Archive of Our Own

Moe started her day as normal, in fact— it had been normal for a while now.

There wasn't anything planned that day, well— as if any one of them did any sort of planning. Most of the time, this strange area they all still chose to live and stay in had their own plans thrown at their faces. However, recently it was as if things have calmed down, leaving Moe in a confused state whether or not she should feel bored for the lack of things happening. Maybe she should ask Regect to make her fly again, or maybe worry about the fact that something was bound to happen anytime soon.

Currently, Regect and Ze were by the couches bickering over this new video game Regect found at an abandoned GameStop a couple of days ago. Moe had no interest in the game, so she occupied herself by the dining room table near the kitchen, practicing card tricks she had been meaning to do for a while now. The wizard was also with her, working on something by the cauldron. A potion of sorts.

"Moe," the clown quickly looked up to face Fante who had called her. She honked back with a smile. "Could you find some uh, some— some nether wart in the cabinet in er, in the cabinet behind you?"

Moe nodded and stood up. Wakafante continued speaking. "I would get it my— myself but I feel like if I stretch my back more I'd never bend again."

Moe let out a breathless chuckle, shaking her head at that— hoping that the wizard was only half joking. She got to the cabinets, tilting her head up to spot the specific one Fante was referring to. She placed the handle, opening it and—

A Cave Dweller's head popped out— inches away from her face, and it yelled bloody murder towards her. A distressed honk came out of her, but before she could regain her composure to fight back— a loud gunshot was heard. She watched as a small bullet pierced through the Cave Dweller's head, killing it instantly as it immediately turned into a puff of smoke, disappearing.

Moe blinked, quickly snatching the netherwart from the cabinet before shutting it. She turned to her side, and let out a sigh of relief to see Ze with one of his pistols. Regect was behind him, looking as terrified as she was.

Ze put away his pistol, making eye contact with the clown. His face quickly flooded with concern when his eyes landed on her. "Are you okay, Moe?"

He went up to check on her, "your eardrums good?"

Moe excitedly nodded yes, and gave Ze her thanks. She saw that slight smile forming on the man's face before it disappeared when Regect spoke.

"Fante— the hell do you have in your cabinets!?" Regect jumped in, shrieking. "It almost got Moe!"

"Wha?" The wizard turned away from the cauldron to face the other three.

"I thought this whole Cave Dweller thing was all over," Ze added, more annoyed than scared.

"The Cave Dwellers are back!?" Wakafante was bewildered at the news, as if he wasn't there for the past few seconds.

Moe turned to Regect who was the next to speak, "you didn't hear the screaming??"

"Wha?"

"Forget it." Ze groaned. Moe watched as he pulled out his pistol again, double checking the bullets in it. "Let me just take care of the Cave Dwellers again before they hurt anyone."

"Oh! Oh thank you!" Wakafante cheered. "I— I've been meaning to ask you about that since last week."

"Last week!?" Regect yelled, and Ze shared the same sentiment by giving Fante an even more pissed off look.

Moe felt the horrors crawled down her spine as the realization that those things have literally been living in their walls for that long.

"Yeah! So it's great that you're gonna get rid of them now!"

Ze scoffed as he stepped onto the counter. Moe watched him and Regect bicker even more about the man dirtying the counters that the entity had installed with his shoes. She silently giggled as Ze stuck his tongue out to the entity before opening the cabinets.

However, before the man could go any further, Moe decided to chime in, asking about his choice of weapon.

"Yeah, dude. You think your tiny gun is gonna help?" Regect was given a glare from the man before he turned to Moe with a softened expression.

"Yeah yeah, don't worry— the thing just died by like, one hit? Plus, I did kill them all one time with just a wooden sword or something." Ze turned back to the cabinet, putting his head in which made the cabinet seemed bigger in the inside— well, it most likely is. "I'll be fine! Just give me like, an hour."

Moe heard Regect starting to walk away and she turned towards the other. "I'mma beat your highscore while you're at it. Byeeeeee!"

Ze scoffed, Moe giggled at that. "Harhar, in your dreams— okay, be right back."

The clown continued accompanying Wakafante with whatever help he needed.

An hour later, Moe quickly recalled what Ze had said to reassure them that he'd just be fine. There was still no sign of Ze.

The clown was starting to get worried, and she knew that Regect felt the same despite him not being vocal about it. They tried pushing that worry and concern aside by deciding to play another game together on the console, hoping that Ze was just taking his sweet time putting out his anger on those Cave Dwellers. Speaking of anger, Moe needed to debate on whether or not she'd teach Ze on how to control his anger.

He's gotten better at it, but eh, there is still progress.

She contemplated on this despite Regect freaking out over Moe's constant wins and Wakafante's constant questions on what was going on on the screen. Anger management, either Moe could be the teacher or she'd somehow convince one to be Ze's.

Then— they all heard crashing in the kitchen. Moe practically dropped the console onto the ground before sprinting towards the area, being followed by the other two.

She'd find a very disheveled Ze on the ground, on his hands knees— actively cursing to himself as he was picking himself up. He reeked of blood, and Moe was freaking out whether or not it was all his or something else's. She hoped it was the latter. She honked at him in concern and fear.

"Ze!" Regect yelped when he got near Moe.

Ze cleared his throat, rushing himself to stand up. "Don't worry!" He was wobbling— Moe wanted to step forward to get near him, but she realized that Ze may be in too much pain to realize he still had his pistol in his hand, waving it around. "Just— just got some hits! But I'm fine!"

"You look worse than me." Wakafante commented— erm, perhaps insulted was the better term.

