He walked, and walked, as if that's all he could do. His body felt cold as his heart, even the bright sunshine couldn't heat it. Everything passed with its timeline. One by one went through him and made their thoughts of he was just the air. No one stopped to care about him. They were too busy for that, or they were scared of him? Whatever the reason, he didn't care. He had spent many years like this, lonely... painful... Ever since he was born, people all looked at him with their eyes of terror and hate. Just because of that curse, they all believed that he was a monster and ruined everything of the child by the cruel world they gave him. He gradually got used to it, accepted it, and ignored it. Day to day, he lived by stealing people's food. Obviously, no one had ever been able to catch him. He didn't care about anyone's feelings. He was literally free, he could go everywhere he wanted, but his soul was a bird in cage.
He stopped, sat down on the cold and dirty ground, right in front of the fences of a large kindergarten. He cursed his damn belly. There should have been something in his stomach today, but unfortunately, this area was not a good idea to steal from. Security and order management here was really strict. Even with his speed and intelligence, the success rate was still very low. He closed his eyes, trying to forget about his weak body.
"Excuse me..."
A gentle voice woke him up. It sounded as soft as the flapping of butterfly's wings, but there was a bit chirping like a bird's. He turned his head to where he was leaning his back and suddenly saw a little girl. His heart missed a beat. No one had made him flutter before. But this time, he had to admit, she was the most adorable one he had ever seen. Her buttercream skin was even more beautiful than the sunshine. Her light pink hair covered her shoulders and gracefully fell down to her hip. The white butterfly-shaped hairclip on it made her look more lovely. Her tiny hands gripped the iron fences. The special thing that attracted him the most was her look she was giving him, it's different from all the others'. It was the warmest and most innocent look he had ever received. He couldn't find any fear in it. He wanted to watch those beautiful teal eyes forever, everything of her was so perfect. But that moment was broken when he heard her call again.
"What do you want, little one?" He asked after he had completely returned to reality.
"Um... Do you want... I mean... If you don't mind, can you... Well..." She stammered, then awkwardly looked down.
"Go on."
"I just want to ask... if you would like something to eat." She raised her head and caught his eyes, but the confusion was still on her face.
"Wait. Did you just ask me if I wanted something to eat?"
"W-Well... If you don't want anything, it's okay. I understand."
He was shocked at her question. This girl had just asked a question that he had never heard from anyone before. Not only was she not afraid of him, but she was also cared about him.
"I saw you lying on the ground. You looked very tired and exhausted. I thought you were hungry so..." Seeing him silent, she began to stroke her hair in confusion. "S-Sorry, I bothered you, didn't I?"
"Not at all."
She was quite shy. But it made her cuter. She took a piece of bread and a bottle of apple juice out of her bag, then handed them to him. He accepted them, the smell of bread interested his sense. He returned to his place on the ground and began to devour the bread.
"I'm sorry. I wish I had some more..."
"It's okay. At least it is better than an empty stomach."
The taste of the bread was the same as the others', but there but there was something that made him feel like this one was much better. Could it be the warmth from her hands?
"You're alright? The ground is really cold, not to mention the rain last night. I don't think it dried yet."
"Don't worry. I'm already used to it."
He continued to eat and didn't notice her gaze. Suddenly, a tickled feeling on his back made him nearly drop the bread. He turned his head and and saw a surpise. She was playing with his wings curiously, just like a kitten. "Soft." She unconsciously uttered a word that he also heard. After receiving the surprise long enough, he turned back to face her. The wings left her hands in frustration, her touch, actually, was so comfortable that he wanted to ignore everything and enjoy it. She started trembling when he saw his frown.
"O-Oh my ..."
"I hope you have a reason for that."
"I ... I'm sorry. It's just ... I am quite interested in something related to animals. But ... are they real?"
"Of course they are real."
He waited to see frightened expression from the young girl, surprisingly things didn't go the way he expected. She stared at him without blinking. Her next question surprised him a bit.
"So... that means you can fly?"
"So what?"
"Can you please come in here?"
"You'd allow me?"
"Why not?"
He listened to her and flapped his unusual wings together. His body began to lift off the ground and pass over the fences. She carefully watched all of his moves. He flapped slower. As his feet stood on the grass, the little girl raised her body and tried to reach his head but failed. Their heights were too diffirent. It took him a while to realise that her purpose was his horn and antler. They were quite small and covered by his hair, so she did not see them at first.
"Forget it. No touching."
"Ah, okay."
She sat down on a bench near there and gestured him to sit next to her. He kept enjoying his meal. She just watched him in silence. He was truly very hungry.
