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They had been camped on the outskirts of a small town for about a week, investigating reports of young women going missing on the roads leading into town. With nearly all relatives of the women who had been abducted earlier dead or missing, nearly every hint or clue Sabito was able to pick up from the few villagers willing to cooperate led to a dead end. In the end, it was a chance encounter that led him to find the demon’s nest.
After flying back to the tent he and Giyuu were currently residing in, he found his partner outside preparing some sort of dinner for the two of them. He smiled when the other looked up at him expectantly, the light of the fire reflecting in his tired eyes. He seemed to take in the way Sabito held his wings high and proud before gesturing for him to sit.
“I found it’s nest about a mile north. We can ambush it when it leaves in search of someone else to eat.” He announced as he flopped down next to his companion, their wings brushing from the closeness. He somehow missed the faint blush rising on Giyuu’s cheeks as he handed him a bowl full of some sort of rice and vegetable dish. “Thanks.” He hummed as he scooped some of the rice into his mouth. “You didn’t have to cook you know. I can feed myself.” He groused, his tone at odds with the way his wings fluffed up, pleased that Giyuu had thought of him.
Giyuu shrugged as he picked at his food, seeming to look everywhere but at Sabito. “Some of the villagers were kind enough to give us some supplies as a thanks for helping them. I didn’t want to waste it.”
His dark wings were tucked neatly behind him as they always were, pristinely groomed and shining in the firelight. In this lighting it was hard to see where the black primary feathers gradually faded to a stunning cobalt blue at the tips, especially with the way the other always kept them tucked close to his back. While they seemed plain to others, Sabito knew how they shone a with an almost iridescent glow under the moonlight. How elegant Giyuu looked when he soared through the sky and forgot everything around him. His pale skin and blue eyes made him seem almost ethereal under the moonlight, and Sabito found his gaze lingering on the details of the other’s face as his mind wandered.
All of the other pillars found Giyuu to be irritating in his unapologetic and uncaring manner. How he somehow managed to look even the most intimidating of them in the eyes without faltering. He could care less what others the thought. He knew how Giyuu really acted when it was just the two of them. He wanted to tell him he thought these things, but he didn’t know what he would do if his feelings weren’t returned. And he wasn’t willing to ruin this just because he couldn’t keep it in his pants.
It took some effort to tear his gaze away from Giyuu and focus on his food, knowing they would be leaving as soon as they were done eating. “We should be heading out soon. If we fly instead of walk we should be able to ambush the demon before it realizes we’re there.” He informed as he finished his meal and began to pack the few things he had brought with him, noting that Giyuu had already begun to do the same.
After they returned the cookware to the villagers, they took to the skies with a promise to defeat the demon. Sabito’s large, cream colored wings created quite a bit of dust as he left the ground, looking back to see Giyuu silently following him. If it weren’t for his red haori, you wouldn’t have known he was there at all, blending perfectly with the night sky. They headed up the mountain to where Sabito had seen the den, tucked away behind a pile of fallen boulders that would provide the perfect shade from the sun during the day. As they drew near Giyuu motioned to what had to be the demon, and without a second thought Sabito swooped down to attack.
The demon was a grotesque creature with long spindly arms that dragged behind it, almost as if they had no joints keeping their shape. It hissed and shouted curses as Sabito’s sword grazed it’s shoulder, just barely dodging enough to keep it’s head on. It lashed long, hooked claws at him which he easily deflected. “ Back off!” It growled through jagged teeth that it bared menacingly as it grew back the hand it lost while attempting to slash Sabito’s face. “This is my territory! You don’t get to be here!” It screeched as it unleashed a flurry of swipes, slowly backing him towards the cliff face. He blocked each swipe with ease but couldn’t make much headway. He noticed Giyuu in the trees behind the demon, readying himself.
The plan had been for Sabito to distract the demon and hold it off until Giyuu was in position to swoop down. From there they would both take out the demon.
But just as Giyuu moved into position the demon used a blood demon technique, unleashing a massive blast from its gaping jaws at the cliffs above him. Before he could react, he was tackled out of the way of the falling debris by Giyuu, who immediately turned and launched himself at the demon. His wings spread in anger, every feather standing on end as he acted without thinking, something Sabito had rarely seen him do before.