Moe turned to give the wizard a look, then a more disappointing one to Regect when she heard him snicker. The entity immediately froze and focused on the situation at hand when he noticed Moe's gaze on him.

"Some hits? Dude, how many Cave Dwellers were there?" Regect questioned him. "You need help or—"

"Nope!" Ze fumbled. "And— yes, I did, which sucked— but there were like fucking 20 of them or something, and I ran out of bullets—" Ze glanced at his pistol in his hand. "Oh shit, sorry. Should not be uh— waving this around." He dropped it onto the dining table near him.

"Are you sure you don't need help—"

"I am fine!"

Moe eyed his body language, and observed as the man groaned in even more pain. His hand automatically went to his back, and alarm bells started ringing in her head. As Regect and Ze argued even more, with Wakafante trying to butt into the bickering— she silently went to the opposite side of the kitchen, around the dining table, until she could see the back of Ze.

And wow— Moe was now very concerned.

The back of his hoodie had a huge rip, that looked like it was caused by sharp claws bigger than her face— which could be the case since he was dealing with a Cave Dweller! To add in more, it was tainted by the color red, which definitely meant that it was from Ze.

Moe made a loud honk, crossing her hands. A flinch, and Ze turned around, not before hissing at the sting from his own movement. The sight of his back made the other two winced. Moe then tilted her head at the scene, and all Ze responded was an awkward grin on his face.

After a few seconds of staring, Ze quickly gave up on his facade and gave the truth, "okay, maybe— well, some of it is mine."

A gasp from the entity. "Dude!"

"I thought it was obvious." Fante randomly blurted out.

Everybody else glanced at him, before going back to the situation.

"But I can help myself!" Ze attempted to reassure everybody else once more. He turned around, his back towards Moe again. It really looked like a big cut, clearly needed some patching up before it either gets infected or heals ugly. "I learned how to patch myself up and others before, so I can do it again."

Moe's eyelids dropped at that. Like hell he is.

"I think Moe's mad." Regect giggled, making the man turn to face her again.

He had a nervous, and a bit embarrassed look on his face. "Now, Moe— I understand that I can be a bit of a wreck—"

Moe honked, glancing towards Regect. The entity's hands scrambled a bit in panic before snapping his fingers. The clown casually caught a rather large first aid kit with one hand.

She honked once more, pointing at Ze, then towards the couch.

"Moe—"

A honk. A single one, and she made sure she clearly sounded angry.

She ignored it when both Wakafante and Regect cooed at this like middle schoolers, going ohhhhhhh at the situation. When Ze groaned in defeat and started walking towards the couch, she snapped her head towards the other two, and assigned them to make a small meal for the her patient.

Both quickly got to work, and as Moe passed by them, she let her anger fade away when she saw Ze sitting on the couch sideways, waiting for her.

He looked… Nervous, for whatever reason.

Not forgetting to grab a small clean towel and a water source, she went to Ze. She greeted him a soft honk, which earned her a nod as she settled her tools down on the dining table, making them easy to reach.

Moe requested for Ze to take off his hoodie for her to easily clean and patch the wound up.

"Uhm," concern started to flood her chest again— has she ever seen Ze this nervous before? "Okay— just, yeah."

She decided to turn her gaze away as she did in case Ze felt embarrassed to sort of strip in front of her, which was understandable. She turned away to wet the towel, then once she heard his hoodie being placed down onto the table— she turned.

There was the wound— a clean cut, still a bright red. Blood no longer actively seeped out, but the color red still smeared over the skin surrounding it. She sat down, but she did not say anything about the other detailed she had noticed.

Two very large scars near Ze's shoulder blades. They looked neat, straight— perfect, and Moe got the hint that these scars were most likely from some sort of surgery. She also did get the hint that these marks were the reasons why Ze was so hesitant to let her help him in the first place.

Moe decided not to make any comment on it, only honking to let Ze know that she was now going to help clean the smeared blood first before disinfecting.

"Alright, go ahead." Ze's shoulders tensed when Moe started gently pressing the towel onto the wound. "Thanks, by the way."

Moe honked in response. She hoped that when the other two get here for Ze's food, they would too get the hint on not commenting on anything regarding Ze's scars.

She was wrong.

"Yoooo we're back! And I for real had to stop Fante from putting in weird magic in your sandwi— oh what is that?" Moe bit back a groan at Regect's reaction.

Ze shifted beneath her touch. "What?"

He sounded very defensive. Moe tried working faster to end the man's current predicament sooner.

Regect gave Ze his sandwich. "That's some cool ass scars you got there— well, they look uh, very clean…?"

Moe cleaned the towel with the water, patting on the wound for the final time. "Got a story behind them, or..?"

Ze didn't respond. Moe hurried her hands trying to find the correct medicine and disinfectant for his wound. Wakafante was awfully quiet, she prayed that he was distracted by something.

"Hello? At least look at me would you—"

"Got it from a guy named Nunya." Ze hissed a bit when the clown started rubbing the disinfectant. She honked softly as an apology.

She heard Regect scoff at that. "I'm not falling for that."

"None of ya business." Ze still said it despite that.

"You're lame."

"Oh! I know! I just remembered!" Moe's heart sank when Fante butted in. She saw Ze's shoulders tensing. "Those are Avian-pinioning scars!"

… Well honk.

"W—what?" Regect stuttered. He was obviously shocked at this newfound information.

"It's legit nothing." A mutter from Ze. "Doesn't matter."

The atmosphere changed. She reapplied the disinfectant, almost finished.

"I— I would like to disagree." Fante had no idea how to read the room. Moe wanted to throw her splash potions at him. "It is uh— considered, erm, problematic! I think. It's a procedure where they, uhm, where they remove an Avian's entire pair of wings."

