Chapter Text
The night ended with kicking the last of the drunks out of the bar.
Hugo ran a hand through his hair, cleaning off his glasses.
“You okay?” Lance, the other bartender he was working with tonight, asked while cleaning the bar up.
“Yeah just a busy night.” Hugo smiled a bit, though he couldn’t help the exhaustion in his bones. Not that it was any different than usual.
“…why don’t you go home early?” Lance suggested. “I’ll talk to the owner. You look like you could really use some rest.”
Hugo wasn’t about to argue with an early end time. So he nodded. “That sounds good.”
Lance nodded and a couple minutes later, Hugo had climbed into his car which was frozen inside. He rubbed his already jacketed arms as he blasted the heat and turned the seat warmer all the way up.
He breathed a sigh of relief when the cold let up.
Then, he started his way home. Luckily home wasn’t far from the bar. 15 minutes at the most. The roads were icy, so he took his time.
He wrapped his coat tighter around himself as he got into the front door. At least the house was warm.
The first thing he saw, however was the sticky note on the fridge.
‘Emergency business trip. You know how it is. Hold down the fort until we get back.’-C + D
Donella and Cyrus were gone on some random business trip that they forgot to tell him about beforehand.
Again.
He hated being alone in the house by himself. Especially when it was freezing out. Looking at thermometer, it was below freezing. It was snowing though.
He sighed, and started a fire in the fireplace.
He turned on the television, frowning softly as he watched the random sitcom that came on as he heated up his dinner in the microwave.
He was exhausted. But he just got home. He didn’t want to go to sleep just yet. He popped his back.
Something made his hair stand up on end. He looked around. Nothing was out of place.
Donella had taught him to always trust his instincts. Something was going to happen.
So Hugo prepared himself. He grabbed his bat from his room, and kept it by his side as he ate.
The crash outside made Hugo jump out of his skin. He looked around wildly, gripping his bat, before everything went quiet again.
It sounded like it came from the backyard.
Hugo slipped his jacket on, and went to investigate.
Of all the things he could have expected, this was not one of them.
Laying in a pocket of snow, was a boy. Only, he had huge black wings. One of them looked really badly injured. The boy was hardly breathing. The only reason Hugo knew he was, was cause of the fog from his breath.
“Holy shit…” Hugo mumbled to himself. He put the bat down, going over to the boy. He turned him over. He was ice cold, shivering up a storm. “Shit…” He thought for a moment, then groaned to himself. “I’m going to regret this.”
He carefully picked the winged boy up, careful of the injured one, and brought him inside.
The boys lips were blue. He was hypothermic. That wasn’t good. He searched on his phone what to do.
A couple of the steps were ones he couldn’t take. Like calling the police. Who knows what would happen if he called them.
Still, he took the advice and pulled off the wet clothes, replacing them with his old, spare dry clothes. Then he wrapped the boy, and his wings in blankets. He added a few hand warmers to the wings wrapped in towels as well.
The boy gradually stopped shivering, and looked a lot more content now. Hugo took this opportunity to look at the boys wing.
It was badly broken, but not beyond repair.
Nuru was a vet. Maybe she could help. How to explain this though?
He picked up his phone. “Nuru, I have a bit of an emergency. It’s a bit hard to explain but could you come to my house?”
The text came in two minutes later. “Hugo, it’s 4 in the morning.”
“Its an emergency. A…non human emergency.”
“…..On my way.”
Hugo breathed a sigh of relief. The boy groaned, eyes opening a bit. Hugo could see how glazed over they were though. He was clearly out of it.
“Whemmm?” He slurred. He winced in pain, looking up to his wing. “Huuurttts….”
Hugo came over. “Youre safe. I’m taking care of you."
“pretty….” The boys eyes rolled back in his head and he passed back out.
He blushed lightly, before he heard a knock at the door. How did Nuru get here this fast?
Still, he looked through the peephole and saw her, opening the door as she adjusted a medical bag on her shoulder.
“Whats going on?”
Hugo didn’t say anything, instead leading her to the living room. She gasped at the sight of the unconscious boy.
“Holy…shit.” She mumbled.
“That’s what I meant when I said non human…can you help?”
Nuru smirked at him. “Aw Hugo. You do care about something other than yourself.’
“Nuru.”
“Im kidding. Yes I can. He doesn’t have hypothermia right?”
“Not anymore. I think it passed a bit ago.
She nodded, setting out her tools and started the process of setting the wing right. She was gentle and careful and save for a few mumbles and groans, the boy didn’t seem to notice her working.
