Leto stares at her with dilated pupils so large that their eyes almost appear black. Their hands are clutching at the railing and shaking, the air full of the grating noise of sirens and distant shouting. A lesser person might have broken down blubbering in this situation, but Fae was graceful in accepting defeat. It seemed that she was suggesting they allow the cops to barrel through the roof access door, which was now limply hanging from it's frame,and go down fighting together in a hail of bullets.
There's a bitter streak of anger in them, blaming themselves for letting Fae into their life. It was petty to think that up until she came along, they had successfully been able to avoid being caught; yet the thought remained, mocking and indignant. Mostly, they're enraged at the stupidity of the situation.
If only we didn't panic and run blindly up the stairwell. If only we hadn't been so careless. If only, if only... the words kept echoing in their mind.
They swallow with effort, their throat dry and sore. Looking back down below at the cop cars pulled up untidily, the few officers starting to cordon off the street, they try to imagine an impossible destiny where they are both released from custody after questioning.
No, Sir, the blood on our clothes and under our nails is ours. We had a mad fight. Your lab technicians will confirm it, and those witnesses will end up saying they misidentified us. In fact, we have our own witnesses to give us an iron-clad alibi. And I'm sure Fae has no priors on her record. Mine's spotless. Because you'll accept my name isn't an alias and you won't go digging.
They lift a hand to swipe away the sweat stinging their eyes, closing them a moment. The sweat is starting to turn to ice over them, and no amount of ragged breaths can calm their heartbeat.
Leto knows they could easily take down a handful of police. They know Fae would be able to do the same between swinging her knife and using up that stamina she's borrowed from Leto's blood. But they would eventually be stopped. The bullets wouldn't kill them, but the blood loss would.
"Never," Leto finally mumbles as they open their eyes. They whirl towards Faora and snatch her tightly in their arms. "Hold on, okay? Don't you let go no matter what!" They tell her loudly. It's the only instruction given for now. Explanations would come after.
The metamorphosis begins slowly at first but gradually speeding up. Their muscles swell, limbs, face, and fingers elongate. Talons and thick feathers sprout, growing over their clothes like a second skin. Soft sounds accompany the change, similar to the noise made when descaling a fish. And giant wings burst forth from Leto's back, bony at first but quickly covered with stiff feathers.
Their grip around Fae tightens further, practically burying her in their plumage as they carry her. It's the final warning before the wings flap wildly, and they jump atop the railing, balancing like they both weigh nothing.
They fall forward, falling down, down, down, until suddenly they're gliding, swooping upwards and flying silently above the city lights to a better, safer place.
