Kio woke up the next morning with a splitting headache. His mind was fuzzy and limbs sore. His wings twitched weakly at his back as he blinked his eyes open. The room was dark, but a glance at the clock above the door told him it was 6 am. What an ungodly hour to wake up. He would usually drift back to sleep for another hour or so but his head was pounding and made sleeping very difficult. He looked down at Touya and Keigo, both snoring away peacefully.
Smiling softly, he unwrapped his arms from around them and sat up slowly. He stretched his wings and aching limbs before quietly making his way to the bathroom, intending to get some painkillers for his headache. Grabbing a bottle of water, he took some medicine and sipped slowly, leaning against the sink.
'I remember everything'. Although he wasn't in control of his actions, Kio could clearly recall everything he did this past week. Including killing that worker. A chill ran up his spine at the bloody mess he left that man in, barely recognisable. Would Keigo and Touya be scared of him now? They didn't seem to mind yesterday but maybe it just hadn't sunk in yet?
Panic scrambled his mind as he gripped the edge of the sink. His eyes locked with his own in the mirror, memories of pointed ears and sharp fangs flashing before him. He didn't regret his actions, not one bit, but thinking about the possible rejection and disgust from the people he cared about most...
He felt like a monster.
He clawed at his hair, tears brimming in his shut eyes, before a soft hand wrapped around his wrists and tugged them away. His eyes snapped open, meeting calm, electric blue. Touya gave him a small, comforting smile, reaching up to rub lightly at his head and soothing the dull pain Kio had caused himself. He leaned into the touch, a shaky breath leaving his lips.
Touya gently guided him back to bed, where Keigo was still snuggled in the blankets. As they climbed into bed, Touya lay in the middle and turned to face Kio.
Kio snuggled closer, head resting on Touya's chest as he ran his fingers through his dark strands. Kio's eyes fluttered closed at the feeling, relaxing into the touch. He draped his wings over the three of them, reaching over Touya to gently tug Keigo closer. He watched Keigo press against Touya's back, wings twitching lightly in response to his touch. With a small, content sigh, Kio fell back asleep.
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"So you guys aren't scared of me now?"
The trio was currently standing outside after having breakfast, leaning against the side of the building in the shade and watching the other trainees mill about.
Touya and Keigo shook their heads, taking a hand each and squeezing gently. Touya flicked him softly on the forehead with a small smile.
"We'll never be scared of you, no matter what happens."
Keigo nodded in agreement, wings ruffling happily as he cuddled closer to Kio's side. He had become a lot more cuddly after Kio's return, not that either Kio or Touya were complaining, they were more than happy to cuddle with the little bird whenever he wanted. Kio wrapped a wing around Keigo, pressing him closer to his side. He extended his other wing for Touya, who happily stepped up and threw an arm over Kio's shoulder, wings settling around him and engulfing him in warmth.
They didn't notice the odd looks the other trainees sent their way. Some looked on in jealousy at their little affectionate display, while others wore looks of disgust. It's not like they cared what others thought of them anyway.
They stood in comfortable silence before Kio glanced over at Touya and noticed something which should have been pretty obvious from the start.
"Hey, have you always been taller than me?"
Touya stepped back slightly, looking down at Kio and realising he did, in fact, have to look down at Kio even if it was only by a little bit. He smirked lightly, placing a hand on his head and ruffling his hair.
"I guess so, only by a little though, and you look bigger than me with those wings of yours."
Kio grinned, wings twitching with pride before both turned to Keigo with mischievous looks.
Keigo had been quietly watching their interaction with curiosity, and when he noticed the looks in their eyes as they turned to him, he stepped away slightly, eyes narrowed in suspicion and wings pressed tightly to his back.
"What?"
They both grinned, Touya coming round to Keigo's other side, squishing him between them both. Kio wrapped an arm around his waist while Touya wrapped an arm around his shoulders. He stood there, confused, eyes blinking rapidly and head swivelling between the two. Kio and Touya grinned at each other, looking down at Keigo before saying in perfect unison.
