Chapter Text
On the bridge they were helping Apo move some of her belongings back into the house. The evening sun was streaming through the windows causing them to start over heating. The constant movement and heat was not helping them as anytime they tried to wipe away their seat it was just smeared across their faces.
“Wow Apo I didn’t know you were so rich,” Pearl said as she examined Apo’s diamond tools.
“Don’t call me that I just have shiny objects that coincidentally have high monetary value,” Apo replied, deflecting the statement smoothly as she continued organizing her other jewels.
“We’re home!” Sausage announces as he cuts through the air with some of the last bits. Owen also appears a second later with the other half of them. Apo doesn’t even look up as she points to the pile of things to be organized shortly.
“Don’t you think you have enough trinkets?” Sausage asks carefully as she fills up almost an entire double chest with random items.
She just dismisses his concerns with a hand wave. “You never know when you might need something.”
“Speaking of while you were gone I obtained something that I thought you may enjoy,” Owen spoke up while digging through his inventory. That got her attention as she looked up to be greeted with an amethyst crystal being handed to her. She took it carefully examining it before diving into the chest again. This time she pulled out a piece of fabric.
“Thank you,” she said happily, wrapping it to prevent it getting shattered in the chest. Before it would remind her of all of their first meeting in the cave, but now all it does is remind her of the dream realm and Morpheus.
He scratched the back of his head awkwardly before responding, “I just remembered how you really like shiny things and thought to give it to you next time we meet, but it ended up slipping my mind in all the chaos.”
“I’m just glad you thought of me,” Apo replied with a smile. She took the diamond sword from Pearl who just sighed in annoyance and leaned back against the wall.
“So when do you think you’ll be able to start flying?” Pearl asks as the lid of the chest slams down. Sausage perks up at that.
“Oh ya, it’s real easy just like this,” he said before jumping in and out of the window several times. All this got him was an incredulous look from Apo as she sat down on the chest.
“Well not all of us can jump on air, and I don’t know if my back is strong or healed enough for that,” Apo retorts.
“Oh come on, your marks have faded and you don’t even have bandages on anymore,” Pearl whined while slinging an arm around her shoulders. A devious smile started to spread across Pearl's face. “You know the way that birds learn how to fly right?”
“Yeah…” Apo drew it out in scepticism. Pearl started to subtly push her towards the window across the room.
“I don't know if this is a good idea,” Apo said as she walked over and sat on the ledge.
“Don’t worry I’ll do it with you!” Sausage replied as he hopped beside her.
“Plus there's water at the bottom, you'll be fine,” Pearl added walking up behind them. “Just like this,” she said cheerfully before pushing Sausage off. He survived of course using his ability to glide to the cliff easily, and then making his way back to the bridge a moment later.
She smiled at him as he returned. “See just like that, you’ll be fine.” Apo just looked slightly distraught as she started out at the horizon. The light from the sun causes spots in her vision as vibrant reds, oranges, pinks, and the darkness of the night painted the sky. “Do you need me to push you too?” Pearl called out from behind her.
“I don’t think so,” Apo responded in barely a whisper. The breeze felt so good as it brushed through her feathers softly. It was like a siren song telling her to jump and join in. But there was still that part of her that resisted it telling her this was an awful idea.
There was war in her head between the human and avian parts of her. Those traits had been there ever since she got here, but this felt different. She could say those things and sayings were her own. This, these wings were entirely something that came from Morpheus, and not her. Is this how Nikos felt? Her breathing starts to pick up.
Who knows what could happen if she jumps right now? She could land in the water and feel the chill take all of her warmth as she walked back up. Someone could attack her with an arrow or other projectile. What if someone who didn’t like her saw it and used it against her? Her vision is blurring.
Even worse what would happen if it went perfectly. She would soar through the air with no cares into the sunset. The wind would catch and whisk her away with a warm current surrounding her. She would touch a cloud and feel the soft drops on her hand as she twisted and twirled in the air. She starts hyperventilating as her head spins.
What if it’s a slippery slope and as soon as the first step is taken more and more of her is consumed until there’s no more room for her in her own body? What about the people in the city who need her? Who would save them if she lost herself here?
