Cass here, I was told this app is gettin' popular so came to check it out for myself. These noisy cities are a pain, but eventually I'll adapt to them- probably. But large buildings are always fun to fly around and I gotta admit, these street tacos ain't that bad either.
A friend I made while on a mission to Las Vegas said New York is where all the superheros are and where all the "fun" happens so I decided to come see what all the fuss was 'bout.
Fly safe, folks.
Cassius is: eatin' street tacos
online , standby , offline
IN-ACTIVE from: 8am - 9pm EST (mon, tues, thurs) , 8am-3:30pm (wedn, fri)
// It will most likely take around a day to respond to RPs. If its anything longer, feel free to shoot me a DM or message me / leave an ask as a reminder.
OPEN RP(S):
club / bar whatever
drunk cass
horseback riding yeehaw
⚠️interrogated & tortured
🎃spooky halloween party yuh
Tags:
→﹐ 📓 ﹒ Journal entries﹒⟢
thoughts
→﹐ 📡 ﹒ "Copy, over."﹒⟢
OOC posts
→﹐ 🪶 ﹒ Cassius talks﹒⟢
self explanatory
→﹐ 🌲 ﹒ "You alright?"﹒⟢
asks & answers
→﹐ ⛰️ ﹒ "Want some hot sauce?"﹒⟢
RP
→﹐ 🪨 ﹒ Friends﹒⟢
self explanatory
Character info below:
NAME: Cassius Lauder
AGE: 24
GENDER / PRONOUNS: Cis male , He/Him
SEXUALITY: Pansexual
BIRTHDAY: February 14th, 2001
SPECIES: Mutant
BACKSTORY:
He was marked as high-risk youth, born in rural West Virginia—outspoken, and too curious for his own good. Storms taught him more than schools ever did and silence was a survival skill. At the age of 16 he exposed a local corruption by hacking into their energy grid during a blackout. That act lit him up on federal radars and got him erased- snatched by a covert program run by damage control that operated under a black ops wing, supported by leftover HYDRA bio-mod developers.
The post-Blip unit claimed to be a "cleanup crew", repurposed for mutation research. They weren't cleaning. Cassius was labeled Viable Airborne Subject #77, the words written in ink messily along his lower back by some lousy member. There were subjects before him- who knows if they were alive or not. He was subjected to experimental bio-electrical stress: destabilized atmospheres, sonic flooding, and more. His body broke before it adapted.
He was locked underground for weeks—cell flooded with sound waves, forced to breathe high altitude air, bones stretched from experimentations with pressure. When his wings finally erupted mid-testing, his shoulder blades cracked, revealing sleek wings. They were broad, feathered, and alive. The feathers were brown, iridescent, and sharp-edged at the tips. He blacked out. His wings moved subconsciously, launching him off the lab table as he woke up mid air- crashing through the ceiling into the Appalachian night.
Cassius doesn’t remember how it felt flying at first. Just the freedom. And the pain. And the fear knowing he was no longer human.
For years, he kept to mountaintops, learning to ride thermals, dodge obstacles, and surviving off-grid. His anger towards the people that did this to him is what fueled him to learn how to fight. He used his wings to his advantage. Soon enough he began to explore the rest of the world, flying anywhere and everywhere he could. Now, he occasionally helps mutants escape persecution, gliding through places inaccessible by drone or plane.
He’s precise. Private. And still haunted by the voice that called out to him when his wings grew.
HEIGHT: 5"10
PHYSICAL APPEARANCE:
╰ Tan skin , sun-worn from high altitude exposure and mostly outdoor living
╰ Amber colored eyes , metallic glow in certain light
╰ Dark brown hair , messy (usually from flight) , curly ,
╰ Fit / athletic body type , built for agility and endurance
╰ Broad shoulders , slighty tense; often carry the weight of wing tension
╰ Thin scars below wings / shoulder blades from when his wings first emerged
╰ Brows often furrowed with tension or thought
╰ Feather color shown in moodboard above
╰ Quote tattooed on his back neck that reads "Cogito, ergo sum." (I think, therefore I am.)
╰ spine tattoo of a sword, runs down at his spine right between his wings
╰ Topographic map tattoo on his elbow of his hometown
╰ latitude and longitude coordinates tattooed under his ribcage of an important place to him
╰ "#77" tattooed on his lower back, remains of his past he cant escape
OTHER:
╰ A red string neatly tied around his left wing joint , a memory of someone he couldnt save
╰ Voice has a slight country accent , can change depending where he is
╰ Quick on his feet , you wont notice him enter a room but youll know when he leaves
╰ Self taught fighter , fighting with him feels like fighting a very angry wind tunnel
╰ Usually sings to himself during long flights , helps keep him sane in high-altitude areas
╰ Talks to his wings usually when hes alone
PERSONALITY:
╰ Observant , tactile thinker , quiet (usually more cocky / extroverted with those close to him) , protective
LIKES:
╰ Spicy food , usually carries packets of hot sauce on missions
╰ Fascinated by birds
╰ Enjoys writing , occasionally leaves poetic words around wherever he is
╰ loves anything related to the weather & land ( thermals , updrafts , wind patterns , topographic maps , etc. )
╰ Random trinkets , collects anything he can fit in his pocket
╰ Fascinated by birds, and is often talking to them
╰ Rainy days
OCCUPATION:
╰ hops between missions (on the good side obviously) , helps around wherever needed , commonly found helping take down anti-mutant or terrorist organizations
MOD INFO:
Hellooo, just dont be weird please. Will block freely if needed.
April was a bit hesitant since they met. Especially since she got back home into the city- She wasn't even sure if he lived out here or not. She softly regretted not asking for more information.
But she had his phone number, a sigh left her lips. Her hands shook gently as she typed her text out.
Hiya! It's April, the girl that hit her head a while back.. this is Cassius right? I was wondering if you were up to grabbing a bite possibly?
@april-barnes
He looked down at the city from his balcony, brows raising as his phone buzzed in his pocket.
He reached for it, brows furrowing at the unknown number. It was quickly replaced with an ear wide grin as he realized it was you.
Heyy!! Yeah- hope those injuries werent too bad haha
That sounds great yeah, where to?
He responded, sending the text message before saving her contact.
April hums as she smiles. "He used to take us flying above the city. It was fun, even would fly us above the ocean..him and mama would play a game with us. He'll toss us into the ocean, obviously at a safer height. Ma has a siren mutant, so she'll swim after us and make sure we were safe... It was fun. A small reason why we learned how to swim too. Dad would freak out, but once he saw how in love we were- he stopped complaining..."
Her eyes lit up at the sign, she smells hit her at once. Then the overwhelming emotion of joy and fun hit her. She smiles, melting into the warm atmosphere of the environment.
Once she noticed how familiar he was to this place. She slowly unlink her arm. Writing and signing the waiver as she place it back on the desk.
"This looks super cool... But I'm a bit worried. I am clumsy." She mentioned as they walked over to the lane reserved for them.
He exhaled through his nose, breathing a soft laugh.
Axes thunked onto their targets, laughter echoing from nearby lanes, the occasional cheer when someone nailed a bullseye.
The staff member returned after a beat, explaining to you how to just be careful with the equipment to avoid injury, and the latter.
After the explanation, he grinned, nodding towards the staff member as they left.
He turned back towards you, excitedly taking one of the axes in hand, shifting it around in his grip as he tested its weight. He nodded towards the daggers not to far away from where the rack of axes were, wings fluttering slightly.
"Ladies first." He chuckled, nudging you teasingly.
April smiles as she walks over. Hands hovering over the daggers as she picked up three. Her hand twirls one around as she stood at the line, got ready to aim.
She flicks her hand as she tossed one. Close to the bullseye. Then the next one right on the other side. Then the last dagger. Straight bullseye.
He let out a low whistle, brows raising in surprise. He was never one to underestimate you- but that was hella impressive.
A quick grin spread across his lips as he stepped up to the line, fingers gripping an axe. His hand tightened around it, it felt familiar. Hed usually come here to let off steam.
His wings folded in tight as he raised the axe, before letting it fly. The wood splintered at it hit the target, probably an inch away from yours, with a satisfying thunk. He glanced over his shoulder back towards you, grin widening.