"You're tiny."
Keigo's wings immediately puffed up, mouth opening in indignation but unable to get a word out as Kio and Touya laughed loudly. They pressed in closer to him, squishing him in their arms. Keigo noticed he was, in fact, the smallest one there but he refused to acknowledge that simple fact. He struggled in their arms, incoherent shouts leaving his lips as the other two continued to laugh and hold him in place.
"Hey listen! I'm not that short!"
Kio and Touya tightened their hold on him, stopping his furious thrashing. He continued to squirm with a scowl on his face, leaning away from Kio's hand who poked his cheek gently.
"You're small and squishy."
Kio and Touya watched with satisfaction as Keigo's cheeks turned a bright red. He huffed, stopping his squirming and going limp in their arms, letting them carry his weight. He smirked lightly as they stumbled, not expecting him to drop, before pressing in closer to keep him in place.
Kio and Touya glanced at each other before Touya pointed to his shoulder with gleeful mischief. Kio caught onto what he was implying and nodded his head in equal excitement.
Keigo was too busy trying to fight down the blush on his cheeks to notice their small interaction. He yelped in surprise as he was suddenly lifted up and settled on Kio and Touya's shoulders. They each had an arm around one of his legs and steadying hands on his thighs. He grabbed onto their shoulders, looking down at them in bewilderment.
"Now you're taller than us."
Keigo blinked a few times before giggling quietly. His wings flapped happily as he looked down at their matching grins. He pointed a finger towards the door with a delighted grin.
"Onwards then! To training!"
Kio and Touya gave him mock salutes before dramatically marching forward. They opened the doors, Kio shooing people out the way as they marched down the corridors while Touya just laughed at his words.
"Make way! The prince is coming through!"
"Make room for royalty!"
"Move it, peasants!"
Touya would've stopped him, but seeing the blush on Keigo's cheeks and the joyous smile on his face, he let Kio continue shouting at people, occasionally apologising along the way.
Once they finally reached their training hall, Keigo slowly lowered himself from their shoulders. Turning to them with a delighted grin, he threw his arms around them, bringing them into a big hug which Kio and Touya quickly returned.
They could tell he had a lot of fun with the way he wouldn't stop bouncing in their arms and the excited chirps leaving his lips. They looked at each other, proud grins on their faces as Keigo let go and skipped away, wings still fluttering happily. Touya raised a hand, palm up as he glanced at Kio.
"Guess all that physical training really came in handy huh."
Kio clasped his hand, swinging it lightly as he started dragging him over to Keigo, throwing a soft grin over his shoulder at him.
"It really did."
They sat down next to Keigo by the far wall, who draped his wings over their shoulders. They took that as an invitation to stroke the soft feathers, feeling Keigo melt against them with a relaxed sigh. They sat there quietly, relaxed with each other's presence, when a commission member came sauntering up to them.
"Kio, come with me."
He hesitated, feeling Keigo's wings tighten around him. Slowly standing up, he took a step forward before feeling a hand grip his wrist. He looked down at Touya, seeing the fear and anxiety swirling in his eyes. Gaze sliding over to Keigo, he saw a similar expression on his face.
Squatting down, he smiled softly as he gently ran a hand through their hair. They shuffled forward towards him, lips trembling ever so slightly.
"Don't worry, I won't let them take me away again."
Kio kept his voice calm and reassuring, hiding his own panic as he felt them lean into his touch. The commission member coughed loudly, signalling for him to hurry up. He gave her a dirty look over his shoulder before reluctantly standing up. He felt Keigo place something soft in his hand and curled his fingers around it so the lady couldn't see it. He gave them both one last comforting smile before following the commission member out the door.
