A certain brunette bemoaned her misfortune as she drug box after heavy box out of the spare bedroom down the hall from her own. She had just put these away! Of course, as far as she was concerned, a little heavy labor was getting off pretty light for her mother having found her laying Iggy out flat. Of course she was also banned from the television and internet for the next week but none of that had actually been installed yet.

Stacking a relatively light cardboard box bearing several of Ella's swim trophies Max picked up the three stacked boxes in a fell swoop and carefully began her trek downstairs. She lost her footing once and together she and the boxes wobbled as her heart picked up pace. Thankfully she managed to reclaim her footing and continue down the rest of the stairs. Great falling feathers, that would've been awful.

Picking her way quietly past the living room (lest she catch a moody Robert's attention) Max made it outside and could practically feel her stress begin to ease. She found she preferred to spend her time outside rather than indoors. While lounging around lazily was a greatly satisfying feeling, there was nothing like the wind and the trees. Birdkid instincts, she supposed.

Around the side of the house was an impressively sized building. At some point, if she recalled correctly, her mother had explained the house used to be part of a ranch or farm. The building was old and shabby – possibly older than the house itself. She walked in and dropped off the boxes looking around with curiosity

the room was grimy and dusty and cobwebs hung around the room in slopping arcs. Looking closely she saw several spiders hung in the corners and rafters of the building. She grimaced and stepped out quickly. There was little chance she'd be spending any of her free time here, she decided.

Back in the house she scurried up the stairs and worked on the rest of the room. If she hurried she could likely slip away long enough to go for a short flight through the nearby trees. They were a ways away from town (something Max assumed her mother had taken into consideration specifically for max's sake. It would be nice to get out and stretch her wings with little worry over being found or seen. Of course it was assuming she could slip away from the rest of the houses occupants.

It was getting late and as Max finished caring the last two boxes out to the shed she noticed a large yellow school bus pulling up into the edge of their driveway. She scanned the rows of seats and saw a blonde head pop up from the back of the bus and rose an eyebrow. If she recalled correctly the back was generally reserved for the older students. Max wondered idly how Angel had managed to earn such an honor.

As the little girl exited the bus she turned and smiled before waving to the bus driver and a few of the children within the yellow monstrosity. Max smiled despite herself. It was good to know angel had been able to manage well enough through her first day. At least she had gone to her first day, she mused.

As angel saw her she smiled wildly and ran with remarkably dexterity and flew into max's arms, catching the older by surprise "It was wonderful Max!" The little girl exclaimed, "There were lots of girls and boys to play with. I did what you said and it was so much fun! At recess we played on the swings taking turns pushing each other. I almost fell off but one of the girls was really nice and kept me in place. It was amazing!"

Max swept Angel up in her arms, once again surprised by how dainty the kid was. Sure she was strong, but weren't kids supposed to weight more than a couple feathers? The little blonde twisted in her arms. "Glad to hear it, kid." She turned them around and started toward the house when she froze. A slight sweat broke out on the back of her neck and Max glanced worriedly from Angel to the house. Crap. She had forgotten Iggy. Should she be worried? Sure, mom know but...I was already pushing it going that far. Iggy probably wouldn't appreciate if a little kid barged in on his secrets.

"Is something wrong, Max?" Angel questioned looking up, blue eyes peaking out from underneath a mop of curls. The brunette hesitated.

"I- you see," Max glanced back at the house before turning her attention to Angel. She set her down carefully and knelt so she could get a better look at the girl. "I found someone on my way to school today." She explained slowly. "They aren't doing so well right now and I'm not entirely sure they want company at the moment." Angel nodded and looked toward the house.

"What happened to him?" Max startled at her slight jump to the conclusion that she was talking about a guy. She shrugged it off and answered.

"He ran away from home," she explained. Watching Angel didn't seem to react adversely to the news- she didn't seem all that shocked, actually. It was just a little concerning. Weren't little kids supposed to be stuck to their parents like glue?

"Is he going to be staying with us now?" The notion had certainly piqued Angel's interest. A small grin stretch across Max's face. She was already getting two new sisters, the brunette reminded herself. Why not through a brother into the mix as well.

"For a little while." Max could almost see the stars shimmering in Angel's eyes. "I'm not sure where he is right now," she admitted as she began to stand back up, "I'll go find him real quick and see how he's doing." Angel nodded and set her backpack on the front step.

"I'll wait right here." Max smiled in appreciation and nodded.

"Alright, I'll be right back then." With that she turned and hurried into the house checking first he living room and then the kitchen. "Hey, Ig?" Max looked around and didn't see him. She debated going upstairs to hunt him down but decided it wouldn't be necessary. It would be rude to leave Angel outside longer than necessary. Turning and tugging open the front door again Max waved her step sister inside. The little girl glanced around the house as she stepped inside and kicked off her shoes.

