Chie

*~ GAGHIEL ~*

&
*~ CHIE ~*

Gaghiel spends most of his time guarding the swimming pool at the Sweet Float Flats apartment complex; however, today he has to run some errands. He gently places a CLOSED sign in front of the chain-link fence surrounding the pool and struggles to launch himself into the sky. He’s not a proficient flier due to the sheer number of chains, ice, and armor clinging to his body – alas, it’s his aesthetic, thus he swallows his complaints and huffs and puffs his way to the supermarket. He has to settle down at a nearby park just to catch his breath. The sound of heavy chains being dragged across concrete fills the air as he makes his way to a park bench. He lies facedown on the bench, feeling uncomfortably sweaty. He thinks to himself: I have to buy rice, broccoli, cinnamon toast crunch, half and half, paper towels, jasmine tea, and some ground turkey. Huff. Puff. Suddenly, a blue light catches the corner of his eye. Gaghiel turns to see a handsome imperial sitting before the lake, apparently staring at his reflection. A light breeze ruffles his teal-blue feathers, and his gaze appears tinged with introspection. Gaghiel blushes a little. He’s definitely not single! he thinks to himself, and then quickly adds: And why are you even thinking about that right now, you’ve just laid eyes on him about six seconds ago! Gaghiel tries to sit up and accidentally twists himself inside his chains, and slips off the park bench with a cringey thud. The stranger sitting by the lake looks up and blinks surprisedly while Gaghiel embarrassedly struggles to get up, then with a few beats of his wings alights beside Gaghiel. Oh, this is the worst day of my life, Gaghiel thinks while the handsome stranger quietly yet diligently helps to untangle his stubby nocturne limbs. “Ah, thank you…” Gaghiel coughs nervously. The imperial nods, his soft eyelashes glinting in the sunlight. He’s apparently not very talkative, but Gaghiel isn’t particularly good at conversation either, so the two just sit there staring at each other for the next thirty seconds. He glances down at his toes, then, expending all his energy as an introvert in one fell swoop, asks: “Wh-what’s your name?” The imperial, in a voice that sounds like a beautiful windchime, says: “Chie.” Gaghiel turns a bright pink and adjusts the helmet on his head so that it covers his eyes. He’s ordinarily not very self-conscious about his looks, but he remembers suddenly that beneath all his apparel he sort of looks like an ultraviolet skeletal space-ghost. Genetics. I’m so ugly! he internally sobs. Suddenly, he realizes Chie has been talking to him – the imperial’s mumbling is so soft that it sounds almost like a breeze itself. “C-could you repeat that?” Gaghiel asks. Chie straightens up a little and then says in a louder voice, “I came here because I had a vision. You got tangled up in your chains and fell to the ground, and then were stung by a bee. You didn’t have your epipen on you, so you died because of anaphylaxis. So… please be careful in the future…” Gaghiel’s eyes grow wide – this guy is a clairvoyant?! Sure enough, he forgot his bag at home today. He feels a bit like crying realizing that this handsome stranger objectively took time out of his day to save his life. “Thank you, a lot,” Gaghiel says awkwardly. Chie bows his head, then starts to take his leave. What a cool aura! Gaghiel thinks, his eyes lighting up like stars. Chie’s mane and robes flutter in the wind, and his angelic wingspan is three times the size of his own. Will they ever meet again? Suddenly, the words come out of his mouth before he even realizes what is happening: “Perhaps… I could treat you to a meal.” Chie pauses for a moment, then suddenly he appears enveloped in his own wings. He peers out of his cloak of feathers with a look that can only be described as unintentionally flirtatious. Is he shy? Gaghiel wonders. I’m feeling shy too… Chie accepts the offer wordlessly by way of extending his cellphone to Gaghiel. Gaghiel inputs his contact information, his talons shaking. “Feel free to text me,” he says hopefully. Chie stares down into Gaghiel’s eyes for a moment, his golden irises swirling with a meaningfulness impossible to interpret. Then, he gracefully ascends into the sky and disappears behind a cloud. Gaghiel expels a dreamy sigh. However, a sudden buzzing sound by his ear causes him to leap up into the sky, his life flashing before his eyes. I really hate bees! he screams inwardly, and makes his way to the supermarket again. Rice. Broccoli. Cinnamon toast crunch. Half and half. Paper towels. Jasmine tea. Ground turkey. Chie. His heart quickens, and he nearly collides face-first into a stoplight. Oh, there’s no way he’ll text me. He’s too… too… Suddenly, tucked inside his wing guard, he feels his cellphone vibrate. Perhaps it’s merely a spam text. Perhaps it’s a friend inviting him over for drinks. Or, perhaps…