Couldn't You Use A...

More of the story. This time, Jen sees Kenny in full... Warning: there's a little cussing.

It was a real feather. A long flight one. It reached longer than my leg. I followed it along with my fingers, stroking it.

“Nnnmmh,” Kenny shied away.

I stopped. “Ticklish?”

Pulling away, he got to his feet. The wing slipped out from under my fingers.

“Listen. I get it now. You’re no squatter, and I wouldn’t want people to treat me like a freak either. Because that’s what obviously had happened before…”

He swept away, the wings tucked close. Was he waiting for something? I finally got a full look at him. Lithe, a teen himself. At least physically. Couldn’t judge age very well. But he did look to be about mine. Freckling and acne scars were on his cheeks. The strange ears that I had seen earlier tilted a little forward. His blue eyes were looking down, the direction he was heading. No smile, just a worried quirk.

Somewhat taller than me, too. Dark hair, dark wings, he had a series of wrap around his lower chest and stomach. Must be for protection, or for the cold, definitely for the cold. With those wings, a shirt would be impossible to put on. He wore very old jeans, tore up at the knees and below. Barefoot. Four different belts wound about his torso. One held the holster for the old pistol, another had a small crossbow looking thing. A small handful of makeshift daggers and knives. There was a hole for the one he pulled out. He was trying to defend himself, not kill. The cloak must be the final layer that hid his appearance.

“Please don’t walk away.” I whispered. He stopped, and turned back.

Damn, his hearing.

“Walk away?”

Surprise had crossed his face.

I came close, hurrying. “Do you need me to promise that I wouldn’t say anything about you or this place? I have no problem doing that. You’ve saved me twice, I owe you that much. But…”

I let my hand settle on his arm. “Couldn’t you use a…”

His eyebrow lifted in a confused manner at the last word; he shifted from my touch. “What?”

“Couldn’t you use a friend? Aren’t you…lonely?”

He glanced back to the room with the tree. “I have Max.”

I let my mouth quirk. “Who’s a dog. Last time I checked, they don’t talk. Not unless…” After all I had experienced the past two days, it wouldn’t have surprised me. Kenny’s faint half-smile returned.

“Anyway,” I held my hand up, like I had seen them do in the movies for a trial. “I promise not to tell what I have seen today. Would you consider, what I said?”

He shook his head in disbelief. “I’ll-I’ll think about it. I don‘t find you insufferable, but I don‘t know.”

Edit: 12-17-15: I had gotten some feedback that the original post had looked rushed and muddy. So I redid it. Thanks for your patience.