40.3. Restless - Part 3

I somehow manage to ride the elevator without Erik. Miruel offers to comfort me instead of him because it's only mildly uncomfortable for her so far but I refuse. I need to become stronger on my own. When did I become so reliant on others anyway? I was always so independent.

I left Grandma's apartment as soon as I started earning money from streaming which was in my third year of secondary school. Since then, I've lived on my own. My telepathy made it hard for me, especially when I started dating and became addicted to the minds of my lovers but I'd always managed to get by without any help.

Everything is different now. Never would I ever have thought that the time comes when being alone becomes something unattainable. That I'd have people who depend on me and I'd depend on them. But I guess there're also good things in all this mess. I have true friends who accept me even with my telepathy. And I have Erik. I don't mind depending on them and I want to become someone they can rely on as well.

I stop by Liana's apartment, wanting to check up on her. Maybe even invite her for dinner to our place. But I realise that she's sleeping. It's easy to tell, a sleeping mind is not conscious and feels veiled. She must have been even more tired than I thought.

"Should we wake Her Excellency up for you, Your Majesty?" the guard standing in front of the door asks me. "Do you need to discuss something with her?"

"W-what? Of course not!" I shake my head wildly. "I just wanted to make sure she's okay."

I frown at him, angry that he'd seriously do that if I commanded it. I was out for ten days when I was recovering and it seems a lot of things have changed during my absence. Our bodies have kept adjusting, everyone's wings are much bigger now. But it's mainly subtle things that make me nervous. The way Draconians behave and it's becoming more and more prominent. How differently they think. How I think.

I head to our apartment. I promised Erik I won't be late and it's already ten past seven. I'm not in a particularly good mood but my worries dissolve immediately when I reach our living room. Erik is waiting for me with a huge bowl of popcorn and a grin on his face.

"I was thinking we could have a movie night," he says. He's changed into comfortable homely clothes I haven't seen on him for a long time.

"Oh," I'm pleasantly taken aback. "Okay?"

"We haven't done this since it all started," he pulls me close and kisses me. "Let's celebrate your recovery and today's successful meeting."

"Alone?" I whisper and I look around because Cien the maid is bringing some blankets for us and my guards are standing at the door.

"Alone, they'll leave soon," he assures me. "Let's get you changed into something more comfortable too."

I'm glad for that. While I got perfectly used to Celestial fashion by now, this ceremonial robe is rather hard to move in and I don't want to stain it accidentally. Erik helps me change into my sleeping kimono and puts a light robe on me so that I'm not cold. My shoes are exchanged for warm slippers that match Erik's. At least something we can have the same.

When we return to the living room, Cien is putting two pizzas on the coffee table and the guards are slowly leaving.

"Enjoy your evening, Your Majesty, Royal Consort," she smiles at us and closes the door behind her.

"Finally alone!" I celebrate. "Aren't you going nuts by so many people being around us all the time?"

"A bit," he admits and we spend a few moments cuddling.

"Our pizza will go cold," Erik realises and has to gently push me aside because I'm not willing to let go. "We have the whole evening free, love. There'll be time and place for more cuddling. I'm afraid I have to agree with the doctor that you have to eat."

I puff but obediently sit down on the sofa. Erik fiddles with the screen's remote, turns off the lights and sits down beside me. I hug him with my left wing and envelop him in my feathers instead of a blanket. He winks at me gratefully because he loves when I do that.

Because there's no one who would control my table manners, I use telekinesis to pass us the first slice of pizza—veggie for me, ham for Erik. The film starts but I don't really care about that. I'm enjoying the fact that I have this rare moment of calm relaxation with my boyfriend. Now more than ever I wish that I was just an ordinary Celestial.

Five minutes into the film I finally realise that Erik picked up a superhero movie that was recently in cinemas. I guess I mentioned once or twice that I'd like to go see it with him. But that was before the Great Evolution, it feels ages ago. But he remembered. My thoughtful perfect boyfriend remembered for me.

"What, are you not a geek anymore?" he teases me because he notices I'm watching him instead of the screen.