He simply laughed at your tease, the sound rumbling in his chest.
"Careful there, I might start gettin' cocky." He replied, voice low and amused as he stepped back from the line as you stepped forward again. The energy in the room was still lively- people laughing, cheering, talking over shared meals. It was loud, chaotic, yet cozy and comforting.
He simply watched you, a faint grin still etched to his features.
He let out a low laugh as the axe hit, the thud echoing throughout the lane.
"It was close enough!" He said, grinning.
He stepped up beside you, grabbing another axe and spinning it once in his hand before letting it fly.
The wrong end hit the target, causing the axe to come flying back. It lodged itself in the wooden divider above their hands. His eyes widened, unsure wether to be surprised or amused. "Uhm- I might have miscalculated-" He murmured, reaching up as he unstuck the axe from the wood.
April ducks as she frowns. A small laugh left her lips as she gently shakes her head. "Oh wow- Cass! You should be more careful dear."
Her eyes shut softly as she stood up right. Her hand softly taps his arm as she beams. "So. Give it another try- but please. I like my hair." She gently puffs her curls as she took a few steps back.
Her eyes flicker around as she was content. Very excited to see him try again.
He shook his head in amusement. "I swear I aimed for the target-" He muttered.
He rubbed the back of his neck with his other hand, cheeks tinged pink. He watched as you took a few steps back, glancing towards you with that familiar crooked grin.
He stepped back towards the line, twirling the axe once in his hand- slower this time, more focused. His wings shifted behind him. He squared his stance before throwing the axe.
This time it hit dead center, missing yours and his throws by a super little. His eyes lit up as he looked back towards you, wings excitedly fluttering behind him.
April squeals as she pounced him. Pulling him in for a hug as she smiles. "Bullseye!!" She smiles softly as she giggles. Genuinely feeling happy and content in this moment.
Her curls swayed around as she swung around with him. Feeling care free and happy-
"That's so cool! I thought you were gonna whack the dagger too! Look at that!!"
Your giggles make him grin ear to ear, as he hugged you just as tightly.
He glances back towards where the axe hit, feeling proud. "Think you can best that? Or should we do another round?" He hummed happily, finding your care free state amusing.
His grin lingered as he playfully nudged you with a wing, boots shifting against the ground.
He glanced back towards the bar, eyeing the menu. "I can grab us a bite if you'd like. Watcha thinkin'?" He asked, running a hand through his hair.
His cheeks flush red quickly, wings tensing as if flustered aswell. He blinked a few times as he registered what you were saying.
"Oh- Yeah- Sure." He spoke, rustling his wings as if composing himself, before he walked towards the bar.
Even as he made his way to the bar, he couldn't take his eyes off you. He watched the way you threw the knives, how they twisted in your hands effortlessly, how—
"Sir? Sir?- What can I get for you?" The sudden voice of the bartender snapped through his daze. They'd already repeated the phrase once or twice. That familiar heat finds his cheeks. God, that was embarrassing.
He reaches a hand behind his neck, rubbing the skin there- a nervous habit. He looks up towards the menu, even though he's been here often. He opened his mouth to speak when a familiar face slid him a sharing portion of fries and a serving of multiple chicken tenders. Another bartender he's known for a bit. He'd always order that- although it might've been 'basic'. He grinned with ease, taking them with a silent thank you.
He walked back over towards you, smiling as he placed the food down. He cocked his head, glancing towards where the knives had hit before. "That was awesome." He commented, tilting his head slightly.
Lilia is already drunk when she shows up to the party.
By every means, she’s a lightweight. And she’d had to have a few shots with Yelena to hype herself up into actually attending the event. She had a glass of wine in hand now, standing, watching the partygoers. She loved partying, but only when she was drunk enough for the confidence and ability to properly socialise. She was about halfway there.
Her Patrick Bateman costume was a little warm, she’d added fake blood on both her head and the costume. Swinging her fake axe in her other hand idly, fidgeting as she took big sips of her drink. She looked like she wasn’t enjoying it, but she was. She liked watching other people and chatting, as she started getting tipsier. Laughing and swaying to the music, loosening up.
Cassius had heard of a nearby party. He had nothing to do tonight- so why not show up?
He weaved past multiple people, eyes scanning around as he just took it all in. He adjusted his mask slowly, the glossy white face of Ghost Face catching the light in sharp contrast to the black hood that framed it. The fabric of the costume hung loose over his frame.
His wings rustled uncomfortable beneath the costume, but he could handle it- for tonight at-least. He stopped for a moment again as he looked around, unaware he now stood next to you.
Edward stumbles into his apartment well past midnight, he shuts the door quickly behind him, he'd been gone for hours. He hadn't meant to drink, he really hadn't... but he had and now, now he's blackout drunk.
Edward giggles and runs a hand down his face, he stumbles to the side and slams into a wall, bumping his head lightly. "Sorry-" He apologizes to it with a laugh, staggering over to the couch and flopping down. He hadn't been drunk in a while, so much for being sober...
He'd been waiting for a while- waiting for you to get back after you mentioned youd be going out.
The moment the door slammed shut, he was already on his feet. The sound of you giggling, feet shuffling as you stumbled, was enough to tell him something was wrong.
He crossed the room in seconds, eyes already scanning over your state. He watched you flop down onto the couch, wings flinching instinctively as he glanced to where youd bumped your head. The smell of alcohol hit him like a punch to the gut. He grabbed you a glass of water, placing it down on the table before folding his arms across his chest as he stood next to the couch.
"Edward- What happened?" He frowned, speaking softly but voice tight with concern.
Edward gasps and sits up slightly, grinning a bit. "Cassius! Ya here!" He laughs and flops back, his wings flailing out around him. He hadn't gotten drunk in a long time, been sober for two months. He gestures next to him, wanting Cassius to sit with him. "I was... was drinkin' at the bar... was fun!"
Edwars giggles and runs a hand down his face, his hands transform into talons, scratching lightly at his skin before he drops it down. "I... I didn't mean to- but... but I was..." He hiccups and leans his head back, grinning up at Cassius. He closes his eyes for a second, his hands fidget together. "I got... got drunk, we should drink more."
Only worry filled his gaze as he watched you. He watched your wings flail, laughter spilling out like nothing was wrong. He remembered you mentioning something about you being sober. Seeing you like this now- it made his stomach twist. But, he figured itd be best to talk about that when you weren't drunk like this.
He exhales a soft breath, purposely avoiding your drunken comments. The water sat untouched on the table. He picked it up as he sat down next to you on the couch, holding it out.
"Drink it, please." He spoke softly.
Edward flings himself against Cassius, giggling almost hysterically as he takes the water, taking a large gulp from it, water spilling a bit over him. "Ya, ya not gonna drink with me? It'd be fun!"
His wing pokes at Cassius' face as he moves around, he claps his hands together and sits up grinning. "We should do somethin!"
He frowns slightly, quickly reaching out to grab the water from your hands after it spilled over you. He places the glass back onto the table. At least you drank the water. "Maybe one day." He muttered, his response purposely vague. He didn't want to disappoint you but also didn't want to make a promise he couldn't keep.
He cocks a brow, gently brushing your wing away as it poked his his. He leaned over to grab a nearby napkin, then shifted closer to you as he gently dried the water that spilled onto you. "What would you like to do?" He hummed, glancing towards you.
April was a bit hesitant since they met. Especially since she got back home into the city- She wasn't even sure if he lived out here or not. She softly regretted not asking for more information.
But she had his phone number, a sigh left her lips. Her hands shook gently as she typed her text out.
Hiya! It's April, the girl that hit her head a while back.. this is Cassius right? I was wondering if you were up to grabbing a bite possibly?
@april-barnes
He looked down at the city from his balcony, brows raising as his phone buzzed in his pocket.
He reached for it, brows furrowing at the unknown number. It was quickly replaced with an ear wide grin as he realized it was you.
Heyy!! Yeah- hope those injuries werent too bad haha
That sounds great yeah, where to?
He responded, sending the text message before saving her contact.
