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The dark sky opened up before him – filled with bright moonlight. There was a moment of anticipation, like a held breath, and then the peace ruptured as screeching filled the air and dozens of bats swarmed the sky.
They clouded over the moon, leaving only specks of light. They tumbled and cried out– all above Tim’s head and out of his reach.
Tim felt his skin itch with something he couldn’t name, his heart ached as he listened to the flapping wings, and the inevitable sadness overcame him. A sigh escaped him as the flock of bats slowly thinned and dispersed around him.
And then they were all gone. The unnatural quiet of the empty landscape grated at Tim’s ears as the loneliness seeped into back his bones. There was only silence, only loss.
“Tim, do you need anything?” Jason’s overly concerned voice grated at Tim’s nerves.
“No.”
There was a shift on the bed, then, “What about a blanket?”
“No.”
“A snack?” Jason continued, ever doting in his tone. “I have some fresh cookies from the bakery. Or a nice soup–”
“No.”
An exasperated sigh left Jason’s lungs. “Can I read to you?”
Tim didn’t say anything for a long moment. He stared blankly ahead, fingers gripping into his pants. Then he released his breath. “Fine,” he finally allotted, seeing the lost battle and taking the easy way out.
There was a rustle as Jason snatched a nearby book and the bed bounced lightly as he climbed on, propping himself up on the bed next to Tim. “Great! I have a new one from the library. Let’s see how quickly you solve this mystery, eh Tim?”
Tim settled back against the pillows propped on the headboard behind him, pulling up his knees and wrapping his arms around them for comfort.
The air shifted and Tim could tell that Jason’s hand was hovering near him, reaching out, wanting to touch. Tim shifted to face away from where he felt the heat of Jason’s presence, unable to voice his true thoughts.
“The belltower rang three times, signaling the hour–”
Tim released the breath he’d been holding as Jason finally began to read. At least now he could pretend to be somewhere else.
It was an insistent tapping sound that awoke Tim. Slightly irregular, but purposeful. It was similar to the sound of a pebble on a pane of glass. Coming from the direction of his window….
Tim hesitated on what to do. He strained his ears to try and hear if Jason was also in the room, before offering a soft, “hello?” to test.
No one responded.
Tap…. tap… tap…
He felt along the nightstand for his bell, grasping the clasp to silence it before carefully edging his way around the bed towards the window. The sound grew louder, more frantic, as he approached and belatedly he realized this was all for nothing.
What was he supposed to do? Stick his head out into the darkness and a pray wild animal didn’t bite it off? What would opening the window do? Why did he want to so badly? He could smell the air in his nose, feel the breeze...
He paused, and, for the first time he could remember, began to ring the bell.
There were frantic footsteps and the door slammed open behind him.
“Tim!” Jason’s voice was concerned and Tim felt hands grip him lightly. “Tim, what are you doing out of bed?”
“There is something at the window,” Tim reported, pointing in the direction of the sound.
He could feel Jason tense before the man’s hands slid off Tim’s arms. “Okay, I’ll take a look. Just wait okay?”
Tim shrugged. It wasn’t like he had a lot of choices of activity at the moment.
Footsteps receded in the direction of the window – a sliding sound – and the furious flapping of wings as the room filled with bats.
It should have been pandemonium but as Tim felt them swirling about, calling and talking with one another, a brief happiness filled him. Their chatter rang through his ears, set him at ease, erased the loneliness that clung to his very soul.
“Out!” Jason shouted. “Out, now! He doesn’t belong to you anymore! Out, out!”
Tim signed, resigning himself back to the pillows beneath him as the bats were ushered out. A moment later he felt the bed dip slightly and then Jason’s hand was pushing his hair back from his brow. “Sorry about that, Tim. I didn’t see them until I opened the window. Are you okay?”
“Of course,” Tim answered, voice emotionless. He turned away from the weight of Jason, and pretended to sleep.
Jason’s hand lingered against his back until Tim managed to fully even his breath out into a fake snore.
Finally, Jason’s presence left the bed, and the slight squeak of the door told Tim he was alone again in his room.
He still didn’t sleep.
“I have some special soup for you today, Tim!” Jason announced as the door squeaked open. An aroma of garlic and onion perforated the air, causing Tim to wrinkle his nose in distaste.
“May I just have some fruit please?” he tried. He said it politely even.
“No, you need to eat more than just fruit in order to get better Timmy!” Jason admonished.
