Chapter Text
The beginning of the day had started off differently than others, my hands shaking and promising to do worse if I couldn't pull myself together, but I never had been able too. It was futile to hope that one day I will be able to, my parents and brother soon learned that, but the workforce never quite understood. As I walk along the long halls, my ears trying to pick up the slightest conversation, my name on someones lips, but nothing comes. Nothing tells me that someone wants to see me, wants to hear me, or that they even care. A frown tugs on my lips, but soon those thoughts are replaced as I am given orders and sent running, trying to catch up with the motion of the building, knowing that I would be in the same room as the creatures, the ones that have lived longer than humanity has been a race. I cannot help but wonder if they are kind, if they could understand me, but when I voice these thoughts to a distant friend, they snort and shake their head before disappearing into the throng of workers. I frown, but do not call after them.
Several hours later, I am given something else to wear. Pants and a nice shirt, and told to change. "It's the uniform for when we meet with them," my higher up had said, looking at their phone. With a nod I had ran off, and now I stand, my legs and arms feeling like jelly. My hands shaking from my nerves, from the glances the other people in the room give to me, as if they know I will do something before even myself knows. I chew my bottom lip in thought, but I freeze when I hear the door next to me open and see my boss, a woman named Maria, enter. My hands shake harder than before, my breath doesn't come out, and all I can think of is "Please don't notice me." It seems almost futile as one of them glances at me, my heart stopping, before they quickly loose interest. My brow is creased from stress, anxiety, and what every human in this room knows that I do not. The creatures make a dozen sounds that I remember the meaning of, having read on them since I learned they were coming to visit us. One of the sounds is one that is meant to calm their children, but who? No one in here is one of their off-spring, that much is obvious, and the only one here that is panicking is-
Oh. That makes sense now. But I cannot help but wonder why they would do it when it is just me, when it is just Ray, just me. One of the people in the room, one of the officers I'm sure, gives me a look, and I walk forward, grabbing the glass pitcher with shaking hands. Everyone watches my closely as as I take a step, my left hand shakes harder and it falls out of my hands before I can catch it, a sound escapes me, one that I am sure is almost pained, as tear cloud my vision. I can taste everyone's distaste in the air, my heart hurts oh so much, as my knees clank together and I almost dissolve onto a puddle on the floor. The diplomat says something to the creatures but their voices, their voices which can speak English, for they are much older than humanity will ever hope to achieve. They speak, but I can only hear my heart breaking feel the tears crawl down my face as I cover it, my fingers gripping my hair in desperation. What is to come now? What is to come to my bosses? To humanity as a whole because of my own clumsiness?
"Get up Ray or so help you-" the officer from before begins as I shake harder, my sobs coming out of me forcefully at this point.
"I would suggest you do not threaten them so," the second creature says, and I can feel the shock, the silence that follows the creatures statement telling my such. The first says the seconds name, as if also surprised by their statement, "Can you not feel it? Not feel the need to protect this human?" the seconds statement is followed by clicks, sounds that sound soothing to my ears, "They are a Gentle Heart, yet they treat them with cruelty."
As I am picked up and put away behind the seconds wings, I couldn’t help but remember when, in my childhood, my parents would do the exact opposite. They would scream and yell if I even teared up, calling me names until I cried so hard and hyperventilated that I would get sick. I close my eyes and let myself be comforted, be taken away, hopefully to a place that will be better than this one ever has.
I don’t mind it, not at all, not if they’ll be more understanding to how I am than others have been. Than my own family has been to my shaking hands, tear stained face, and sore voice. I curl in closer to the being, wondering what is happening in the meeting, but the wings block out most of what is going on, and I let my eyes fall shut, succumbing to slumber. My tears having just make it easier for my eyes to fall shut.
A time later, I awaken in a pile of blankets, and one of the creatures watching over me, carefully. Their many eyes take in everything, every motion I do, every inhale, every glance. They make a sound, a concerned sound if I remember correctly, and within moments they are by my side, asking too many questions that I can’t keep up with. Frustration almost fills me, along with my confusion, and I can feel tears filling up my eyes. They make a trilling sound, and I stare at them, letting my breathing relax.
“Don’t worry,” they say, their voice echoing in the room, “You’ll be safe.”
I chew on my bottom lip as I continue to stare up at them, my eyebrows drawn low in the new emotion filling my head. “How do you know?” I ask, my voice soft, reminding me of the days I would sit in the trees as wind drifted by, when I was alone and could finally feel accepted, but not feel alone. It seems I have never felt alone. The creature seems to smile as they pick me up, my body small and frail compared to their own.
“No one here will harm you, here, there are others like you. They can explain better than I, for now, Gentle Heart, rest. You will need it.” they comment and I let their words fill me up, I let it paint a picture I had never before imagined in my life as I am sat down once more. I cannot worry, it is not my place to do so. I close my eyes again and fall asleep, a smile on my lips for the first time in the process.
Hours later, I am startled awake by a new presence in my room, my eyes wide and frantic as I try to figure out what is happening and why. The creature thrills and I hear it, it seems almost happy, joyful. The one from before stays, says something about being a translator, but my mind is barely awake. Has barely had time to comprehend this new situation.
“They will help you understand and get adjusted,” the first creature says, and I nod. “They will explain everything you will need to know to get settled, everything on how to help grow your heart.” at their words, I could almost swear my heart stopped, but the kindness they both give off make me relax.
“If you are sure…” I glance between the two of them, their wings, their eyes. They seems to beam at me, more than happy at my response.
“It is time to meet your new family.”