Chapter Text
Shouta doesn’t understand why today is different. It’s his turn to go out and find a meal, they’ve done this routine multiple times already without any hiccups.
Hitoshi tugs at the fur on his back legs, trying to pull him back into the eyrie. They've gained weight, are in the middle of their growing spurt accompanied with their second molt, but Shouta is still much stronger than them. Their paws slide under their fruitless attempts as they huff and growl in frustration when Shouta doesn’t budge, and instead drags them forward.
By the time they get to the entrance, Hitoshi has realized they could get a better grip on his bruised tail, and he has to nip the back of their neck to get them to let go. They do, but the fit they throw, thumping their paws and jumping in anger, takes him aback. They've never done this before, always listened to Hizashi and his instructions dutifully. Finally, after seemingly losing all their energy, they let themself fall on their side, avoiding his gaze altogether.
Hizashi noses them, tries to appease them by rubbing his cheek against theirs. Shouta should go now, while Hitoshi's sulking, but something makes him step away from the entrance. What's wrong, why are they upset?
They grumble, burying their face in Hizashi’s brood patch. Shouta tries to not let the hurt show on his face, but Hizashi catches it. His mate is too observant. He nudges Hitoshi until they lift their head petulantly. Is it because of last night?
Shouta doesn’t know what he’s talking about as he was been absent last sundown. Now that Hitoshi's a fledgling, Hizashi and he have taken up more patrols to try and ease back into their normal routine. They have to maintain their territory after all.
They whine in distress, whistle-calling for him. He answers as he lays near them and places his wing on their body, pulling them—and his mate—next to him. He purrs, preening their feathers, rearranging them so they’ll be more comfortable. Doesn’t ask them any more questions.
They stay in the silence, soaking up the attention like a sponge, their rigid body slowly melting under the warmth. Finally, the quiet is broken. They woke up all alone, and no matter how much they called, no one had answered.
Shouta straightens, confused. Hizashi had been with them all night, wasn’t supposed to stray far enough to not hear them. The puzzling situation is resolved when his mate clarifies that they had a bad dream, and he'd been right there to calm them down. He hadn't thought to mention it to Shouta because Hitoshi fell back asleep almost immediately and it didn't seem like they remembered it when they woke up.
They're stiff in embarrassment when he presses against them, nudging and shuffling them so they can rest their head near his heart. He hadn’t known Hitoshi was worried about that. If they could, Hizashi and he would never abandon them, he promises. They love them too much to leave forever.
Hitoshi can’t quite hide their pleased expression at the statement, but Shouta knows it doesn’t alleviate their doubts. It’s okay though, they just need time. Hizashi and he will prove they'll never be like their previous adults.