April hums as she smiles. "He used to take us flying above the city. It was fun, even would fly us above the ocean..him and mama would play a game with us. He'll toss us into the ocean, obviously at a safer height. Ma has a siren mutant, so she'll swim after us and make sure we were safe... It was fun. A small reason why we learned how to swim too. Dad would freak out, but once he saw how in love we were- he stopped complaining..."
Her eyes lit up at the sign, she smells hit her at once. Then the overwhelming emotion of joy and fun hit her. She smiles, melting into the warm atmosphere of the environment.
Once she noticed how familiar he was to this place. She slowly unlink her arm. Writing and signing the waiver as she place it back on the desk.
"This looks super cool... But I'm a bit worried. I am clumsy." She mentioned as they walked over to the lane reserved for them.
He exhaled through his nose, breathing a soft laugh.
Axes thunked onto their targets, laughter echoing from nearby lanes, the occasional cheer when someone nailed a bullseye.
The staff member returned after a beat, explaining to you how to just be careful with the equipment to avoid injury, and the latter.
After the explanation, he grinned, nodding towards the staff member as they left.
He turned back towards you, excitedly taking one of the axes in hand, shifting it around in his grip as he tested its weight. He nodded towards the daggers not to far away from where the rack of axes were, wings fluttering slightly.
"Ladies first." He chuckled, nudging you teasingly.
April smiles as she walks over. Hands hovering over the daggers as she picked up three. Her hand twirls one around as she stood at the line, got ready to aim.
She flicks her hand as she tossed one. Close to the bullseye. Then the next one right on the other side. Then the last dagger. Straight bullseye.
He let out a low whistle, brows raising in surprise. He was never one to underestimate you- but that was hella impressive.
A quick grin spread across his lips as he stepped up to the line, fingers gripping an axe. His hand tightened around it, it felt familiar. Hed usually come here to let off steam.
His wings folded in tight as he raised the axe, before letting it fly. The wood splintered at it hit the target, probably an inch away from yours, with a satisfying thunk. He glanced over his shoulder back towards you, grin widening.
He simply laughed at your tease, the sound rumbling in his chest.
"Careful there, I might start gettin' cocky." He replied, voice low and amused as he stepped back from the line as you stepped forward again. The energy in the room was still lively- people laughing, cheering, talking over shared meals. It was loud, chaotic, yet cozy and comforting.
He simply watched you, a faint grin still etched to his features.
He let out a low laugh as the axe hit, the thud echoing throughout the lane.
"It was close enough!" He said, grinning.
He stepped up beside you, grabbing another axe and spinning it once in his hand before letting it fly.
The wrong end hit the target, causing the axe to come flying back. It lodged itself in the wooden divider above their hands. His eyes widened, unsure wether to be surprised or amused. "Uhm- I might have miscalculated-" He murmured, reaching up as he unstuck the axe from the wood.
April ducks as she frowns. A small laugh left her lips as she gently shakes her head. "Oh wow- Cass! You should be more careful dear."
Her eyes shut softly as she stood up right. Her hand softly taps his arm as she beams. "So. Give it another try- but please. I like my hair." She gently puffs her curls as she took a few steps back.
Her eyes flicker around as she was content. Very excited to see him try again.
He shook his head in amusement. "I swear I aimed for the target-" He muttered.
He rubbed the back of his neck with his other hand, cheeks tinged pink. He watched as you took a few steps back, glancing towards you with that familiar crooked grin.
He stepped back towards the line, twirling the axe once in his hand- slower this time, more focused. His wings shifted behind him. He squared his stance before throwing the axe.
This time it hit dead center, missing yours and his throws by a super little. His eyes lit up as he looked back towards you, wings excitedly fluttering behind him.
April squeals as she pounced him. Pulling him in for a hug as she smiles. "Bullseye!!" She smiles softly as she giggles. Genuinely feeling happy and content in this moment.
Her curls swayed around as she swung around with him. Feeling care free and happy-
"That's so cool! I thought you were gonna whack the dagger too! Look at that!!"
Your giggles make him grin ear to ear, as he hugged you just as tightly.
He glances back towards where the axe hit, feeling proud. "Think you can best that? Or should we do another round?" He hummed happily, finding your care free state amusing.
His grin lingered as he playfully nudged you with a wing, boots shifting against the ground.
He glanced back towards the bar, eyeing the menu. "I can grab us a bite if you'd like. Watcha thinkin'?" He asked, running a hand through his hair.
His cheeks flush red quickly, wings tensing as if flustered aswell. He blinked a few times as he registered what you were saying.
"Oh- Yeah- Sure." He spoke, rustling his wings as if composing himself, before he walked towards the bar.
April was a bit hesitant since they met. Especially since she got back home into the city- She wasn't even sure if he lived out here or not. She softly regretted not asking for more information.
But she had his phone number, a sigh left her lips. Her hands shook gently as she typed her text out.
Hiya! It's April, the girl that hit her head a while back.. this is Cassius right? I was wondering if you were up to grabbing a bite possibly?
@april-barnes
He looked down at the city from his balcony, brows raising as his phone buzzed in his pocket.
He reached for it, brows furrowing at the unknown number. It was quickly replaced with an ear wide grin as he realized it was you.
Heyy!! Yeah- hope those injuries werent too bad haha
That sounds great yeah, where to?
He responded, sending the text message before saving her contact.
April hums as she smiles. "He used to take us flying above the city. It was fun, even would fly us above the ocean..him and mama would play a game with us. He'll toss us into the ocean, obviously at a safer height. Ma has a siren mutant, so she'll swim after us and make sure we were safe... It was fun. A small reason why we learned how to swim too. Dad would freak out, but once he saw how in love we were- he stopped complaining..."
Her eyes lit up at the sign, she smells hit her at once. Then the overwhelming emotion of joy and fun hit her. She smiles, melting into the warm atmosphere of the environment.
Once she noticed how familiar he was to this place. She slowly unlink her arm. Writing and signing the waiver as she place it back on the desk.
"This looks super cool... But I'm a bit worried. I am clumsy." She mentioned as they walked over to the lane reserved for them.
He exhaled through his nose, breathing a soft laugh.
Axes thunked onto their targets, laughter echoing from nearby lanes, the occasional cheer when someone nailed a bullseye.
The staff member returned after a beat, explaining to you how to just be careful with the equipment to avoid injury, and the latter.
After the explanation, he grinned, nodding towards the staff member as they left.
He turned back towards you, excitedly taking one of the axes in hand, shifting it around in his grip as he tested its weight. He nodded towards the daggers not to far away from where the rack of axes were, wings fluttering slightly.
"Ladies first." He chuckled, nudging you teasingly.
April smiles as she walks over. Hands hovering over the daggers as she picked up three. Her hand twirls one around as she stood at the line, got ready to aim.
She flicks her hand as she tossed one. Close to the bullseye. Then the next one right on the other side. Then the last dagger. Straight bullseye.
He let out a low whistle, brows raising in surprise. He was never one to underestimate you- but that was hella impressive.
A quick grin spread across his lips as he stepped up to the line, fingers gripping an axe. His hand tightened around it, it felt familiar. Hed usually come here to let off steam.
His wings folded in tight as he raised the axe, before letting it fly. The wood splintered at it hit the target, probably an inch away from yours, with a satisfying thunk. He glanced over his shoulder back towards you, grin widening.
He simply laughed at your tease, the sound rumbling in his chest.
"Careful there, I might start gettin' cocky." He replied, voice low and amused as he stepped back from the line as you stepped forward again. The energy in the room was still lively- people laughing, cheering, talking over shared meals. It was loud, chaotic, yet cozy and comforting.
He simply watched you, a faint grin still etched to his features.
He let out a low laugh as the axe hit, the thud echoing throughout the lane.
"It was close enough!" He said, grinning.
He stepped up beside you, grabbing another axe and spinning it once in his hand before letting it fly.
The wrong end hit the target, causing the axe to come flying back. It lodged itself in the wooden divider above their hands. His eyes widened, unsure wether to be surprised or amused. "Uhm- I might have miscalculated-" He murmured, reaching up as he unstuck the axe from the wood.
April ducks as she frowns. A small laugh left her lips as she gently shakes her head. "Oh wow- Cass! You should be more careful dear."