“Breath of water, Second sty-“
The demon lashed out and kicked Giyuu away mid breath, winding him. Sabito gasped at the sound of Giyuu grunting in pain as his back hit a tree. “Giyuu!” He shouted as anger rose like fire in his throat and he launched himself at the demon. “Breath of Water, Fourth style: Striking tide!”
As the demon’s head fell to the ground with a heavy thud and began to disintegrate, he quickly sheathed his sword and ran to his partner. “Giyuu, are you okay?” He worried as he felt Giyuu over, forgetting the other’s pillar status momentarily until a hand settled on his and he looked at Giyuu’s face to see what appeared to be mild irritation. He paused in his checking of the other, having never seen Giyuu make that face at him.
“ I’m alright. Just help me up.” Giyuu assured, though the look in his eyes said otherwise. He seemed pale, even more so than usual, his eyes slowly becoming hazy as they struggled to focus. But Sabito knew that even if he pressed, Giyuu wouldn’t accept his worry, seeing it only as pity. So he helped him up instead.
He instantly regretted it. The second Giyuu was upright his eyes rolled back in his head and he pitched sideways. “Giyuu?!” Sabito barely managed to catch him before he hit the rocky ground. Panic set cold in his chest as he laid him on his lap and quickly checked him over. His breathing was raspy, and after a moment Sabito discovered a set of claw marks on his side where the demon had kicked him. They weren’t too deep, but the skin around them was becoming inflamed and discolored.
“Shit..” He cursed under his breath as he carefully picked Giyuu up, being mindful of his injuries, as he took off in the direction of the Butterfly mansion.
*** POV switch ***
Giyuu floated in and out of consciousness for a few days. He could vaguely hear people talking but he couldn’t seem to open his eyes against the pain in his head. If he breathed in too deeply it sent a lance of searing pain down his spine, but in the end that was what woke him up. He slowly cracked his eyes open to see the roof of the medical wing in the Butterfly mansion, trying to recall what had happened.
He had been fighting a demon with Sabito when it tried to crush him under rocks. He had protected him and the demon had kicked him into a tree. He had felt pain in his wings and a slight sting in his side, nothing he shouldn’t have been able to handle. Everything after that was fuzzy...
“Oh! You’re awake. Thank goodness.” Shinobu’s calm voice drew his attention from trying to recall how he arrived there. Her smile was at odds with the irritated look in her eyes as she stood from where she had been seated beside him with a wet washcloth. “I’ll go get Sabito, though I do wish you had better timing. I just chased him for the fifth time today.” With that she stepped out and he was left laying alone. He made an attempt to sit up but a burning sensation across his shoulders stopped him in his tracks.
Just as he laid back down with a slight hiss, Sabito blew into the room like a category 5 typhoon, startling him.
“Thank the gods you’re awake! Shinobu said you were poisoned and that you hurt your wings somehow and -“ He stopped listening as Sabito rambled on and on, sitting on the edge of the bed. He looked like he hadn’t slept in a few days. He was pulled from his thoughts by Sabito’s warm hands enveloping one of his, the touch soft compared to the stern look Sabito was giving him. “ You’re staying here until you’re better, and so am I,” Giyuu opened his mouth to protest but Sabito cut him off before he could say anything, “ Oyakata-Sama gave me permission. So I’m staying whether you like it or not.”
“You really don’t have to do that....” Giyuu mumbled, averting his gaze as he felt his cheeks flush. It’s not like Sabito needed him to go on missions with him, even if their twin breaths of water worked miraculously together. All he really did was hold him back. He caught sight of Shinobu lingering in the doorway with a knowing look in her eyes. Ah, so this was your idea. He thought as he narrowed his eyes, hoping she could feel his resentment.
She seemed to get an evil glint in her eyes as she stepped further into the room. Only then did he notice a basket of what appeared to be medicine in her hands. “ Since Sabito is going to stay and help take care of you I went ahead and put together all of the things you will need for your recovery. This way you can take them back to your quarters. It sounds much nicer than being all cooped up here for the next two weeks doesn’t it?” She beamed at Sabito, who seemed to fall for her act of “kindness”, taking the basket with a thanks all the while Giyuu lay there helpless as she instructed Sabito on how to administer some of the medications in the basket.