“Where did you find him?” Nuru asked.
“He crashed in my backyard…but it was below freezing so I don’t know how he was flying in the first place.”
Nuru sighed softly. “We cant tell anyone else about this.”
“I figured.”
“not even Cyrus and Donella.”
“Oh they were the first on the list not to tell. I love them but they’d turn him over to the highest bidder in an instant.”
Nuru sighed. “Youre lucky they’re not here…has he said anything?”
Hugo nodded and went over to the boy, gently fixing the blankets.
“Only slurred speech. He was really out of it before passing back out.”
“We need to keep an eye on him, make sure he didn’t loose a lot of blood or has bad hypothermia.”
“Does that mean you’re staying?” Hugo hated how hopeful that sounded. Nuru, however, was already in the spare closet, grabbing pillows and blankets. She threw a blanket at Hugo.
“Get some rest. You’ve been up all night.”
Hugo chuckled softly, and took her advice. After a minute the two of them were curled up on the floor in a blanket nest.
--
Varian groaned. Everything was heavy. But he was warm. His wing hurt, but it felt like it was wrapped in something.
He cracked open his eyes.
The pink of the sun rising hit him first. The second thing he realized was he was in a strange home. The third was that there was a nest of blankets on the ground, and two people sleeping inside it.
Where was he?
He tried to get up, only to realize the heaviness he was feeling, was a bunch of blankets wrapped around him.
Huh.
He slowly untangled himself, laying up. His good wing felt sore as he stood up, but he could at least tuck that one into his side. The other one seemed to be held open with medical equipment.
At the movement, the blonde stirred, mumbling. Varians heart rate spiked. He didn’t trust them.
He took a deep breath, and headed towards the door.
He was almost at the door when,
“Hey. You’re awake?” A sleepy voice called out.
He turned, good wing fluttering in an attempt to escape. The other one wouldn’t move with the wrappings.
The blonde, with glasses askew and hair everywhere, was laying there, clearly half awake. He was blinking at him.
“I uh-Um-I.” Varian couldn’t stop himself from stuttering.
“You know its freezing out there, right? It’s like…the dead of winter.”
Varian paused, looking out the window. It looked frigid.
“…Who are you?” He asked.
The boy yawned. “Hugo…you crashed in my backyard…three hours ago? What time is it?”
Varian tensed as the blonde stood up, going over to a clock above a stove. It was 7:30.
“Goddamn…” the blonde mumbled. Varians hand was on the doorknob.
“Hey, you okay, feathers? You look like you’re ready to run for the hills.”
“What do you want with me?”
The other boy blinked. “Nothing.”
Varian didn’t trust that answer. Everyone always wanted something with him. Usually his wings, sometimes worse. The blonde could clearly see that on Varians face though.
“What was I supposed to do? You crashed into my goddamn backyard and almost died from hypothermia?”
Ah. That would explain the broken wing. And all the blankets. Still, he narrowed his eyes.
“Did you want me to let you die?” The boy asked.
“….N-No…”
“then you’re fucking welcome.”
Varian looked the boy up and down. He looked honest enough. And he was right, if he went outside now he’d freeze. Varian sighed softly, letting go of the door. “fine. Just don’t try anything.”
“wasn’t going to…I’m going to make some coffee. Want some?”
“What’s…what’s coffee?”
Hugo’s eyes lit up. “oh feathers, you are in for a treat.”
Varian walked closer to Hugo as he started pulling out ingredients. Varian frowned. Something could be a drug or sleeping agent. Hugo noticed him looking, and thought for a second.
“Did you want to look at the ingredients and smell them before I put them in?”
Varian thought for a second, then nodded softly. Hugo handed him a bag of beans. He looked at them “coffee beans”, they smelled good, actually. He handed them back to Hugo. Hugo smiled and put them into the machine. That was something Varian was curious about. He didn’t dare ask about it though.
The same thing happened with the sugar, cream, and some other ingredients Hugo had.
“Alright. Now we gotta grind up the beans. It’s going to be loud.”
Varian took the hint and covered his ears. Hugo was right. It was loud. It only lasted a minute though.
“is that coffee I hear?” A girls voice called out. Varian tensed up again. He’d forgotten there was another person here. She came into the kitchen, and sat in the next seat. She then looked at Varian. “Hey. Good to see you’re awake.”
Varian nodded nervously. She looked at him concerned.