Her eyes shut softly as she stood up right. Her hand softly taps his arm as she beams. "So. Give it another try- but please. I like my hair." She gently puffs her curls as she took a few steps back.
Her eyes flicker around as she was content. Very excited to see him try again.
He shook his head in amusement. "I swear I aimed for the target-" He muttered.
He rubbed the back of his neck with his other hand, cheeks tinged pink. He watched as you took a few steps back, glancing towards you with that familiar crooked grin.
He stepped back towards the line, twirling the axe once in his hand- slower this time, more focused. His wings shifted behind him. He squared his stance before throwing the axe.
This time it hit dead center, missing yours and his throws by a super little. His eyes lit up as he looked back towards you, wings excitedly fluttering behind him.
April squeals as she pounced him. Pulling him in for a hug as she smiles. "Bullseye!!" She smiles softly as she giggles. Genuinely feeling happy and content in this moment.
Her curls swayed around as she swung around with him. Feeling care free and happy-
"That's so cool! I thought you were gonna whack the dagger too! Look at that!!"
Your giggles make him grin ear to ear, as he hugged you just as tightly.
He glances back towards where the axe hit, feeling proud. "Think you can best that? Or should we do another round?" He hummed happily, finding your care free state amusing.
His grin lingered as he playfully nudged you with a wing, boots shifting against the ground.
He glanced back towards the bar, eyeing the menu. "I can grab us a bite if you'd like. Watcha thinkin'?" He asked, running a hand through his hair.
Edward's been standing in front if his mirror for an hour, trying to draw on his eyeliner perfectly, but he can't get it right. It looks off everytime, at least to him. A sob almost bubbles out of his throat, but he pushes it down.
"No." Edward cries out in frustration as he stares at his eyes, angrily reaching up to wipe the eyeliner away. "Why won't it work!" He flings doen the pencil, it clatters into the sink loudly, his chest heaves with each breath as he grabs onto the edge of the sink, feeling irritated and overwhelmed, why can't it just work! His grip tightens on the sink and it cracks underneath his grip.
He poked his head in, brows knitting in concern as he noticed your frustrated state. He stepped into the bathroom slowly, wings tucked, voice even.
"You okay?" He asked as he tilted his head slightly. He crossed the room in a few quiet steps, careful not the crowd you, but close enough to just be there for you. His eyes flickered to the cracked sink then to your trembling hands.
Edward steps back from the sink, the porcelain falls to the ground with a crash, he winces shaking his head. "No- no I'm not okay, I can't get it right!" He sounds beyond frustrated as he shoves a shaking hand through his hair, his eyes flick to meet Cassius's, he looks overwhelmed.
He didnt flinch at the crash.
The cracking of your voice and the trembling of your hands hit him harder than the shattering of your sink ever could.
He stepped forward slowly, boots quiet against the tile, wings still tucked in behind him. His eyes stayed on yours, steady and calm, even if yours met his in a panic.
He reached both his hands out, just keeping them out towards you. He didnt force you to take them, but they were there if you needed.
"Hey," He spoke softly, voice low and even. "Breathe."
He replicated it, hoping youd follow- taking a deep inhale before slowly exhaling. He didnt push. He never did. But, he stayed right there, hands still outstretched.
Edward wraps his wings around himself protectively, letting out a sobbing breath as Cassius walks closer. He flinches back for a moment, before very slowly taking his hands, Edward's shake violently in his grip.
"I can't get it!" He gasps shaking his head, his curls untamed, move everywhere. His eyes flick down to Cassius's chest, trying to follow his breathing, his short and choppy, but after a minute he manages to get a full slow breath.
"I can't." He repeats, his eyes drifting to the discarded eyeliner pencil, a frustrated sounding sob bubbles out of him.
His brows are still knit in worry, gaze still soft. His hands tightened around yours, just enough to be felt, gently stroking your fingers with his thumb. His hands were cold- they always were. But the temperature difference helped slightly. Hopefully.
His wings shifted slightly, like they wanted to wrap around you aswell. But he held himself back, for now. He watched the way your eyes flicked to his chest, trying to match his breath. So he slowed it deliberately— inhale, hold, exhale.
"Thats it. In through your nose, hold it. Out through your mouth." He murmered as he continued to guide you through the deep breaths as he counted softly.
He stayed close as you sobbed, gaze softening. "Hey- hey. Its okay to be frustrated. I know its tricky." He spoke, trying to ground you as best he could.
"I can help you if you'd like. We can take it slow. Or, you can take a break if youd like- I was about to bake cookies." He continued, wing shifting slightly to block your view of the eyeliner. He pulled you closer, just slightly. Enough for you to come closer if you wanted, but also enough for you to pull away if you didnt want an embrace.
Edward nods shakily, closing his eyes as he tries to follow Cassius's instructions, inhaling deeply and holding it before exhaling, he hates how his mind is screaming at him, he can't focus, his grip tightens on his hands.
"I don't know- I don't..." He tugs one hand back, to yank at his hair, his eyes darting around the room like he can't focus on anything, he slowly scoots closer, pressing his face to Cassius's shoulder, trying to hold in his sobs, he's upset at himself for getting so worked up over the eyeliner.
"I can't think... I don't know what's happening." He cries into his shoulder, his tears soaking into Cassius's shirt.
His heart breaks at your words.
"Oh, darlin'.." He murmurs, barely audible. His arms shift as they wrap around you, pulling you close with a steady pressure. His wings curl in slightly, grazing against yours.
A hand gently rubs your back slowly, fingers grazing your wing joints just barely.
"You dont have to explain." He spoke softly, leaning his head against yours. "Its okay to fall apart- trust me. Youre allowed to be upset." He hummed softly against you, unbothered by your tears staining his shirt. His breathing was still slow and steady.
"Just take a second- Get it all out if you need to." He added, hand still gently rubbing your back.
Edward melts into the touch, letting it ground him as he clings onto Cassius, the feeling of his wings brushing against his own is strangely comforting. He lets out a shaky breath as Cassius rests his head against his. "But it's eyeliner!" He sobs out sounding ashamed of himself.
But he listens, taking a minute to get it out, calm himself. He continues to do the breathing exercise Cassius had told him to do. He sniffs taking a deep breath, trying to being himself back. "I'm okay..." He whispers shakily, trying to convince himself. Surprised he's even letting Cassius help him, but it feels... safe.
He continued to rub your back slowly, thumb tracing light circles, wings wrapping around you a little more as he shielded you from the rest of the room.
"Dont tell anyone but once I went through 8 packs of pencils just to find one that had the 'right texture'." He chuckled slightly, breath ghosting over your scalp.
"No need to feel ashamed. Youre allowed to feel this way." He said softly, fingers grazing your feathers ever so slightly. He leaned his cheek against your hair. He knew what it was like to spiral, to feel like your body was betraying you.
He shifted slightly, adjusting his grip to pull you a little closer. And he stayed like that- aslong as you needed him to.
Cassius's words make Edward relax a bit, cause oh, oh he has felt like that, someone else understands? That's new to Edward but knowing that, helps. "But I don't know what this feeling is." He chokes out, shaking in his grip, no one had bothered to help him with it, no, he just got punished.
after a few minutes he's breathing evenly, his tears mostly dried, he shifts back ever so slightly to wipe at his eyes, his wings flop down limply behind him, he glances up at Cassius, his eyes red rimmed and puffy. "I feel awful." He admits quietly.
"Yeah- It can be tricky sometimes." He spoke, the hand at your back lingering, allowing you to move away slightly. His touch was still steady, wings pulling back a little to give you some space.
He looked towards your red-rimmed eyes, the sight pulling at his heart. His hand shifted to your side, thumb rubbing against you gently.
He tilted his head slightly, lips curving into a soft crooked grin. "I can bake somethin' up if itll help." He said.
Edward stiffens at the gentle touch to his side, not used to it. But then he absolutely melts, leaning into it. He lets out a short sad laugh and nods wiping his eyes shakily, feeling a bit embarrassed at his state. "I'd like that."
He lets out a slow breath and straightens up, his hands pressing into the floor. "I dunno why I get like that... it's frickin' annoying." Edward huffs a bit frustrated at himself, he ruffles his wings out as he tries to shift into a more comfortable position. "Sorry..."
