As Marshall moved closer - even though he was moving slowly - Juniper’s wings rose defensively. She backed up a little, even though there wasn’t really anywhere she could go, trying to just get out of his way for whatever he was doing. She twisted her fingers together, wings rustling as she watched him carefully reach out and turn off the light.
Her eyes adjusted instantly to the darkness, finding it much less painful than the adjustment to the light. As he sat on the ground, she hesitated before joining him, wincing a little as she knocked her wing against the bed. On the floor there was even less room, she stretched her wings out and wriggled, trying to get comfortable but it was hard. Her wings were far bigger than her and longer than her torso and when they stretched out, they hit the backless chair that was beside her desk.
She saw him reach out for her hands and tensed, drawing away only after he’d managed to touch them briefly.
“I just- I didn’t do anything wrong,” she said, her voice still shaking. Even in the dark it was clear to see her amber eyes were shining with tears. She rubbed her hand underneath them and blinked to try and clear the tears away, her secondary eyelid flicking across her eye a moment later. “I wasn’t hurting anyone and- And I- I don’t like it here.” She didn’t look like the others, Alejandro could hide his wings if he wanted to, tuck them against himself. “I- I wish I looked normal,” she added, her voice barely a whisper. “Maybe it’d be easier then.”