He stuffed his hands in the pockets of his shorts, following behind the lady as she led him up the stairs and through various corridors. They eventually came to a stop in front of a heavy metal door. The lady unlocked it and slid it open, stepping inside and motioning for him to do the same. He hesitated at the doorway. The room was dark, like the one they had locked him in beforehand.
He felt panic rise in his chest, breaths getting caught in his throat as visions of rage and insanity flashed before his eyes.
Just then, he felt something soft brush his fingers in his pocket. It was comforting and grounding as he ran the pad of his finger over it. He realised then that Keigo had given him one of his smaller feathers. It sent a wave of relief through him. They were with him, if anything happened, they would know and come help him.
With a much calmer heart, he stepped into the room, holding onto that familiar softness. He followed the sound of footsteps, eyes darting around the room, trying to see beyond the darkness. A bright light suddenly opened up in front of him causing him to shield his eyes.
He lowered his hand as he walked into what seemed to be a meeting room. There already a few other commission members seated at the table, the lady who escorted him quickly taking her seat beside her co-worker. The person sitting at the head of the table stood up, a stern-looking woman with a permanent looking scowl on her face.
"I'm assuming you're aware of why you're here?"
Kio took a deep breath, stroking his fingers over the feather once more to calm his beating heart.
"If it's about me killing that one guy then yeah."
She stared him down for a while, before pressing a button on a remote. A screen lit up beside the table, showing the bloody remains of the man he had murdered. Kio winced looking at the horrendous sight. You really can't tell that used to be a person.
He nervously glanced at the president of the hero commission, although he wasn't in control of his actions at the time, he doubted he would've reacted any differently and he had a feeling she knew that. He watched with bated breath as she sat back down on her chair, hands folded under her chin as she regarded him with calculating eyes. He tried his hardest not to fidget under her gaze, hands tightening around the small feather. The picture on the screen changed to him holding Keigo and Touya.
"Just how far are you willing to go for these boys?"
"As far as I need to."
He stared back at her, eyes unwavering now that Keigo and Touya were mentioned. He saw the small smirk form on her face before she huffed lightly in satisfaction.
"That's exactly the type of attitude we're looking for in the hero commission."
He tilted his head in confusion, not understanding what she was saying, but as long as he got to stay with Keigo and Touya, he couldn't really care less.
"We'll be giving you extra training regarding your new...powers. Instead of taking social classes like the other trainees, you will have private training sessions in the gym on the upper floor. Effective immediately. Am I understood?"
Everyone in the room, including Kio, nodded before she waved her hand dismissively, signalling the end on the meeting. Everyone stood up and bowed their heads, Kio copying their movements before the same lady from before came up to him and escorted him back down the stairs to Keigo and Touya.
As he stepped into the hall, training had already begun and he scrambled to get in place. He looked over towards where Keigo and Touya were practising, throwing them a little peace sign with a big grin and watching the tension fade from their shoulders.
When training finally came to an end, Keigo ran up to Kio, feathers ruffling happily. He jumped into his arms with an excited grin on his face.
"I could hear things! Not everything but a lot of things! Through my feather. Did my feather help?"
Kio laughed softly as Touya jogged over, the small glint in his eyes telling him he already knew about Keigo's excitement. He pulled a small, red feather out of his own pocket, showing Kio before placing it back. Kio turned back to Keigo, who was looking up at him expectantly and poked his squishy cheek.
"It did help. A lot."
Keigo grinned bright, a happy chirp leaving his lips. Kio stepped back, swinging an arm towards the door as he smirked over at Touya who immediately stepped up beside him, ready to follow whatever little plan he had now.
"Ready to go, prince?"
Both Kio and Touya held back their giggles as Keigo's face turned bright red. Touya stepped over to Keigo's other side, throwing an arm over his shoulder.
"Don't wanna be late for lunch now do we, little bird?"
Keigo huffed before marching out the door, pointedly ignoring the giggling 10-year-olds following behind him. They knew he wasn't too upset with them, the fluttering feathers in their pockets were evidence of that.