Finally she turned to him and, with a voice sweet as honey instructed him not to make use of his wings in any sort of way for the next two weeks, and that she expected to see him back if he needed anything or felt any new pain. And with that she was off again, claiming something about helping Kanao train. (which Giyuu knew to be an outright lie, the girl was a prodigy if he ever saw one)
His attention was redirected by Sabito squeezing the hand he was still holding, something that made Giyuu’s face flush by itself as he looked back up at him, expecting some sort of lecture about his reckless behavior. He was taken aback when he caught sight of the soft look in Sabito’s eyes, and it must have shown on his face because the other quickly turned his attention to helping Giyuu out of the bed. He winced at the twinges of pain that shot down his back at the small movement required to sit up. He immediately noticed the splint holding both of his wings close to his back and tried to remember what Shinobu had said while he was glaring daggers at her. With a sigh he shook his head and allowed Sabito to help him up, grunting as the pain in his left side caused him to lose his balance. He closed his eyes and grit his teeth, preparing for the fall that never came as Sabito caught him with a murmured “Careful..” one of his large, white and cream colored wings wrapping around him and holding him close to Sabito’s side. He felt his face flush darkly as he muttered an embarrassed thank you and allowed Sabito to guide him out of the medical wing and towards the water pillar barracks they shared, trying not to sink into the warmth of the downy feathers wrapped around him.
On their way they bumped into Tanjiro and his friend... Inosuke, was it? He seemed to be glaring holes in the floor as Tanjiro, who was miraculously holding his hand without getting attacked, worriedly pestered him with questions that Sabito thankfully intercepted. He raised an eyebrow as Inouske glared at him, red faced and practically steaming as one of Tanjiro’s speckled, cherry colored wings stroked at his vibrant blue ones. If Giyuu had to guess it would be because Tanjiro had told him to behave himself. As if he sensed Inouske’s growing agitation, Tanjiro turned to Giyuu and smiling pure as the sun chimed, “I hope you feel better soon Tomioka-San! We have to go now but I’m sure you’ll be just fine with Sabito taking care of you!” And with a wave he tugged Inouske towards the training field.
Giyuu sighed in relief. That kid was too sweet for his own good. It was only then that he noticed how Sabito seemed to be frozen in place. He seemed to snap out of it as Giyuu moved to look at him, asking if he was alright. He quickly nodded his head and ushered the raven haired male towards their barracks.
*** POV switch again (sorry not sorry)***
By the time the two arrived Sabito could practically feel the discomfort radiating off of his companion. He contemplated just carrying Giyuu but with his wings in the splints that would prove to be difficult, especially with the way the smaller male was uncomfortably shifting them. He decided not to comment on it as he guided them both to the bath house.
He looked down at Giyuu when he felt the other pause, flushing slightly.
“ I can do this part myself.” He huffed, attempting to draw away from Sabito’s embrace, though he failed to hide a wince of pain as he put weight on his left side.
“Hold on a second.” He protested, holding as tight as he could to the smaller male, his brow creasing. “Shinobu gave me strict instructions, and if you think im going to ignore them just so you can make things harder on yourself then you’re sorely mistaken. Especially since it’s my fault this happened anyways.”
He felt his face flush as Giyuu looked up at him in surprise. He held his ground with his jaw tightly clenched as those wide, sapphire blue eyes scanned his face before the other diverted his gaze with a small nod. Cute! Why does he have to be so cute?!
He led Giyuu to sit on a stool as he stepped away to fetch some warm water. When he turned back he found Giyuu sitting just as he had left him, flushed and fidgeting with the hem of his hospital shirt. He knelt in front of him and tried not to linger too long as he began unbuttoning the shirt to reveal the bandages wrapped around his stomach.
“We used to do this all the time when we were younger. This isn’t any different. “ he informed in a calm tone as he further undressed the other, unsure of whether he was reassuring Giyuu or himself. Sure, they had bathed together but he had never groomed Giyuu’s wings. It’s not as if he hadn’t longed to before. To run his fingers through the smooth feathers and feel the strong muscle beneath. To pull away any loose or broken feathers and be a part of the reason those wings were always so pristine. But that was something lovers did, and as much as he craved that connection with Giyuu, he was too afraid of crossing a line. Too unwilling to ruin the closeness they had.
