Note :: This is a story based right after, I would say, Maximum Ride : Schools Out - Forever.

P.O.V. :: Iggy

Pairing :: Fang x Iggy

Rating :: NC-17

~*~*~*~

My head lifted slightly, sensitive ears picking up the sounds of the rest of the Flock swarming around the area. We had once again escaped from Erasers; escaped from the school, and now we were just relaxing in a meadow, picking strawberries and stuff. Or that's what I could hear of them doing. My nose twitched, picking up the smell of flowers and fresh fruits. Well, I guess it wasn't /that/ bad now was it? A small smile moved over my face as the wind blew, rustling my, as I was told, strawberry blond hair around in my face.

Unlike the rest of the Flock, I couldn't see, so I didn't really enjoy picking up random things and popping them into my mouth to check if they were good or not. Instead, I sat idly in the field, listening to the others laughing and enjoying this small moment of peace and feeling the wind rustling through my skin and wings. It was nice to be able to let our wings out without others seeing us.

I heard Fang moving around, silent as ever, before I felt him sit down beside me. Fang was kind of like me. He could see, but he preferred not to do mindless acts like picking strawberries or playing in water or whatever we were doing that day. He was a little older, by a couple months, so I kind of looked up to him. Well, I couldn't see, but you know what I mean.

A tingle ran down my spine as I felt wings brush against mine. My head turned toward the direction of Fang, sightless eyes staring toward him. Fang was so random sometimes. I cocked my head, ready to say some snide or sarcastic comment before I felt the wings retreat. Sometimes, being blind really sucked. I leaned my head back, closing my never-seeing eyes and relaxing quietly. I could still hear everyone having a blast, so I wasn't particularly worried about any Erasers or White Coats sneaking up on us.

"You all right, Iggy?"

His voice was quiet, and dark, but I could hear it as clear as a bell. My head shifted slowly in the direction of Fang once again. Why was he asking me that? Tch. I was perfectly fine! Couldn't enjoy the relaxing day with the others, but I was fine. A small smile moved onto my face. Whether it was fake or not, I wasn't really sure, but I was fine. I knew I was.

"Huh? Course I am, Fang. What would give you the idea that the blind one isn't okay?" I asked, small sarcasm leaking into my voice.

I could feel his eyes on me. Maybe bringing sarcasm onto Fang was a bad idea… Oh well, already done. I let out a small chuckle before lying back, wings splayed out. I stretched my tall lanky body, feeling my shirt raise up and show my lean stomach. Before I realized it, my stomach was growling. I looked down, staring quietly before laughing and shaking my head. Guess it was time to refuel.

"Okay, guys, I think it's time to go get some grub! Come on, gather and get ready for take off!" Max called.

My head lifted before I slowly stood. I felt Fang move silently around me, heading toward the rest of the Flock and I followed quickly. Everyone seemed to be mumbling about having to leave, but I really didn't mind. My head tilted slightly, listening to the sound of footsteps and voices.

"I call Iggy!" Total shouted.

The little black dog was in my arms before I could protest.

"Oh my gosh! We should like, totally go to the mall! We can have whatever food we want and then some and no one will say a thing! We could get Chinese, and then tacos, and fries, and all sorts of things! Oh! Oh! And go shopping! Oh plea~se Max!" Nudge said from somewhere on my left.

"Nudge, sweetheart, we can't. We don't have the money and malls are crowded." Max explained.

"Garbage hunting?" Fang.

"Ew!" Nudge.

"Not that bad, Nudge! We used to do it all the time!" Gazzy.

"How about something fancy?" Angel.

"No." Fang and Max.

"Why don't we just hit up a burger joint?" Me.

"Yeah!" Gazzy.

So it was decided, a few moments later, that we would fly around until we found something that sold hamburgers. I felt two taps on my left hand, indicating that it was my turn to take off and feel where we go. I spread my long silver gray wings and flapped down hard while running. The air quickly caught, and I was up at least fifty feet. I felt wings brush mine, and followed them quietly. This was how I flew. I had to feel, rely on the others. The barest feel of downward air or brush of a wing told me where to go; when to turn.

