Max

The seconds drew out as Max and the male stood unmoving. She couldn't remember the last time she had been caught so off guard. Despite her best attempt to compose herself Max suspected she looked half a shock away from a very serious mental short circuit.

"Oh my – shit..." Words finally came to her, although perhaps not the most eloquent. Not that she was well versed in the art of eloquence. Her mind was dangerously close to a melt down, so any words would suffice. "Dude, you have-!" She was interrupted by perhaps the most awe-inspiring thing she had ever seen. A stunning realization that smacked her right in the face. Literally.

A set of dappled gray wings snapped out, clipping her cheek in the process. The force knocked her onto her backside and she simply sat for several seconds, only able to watch as the boy launched himself down the street and into the air. He's flying, oh my God, he's flying. The same words circled through her addled mind repetitively as she watched him began to fade into the distance.

"Wait!" The brunette shouted, scrambling onto her feet as it dawned on her that he was getting away. "Hey, wait a sec!" She sparred her surroundings but a brief glance before yanking off her jacket and racing down the street, wings reaching for the morning air. A second later Max was in the sky, hot on the heels of the boy.

Whether the result of experience or perhaps the ability of sight he so grievously lacked, Max was faster and quickly able to close the gap between them. "Hey! Stop for a second, will ya?" Her voice was smothered by the wind and she growled. Weren't blind people supposed to have unnaturally good hearing? Paired with his bird hearing – assuming it was anything like hers – he shouldn't have any trouble hearing. No, this bugger was ignoring her! She fumed. Whatever, Max told herself, she would stop him. One way, or another.

Angling herself over the fleeing bird kid she considered the distance between the two as well as from them to the ground. Max took a deep breath, hoping for the best before tucking in her wings. She was suspended for a moment, before she began falling. The strawberry blonde yelped as she crashed into him, and they were successfully plummeting toward the earth.

"What the hell are you doi– how are you even– get off of me! Are you crazy?" He shouted, panic seeping into his tone. Well, at least she had gotten his attention.

"A lot of people seem to think so, but hey! It's not my fault you wouldn't stop."

"So you decide totackle me out of the sky?" He asked angrily, "You are aware we're about to pancake against the ground? Shatter into itty bitty pieces? Hit the ground at 150 miles an hour? Are you trying to kill us?"

"Hey, now. I never claimed to be the most brilliant flyin' kid in the world. How about you stop whining before we do turn into bird paste." At her suggestion she received another wayward glare – it was almost funny, she thought.

"Of course," He bit out, "it's not like this isn't your fault anyway!"

"What, you want to go pointing fingers? Tell me who exactly decided to–"

"You know what?" He interrupted, face twisted into an irritated sneer, "You're right. Less arguing, more not dying. We can finish this once we're on the ground. Sound good?"

"Of course it does, it was my idea."

"Great, then how about getting off me. If it's not too much trouble, that is."

"Rolling my eyes at you, dude." Max informed, rolling her eyes as she kicked off the boy – a bit harder than necessary for his sarcasm. Only she was aloud to be sarcastic. "Now fly!" He followed her instruction, although not without a great deal of indignant mumbling. Neither found it difficult to correct their flight, it was so second nature.

Their chase had left them outside of town, above a forest of evergreen trees. As they flew Max made a point to keep an eye on the blonde to ensure he didn't attempt a second escape. They landed on a large oak without mishap and she allowed herself to relax slightly. Turning she couldn't help but marvel at his ability to land with such ease despite being unable to see where exactly he was landing.

"How do you do it?" Max asked before coughing in embarrassment at the touch of awe that had crept its way into her voice. She then cleared her throat before continuing. "Landing so easily, I mean, even though you can't see." He shrugged at her inquiry.

"Good hearing. It's kind of like echolocation, in a way."

There was an awkward silence as neither knew what to say to further their conversation. This was a once in a lifetime chance, meeting someone else who had been born with wings. Someone who had gone through the same tribulation and dealt with the same isolation that resulted from the weight of such a secret.

"So, your name. I didn't catch it earlier." Max stumbled to begin the conversation again, desperate for whatever answers he might have, but unsure where to start.

"Iggy." He answered after a moment's pause. "You?"

"Max.." He gave an awkward nod, seeming to ponder her answer. Did he think it was strange, maybe? It wouldn't be the first time someone had raised an eyebrow to a name so unusual for a female. It had never gotten to her before, she liked her name, and she wasn't about to be persuaded otherwise.

"So, you... you actually have wings?" He looked at her – quite accurate in his estimation this time – almost as though if he stared hard enough he might actually be able to see her. He ruffled his wings nervously. "Just like mine?" Max began to nod, but quickly caught herself.

"I do." She stated, ruffling her own feathers in a similar manner. "I really do."