The other nodded as Sabito began to gently wipe away the grime that remained from the battle and Giyuu’s struggle against the poison inflicted on him by the demon. He took as long as he could, trying to delay the inevitable, but there was only so long he could stall.
He stood and helped Giyuu over to the area designated for wing grooming. He offered the other a reassuring smile as he lowered him to sit on the bamboo mat while Sabito sat on a stool behind him.
“Let me know if anything hurts, okay?” He murmured as he brushed Giyuu’s hair aside and began to undo the straps that held the smaller male’s wings safely closed. They spread slightly once freed from their splits, but could only go so far. Even so, Giyuu breathed a sigh of relief once he could finally move his wings.
Sabito tried not to frown at the dull color for the feathers before him, many of the smaller feathers broken or dislodged. He took a deep breath before he gently skimmed his fingers along the top of the wing closest to him, marveling at how soft the feathers there were despite the dirt coating them. He paused when he heard Giyuu’s breathing hitch, quickly pulling his hands away. “Did that hurt?” He blurted, fretting momentarily before Giyuu shook his head.
He didn’t look at him, seeming sheepish as he mumbled, “It’s nice it’s just...odd.”
He paused, the tips of his ears turning red. “You can keep going. I’m alright.”
Sabito nodded silently and continued to feel for loose or broken feathers, removing the ones he found as gently as he could and placing them in the disposal bin. The more he preened the wings the more the color and sheen he admired so much began to return.
It took him a while to notice, but Giyuu was slowly relaxing back against him, leaning his head against one of Sabito’s knees as he hummed contently.
A soft smile found its way onto Sabito’s features as he moved onto the second wing, no longer able to justify lingering on the other one. For a while they sat in pleasant silence while Sabito preened the beautiful wings before him, admiring them as he went along the rows of feathers.
By the time he was finished Giyuu was dozing off against his leg, sighing pleasantly every now and then and sleepily nuzzling him. He hated having to wake him but they couldn’t stay there all night, Sabito having taken longer than necessary in grooming the other’s wings in the first place. It was already dark outside.
He leaned forward and, against his better judgement, brushed Giyuu’s bangs from his face. The other stirred with a mumbled complaint. His deep blue eyes slowly opened and focused on his face, blinking a few times before his face flushed a brilliant red and he sat ramrod straight. “S-Sorry-“ he stuttered, the feathers of his wings fluffing up in embarrassment as he drew them closer to himself.
He looked like he was trying to hide in them. Sabito wasn’t sure he could handle much more of this.
He laughed and shook his head. “What are you apologizing for?” He chuckled as he helped Giyuu to stand, wrapping him in a bathrobe. He supported the weight on his left side as they made their way to their shared room. Giyuu was silent the whole way, determinedly keeping his gaze fixed on the ground.
He sat the other down while he pulled their futon’s together, feeling Giyuu’s inquisitive gaze on his back as he did so.
After Sabito had arranged the futons how he wanted them he turned back to Giyuu and helped him onto his futon. “Wait here. I’ll get you something more comfortable to sleep in.”
He shuffled over to where they kept their clothes and frowned when he didn’t find anything belonging to Giyuu. It wasn’t until he found a note written in neat handwriting that said ‘You’re welcome~” with a little heart drawn beside it.
Damn that woman. He huffed and grabbed something that looked like it might fit Giyuu. The other wasn’t much shorter than him, but their builds were different. While Giyuu was just as strong as he was (even stronger if you asked Sabito), he wasn’t as bulky. He had more of a lean build than Sabito did, so would any of it even fit him?
Sabito quickly shook the images of Giyuu wearing his clothes out of his mind as he turned to go back to their room. “Uhh so, I didn’t see anything clean so I brought you something else. It should fit..” His voice trailed off nervously, choosing not to mention the fact that Shinobu had taken his clothes so that he would have to wear Sabito’s.
“It’s fine, I don’t mind.” Giyuu murmured, taking the yukata and sliding it on.