At this point there’s voices and hands pulling her away from the ledge, and telling her something she can’t understand. She can barely breathe as air came in big wet gasps that barely helped. Tears streamed down her cheeks as the racing thoughts clouded her brain.
It took several minutes for her to collect herself again. Once she cleared her head she looked around, and she saw that Sausage and Owen were talking in low voices over on the other side of the room.
Looking past them she could see the darkness of the night creeping on the fiery red as a chill ran through the air. She was splayed out with her back leaning against the wall she was sitting on when it happened. The edge of the ledge cut into her hand as she used it to get up. The other two looked over to see her trying to stand up on shaking legs and immediately ran over to help.
Each of them took one arm over their shoulders and brought her to sit on a crafting table. She got a clear look at their faces for the first time since she recovered and they were etched with worry. Their expressions shifted as if they wanted to ask something that may be too far, eventually just settling back into concern.
“Are you ok?” Sausage asked.
“Yea just a little shaken up I guess.”
“If I may ask, what happened back there,” Owen questioned next.
“I don’t know, I guess I just thought about it for too long and freaked out,” she replied sadly. The two exchanges knowingly looks
“Are you sure that’s all?” Owen urges.
She pulls a leg up and refuses to meet their eyes. “I don’t know, it's complicated.”
“Well just try to explain it the best you can.”
“I guess it just hit me in that moment that a lot of my autonomy can be changed and I won’t be able to do anything about it.” Owen nodded at that. “I mean what if I end up becoming more bird than human?!” She exclaimed. There was a beat of silence before she continued. “It’s just, what if I take one step in and then it becomes too late to turn back?” She sighed, putting her head in her hand.
Sausage just sat beside her and just looked off into the distance. “You really can’t let fear dictate your life, you know.” He chuckled awkwardly “sometimes you just have to go with what you're given.” Owen quietly slipped out of the room.
“Yea, I guess that makes sense but, I’m still not sure whether I can even fly at all.”
“Well I guess you never know until you try.” They both just sit there watching the last of the days dying light as it gets swallowed up by the night's void. When the last lick of red disappeared and was replaced by moonlight, Apo got up on steady legs and walked to the window. She flared her wings slightly just enough to let wind in again. She just stood there still as a statue watching as the stars appeared, noting each of the constellations that could be seen.
The night air burned her lungs as she took in a sharp breath. “Are we going to do this or what?” At this Sausage came up beside her and hopped on the ledge.
He held out his hand. “Are you sure you’re ready?”
She took it and was brought onto the ledge as well. “As ready as I’ll ever be.”
With one strong tug they were off. Apo immediately panicked as she looked at the river below. She was moving and trying to do anything with Sausage’s hand being the only thing grounding her. She looked at his deathly calm expression before deciding to just trust and believe in him.
She opened her wings then closed her eyes to minimize the amount of things she had to think about. They started slowing down as she started gliding down instead of falling. He let go, opting instead to use his ability to jump around. She opened her eyes again to see herself not falling to the ground and laughed in disbelief.
“This isn’t that bad now is it?” Sausage laughed along as he circled her
“That bad?! This is the best!” She shouts in excitement before moving into a current that takes her higher into the sky leaving Sausage behind. He ends up just smiling before teleporting to Pearl.
The wind easily carries her off through the sky gently caressing each feather as it passes through. Her brain was quiet only filled with sheer ecstasy from the avian finally getting to touch the sky. The moon brought out all the purple undertones in the black that couldn’t be seen before.
Her vision was useless for a few seconds as she soared up through a cloud to reach the thin air above. She kept flying higher and higher until maybe she could touch the stars that called to her.They are forever out of mortal reach though. She passed out from lack of oxygen shortly. She was gaining speed fast as her body dropped down back to the land that was all she could ever reach.
The cold water sent a chill through her, jolting her back awake as she quickly swam onto the shore. Then the realization hit that she can’t fly back because she was soaked. She cursed herself for getting so caught up in flight. She started to dejectedly walk back.
Self pity and hate welled together in her head into a deadly mix. She knew this would happen and yet she still did it. This is all her fault. Her cave ended up being closer and all of her down to the bones was tired so she just decided to sleep there.
The place wasn’t completely stripped as everyone agreed to keep it as a second base in case anything happened. There were only a few blankets in her nest as she toweled down before once again settling down to sleep for the night.