Well, curse Fante and him containing random ass detailed information in his head for whatever reason! Moe put away the cotton ball she used for the medicine and readied her band aid.

Regect turned to Ze. "Dude, you're an avian? That's— wait."

The man chewed on his sandwich, and Moe knew that it was all due to nervousness. His eyes were turned away from everybody else.

"Ze— what happened—"

"It means nothing." A pause. Moe turned her head towards the other two, and was about to give them the signal to just leave before, "go away— not Moe— I need you guys to just, go."

"Okay." Wakafante walked away, easy.

But for Regect, he was stubborn, but it was because he was overwhelmed with worry.

"Ze— you okay..?"

"Go away!" Ze yelled, voice booming. It made both Regect and Moe flinch. "It's none of your business! I mean it!"

Moe lifted her hands away, preparing another wrap. She turned her head towards the entity, giving him a slight smile and a nod— her face displayed of just concern.

There was a beat of silence.

Regect's upper body dipped a bit; he was showcasing a slight bow of some sorts, now filled with awkwardness.

"Sorry." The entity whispered before walking away.

It was now silent, with the soft noises of Ze eating his sandwich which was now halfway done.

…

"Sorry, Moe." Her eyes widened at Ze's sudden apology. "Didn't mean to yell— sorry if I scared you."

Moe shook her head, honking in reassurance. She was now finally patching up the wound with waterproof wrapping.

…

"I'm not mad at Regect for that." She heard him whisper. His sandwich was long gone.

A soft honk and a light pat on his back, both in solace for Ze's statement, and the fact that she was done. The man straightened his back, his body shook slightly with how sore it was, but the aching pain had lessened to a quiet buzz that would soon feel like nothing when untouched later.

Ze turned, sitting on the couch properly, leaning against the sofa's back. Moe still stayed in the same position, sensing that the man in front of her still had something to say.

"Uhm," and she was right. "Can you, erm— tell him that for me?"

Her smile deepened at that. Responding back with the same quiet tone Ze had, she questioned him why he couldn't just do that himself.

"I'm not— I'm not that good with words."

Moe disagreed, Ze cringed slightly at the reason why.

"Yeah but that was— that whole speech I made up on the spot was for you guys mostly, but me? No. Uh, yeah." He groaned, "please Moe, just tell him that so we can go back to normal?"

Moe exhaled a breath, and gave Ze a nod with a shrug.

"Thank you." The man told her happily. "Oh, and thank you for patching up— you did a great job, by the way."

Her face lit up at that.

She shooed Ze away for a shower and went ahead to pack up the first aid tools back into their place inside the kit. Moe had already expected it, but she sensed Regect's presence reappearing behind the couch. She honked a greeting, seeing as the entity was waiting for her to notice him.

"I messed up, didn't I?" He simply stated.

The clown turned around to face him, zipping up the kit closed doing so. She shrugged her shoulders, and honked quietly that Wakafante made it worse. That didn't seem to help Regect as she could see the guilt eating the entity whole.

"I— I didn't mean to," he mumbled. "I just— I just got super curious, okay? But I would never intentionally like, make him super uncomfortable— at least now!" Moe bit back a chuckle at that switch up. "Back then— I did kind of but that was because we kind of hated each other literally, but now things are different! I trust him and I want him to trust me as well!"

Moe gave him a nod, and simply told him that communication is key and Ze would definitely understand that.

"Uhhhhhhh," Moe's eyes squinted, predicting that something similar was going to happen. "Can you uh— sort of tell him that? Please?"

Moe's head dropped. She raised a hand to massage her temple in disbelief as Regect began begging for her to agree.

She honked back loudly, looking back at the entity. Him and Ze can be so similar at times. That statement made Regect gasp.

"What!? No! I am not like him!" He objected. "Ze's a full blown idiot! He's just so reckless and— and a grouch! He can also be so damn selfless at times it's concerning, but he's brave— he'd risk death if it meant to keep the people he cared for safe. And he's—"

Regect paused. Moe tilted her head slightly, making a wide eyed look. Go on?

"Gah! Please, Moe!" Regect cried, putting hands together. "Please please please— I don't want things to be awkward between me and Ze again!"

Okay, she wasn't having it. An idea popped in her head again. Even if she received more cries from the entity when she still said no, Moe managed to make him listen to her idea. If Regect wasn't good with his words, why not apologize with actions? And sprinkle in a simple sorry.

The entity calmed down, liking the idea. "But what should I do though?"

Moe gave him back the first aid kit, then got the pail of water with the towel hanging on its side. She simply told him that that was up to him to decide.

"Okay, fair." Regect responded. "Thank you! You always know what to do, you're the best!"

Moe rolled her eyes and gave him a wave. When Regect teleported away, Moe finally took a deep breath in relief, relaxing slightly.

That was until she spotted Wakafante in the kitchen, stuck doing a handstand.

The sun had fully set, continuing its journey to the other side. Letting the moon nestle comfortably in their shared places, its glow shone the lands beneath it.

One man had his gaze at it through his bedroom window. Ze had never wanted to reach out for it so badly, and it had been a terribly long time since he had felt this feeling. It was familiar and awful. In that moment, he was shocked at himself, having foolishly convinced that he moved on from yearning to touch the skies, especially meeting the moon. These desires, they all came back in an instant when he was greatly reminded of what he was.

It all came rushing back.

Phantom pain was a friend to him. Ze had learnt long ago how to suppressed his agony for years now— hiding it from his father, and the people in his bootcamp. Ever since that surgery, he'd scream into his pillow late at night, curled up into a ball whenever the pain hit him. His back twitching— and that buzzing feeling of invisible weight hanging from his back— begging to be preened and to be unfolded, even when nothing stood there.