“Feathers is a bit skittish, Nuru. He looked like he was about to run out the door a second ago.”
Nuru chuckled softly.
“W-Why do you keep calling me Feathers?”
Hugo looked over. “Cause of your wings. That and I don’t know your actual name. I figured you’d tell me later though.”
Varians wings ruffled a bit. Nuru looked intrigued.
“How is your wing feeling?” She asked.
“…sore and hurting…” He mumbled.
Nuru nodded as Hugo put a cup of coffee in front of her.
“Any particular way you want your coffee?” Hugo asked. Varian shook his head shyly. Hugo grinned.
“I’m going to make you the best cup of coffee ever.”
Nuru chuckled as Hugo went and grabbed some things from the upper shelf. He handed them to Varian to look over. After Varian was satisfied, Hugo made him coffee, handing it to him in a cup that had the moon phases on it.
Varian took a moment, then slowly took a sip. “…oh my god this is delicious.” He said after a moment. Hugo grinned while Nuru giggled.
“Leave it to Hugo to make you a coffee drinker.”
Varian blushed. The coffee was warm and he really liked it. There was hazelnut in it. Varian approved it but he was surprised at how good it tasted in the coffee.
“So now that we’re all awake…” Hugo started, sipping his own coffee. Varian looked over. “What were you doing out in the dead of night, anyway?”
Varian swallowed hard. “I…I was running….flying away from some people.”
“Are they the ones who did that to your wing?” Nuru asked.
Varian nodded. “Its why I crashed….sorry about that.”
Hugo raised an eyebrow. “You were attacked and you’re apologizing?”
“I never said-“
“Context clues, feathers. Who were they?”
Varian looked down at his drink, going quiet. Nuru put a hand on his shoulder.
“you don’t have to tell us now. How about, we start with your real name?"
Varian smiled a bit. “….It’s Varian…”
“Nice to meet you Varian.” Nuru smiled.
Varian felt some of the tenseness go out of his shoulders. These two were nice. Genuinely so. He wouldn’t let his guard down, not completely, but he was willing to let them in a tad considering Hugo had just made coffee for him and went out of his way to make him feel comfortable. And Nuru, if he had to guess. She was the one who splinted his wing.
“So, angel...” Hugo started, grinning. Varian blushed deeply.
“Hugo!” Nuru chided.
“What I’m teasing!” Hugo huffed. “I was just going to ask if it hurt when he fell from heaven!”
Varian choked on his drink, going red to the tips of his ears.
“That’s the cheesiest pick up line.” Nuru said.
Hugo giggled when he saw Varians face. “I don’t know, I think he liked it. And I think it’s appropriate.”
Varian giggled. Hugo smiled proudly.
“We shouldn’t be making jokes about this.” Nuru said, though Varian could see the corners of her mouth turning up, trying to contain her giggles.
Hugo grinned, and then winked at Varian, who hid his face behind his good wing.
“Oh that’s so cute.” Hugo said.
“Stop!” Varian said though giggles. He didn’t want either of them to see just how red his face was.
Hugo chuckled. “okay, okay.”
The three of them calmed down and Varian slowly pulled down his wing. Hugo was smiling like he just won a prize. Varian liked it. It was cute.
Varian pushed that thought out of his head. He couldn’t be getting caught up in that. Nuru took a deep breath.
“Alright boys, move out of the way. I’m making breakfast.”
Hugo raised an eyebrow. “Uh, Ru, last time you “made breakfast” you nearly burnt down your apartment.”
“That, was last week. Besides, now I have you two to keep me from setting things on fire.”
Varian and Hugo looked at each other nervously.
--
A half in hour later, they were turning off the smoke alarm. The smoke hadn’t been that bad, thankfully, but the windows had to be opened. No one was happy about that.
Varian shivered. Nuru ran and grabbed him a blanket, wrapping it around him.
“Thanks…” Varian muttered. Nuru just nodded.
“I’ll make breakfast this time.” Hugo said with a huff.
Nuru laughed nervously. “Sorry Hue.”
Hugo sighed softly, but it wasn’t without a small smile at the girls antics.
The hairs on the back of Hugos neck stood up. Someone was watching them. He looked around, then outside.
“Hugo?” Varian questioned.
Hugo frowned, then looked at Varian. “Sorry, angel…sometimes I get these feelings. I feel like we’re being watched right now.”
Nuru looked nervous at that.
Hugo, however, took a deep breath, looking at Varian who looked pale as a ghost.
Just then, the doorbell rang.