Heads Above the Clouds

As we entered the base, I saw my mom waiting near the entrance. The moment I spotted her, I ran and embraced her tightly. "I came back, Mom," I whispered, feeling the weight of everything finally lift from my shoulders.

She wrapped her arms around me, her body trembling. "I was worried," she sobbed, her voice thick with relief. "I'm so glad you're safe."

Before we could savor the moment any longer, the colonel's voice echoed through the air, cutting through the emotional embrace. He ordered us to gather in front of the gate. Reluctantly, I let go of my mom and walked toward the assembly area.

Several military personnel stood before us, each holding a briefcase. The colonel's voice rang out: "THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR BRAVERY. THIS IS THE CASH WE PROMISED. WE HOPE TO SEE YOU AGAIN SOON." He saluted, and we all saluted back in unison.

The briefcases were handed out, and a cheer spread among the group. Most were thrilled to have survived, and the weight of fear that had burdened us for so long began to fade.

"Actually gave us what they promised," I heard Joeress mutter beside me.

"Why wouldn't they?" I replied, glancing at him.

He looked at me, but his expression was unreadable. Then he stepped closer, his face inches from mine. He leaned in a bit, his eyes studying mine. "I don't know why, but there's something about your eyes," he said softly. "I kind of like them."

I instinctively took a step back, distance forming between us. "You do?"

His gaze never wavered as he leaned closer, a mischievous smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "Yeah," he said, his voice almost a whisper. "There's something about them that makes me want to stare."

My heart skipped a beat. "Well, don't," I muttered, feeling my cheeks flush.

He took a step back, crossing his arms. "How about we go out sometime?" he said casually. "I'd like to get to know you better."

"Sure," I answered, the word slipping out before I could really think about it.

A smile spread across his face. "Great, see you soon," he said, his tone light as he turned to walk away, waving over his shoulder.

Before I could digest everything that had just happened, I felt a tap on my shoulder. I turned to find my mom watching us, her expression unreadable.

"Are you two close?" she asked, her gaze following Joeress as he disappeared into the crowd.

I shifted uncomfortably. "Not really," I replied, scratching my head.

"Hmm," my mom said thoughtfully. "It seemed like you were. You two seemed familiar with each other."

I shrugged, trying to downplay the situation. "I got to know him a little while we were traveling, but we're not that close."

She nodded slowly. "I see. Well, how about we go home now? I'll cook your favorite meal."

A smile crept onto my face at the mention of her cooking. "Sounds good."

As we left the gate and made our way home, I couldn't shake the feeling of unease that had settled in my chest. What was going on with Joeress? I glanced back one last time, and I noticed he was speaking with the colonel, likely reporting the events of our mission.

At home, the familiar scent of my mom's cooking filled the house. As I sat in my room, my thoughts wandered back to the humanoid with black wings. There was something about him. His eyes... they were so much like Neal's. But his appearance—his form—was nothing like Neal's. Why had he saved me? And then, why had he taken the dead humanoid's body? I couldn't shake the questions swirling in my mind, questions I needed answers to.

"Dinner's ready!" my mom's voice called from downstairs.

I stood up, shaking off the confusion, and made my way down to the kitchen. As I entered, I was surprised to find Joeress already sitting at the table, talking to my mom. He glanced at me when I walked in, flashing a warm smile.

"I didn't know we were having company," I said, raising an eyebrow.

My mom placed a steaming pot of soup on the table, lifting the lid with a flourish. The rich aroma filled the room, making my stomach growl. Inside the pot was my favorite—ground pork in spaghetti sauce, with chopped potatoes and carrots.

"When I was buying the missing ingredients, I saw him sitting outside the store," my mom explained as she set the plates down. "I asked him if he had a place to stay, and he said no. So, I invited him over for dinner."

The three of us ate together, and while I dug into my meal, my mom and Joeress talked non-stop. It felt like they were old friends, their conversation flowing easily. I found myself zoning out, thoughts drifting back to the black-winged humanoid and the strange connection I felt to him.

Once dinner was finished, I showed Joeress to my room. He followed me inside, and I quickly moved to get his bed ready. I grabbed a thick bedsheet from the cabinet and spread it on the floor.

"My mom placed towels for you to use," I said, gesturing toward the bathroom. "She also got clothes for you to wear."

He took the towels with a grateful nod. "Thanks. I hope I'm not causing too much trouble."

"No, not at all," I said, trying to act casual. "My mom also wants you to stay, so it's fine."

He disappeared into the bathroom to shower, and I quickly finished setting up his bed. I plopped down on the floor to check if it was comfortable enough. But just as I was adjusting the pillows, the sound of the shower door opening made my heart jump.

I glanced up and saw him stepping out of the bathroom. His hair was still wet, and steam poured out behind him. He was... well-built. Muscles rippled beneath his skin, and he had a well-defined six-pack. I couldn't help but notice the moles scattered across his body. It made him seem... human, in a strange way.

I didn't realize I was staring until he pointed up at me with a smirk. "Eyes are up here," he said, his tone teasing.

I quickly averted my gaze, feeling my face turn hot. "Sorry," I mumbled, shifting my focus to anything else.

He chuckled and walked closer. Kneeling down beside me, he whispered in my ear, "Hey now, don't be shy."

The proximity of his voice made me shiver. I stood up quickly, my heart racing. "I'll just... I'll be over here," I said, retreating to my bed and burying my face in the pillow to hide the blush creeping across my face.

He laughed, clearly enjoying my flustered state. "Where's the clothes?" he asked, breaking the silence.

I pointed toward the door. "B-beside the door," I stammered.

He changed quickly, and once he was dressed, I hesitated before turning around. I was still feeling the embarrassment from earlier.

"You can turn around now," he called.

I did, and found him sitting at my desk, flipping through my sketchbook. I felt my face heat up again. "You draw beautifully," he remarked, flipping through the pages.

"I'm not that good," I muttered, hiding half of my face with a pillow.

He hummed in thought, then turned to me. "About earlier... I'm not offended. It's fine," he said, a playful glint in his eyes. "I know my body is that beautiful."

I groaned into the pillow, feeling even more embarrassed.

He grinned, then settled onto the bed I had made for him. The room fell into an easy silence, broken only by the soft sounds of our breathing.

After a while, he opened his eyes and turned toward me. "So, who gave you that necklace?" he asked, his voice casual.

I paused, unsure how to respond. "It was a gift from a friend," I finally said, my fingers absently playing with the necklace.

He looked up at the ceiling, considering my words. "Where is your friend now?" he asked, his voice soft.

I didn't answer, feeling the familiar ache in my chest. Neal's face flashed in my mind, his eyes fading as he fell into the crack. The memory hurt, but I swallowed the pain.

"If you don't want to talk about it, it's fine," Joeress said, his voice understanding.

I looked at him, then changed the subject. "Are you okay sleeping on the floor?"

He smiled, his eyes closing in contentment. "I'm used to it."

I nodded, turning back to stare at the ceiling. "Oh, okay."

The silence in the room was comfortable, but my thoughts continued to drift back to the black-winged humanoid. What was his connection to me? Why had he saved me? I didn't know, but I was determined to find out.

"Goodnight," I said softly.

"Goodnight," he replied with a yawn, his voice warm and soothing.