Tim didn't really know what Jason even meant by ‘get better’. Physically he felt fine, he'd adjusted to the darkness in his vision, and yet he wasn't ever allowed to leave the room.
Jason was his only visitor, but Tim didn't really know who else he expected to come anyway. The darkness of his vision seemed to fill his mind as well.
A spoon pressed against his lips and Tim obediently opened his mouth, accepting the food.
“Good job Tim,” Jason praised.
It tasted horrible, bitter on his tongue and burning his throat. He still ate everything Jason offered.
“Now you can have a treat,” Jason said after a few moments, and Tim perked up at the thought of his preferred choice of fruit.
Tim's chin was grasped in a soft hold and tilted slightly as Jason wiped his face, then the sweet smell of strawberry reached Tim's nose. He could have squeaked in pleasure, opening his mouth– lips crashed against his and Tim's sound turned to one of confusion.
Then he registered the sweetness of the strawberry meeting his tongue and Tim began to lap eagerly after the taste.
Once he'd taken all of it, Jason pulled back. “Another?” he asked in a low, rumbly voice.
Tim nodded eagerly, the treats of fruit making him far more satisfied than any other food that was given.
He felt Jason shift and come closer, but Tim knew what the other man wanted now. He leaned forward, eagerly meeting his mouth and this time the tart juice of a pineapple met his tongue.
Tim groaned in happiness, stealing every bit of the taste he could. The process repeated, until Tim finally felt satisfied. The fruit had a taste of Jason lingering but Tim was far too desperate to care much.
“You did good, Tim,” Jason praised, his hand stroking along Tim's brow and lingering at his ear. “Just one more?”
Tim shook his head, not needing anymore but the kiss came quickly, only carrying the taste of Jason.
Tim sighed, sensing there was no use in fighting, and Jason pulled back after a moment. “I'll let you rest now,” he offered.
The reprieve felt false, but Tim was tired– the darkness felt constricting instead of freeing as he slipped into sleep.
The night air was freeing in a way that Tim rejoiced in. The cool dampness of the wind around him signaled the sun was hidden and the glow of a possible moon would be the only light.
Tim didn't mind, he, nor any of his family, needed the light. They flew on the freedom of the wind, gliding through the night air, sounds mapping the way. The fruits were heavy on the trees, carrying a sweet scent that Tim couldn’t wait to sink into.
The rush of the others, the sky filled with warm bodies and joyful beats of wings, was all that Tim knew. He’d been lonely before, but now he had his new family.
All he had to do to keep them was stay in the air.
He had heard the tales of what happened if you failed to fly, what happened if you fell. His current coven shared cautionary tales of the one they'd lost to the earth.
Tim had no intention of being lost. The wind gave him flight beneath his leathery wings as he soared, following the scents of fruity food with his family.
The cautionary tales did not describe nets.
Tim woke with a gasp, feeling the string of the net’s wrapping around his wings and throat. He couldn't fly. He couldn't breathe! He was caught!!
Dead in the air.
falling
falling
“Tim!” Jason’s voice broke him out of the panic. Except it didn’t.
Tim threw himself in the other direction away from his captor– away from the one who did this to him.
“Tim calm down!”
“No!” Tim denied, flinging off the last of the constrictive bedsheets.
The layout of the room had become increasingly familiar over the past few weeks and now Tim could easily navigate it without sight. He darted to the window, fumbling with the latch and nearly had it open before Jason’s weight tackled into him.
“Stop Tim!”
“No!” Tim twisted, trying to escape, but Jason was bigger, stronger and Tim’s wings were missing and his claws were missing and… Tim collapsed with a wail. “Why?”
Jason huffed, holding Tim tightly against him. “You know why.”
Tim shook his head. “No, no, no,” he repeated. “Let me go back to my family!”
“You took them from me, I took you from them.”
Hot tears trailed down Tim’s face as he went limp in Jason’s arms. “Please?” He tried one last time. “I’m sorry.”
“No.”
Tim sobbed, pressing his face into the only warmth available.
“It’s okay, Timmy,” Jason said as he stroked a hand down Tim’s face. “You’ll even get your strength back if you bond with me.”
“No,” Tim shook even as he clutched tighter. “No, this isn’t right. I want to go home!”
Jason hummed, beginning to rock Tim slightly. “I wanted to go home too.” He rubbed consolingly at Tim’s back. “Some things aren’t meant to be.”
Tim continued to cry, wishing for the freedom of the wind while held, securely trapped, in Jason's warm embrace.