You don't need telling that it's a bad idea not to do what Marissa wants. She already changed you once, and apparently she's done worse to many others. You don't understand her powers, or even her motives exactly. That makes her practically the most dangerous enemy you could acquire. But this is the first time you've had even a moment of freedom since you were changed. If you don't use this chance while you can, maybe you won't get another!
Gaige has no way of knowing what you've decided at first. He peeks out of your breast-pocket every now and then, watching the streets around you. You aren't sure what might happen if he were observed by others, and maybe he isn't either, because whenever you get close to anyone else on the street, he dodges back into your pocket and falls dead silent. You get plenty of strange looks even so, though you can't tell if they're staring at your bizarre clothes or the little bird riding on your shoulder.
Well he sometimes is. Justin flutters through the air alongside you, surging with excitement and reveling in his newfound freedom. You don't tell him to stop--even if you can't fly yourself, letting him do it, is the next best thing. You can almost taste the air up there with him, in a world that barely resembles the one you're living in. For Justin, every structure is a vast mountain and the streets are dark, dangerous canyons. As he flies, you share a little of his thrill to be daring to explore them for the first time.
But he never ventures far. there's considerable fear in Justin, fear for things you don't quite understand. But he never gets far from you. Even while you're watching other things, or just pointedly pretending not to notice people, you can feel exactly where he's flying and how far away he is.
Gaige peeks out again as soon as the coast is clear, resting both hands on your pocket. "It's a little bumpy, but this is exactly what I hoped for! You can just... go wherever you want! There's nothing to crush you, no owls or hawks to worry about... how does that feel?"
You shrug. It's a good thing you can act like you have so many important things to look at. You'll just have to hope that neither of you get in trouble. _I'm not running away,_ you think. _I just have to know what happened._ "When we use that word, it usually means something else." Something you wouldn't have even thought about a few days before. Now, though, you have a reminder of just how different you are every time the breeze lifts your skirt. You really should have spent more time getting dressed, you could've picked something more boyish. Next time.
"You have no idea how spoiled you are, then. If you just look..." he leaned forward out of your pocket just a little. But instead of finishing his sentence, he wiggles back inside, falling silent."
You might not even know what's embarrassed him so much if it wasn't for the little twitches you felt whenever he moved around. His whole body is now resting against your chest, and the touch there is more sensitive than would otherwise just be background. _Right. I can't just put things there anymore._ You would have to be careful about that too. One more thing for the list.
Then you reach the bridge, and pass it by. Gaige isn't watching to notice, and he isn't watching when you dodge between two familiar alleys, then pass into the parking lot of your apartment. You walk right past your numbered spot, which sits empty, then make your way to the door. You still remember the code, and you key it with one hand without even really looking. It's only when the door buzzes and the building opens that Gaige finally looks up.
"What? Where is this, Day?" It's a good thing there's no one downstairs. You keep your voice to a whisper as you go for the stairs, then start climbing. "I have to check something real quick before work. It won't take long."
The snake hissed in frustration, and you get a brief glimpse of a tongue that's way longer than it should be. Crazy he has room for all that. "Marissa said you had to be there to open!" he said, tone increasingly frustrated and fearful. "Day, you don't want her mad!"
You ignore him, opening the door to your floor, and speeding up into a slow jog. You find your door, and your last name is still there on the nameplate. _But the ID changed._ You don't think about the inconsistency, just reaching down to your pocket for the key. Of course there's nothing there, and you swear under your breath. Of course you don't have the key anymore. You glance nervously to either side, but there are no neighbors in the hall. You jump abruptly, dislodging Justin from your shoulder with a nervous flutter, but you catch onto the address plate. It comes off in your hands, adhesive peeling away from the door. Underneath is your spare key.
"Day!" Gaige shouts, or shouts for his size anyway. He's sunk back down into the pocket now, barely a head visible over the fabric. "Day, you need to stop this! There's nothing in there you need!"
You slide the key into the door, then twist. It opens, and you hurry into your apartment. Well, yours and your girlfriend's. She moved in with you about two months ago.
"I was wondering what happened to you, David," she calls from the kitchen. You smell bacon and other breakfasty smells, which really should be expected this early. "I called you three times last night wondering where you went. You better have a good explanation."
She spins around to face you. Kelly is luckier than you ever thought you'd get, a shorter burnette with the most adorable laugh. She doesn't laugh as she sees you standing in the entryway. Her mouth hangs open, and she drops the spatula in her hand.