The only constant in my life has been the coarse sand under my talons. Polishing my scales to a smooth satin. I used to be complimented on them when I was little “She’ll find a mate for sure!” She’d say. Well I’m sorry to disappoint you yet again but I couldn’t live that life. I wasn’t strong enough to face you today, I ran into a small shop to avoid your bitter eyes. So distracted I didn’t even notice the spiral standing just inside, running into him face first. His mask clattered to the ground. He was beautiful small white scars dancing over his face like lightning. I almost didn’t hear his first words, a quite little “oh” my heart thrummed so far up my throat I choked on my words. “Oh I’m- so sorry let me help you up” grabbing his claws to pull him upright. Even his hands were lovely, rough callouses and long fingers. He picked up his bone white mask clicking over his face muffling his words “its ok really- I was just.. looking for something specific” that piqued my interest, “Oh? Like what?” He cocked his head just a tad, I could almost feel his grin below the mask. I tried not to think about how my stomach fluttered at that thought. “Ohh nothing much just a irradiated radiator” he said this with a funny little lilt to his voice which made me scrunch up my nose trying not to laugh at the request. “yeah I think I could find something like that..” a small smile tugging on the corners of my mouth. Thats how it all began, an inside joke that I answered a few days later much to his chagrin. He asked me for impossible items I always delivered. Maybe once or twice I stood a little closer or he stared a little longer than necessary. I’d do anything to keep our little joke going, anything to hear his laugh or see his inventions just one more time. That’d be enough.