Haven never wanted to fly like that again.
The agent had her board a tin can only held aloft by metal wings; propelled not by air, but by two extremely loud whirring engines. Haven quickly asked for a pair of earplugs before the plane left the ground. As the plane took off, she instantly regretted saying no to the medication the agent offered before boarding. She'd never taken anything but painkillers, so a relaxant sounded like something that would make her unaware if the plane started going down. So, she white knuckled the armrests, shut her eyes tight, and begged whatever higher power was out there that the metal bird wouldn't wrench apart. The sounds it made as it lifted higher into the air weren't comforting. She hadn't taken to the skies this roughly since she first taught herself to fly...
The earplugs remained in her ears the entire flight. She'd been given a window seat. A bittersweet relief that Haven could still see the ground passing beneath them as she left her lake home behind. She gazed out of the window, wishing that she was flying herself to this Aegis Centre instead. She already missed the feeling of the wind in her feathers and the sun warming her wings. How long would it be until she could fly again? The agent told her that she would have recreational time. Did that include an evening flight along the coast, or just a brief pass around the centre's island to keep her wings mobile? The uncertainties about this new situation were settling in her gut like a lead ball.
The planes landing was even worse than it's takeoff. She found herself holding her breath, and didn't release it until the metal bird was easing its way off of the landing strip and into the terminal. Even the air on the plane was stale and lifeless, she thought bitterly when she finally took a breath. The plane came to a stop at the terminal. She turned to see how long it would take to get off of the plane, eager to put her feet on solid ground again. She didn't notice the agent's concern until she caught her gaze. "You held your breath for almost ten minutes. I thought you were going to pass out on me."
Haven merely shrugged, pressing her lips together before she could come up with an answer. "That's... another thing I can do." That was all she could say on the matter. The deboarding process was already under way, and Haven tried her best to be polite as she urged the agent to cut the line and get her off the metal bird.
The earplugs remained in her ears as they deboarded. It didn't do much to silence the overhead speakers, but the chatter of the crowded airport was muffled, which was enough of a relief that she was already starting to feel better. She walked silently beside the agent, carrying her dark blue, salvation army tried and true, Jansport backpack in her left hand. Normally with a jacket to hide her wings she'd wear it on her back, but after that cramped ride on the plane Haven was itching to stretch her wings.
The two made it down to the airport pickup zone. Haven instantly crinkled her nose at the smell. A stuffy mixture of gasoline and sweat. The horns alone were starting to give her a headache, as well. Then the Californian heat hit her, and despite her abilities she found it suffocatingly hot in her jacket even with the hidden slits in the back. She looked around with an unsure gaze, and then looked to her travel buddy.
"Is it ok to take off my jacket?" She asked softly, and hoped that the agent would understand the implied question behind it. The agent paused, checked their watch for the time, and then made a passing gaze at the crowd around them. "Go ahead. It might be a while before the bus gets here." Haven bit her lip and glanced around again. "I can handle any unwanted attention. Go ahead."
Haven nodded once and handed her backpack to the agent. She slowly slid the jacket off of her shoulders, taking great care not to snag any feathers on the way down. She kept her gaze forward, choosing not to see any passing stares as her wings came into sight. The sudden rush of air in her feathers instantly cooled them. She took a relieved breath and nodded to the agent again. "Thanks." She murmured as she retrieved her backpack.
"OHMYgod." ... "She has wings!" ... "Stop staring, she might sqwuak at you." ... "Honey let's move down to the next pickup line. I don't want Olivia to see that."
Haven's face was solemn as she stuffed her jacket into her backpack. She offered no reaction to the hushed whispers and jokes made by the zone's occupants. The agent seemed to be ready for an altercation, from Haven herself or someone who decided to confront them, but also looked almost like she pitied Haven. Haven hated that look. She cleared her throat, held her backpack with both of her hands, and held her chin high as she looked at the agent once more. "How long do you think it will be?"
After what felt like ages of staring at the concrete wall across the road, the agent let out a small sigh of relief and notified her that the upcoming bus was the one she would be taking.
Haven looked to the left, spotting the bus as well and the emblem on the side of it. She took a deep breath and turned to face the agent. "Thank you for standing with me... Agent...?"
"Agent Wallace. I wish you luck at the program." The agent said with a soft smile.
Haven simply pressed her lips together and nodded a goodbye. She walked towards bus stop, the only one standing in line for this particular bus, and felt her wings twitch as her fight or flight began to kick in. She didn't dare glance back at the agent and let the woman see the growing panic in her eyes.
