind. Everything else didn't matter. I closed my eyes,took a deep breath. My stomach was wild with nervous butterflies. I stepped.
And then I was falling. My limbs flailed and my fear skyrocketed as I saw the ground moving closer with every millisecond. My body turned hot with this fear. This fear of death. I was going to die. I thought of my family again and I knew that I couldn't do that to them. Not again. Then the same calmness that enveloped me only moments before, encased me again. I wasn't going to die. I had wings. And I could fly.
My wings unfolded, and made the sound of an unfurling parachute. The suddenness was jarring; not quite painful. Then I wasn't falling. I moved- er- flapped my wings almost without thought. If I flapped them harder I could ascend higher. I could see Kace, fifty feet above me. His smile was illuminating in the waning dusk. I found myself drawing nearer and nearer to him until I was at his level. I righted myself so that I was just hovering next to him.
I looked down at the street below, the cars were closer, not so much toy-like anymore. But still far enough away that they didn't seem real. The lights of the city were all on now, casting my world in a neon glow. I started laughing. Hard. Like I hadn't laughed in months. Like I'd laughed when I hadn't been depressed, or hadn't been dealing with the backlash of becoming some weird science experiment.
Kace and I made eye contact, a wordless agreement. Time to explore. His eyes glistened with adrenaline, as I'm sure mine were. I looked away from him, turning my head forward. I grinned to myself as I shot forward with surprising speed. I could feel my hair flatten against the sides of my head and sting my face slightly. My grin had gone from just that to a fully fledged ear to ear smile. The lights below me passed in a blur, the sound of air tuned out all other sounds. I looked above me and across the skyline to see the Empire State building. Just like that, the most ingenious idea crept into my head.
I looked to Kace, who seemed to have the same idea at the same time. He gave me a thumbs up and we simultaneously rerouted our direction to the grand building. We ascended in a diagonal line. Higher and higher until, in what seemed to be no time, we were perching ourselves on the highest landing of the building. It was a landing that tourists, or most people for that matter, weren't allowed onto. I landed in a squat, feeling almost like Spiderman. Kace was only moments behind me. His warm presence appeared next to me. And that's when I realized how cold I was. In only a hospital issued night gown, the briskness of the air had bit into me. Kace realized and handed me his jacket. It was black and leather, but interestingly enough he had fashioned wing-sized slits into the back. I pulled it on easily and with Kace's help, I slid my wings through the openings. 

"Isn't it amazing?" he breathed. It was so quiet from so high up.

 I nodded. "It really is... I haven't felt so... it was cathartic. Thank you for, uh, pushing me to do this," I rubbed my hands together, though I'm not sure if this was because I was cold or if I it was a nervous tic. 

Kace didn't reply. He just smiled out onto the city, absolutely exuding  happiness. Perhaps our meeting was as exciting for him as it was for me. We sat in that silence for a good while. Not in a manner that was awkward, because it wasn't. Most situations like this, I would find some sort of idle conversation to shroud my uncomfortable nature. With Kace, it was easy and normal. Nothing strange about it. My mind wasn't caught up in its own webs of anxiety, which allowed it to wonder freely. 

"Kace?" I whispered only loud enough that he could hear it over the wind.

As if being woken from some sort of reverie, Kace blinked his eyes and turned to face me. He now sat cross legged in front of me, looking at me quite plainly with his striking eyes. He cocked his head, "Hm?"

"Do you remember what happened to you? Who did this to you..." I trailed off, perhaps nervous to ask so soon. But I knew that this was one of the reasons he had showed up in my life. To talk to me about things like this. 

His carefree posture quickly stiffened, but his head hung low. "No, I just remember waking up in an ally butt-ass naked,"

"Fuck," I cursed.

Kace let out a laugh that sounded like something between a hyena and a cough. "Sorry to disappoint m'lady,"

I would've laughed if my brain hadn't been thinking of all the possibilities of the cruel things that had been done to my body, to Kace's body. And the fact that neither of us could remember who did it to us.