"I certainly still am," I poke him and pass us another slice of pizza.

I decide to focus on the movie more. I haven't seen a movie or played a videogame since it all started. I was either sick, working or injured. It's easy to forget one's hobbies when overwhelmed. But If I can have these evenings with my boyfriend, maybe life won't be as bad even if I'm the Emperor.

The pizzas disappear soon so we switch to crunching popcorn. Cien left us cola and mango juice so there's plenty to drink too. I'm pleasantly surprised that I'm still able to enjoy such a movie even though one appeal of it is gone. The world is full of people with superpowers now.

As the movie progresses, we both relax completely in each other's embrace but we don't get sleepy. On the contrary, we're excited for what's to come. The moment final credits appear on the screen, I'm already pushing Erik on his back, my wings trembling with anticipation. It's a miracle I managed to hold for so long but the movie was very good and it's been ages since I could do something geeky.

I'm almost choking Erik with hungry kisses and my feathers are everywhere. We had careful sex a few times when my recovery was almost done but nothing wild. I feel like we need to make up for it now.

"B-bedroom," Erik gasps for breath and tries to sit up.

I don't want to split even for a second so I grab him around his neck and wrap my legs around his waist. He has to hug me between my wings with one hand and support my weight under my bottom with the other in order to stand up. My wings get in the way of him walking so I twist them around his body.

"Love," he wheezes but bravely carries me even though he can't see much through my feathers.

At least Celestials are very light so he somehow manages to transport me into our bedroom. I want to push him on his back again the moment I touch the mattress but he smirks and doesn't let me. Although it'd never sleep like that, I don't mind lying on my wings if it's not for too long and it's soft beneath me.

Erik is happy for that, he likes to dominate me. If only my subjects knew that I'm totally submissive in bed. Maybe I would hopefully lose some of their respect if they found out? Well, let's not test that, we don't have enough privacy as it is.

I fully connect to Erik and my sensations intensify. I create a telepathic loop and now we both know what the other feels. Can there be higher pleasure? As a telepath since birth, I have no idea how normal sex feels like. It is too plain compared to this? Or more exciting because you don't know what the other person wants so you have to experiment?

"Erik, I love you," I whisper between moans and my surroundings blur.

There's only him in the whole world in moments like these.

*****

I wake up and for a few seconds I'm confused because it's the middle of the night. I'm usually so exhausted that my sleep is hardly ever interrupted. But something woke me up. I look at Erik sleeping soundly under my left wing.

I take a deep breath and go into light meditation. My telepathy sharpens and I quickly scan the building. Most people are asleep, only the security guarding the skyscraper is awake. Dead quiet. No negative emotions whatsoever. We should be safe.

I open my eyes again and realise that this strange unrest is coming from me. What is it? I feel at peace but at the same time so uncomfortable. I caress Erik's face, trying to fall asleep again while connecting to his mind. It should be like a lullaby of sorts. But no such luck, I'm too restless.

I quietly stretch my wings. It seems restlessness is mainly in my feathered limbs. I slowly sit up, then stand up from our bed and try to stretch my wings fully to relieve soreness. The room isn't big enough, though. What is my current wingspan right now? Seven meters?

I almost let out a cry when it finally hits me. I feel at peace because I'm finally complete. And I feel restless... because I desperately wish to fly. My body is done adjusting. I'm purely Celestial now. I'm ready to hit the sky!

Erik suddenly snores. It's rather cute but it startles me and my wings hit the window. Fortunately, it does nothing to the fortified glass. I turn around and look longingly outside. Windows in a skyscraper can't be opened, of course, due to security reasons. I shudder at the thought what I'd do if I could open it. I don't think anything in the world could stop me from just flying away.

I sit down and keep staring. The sky is so near and at the same time so far. Do they really mean to keep me inside until more Celestials are able to accompany me? What torture! I have to speak to Liana the first thing in the morning about it. I have to...

My eyes finally close. I fall asleep enveloped in my warm feathers, squeezing to the glass.