Those nights were long gone, but now— he felt a loud, deep buzzing pain seeping in. The consequences of letting down his guard, Ze would tell himself. He took some deep breaths, an attempt to ignore the buzz.

His mind unfortunately recalled his father's words. Ze wanted to understand why his supposed protector wanted his wings gone. He wanted so badly to understand, to forgive him— since it meant that he would've grown up to be the matured man his father wanted him to be.

Wings are hard to maintain, he'd tell Ze when he first mentioned that surgery, already scheduled soon.

Your wings will only distract you from becoming the man I want you to be, Ze remembered his tone as he sat beside him in the hospital lobby, minutes before he'd be put into a gown for the operation.

I gave you this surgery so you wouldn't have to ever fuss about those wings ever again, the man remembered his father half yelling that through his sobs— overwhelmed by exhaustion and pain.

Your wings were just there for decoration; do not bring your mother into this, Ze was mourning, grieving— both for himself, and for a woman he had never met.

That last sentenced echoed, and Ze could tell that it was now obvious why. His wings were gone, along with her presence that was meant to stay with him for his entire lifetime— his gift from his mother was stripped away from him. Forever gone.

Ze snapped out of his daze when knocking was heard from his bedroom door. He felt a chill went up his spine when he felt himself expecting a twitch from his left wing, but quickly took his mind off of that thought when the door opened. He turned, and saw Moe's head poking in.

She greeted him with a couple of honks.

Ze gave her a slight smile, "hey Moe, and yes— I'm doing better now. Thanks." Ze was indeed telling the truth. All of the pain he was feeling was faint, better than it blaring all over his body. "Is something up?"

Moe answered easily. Ze's eyes widened slightly, a bit taken aback by the news.

"He wants to see me?" He felt his mouth form a nervous grin. He tried jesting it off, "what is he planning now? Did he turn into another vehicle?"

Moe snickered at that, but simply told him to just see Regect who was waiting outside of the wizard tower.

Later on, Moe would follow Ze down the stairs, heading towards the door that lead outside— not before seeing a notepad on the fridge, informing them that Wakafante was out on a date with Captain Dice. Ze couldn't care less about the piece of info, and continued on. Once the door opened, the nightly chill hit his face. It was calming, refreshing— just lovely.

There, a couple of steps away on the grass, stood Regect. He turned around, excitedly waving towards both Regect and Moe to come over to him. As Ze walked, he could still feel this awkward tension between them. The man tried to break the ice to push this tension aside, but his attempt slightly failed when he spoke.

"Hey," an abnormally quiet voice came out of Ze when he stood before Regect. Moe got beside him, and Ze continued. "What's up?"

Regect's body swayed back and fort, displaying his nervousness. "Hey! I was just uh, thinking— uhhhhhhh."

Ze bit back a chuckle, finding Regect acting like this a bit… Amusing (adorable). "Yeah?"

"Well, just for context, I think a whole while ago when you were like— busy being boring and studying for your important online exams," the entity began, gaining back his confidence almost quickly. "I took Moe flying! And we had fun."

Moe chimed in, enthusiastically retelling all of the stunts the two did in the sky. While Ze was astonished, he was still a bit concerned by some of the activities that sounded very life threatening.

Ze gave a soft smile, his hand crossing over his chest to rub his arm to distract himself from the pain a bit. "Wow, that uh, sounds fun!"

"Oh and and—" Regect panicked. "It totally does not relate to uh— whatever happened earlier— ow!" Moe harshly nudged the entity with her elbow, making Ze snicker. "But but! Uh, I was wondering— if you like, want me to uhm, help you fly…?"

Ze blinked, processing that question.

Fly?

"Again! Totally not relating— forget it!" Regect groaned, losing control of his own words. "I'll be super duper careful! Trust me!"

Automatically, Ze turned to Moe. The clown simply nodded, giving him an encouraging smile. His eyes went back to the sky, then followed the light where it lead to the moon above. He felt so small, the moon was so far. He had felt that way for a long time now.

Ze inhaled a breath through his nose and snapped his head back to face the entity. "Okay," he bit back a grin when Regect cheered. "But how are we doing this?"

"Well, we could do some sort of piggy back ride?" Regect shrugged his shoulders. "I don't mind, that's what I did with Moe— until she started using me a surfboard."

Moe honked in laughter. Ze just smiled at that. "You're not going to drop me, right?"

He didn't remember when was the last time he went on a piggy back ride.

"I won't! Promise!" Two thumbs up from the entity.

"Moe?" Ze asked for Moe's clarification.

She simply honked, believing in Regect's words.

"Okay, dude." Regect turned around, and crouched slightly— his arms facing back to get ready to grab onto Ze's legs. "Hop on!"

Ze forced himself to push the embarrassing feeling aside and made his way onto Regect's back. It took a good while— some stubborn shuffling here and there due to Ze's overthinking and Regect's impatience. A lot of bickering about Ze having no idea how to steady himself, but eventually his arms had gotten perfectly comfortable slinging over Regect's shoulders. The entity was also ready, his hands successfully latching underneath Ze's thighs. Both of them felt confident.

"Do we look awesome, Moe?" Regect jokingly asked and turned towards the clown— making Ze flinch slightly at the sudden movement.

Ze watched the clown give a simple thumbs up and rapid nods. The entity turned away.

"Ready, dude?" Regect's voice was lowered, only for Ze to hear.

"Y—yeah..? I guess it's now or never." Ze muttered, but that last part was mostly for himself.