His wings rustled behind him, feathers skimming the floor.
His gaze softened at your frustration as he tilted his head. "I get that yeah- feels like youre not in control. I find it helpful to remember that you cant always control everything about yourself- Gotta understand that its alright to get angry over little things. Doesnt make you any less of who you are." He muttered, glancing towards your wings.
The corner of his lips tugged into a soft grin as you accepted. "Favorite baked good?"
Edward glances up at him, his eyes saddened. "Ya know what it feels like?" He lets his wings droop tiredly behind him, tucking his knees to his chest, resting his chin on them. He gives Cassius a very small smile.
"Um... cookies?" He blinks a few times before hauling himself to his feet, he offers his hand to Cassius to help him up. "Thanks for uh, for helpin' me..."
He nods, tilting his head slightly again as he watched your wings droop.
He almost laughs a little, gently reaching out to ruffle your hair. He takes your hand, standing up with a soft grunt. His wings fold back tightly against his back, twitching faintly as they skimmed the wall.
"Of course. Hug?" He spoke, voice a little quieter as he offered. He smiled, holding his arms out slightly.
Edward pauses for a moment then nods with a hesitant smile, he wraps his arms around Cassius and melts into the hug, his wings go limp as he lets out a shaky breath.
"You're real good to me Cassius." Edward mumbles into his shoulder, his hans taps little patterns into his chest. He slowly pulls back, brushing a hand through his hair with a light blush.
"Thank you... I uh, needed that." He offers him a shaky smile.
He chuckles, holding you close. His arms wrapped firm around your back, a hand resting just below your wing joints again. His own wings fold in just barely. He felt the patterns against his chest- it made something ache in his chest.
When you pulled back, his hands lingered for a second longer before falling to his sides. He hummed softly before responding. "No one deserves to go through that alone." He spoke quietly, shifting his weight to the other foot.
His grin widened, wings fluttering excitedly. "Do you have a favorite flavor of cookies?"
"Hm, first time I've had someone help me through it." Edward gives him a weak smile, his hands fidgeting together almost nervously, he carefully tucks his wings to his back.
"Um... not really?" He scrunches his nose up thinking for a moment before shaking his head. "I'll eat anything." He manages to smile fully and gestures towards his kitchen. "I think I've got enough stuff to bake some."
He watched you for a moment, head tilted slightly, wings rustling quietly. "First time, huh?" He said softly, breathing a soft laugh. "Hopefully I set the bar high enough."
He happily trailed behind you, wings tucking in as you walked towards the kitchen. He couldnt help but grin, walking over to open your fridge.
"Awesome." He murmured, voice trailing off as he excitedly grabbed the needed ingredients.
"Y'know when I was younger- Me and my family would see who could make the funniest shape." He hummed, glancing towards you as he eyed your mixer on the counter. He murmurs a curse under his breath as his wing knocks a
"You helped definitely..." Edward smiles softly as he walks into the kitchen, tucking his wings around himself. He leans back against the wall, shifting to get comfortable.
"Yeah? That sounds fun... must've been nice..." He glances off with an unreadable expression before he looks back to Cassius concerned. "Are ya okay?" He shuffles over to Cassius with a small frown.
The kitchen was warm, he liked that. It was cozy. Baking always reminded him of home.
His wing had twitched, too wide. too fast.
The edge of it clipped a class on the counter, and it tumbled- shattering against the floor with a sharp, violent crack.
He flinched hard.
His whole body jerked, breath catching in his throat. For a split second, his eyes went wide, shoulders tensing like he expected something worse to follow. His hand gripped the bowl he had in his hands, chest rising too fast.
Your words cut through. He blinked, grounding himself. The glass is just glass. No threat. You're fine.
He exhaled slowly, forcing his shoulders to drop. "Yeah," He responded. "Yeah, Im fine. Just- startled me." He crouched to start picking up the shards, but his hands were still shaking slightly. He gave a dry laugh, not quite looking at you.
He grumbled something about how stupid the glass was, wincing as a piece caught a feather. Get it together, get it together.
Edward freezes at Cassius reaction to the glass shattering. "Hey..." He crouches down beside him, he carefully takes Cassius's hands in his, giving them a soft squeeze. His eyes searching Cassius, full of worry.
"Don't worry about it, just breathe for a minute." He frowns in concern looking at the peice that catches his father. "Darling..." He whispers, the name slipping out without him realizing as he sits up a bit, his hand reaching out to brush the glass away from his wings.
His chest was tight, jaw clenched. He met your gaze with fearful eyes for a moment, before blinking again as he glanced away. God, hed spent so much of his life alone after escaping that hed never thought having to deal with these issues with someone else present.
He didnt pull away when you took his hands, but he clenched yours aswell, trying to put himself together. His eyes couldnt help but flicker to the broken glass, wings still tense. Your words didnt register in his head just yet, body almost on auto pilot.
"Didn't mean to kill the vibe- Sorry for the mess." He stammered, voice tight as he lets go of your hands and tries to shakily sweep the glass up. He just kept moving, like if he cleaned fast enough then maybe the moment would disappear.
His gaze shifted to the shard that nicked him, a small bead of blood forming near the edge of his wing. He winced but waved it off, shaking his wing slightly.
"Ya didn't kill the vibe... don't be sorry." Edward frowns not liking what's happening, worry for Cassius blooms in his chest, he catches his hands and shakes his head. "Hey, hey slow down... you're alright."
His eyes flick to the cut and he frowns deeply. "Stay here." He says getting up and grabbing his first aid kit. Edward digs through it and pulls out a few items. "Let me take care of that." He shifts closer, hands hovering over Cassius's wings, glancing at him, not touching until he gets approval.
He stopped as you catched his hands, brows furrowing. He complied after a beat, slumping back against the counter with a heavy exhale.
He frowned as he watched you pull out the first aid kit, wings twitching slightly. He extended the cut wing out towards you, nodding as you glanced towards him.
He hated how small it felt- how stupid the whole thing was to him. It was just glass. Just a sound. His brow furrowed deeper, like a kid trying not to cry after scraping their knee.
Edward winces in sympathy when he sees the cut, his own wings tuck close to his back as he reaches out to brush his fingers lightly over it. "I'll be gentle." He promises as he starts to clean it, he wipes the blood away gently with a warm cloth.
"You're alright... no one's gonna hurt ya, you're safe. Just me and you." Edward mumbles as he works on the cut, he grabs a bandage and starts to wrap it, his eyes flick to Cassius every now and then, worried for him. Worried about how big of a reaction he had to the glass breaking. "It's all alright."
Gosh he felt so stupid. Unfortunately living for years alone means he never really learned how to handle his emotions around other people.
He hunched over slightly, wing going limp beneath your touch. It flinched at first, but quickly relaxed. He blinked hard. He hated how much that got to him.
"I didnt mean to freak out-" He muttered, voice low and rough. "I know its stupid- it was just glass."
He winced softly as you started wrapping the bandage, but he didnt pull away. Somehow, he found himself letting you help him- even if it made him feel small.
"Hey, you're fine. I get it, I do the same. It ain't stupid, don't say that." Edward carefully continues to wrap, he makes sure it's securely in place before sitting back, giving Cassius some space.
His fingers tap together and he gives him a small reassuring smile. "Ya wanna talk about it or anything?" He leans his head back agaisnt the counter, watching him carefully. Worry in his eyes.
He hums, looking towards his wing and the wrapped area before letting it relax again as his leg grazed yours- he still wanted you close.
He shifted against the floor, cabinets pressing against his back. He hated making others worry.
He exhaled softly through his nose before nodding. "A few months after I got my wings. Took a while to get used to them. Had an instance where I knocked over a bottle at a bar- a group of guys there beat me up over it." He murmured. He met your gaze with creased brows, as if waiting for your reaction.
Edward moves after him, carefully resting back against the cabinets, he lets his leg press against Cassius's, a silent, I'm here. He listens quietly, brow furrowing as he speaks. Oh does he know how that feels...
