Love, Pain, and Wings-Chapter 21

By MyNameIsCAB

(Fang)

"Fang, is that you?" Iggy questioned.

"Yea," Fang answered.

"So why are we going to Chicago?" Iggy said.

"Because that's where the voice says the president and Marian Janssen are," Fang replied.

Iggy adjusted his sunglasses. They flew in silence for a moment before Iggy spoke again. "So how've you and Max been?"

Fang frowned at Iggy. "Since when do you care?"

"She's my friend, you know," Iggy snapped.

"Hey…sorry," Fang sighed. "Yeah, we're okay."

Iggy nodded. "She's been happy."

"Yea, if you say so, Ig."

"No, I mean I can tell there's a difference, Fang."

"Really?"

"Like I said, don't hurt her."

"I won't," Fang promised.

Iggy just nodded again and then yawned tiredly. "What time is it?"

"Dunno, I don't have a watch." Fang dropped back again between Gazzy and Angel who were arguing about something. It was probably another one of their stupid card games. Nudge had moved forward to Iggy and they were striking up a conversation.

"So are you and Max, like, girlfriend and boyfriend now?" Gazzy asked.

"No." But Fang could feel himself blush a little so he moved forward a little.

"Because you guys make a great couple," Gazzy called.

"Oh Gazzy, shut up!" Angel nudged him with her elbow.

"Hey, you can read their minds. It's not like you're any better than me," Gazzy teased.

Fang rolled his eyes and leveled himself back with Gazzy and Angel. "Enough you two."

Angel stuck her tongue out at Gazzy and he ignored Angel. Fang shot Angel a look. "And you better not be reading my thoughts."

Giggling, Angel flew forward between Nudge and Iggy. Fang liked to think that his thoughts were private from the world and that everything he felt for Max would just stay between him and her. Unfortunately, it wasn't going to be that way if Angel kept reading his mind. He wondered if there was a way to block people for getting in his head.

"I hate how she can read our thoughts," Gazzy muttered. "I know how you feel, man."

"Sure," Fang said. Gazzy didn't know a thing about how he felt…well not at least about Max. Perhaps Gazzy did know how he felt about Angel's mind reading abilities.

"I'm hungry," Gazzy went on.

"So am I," Fang agreed silently.

"Since when are you Mr. Talkative?" Gazzy said. "I don't think any of us have ever heard you talk that much."

Fang fell silent. Had he changed because of Max? Well, if it was for her, then he didn't mind.

(Max)

"We're landing!" I shouted. "Right there behind that fast food restaurant!"

Fang appeared next to me. He glanced at me once, caught my eye, and then turned away, suppressing a smile.

We descended quickly and landed just beyond sight of the door. I was tired hearing that everyone was hungry and it was time to eat. Searching for some cash, we went inside and ordered a meal. Our seat selection was limited. All the seats were taken in the corner and I hated to sit near the cashiers. There was a seat by the bathroom, buy Nudge thought that was unsanitary. There were no open tables by the door, which would be our first choice. It seemed like we were going to either get stuck near the lines of people waiting for food or we were going to eat outside.

"Outside," I decided. "C'mon there are tables out there."

Fang gave me a questioning look, but I ignored it and led the flock out the door. We sat down quickly and started to wolf down our food. We had flown for a few hours and it always surprised me how hungry we got after.

"So when do we plan on stopping?" Iggy asked. "Like to sleep and stuff."

"After the sun sets, we'll stay in the nearest town," I answered. That's how it usually went.

We took off behind the fast food restaurant and continued our journey. When the sun did set, we were in Colorado.

"There's a hotel," Fang pointed as he came up next to me.

"Okay, let's descend now," I pointed to a spot behind the hotel. "There."

He nodded and started to descend slowly. I watched his dark wings glisten a dark purple in the moonlight, almost gracefully. My heart almost melted every time I saw his wings that way. I took up the rear of the flock though, and then he was on the ground before I could look at him again.

"Are we credit, debit, or cash?" Iggy asked.

"Uh…debit," I answered. "Cash raises too much attention and a credit card for us is a little out of place. Oh and the red debit card."

Iggy searched through his pocket, muttering the colors of each of the cards. "Green, navy, white, clear…ah, here's the red one."

"Why did we give these to you to carry?" I asked.

"Because why would the blind kid be carrying them?" Iggy smiled. "It's…deceiving."

"Sure, whatever you say," I sighed and led the flock into the hotel lobby.

We entered the hotel and got two rooms. Fang and I shared one when the others crammed into the other one. No one seemed to protest.

And now I lay in bed with Fang. His body close to mine. "Max…oh Max sometimes I wish we could get away from all of this."

"I do too," I answered.

His head lay gently on mine. "Someday."

I kissed him. "Yep, someday."

So here's your answer to whay Ig and Fang were talking about. Another transition chapter, sorry, but perhaps I'll even start the next chapter with more Fax...just like I left off.