Ze felt new movement, and he watched as the ground rapidly went away from them. In the distance, the trees were growing shorter and smaller. He let out a shaky breath, both in pure anxiety and excitement. His arms that wrapped over Regect's shoulders and around his upper torso instinctively grew tighter.

"You good?" Regect's voice popped in.

"Yes, yes— it's just," Ze stuttered. "Yeah, I'm good."

Regect was moving at a steady pace, and he was faster than average. Well, Ze didn't know what exactly he was comparing Regect to, but the entity was just moving upwards quick. At ease as well.

"I'm gonna speed up now." Regect simply stated.

Ze's breath hitched, feeling his weight being pulled for a second when the speed changed. He buried his face slightly into his arms, dangerously close to Regect's invisible nape, but that wasn't his main focus. He was getting confused on why he was feeling scared. Was Ze afraid of heights? He shouldn't be— wasn't this what he wanted for the longest time?

"Holy shit." Ze cursed, making the mistake of glancing down.

They were too high.

He felt his chest tightened. The air was cold— making his back freeze from it despite the hoodie, and his hands going numb. They were too high. If he leaned back— he could fall. If he ever so even slightly move his arms, he could get off balance and fall backwards. Many more horrible thoughts came into his mind.

"Dude, are you sure you're good?" The entity asked again, making Ze snap out of his thoughts. "I've never seen ya this, uhm, scared. You wanna go down?"

"No no!" Ze gasped. He wanted this. He wanted to fly— he wanted the sky. He was going to do this scared. "I can take it. I just have never been this high before."

"Okay, because we're passing by some clouds right now." Regect informed. "Be prepared to get a bit wet."

He pathetically let out a nervous noise, somehow burying his entire body deep into Regect's back. At any other time, Regect would endlessly bully Ze with this sort of reaction, but no. Regect said nothing, and Ze shut his eyes and held his breath when he sensed the clouds getting closer. A new cold wave came over him, and it was over in a second. Ze exhaled, loudly and rather harshly, his panting was soft. That seemed to get Regect's concerned attention.

"Alright— dude, uh— I have an idea to make your whole situation a bit better."

"Huh?" Ze blurted out.

"Just— it'll be quick."

Suddenly— Ze watched his life flashed before his eyes when the entity quickly dipped down, before quickly rising back up. Ze couldn't even scream, but he felt the warmth of Regect's body disappear— and he was levitating in the air for a split second, alone.

He screamed bloody murder— before Regect reappeared in front of him. They were now facing each other— one of Regect's arm cradling Ze underneath his bottom, leaning against his thighs. The other arm securing his back. Ze panted, breathing rapidly.

"Regect—!"

"I got you, dude—!"

"Fuck you!" Ze shrieked, and Regect flinched at that in pure confusion.

Fear flooded in his chest, making him. His mind flooded with overwhelming emotions, and all he could process at the moment was that Regect had let him go. "I hate you I hate you I fucking hate you!"

Regect was now panicking. "Ze wait— I—"

"You said you'd be careful!" Ze cried, his hands shook rapidly. "You let me go! You said you wouldn't you lying asshole—"

"I'm sorry," Regect, in a whisper, repeated his apology over and over again. He brought the man's head to his shoulder as he tried to calm down. "I'm so so sorry. Breathe, Ze— you're right, that was so fucking stupid of me. I'm an idiot— I won't let you go. I got you."

He let Regect's natural warmth draper over his whole body. Now, with the entity's arm securing his back, and especially knowing the fact that the entity had his eyes on the man at all times, Ze felt more secured than before. For a moment, when he brought his arms up to wrap over Regect's shoulders, he had forgotten where they were.

Vulnerable, free above the clouds in the night sky. Where no one else would and could see. Ze was safe, and Regect won't let him go.

Ze inhaled the fresh air, then shakily exhaled it as he pulled away from the entity's shoulders. He had his eyes shifted away from the entity. Ze brought up a hand to wipe his own tears away.

"Okay," the man sniffed. He then stared at the black space before him, still feeling Regect's eyes on him. "I'm okay now."

A moment of silence. Regect then cleared his throat to break it.

"Sorry." A mumble.

A blink. Then, Ze's mouth wobbled into a smile, all of his anger fading away into something mushy and happy.

All he could tell him was one thing, "you're really stupid."

Regect snorted, lifting Ze a little bit closer. "I know!"

"At least you're aware!" All the entity responded to that was a snicker, and the human felt the entity's grip on him tightened ever so slightly.

There, they stayed like just for a few moments. In pure bliss, a comforting chill within a welcoming silence. Ze leaned, resting his chest against Regect's as he hovered his head above the entity's shoulder. His eyes landed below, where the clouds acted like the floor. Above them, a deeper— dark blue was painted, sparkled with millions of stars. Ze's eyes widened when he saw a shooting star pass by, a stroke of light gone in a split second.

Amazement.

"You can see this whenever?" Ze whispered out of the blue.

A hum from the other, "basically yeah."

Ze decided to say whatever came into his mind at that moment. "Wow," he exhaled. "I'm jealous."

A beat. "Well, I guess that's why I brought you up here," Regect added. "Above the clouds… Something like that."

Ze looked back down, squinting his eyes a bit when a soft breeze had quickly visited the two. He ignored the feeling of Regect's grip on him growing closer. His gaze went to the clouds. A pretty blueish color.

A memory came back to him. Ze leaned back to face the entity.

"Regect," Ze voiced out. "Can I touch the clouds?"

Regect let out a scoff. The man couldn't help but smirk slightly at the entity's annoyance. "Really?"

