Get Out

Date/Timing: 17 December 2005
Setting: Gottlieb house; Berlin, Germany
Revisioning "The Parrot and the Owl"
.
Hermann ....
Hermann lies in bed, wrists burning, head full of cotton wool.
Someone's there.
„„Manny?““
Dietrich.
He should ask him to leave.
He doesn't care enough to ask him to leave.
„„It's time to change your bandages.““
„Don't bother,“ he croaks.
„„Give me your arm, please, Manny.““
Hermann might move.
Dietrich's hand on his elbow, pulling his arm away from his body, then his fingers tease the sodden wrappings away from his skin.
Wet heat as fresh blood drips.
Maybe he'll lose enough this time.
But Dietrich works quickly, finishes both wrists.
Hermann's still alive.
He shouldn't be this disappointed.
Dietrich cards his hair.
He sighs, lets himself fall back to sleep.
Hermann ....
Hermann lies in bed, wrists burning, head full of cotton wool.
He's cold and shuffles his wings to better cover himself.
The blankets inch farther up his back, too.
Someone's there. 
„„I'm sorry, you know.““
Karla.
He should ask her to leave.
He doesn't care enough to ask her to leave.
Instead, he says, „About what?“
„„I'm sorry about the 'bluebird' thing.““
Oh. That.
„„I was awful to you and I'm sorry.““
„It was nothing.“
„„It was /something. I shouldn't have added to ... to your problems.““
„You're forgiven.“
„„Thank you, Manny.““
„If I weren't a monster, you wouldn't have—“
„„Listen! You're /not a monster and Father is /always wrong about you.““
„That doesn't matter. I still am.“ Tucks his wings closer to his back. „Anyone can see it.“
„„Feathers don't mean you're a monster.““
„They mean I'll never be normal.“ His eyes prick and he hates himself for it. 
Karla, silent, strokes his wings.
„I was lying to myself before. No one who knows could ever love me.“
Karla takes her hand back. „„I love you! Bunny and Dee love you!““
Hermann sniffs.
„„Someday, when you get away from Father, you'll find someone you can trust and who'll love you for /you.““
Hermann's pillow is damp.
„Karla. I might already have.“ Swallows. „Now I'll never find out.“
„„There's more than one boy in the world, Manny.““
„I'm not you.“
„„What's that supposed to mean?““
„I'm not pretty or flirty or the sort of per—creature—“
„„Stop calling yourself that!““
Hermann sighs. „I don't attract dates.“
„„Your first chance to meet people you found someone, Manny. You have any /idea how many clubs and meetings and taverns I have to visit to find someone decent?““ There's a smile in her voice. „„Who knows how many there will be the next time you get out.““
„They won't be him.“
„„Maybe not.““ Karla strokes along the length of his wing. „„They might be even more lovely.““
Hermann doubts it, but he's too tired to argue. 
Karla moves on to carding his his hair.
He sighs, lets himself fall back to sleep.
Category:Ficlet
Category:Berlin (setting)
Category:Hermann
Category:Hermann's POV
Category:Hermann (ficlet)
Category:Hermann has wings
Category:Karla
Category:Karla (ficlet)
Category:Dietrich
Category:Dietrich (ficlet)
Category:Lars (mention)
Category:Edan (mention)
Category:Ficlets with images