The bus came to a stop in front of her, and the doors slid open. She released the breath she'd been holding, composed herself, and made her way up the stairs.
Aboard the bus, she felt cramped once more. She only looked for the first seat available and didn't even dare look at the other occupants. With her wings out, she immediately felt a shiver go up her spine as she turned to carefully take her seat in the second row. It was feat enough to keep her feathers from ruffling, and to sit as comfortably as possible when it felt like most eyes on the bus were on her.
The bus finally pulled off after what felt like ages in a few seconds and she was relieved that it made no sound. She would have relaxed, if the hairs on the back of her neck weren't standing tall. She thought she'd at least catch a break on the bus, surrounded by what she assumed were other metas, but she could still feel a pair of eyes on her. The bus let others on, yet still Haven felt their gaze. In an attempt to prove her suspicions, Haven turned her head to the side, as if she were looking out of the windows opposite the row. From her peripherals, she saw the culprit sitting a few rows back and to her left. A boy with auburn hair in a hoodie despite the heat, leaning into the aisle to get what she assumed was a good look, and a pair of headphones that she'd heard buzzing since she got on the bus.
His eyes were on her wings. Another shiver crawled up her spine. She couldn't figure out the expression on his face unless she looked right at him, and yet she found that she couldn't turn her head any further. The other passengers in her peripherals weren't looking, at least. What's his deal? She thought bitterly before turning her head to look out of the window beside her in the hopes that the city would distract her. More passengers boarded, and she got the usual glances, yet she still felt that watchful gaze.
The bus stopped close to the water, getting a few passengers behind her excited. Haven saw who they were picking up from her window, just as the girl in front of her asked why they had stopped here. An otter, fresh out of water it seemed, was making its way to jump onto the bus. Her eyes widened for a moment at the sight. An otter? She subtly turned her head forward this time, to watch the otter as it stopped at the seats next to her from the corner of her vision. She knew it wasn't right to stare directly... unlike the guy in the hoodie.
The otter struggled to take a seat, unsurprisingly. Haven turned as if she would help it- them- A shapeshifter?- into a seat, but she caught those watchful eyes again just within her range and froze. The otter had made their way onto their seat by then and looked like they were getting comfortable. They even pulled a music device from their chest, which only further proved they were a someone and not an it. With this conclusion, and just the pair of eyes to worry about now, Haven decided to slowly scooch further into her own spot. At least this way he could only stare at the top of her wings.
What felt like the longest five minutes of her life passed by, although it wasn't boring. The otter started chatting with no one in particular, and then Haven tried her best not to react when they pulled a pack of cigs from that same pouch in their chest and lit one up. She heard a girl in the back with an accent she couldn't place make a crude remark. The otter chirped up again, still puffing on the cig. Haven had to appreciate their attempts to snip back.
The bus reached it's destination just as the otter was finishing their smoke. Haven pulled herself to her feet, grabbed her backpack from the floor, and hoped that the air outside would smell better than cigarettes. She turned to join the line the girl in front of her started, and chose to let the otter out first with a soft smile. They gave her a chirp, with a tone that sounded like gratitude. Even though they couldn't form words, Haven thought that they must have been human at some point. Just like her. Maybe they could find a way to communicate, and relate to one another.
The staring boy was quick to his feet. She heard him rush to the front, his music giving him away. Her wings tightened to her back instinctively. Did he have a crude comment to make, this time? Haven was preparing for the worst as she followed the otter off the bus.
In the open air, the minor claustrophobia eased and it did smell much better than the otter's cig as well. From this spot on the shore, she was also able to get a good lookover of the island. It's appearance was a bit similar to the girls home, Haven realized with disappointment. She frowned lightly, and decided to turn her attention towards the ferry that they would soon board.
A few steps, those eyes still trained on her and Haven decided she'd had enough. She stepped to the side and turned, letting the two behind her move ahead as she set her vexed expression upon the boy in the hoodie.
"If you want to stare at wings all day, go to a zoo." She said with a vexed look. Her wings flared a couple of inches behind her, the movement releasing some of her frustration as well.
The boy turned to her with a start, as if he hadn't expected her to confront him. "Sorry?" He looked unsure for a moment before Haven noticed a flicker in his calm demeanor. Almost like he suddenly realized what he was doing. Pulling back his hood to reveal his features, his green eyes met her own. Haven kept his gaze, unwavering in her quiet confrontation despite that flicker of remorse. The girls back at the home faked nice before. Who's to say this boy couldn't do the same?
