>*BANG BANG BANG* >"Fang it's time to get up! Get ready or we'll be late!" >guuuuuhhhhhhhhhh >I groan out a huff >a glance at the window reveals the sky is only a dim grey >bloody sun isn't even up yet >part of me wants to snuggle back under the covers >but dad is totally willing to invade my private sanctum and dump ice on me >reluctantly I crawl out of bed and get changed >having donned my workout attire, I shuffle downstairs >Naser is all ready to rock >he's even doing warmup stretches in the living room >fucking overachieving dork >I blearily stumble into the kitchen >mom looks up from the breakfast she's just begun to prepare >"good morning sweetie!" and pecks me on the snoot >i mumble a "good morning back" >I look to the counter and see mom's already prepared my pre-workout slurry >eight ounces of beef, fish, fruits, and vegetables >I hold my breath and pound it down >It's not terrible, per say >skinnies would find it revolting >but for a carnie ptero about to work out, it's practically an elixir from raptor Jesus >they sell stuff like it at the store but mom makes the best from scratch >I give mom a peck of her own as she tells me to be safe >walking into the living room I see naser has been joined by dad >he's getting ready for work >dad is wearing his formal dress uniform >must have some sort of official function he has to go to >we haven't been on the best of terms lately but I do feel a pang of sympathy >dad's reward for a lifetime of being the best cop on the force was to get promoted to commissioner >he spends more time chasing down bureaucrats than crooks these days >I'll never understand how he puts up with all the pomp and circumstance >dad gives me a nod as I enter >"good morning, lucy" >I grunt, not bothering to correct him >it's too early to start a fight over my recent self-proclaimed name >"well you know the drill. don't stay out too long or you'll miss breakfast. be safe and look out for danger" (1/5)
>dad warns, reciting the speech he's given hundreds of times before >Naser unironically says "sure thing dad" like he's in a fucking sitcom >I just grunt and nod >dad rolls his eyes but heads into the kitchen to get toast and coffee >him and mom get lovy-dovy and I exit the house before I can gag >naser is right behind me >he takes a deep breath of air and loudly exhales >"Great weather for a fly, huh sis?" >I wave dismissively "whatever" >I flap my wings a few times and tense to prepare for takeoff >"Lu-er-Fang, you need to stretch first!" >my dork of a brother stumbles over himself as he tries to stop me from leaving >his failure to use my name properly makes me want to take off all the more quickly >I'm about to turn and deliver a witty one liner when dad exits the doorway >"lucy do your warm up stretches. My insurance only covers one round of physical therapy for pulled muscles a year" >he doesn't even look at me as he rattles off his quip and gets into his car >I grit my teeth but say nothing >I don't want to get into a shouting match on the front lawn for all the neighborhood to see >Naser cheerfully leads me in the proper stretches >he ignores my glower >finally we're done >I'm loath to admit it but Naser was right >my back and wings feel a lot more loose >naser looks to the sky >a ribbon of pale pink and orange is on the horizon now >"wanna race?" he asks eagerly >I shrug >"nah, I'm not feeling it today" >I see Naser's smile faulter for a brief second >sorry, buddy. we aren't kids anymore >my brother shakes it off though >"I guess there's something to taking our time to see the sights, right?" >I shrug again. whatever, captain optimist >"Alright then, lets go!" >naser exclaims far too enthusiastically >he takes off at a trot and I tail behind him >I feel the wind rushing past me >my wings begin to flap instinctively >before I realize it, I'm in the air >the houses grow distant underneath me (2/5)
>>66208666 >I follow naser's climb until he levels out around 200ft into the air >most flying saurians usually stick to 50 or 100ft >but naser says he likes the view >and I like the silence >up here it's just the wind >below I can see other flying saurians on their morning flight >a family of Dimorphodons flying in formation >their colorful beaks standing out in the gloomy dawn >a tiny Germanodactylus entertaining itself with loops and barrel rolls >in the distance I see a Quetzalcoatlus highlighted against the lightening sky >its bulk makes its silhouette stand out >a shout breaks me from my musings and I look above me to see naser waving down >"you doing good fang?" he calls >"I'm not crashing, am I?" I snark back >don't worry bro, I'm capable of staying aloft even if I'm not the school's aviation circuit star >I try to repress my pang of jealousy >fucking naser >how did he do it? >a natural flyer >he started flying a year before I did >I'll