"Yes, really." Ze nodded. "Let me touch the clouds."

"They won't feel like pillows, man."

Despite all of Regect's objections, he still gradually lowered down towards the clouds. Ze turned to the side to watched in excitement as the clouds went closer. When their feet hovered directly over them, Regect stopped moving. Ze blinked, but didn't turn to the other.

"Why'd you stop?"

"Because you'd get wet by the clouds and practically freeze your ass even more." Regect told him. "Try like, I don't know, reaching for it."

"Fine," stubborn, Ze leaned, tilting himself a bit.

One arm wrapped around Regect's neck, the other stretching for the clouds below. He still couldn't reach them. Biting back a groan, Ze tried stretching ever further. He stopped immediately when he felt a sudden imbalanced within himself, and gravity quickly taking that advantage to pull him down. Ze let out a yelp, now wrapping both arms around Regect, bringing his body back to the other.

"Okay," Ze muttered, panting a bit. "Never mind."

There was a pause.

…

"Okay, you know what— here's what we're gonna do." Regect suddenly began. Ze placed his focus on the other quickly. "I'm going to start tilting you backwards."

Ze's eyes widened. "What the hell do not—"

"Hear me out!" The entity interrupted. "We'll both be tilting, until we're like— laying down, you know? You'd be able to hover over the clouds even closer without your body drowning in them. Then, you can reach the clouds easier that way."

Hesitance, the man got quiet.

"Ze," the human felt Regect securing him even closer. "Promise, I won't let you go."

A shaky breath, Ze nodded. Carefully, and agonizingly slow— Regect tilted. Ze felt the weight shifting, gravity pulling him down. Ze instinctively pulled his legs upwards, wrapping them slightly around Regect's lower body. His heartbeat sped up, he was shaking.

"I got you." Regect reminded him.

They were now fully sideways. Him underneath Regect, where his arms were the only thing keeping him up in the air.

Ze let out a nervous laugh, bewildered at the stunt they were doing. "Holy hell."

"Now go get frostbite." Regect simply told him.

Feeling the confidence reeling back to him, Ze could only chuckle at that as he turned his head to the side— now remembering that he was hovering above literal clouds. He let one of his hands go from Regect's shoulders, and let it phased through the wonder beneath him. There, like mist— it disappeared around his hand. He curled his fingers, making his palm face towards him. Ze now felt the skin on his hand grew moist, covering in a thin layer of freezing water. He smiled.

Satisfied, he turned his head back to Regect who was patiently waiting for him to move on. Ze placed his arm back over the entity's shoulder. "I'm good."

The entity tilted them back to their previous position with ease. Ze's head spun a bit by the quick movement, feeling his blood traveling back down from the back of his head to the rest of his body. Yet, that only made him feeling all quite giddy inside. He touched clouds— he really did!

"Worth it?" Regect asked him.

"Yeah, duh." Ze answered honestly. An idea came to his find, and he did it quickly before he'd find himself laughing over it. "Here— feel my hand."

The man placed his cloud-touched hand on Regect's invisible face, making the entity shriek in agony.

"DUDE NO! Your hand is cold!" Regect desperately tried tilting his head away from Ze's hand, hovering backwards in the process. But only to end up in failure as Ze continued to stick his hand on his cheek. This left the human in a mess of laughter. "Dude dude stop!"

Ze snorted, letting go. "Okay, okay!"

They fussed at each other in those moments. The only thing different about it was how Ze was drowning in laughter, and Regect gently swaying them both in the air. When the chaos died down, Ze took a deep a deep breath, leaning back.

After a few moments, Regect spoke again, "since we're doing some stunts, you wanna try something?"

Ze opened his eyes to look at him. "Uh, sure?"

"Okay, so you know how when actual birds fly— they sometimes do this cool dive thing?" Regect explained, excitement in his tone.

Ze suddenly recalled a distant memory as a child watching an Avian documentary. He now realized he hardly watched any Avian related media. He snapped out of it to answer his friend.

"Yeah," he said. "Some do, I think."

"You wanna try doing the cool dive thing?" Regect asked.

Ze's eyes widened a bit, recalling even more of his distant memories. He saw himself, his child self, attempting to fly higher than before— only to fall and hurt himself. He had attempted to do a dive, wanting to copy the adult Avian he saw on TV.

The slight buzzing pain came back, as his body was begging him to say yes.

"Uh, well." He sucked in a breath. "You just gotta not let me fall, okay?"

Regect let out some those hilarious 'offended' noises he had, making Ze snicker at his reaction.

"Of course! How— how many times do I gotta say I promise!?" The entity blurted out. "Cross my heart, uh, what are the words again? Hope to die, something something, cupcake— I will not let you go!"

Ze grinned. "You really gotta start learning your phrases."

"Just hold on, you jerk."

The man happily obliged and wrapped his arms over the entity's shoulders once more, somehow getting even more closer to him. He felt Regect's arm over his back, then his large hand going towards the back of his head, cradling it gently, laying his face against his his shoulder. His other arm securing his lower body better. Ze couldn't help but feel a bit flustered by this act, but he said nothing, feeling lucky enough that Regect couldn't see his face.

"Okay, ready?" Regect's voice thrummed.

"My apologies if I break your eardrums."

"Nah, don't worry. I'm built different kind of." The two chuckled at that. "Now— let's go!"

A gasp, then the world turned. Ze watched everything go upside down— and he felt his insides fly as they both fell head first. Ze yelled, Regect did the same— but both of their screaming turned into cheers and excitement when Regect got into control. He heard the entity laughing, and Ze couldn't help but started laughing along with him.

They hit the clouds— they dove, and Regect turned— smoothly going back up.