"I just," the boy's gaze flickered to the wings- again, with the wings- then back to her eyes. "I didn't mean to stare. Or, I guess I did. I just think they're..."
He paused, searching for the right word. Haven let him think... while her mind was already assuming what he was going to say next.
"They're incredible."
Haven's wings flared for the briefest of moments. Her mind was a momentary mess as she tried to process his body language, facial expression, and tone of voice all together, her eyes quickly darting about him as she scanned for any signs of malice or insincerity. She came to one conclusion, but she couldn't believe it. He means it... She thought to herself.
"What does it feel like?"
Haven was at a loss for words. Was this when he'd say something cruel?
He clarified, "what's it feel like to fly?"
Haven's own realization was setting in. Her wings relaxed behind her, and her steeled expression melted into something soft and understanding. "It's..." She thought of the sensation, and struggled to find just one word for it. She decided to acknowledge his earlier statement about her wings, by saying, "Incredible, too."
He broke eye contact momentarily, lifting his head to peer at the clouds above. "When I was little, my mom and I would sit for hours and talk about random, silly stuff. Like what stuffed animals do when people aren't watching. Or what movie would be the most fun to live in. Things like that. It's dumb, but I don't know. It kept our minds busy and off of... other things."
The boy paused, lost in a memory. Haven listened to him, trying to ignore the small hurt she felt when he mentioned his mother. "Anyway, uh, one of my mom's favorite things to talk about is what it would be like to have wings. Me being young, all I could think about was the stupid things I could get up to. But my mom had these amazing, vivid stories she would tell me. She'd tell me about all these made-up adventures she went on. All the wonderful places she'd gone. And I don't mean like France or England or anything like that. She'd talk about flying to mythical places, like Avalon.
"That's, uh, that's where they took King Arthur when he died," he added, although Haven had no idea who he was talking about. "She'd tell me how she met the fairy queen and Merlin and all these other things."
He laughed softly to himself, "it was really silly. But I loved hearing her talk like that."
"Anyway," he ran his fingers through his auburn hair and a sheepish expression crossed his face as he realized he'd been rambling. Haven also noticed that the small group to board the ferry, including themselves, were quickly boarding. "Sorry. That's all, I mean, uh, my point was just that when I saw your wings, I guess it made me think of those moments again. Of those stories and the amazing adventures she talked about. I don't know. I guess... it's just incredible. You can fly and that's... that's really incredible."
Haven would have smiled at him, but they were being called to board. She gestured for him to come along and lead the way towards the boat. "I... think that's great. With your mom, I mean." She went quiet as she stepped onto the boat, careful not to clip the ends of her wings on the edge. She slowly moved into the seating area, and she looked at where the others took seats and suddenly felt uncomfortable again. She turned to look back at the boy. "I've only met one person that thinks of them that way, and I haven't seen her in years." She pressed her lips together, feeling like she gave away too much about herself already. She wasn't comfortable enough with people to just share memories like that.
So she changed the subject. "Just... be careful who you stare at in here. They might not be as friendly."
"Thanks for the advice," he told her. "I feel like I'm going to make a lot of mistakes like that. Not exactly used to this whole... thing." He gestured toward the group as he said this. Haven could say the same, too. She'd been on her own for so long.
"Oh, uh, sorry. I should probably have said this sooner." The boy offered his hand to Haven and met her eyes again. "I'm Wes. Thanks for being understanding. I promise I won't stare at you too much from now on."
Haven glanced down at his hand, feeling strange for a moment, before she put her hand in his and squeezed. "Haven." She offered him a small smile. The ferry jolted to life, and Haven's wings flared as she tried to keep her balance. She released his hand and glanced at the seats. "I don't feel like sitting. Want to find somewhere to stand?"
"Sure. Between the plane ride and the bus, I've been sitting all day."
Haven frowned lightly as she thought of her own flight.
Wes pointed toward the island in the distance as Haven let him lead her towards the front. "Can you believe this is where we're going to be living? It's like a castle."
She took a hold of the railing and looked at the island, but she couldn't see the centre as a castle. She decided to make a joke out of it, instead of expressing her true thoughts. "I've seen better places to stay," she started, "but I'll have to see what the inside looks like first."
"I mean, it probably has actual beds," he said without a hint of sarcasm. "That's already an improvement."
Haven glanced over at him, and then smirked. "I've slept in trees. Any bed is a real bed." She turned her head back towards the island as the ferry pulled into the dock. This was it. Her new home, new life. At least she already met one friendly person. Who, she noticed when she looked at him, had given her enough space to rest that her wings had naturally stretched out behind her with the space. She slowly pulled them in now, the uncertainties about the centre returning to the pit in her stomach.