I held the tiny dog in my arms as I flew, following the Flocks lead. This totally sucked. I sighed out, closing my eyes as my wings worked hard. I could hear them discussing possible places. It was finally settled that we would hit a McDonalds. I felt a wing brush against my chest and angled myself down, following the flock until I heard their feet touch. It was then that I pulled my feet down, wings folding gracefully as my feet touched.

As we walked, we pulled our wings tight against our bodies. My windbreaker was soon on my body, hiding my wings easily. Total had on a new vest that we had bought a while ago, saying "See and Eye Dog" on it and I had to put on sunglasses; keep up the image and everything. I followed them silently, feeling with my feet and fingers as I felt familiar hands touching my own every so often to tell me what was going on. I listened silently as we walked into the fast food place. My nose tingled with smells, and I relaxed slightly. It was so~ good smelling.

"Oh! I know what I want! I want a large soda, three salads, a fruit yogurt thing, and two orders of large fries." Nudge's order.

"Four hamburgers, two orders of chicken nuggets, two fries, one large soda." Fang's order.

"I want a salad, two kids meals, large fries, strawberry smoothie." Angel's order.

"I want one of all the combos!" Gazzy's order.

"Oh, Max, don't forget an order of chicken nuggets for Total!" Angel piped up.

"I know, Ange. Gazzy, pick something easier." Max said.

"Oh fine. I want a number one, two, three, five, nine, and… four. … And my soda!" Gazzy said grumpily.

"I'll just have four hamburgers, four large fries, a salad, and the twenty nuggets with a large soda." I murmured.

"Okay, I want a hamburger, nuggets, three fries, a salad and a large soda." Max murmured. "So, all together we need five large sodas, six salads, one fruit yogurt thing, twelve fries, nine hamburgers, five orders of nuggets, two kids meals, a strawberry smoothie, a number one, two, three, four, five, and nine… that all?"

"I want ice cream!" Gazzy said quickly.

"Okay…and a cone." Max said, her voice sweet.

If I could see the cashiers face, I know I would have laughed. Instead, I snickered as the other giggled under their breaths. The total was horrid, I won't even go into details, but half an hour later we were munching on about half our meal and talking to each other quietly. I was placed between Fang and Nudge, and opposite us were Angel, Gazzy, and Max.

"I'm telling you! I still think we should go find our families!" Nudge said between bites.

"But Nudge! We know how badly that could turn out! Just look at what happened to Ig-" Max seemed to cut herself off.

I lifted my head from my hamburger and blinked, gulping down the food. "Yeah… Don't want to be a showcase. It kind of hurt, ya know?"

Shockingly, Nudge went silent. I felt a hand on my own. It was small, and soft. So I figured it was Angel's. I let a small smile move onto my face and took another bite of my hamburger before popping a few fries in my mouth. The rest of lunch was quiet. We even left quietly, which was odd. Total let out a small yip and jumped up into my arms. I smiled softly, taking off with the rest of the Flock.

We flew for the rest of the day, and found a nice, quiet forest to land in. With quiet precisian, we landed and found trees we were comfortable in. I reached out, knowing what was coming. They formed the normal bumping fists thing around my hand, so I would know where to go. I smiled and stretched my wings out, closing my eyes and relaxing. I could ear the rest of the flock falling asleep.

"Iggy?"

My head lifted slightly, body tired now. I let out a yawn, wings flopping down and hanging somewhat low. I felt wing tips brush up against my bare arms, got to love T-shirts, and shifted my head to keep my head toward the speaker. Fang… why was he talking to me so much lately? I cocked my head, letting out a small yawn.

"What?"

"Are you okay?"

The same question…? "Um…yeah. I'm perfectly fine, Fang… are you?"

There was no response. I frowned and closed my eyes, drifting to sleep quietly, hoping that Fang would be normal when we woke up for morning flight.