"Can you please stop looking at me like that? I can't have meal while someone keeps staring at me."
"Oh, how rude of me." She turned away. "Um ... what's your name?"
"What?"
"I know my questions bother you. But you haven't told me your name yet ..." She hid her face behind her hair again, as if it were her habit.
"If you want to know someone's name, you have to introduce yourself first."
"Ah, yes. I'm Fluttershy."
Though her voice was quite low, it was enough for him to hear. After all, she was still shy with him. 'Fluttershy ...' Her name came out from his throat. This name was really pretty, and perfect for her personalities.
"Now it's your turn."
"Discord."
"Discord? That's an interesting one!"
"What?!"
"Why must you always seem surprised at all of my words? Did I say something wrong? "
He didn't know if this girl was really serious. She gave him food, then worried for him, touched him with no hesitation or fear, asked his name and even compliment it. She treated him as if he were not a thief, or a monster, but her old friend. Discord tried to get his courage to ask her.
"Why are you so nice to me?"
"Is there any matter?"
"Well, no. But ... aren't you scared of me?"
"Scared? Scared of what?"
Discord pointed at his head and spreads his wings. He was referring to the body unlike anyone else's. The body was a combination of many parts of different creatures: a head with an ivory deer antler on the right and a turquoise goat horn of the left; a long fang that showed out of his mouth; a purple bat wing on the right and the left one is a blue bird wing; finally, a big red dragon tail. His dark skin with his black and white messy hair made him look even more ugly and scary. She was dumbfounded for a moment, then chuckled softly. He blushed in embarrassment at that respond.
"What's so funny?"
"Oh, sorry Discord. It's just ... you told me ... to be scared of you because of that?"
"You aren't?"
"Of course not. It's true that you look strange, but that doesn't mean you're scary. Besides, your animal body parts are ... lovely, and soft."
Discord blushed even more intensely. His face was as hot as it was on fire. The word 'lovely' didn't stop repeating in his head.
"Why do you ask me that question?"
"Everyone's scared of me. Nobody has ever treated me like this." Discord's demeanour began to be one of sadness as his eyes began to fill with tears. "They all laugh at me, not laugh with me. They look at me with horrified eyes, even when I didn't do anything. They just-" He stopped when she suddenly hugged him. . "F-Fluttershy?"
"I'm so sorry Discord. I'm sure they just don't understand your feelings. Here, a hug will help you feel much better."
He looked down at those tiny hands gripping his shirt until it crumpled, then turned to the little girl pressing her chest against his back. Fluttershy was really small, especially compared to him. Discord held her hand as gently as possible, as if she was a delicate flower that could be broken at any moment. The warmth spread from his hands to all his body. Her everything was very comfortable. Her silky hair, her innocent teal eyes, her buttercream skin, everything that made him feel like heaven, even if this is the first time he met her. She was simply too perfect.
"Um ... Discord?"
Her voice awakened Discord from his dream. He felt quite annoyed because of the interruption.
"What?"
"Um ... Well ... It's not something really important, but ... you're holding my hand too tightly."
She glanced up to make him notice the hand lying on his cheek. Discord immediately released it. Fluttershy rubbed her wrist. Discord looked at her with guilt.
"Sorry..."
"Oh it's okay. Just a little painful."
"I didn't notice when I did that ..."
"You looked so happy, so I just leave it. Feel much better?"
He only replied with a nod. It truly felt really good. She smiled sweetly. Suddenly, a call came from inside.
"Fluttershy! Where are you?!"
"Oh no, I have to go now. Goodbye."
"Wait!"
As soon as she was about to run away, he quickly grabbed her wrist and forgot about the bruise for a moment. When she let out a soft squeal, he hurriedly released.
"Yes?" She tilted her head.
"Will I ... be able to see you again?"
"Why not?"
"When? And where?"
"Tomorrow. Right here."
"Are you still ... not scared of me?"
"No."
"Why do you put so much faith in me? Don't you think I'm going to harm you?"
"No way. You don't look like a bad guy."
"And why are you so sure about that? Don't you know that your kindness and innocence could kill you?"
"I know kindness can never kill me. I believe in myself."
Discord looked at the small girl that started to fade behind the door in surprised. He lightly touched his palm. Her warmth and fragrance still remained on his body. He wanted to feel her hug again. Somehow his heart desired to see that little girl more intensely than ever. He couldn't wait until tomorrow. For the first time in his seemingly dark life, he had found a shine of hope.
Author's Note
I have always wondered should I continue "Party for One". I find the next chapter pretty silly. So what do you guys think? Should I publish next chapter or not?