"If you ask me, I'd choose the tree instead." She murmured before pulling back from the railing.
The ferry soon docked, and Haven gave him a nod before making her way towards the front.
Haven did not speak to Wes as they waited by the docks for the next group. She was too busy trying to ignore the growing pit in her stomach. This was likely her last chance to bolt. She could be over the water, through those tall metal buildings that stood like unnatural trees, and on her way to some mountain range that the Aegis agents couldn't reach her without plenty of time to get there.
Would it be worth it? Would her freedom last?
The other ferry group was on the island before she could make her decision. She shuffled into line once more, only giving Wes a quick glance to see where he stood in line before she continued on.
She reluctantly handed her backpack over to the security team waiting for them. Nothing in there but well-worn clothes and a sewing kit. The latter was taken for further consideration. She noticed one of them eyeing her wings and felt her stomach twist. He glanced over at his coworker, looking a bit unsure. "Should we pat them down?" He murmured. Haven's expression steeled, and she pulled her wings against her back. She raised an eyebrow as the other knucklehead looked her way, daring them to say yes. The guard cleared his throat, quickly turning his head back to the other and giving them a subtle headshake. Haven snatched her bag back from their table and moved on.
Soon the group entered the building, taking an exaggeratedly long walkway towards what Haven noticed was titled the "Recreation Wing Sport Court". She frowned at the name. As they waited for whatever came next, Haven looked at the ceiling of the room. It had large windows... How strong were they? Could she smash through them with some sport equipment?
The sound of footsteps echoed as what they were waiting for finally arrived. Haven tilted her head to the side as she looked him over. He was just a man in a suit. Different from the agents in the way he dressed. She didn't realize he was the director until he stated it himself. Something about that made her stand straighter, and she kept her face blank as he passed by her spot in line. Her eyes followed his facial expressions as he went. He was just another suit, like plenty of others she'd met in the foster care system. He had an air of cockiness about him that she didn't like, too.
He stopped in front of a boy with brown hair, and seemed to imply that his speech about theft was aimed specifically at him. Haven looked over him, noting the air of indifference around him. He must have stolen to survive, also.
The director soon finished his unpleasant welcome speech, and whether or not he expected applause to follow, he was met with a smart comment from the boy made of stone. Haven's eyes darted to him. While others chuckled and cheered him on, the otter giving him an extended fist, Haven looked back at the director to gauge his reaction. Unfortunately, she didn't get a chance.
She felt their presence first, a little too close to her for her liking, and then she felt the pain. A shot of what felt like lightning in her left wing travelled the length of it and sent itself right into her spine and the muscles on her back. She let out a yelp, her wings pulling themselves tightly to her to avoid any further damage. Her right arm rose into the air as she turned, a prepared strike waiting for wherever the fucker was that thought they could take from her. Her eyes caught sight of him, a pallid man whose expression halted her oncoming rage for just a second. His eyes... she recognized that look. Her eyes flitted to the feather in his hand, poised like a weapon in his white-knuckled fist. Who was the blow meant for? Hit him before you find out! Her instincts screamed.
She pulled her elbow further back, ready to make the blow, but the guards around them erupted before she could release it. They rushed in, the thief getting an electric shock that sent him to his knees. The guards that weren't rushing in with zipties turned her way, their own tasers drawn and prepped to use against her. Haven dropped her right arm and immediately moved both of her palms to face them, her face expressing her fear of their stun guns. They quickly relaxed, a movement that made Haven's shoulders sag in relief.
She looked down to the ground and noticed her poor feather had been kicked against her backpack. She'd dropped her pack the moment the pain hit her. With a cautious glance at the guards, Haven knelt down to pick up her pack. She casually slipped the feather inside of her bag before standing. It was her property anyways.
The thief was now on his ass, his hands tied behind his back to ensure no further violence. Haven looked down at him as he cursed himself repeatedly. She would have pitied him if he hadn't just yanked a piece of her flesh and feather off of her body. She couldn't let him get away with it without a blow of her own.
So she whacked him on the back of the head. It could have been harder, but Haven didn't want to alert the guards again. She turned away from him, her lips a tight line, and moved down to the other end of the line. She couldn't even look at Wes as she passed. For good measure, she stood five feet away from the closest person this time. She kept her wings tight against her back and crossed her arms in front of her, glowering at the wall across the courtroom.
Fuck.
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