"I'm sorry Cassius... that, that shouldn't have happened, I'm sorry it did." Edward pauses debating if he should or not, he quickly shakes his head and decides to just do it. His fingers reach out and gently brush Cassius's hair back a bit. "I'm sorry people are cruel to you because of your wings..."
He sat slumped against the cabinets. The sting from the cut had dulled, thank fully. His fingers splayed against the floor, his other hand fidgeting with the fabric of his pants.
When your leg pressed gently against his, he blinked, as if coming back to reality.
He let out another somewhat steady breath, wing twitching. "People see the wings and think they know everything. Who I am. The things ive done." He muttered, brows knitting in emotion.
His gaze snapped to yours as you gently brushed his hair back, the vulnerability visible in his eyes. Your touch was careful, familiar- a warmth he found himself enjoying. His cheeks flushed faintly, and he ducked his head a little in an attempt to hide it, biting his cheeks slightly.
But he didnt flinch or pull away. "People are usually just afraid of things they dont know about." He spoke a little softer this time, head still dipped.
"I know what you mean... people always seem to make assumptions, it's pretty disgusting.... I'm sorry they do it to you, it's not right... If I could, I was stick my talons into people who've hurt you." He holds up one of his hands, transforming it into a talon to show his point before he turns it back into a normal hand.
Edward grins a bit at the blush, finding it a bit adorable. He reaches up with one hand, bumping lightly under his chin to make Cassius look up at him. His eyes soften and he nods in agreement. "They are... but that doesn't make the cruel things they do right."
He pauses then blinks a few times and chuckles. "Oh- I'm an idiot." He laughs softly shaking his head as he reaches out to brush his fingers over the cut, he focuses for a minute and it heals. "I could've just healed ya, I have a healing mutation, I don't remember if I've told you." He reaches out again to card his fingers through Cassius's hair, a small smile on his face.
His breath hitched the moment you bumped your hand under his chin.
His gaze met yours, blinking like he wasnt sure what just happened. The heat across his cheeks spread to his ears, now suddenly warmer than usual. He glanced away for a second before looking back to you, eyeing your features, lips twitching as he stifled a chuckle.
"Yeah- for sure." He replied a little absent-mindedly, attention captured as you healed the cut. He watched with quiet awe as the skin beneath his feathers knitting back together.
"And you let me sit here like some sick victorian orphan." He teased, tone holding no actual annoyance towards you as he gave you a look. He let out a laugh- short, breathy, but real.
He stilled for a moment as your fingers met his hair again, the warmth of your touch sinking into him like sunlight.
"Thank you- for letting me open up." He mumbled, voice still soft.
Edward laughs fully at that. "My bad... I've had that mutation for six years and I still forget about it... but you make a very nice lookin' victorian orphan." He teases, something sad comes into his eyes when he says orphan, but he quickly shakes his head and focuses on Cassius.
"Of course, ya can open up to me whenever you need. I'll listen." He continues to brush his fingers through his hair, lightly threading the strands through his fingers. "Your hair is soft..." He mumbles under his breath, now it's his turn to blush, his cheeks tinge pink and he scrunches his nose up.
He shook head in amusement. He laughed again with you, shoulders shaking as he did so.
"Wow," He muttered, lips twitching into a crooked smile. "Thats the weirdest compliment I've ever gotten- but I'll take it."
He hummed softly, leg pressing against yours again. "That means alot." His tone was sincere, genuine. There was a softness in his eyes that wasnt there before. A quiet kind of trust.
He couldnt help but lean into your touch, tilting his head slightly. Your touch was gentle- like someone smoothing out all the noise in his head. He hadnt felt that in a while. He eyed the way you blushed, that familiar grin returning to his lips as he raised a brow. He couldnt deny that he found it cute.
"Oh really?" He teased, looking towards you.
Edward grins back and twirls a strand around his fingers. "Really." He chuckles and blushes even more, retracting his hand from Cassius' hair. His eyes drift to him, a small smile playing at his lips.
"You're nice to be with... I uh, ya feel safe somehow." He mutters, looking down at his hands, tapping his fingers together in a slow pattern. Very, very slowly he shifts, leaning his head onto Cassius' shoulder, his curls brushing against Cassius' chin. He smiles to himself and lets his eyes slip closed for a second.
"This okay?" He mumbles softly, leg still pressed firmly against his, his hands tuck into his lap as he lets out a small sigh.
He blinked as your curls brushed his chin. Your warmth, the quiet weight of your head on his shoulder, was grounding in a way. His wings almost immediately relaxed, tension bleeding out of his shoulders in waves.
"Likewise-" He could only manage to murmur- but it was genuine. His gaze flickered to your hands tucked into your lap. His own fingers twitched, unsure of what to do with themselves.
He lifted a hand slowly and rested it on the back of your neck, fingers threading gently into your curls. His touch was careful, almost hesitant at first, like he wasnt sure he was allowed to be this soft. He hummed as he nodded. "Yeah." He muttered softly before glancing up towards the counter. "I still owe you cookies-" He added with a small smile, leaning his chin against your head.
"Hm..." Edward happily hums when Cassius threads his fingers through his hair. His wing shifts and covers them both, snuggling them into a warm little cocoon. His eyes slip fully closed and he leans into Cassius' touch.
"Ya do... I need my cookies." Edward chuckles softly and shakes his head. His hand comes up to gently rest on Cassius' chest, a silent steady pressure. "We can do it later..." He mumbles shifting slightly, curls tickling Cassius' chin. "You're comfy." He mutters then blushes, letting out a small nervous laugh. "Sorry-"
He let out a quiet breath, the kind that sounded suspiciously like a laugh, though hed never admit it. His own wings folded closer to himself as your wing covered them. He simply watched you, the way your breathing slowed, the way you relaxed against him, the way your curls rested on your head.
Relaxing had always felt like a risk for him. Letting someone close had felt like a mistake waiting to happen. But you made it feel easier.
He tilted his head slightly, letting his fingers continue their slow path through your hair. He chuckled, breath fanning across your head.
"You're apologizin' for calling me comfy?" He spoke, amused as he grinned. "Thats probably the best compliment ive ever received."
He stilled slightly as your hand rested on his chest, his previous steady heart rate now beating a little faster.
Edward doesn't know the last time he relaxed around someone was, it felt... foreign to do. He hums out a small laugh. "It was embarrassing to say." He chuckles and snuggles down more.
Edward keeps his hand on Cassius' chest, noticing the slight pick up of heartbeat, his own heart rate picks up a bit. "I'm tired..." He grumbles blinking a few times. He shifts his head up slightly, resting it fully against Cassius' shoulder, finding himself enjoying the feeling of the hand in his hair.
His grin widened as you chuckled, finding it amusing how you thought of such a small thing to be embarrassing.
He felt you settle against him, your weight grounding. His hand stayed in your curls, fingers moving slowly as they gently skimmed your scalp.
His grip on the back of your neck tightened slightly as he pulled you closer, leaning in as he pressed his face into the crook of your neck. His fingers returned to your hair, thumb brushing against the skin at your neck. "Me too-" He mumbled, voice muffled against your skin.
He shifted slightly, letting out a slow breath. "I'm not used to this," He admitted, wings tensing just barely. "Not used to being able to feel safe with someone." He spoke, voice quieter.
Edward happily lets Cassius rest his head against his neck. He reaches his own hand up to run his fingers through Cassius' hair. "Neither am I... haven't had someone in so long."
He shifts slightly closer, wing staying snuggly tucked around the both of them. It really was new for him... he'd only briefly had someone in his life he felt safe with. He closes his eyes and lets out a happy hum. "Ya don't mind?" He glances down at him, eyes softening.
He chuckles at your question, breath fanning across your neck. "No." He muttered, chest rising and falling steadily as his hair tickled your jawline. His own wings moved, folding in closer, brushing softly against yours.
He relished the feeling of your fingers in his hair, his own fingers tracing absent minded shapes at the back of your neck. It made his chest ache in a way he couldn't explain. He'd spent so long convinced that closeness was a liability- a weapon that could be used against him.
Carlos slowly stalked down the familiar halls of a Hydra facility, this one just outside of New York City. He thumbs through a couple files as he moves down the stairs. "Perfect." He mumbles under his breath as he finds the one he's looking for.
