Bro decided you could take care of yourself for two days and left you with specific instructions; no flying, always have Cal with you, and limit your time outside the apartment. You argued the flying one, but he promised to take you out of town to fly so no one could spot you when he got back. Flying for a whole weekend? You agreed to the rules quickly.
You heard a knock at the door and upon opening said door Karkat ran in. "Turn on the news! Any channel right now!" You closed the door while he fumbled with the remote. He really wanted you to watch the news for some reason. When it turned on, the first thing you noticed was blurry dark footage of a flying humanoid figure with a splash of color on its front. You quickly realized the footage was you and the color was your face and Cal.
"-The creature was also seen by Doctor H. E. Scratch, who was four buildings away. He claimed that it seemed to act puzzled upon seeing the cameras, then took off after seeing h-" you flip threw the news channels, and you were on quite a few. Apparently there was also a thermal camera and some people thought it was a hoax while some thought you were real. The debates on what you were made you a little uneasy, but that was outweighed by how funny you thought they were.
"This is serious!" Karkat yelled. "Do you realize what's even going on?"
"Besides a hunt for a angel/alien/monster that half the people believe is a hoax, no. I'm not aloud to fly till Bro gets back anyway, even then it's out of town."
"They're investigating my building and yours for the 'mystery creature' numbskull!" Karkat quieted down to normal conversation levels," You have four hunters, a scientist, and now several people trying to catch footage of you chasing you down. Scratch isn't stupid and is probably going to guess rather quickly where you are. He already tracked down where the blood trail started and caught video of you in two days of investigation, imagine what can happen in two more."
"Bro will be ba-" you were interrupted by your phone. "Sup Bro?"
"I got good news and bad news."
"Okay?"
"Bad news is I'm coming home later than expected."
"Bro."
"Good news is you can spend the whole week if you want in the mountains flying because winter break."
"You're the best Bro ever."
"Stay safe lil' man, see you Friday."
"See you." You hang up the phone. "Bro will not be back by then, but I still think I can handle it. No flying for a week."
"You don't seem excited with the idea." Karkat turned the channel to a different news station.
"Maybe I was looking forward to flying this weekend."
"Oh, is it really that cool?"
"Cool isn't even close. With what's going on, flying is one of the only safe times. I get high enough and I can't be shot at, I don't have to think about people bugging me or what a freak I a-" you remember Karkat was listening. "You tell no one. Not even the people who know about me."
"Why? Did you mean it?"
"Get out. I have homework."
"Wait, why? I just want to know."
"It makes me sound silly, now go." You get into a pushing match with Karkat, trying to get him over to and out the door. You usually could push him out easily, but he really was digging his heels in.
"What part makes you seem silly?"
"I don't have time for this, get out." You couldn't seem to get the edge you needed to make him leave.
"It was the last part wasn't it?"
"Shut up."
"So it is the last part?"
"I said shut up!" You shove Karkat back roughly, sending him into the wall. He didn't look mad or scared, just concerned. It was then you realized you had raised your voice, a look to Karkat and you feel stabs of guilt for hurting your friend. "I didn't mean it. Just leave."
"But-"
"Leave. You know the door." You walk to your room, shutting the door behind you. Why did everything seem to go wrong? You heard a knock at the door, yanking a blanket over your head before Karkat proceeded to enter.
"Dave, what's wrong?"
"You know what 'leave' means, so leave."
"What makes you think you're a freak?"
"If you haven't noticed, I'm being tracked down by people just because I'm different. And just to add on, my death sentence by Slick was changed to capture because apparently my ability is rare."
"Rare and different don't mean freak, they mean you're unique in a way people think is cool or great or even amazing."
"You don't have to live with it."
"That's it! I'm calling Egbert." You hear the beep of his phone, jumping up to stop him. "To late I've got him on speed dial!"
"Come on, this isn't cool Karkat."
"I'm cooler than ice." Karkat struggled to keep the phone out of your reach.
"Hey Karkat!" John's cheery voice sounded.
"Ha-" A foot was shoved over your mouth as you both toppled over.
"John, get over to Dave's!" Karkat yelled at the phone.
"Okay, but why?"
"Egbert, stop being a dog chasing the tail of your own stupidity and get over here! I'm obviously calling you for an emergency friend session for Dave's well being!"
"Should I get a first aid kit?"
"Not that well being, the other one!"
"I'm on my way!" The phone call ended, only then did Karkat remove his foot from your face.
"Was that necessary?" You glare at him.
"Yes."
"I told you not to tell anyone." You throw a pillow at him.
"I can't let you hate yourself. Think of it as a favor." The look on his face, that sad look reminded you of when you two first became friends.
"You seriously aren't thinking I would do that?"
"Seems like you're headed that way. I can't see that happen to you, and nothing you say will keep me from preventing it."
"Suit yourself." Several knocks sound at the door. As soon as Karkat leaves, you slowly close the door before climbing out the window. You drop to the alleyway below, landing lightly on your feet as you start down the street. You quickly spot a dried blood splatter, staring at it uncomfortably before walking on.
You quickly spot the scientist guy, something something Scratch. He also seems to spot you because he immediately heads over. "Dave, correct?"
"Yeah."
"Why are you wearing a blanket instead of a shirt?" You remember that you were wearing the blanket like a shawl, so you could stretch your wings. Your tank top had gotten messed up after Jaspers pounced on you, so you hadn't really worn it.
"Don't judge."
"It's 27 degrees Fahrenheit. How are you not cold?"
"I'm used to the cold air."
"A feather." Scratch picks up a feather trail. You regret not going over your wings today. "It must be from the creature."
"Why doesn't everyone leave this thing alone? No one has gotten hurt or anything."
"Dave?"
"What?"
"A feather just fell from under your blanket." You look down and immediately realize this. "So, it was you?" You take steps back as he takes steps forward. "The cuts, the glass, that color blur in the footage, it all makes sense!"
"I didn't want to be trapped for the rest of my life." Your voice cracked as you felt the wall against your wings, even through the blanket. "Please just forget I'm here."
Scratch held onto your shoulders," Do you realize what I've learned from you? I've learned all sorts of things just from dried blood and feathers!"
You couldn't feel your legs or arms, and if your blanket wasn't so snugly in place it would have definitely fallen down by now. You still tried desperately to keep up your cool kid fascade, but you were terrified. Scratch had you pinned to a wall, Cal wasn't here, and your friends didn't know where you were because you locked the door and added a chair for good measure. It was then that you remembered your ability.
"Do you have a lighter?" You asked.
"Yes, why?" He seemed confused.
"No reason." You focused on the feeling that had lingered after your abilities had activated. Suddenly you made Scratch's pants burst into flames, making a run for it. "Sorry man, street rules." You called as you made it around the corner and in the building. You made it to the floor you were on when Slick spotted you. "Come on, seriously?"
"Your lucky I'm not trying to kill you."
"Isn't there a one time pass or something? The scientist guy is chasing me."
"You messed up."
"You think I want to be a freak? Hell no I don't. Please, this one time there's got to be a way for me to walk away without two chasing me."
"Fine, hold out your hand." Slick waits patiently. You reluctantly hold out your hand only for him to stab it. "There. Bye kid."
"What the hell?" You hear someone coming, so you race off to your apartment, knocking with your good hand. Sollux opens the door and you can see your friends in your apartment. "What's going on?"
