Please Don't Fly—

== Meta ==
Formerly "Trespasser"
(Please Don't Fly Where I Can't Follow: One)
10 August 2013
Zürich, ZH, Switzerland
== Text ==
Hermann's cell phone jars him from sleep on the night of August tenth. He flexes his wings in annoyance as he picks it up. He intends to give the caller a stern lecture about bothering a university professor in the middle of the night.
His sister's frantic voice cuts through his snippy, half-asleep hello when he slides the lock. ««Manny! You have to turn on the television! There's a giant monster attacking the States!»»
Hermann is still not completely lucid and considers that he's dreaming. «What?»
««There's a giant—thing attacking California!»» Karla's voice is hoarse from fear and wakes Hermann completely. He's only ever heard that voice when he shattered his leg and when he tried to kill himself. Whatever is going on, it's bad.
Hermann turns to the television next to his bed and switches it on. He need not change the channel; every single one is showing the same thing.
„My God.“ The thing is larger than a whale and swatting down planes like flies. Hermann can see people falling into the water below the Golden Gate Bridge. They are the lucky ones, Hermann can see. The monster's massive paws crush others. Hermann can't look too long before he wants to vomit.
«Wh—when did it start?» His own voice is thick and he tries to rein in his terror for his sister's sake. Karla is strong, but there's no reason to further upset her.
««Just a few hours ago.»» She stutters to a halt then begins again in English. ""The United States is working with the RAF,
but they're not stopping it."" Karla, brave Karla, swallows and continues in a steadier voice. ""Dietrich is already trying to book a plane to help, but they're not letting anyone anywhere near that thing. All the airports are completely shut down.""
"Is Bastien all right?" Hermann asks warily. He knows his brash, kind younger brother. Keeping him from the fray will be a true testament to their father's power over them all.
""He's desperate to go help like Dietrich, but Father is adamant that he stay put. He thinks we should let the States handle the problem,"" Karla says and the loathing is crystal clear in her voice.
Hermann is not surprised. Their father is quite an independent man, if one is being kind, and a selfish man if kindness is not warranted. "Well, at least he's safe," Hermann says before a yawn escapes him. "I'm going to have to go back to bed, Karla. I don't know what things here will be like tomorrow, but I need to focus for whatever chaos there is."
""No, go back to sleep. I'm going to try myself. I don't know if I can, though. Call me when you get up, all right?""
—It's silly to worry over me,— Hermann thinks as they exchange 'I love you's and 'goodnight's. He's not anywhere near the United States and neither is anyone he knows. But Karla has always worried about him, to both his anger and his gratitude.
Hermann lies awake long into the night as panic and worry swirl in his mind. He wishes, not for the first or last time, that he could see colors. Whatever the monster is in San Francisco Bay, it is a bright gray—almost as if it is shining silver. Hermann wants to know what the enemy looks like. It's easier to fight what you can understand. Hermann has learned this from his years hiding himself from the world.
The mathematician begins to slip into an uneasy sleep some hours later. His dreams shift and, thankfully, have nothing to do with the horror happening as he rests. For once, Hermann is grateful that his wings have kept him so isolated. No one he loves is at danger from the monster.
It's around eight in the morning when Hermann receives a second call and he learns exactly how wrong he is.
Category:Ficlet
Category:Hermann
Category:Karla
Category:Conversations on phones
Category:Hermann (ficlet)
Category:Karla (ficlet)
Category:Hermann has wings
Category:Trespasser (mention)
Category:K-Day
Category:Dietrich (mention)
Category:Bastien (mention)
Category:Lars (mention)
Category:Zürich (setting)
Category:Please Don't Fly Where I Can't Follow