~ Wings ~ Sanders Sides ~

~ Chapter Four ~ Patton ~

Over the next few days, Roman's wings flicker back and forth between being in and being out. When they're out, he and Hailey work on in-air battle strategies. I sit down and watch them sparring mid-air, one occasionally darting underneath the other.

After a particularly long match, Roman lands, panting hard. "How'd it go?" I ask.

"Not fun," Roman replies as he wipes the sweat off his forehead. "Hailey has a new strategy and it caught me way off guard."

"Let that be a lesson to you," Hailey replies with a lilt of a laugh in her voice as she lands beside Roman. Today, her light blonde hair is in a ponytail. She has on white track pants and a golden yellow dri-fit top. The colors highlight her wings, which are white with a row of golden feathers at the bottom. Her light brown eyes shine with amusement. "Just because you don't know a tactic doesn't mean your enemy doesn't. You have to be ready for anything."

"Ok, Logic," Roman mutters, rolling his eyes. Hailey laughs.

"Come on, let's take a water break. You look like you need it." Roman nods, summoning some iced lemonades for the three of us. Each one has a miniature paper umbrella. Hailey rolls her eyes, but takes one anyways.

As Hailey and Roman discuss strategies, I find myself staring wistfully at their wings and remembering mine, and not for the first time. Roman looks over at one point and asks, "Everything alright, Padre?" I nod enthusiastically. Roman looks skeptical, but shrugs and returns to his conversation.

~*——__——*~

Later that night, there's a knock at my door. "Pat?" Hailey calls. I poke my head out from under the blankets to see her standing in the doorway to my room. She's already changed into a white, floor-length dress. "Virgil wanted me to check on you. Is everything okay?"

"I'm fine, Hailey," I reply by default, then smile to make it more believable.

"If you insist. Just know you can talk to me, ok?" I nod. Hailey smiles and leaves the room, dress fluffing up behind her. Once she's out of sight, I sigh and cover my head back up, letting a few tears slip out.