I own nothing. Except this story.
It's a strange thing really - to be the last of your kind.
And no one knows; not that they'd ever know.
If they knew, it would explain so much of the mystery about him. How stealthy he was. How quick - how light on his feet. How he seemed to jump higher and fall faster without getting hurt. How he was so skilled, but still so young.
(No, they'll never know.)
It's only at night in the solace of his room when he allows his secret free. It's a hard one to keep, but he keeps it anyways (no matter how painful it is).
He carefully pulls off his shirt, the agony on his shoulder blades enough to make him scream, but he simply cringes (because he's used to it now). It's a tedious task, unraveling the thick bandages around his chest, but when he finishes he stands, stretching the appendages he hides (oh-so-well) under gauzy wraps.
He fingers the soft, red plume that tips the ends of the grey wings, thinking about how long it's been since he's seen them (momanddad), the days of his childhood long gone - instead growing up under a mentor and father-figure who took him in and trained him to fight and taught him to survive.
It isn't like he's not grateful - because he is, really. But he can't ever shake the feeling of lonliness he has, despite Bruce's presence in his life.
It's only ever at night when it hits him. It's only after he steps out on the windowsill - wings spread wide - and jumps. It's only after he glides up through the starlight sky and the moonlit clouds that it really hits him and tears flow freely from sad cobalt eyes. It's only when he's back in his room, hair ruffled and feathers wet from flying through clouds and he's rewrapping the white gauze around and around his chest that he realizes it.
(He's alone.)
...
...
.
It's a strange feeling, really it is.
To be the last of your kind.
To be the last flying Grayson.
Whoo! I've had this sitting half-done on my Evernote account forever and I just now finished it. Short, sweet and angsty. This has to one of the shortest things I've ever written. Might lengthen it in the future. Probably not, though.
Rate and Review, please? :)