But a sound catches his ear, the slight shuffle of footsteps to his right. He turns quickly, spotting the person sneaking through the shadows. "I do hope you know shadows don't make you invisible." Carlos says raising his gun to point it at them.
You werent supposed to be here.
The gun was already pointed at him, and his breath caught in his throat. His body went rigid, wings tucked in tight against his back, every muscle ready to either bolt or strike. He'd infiltrated Hydra facilities often- had a few guards recognize him by name before. The place reeked of everything he hated- the memories hed buried deep.
His eyes flicked towards you, gaze narrowing in warning. He didnt raise his hands. Didnt move. Just shifted his weight, subtly, like a predator sizing up a threat.
"Pointing a gun doesnt make you any more intimidating." He spoke, voice rough.
The fluorescent lights above flickered, their familiar buzz ringing in his ear. His wings twitched, a reflex he couldnt suppress. The pain Hydra had carved into him- the surgeries, the restraints, the screaming- it all lived in his bones. And now, he was only trying to get people out before they ended up like him.
He figured itd be better not to tell you much, he doubted youd know he was a patient.
"But it makes me more powerful." Carlos tightens his grip on the gun, tilting his head slightly as he studies Cassius. Good eye sliding over him, his right one is blind, milky white with a scar running across it.
"I know you, you've been here before..." He frowns as he retracts his gun, shoving it into his belt. His eyes wander to the side as he thinks, he snaps his fingers and nods. "Ah, I do... I saw you when you were here before..."
He looks to Cassius' wings and pauses. "The winged one... why are you here?" His hand slides down his belt, pulling out a knife which he immediately points at him. "I suggest you be honest."
His eyes were still locked on yours, scanning every movement, every twitch of your fingers. It flicked to the knife- then back to your face, calculating. What caught him off guard was the recognition, wings stiffening for a moment.
The hallway was quiet, the sterile hum of the facility pressing in around him like a weight. It was suffocating.
He brushed it off, jaw tightening. "Why would you care? Didnt think anyone here bothered remembering old patients." He hissed as he stepped forward, enough to show he wasnt backing down.
"Cassius." Carlos snaps his fingers when he remembers the name. "I don't forget the names of people who come through Hydra." He carefully slides his knife back into his belt, lifting his hands to show him he has no weapon.
"Like I said, I think you should tell me why you are here, Cassius." He tucks his scarred hands in front of himself, a wedding ring catching the light. He tilts his head slightly as he studies him with his good eye. "If you tell me why, I will not hurt you."
He stiffened the moment you spoke his name.
He hadnt expected to be recognized- not by name atleast. Not here. Not by someone like you.
His wings twitched behind him, feathers bristling slightly as he kept his stance firm, unreadable. His gaze flickered to your scarred hands, knife being tucked away. "Bullshit." He said flatly, clearly on edge.
He didnt move, simply staring you down, jaw tight. "You remember me? Great. Then you remember what they did to me and countless others. What they turned us into. So dont just stand there and pretend this is some kind of negotiation." He spat, gaze narrowing. He may have seemed composed on the outside, but inside- his instinct was screaming, memories clawing at the edges of his mind.
"I do remember what happened to you, I am very sorry. It was a regretful thing that happened." Carlos eyes him carefully, he does remember Cassius, it hurts Carlos to remember what they had done to him. He keeps his hands folded in front of himself, trying to show he won't hurt Cassius, he really had no intention to.
"I may not be what you are imagining I am." His good eye flicks over him carefully. "Perhaps we should... talk... Carlos Thatcher." He says, giving him a small nod. "You may have heard my name... I'm a higher ranking officer, and I really do think we should talk." His gaze slides down to his knife before he looks to Cassius again. "I do not wish to fight you."
Your words hung in the air, heavy and strange. Your apology made his stomach twist. He wasn't used to being remembered like that. Not by someone who'd worn the same insignia as the people who broke him.
His wings shifted again, feathers rustling with unease. His eyes flicked to your hands, then back to your face. You weren't lying. Didn't make him any less on edge though.
He nodded, exhaling slowly through his nose, shoulders still tense. "I've heard the name." He muttered, voice low. He shifted his weight to the other foot, as if weighing his options.
A beat passed. Then, reluctantly, he lowered his wings slightly, enough to show he wasn't about to strike you or anything. "Fine," He mumbled. "Talk."
He crossed his arms, still slightly guarded. But for now, he'd listen.
Although, there was a reason he never told you why he was here. Finding her was his priority. He promised her that he'd come back. He never broke a promise.
"Good... I have no intention of hurting you, or even alerting anyone you are here... it is rare for a former prisoner to return to these halls... so perhaps you should start by telling me why you are here."
Carlos leans back against the wall, eyeing Cassius carefully, his hand shifts to rest over the hilt of his knife. Waiting to see if he'll speak. His good eye slides to the side, making sure no ones coming before he focuses on Cassius again.
"Your wings... they are beautiful." Carlos can't stop himself from saying, his fingers fidget with the wedding ring on his finger, spinning it as he looks over Cassius' wings. His eyes full of admiration as he takes them in.
He stood still, shoulders squared. His gaze still tracked your movements- the way you leaned back against the wall, the shift of your hand over the hilt of your knife, even the way you glanced down the corridor.
And yet, there was something else.
The way you'd toy with your wedding ring, the way your eyes lingered on his wings. You watched them with awe. It was unexpected. He was used to disgusted or fearful remarks about them.
"There are patients here that were taken against their will." He said, eyes locked on you. His wings shifted, as if they could fold themselves out of sight.
If you wanted to talk, fine. He'd listen. But he wouldn't forget where he was. Wouldn't forget what had been done here. The scars made sure of that.
Edward stumbles into his apartment well past midnight, he shuts the door quickly behind him, he'd been gone for hours. He hadn't meant to drink, he really hadn't... but he had and now, now he's blackout drunk.
Edward giggles and runs a hand down his face, he stumbles to the side and slams into a wall, bumping his head lightly. "Sorry-" He apologizes to it with a laugh, staggering over to the couch and flopping down. He hadn't been drunk in a while, so much for being sober...
He'd been waiting for a while- waiting for you to get back after you mentioned youd be going out.
The moment the door slammed shut, he was already on his feet. The sound of you giggling, feet shuffling as you stumbled, was enough to tell him something was wrong.
He crossed the room in seconds, eyes already scanning over your state. He watched you flop down onto the couch, wings flinching instinctively as he glanced to where youd bumped your head. The smell of alcohol hit him like a punch to the gut. He grabbed you a glass of water, placing it down on the table before folding his arms across his chest as he stood next to the couch.
"Edward- What happened?" He frowned, speaking softly but voice tight with concern.
Edward gasps and sits up slightly, grinning a bit. "Cassius! Ya here!" He laughs and flops back, his wings flailing out around him. He hadn't gotten drunk in a long time, been sober for two months. He gestures next to him, wanting Cassius to sit with him. "I was... was drinkin' at the bar... was fun!"
Edwars giggles and runs a hand down his face, his hands transform into talons, scratching lightly at his skin before he drops it down. "I... I didn't mean to- but... but I was..." He hiccups and leans his head back, grinning up at Cassius. He closes his eyes for a second, his hands fidget together. "I got... got drunk, we should drink more."
Only worry filled his gaze as he watched you. He watched your wings flail, laughter spilling out like nothing was wrong. He remembered you mentioning something about you being sober. Seeing you like this now- it made his stomach twist. But, he figured itd be best to talk about that when you weren't drunk like this.
He exhales a soft breath, purposely avoiding your drunken comments. The water sat untouched on the table. He picked it up as he sat down next to you on the couch, holding it out.
"Drink it, please." He spoke softly.
Usually Cassius would stay home for halloween. But nothings wrong with a little fun- right?
The night was cold, the kind of cold that made the air feel heavier than it should. The streets of New York were thriving with chattering teens and kids, traffic backed up even more. His neighbors a couple floors up had invited him to a party- of course it was in the penthouse.
