Chapter Text
“Heh, your wings are always in the way,” Koolkid spoke, sure they were joking, but it still hurt.
“Yeah, yeah, you say that every time,” Chaos sighed, folding her wings even flatter onto her back, although she couldn't do much more than she already did.
“You ever considered binding them?” Kool asked, eyeing the Enderian girl as they saw her folding her wings.
Chaos shifted uncomfortably, her wings pressing tighter against her back. She glanced at Koolkid, her expression neutral though the words stung a little deeper than she'd admit.
"Binding them?" she asked, feigning nonchalance, despite the mere thought making her sick. "I mean, I guess I’ve thought about it." In truth, the idea of restricting her wings made her uneasy, but she didn't want to seem like she cared too much. Koolkid's gaze was sharp, but Chaos didn’t pick up on the calculating look in their eyes.
"Yeah, might be easier for everyone," Koolkid said with a smirk, leaning in. "No more bumping into stuff, no one complaining, you know?"
Chaos forced a laugh, shrugging. "Maybe." Her wings, though folded tightly, still twitched. It wasn’t that simple for her, but Koolkid’s words stuck in her mind, like maybe binding them would fix things.
Later that day, Chaos sat alone in her base, staring at a length of old rope she had found lying around. The words from earlier echoed in her mind—“Might be easier for everyone.”
She sighed, stretching her wings out one last time before gathering them tightly against her back. Her hands moved mechanically, looping the rope around her wings, securing them in place. The rough fibers dug into her scales, but she pulled the knots tighter, determined to make it work.
When she was done, her wings were bound, almost completely flat against her back. She stood in the silence, feeling a strange emptiness settle over her. It was uncomfortable, constricting, but maybe Koolkid was right. Maybe this was how things were supposed to be.
Chaos grabbed a shirt she hadn’t yet cut the back of to fit her wings. Pulling it on felt strange—it was tighter, restrictive in a way she wasn’t used to. She shifted uncomfortably, the fabric pressing against her bound wings. She caught a glimpse of herself in the reflection of a nearby surface and sighed, not liking the way it looked or felt.
Still, she kept going. Maybe it’ll get easier, she told herself, though deep down she wasn’t so sure.
Chaos made her way to spawn, trying to keep her head down and ignore the discomfort of her bound wings and the tightness of her shirt. As she walked, she was lost in her thoughts until she suddenly bumped into someone.
“Whoa! Chaos?” Night exclaimed. His eyes widened with concern as he took a step back. “What happened? Why are your wings…?”
Chaos looked up at him, forcing a casual smile. “Oh, you know, just trying something new,” she replied evasively, avoiding his gaze. She shifted her weight, her wings feeling heavier than usual.
“Something new? You look uncomfortable!” Night said, his brow furrowing. “Are you okay? Did someone say something to you?”
“I’m fine, really,” Chaos insisted, shrugging her shoulders. “Just experimenting a bit.” She was careful not to mention Koolkid, not wanting to invite more questions.
Night wasn’t convinced. “You don’t look fine. Are you sure you want to bind them like that? It doesn’t seem right.” He stepped closer, concern etched on his face.
Chaos took a breath, trying to maintain her composure. “It’s just for now. I can handle it.”
“Handle it?” Night raised his voice slightly. “You shouldn’t have to handle anything that makes you uncomfortable! You’re my sister, and I want you to be happy!”
Chaos swallowed hard, feeling the weight of his words but refusing to engage fully. “Really, it’s nothing to worry about. I’ll be fine.” She sidestepped him, hoping to change the subject. “Have you seen Vam around? We're planning on working on her base today.”
“She’s at her base,” Night replied, watching her carefully. He could sense that something was off, but he knew pushing too hard wouldn’t help. “Just be careful, okay?”
“Yeah, sure,” Chaos said, offering a weak smile before turning to leave.
As she walked away, Night pulled out his comm, his expression serious. He quickly sent a message to Bug.
Hey, something’s up with Chaos. She’s binding her wings, and I don’t think she’s okay. Can you check in on her?
Night pressed send, hoping Bug would respond quickly. He watched Chaos walk off, worry gnawing at his mind. He knew she was hiding something, and he wasn’t about to let it go unnoticed.
Chaos made her way to Vam’s base, the discomfort from the binding growing more noticeable with every step. She spotted Vam inside, tinkering with something, her bat-like wings folded neatly behind her. Vam looked up as Chaos approached, her sharp eyes immediately noticing something was off.
“Hey,” Vam greeted, but her gaze quickly narrowed in on Chaos’s wings—or the lack of them. “Wait… what’s going on with your wings?”
Chaos shifted awkwardly, trying to keep her tone light. “Oh, just… trying something new. Thought maybe binding them would make things easier.”
Vam’s expression hardened, and she straightened, crossing her arms. “Easier?” she repeated, her voice laced with concern. “Do you know how uncomfortable that is? How long have you been wearing them like that?”
Chaos hesitated, shrugging lightly. “Not that long. I’ll be fine.”
“Chaos, no,” Vam said firmly, stepping closer. “I’ve done that. When my bat features first showed up, I tried binding my wings too, and trust me, it’s awful. You can’t just ignore how uncomfortable it is.”
Chaos frowned, not wanting to admit how much it was already bothering her. “I mean, it’s just for a little while… nothing serious.”
Vam sighed, shaking her head. “It’s not something you should do at all. I understand why you might want to, but it’s not worth it. You shouldn’t have to hide who you are—especially not like this.” Her tone softened, but her words were insistent. “Take it from someone who knows.”
Chaos looked away, the weight of Vam’s words sinking in. She didn’t want to feel like this, but Koolkid’s words still echoed in her head. “But… what if it does make things easier?”
“Easier for who?” Vam asked gently. “Because it sure won’t be easier for you.”
Chaos waved a hand dismissively, avoiding Vam’s concerned gaze. “It’s not a big deal, really,” she muttered, clearly not wanting to continue the conversation. “Let’s just work on the base, okay?”
Vam frowned but didn’t push further, though the worry in her eyes lingered. “Alright, but this conversation isn’t over,” she said, turning back to the project they had planned.
Chaos nodded, grateful for the shift in focus, but the discomfort of her bound wings persisted, and Vam’s words echoed in her mind despite her attempts to push them away.