A/N: This is the scene where Raffe and Penryn change in the car just before entering the aerie and he tells her she looks ~beautiful~. (Part 1) From Raffe's POV.
Requested by wereadtoliveathousandlives on tumblr.
If there are any mistakes in the text, let me know!
Disclaimer: I don't own Raffe...uh, I mean Angelfall. Susan Ee does.
Enjoy!
"Pull over here," I instruct, gesturing towards the area. The spot is filled with old cars and happens to be an excellent place to blend in. "Turn off the engine. Lock the doors and stay vigilant until they forget about us."
"They're going to forget about us?" Penryn asks, surprise showing on her face as a pair of the humans separate from the crowd and make their place on the hood of the car.
I smile inwardly, Penryn, always the one to ask her endless questions even in a situation like this. "Lots of people sleep in their cars. They probably won't make a move until they think we're asleep."
"We're sleeping in here?" she asks, incredulously.
"No, we're changing in here." I respond, just to aggravate her a little further.
I grab the dress I'd picked up for Penryn earlier. I already know she won't like it much, but I am also completely sure she will wear it anyway. Whatever it takes to save her sister.
"What's this for?" she asks, looking suspiciously at the dress.
"Put it on. Look as good as you can. It's our ticket in." I order.
"You're not going to go home with some drunken college girl, are you?" I stare at her in confusion. Penryn keeps doing this, making random remarks, leaving me nonplussed and wondering what hidden message may lie in her statement. Never explaining what her mysterious comments actually mean.
"What?" Maybe she'll tell me this time.
"Never mind" she replies, brushing it off. I shake my head lightly. After examining what's in the bundle, she sends me an intense and probing look for some reason I can't discern. I can feel the tension between us as she holds the stare just a bit longer but I refuse to look away.
She finally breaks the gaze and turns away, examining the skimpy fabric in her hand. After maneuvering it over her head and over her body in some elaborate way she looks back at me, the unease written all over her face.
"It's the only way." I tell her, apologetically. I truly wish there was another way to approach this, because she is clearly uncomfortable, tugging and pulling at the dress, trying to lengthen it way past its capacity. Frankly, I wish Penryn wasn't here at all. At least she'd be out of danger.
I undress, too, trying to not think of the fact that Penryn is sitting mere inches away from me.
"I can't run in these" She exclaims, staring gloomily at the shoes I brought her.
"You won't have to if things go according to plan." I reply, trying to assure her.
"Great because things always go according to plan." she mutters.
"If thing go awry, running won't help you anyway" It was important she knew this. The angels are not to be underestimated and things could get nasty pretty fast if she, - anyone- did.
"Yeah, well, I can't fight in these either." she insists.
"I brought you here. I'll protect you" And I would. In every way I could.
She glances at me. "Is this really the only way?" In her eyes I see fear of failing. Failing to save her sister before it's too late. I don't tell her it might already be.
"Yes."
She exhales slowly and turns away again to put the shoes on. I can tell she's still not entirely convinced about wearing them. They do look very…unsafe. Anyhow, I'm glad I'm not the one who has to wear them.
"Here," I hand her the small bag after retrieving the tuxedo I'll be wearing in the club. I didn't know what you'd need so I just grabbed some things from the bathroom cabinet."
As Penryn continues getting ready I realize I have to deal with something I've been trying to avoid thinking about. My wings. Or more precisely, how to get them on my back to keep the angels from suspecting anything. The fact that I even have to fake having wings is making me miserable. I can still feel the pain of them getting ripped off my back even though the wounds has since long stopped bleeding. I brush my hand over the softness. Most of the feathers are tattered and broken, but it still looks intact. I really, really hope Laylah will be able to put them back on me. Otherwise, I'll be stuck here forever. I'll never be able to fly again; the thought itself is too dreadful.
Right. I take a deep breath and begin the process of attaching the wings to the tuxedo. The idea is simple. I fasten the wings to the pack, aided by the straps and the angels will never know the difference.
Penryn glances over at me. "What are you doing?"
"Making a—" I look up at her and whatever I was going to say is forgotten and all I see is her, all I want to see is her. I've always found her striking but this…this is too much and I can't help but stare. I notice how her eyes reflect the sunlight. Flecks of gold and a soft chocolate brown I've never paid attention to. It feels like heaven, but for what I'm thinking, I am more suited for hell. At this moment, Penryn is the most beautiful person I've seen and suddenly I have an urge to cup her face and kiss her senseless.
She's staring right back at me; a question in her eyes. I've been staring at her far too long. Slowly my brain catches up and I manage to respond to her question. "I'm making it look like I have wings on my back," My voice comes out more hoarse than I intended it to. "I can't go where I need to go if they think I'm human."
The aerie is the last thing on my mind right now. I order myself to look away or else there's a very high risk I won't be able to resist.
Arranging the wings so they don't sag is tricky but I manage it. "Help me get the jacket on." I tell her. Penryn looks just as disoriented as I feel but she does what I asked her to.
"Should the wings be outside?"
"No, just make sure the straps and pack are covered." Her hands are soft and light as she carefully positions the jacket on my back.
I close my eyes, pretending not to feel anything. But I do, oh, I do.
Aaaaand that's it for now, I'll try to upload the second part soon.