It wasn’t too big on him, but the sight still made Sabito’s heart flutter. He didn’t say as much as he flopped down beside Giyuu on his own futon with a sigh. He tried to sneak a glance at the other, only to find Giyuu staring at him. It would have made him blush if it weren’t for the look in his eyes.
“Are you okay? Does something hurt?” He reached out in worry only for Giyuu to shake his head and avert his gaze.
“No, I’m not it’s just..... I’m sorry you have to do all of this.” His brows creased as he took a deep breath, appearing to steel himself before continuing. “I acted recklessly. I should have just stuck to the plan but when I saw that you were in danger I couldn’t stop myself. And now you have to take care of me.” He hesitantly looked up, and the look of sadness marring his usually passive face made Sabito’s breath catch in his throat.
Damn, how is he still so beautiful even like this?
“I’m sorry.”
The quiet words snapped Sabito out of his trance. His brows furrowed and he leaned closer. “What are you sorry for? People get injured like that all the time. Besides, I don’t have to do anything. I volunteered to do this.” (Which was only half a lie, Shinobu was the one who suggested it)
A light flush rose on Giyuu’s cheeks and he turned his head away “That isn’t what I meant. I know you would have been fine, but I couldn’t imagine what I would do if something happened to you. You’re so strong and I just...” He sighed and, after a moment looked up and into Sabito’s grey eyes, “I couldn’t let something happen to you before I told you how I really felt.”
Sabito’s eyes widened and he felt himself gravitating closer to the other. “H-How do you really feel?” He stuttered, trying to calm the beating of his heart.
Giyuu hesitated, his cheeks flushing even darker in the most alluring hue. “I-I am in love with you.. I have been for quite some time and I’m just tired of not being honest with you. I understand if you want me to leave but-“
Sabito cut him off by grabbing one of Giyuu’s hands and blurted, “I love you too!” He caught himself, stammering as Giyuu stared at him with an awestruck look on his face. “Well, I mean I-“ He cleared his throat and scooted closer to Giyuu, bringing a hand up to cup his face. He brushed a calloused thumb across his cheek, his voice now considerably softer. “I’m glad you told me. I’ve been trying to work up the nerve to tell you but we both know I’m shit with words, and I didn’t want to make you uncomfortable so..”
He trailed off as Giyuu smiled fondly, a hand coming to rest on Sabito’s. “It’s okay.” He whispered as he leaned up and gently pressed his lips to Sabito’s, lingering for a moment before pulling back.
Sabito knew he must have been making some kind of face because Giyuu started laughing, genuinely laughing, and the sound was like music to his ears. He felt a grin split his face as he wrapped Giyuu in his arms and pulled him close, nuzzling his neck.
“I’m glad this ended with you confessing but if you put yourself in danger for me again I’m gonna be angry.” He griped, his voice muffled in Giyuu’s shoulder.
“No promises..” Giyuu mumbled, already starting to drift off.
Sabito huffed but didn’t press the matter. They could discuss it later when Giyuu wasn’t exhausted. He nuzzled closer and closed his eyes, one of his wings draping over them like a blanket as he drifted to sleep.
***
The next morning Sabito was awoken by his crow pecking him in the forehead squawking something about Shinobu requesting them. He grumbled and swatted at it, or, he attempted to swat at it when he realized his arms were trapped. He slowly opened his eyes, blinking the sleep away to reveal that he still had his arms wrapped around Giyuu. He smiled as he remembered the previous night, only to be interrupted by his crow pecking him again.
“Alright I get it!” He snapped, startling Giyuu awake in the process. When it flew back out the window with an indignant squawk, he huffed and looked down at the man in his arms. “Sorry. Shinobu wants to see us.” He sighed, brushing some of the messy black hair out of his beloved’s face.
Giyuu groaned and buried his face in Sabito’s chest. “She can wait.” He grumbled, tightening his arms around the peach haired man. “I’m still tired.”
Sabito weighed the two options in his head. Get scolded by Shinobu or stay in bed with an adorable, sleepy Giyuu? Well, that was an easy decision to make. She probably just wanted to see if her meddling worked anyways.
He buried his nose in Giyuu’s hair with a smile. “She can wait.” He decided aloud, chuckling at the hum of agreement from Giyuu.
He really would have to thank her later though.