"He's not here?" Her bottom lip protruded and Max sincerely hoped that was not the making of a puppy dog pout. Ella had used those on her all the way through elementary before Max had finally grown immune. She had a sinking feeling the same could not be said if the tiny blonde picked up the habit as well.

"Nope," Max popped the p as she stepped toward the stairs. "I think he's putting his stuff in his room. Let me go see if he doesn't want to come say hi." The excitement the little blonde displayed at her suggestion was enough to convince Max that Iggy would definitely be making a trip down; even if actual tripping was required. Then again, she grimaced as she started up the stars, her mom was in the kitchen and Max didn't fancy bumping her grounding up a month.

Stomping up the stairs Max called out for the strawberry blonde before poking her head around the corner. He sat on the edge of his newly dressed mattress looking... a little overwhelmed. Max frowned and stepped fully into the room

"Hey, you okay?" She inquired as she crossed the room to sit beside him. He shuffled away a little, but considering the blooming bruise on his arm she supposed it was to be expected. Her eyebrow furrowed, still. "I know this must not be anything like what you're expecting but everything's gonna be fine. Y'know?" He shrugged and said nothing. Max sighed.

"I mean, school sucks. There's no denying that." She grimaced at the idea of returning tomorrow. According to mom they'd be taking Iggy with them and signing him up for classes. She hadn't bothered to explain what they were doing about the whole 'legal situation'. The good thing about being a birdkid, she supposed. It was probably a matter best left to her mother anyway. Max wasn't the best at dealing with matters that might be termed delicate.

"I'm sure it won't be absolutely terrible, though." She mused, nudging him with her elbow. He scowled. She nudged him a little more for good measure. "It's not like anyone will know. I imagine they did at your old school? Iggy did not to this. Max straightened with a broad smile and clapped him on the back causing him to startle. "See? All good, this is a small town and I doubt anything that'll have been on the television will be much in the way of gossip down here."

"That kind of news doesn't stick to one city, Max." Iggy muttered as he slumped further, elbows propped against his legs as he held his head in his hands. Max pursed her lips.

"I don't know much about what you went through," she admitted, "But that's kind of the point. Birdkids are big news, and don't you imagine I'd be at the top of the list of lookouts. If I'd seen something on tv about some guy showing off wings I promise I'd be the first to notice.

"Thing is, I haven't." She scratched at an itch on the bag of her head and shrugged. "Something's probably going on- maybe someone bought out your interviews and didn't let them air. Maybe the government got involved." The thought made her pause as she pondered the implications. If the government really did get involved in something like this wouldn't it be insinuating they'd had something to do with it? Max didn't care for politics but from what she did see, the big wigs typically only got involved when it was their own necks on the line.

"Point is, I lived in the big city long enough. Watched plenty of television, too," She snorted at that. She watched enough television for a whole family. "I haven't seen even a hint of feather or bird. I guarantee nobody is going to recognize you here. Not unless it's someone come looking for you." She seemed to have been getting through to him, but her last comment had him tenser than when she'd started.

"And what if someone really does come after me?" He grunted. "They're my parents. If they find me they'll drag me right back. And this time they'll probably do like everyone's already suggested and make sure I can't leave." The notion sent a shiver down both of their spines and Max ruffled her feathers in an unconscious tick to make sure they were all as they should be.

"That's not going to happen," she declared.

"Yeah?" Iggy muttered, deflating, "and who's going to stop them?" A twisted smirk crawled its way onto her face and she nudged him again.

"Well, they're only expecting one birdkid, aren't they?" She laughed, "They'll never see me coming!" At this Iggy snorted before joining her laughter with a chuckle. She turned serious rather quickly. "I know I haven't know you long, and you're an absolute pain in my tail feathers," Iggy quirked a brow at this analogy and Max rolled her eyes, "but they'll be taking you over my dead body. Got it?" Iggy really did relax at this, perhaps not entirely sure of the honesty in her words but happy to know someone, at least, had his back all the way. He smiled.

"Got it."

"Good," considering the discussion closed Max leapt to her feet and did a quick circuit around the room to ensure all necessary junk had been moved to its designated location. She shoved open the closet and nodded to herself, seeing it was empty as well.

"Bit soon to be rummaging through my room, don't you think?" Iggy remarked wryly, "I haven't even had time to acquire any novelties." Max cut her eyes toward him and appraised his tone of voice. He rather sounded as though he were serious. What business did a blind guy have with anything she would see a need to go rummaging after? She made a noncommittal hum and reminded herself Iggy was just as much a birdkid as she was. Maybe trouble was in the genes.

If that was so this house was in for quite the adjustment period.

"You all settled in then?" She turned back and saw his bag had been tossed into the farthest corner of his bed, half-hidden under a pillow. That, as far as she knew, was the extent of his belongings. Iggy nodded, confirming her assumption. "Good. Got someone who's dying to meet you." A strawberry blonde brow rose in question but Max ignored it in turn for snatching up his hand and leading him down stairs in a cacophony of pounding feet.