The distant sound of laughter echoed down the hallway, a group of girls rushing past him as if it would get them to the party any quicker. He hesitated just outside, adjusting the mask slowly, the glossy white face of Ghost Face catching the light in sharp contrast to the black hood that framed it. The fabric of the costume hung loose over his frame.
It was something about the anonymity of the mask, the way it let him slip into a role, had drawn him in. He managed to skillfully tuck his wings in, it was definitely uncomfortable- but he could bear it.
The door creaked open as a few people rushed in aswell, music spilling out- chaotic, lively. It pulsed through the walls like a heartbeat, bass thudding in time with the strobe lights that flickered. He stepped inside without a word, the mask hiding the way his eyes scanned the room, the way his shoulders tensed beneath the costume. He slipped past other people, boots silent against the floor. Fog machines spilled mist across the floor and the scent of cheap beer and candy clung to the air like static.
It was packed. People danced on tables, red solo cups in hand, shouting lyrics to a song that was barely intelligible over the speakers. Someone was doing the worm on the floor.
Someone bumped into him—drunken, laughing—and paused when they saw the mask.
"Oooh!!" They drawled, giggling as their friends dragged them away. He simply tilted his head, then kept moving.
He grabbed a drink from off a table, pulling the mask halfway up to his mouth was visable. His face was already flushed from the heat of the room. He took a slow slip before placing the cup back down and letting the mask slide back down over his face.
He was able to make his way halfway through the crowd of people dancing and jumping till you slammed into him. He stumbled slightly, grunting as he immediately composed himself and looked towards you.
Emilia was…quite drunk to say the least. She had decided on being a fairy tonight. She was there with a few friends from her college so she wasn’t really in mutant mode. Her guard was definitely down. Thank god she was drunk enough for everyone to brush her rambling off as drunken nonsense. When she bumped into him she accidentally bumped his mask to reveal some of his face.
She gasped “HEYYY!! I know you!!” She pokes his back, frowning as if she might genuinely cry “where are your wings?! We could’ve been matching….and you have a knife! It’s like we dressed up as eachother!!”
He blinked as the mask shifted, revealing part of his face. He instinctively reached up to fix it but froze when you gasped.
His wings were tucked in tight beneath the costume, hidden from view, but your words made him snort.
"Are you drunk?" He asked, loud enough for you to hear over the music, completely avoiding your comments. But he did find it funny.
“Just a Little!!” She raises her voice half drunkenly and half so he can hear over the music. “What are you drinking??”she tries to look inside his cup
He watched as you leaned in. The music was loud, ground shaking, lights strobing just enough to make everything feel a little surreal. He noticed your glittery wings shimmering as you swayed.
He tilted his cup away from you, a smirk tugging at his lips.
"You cant just go peeking into a mans drink like that, Sparkles." He teased, tilting his head again. "Just something from the table."
He was lying though. It was apple juice hed brought from his own apartment. He hated letting his guard down in crowded places like these.
He leans back, placing a hand on your shoulder to keep you from falling over. He stifled a laugh, shoulders trembling.
"You've had enough already." He chuckled, back and wings pressing against the wall.
His eyes widen as you grab his hand, stumbling forward slightly.
"Jesus christ!-" He could only mutter out in protest as he was dragged towards the bustling crowd of people dancing.
“Come on! Dance with me!” She says drunkenly. She twirls herself, still holding his hand. She keeps hold of his hand as they dance, making sure she doesn’t lose him in the crowd.
He glanced around, shoulders clearly tense. He wasnt a fan of dancing in crowds. He could never get himself to relax.
He frowned slightly, standing there awkwardly as you twirled about. He was glad you were having fun though.
Carlos slowly stalked down the familiar halls of a Hydra facility, this one just outside of New York City. He thumbs through a couple files as he moves down the stairs. "Perfect." He mumbles under his breath as he finds the one he's looking for.
But a sound catches his ear, the slight shuffle of footsteps to his right. He turns quickly, spotting the person sneaking through the shadows. "I do hope you know shadows don't make you invisible." Carlos says raising his gun to point it at them.
You werent supposed to be here.
The gun was already pointed at him, and his breath caught in his throat. His body went rigid, wings tucked in tight against his back, every muscle ready to either bolt or strike. He'd infiltrated Hydra facilities often- had a few guards recognize him by name before. The place reeked of everything he hated- the memories hed buried deep.
His eyes flicked towards you, gaze narrowing in warning. He didnt raise his hands. Didnt move. Just shifted his weight, subtly, like a predator sizing up a threat.
"Pointing a gun doesnt make you any more intimidating." He spoke, voice rough.
The fluorescent lights above flickered, their familiar buzz ringing in his ear. His wings twitched, a reflex he couldnt suppress. The pain Hydra had carved into him- the surgeries, the restraints, the screaming- it all lived in his bones. And now, he was only trying to get people out before they ended up like him.
He figured itd be better not to tell you much, he doubted youd know he was a patient.
"But it makes me more powerful." Carlos tightens his grip on the gun, tilting his head slightly as he studies Cassius. Good eye sliding over him, his right one is blind, milky white with a scar running across it.
"I know you, you've been here before..." He frowns as he retracts his gun, shoving it into his belt. His eyes wander to the side as he thinks, he snaps his fingers and nods. "Ah, I do... I saw you when you were here before..."
He looks to Cassius' wings and pauses. "The winged one... why are you here?" His hand slides down his belt, pulling out a knife which he immediately points at him. "I suggest you be honest."
His eyes were still locked on yours, scanning every movement, every twitch of your fingers. It flicked to the knife- then back to your face, calculating. What caught him off guard was the recognition, wings stiffening for a moment.
The hallway was quiet, the sterile hum of the facility pressing in around him like a weight. It was suffocating.
He brushed it off, jaw tightening. "Why would you care? Didnt think anyone here bothered remembering old patients." He hissed as he stepped forward, enough to show he wasnt backing down.
"Cassius." Carlos snaps his fingers when he remembers the name. "I don't forget the names of people who come through Hydra." He carefully slides his knife back into his belt, lifting his hands to show him he has no weapon.
"Like I said, I think you should tell me why you are here, Cassius." He tucks his scarred hands in front of himself, a wedding ring catching the light. He tilts his head slightly as he studies him with his good eye. "If you tell me why, I will not hurt you."
He stiffened the moment you spoke his name.
He hadnt expected to be recognized- not by name atleast. Not here. Not by someone like you.
His wings twitched behind him, feathers bristling slightly as he kept his stance firm, unreadable. His gaze flickered to your scarred hands, knife being tucked away. "Bullshit." He said flatly, clearly on edge.
He didnt move, simply staring you down, jaw tight. "You remember me? Great. Then you remember what they did to me and countless others. What they turned us into. So dont just stand there and pretend this is some kind of negotiation." He spat, gaze narrowing. He may have seemed composed on the outside, but inside- his instinct was screaming, memories clawing at the edges of his mind.
"I do remember what happened to you, I am very sorry. It was a regretful thing that happened." Carlos eyes him carefully, he does remember Cassius, it hurts Carlos to remember what they had done to him. He keeps his hands folded in front of himself, trying to show he won't hurt Cassius, he really had no intention to.
"I may not be what you are imagining I am." His good eye flicks over him carefully. "Perhaps we should... talk... Carlos Thatcher." He says, giving him a small nod. "You may have heard my name... I'm a higher ranking officer, and I really do think we should talk." His gaze slides down to his knife before he looks to Cassius again. "I do not wish to fight you."
Your words hung in the air, heavy and strange. Your apology made his stomach twist. He wasn't used to being remembered like that. Not by someone who'd worn the same insignia as the people who broke him.
His wings shifted again, feathers rustling with unease. His eyes flicked to your hands, then back to your face. You weren't lying. Didn't make him any less on edge though.
He nodded, exhaling slowly through his nose, shoulders still tense. "I've heard the name." He muttered, voice low. He shifted his weight to the other foot, as if weighing his options.
A beat passed. Then, reluctantly, he lowered his wings slightly, enough to show he wasn't about to strike you or anything. "Fine," He mumbled. "Talk."
He crossed his arms, still slightly guarded. But for now, he'd listen.
Although, there was a reason he never told you why he was here. Finding her was his priority. He promised her that he'd come back. He never broke a promise.