Ze shrieked, slowly evolving into giggles. Without knowing, his grip around Regect grew tighter. They hit the clouds once more, hovering above them again. They slowed, and Regect twirled them around, slowing to a stop.

When the world went quiet again, Ze leaned back, smiling. He opened his eyes once more, knowing he'd meet Regect's.

"How was that, huh?" The entity bragged, following Ze along in his chuckles.

"Dude— that was awesome!" A bright smile from the other. Then it turned into a smirk. "I'm surprised that you're this skilled at flying."

"Oh come on!" The entity responded, though— Ze could sense his smile. "I did a cool ass dive— while holding you, for the record— and you still find ways to freaking diss me?"

Ze snickered. "I mean— the amount of times you forget you can fly, you can't blame a guy for assuming— plus, haha, ragebait."

"You're insufferable." Regect muttered, though— he gently swayed around, making Ze relax even more.

After a few moments of quiet, Regect started moving forward. Ze got curious with whatever he was planning to do next.

"What are you doing?" Ze questioned.

"Just give me a sec." Regect simply told him.

Ze decided to wait and stay quiet, looking away from the entity and towards the clouds below to observe them. They were endless, he wouldn't know what was below them. It was as if they were both in a completely different world, somewhere far away. Their problems, their past— everything, all in another world. He liked this.

It was just him, and Regect.

He was enjoying this.

He felt Regect slowed to a stop, and before Ze could talk— the entity turned around to let him see what he was seeing. Ze's eyes widened, and his whole world stopped.

It was the moon, right in front of him— her beauty consuming the night sky. This was the closest thing Ze had ever been to it, and he could see every detail, all up close. He leaned back, his hands resting on the entity's shoulders. His mouth slightly agape out of pure awe. Wide eyed, taking it all in.

He didn't forget about Regect, however. "Dude, you really gotta see the view." Ze whispered, as if him being loud could scare away the moon.

Regect huffed at that, not moving. "Already seen it a bunch. You go ahead and enjoy it."

"Pfft, okay. Just— just give me a few more… Whatever."

That was perfectly fine for the entity, because unbeknownst to the human— Regect was already looking at the moon. She reflected in Ze's dark eyes, admiring how they dilated in pure joy. The way the man that he was holding in his own arms was basking under the moonlight, the way Regect observed how his white hair, which had hints of black— swayed in the constant slight, quiet breeze. The way his cold hands touched his shoulders, and his heartbeat reminding of how alive Ze was.

His expression at the moment, Regect hoped that Ze wouldn't notice how long he had been staring— but it was something the entity had rarely seen. Which reminded him of still how much he has yet to know about the man, how many layers he chooses to cover up— making Regect want to fall in love over and over again.

Regect didn't need the moon, Ze was all he needed.

…

"Hey, Ze?" He didn't know what he was doing, he felt bold, he felt— brave.

Regect watched as the other blinked, his eyes gazing back to his invisible ones. The entity could melt right there and then by Ze's rare look that was filled with such genuine care and concern, but Ze needed him.

He took a breath, and let it all out. "I wanna apologize about earlier."

Regect recalled what Moe had told him hours before, and what he told her. He continued before Ze could speak. "I'm… I just— I was just curious, that's all— but I stepped too far and hurt you." He swallowed. "I'm sorry. I trust you, and I want you to trust me."

…

For a few moments, Ze just stared, silent. Regect thought he messed up again.

But no. "Regect, dude." Ze smiled. Regect was glad he couldn't see his face, which was most likely flushed right now. "I knew that this whole thing was just your way of apologizing, and like— honestly, dude." He sighed. "This is like, the sweetest thing anyone has ever done for me."

Regect's heart fluttered. He felt, proud?

"Hey, it's the bare minimum." The entity told him.

"Flying me above the clouds, making me fly again?" Ze reminded him. "It's really not."

"Nahhhhhhhh." Regect chuckled.

"And I… Feel like I owe you an explanation—"

The entity's heart stopped, springing into action. "No no— dude, you don't gotta if you want—"

"No, really— I want to." Ze interrupted him.

Regect stayed quiet, and he was glad that the human knew to continue.

"My wings… It's about my father, again." Regect's invisible eyes squinted at that mention. Ze continued. "I had that surgery Fante mentioned when I was like… 13. Heh, that was basically his birthday gift to me, apparently. He said something about me being free from wing chores."

Something snapped within Regect, and anger boiled inside of him. "Your— your wings," he was at a loss for words. "They're a part of you! He can't just— why would he..?"

Ze didn't seem to notice his grip around him tightened greatly. "I know."

"Ze, your own father— dude, that is so not— dude?"

The man chuckled at his reaction. "It's okay." A smile. "I'm just glad you understand."

Regect gave up, trying to calm himself down. He was still surprised at how he was more angry than Ze was.

"You're doing better now, right?" He had to asked.

"Yes. Phantom pains here and there— but…" Regect waited. "But you doing this actually helped. I've— I've always wanted to see the moon like this. It's so pretty, and to see it this close— I'm so lucky."

A breathless chuckle. "I forgive you— and, thank you so much. Genuinely."

…

"Regect?"

Regect choked on his own breath for a split second, and he forced himself to snap back into reality. He was truly just— taking in everything what Ze had said. This was just— it reminded him how far they both have come along, and Regect was just, happy.

He watched as Ze's expression changed into a more confused, but a bit annoyed one. "Were you even listening to me?"

Oh damn. "Yes!" He panicked. "I was just— processing, you know?"

"Okay…?" Ze gave him another smile, still confused. "Why'd you need to process a 'I forgive you' and a thank you?"

