God, this is gorgeous. I love every bit of it, but I think what is getting me especially today is the wonderful Oz characterization... the small Oz-isms that just WORK so well.

"This is going to sound weird," he said. "But weren't you the boy with the wings?"

"That's sort of where I was heading with that, yeah." Oz ducked his head and smiled.

You just really have him down. Which... you always have, but maybe because you were forced to write something longer here, it really shows. I'm so impressed by this. It may be my favorite thing you've ever written, though certainly it has some serious competition.

In conclusion: Wow.