never forget the summer dad spent all day throwing him off a cliff to practice dives and pull ups >he's got a solid chance of bagging an athletic scholarship after highschool >maybe even going pro >ten years from now I might see him on some sports drink >ugh >it wouldn't be so bad if he was just a dumb, if exceptionally gifted, jock >but naser was a genius >I'm not to bitter or resentful to admit that >he told me earlier this year he was thinking about becoming a doctor >and he had the brain for it too >I could see him being a world famous neurosurgeon or something >the whole world was my brother's oyster >and what did I have? >the pang of resentment and self-loathing caused my face to scrunch >academically mediocre >yeah I was in a band >yeah I could play the guitar and bass >but who cares? >I'm just another angsty teen from an upper middle class family in the burbs >I'm nothing special >"Fang, you okay?!" >I hear a concerned shout and blink >Naser is next to me, worry clear on his face
>I look down and see the ground is a lot closer than before >my wings felt stiff and sore >how long had I been gliding? >at least a couple minutes >had I zoned out that long? >that was bad >paying attention during flight was a must >dad always harped on us to stay focused when in the air >"seen too many pteros dive head first into something cuz they were in lala land" >he always said >I shook my head and played it off >"Fuck off, naser. I'm just chilling. Stop being such a mother hen." >I gripe >a hurt expression flashes across his face >I feel a tad regretful >it's gone in a blink though >he flashes me a stilted grin >"just wanted to make sure you're good!" >I make a show of rolling my eyes >"well lucky for us both I'm fan-fucking-tastic. Want a full sitrep on my emotional well being?" >"alright, I get it. Geez" He says with an annoyed huff >he peels away from me to make room >flying too close is a bad idea if you haven't practiced it a lot >"you wanna head back? We're almost to the turnaround point, anyway." he asks >Raptor Jesus thank you >"fuck yes" I blurt out >I bank into a 180 degree turn and flap my wings some more >though I turned around first I find naser has caught up with me already >I see him look over his shoulder with a sly grin >"Guess I get the shower first!" he calls out >my eyes widen >"the fuck you will!" I shout after him >we both open up >flapping our wings as hard as we can >despite me going all out it's clear naser is winning >how do you expect to win against a track star? >just as our home becomes visible I see him shudder and his speed drops >it only lasts for a moment but it's enough to give me a lead >I touch down on our lawn >he's only seconds behind >gasping for breath >"fuck, thought I had that!" >he pants >I turn on him >"because you decided to throw the fucking race!" I snap >he looks back at me in shock (4/5)
>>66208709 >"I hit turbulence! It threw me off!" >he says defensively >"oh fuck off! You can smell air pockets a mile off! You flew into it so I'd win!" >"fa-" >"I'm not some pathetic charity case!" I snap >Naser's mouth opens and closes for a moment before his whole body droops >"sorry...just wanted to see you happy, you know?" >he apologizes >I sigh explosively and rub my eyes >"whatever, naser. Lets just forget about it, ok?" >this time he's the one who mumbles and nods >my brother shuffles to the front door >I groan mentally >fuck I hate it when he does this >tries to do something he think's ill appreciate when really it's a slap in the face >then he gets all miserable like a kicked puppy when I blow up at him >can't even be angry at the perfect bastard >"look...I appreciate the attempt. But I'm not going to be happy about someone patronizing me. I want to earn my win. Not because the champ decided to give me a pity win. understand?" >Naser takes a moment to digest my words and nod >"I'm...sorry, fang. Didn't mean to hurt you." >"you didn't hurt me, dumbass. just pissed me off a bit" >I look around >"lets get inside and wash off. I hate feeling sticky" >I grumble >he nods >and then he looks at me >"you know, since you admitted I would've won, does that mean I get the shower first?" >he says with a cheeky grin >I pause to consider, rubbing my chin >"when you say it like that-" i start >"EAT MY DUST, LOSER!" >I shout >I shoulder check him and sprint inside >I scramble up the stairs and burst into the bathroom >Naser's offended protests finally succeed in putting a smile on my face >sorry little bro >you cheated so now you get to pay the price >I wash off and try to mentally prepare myself for the school day >first day after winter break >me, trish and reed have that jam session after school >hopefully it goes well >hopefully the rest of the school year runs smoothly too >I don't need any unpleasant surprises in my life right now (5/5)