…

"Well— I.." Regect didn't know what came over him.

Looking at Ze, how the entity held him— how vulnerable they both were, showing their true genuine— love? For one another, how Ze was opening up to him and what Regect was doing for him? Regect knew that he needed to do this now.

"I just.." A beat. The two stared at each other.

…

"You really… Are as pretty as the moon."

…

Eye contact. Regect felt exposed.

He watched in awe when Ze's face turned into a pink color.

The human inhaled a breath, smiling nervously. "Really?"

"Yes." Regect immediately answered, without sugarcoating. "Yes, really."

A chuckle from the other, who had brought a hand to his own face.

"Regect." The entity listened intently, letting himself drown in the man's giggles.

Ze sighed, calming down. Regect waited, uncharacteristically quiet. He was just nervous.

"You really— you really turned me into an idiot." Ze stated with a smile.

Regect's invisible eye's sparkled at that. They stayed quiet for a few moments— admiring each other's presence.

Then, "Ze?" Regect tightened his grip, bringing the hand behind Ze's back a bit higher. The man went quiet, staring intently in anticipation. "Can… Can I..? Will you…?"

Regect nearly squeaked when Ze placed his two hands on each side of Regect's face. A pause, the two were silent.

…

"Regect," Ze began. "I don't know where your lips are."

…

There was a snicker— then a couple of chuckles, and then loud laughter.

The two cackled together, holding each other as they poke fun at their own stupidity. Regect held onto the other tighter, spinning them around slowly— and Ze smiled, enjoying the moment. They soon calmed down.

Then, Regect pushed himself.

He leaned, and finally— he felt Ze's lips on his.

The other melted. Soft, cold— a bit chapped from the chilled air, but it was Ze's.

They let go for a moment. Regect watched how Ze's eyes went half lidded as they opened, dazed from what just happened. Then quickly, they went back in, more determined— more controlled.

Feeling a bit more bold, Regect tilted, bringing Ze into a dip. The human gasped softly when they let go. Ze underneath Regect, Regect above Ze. The two stared, Ze's head was tilting slightly backwards due to gravity.

The entity couldn't help it but bring his lips underneath Ze's chin, earning a giggle from the man.

Wanting more of those sounds, Regect decided to be brave and to earn more of what he wanted. He planted more and multiple soft kisses all over Ze's neck, and he drowned himself in Ze's giggles, feeling the human's grip around his neck tightened in glee.

Regect pulled Ze back— and the man was in a high, happy daze, feeling loved and cared for.

Ze felt flushed, not believing that this was real— having to constantly tell himself that this was indeed real. Regect wanted this, he wanted this— everything was just, perfect.

"Woah—!" Ze yelped a bit when Regect tilted backwards— making him practically lay down on Regect when the entity was now underneath him.

Ze snickered, both hands back on the entity's invisible face. He leaned down, planning a kiss on the surface. He heard Regect snorted.

"That's my forehead, dumbass."

"How was I supposed to know!?" Ze retorted back.

"We'll figure it out."

Ze quickly wrapped his arms around Regect when the entity brought them both back to their original position. Ze smiled feeling another unexpected kiss on his cheek. He sighed in content, taking in on what was happening.

The man looked at him. "I gotta say… That was a really good confession."

The human got excited when he felt another bicker session arriving. "Heh, I bet it's way better than whatever you were planning."

A snort. "How long have you liked me?"

"Very bold of you to assume I fell for you first."

Ze smirked, leaning closer. "Come onnnnnn, tell the truth."

"Nooooooo I woooooooon't."

"Bruhhhhhhh." The man laughed. "You're literally such a chud loser."

"Bro, I legit basically confessed first, and did it next to the moon!" Regect exclaimed. "What do you mean?"

"Ragebait." The human giggled when he felt another kiss from Regect on his cheek.

Regect leaned back. "For a while."

He stared back. "Heh, same." Ze answered. "Now, the question is— are you brave enough to say the L word to me?"

"Easy." Ze sensed Regect rolling his eyes.

…

"So…?" The human waited.

"I thought you were going to say it first."

"Dude."

"You say it first."

"No you."

"No you."

"No, you!"

"I love you."

"No yo— oh." Ze's heart fluttered.

…

"I… Love you too." He said it back.

…

"So, what are we now?" Regect asked.

He swayed them around, slowly moving. Ze pondered about this for a few moments.

"You want us to be all lovey dovey or..?" The entity added.

"Just ourselves." The human finally answered. "With all the— name calling, arguing— I already enjoy that."

He heard Regect let out a content sigh. Ze felt them tilt.

"I do too."

Ze closed his eyes and felt Regect's lips on his once more. Then his heart fluttered, feeling them spin in a circle. Ze trusting Regect in his abilities, and Regect having the opportunity to use them for these special moments.

Ze was excited for more, and Regect felt the same way.

At night, Ze sat on his bed.

They had just finished dinner, and they argued and bickered like normal. They definitely planned on telling Moe about them soon, since Ze knew very well that Moe knew about their feelings.

And at night, when Ze sat on his bed, looking at the moon through his window, he recalled those moments above the sky. Yes, the pain from the cut earlier that afternoon still lingered, and the buzz from his wings still hummed— but that was covered by Regect's arms, his lips on his face— how he felt his eyes on him.

Ze slept in his bed, about to have the best sleep he'd ever get in a while.

Finally, in the same night, Regect sat on the rooftop of the wizard tower. He stared at the same moon, recalling what he had just done.

The entity giggled to himself, and for the first time— he felt so proud of himself.

And he was just as excited as Ze for whatever comes next for the both of them.